ALESSANDRO GAMBINO (The Black Sparrow Society)

AUSTRALIADean's Office M. Wagner, the Dean of Engineering has been whipping their ass with words that even a street dog can't chew. Tinatanong ni Ale kung bakit siya nakipagkaibigan kay Taylor Barlowe. He had this evil glint in his eyes. Ikinukubli lang 'yon ng salamin nito. But then again, so does he. He wasn't born in the Gambino family for nothing. "Sulfur and potash? What were you trying to accomplish?" Matigas ang tinig ni Dean Wagner. Taylor showed no remorse habang si Ale ay sumasakit ang ulo dahil baka ipatawag ang mga magulang niya. His mother would come pero walang tigil sigurado ang bibig nito. If he was Antonello, baka nakipag-away pa ang kaniyang ina. "Gambino. Do you have anything to say? You were doing so well in class and now, you're giving me a headache!" "My apologies, Sir. It wasn't our intention to make a mess—" "Make a mess? Make a mess?! Half of the furniture in the lab were ruined!" Napalunok si Ale. "I will replace it, Sir. Just send me the bill." "Mone

Nang makarating sa airport si Ale ay ipinarada niya ang sasakyan at iniwan ang susi sa loob. He doesn't care if someone steals his car away. All they need to do is pay the parking ticket dahil hindi nila mailalabas ang kotse kung hindi bayad 'yon. He doesn't have a sentimental bone in his body. Naniniwala siya na temporary lang ang lahat sa mundo. At katulad ng kotse niya, kahit mawala 'yon ay wala siyang pakialam. He can always buy a new one. He would have booked his ticket online but there was a better chance that he would get a ticket this way. He approached the ground stewardess at the counter. She's slightly older than him but nevertheless, pretty. "Good evening. One way ticket to Manila, please." "Good evening, Sir. I would have to check as we have a lot of passengers tonight. It's peak season." She started typing while looking at the computer screen. Ale waited patiently. "I'll triple the fare if someone would give up their seat. I need to leave tonight," dagdag pa niya.

Kindat lang pala ang katapat ni P. Hindi na ito nakapagsalita at lihim s’yang natuwa. The woman was a puzzle to him. It fascinated him how P can rile so much emotions in him so quickly. She has a smart mouth. Naisip niyang baka lawyer ito dahil napakatabil. Pero napailing din s’ya pagkatapos. Parang napakabata pa nito para maging abogada. Baka nga nasa kolehiyo pa ito. Dear God, Ale. Magiging cradle snatcher ka pa yata. Tulog. Kain. Tulog. Kain. Iyon lang ang ginawa niya sa natitirang oras sa loob ng eroplano. Hindi na muling yumakap si P sa kaniya. Still, having her near helped him sleep quicker. Naisip niyang baka ang amoy ng shampoo nito ang dahilan. Or maybe it was her presence. Whatever it was, he liked it. Pansamantala niyang nakaligtaan ang sakit na naramdaman sa pagpapakasal ng kapatid sa babaeng itinatangi niya. Time heals all wounds, they say. Pero para sa kaniya, hindi naman talaga 'yon naghihilom. You just learn to live with the pain and hope that tomorrow would be bett

“Hindi ako lampa,” mariing tanggi ni P. “Oh? Natakid ka sa Australia kaya mo nakilala si Taylor. And the other day at the park, you did the same thing to me. Is that your way of—“ Taylor shot a warning look at Ale. “Making friends?” Hindi niya itinuloy ang gustong sabihin. It wasn’t appropriate anyway.“Kung ikaw din lang, hindi na.” Inirapan siya ng babae. That left him dumbfounded, habang si Taylor ay nagpipigil ng tawa. He kept quiet after that. The woman is clearly nuts, at hindi niya alam kung paano natatagalan ito ni Taylor. Para bang kahit ano’ng sabihin niya sa babae ay offensive ang dating. At isa pa, napakadali nitong maasar sa kaniya. Well, ganoon din naman siya kaya amanos lang sila. Ipinikit na lang niya ang mga mata kaya tuluyang maubos ang pasens’ya kay P. Sa traffic at pagod ay nakatulog s’ya sa biyahe. Nang maalimpungatan ay naka-park na ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang condo, kaya nagtatakang tiningnan niya ang kaibigan.“Tay, I’m staying at the hotel,” wika niya ba

“What the—“ Nalaglag sa sahig si Ale mula sa kama at ‘yon ang nagpagising sa kaniya. Gising na si P at ngayon ay nagniningas ang matang nakatingin sa kaniya habang nakaupo sa gitna ng kama. Magulo ang buhok ng babae at para itong leon na anytime ay sasagpangin siya. “Ano’ng ginawa mo sa akin?!” Maang na napatingin si Ale at saka tumayo para harapin ang babae. “Ginawa— Are you serious?” Lalong tumalim ang tingin nito sa kaniya at kumuyom ang mga kamao. “Ano naman sa tingin mo ang gagawin ko sa ‘yo?”“Magtatanong ba ako kung alam ko?” masungit nitong tanong sa kaniya.She was loud and Ale’s head is hurting from drinking last night and lack of sleep. Nang mahagip ng mga mata niya ang orasan ay wala pang alas sais ng umaga. This woman will be the death of him.“Ako na nga ang nagmagandang loob, ako pa ang masama?” Pietra looked lost. “Sa sobrang saya mo kagabi, naparami ang inom mo. Taylor left early kaya naiwan ka sa akin. And I didn’t have the keys to his condo, so I brought you here.”