Kabanata 4
NAIINIS pa rin si Linus kapag biglang pumapasok sa kanyang isip ang nangyari kanina sa beach. Bakit naman kasi doon pa sila sa dagat napadaan gamit ang helicopter? Umiral tuloy ang pagiging special agent niya at biglang tumalon mula sa helicopter ni Sandro kanina kahit hindi niya alam kung sino ang ililigtas.
He knew he's not supposed to be bothered because of a CPR he performed since that's common in his field of work but damn it! Bakit ngayon lang hindi naalis sa isip niya ang simpleng CPR?
It's probably because he performed it to someone he actually plans to finish out of his anger. Ngayon lamang din yata siya nakaramdam ng ganito katinding inis sa isang tao. Lintik. Para siyang sinasapian ni Linel. Ito na ba ang side effect ng trainings niya?
Linus sighed heavily then rubbed his palms on his face. Bumangon na lamang siya at naghanap ng alak sa cabin ni Linel. Imbes na kumuha ng suite sa Raja, ipinagamit na lamang ng kapatid niya ang cabin nito nang hindi naman sayang amg membership nito sa MCB.
He tried to check the cabinets but there's no liquor even inside the fridge. He had no choice but to go outside and get himself some in the bar area Sandro told him about earlier.
Nang makarating sa bar ay nag-iinom doon si Ivler kasama si Sandro kaya hindi niya napigilang mapahinto nang mapansing tila close ang dalawa.  Napakurap tuloy siya at ang mga kilay niya ay unti-unting nagsalubong.
Does Sandro know Ivler? Does he... know Ivler is here? Sinadya ba nito na dito siya yayain nang maasar siya nito dahil sa lintik na recording noon na labis nitong pinagtawanan? Puta!
Naisahan yata siya ng lintik na si Lankova! Ilang beses niya bang sasabihin ditong nagbugbugan sila ni Ivler at hindi nagtalik? Dahil lang tingin nito ay mababaw ang dahilan niyang sinundan siya ni Ivler sa banyo kaya sila nag-away ay pekeng rason na iyon para magsuntukan gaya ng sabi ni Sandro?
He sighed. This is the part where he questions his friendship with Sandro. Aalis na lamang sana siya at sa Raja na lang mag-iinom nang mabaling ang tingin ni Sandro sa kanya. Makahulugan kaagad itong ngumisi at sinenyasan siya kaya pati si Ivler na namamaga ang pisngi dahil sa tinamong suntok mula sa kanya kanina, napabaling sa kanyang direksyon.
"Linus, come on. Join us. Matatanda na kayo para idaan sa init ng ulo ang mga bagay-bagay," ani Sandro habang may hindi mapagkakatiwalaang ngisi sa mga labi.
Ivler turned his gaze away then clenched his jaw as if he wasn't pleased to see him. Gusto niya talagang matawa. Nasaan na ang maangas na Ivler Beckham na naghapon sa kanya isang taon na ang nakalilipas?
He shook his head a little then sighed. Kung sabagay, para na nga lang silang mga bata kung hanggang dito ay bigla na lang silang magbubugbugan.
He went towards the extra stool on the other side of Sandro's seat. Kaagad naman siyang binigyan ni Zaire ng alak kahit hindi pa siya natatanong kung ano ang nais niya. When Zaire was able to pick one of hid favorites, he couldn't help but be impressed.
"How'd you know, man?" hindi niya naiwasang itanong.
Zaire smirked. "Let's just say I'm that good." He grinned. "I could tell what liquor people will enjoy."
"Yeah, so far, he hasn't failed yet," sabat ni Sandro bago tumingin sa kanya. "Since the two of you are here, maybe we can talk about what happened in London a year ago—"
"No."
"No."
Matalim silang tumingin ni Ivler sa isa't isa nang sabay nilang pinutol ang sinasabi ni Sandro. Napailing-iling naman ang tarantado niyang kaibigan habang nakangisi. "Hay, ewan. Dati si Gui at Yvez lang ang alam kong aso't pusa rito sa Monte Costa. Mukhang may bago na tayong susubaybayan, Zaire."
Linus and Ivler both clenched their jaws before they lifted their own glass to drink. Napabungisngis naman ng tawa si Zaire at Sandro dahil sa kanilang kilos kaya mangani-ngani niyang sikuhin ang kaibigan na kaagad na nagtaas ng mga kamay na tila sumusuko.
Zaire smirked then rested his palms on the counted top. "Listen, Ivler, Linus, we don't want any trouble here, because you know what happens when trouble shakes MCB? The Chief comes home and we don't want that. Tama na'ng si Jael ang na-s-stress sa mga tao rito. So, why don't we try to settle your issues so we can prevent Trunk from paying us a visit, hmm?"
"I don't know who that is," walang ganang tugon ni Linus bago uminom sa kanyang baso.
