Midas' Touch [COMPLETED]

Chapter 32

"He did---WHAT!?" Napatayo si Gwynedd dahil sa isinalubong na balita sa kaniya ni Caedmon. Kakauwi lamang nila ni Kalonice nang tumambad sa kanila si Caedmon at ang quintuplet na mga nag-iiyakan.

Nilampasan niya si Caedmon at lumapit sa mga anak. Contessa was left here too. Caedmon said that Midas left right after he dropped them in the house. Nobody knew where he went. Laryen lose consciousness dahil sa sobrang pag-iyak. Naghisterikal is Gwynedd at agad na tinawagan si Larry. After him was Midas, but he was not picking it up.

"I will try to call him po," ani Kalonice.

"Please, hija. I need to talk to him," Gwynedd plead. Kalonice took her phone at hinanap ang number ni Midas. Agad niya rin itong tinawagan. Kahit na siya na ang tumawag dito ay hindi pa din nito sinagot ang kaniyang tawag.

Gwynedd's shoulders fell.

"Darling, what happened? Where is he?" Dating ni Larry kasama si Octavius. Mahigpit siyang niyakap ni Gwynedd. "We'll be okay. I will handle this, hmm? Don't stress yourself. I will handle him, okay?"

He turn to Caedmon. "Can you tell me what happened?"


Umabot ang gabi at hindi umuwi si Midas. Hindi rin ito umuwi sa bahay nila Kalonice, kaya naman nag-aalala na si Gwynedd. She was up all night, soothing her children na na-trauma sa sobrang takot sa kanilang kapatid. Laryen was up all night too, crying on her.

Kalonice did not stop from calling him. None of their calls are answered not even once by him. Ring lang ito ng ring. The same thing happened the next day, until the third, until it reached the seventh, marking his absence a week already. For one week, hindi nagparamdam sa kanila si Midas.


Naibaba ni Kalonice ang kaniyang cellphone. Hindi na niya mabilang kung ilang beses na niyang tinawagan si Midas. She kept on calling him hanggang sa ma-lowbat ang kaniyang cellphone. He gave her sleepless nights. She's worrying about him. She's praying na sana ay walang masamang nangyari dito. Na, ligtas siya at maayos. Mababaliw siya sa sobrang pag-aalala.

"Ate?"

Napalingon siya sa kapatid na si Ali. Siya'y ngumiti. "Pasok ka."

Pumasok ito dala ang isang envelope. "Para sa iyo daw, Ate," sabi nito. Sa pag-aakalang galing iyon kay Midas ay agad niya itong kinuha at binuksan. Ngunit imbitasyon lang pala ito.

Imbitasyon para sa kasal nila Altair sa darating na Martes. Umalis na si Ali. Kinuha niya ang kaniyang telepono at tinawagan si Gwynedd.

"Hello po, Tita?"

"Hija? May balita na ba sa anak ko?"

She bit her lower lip and felt guilty. "This is not about Midas po..." Tumahimik si Gwynedd. "Nakatanggap po kasi ako ng imbitasyon sa kasal nila Sir Altair. Hindi ko po alam kung saang isla ito. Ano po... Ano pong gagawin ko?"

"You can come with us, hija," she sniff, "You can bring your siblings here para dito sila mag-stay ng four days. We will spend three days there so...bring them here, okay?"

"O-Okay po. Maraming salamat po."

"No problem." She wait for Gwynedd to end the call. Muli niyang ibinaba ang kaniyang cellphone. Pumunta siya sa kaniyang kama at humiga. Niyakap niya ang stuff toy.

"I miss you, Midas..."


Nang sumapit ang hapon ay nasa mansion na sila ng mga Yzaguirre. It was being clouded by gloomy silence. Hindi niya rin nakita ang quintuplet. Tanging si Contessa lamang ang naabutan niya sa living room at naglalaro.

"Love, don't stress your self. Babalik din siya, okay? Here, kumain ka na ng madami, please. Baka mas lalo kang sumexy niyan. Kain ka na po." Lahat na ng panlalambing ay ginawa na ni Larry ngunit lutang ang isipan ni Gwynedd. Naiyak na lamang siya sa sobrang pag-aalala sa anak.

Larry's face went dim nang makita ang taong dumating.

"M-Midas!" singhap ni Kalonice at napatayo. Agad niya itong nilapitan at mahigpit na niyakap. Tumulo ang kaniyang mga luha.

"Salamat at bumalik ka na..."

