✔ The Casanova's Angel (Filipino Novel)

Kabanata 10

Nickko Dominic Romano's POV

After almost 5 hours of travel, nakarating narin ako sa LiwLiwa. I supposedly wanted to go straight to Casa Cottages where we arranged reservations pero naisip isip ko na umikot muna sa beach at tignan kung nagsisimula na ba ang party. Mga 8pm na kaya siguro andun na rin sila Chris.

I parked my car near the beach tapos went straight directly to where the lights are. Hindi naman mahirap hanapin ang party dahil Chris outdone himself again, as usual. He owns a prestigious club in Manila and Singapore so alam niya how to make one hell of a party. Onting lakad lang ay naramdaman ko na ang party vibes with the loud reggae music blasting in a set of high quality speakers inside luxury cars. Yung lights naman ay covered with dangling small bulbs, car front lights and candles from the plush pillows on the area. Apparently, hindi ako informed na it's an open party kaya packed ang area which I hated. Don't get me wrong, hindi ako ignorant sa parties but I prefer my quiet alone time whenever I spend my day off. But I guess, I'll party a little, no?

"Nickko, my man!"

Chris found me bago pa man ako makapunta sa bar to get a drink. Lumingon ako at nag "manly" handshake kami before laughing. When I say manly, alam niyo yungpa macho na handshake. We have been friends since high school kaya sobrang close na talaga kami and the handshake, well, tradition na namin yun - to be childish for a while whenever we see each other. We're both businessmen kaya naman sobrang busy ng schedules and we seldom meet up.

"Wow, hindi pa nga ako nakaka message, alam mo na agad kung saan ako."

"HAHAHA bro, I'm the host of the party so I have to know where my guests are." Sabi niya while opening his arms widely.

"Well, do you know all your guests?" Sabi ko, teasing him. Alam naman namin na hindi niya kilala lahat. Let's just say na me and my friends are bachelors and we date a lot kaya naman the more the merrier. Hindi naman sa nagmamayabang pero pag naririnig nila na pupunta kami sa parties ay dumadami talaga ang mga nagpapapansin kaya madali lang samin makakuha ng babae.

"Nickko, you're finally outside the office" Lumapit sakin si David with a beer on hand.

"And you're finally not with a patient, I see." Si David yung peacemaker ng grupo. Mahinahon, malambot magsalita at caring dahil sa profession niya. He's a topnotch surgeon in the country at madami din siyang achievements abroad kaya naman minsan lang namin siya makita dahil palaging may pasyente.

"Kamusta pala si Layla?" Tanong ni Chris.

"Buti pinayagan ka lumabas?" Ang sunod ko.

"Well, dinala ko siya dito pero napagod sa byahe kaya andun siya ngayon sa cottage natutulog. I'll probably go in early tonight."

Ayun naman pala. Si David lang ang nagsettle down samin. He and Layla are dating for 4 years now and they're expecting a baby na rin. They're lucky to have each other. Pero ako? Settling down is too much work. Wala pa ako plano na magpa alipin sa isang babae.

Apat kami sa grupo Ako, David, Chris at si Trevor. For sure hindi na namin makikita si Trev ngayong gabi. Siya kasi yung tipong pag may nakita na siya na gusto niya, idadala na niya agad sa kama kaya usually siya na ang unang nawawala.

Now, Chris and me, we have the same strategy. Give the girls a good conversation first and have a better time in bed. Let's say na we like to flirt before the homerun and let's just say narin na it works perfectly. Wala pang nakapag turn down saamin.

I guess they just can't resist us.

"May nahanap ka na? " Tanong ni Chris.

"Bro, kakadating ko lang. Let me look around first." ang sabi ko sabay tingin sa paligid. "Pero ikaw nakahanap ka na?"

"Yep, and I'm going there now." Tumingin siya sa may gilid na table kung saan nakaupo ang dalawang models. "Sama ka? Dibs on the red head."

"Hmm, mamaya nalang bro. Goodluck."

Nang makaalis na siya ay tumingin ako kay David. "So ano na plano mo?"

"Pupunta na ako sa Cottage baka kelanganin ako ni Lay." Ang sabi niya while smiling fondly and looking at the beach probably thinking about his beau.

Umiling iling ako at sinabing, "Bro, you're hooked."

Nagtawanan kami kasi sobrang totoo ng mga sinabi ko. Si David dati yung magaling kumuha ng mga babae dahil he's an expert at conversations lalo na yung mahihinahon at hindi talaga namin ineexpect na siya ang unang mag sesettle down. Pero here we are.

Hindi talaga natin mapplano ang mga bagay bagay. Some things are just meant to be. And sometimes it will hit you when you least expect it, I just hope it doesn't happen to me.

"Sasama muna ako papuntang cottage to settle down tapos babalik nalang ako dito mamaya."

"Sino linoko mo? Alam ko naman na gusto mo lang makaalis dito kasi maingay at hindi ka na babalik."

"Don't spill the secret, Dave."

Umalis na kami sa party at kinuha ang mga gamit ko sa kotse. Walking distance lang naman ang lahat kaya hindi ko na inalis ang kotse ko kung saan siya nakapark.

Dumiretsyo kami sa concierge ng cottages to get my key pero pagpunta namin dun parang ayaw pa ibigay ang susi saamin nung binatilyong nagbabantay not until David convinced him to.

At dahil napansin namin ang pagkakakaba ng nagbabantay ay sinamahan ako ni David pumasok sa cottage.

And remember when I said na surprises will hit you when you least expect it, this one probably is the most unforgettable shock of my life.