Kabanata 3
"THEY'RE giving us a couple weeks to enjoy our lives before they send us to hell," nakangising balita ni Sandro kay Linus nang matabihan siya nito sa cafeteria ng headquarters.
"You mean battlefield?" he clarified before he sipped on his coffee.
"Uh, isn't it the same thing?" Sandro chuckled softly. "Anyway, man. Alam ko namang hindi mo gustong umuwi ng Sweden. Sumama ka na lang sa'kin sa Pilipinas. Your brother invited me before to join this brotherhood where we get to enjoy a place called Monte Costa. Balita ko maraming chickababes na nagpupunta sa lugar so... better visit heaven before the devil calls us down there."
Sandali siyang nag-isip. Isang taon na rin mula nang problemahin niya ang lintik na eskandalong kinasangkutan dahil kay Ivler Beckham. Mabuti na lang at na-take down ng organisasyon ang kumalat na recording na nagmukhang may nangyayaring kahalayan sa kanilang dalawa ni Ivler.
He received a disciplinary action for what happened that's one hell of a task, kaya mas lalo tuloy tumindi ang galit niya rito. Sabi nga ni Sandro, para siyang hindi makabasag-pinggan kapag nasa mood, ngunit oras na mapitik ang kanyang pasensya ay lumalabas ang pagiging magkakambal nila ni Linel.
"If I will go to the Philippines, I'd just spend my time searching for that motherfucker who put me in so much trouble."
He finished his coffee and went for a refill. Para namang tuta na bumuntot si Lankova sa kanya at nakahalukipkip na sumandal sa pader para kulitin siya.
"Is that only reason or... you just don't like girls anymore?"
Muntik niya na itong masipa sa inis. Nang makita ang talim ng kanyang tingin ay bumuhanglit ito ng tawa. "Okay, chill man. I'm not teasing you because of gender-wise. I just laughed because of how you looked at me. Jeez. Hindi ka na talaga mabiro kapag ganyang usapan. I know you're straight. I just enjoy seeing you turn into Linel when pressed."
"Yeah. Try to press the wrong button again, I'll send you to the hospital so you won't enjoy your vacation." Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin saka siya sumimsim sa kanyang kape.
"Ang lakas niyong magkapeng magkapatid. Tsk tsk tsk. Anyway, ano? Sama ka ba? Para maisabay kita pauwi."
"Sige, pero baka dalawin ko rin muna si Micah, see how she's doing."
Kumunot ang noo ni Sandro. "Akala ko ba may bago nang boyfriend? You don't flirt with your ex when she's with someone else, man. That's a basic bro code."
"I'm not gonna flirt with her. I just wanna say hi."
Sandro groaned. "It's the same thing as flirting. A simple hi can bring back memories that may confuse women considering how vulnerable they are. Poor species."
He sighed. "Gawain mo kasi, bro kaya napagkukumpara mo. 'Yong hi mo may ibang intensyon palagi. Mine is just a genuine two letter word."
"Linus, listen to me. Not everyone has the same perspective as you. Majority of the guys get jealous easily with their girl's exes. Lalo ka na kung ikaw ang ex eh pucha anim na taon kayo. Kung ako ang shota wala na. Ang masama pa niyan, baka si Micah pa ang maputukan ng galit."
Napaisip din siya. "You're right." Tinapik niya ito sa balikat. "Nice. I almost forgot you can still talk with senses."
Sumimangot ito sa kanya. "Sometimes I wonder if you're still Linus or you already did the switch."
Ngumisi siya. "I'm doing overtime training and you're the perfect tool. Kapag hindi naman ikaw ang kausap, kusa naman natatanggal ang maskara ko."
"Huh. Then maybe I should charge the organization for this." He waved his index finger in the air. "I'll be right back. I'll just demand for a raise."
Napailing na lamang si Linus saka siya sumimsim sa kanyang tasa habang pinanonood ang kaibigang magmartsa palabas ng cafeteria. Knowing Sandro Lankova, Linus is sure he's really going to do it.
He is that stupid after all...
IVLER smirked when his ninong Sancho's nephew told him that he's already near Monte Costa. Ang alam niya ay nasa Bulgaria ang magkapatid na Sandro at Sancho Lankova at ngayon lamang makakauwing muli si Sandro sa Pilipinas.
His good friend wants to go surfing after seeing his posts in MC, and since Ivler has a long season break, he decided to agree with Sandro's request. Si Sandro rin ang dahilan kung bakit siya naging bahagi ng MCB o ang Monte Costa Bachelors.