Hindi kumibo si Midas. Ni hindi man lang siya niyakap nito pabalik. Kaya binitiwan na niya ito at hinawakan ang kaniyang mga braso. Sinipat niya siya mula ulo hanggang paa. Si Midas nga ito. Mas lumala ang pagiging malamig nito.

"Larzen... Larzen... My son.." Gwynedd sobbed at siya'y nilapitan at mahigpit na niyakap.

Nagsalin ng whisky sa baso si Larry saka ito marahang ininom. Nanatili siyang tahimik, ngunit siya'y nakikinig.

"Let's talk tomorrow. I am tired." Nabigla ang dalawang babae. Kadarating lamang nito ngunit siya'y pagod? Ano bang ginawa nito para siya'y mapagod?

"S-Sure. Rest well, okay? We will talk tomorrow. We will talk tom, Larzen," Gwynedd nodded and wipes her tesrs. Finally, now that he's back, everything will be back to normal again.

Midas nodded at umalis na din agad. Saka naman nila narinig si Larry, na tumatawa.

"Look at that attitude. Coming back home, all cold and rude."

Lumapit agad si Gwynedd sa kaniya. "You should calm down, Larry."

"What are you saying, Gwynedd? Do I look like I am not calm? I.AM.CALM." Ngumiti ito ng matamis bago umiling na uminom ng alak. Nakaramdam ng pangamba si Gwynedd. Wala namang nasabi si Kalonice na pinagmamasdan ang nilabasan ni Midas.

He's not just cold. He changed.


"Larry, why are you still not asleep? What are you doing?"

"Soon, Baby. You should sleep now. Bumawi ka ng tulog. I will just finish this paperwork," ngiti ni Larry. Pinanood siya ni Gwynedd. Masama talaga ang kutob niya dahil sa pangiti-ngiti nito,  pero pagod na pagod siya at hinahanap na ng katawan niya ang kama. Nang siya'y humiga at pumikit ay mabilis siyang nakatulog.

Tumayo si Larry at siya'y nilapitan. He kissed her lips. "Good night, my gorgeous wife," he whispered bago lumabas ng kwarto nila.

Natigilan si Midas sa paglabas nang siya'y makasalubong. Isinarado niya ang pintuan ng kaniyang kwarto. Nilapitan siya ni Larry. Halos siya'y mapatalon sa takot nang malakas nitong sinuntok ang pader sa kaniyang gilid.

"Larzen, Larzen, Larzen. You're one of a fucking kind, my fucking child." His teeth gritted but his smile remained on his lips.

Isinadal niya sa pader si Midas. He pressed his forearm on his throat, kaya naman ito'y nasakal. Muli niyang sinuntok ang pader sa gilid ng ulo nito. "You fucking---imagine my knuckle is your head. I will make it explode, fucking Larzen." Gigil na gigil siya. Midas tried pushing him. His face is turning red already and was gasping for air, pero wala atang balak si Larry na siya'y layuan.

"This, this is the last damn fucking thing you will do. Apologize to your siblings, apologize to your Mommy, and apologize to Kalonice right after you open the fucking eyes I gave you to-fucking-morrow. Use the fucking mouth I gave you to speak, and your fucking brain. If only. IF ONLY YOU ARE NOT MY SON, I would have killed you for making Gwynedd cry. "

"D-Da---d... I-I can't---breathe---"

"Hmmm? You can't breathe? Why, my fucking son? You were out for seven straight damn days. The oxygen outside must have been enough. Was it because I'm choking you way too hard? Hmmm? What about I kill you right now, Larzen? WHAT ABOUT I KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!?"

"M-MOM!"

Agad na bumukas ang mga mata ni Gwynedd at nagmamadaling bumaba sa kanilang kama at lumabas. Napasigaw siya dahil sa nadatnan. She run and pushed Larry away from her reddish and violet-faced son.

"Larry! Are you going to kill your son!? Larzen! Larzen!" She cried in hysteria and hugged him.

Malakas na tumawa si Larry. "Of course not, Sweetheart! I was just threatening him, okay? I'm still sane enough, I could hold my self back. But if only you didn't come, he will be drop dead by now."

Lumabas ng guest room si Kalonice. Naguluhan siya sa naabutang sitwasyon. Hinila ni Larry ang anak sa damit nito at idinikit ang katawan nito sa pader. Napasigaw si Gwynedd at siya'y hinila-hila palayo sa kanilang anak. Subalit nagmatigas si Larry. He pressed Midas' face on the wall, wanting to crush it with his own bare hands.

