Prologue

AUSTRALIA

Dean'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."

"Money is easy to you, huh?" naiinis na wika ni Dean Wagner.

"I'm sorry if it came out that way. We are just trying to make some—" Think Ale. Any excuse would do. Something stupid and believable.

"A love potion," sagot ni Taylor. Ngumiti pa ang gago. "Ale wanted to make it so I thought I'd help him so the girl he likes would go out with him."

Fuck. How stupid is that? I'm going to punch the daylights out of Taylor later.

"A love potion? Are you trying to get the woman killed?!" Napahilamos ang Dean sa mukha. "Replace the furniture and both of you are suspended for three days. Leave."

***

Nang makalabas sila ng building ay pinatid ni Ale si Taylor kaya nagsungaba ito sa damuhan. Pero imbes na magalit ay tumawa pa ito ng malakas. The fucking guy is crazy and yet, ito lang ang matiyagang sumasama sa kaniya. Kahit hindi niya tingnan o kausapin, uupo sa tabi niya at walang katapusang magkukwento. He was annoying as hell but Taylor is exactly what he needed in his life— family. Blood is not always thicker than water.

"That was so much fun, Ale!" Taylor was back on his feet at parang walang nangyari. Pinagpag lang nito ang narumihan na damit.

"So much fun? We're suspended for three days!" Halos lumabas ang tonsil ni Ale sa inis sa kaibigan.

"I know! That's the best part. We get to rest for three days!" Sumuntok pa ito sa ere. "I was thinking we take a trip and go to Singapore. There’s a party in Sentosa. Maraming babae roon!" Sa lahat ng na-suspend, si Taylor ang pinakamasaya.

"We are suspended and you're planning a trip? Are you for real?" Napahilamos si Ale sa mukha. Binilisan niya ang lakad at iniwan ito.

"Wait up!" Mabilis siyang tinakbo ni Taylor. "Lighten up a bit, Ale. Do you want to get some drinks tonight? Ganiyan ang mga lalaking walang sex life. Mainitin ang ulo."

"Gago. Puro ka kalokohan." Binatukan niya ito pero katulad ng dati, tatawa-tawa lang si Taylor. Ilang pulbura kaya ang nasinghot nito noong bata pa at nasira ang ulo? Tsk.

Ale had flings, but he is not one to get serious. Pero kapag sinagot na siya ni Gabriella, wala na siyang magiging iba. He's graduating soon and although she is four years older than him, hindi 'yon mahalaga sa kaniya. Age is just a number. Nakilala niya ito nang mag-imbita si Alejandro ng mga kaklase sa bahay. Ale just turned eighteen at sa tanang buhay niya, noon lang siya natulala sa isang babae.

Gabriella is perfect in every way. Maganda, matalino, mabait with a sexy body to boot— sino ang hindi magkakagusto rito? Malambing din ito at masayahin. He needs that kind of person in his life.

"You're not dating anyone. Let's have a good time, Ale. You're going back to New York soon. School is almost over too and we won’t be able to have a good time."

"Para lang babae kung magspeech. Ang daming pasakalye." Of course, Ale was just pulling his leg.

"Tarantado." Si Ale naman ang binatukan ni Taylor.

They went to their favorite Tavern near the university and ordered drinks. Nakadalawa na silang beer nang maisip na wala pa silang matinong kain. They were shooting some pool when a couple of women approached them. Ale was about to take a shot nang tumungo ang babae sa harap niya at ipitin ng magkabilang braso ang dibdib para lumitaw ang cleavage nito. Napatayo ng tuwid si Ale habang si Taylor naman ay lumapit sa kaniya at umakbay.

"She likes you, man."

"Do I look like I care?" pasupladong sagot ni Ale sa kaibigan.

"She's hot. And she goes to our school. Let’s flirt a little. Maganda rin 'yong kasama niya." Walang buhay na sumunod si Ale kay Taylor. "Hi ladies! Do you want to shoot some... pool?"

"Maybe. How about we take it up a notch? Maybe make it a little bit more fun?" May landi ang tinig nito. Ale would bet any money that the woman is not wearing any underwear with that skimpy mini-skirt.

"Eight ball strip. Two games."

Kapag natalo ang mga ito, underwear lang ang matitira. Baka tama nga si Taylor. He needs to get laid. Pwede namang isipin niya na si Gabriella ito. Parehas ang pangangatawan ng dalawa at magkasing-taas rin. She has a blonde hair though. Si Gabriella ay dark brown ang buhok.

"Ready?" To entice him, kinalas pa nito ang isa pang butones ng blouse. Napalunok si Ale. Whatever she's doing, it's working.

He won those two games and behind the Tavern, Ale fucked the woman's brains out. She was more than satisfied at okay naman ito, pero ni hindi niya maalala kung ano’ng pangalan ng babae. Was it Ara or Ana? She left with her friend afterwards. Nang magbalik siya sa loob ay halos sabay pa sila ni Taylor. Mukhang katatapos lang nito.

"O baka humawak ka sa akin? Maghugas ka muna ng kamay," babala ni Taylor kay Ale. "Fuck! You're such a dickhead, Ale!" Inihilamos niya ang kamay sa mukha nito pero ang totoo, naghandwash naman siya sa washroom.

Ale surprisingly had a wonderful time. He will miss this. All of these.