After telling Sandro that he's already with some girls, busy surfing, Ivler put his phone down on the sun lounger before he went back to the beach with his surf board. Mas gusto niya ang black sand ng Monte Costa kaysa sa regular shore ng Bayou, ang resort na pag-aari ng pamilya Beckham. Mas malalaki rin ang alon minsan sa Monte Costa kaya nae-enjoy niya ang pagsu-surf gaya ngayong araw.
He swam towards the upcoming wave and stood up on his surf board. Lumusot siya sa pasulong na malaking alon habang naghihiyawan naman ang ibang surfer na nakapanood ng ilang tricks na ginagawa niya.
Ivler was already nearing the end of the tunnel wave when he got distracted by another surfer that tried to surf over the wave. Nawalan siya ng balanse sa board at nang malaglag, tumama pa silang pareho ng surfer sa isa't isa hanggang sa nagkabuhol ang kanilang mga harness.
The other guy dragged him down in order to get back to his surfboard, but when another wave hit them, it was already too late for Ivler to save himself.
Nagawa niyang kalasin ang harness sa kanyang paa ngunit dala ng kawalan ng hangin sa dibdib, unti-unting nawalan ng lakas si Ivler na lumangoy. Tila nalanta siyang gulay habang nasa ilalim ng tubig habang ang mga tao sa paligid naman ay naghihiyawan.
He saw a silhouette of a helicopter hovering above before he shut his eyes. At bago siya nawalan ng malay, nadama niyang mayroong tumalon sa tubig saka siya kinuha habang nakatalikod kaya hindi nakita ang kanyang mukha.
The guy was able to pull him out of the water and swam towards the shore. Nang maiahon siya ay kaagad itong nag-perform ng CPR. His consciousness slowly went back, and before he could open threw up all the salt water he swallowed, he already felt the soft lips that pressed against his so his rescuer can blow some air inside him.
Paulit-ulit iyong ginawa ng kanyang rescuer. The guy would pump his chest then pressed his lips on his to blow some air, but in between the pump and the air blows, he could hear a familiar voice cursing at him to the pits of hell for being the one who drowned.
"Damn it, Beckham!" he heard the guy cursed before pressing his lips on Ivler again to blow some more air.
Tuluyang naisuka ni Ivler ang ibang tubig ngunit dahil namumutla pa rin siya at marami pang tubig sa kanyang dibdib, muling yumuko ang lalake. Minura pa nga siya nang paulit-ulit bago nag-perform ng CPR. Ivler wants to move, but he feels his body was too numb. Ni hindi niya maaninag nang masyado ang kanyang paligid kahit gising ang diwa niya. He couldn't even recall the familiar voice that kept on cursing him for drowning.
The guy pumped his chest again then leaned to his face. His soft lips pressed on his again then blew out some air, the guy's minty breath went all the way into his lungs. Muling sumuka ng tubig-alat si Ivler dahil sa ginawa ng lalake. This time, he was able to pull himself up and cough hardly while the guy slams his palm on his back.
Akala niya ay para tulungan siyang mailabas ang ibang tubig sa kanyang dibdib dahil nahihirapan pa siyang huminga sa rami ng tubig alat na nainom niya, ngunit habang tumatagal, pakiramdam ni Ivler ay parang palakas na yata nang palakas ang bawat hampas.
Nang hindi niya na natiis ay sinalag niya na ang braso nito. "Aray ko, puta—" Halos mamilog ang mga mata niya at nawalan ng kulay ang kanyang mukha nang mapagtanto kung sino ang lalakeng nagligtas sa kanya at ngayon ay namumula ang mukha dala ng kahihiyan.
Before Ivler could even react, humalik nang tuluyan sa kanyang pisngi ang malakas na suntok na mula sa lalake saka ito tumayo at dinukot ang nabasa nitong phone na nasa bulsa ng pantalon.
The guy sighed then met his angry pools. "You owe me now, motherfucker." He threw his newly-bought phone near his face. "Get me a new one or I'll drown you myself. Not in a fucking toilet this time..."
Ivler coughed as he clenched his fist. From the guy's cold blue eyes, defined jaw, and boring hairstyle, Ivler couldn't possibly be just dreaming right now. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali. Kilala niya ang lintik na iyon...
"Tangina mo, Linus!" he snarled as his face completely turned red in embarrassment.
Linus raised his middle finger while walking away. Ni hindi man lamang siya nilingon marahil dala ng pamumula rin ng mukha nito... na dinulot ng pagkakalapat ng kanilang mga labi dahil sa CPR...