"This is the last goddamn time you will upset your brothers and mother, Larzen! The last goddamn time! You have the audacity to come back here after all the calls you ignored? Don't you know how you worry your mother so fucking much that each fucking night, she could not fucking sleep, thinking about the fucking hell of you!? Where the fuck did you go, huh!? WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU PUT YOUR ASS FOR THAT WHOLE DAMN WEEK!? WHERE IN HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!? FUCKING WHERE!?"

"Larry, stop it! Don't hurt Larzen! Oh my god, Larry! Please, don't hurt Larzen!"

Inalalayan ni Kalonice si Gwynedd na muntik nang mawalan ng balanse. Sinubukan niya ring pakiusapan ito ngunit hindi nakinig si Larry. Ilang araw siyang nagtimpi. Ilang araw din niya hinintay si Midas upang bumalik. At sa mga araw na iyon ay hindi pa siya gaano kagalit. Pero sumabog na siya dahil nakikita niya ang epekto ng pag-alis niya nang wala man lang pasabi sa kaniyang asawa. Kahit anak niya pa ito, basta't nakita niyang nasaktan si Gwynedd dahil sa kaniya, talagang sasamain ito sa kaniya.

"How's it? First time to see Daddy real' mad, right? Now you know why they call me crazy, why they call me insane. I REALLY AM FUCKING INSANE!" Ibinalibag niya sa sahig si Midas. Napasigaw muli si Gwynedd at nilapitan ang anak upang ito'y maprotektahan mula kay Larry.

"Please! Please, Larry! Spare your son! He is your SON! Larry, I'm begging you! Love, Baby, Darling, Sweetheart---please don't do this anymore. Don't hurt our son!" She begged.

Larry's face lightened. He smiled sweetly at her. "Honeybunch, I told you to sleep, right? You should rest. Ilang araw ka nang kulang sa tulog. Don't worry, I will just discipline our son really good so he will not do the same thing next time. Don't cry. You know how much I hate seeing you crying, Sweetie."

Itinayo niya si Gwynedd saka niyakap. Mjdas tried standing up ngunit inapakan ni Larry ang kaniyang likod. Sumilip sa pinto ang limang magkakapatid. Nanlaki ang kanilang mga mata mula sa nasaksihan. Agad na lumabas si Laryen at umiyak saka itinulak ang paa niyang nakatapak sa likod ng kaniyang Kuya.

"Daddy, don't hurt Larzen! It was my fault, Daddy! Please don't hurt him! I am the bad boy here, Daddy! Don't hurt Larzen!" Pagmamakaawa niya at lumuhod sa harap ng ama. Lumingon siya kay Midas na nakatingin sa kaniya, bago ibinalik ang tingin sa ama.

"Laryen, go back to your room. I am teaching him a lesson."

"NO! You're hurting him, Daddy! Don't you love him? Why are you hurting him? Don't hurt Larzen! It was my fault! I am sorry! I am sorry, Kuya! I am sorry!"

Nakiusap sa tingin si Larry kay Kalonice kaya kinuha nito si Laryen at ipinasok sa kwarto. Sinamahan niya ang mga ito doon. Nagsiiyakan silang lahat sa kaniya.

"Larry, please. Tama na. Tama na, Larry. Spare your son. You said you don't want to see me cry, right? But you're making me cry. Don't hurt our son. Larry, do I need to kneel in front of you as I beg for your mercy?"

Larry looked at her with widenening eyes. "No. You don't need to do that, Gwynedd. Never kneel. Never kneel to anyone, even to me. Make them kneel in front of you. You are not allowed to kneel to anyone, Gwynedd. I will kill the damn person who will order you to kneel."

"Then don't make me cry. Larry... Larzen is your son. Come back to your senses, Larry. He is your son, Larzen."

Bumaba ang tingin ni Larry kay Midas na kaniyang inaapakan.

"I'm telling this to you once again, Larzen. Upset your Mom one more time, make her worry about you one more time, and you will wait me down there in hell because I will send you there first. I will have no mercy even to my own blood once one of you hurt my Gwynedd. You are lucky, goddamn lucky. But you are not grateful enough."

Nilayuan na niya ang anak. Hinarap niya si Gwynedd at lumuhod sa harap nito. "I'm sorry, Mommy. I'm sorry, you see my beast again. Did I scare you? I'm sorry. I love you. I'm sorry. Don't cry anymore. I love you. It's over now. I'm done. I'm done with him. I'm sorry, Gwynedd. Don't cry, Mommy. I love you." He kissed her hands at muling tumayo.

