Said I Loved You But I Lied 2... (Published)

Chapter 3

Nickolai watched Lee Ann with her sisters. The party had ended and the three Carbonel women were at the entrance of Hotel Blanca's penthouse where Lee Ann's party was held to thank the guests as they were leaving the venue.

"Ito lang ang seventeenth birthday party na walang bisitang teenager," Alexander remarked beside him. "Puro empleyado natin ang bisita. Halos kaedad na ni Daddy ito lahat, ah. Aba, considered tayo as youngsters kumpara sa kanila," he added.

Nickolai chuckled. "Gusto kasi ni Lee Ann na 'yung mga taong kasama n'ya habang lumalaki s'ya ang invited sa party. Alam mo naman 'yan, home-schooled at lumaki na rito sa kumpanya kaya 'yung tauhan natin ang mga naging kaibigan n'ya."

"Oo nga, 'yan na ang baby rito. Dito pa yata natuto ang batang 'yan maglakad kasi kasa-kasama ni Atty. Carbonel 'yan dati kahit sa board meetings according to Dad. Pero wala bang kaibigan si Lee Ann na kaedad n'ya? Ano na palang nangyari dun sa karibal mong kapangalan mo?" he asked with an innocent smile.

Nickolai glanced coldly at his younger brother. "Hindi ko karibal 'yun, ayusin mo 'yang mga sinasabi mo."

"Hindi raw. Kaya pala n'ung binyag ni Alexanna ay kulang na lang idikit mo 'yung mga mata sa mo lalaking 'yun dahil binabantayan mo bawat galaw n'ya."

"Alex, tumahimik ka nga. Napakatsismoso mo kahit ka-lalaki mong tao."

"Gan'yan talaga, Nick...masakit...ang nakaraan." Alexander teased before he guffawed.

"Bapaka-immature mo. Mabuti natatagalan ka ni Alexa. If your wife changes your mind, I will offer my services as a lawyer for free."

"My wife, who will never change her mind or her heart, is an international lawyer, Nick. Hindi n'ya kailangan ang serbisyo mo. At kung maghihiwalay man kami na alam ko namang hinding-hindi mangyayari ay hihingi na ako ng tulong sa sister-in-law ko kung ano ang recipe ng gayumang ginamit n'ya sa'yo."

Nickolai couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Gago ka talaga, Alex."

"Anong kasiyahan ito, bakit hindi ako invited?" Dustin asked his friends. "Hindi na kayo nahiya, binabantayan n'yo sina Lee Ann at Alexa? Sobrang pagkaseloso n'yo naman yata. That isn't manly or cool, gentlemen. You should allow your women to breathe—"

"Naghugas ka ba ng kamay, Dustin?" Nickolai nonchalantly asked. "I saw you follow Lia inside the bathroom."

"We just talked dahil may kailangan akong itanong sa kanya. H'wag ka kayang malisyoso, Nick. Hindi mo gayahin si Lee Ann, napakalinis ng puso at isip."

"Hm...kaya pala bukas 'yang zipper mo dahil nag-usap lang kayo ni Lia," Nickolai said.

Dustin immediately checked his zipper.

"What the fuck..." Alex burst out laughing. "Nag-usap lang talaga kayo ni Lia, Dust, ha. Gaano ba katinding usapan ang naganap at bumukas 'yang zipper mo?"

"Hey, don't insinuate anything about my wife," Dustin frowned at his friends.

"We know that Lia is a woman of virtue just like her sisters, Dustin. Sa'yo kami walang tiwala," Nickolai smoothly said.

"I am a man of virtue, too," Dustin said before the three of them doubled over in laughter.

"Akalain mong totoo at nangyari pala ang mga sinabi natin, Alex?" Nickolai asked and his brother nodded.

"Walang patawad naman si Dustin..." Alex laughingly shook his head. "Grabe ka, Dust, pati children's party hahaluan mo ng kalokohan."

"Bumusina ka, Alex," Dustin told his best friend laughing. "Ang sama tuloy ng tingin ni Nick sa'yo."