Nagkibit-balikat si Zaire. "Makes sense." Bumaling ito kay Ivler. "Dude, ano? Kailangan pa bang bumisita ni Trunk?"
Marahas na bumuntong hininga si Ivler. "I followed him only because I thought he's Linel. Malay ko bang may kakambal ang kupal na 'yon?" Sumimsim ito sa baso. "He still hit me first."
Inis na umismid si Linus, his Linel version he didn't think exists before, slowly took over. "Taas ng pride."
Zaire sighed. "Okay, fine. You've mistaken Linus as Linel, he hit you first. Both of you made a mistake."
"So you really didn't have sex?" usyoso ng lintik na si Sandro.
Ivler and Linus groaned.
"Of course not. Jesus, Sandro," asik ni Ivler.
Sandro whistled. "So you're both straight, huh?"
Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang kaibigan. "Since when did you see me sucking dicks?"
"Okay, okay, chill." Natatawa nitong dinampot ang baso ng alak at sumimsim. Nang akala nila ay titikom na ang bibig nito ay muling nagsalita kaya halos sabay nilang naibaba ni Ivler ang baso. "But you kissed earlier—"
"Tangina ka, Sandro that's a fucking CPR!" singhal niya.
"I was dying and you're romanticizing CPR? Are you fucking nuts?" si Ivler.
Nagpigil ng tawa si Sandro. "Relax. I was just teasing the both of you."
"Well, it's not funny." Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin saka niya sinimsim ang laman ng kanyang baso at tuluyan nang umalis para bumalik sa cabin ni Linel bago pa uminit ang ulo niya.
Nang maisara ang pinto, nahilamos niya na lang ang palad niya sa kanyang mukha saka nahiga sa kama. He decided to just call Micah and ask how she's doing but she wasn't picking up the call. Dahil hindi pa naman makatulog, nagdesisyon na lang siyang manood ng sports channel.
He tried to focus on the game but when he noticed one of the players on the replay game, he couldn't help but furrow his brows.
Was he that outdated that he didn't realize Ivler Beckham is actually part of Huskeez? Bakit ngayon lang niya napansin? Kung sabagay ay matagal na siyang hindi nakapanood ng telebisyon at baka baguhan lamang din ito sa team.
He wanted to switch channel but since it's his favorite team the Huskeez were competing with, he tried to set aside his anger for Ivler and just focused on watching the game.
Not being bias or anything, but he somehow noticed that Keison Ducani and Ivler Beckham make a good tandem in the field. Beckham would set the ball for Ducani to strike, at sa tuwing si Ivler ang nagpapasa ng bola kay Keison ay pasok ang tira.
Surprisingly, Linus enjoyed the first quarter. Sakto namang ini-interview ang players nang makarinig siya ng katok sa pinto. He pressed the mute button and pulled himself up.
Nang mabuksan ang pinto, natigilan siya sandali nang makita si Ivler na nakasandal sa pader, nakabulsa ang isang palad sa pantalon habang iniaabot gamit ang isang kamay ang isang paper bag. He didn't even bother looking at Linus, as if the wall was more interesting than his face.
He drew in a sharp breath before he spoke. "What's that?"
Ivler looked at him in a cold way. "Your phone. I'm replacing it nang wala akong utang na loob sayo."
Umismid siya at tiniklop ang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib. "Look who just learned how to lower his fucking pride?"
Umigting ang panga nito at tumalim ang tingin sa kanya. "You better get this now before I smash it on your face, asshole. I didn't waste gas and time just to deal with your shitty attitude."
He smirked. "So you personally bought it, huh? Should I feel flattered?"
Ivler's eyes went sharper. "Oh, for Christ's sake, just fucking take it will you?"
He grabbed the paper bag and tossed it on the couch. Mayamaya ay humugot siya ng hininga saka ito tinignan muli. "Is that all? I'm busy."
Ito naman ang ngumisi matapos masilip ang TV. Mayamaya ay tumaas ang kilay nito at ang kurba sa mga labi ay naging makahulugan. "Busy with what? Watching my interview? No offense, man but just to clear things here, I like pussy."
Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata. "And what the hell does that supposed to mean?"
Ivler straightened his back then took a sharp breath while staring at him. "I'm straight, Linus."
His brow arched. "And who the fuck said I'm not, hmm?"
A ghost of a smile made its way to Ivler's lips. Their eyes remained gazing intensely at each other as Ivler took a step forward until there's no more enough room for the two of them.
"Are you, hmm?" Ivler asked teasingly, his minty breath fanned Linus' face.
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Linus. He suddenly felt suffocated with their promiximity, as if there's something foreign that's slowly taking over his system.
Something he isn't sure if he's liking at all...
Before he even knew it, Ivler was alread on the floor with bleeding lips after he gave his cheek a swing.
"Now who isn't straight, motherfucker?" asik niya bago malakas na isinara ang pinto at tinapon sa basurahan ang mamahaling cellphone na binili nito.