"Let's go and sleep. You need rest. You should be the most and prettiest woman there, prettier than the bride. Let's go," aya niya sa asawa nang nakangiti.

"But Larzen..." Tumingin siya sa anak na unti-unti nang bumabangon.

"Let him be. He could handle himself. Let's go."

Hinayaan na lamang ni Gwynedd na hilahin siya ni Larry papasok sa kanilang kwarto habang nakalingon sa anak. She mouthed 'Sorry' to him before going inside their room. Larry locked the door at dinala siya sa kama.

Humiga siya habang nakamasid sa bawat galaw niya. Kinumutan siya ni Larry bago siya nito tinabihan at niyakap.

"Sweet dreams, Darling. Dream of me. I love you."

She nodded at umayos ng higa. Yumakap siya pabalik dito para hindi na ulit ito makalabas pa at saktan na naman si Midas. She closes her eyes and listen to his heartbeat. Hinaplos-haplos ni Larry ang kaniyang buhok at mahina siyang kinantahan. With her chest so heavy and doubting him, she still fell asleep because of his sweet hum, relieving all her thoughts away leading her to her sweet dream.


Binuksan ni Midas ang pinto ng kwarto ng kaniyang mga kapatid. Nahinto ang pagkanta ni Kalonice na pinapatulog sila. Napatingin silang lahat sa kaniya. They froze and watch him take steps near them.

"Hahayaan ko muna kayong mag-usap," ani Kalonice saka tumayo. Napasinghap ang lima at pinigilan siya at nakiusap gamit ang mga tingin. Ngumiti lamang siya sa mga ito bago nilampasan si Midas na sinundan siya ng tingin. She closes the door smoothly and went to her room.

Umupo si Midas sa upuang nasa paanan ng kanilang mga kama. He faced them, looking down, and gathering courage to talk and be open to them. He looked at them, trembling like fawns and hiding behind their blankets while peeking at his existence.

Huminga siya ng malalim.

"I am sorry." Diretso niyang sabi sa mga ito at tumingin sa ibaba. "I am sorry, Quincy. I am sorry if I ever made you feel unwanted. I am sorry if I am unfair. It is true that I have favorites, and it was Contessa, because she was our only baby girl. She needs Kuya's protection, and she's still a baby so she needs more attention, time, love, and care. She's still a baby, that's why,"

"B-But we are still babies too!?" Pagmamatapang ni Larren na nagtatago sa likod ni Larzo.

Midas sighed. "I know, I know. I am sorry, truly sorry. I don't know how to make it up to the all of you, but give me a chance. Babawi ako sa inyo. I will be fair now. I am...truly sorry, Quincy. I love you all."

Their faces brightened from the last words he uttered. Nagtinginan ang lima at mga nagngitian bago nagsibangon; nag-uunahan silang lumapit sa kaniya at dinamba siya ng yakap.

"We love you too, Larzen!" They giggled. Natumba sila. Midas groaned at natawa na lamang bago sila mga niyakap pabalik.

"I'm sorry, Laryen. I will prove you that I'm the best big brother you will ever have and not Momon." He kissed his head. Laryen smiled at him brightly and nodded.

"Hmmm! I'm sorry too, Larzen! I'm taking all the mean things I said back then. I love you too!"

Napangiti si Midas. Bumangon siya at dinala ang mga ito sa kanilang kama at nakipagharutan sa kanila. He felt so good. He never thought that playing with his brothers will be this fun. His attention was often focused to Contessa that he forgot the feeling of fun as he play with his little brothers. He regret all the time he rejected and snubbed them. He hopes he's still not too late to make things better between them.



"Mom?"

"Hmmm?"

"I'm sorry..."

Gwynedd paused from doing his tie and looked straight in his eyes. He hugged his mother tight. "I'm so sorry, Mom. I'm sorry for being a jerk. I don't deserve your forgiveness after what I did."

Tumulo ang mga luha ni Gwynedd at ginantihan din siya ng yakap. "It's okay. It's okay, Larzen. I understand. I will still forgive you. You're my baby. I'm forgiving you. It's okay. I'm fine now, because you are back. Don't do that again. Don't do that again, Larzen. Don't do that again."

"Yes, Mom. I will never again. I am sorry. I love you."

"I love you too, Larzen."

Kumalas na sila sa yakap. Larry cleared his throat kaya agad na pinunasan ni Gwynedd ang kaniyang mga luha. Midas looked back at him. Lumapit siya sa dalawa. "Altair told me that their reception organizer will be late due to an emergency, and Kalonice volunteered on doing it, so I sent her first in the island to lend a hand," aniya at lumapit sa asawa na hindi pinapahalata sa kaniya na umiyak siya.

