FORTUITOUS

24| Nobody Who Ever Gave His Best Regretted It

FRIGATE

I am on my fifth shot and I am starting to get dizzy. Carrack ordered a hell of a drink and I don't think I can handle it well.

I placed my glass on the table then relaxed my back on the comfort of the sofa. I narrowed my eyes to scan the dance floor.

We're on an island party held by the resort we're staying. Since not all enjoy the life of a party, hindi gaanong matao at madali ko namang nakita si Selene na may mga kasayaw na tatlong mga kababaihan.

"I can't believe we're doing this." Carrack complained as he swirled the liquid inside his shot glass. Nakapangalumbaba s'ya habang bagot na nakatingin sa kapatid n'ya. "Vacations are mostly for the purpose of relaxing. Peace and tranquility."

I chuckled at his misery.

"Hindi ba nagsasawa si Selene sa ganito? Ganito na nga sa city, ganito pa din kapag nasa bakasyon?" Patuloy na hinaing ni Carrack.

"We can't blame her. Halos kalahating buwan na s'yang hindi nakakapag-party. Baka na-miss n'ya." I smirked.

"I wish I am as resilient as you." Carrack sighed.

After our lunch, nagyaya si Carrack na manood ng pelikula sa suite namin. We rented a two bedroom luxury suite which got a living room, kitchen, dining, and a garden deck. Malaki ang flatscreen TV sa sala kaya naisipan ni Carrack na nakaka-relax manood kaysa ang magbabad sa dagat.

The idea was opposed by Selene. Sayang daw kasi ang opportunity na mag-enjoy sa beach. She wants to do some water activities instead of staying inside the suite.

To make the ends meet, they had a deal that Carrack decides for the activities on the afternoon, but Selene will decide for the evening.

"Did you enjoy the movie?" Carrack asked all of a sudden.

I chuckled. He chose to watch Titanic. "I've seen that thrice already." I said then snatched a glass of juice from the table. "Actually, nakatulog nga ako kanina."

Carrack gave out a soft laugh. "Selene was against the idea, pero iyak naman s'ya nang iyak towards the ending."

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Talaga?"

Carrack nodded with a smirk. "Said the movie was absurd but the dedication of the musicians and some officials on their duty was heartwarming. Pati 'yong Nanay na pinatulog na lang 'yong mga anak n'ya kaysa makigulo pa. She wasn't touched by Rose and Jack, bot even a bit."

"Hm." My stubborn baby.

"How about you, dude? What's your opinion about the protagonists?"

"I don't find them absurd." I smirked. "Jack was the personification of freedom that Rose was always hoping for. She was ready to die, but Jack saved her and showed her the beauty of every simple things. He made her realize that she's not entirely caged inside a responsibility shoved in her mouth by her mother. He made her do little rebellion on her own way. He opened her eyes into the other side of life. Thus, she fell in love."

Carrack gave me a satisfied smile. "Are you saying, that unlike my sister, you believe that people can fall in love in a short span of time?"

My mouth opened, but words failed me. Instead I shrugged my shoulders.

"Don't fall in love with Selene, Frigate." Carrack said with a warning.

I gave him my full attention. Umayos ako ng upo at humarap sa kanya. "Why?"

Carrack sighed. "I know what happened with Marron and Kuya Trey. But Selene can break you worse than that."

I felt a punch in the gut. Am I too obvious? That I am in love with Selene? And does this warning means that I shouldn't?

"Selene can lead you on. But this is all but a pastime for her. The moment she realizes that she's starting to be dependent on everything you two have, she'll start to detach herself." Carrack sighed. "Selene is not someone who will recognize affection. She will deny herself the dependence of her happiness on someone else. She's someone who feels that no one should love her too much. The more you love her, the more she will push you away. Selene is someone who is afraid to love. Because in her twisted mind, she believes that she's destined to lose everything that she ever loves."

Silence stretched between us. In the end Carrack chuckled.

"I'm just saying, Frig." He smiled. "So you can guard yourself."

"Why so?"

"Because Selene is starting to walk away from you." He said then pointed at Selene's direction.

I felt a thud on my head when I saw how Selene French-kiss a man in a suit.

I want to run on them and punch the hell out of that man. My hands balled into fists.

"Don't bother to charge at them. He'll send you flying in a snap." Carrack said as I was about to raise from my seat.

I snapped my head at him.

Carrack smirked at me. "That man is Caspian. Selene's ex-boyfriend. And he's an expert fighter."

I returned my gaze at the man. Nakatayo lang s'ya habang hinahalikan s'ya ni Selene. He's out of place with his all black suit. Maayos na maayos din ang necktie n'ya na ngayon ay hinihila na ng babae na humahalik sa kanya.

Caspian got fair skin and a dirty blonde clean cut hair. Maganda ang tindig n'ya at maangas ang dating dahil sa matigas na ekspresyon ng mukha.

I heard about him this morning, at hindi ko inaasahan na makikita ko s'ya ngayong gabi.

The knowledge that he's Selene's first and only boyfriend irritates me. He's the man who first had her. Not that virginity is an important matter to me. I am annoyed by the fact that Selene trusted him as much as she trusted me. Selene craved him like how she's craving me. Selene wanted him first... and by the way she's kissing him now, it was clear that she's still interested with him.

"If you don't want to lose Selene right away, don't let her know that this is affecting you. Pretend that it's nothing. Gaya ng sabi n'ya, sex lang ang lahat ng mayroon sa pagitan n'yo. Pangatawanan mo na lang." Carrack tapped my shoulder. "Dahil kapag nakita n'ya na mahal mo s'ya, tatakbo s'ya palayo sa'yo. If I were you, hayaan mo na muna na mahulog si Selene nang hindi n'ya namamalayan. Let yourself be on her usual without her knowledge. Make her dependent on you, to the point that she won't make a day without you." Carrack smiled. "Selene is stubborn and always in denial. But I can see that you can handle her well. But you have to improve the transparency of your emotions. Sarili mo ang kailangan mont bantayan."

"Why are you doing this?" Nagtataka na tanong ko.

Carrack chuckled. "Because I like my sister when she's with you. Selene never had that genuine smile on her eyes since Kuya Trevor's death. She's trying to hide it on her smirk and smart mouth remarks, but it was sparkling in her eyes. I can see that you can make her happy. And that's enough for me to root for you. I don't care about your past, your background, or who your exes were. Kahit hampas lupa ka pa, okay lang. As long as you can guarantee my sister's genuine happiness." He gave me a friendly smile. "And I can see that you're in love with her. It was all over your face and your actions. Just be careful. Selene has a twisted mind and a hard head."

And I find this weird.

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April 16, 2020