The Gift of Tears (Casa Fuego Series #2)

Chapter 25

The new CEO

"Any lead?" tanong ko kay Gilbert.

He smiled sadly at me and shook his head. Bumagsak ang aking balikat. Halos apat na taon na kaming naghahanap sa kanyang katawan ngunit wala na talaga kaming makita. We are almost finished searching in the entire country. We already exhausted our sources but... his body is nowhere to be found.

"I'm sorry, Avy. Alam kong gusto mo rin siyang bigyan ng disenteng libingan pero... hindi ko na talaga siya mahanap," he looked pained.

I tried to maintain a positive outlook. This is also hard for Gilbert. I smiled at him and squeezed his hand. Nang nakitang nakangiti ako ay gumaan ang ekspresyon niya.

We are in a high end bar in Manila to bond and have fun once in a while. Carole and Bethany are now regulars in our company while Gilbert is subject to promotion in our company, too. Nakakuha na rin sila ng sariling apartment malapit sa opisina. I am so happy for them.

Halos isang oras na kami rito ngunit ginugol lamang namin iyon sa kwentuhan at dahan-dahang pag-inom. Maraming alak ang nasa aming lamesa. May mga nagsasayawan na sa dancefloor. Marami nang tao at magulo na rin ang ilaw ng bar.

Carole was already swaying her hips even when she's still seated in our couch. She said she was so stressed the whole week so she's happy we are finally going out. Bethany was only sipping on her wine and wandering her eyes around.

"Humanap ka na ng boyfriend dito, Beth! Mga businessman yata ang madalas na nagpa-party dito! 'Di ba, Avy?"

I grinned. "That's right. This is one of the bars where elites go out and about. You should get a boyfriend, Beth," I giggled.

Bethany glared at us.

"Para naman matuto ka ring lumandi! Marunong ka bang humalik?" Carole asked with wide eyes.

Humagalpak ako ng tawa nang nakita ang gulat na ekspresyon ni Bethany. Gilbert chuckled and pulled Carole closer to him so she would stay away from Bethany.

"Carole! Your mouth!"

"Nasa Manila na tayo, hindi ka pa rin marunong humalik! Dapat pinag-aaralan mo na gamitin ang dila mo-"

"Babe, ano ba?" natatawang saway ni Gilbert kay Carole. "Lasing ka na ba agad?"

Tumawa ako kaya sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Bethany. Natutop ang aking bibig ngunit umaalog pa ang aking balikat sa pagtawa.

"Pati ba naman ikaw, Avy?" Bethany rolled her eyes. "Ano ba naman 'yang mga tinuturo mo kay Carole, Gilbert?"

I chuckled. "It's true. You should really get a boyfriend."

"Tignan mo 'yan si Avy! Marunong ka bang humalik?" she leaned closer to me.

Ngumuso ako. "Well, Cullen and I french kissed before..."

Sabay-sabay nalaglag ang kanilang mga panga. Tumayo si Carole at dali-daling tumabi sa akin, nasa kabilang couch kasi sila ni Gilbert. Bethany turned to me and Gilbert's brows furrowed, like he couldn't stomach imagining us kissing.

"S-Saan?! Sa bahay niyo? Hindi ba't magkatabi lang ang mga kwarto niyo? Doon ba, Avy?!" Carole was so loud.

Namula ang aking pisngi nang naalala ang sobrang haba naming halikan ni Cullen noong bagyo. And then we cuddled after that.

"Noong may bagyo. Pumunta siya sa kwarto ko kasi takot ako sa kulog at kidlat," ngumuso ako.

Napatakip si Carole sa kanyang bibig at malakas na tumawa. I chuckled at Bethany's reaction. Gilbert looked away but he was stifling a smile.