"D-Dad.." Nangininginig na tawag ni Midas sa ama.

"Hmmm?"

"I-I am sorry..." Napayuko siya.

Tumingin si Larry sa kaniya. He pat his head. "It's okay. Everything's fine because I know you learned a lesson from my lecture last night. Talk to Kalonice later once you meet each other. Okay?"

Umangat ang kaniyang ulo at napangiti. Gwynedd smiled and hugged the both of them. Larry kissed her forehead at kumalas na sa yakap. "Let's go. We can't be late to their wedding. Your family will kill me."

Natawa ang dalawa at tumango. Magakaksama silang lumabas at nagpaalam muna sa mga bata bago sumakay sa kanilang private plane.

"You're so gorgeous today, Honey. So gorgeous. Pa-kiss nga ako. Ang ganda mo, eh." Humaba ang nguso ni Larry at lumapit sa mukha ng asawa pero pasampal siya nitong pinalayo.

"You will ruin my make up."

"Not your make up. Your lipstick." He corrected at mahigpit siyang niyakap habang nanggigil. Hinampas siya ni Gwynedd na hindi makahinga. Nailing na lamang si Midas at tumingin sa labas.


Nang makarating na isla ay hindi na nagkaroon ng tiyansang mahanap at maka-usap ni Midad si Kalonice dahil nagsimula na ito. Despite Altair being a Muslim, the wedding is a Christian one because his soon-to-be-wife is a Christian. She insisted it fir it was her wish, at least she experienced a Christian wedding like she dreamed of before she convert her religion into Muslim.

"Larzen!" Tuwang-tuwa siyang nilapitan ng kaniyang mga kapamilya, lalo na ang kaniyang grandparents. Mahigpit siyang niyakap ng mga ito.

"Look at you now, what a fine man you are!" His Jadaty.

"Nice to see you again. You were so little when we last see you," his jady said in emotional way.

He chuckled. "The last time we met was a year ago, Jady."

"You will always be our baby boy!" anito na tinawanan niya lamang.

Binati din ng mga ito ang kaniyang ina, ignoring Larry's presence. He was just right beside Gwynedd as they talk to her ngunit hindi man lang siya tinapunan ng mga ito ng tingin.

Dumating si Octavius kasama ang asawa nitong si Delphine. Agad na lumapit si Gwynedd sa kaibigan at ito'y niyakap. Meanwhile, Octavius was being rained of attention and greetings by Gwynedd's parents. Larry stood in the middle, trying to be cool as he watch them have fun.

"Lars!" Tawag ni Octavius nang siya'y makita. He wore a smile. They did a bro hug.

"Man, I missed you!" Pagbibiro ni Larry.

"Yeah, I do too," pagsakay naman ni Octavius. Honestly, kahapon ay nagkita sila.

"You look so gorgeous and blooming, Delphine," puri ni Gwynedd sa kaibigan at umangkla sa braso nito.

Delphine flashed a sweet and shy smile to her. "Thank you. You are gorgeous too, Gwy. As always."

"Octavius mah fren! Larry mah fren!" Entrada ni Cain habang nakataas ang mga kamay suot ang shades nito.

Umikot siya bago nag-moonwalk palapit sa kanila at huminto. "You look so stupid as ever." Bagot na sabi ng dalawa ngayong nasa harapan na nila ang kaibigang matagal na nawalay sa kanila.

"Where the hell have you been? Kung hindi ka pa iimbitahin sa kasal ay hindi ka pa susulpot, kupal ka!" Larry lock Cain's neck on his arm while Octavius is restraining his hands.

"Ack! I am a busy person, okay!? I'm not like you na pa-chill-chill lang sa office niyo. I'm a hard-working Daddy, can't you see!?"

Bumaling ang tingin nila sa asawa nitong si Cassandra. Caedmon was holding her as she take baby steps, holding into her big baby bump.

"Oh my god! Cassy, I missed you!" Gwynedd exclaimed at siya'y nilapitan at niyakap. Sumunod sa kaniya si Delphine na agad namang hinawakan ang tiyan nito.

She smiled, but a wry one.

"You're giving birth soon, right?" aniya at hinaplos-haplos ito. How she wish she could bear another baby.

"Yup. Yesterday was my ninth month of pregnancy. I'm so excited!" she giggled. Delphine envy her. She forced a smile and nodded.

"C-Congratulations..." Her friends noticed her gloom at agad na tumingin kay Octavius na masayang nakikipag-usap sa kaniyang mga kaibigan.

"Things between you and Octavius are still...you know? Is he still cold to you?" Cassandra whispered. Hindi nakasagot si Delphine.

"You're still young, Delphy. You're just 39, right? Why don't you ask him? Seduce him! Come on, you can do it. Melt him with your hotness. This wedding is perfect, tonight will be romantic. Trust me, make love with him!" Pangungumbinsi ni Cassandra at mahina siyang siniko.

Kumunot ang noo ni Gwynedd. "You're as dirty as ever, Cassy! Delphy is not that kind of woman, okay? She's our angel!" She pat Delphine's head.

"I-I can't... The last time we made love, he called her name..."

Natihimik at natigilan ang dalawa. Nalaglag ang panga ni Cassandra na tumataas na ang alta presyon ng dugo. "He did!? The girl is long gone for years and he still couldn't forget her!?"

Dahil sa pagtaas ng kaniyang boses ay nakuha niya ang atensyon ng mga malapit sa kanila. Napasulyap si Octavius sa kanilang pwesto, checking Delphine, bago bumalik sa pakikipag-usap sa mga kaibigan.

"But anyway, when is that 'last time'? Pinutok ba sa loob?"

Pinanlakihan ni Gwynedd ng mga mata ang kaibigan dahil sa tanong nito. "Are you nuts, Cassy? Don't invade her privacy, my god. You are pregnant yet you're still thinking about dirty things!"

"Don't act so innocent, my dear! I just want to know so we could help our angel, okay? Tss. Ikaw nga, laging inaano ng asawa mo, eh. Haist. I miss my husband's warmth. Hindi niya kasi ako ma-chukchak dahil I'm pregnant nga diba. At siya ang tumatanggi kapag gusto ko siyang masiping. Nakakainis. Hindi niya ako magawang pagbigyan. Dahil ba... Dahil ba..." Tumulo ang kaniyang mga luha. Nataranta agad ang dalawa at agad siyang inalo.

"I hate that playboy! Hindi na siya nasasapatan sa akin dahil ang pig ko na!"

"C-Cassy---shhh! That's not true! That's not true, oh my god. Don't cry!"

Lumapit si Delphine sa kanilang mga asawa. Takot na takot niyang kinalabit si Cain. Lumingon ito sa kaniya at ngumiti. "Hey, Delphy. You look stunning and blooming! What is it, Honey?"

She gulped. Tumaas ang kilay ni Octavius sa itinawag nito sa asawa, ngunit dapat ay sanay na siya dahil lahat naman ng babae ay tinatawag nitong 'Honey'. Well, except for his wife whom he calls 'Domi' or dominant. She calls him 'Sub' or submissive.

Itinuro ni Delphine ang umiiyak niyang asawa. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito at ito'y nilapitan.

"Domi, what's wrong!?"

"Don't touch me, faggot! I hate you!" She sobbed and hugged Gwynedd.

"What---What did I do!?" Naguguluhan na tanong ni Cain at hindi malaman ang gagawin.


Tumigil si Cassandra sa pag-iyak. "Nothing, Sub. I'm just, you know, being dramatic to get everyone's attention." At saka ito tumawa.

His shoulders fell. Tinawanan agad siya ni Larry. "What's so funny, Yzaguirre?" baling ni Cassandra na nangungunot ang noo. Agad itong tumigil at mabilis na umiling.

"By the way, where's Caedmon? Is Callum and Cadbury here too?" Luminga sa paligid si Gwynedd, searching for their son.

"Oh, maybe he went to the bride na. He said it was his friend. That's why we are invited here." Cain.

"They are?" singhap ni Gwynedd na hindi inaasahan iyon.

"Yeah. He didn't told us much how and why, but I heard rumors about her and the likes." Cain shrugged.

Cassy went close to her and whispered, "Heard she used to be a stripper in my brother's bar. I don't know how she met Altair and end up getting married. She's the luckiest stripper ever! Imagine, she hooked Dubai's Prince!?"

"CASSY!" Suway nila dito. Ngumuso na lamang ang kaibigan. Gwynedd sighed. She don't know a thing about it too. Yes, Altair is telling her stories of his girl, but she never knew how he met her.

She trusts Altair. She knows he's not stupid to let himself be fooled by anyone. But if ever he was, then she will expect more about his cunning soon-to-be-wife.