ANGELO couldn’t remember how many times Charles tried to avoid his ways and conversations. Charles wouldn’t even stay for a minute in front or beside him, that's how much he wanted to avoid him. But do I give up? Nah.
Laughing at his thoughts, Angelo continued to serve his customers. After he woke up this morning, he tried pissing Charles first before he decided to go to Wynter’s condo unit, take a bath, and change clothes. When nightfall came, he went back to LUST DAWN and wore his uniform.
“Hey, Oppa.”
Angelo shook his head and turned to see Narae leaning on the bar counter. “Hey, miss seducer.”
Narae slightly chuckled. “How was last night? Did something great happen?”
Angelo suddenly remembered his dream, and he smiled. “Yep! It was surreal.”
Narae looked at the person in confusion. “What exactly happened?”
“Too private to share.” Angelo winked at her.
Narae just laughed at his answer before saying goodbye to look for victims again. Angelo continued serving drinks to his customers. He suddenly remembered the dream and his teasing of Charles earlier, so he looked like a fool smiling alone. Speaking of that guy, where is he?
Angelo’s eyes searched the people around the dance floor. Even at the tables as far as he could reach he was looking for the young man. Where could he be? Earlier when I entered, I did not notice him. He let out a sigh. He might be in a VIP room with someone already. Anyways, I don’t really care. We live in separate ways anyway.
Angelo just focused on his work, until he finally stopped fooling himself. I hate you, self.
“Jason, I’ll go see the DAWN if they need any help or orders,” Angelo told his co-worker.
Jason just nodded knowing that he was the brother of one of their bosses. Besides, there were only a few people still going to the bar, and there were three of them.
When Angelo finally reached the DAWN’s Lair, he immediately let his eyes search, but he wasn't there either. Now, where could he be?
“Looking for someone?” Anurak popped out of nowhere and asked him.
Angelo smiled. “Yeah, I just wanna ask you guys if you need any drink?” he reasoned.
“Liar.” Anurak chuckled. “But nah. We’re fine here. We know where to find you if we need anything unless you go searching for we-obviously-know-who,” Anurak teased.
Angelo scratched his nape and then smiled. “Okay fine. Ahm… Do you have any idea where he is?”
Anuraka playfully grinned at him. “Exactly, who are we talking about?”
Angelo laughed. “Charles. Do you know where he is?” He could feel the heat on his cheek for no apparent reason.
Because of the lights, Anurak was able to see Angelo blush for a moment, which caused him to let out a laugh. “Well, he went out. He said he has important matters to deal with. I think Narae tried to be nosy and asked him where.”
Angelo slowly nodded. “What did he say?”
“Why do you wanna know?” a woman suddenly asked from behind him.
“Done flirting around?” Anurak asked Narae with a laugh, who sat on her single sofa.
“Just taking a short break,” she answered and took a sip on her cocktail before looking back at Angelo. “Anyways, why do you wanna know D’s location?” Narae was now grinning at him as she waited for his answer.
“I think you already know why,” Angelo shot back.
Narae’s grin widened even more before she slowly shook her head. “Hay! You both are weird.” Narae laughed softly. “Anyways, he didn’t answer my question so nobody knows where he is but it’s just probably business. He’s a workaholic, just like Unnie.”
Angelo just laughed at what he heard. Anurak, on the other hand, asked him to sit on the sofa. “Would it be okay if we’ll have a short chat?” Anurak asked him.
“Of course. About what?” Angelo asked, smiling.
“Something, something.” There is something strange in Narae's smile that sends shivers to Angelo.
“Nar,” Anurak laughed. “Calm down, S̄eụ̄x.” Tigress.
“I am calm.” Narae let out a chuckle before she looked at Angelo. “So, warm-up?” Narae smiled. “What’s your work, Oppa?”
Angelo straightened his back. “I’m a system analyst and I do have investments here and there. I mostly invest in Emy’s businesses.”
“Same here. That woman doesn’t get tired of doing another business,” Anurak commented.
“Let's just benefit from it.” Narae laughed. The two immediately agreed. “How are you in your household? All three of us knew the Vasquez story.”
Angelo let out a small smile. “I stay with the Vasquez', once or twice a month. Thrice if my sisters force me to. But I have my own apartment here and in the Philippines. Wynter and Autumn also visit me often so I don’t usually feel lonely.”
Narae and Anurak seemed sad, so the latter talked about another topic. “How about your bartending skills? Wynter said you studied in the U.S. for that.”
This time, Angelo showed a real smile. “Yeah. I just loved the idea of mixing drinking, flirting with the customers, and of course, showing off.”
The three of them laughed and then Anurak asked again. “Have you ever joined a bartending contest?”
Angelo nodded. “Just a couple though. One in Los Angeles and one in NYC.”
Both listeners were amazed. All three of them continued talking mainly about Angelo’s life until Narae asked a bit about the love side question. “Moving on, when did you meet D?”
Angelo took a deep breath. When it comes to his Nick, he always becomes weak. “Like I said before, college days. We were second-year students at that time.” He laughed softly. “I could still remember his cold exterior and how I worked hard to melt that.” He shook his head as he smiled. “He looks so cute every time he gets annoyed by me. Then when I make him smile, I don't know, it feels great. Then—” Angelo stopped talking when both the people he was talking to laughed while looking at him. “Why are you laughing like that?”
Narae was the first one to talk. “Because you're crazy, Oppa.”
“She was just asking you when you two met and then you began storytelling.” Anurak smiled.
“Do you like our Dom?” Narae playfully asked. Both Anurak and her assumed that he would deny it, but to their shock, Angelo relaxed his body on the sofa and smiled before nodding.
“I like him. So much. Or better yet say, I love him.”
THE day after their wedding, both Angelo and Charles flew to America. They have already talked about this matter before they got married, and finally, they can do it without any other problems.Charles was even more in a hurry when he told him that the house he had bought from a real estate agent he knew was finished. The house had three bedrooms, one for the masters, the other was a guest room, and the final room was for their daughter.“The documents are all set according to Light,” Charles, who was busy driving, informed him.Angelo smiled as he stared at their wedding ring. “After marriage, now we'll finally be a complete family.” He looked at his husband. “It’s raining blessings, don't you think?”Charles glanced at him before he focused on the road. “I’m happy that you're happy.” “Te amo, mi Nick."“I love you too, my Gab.”In a few moments, they arrived at the adoption center. They entered the facility together and a little girl came running in their direction and immediately
HAVING the thought of asking Angelo for marriage and actually doing it are definitely two different things. Charles has been staring at the computer for hours now, trying to find articles and videos about wedding proposals. He wanted to ask Anurak but the guy is busy with his family. Wynter is currently with her boyfriend who is in the Philippines.Narae suddenly entered his room. “You know, if you want to propose, just propose as simple as you want. The very question "Will you be my partner for the rest of my life?" is only the most important.”Charles sighed before closing the tabs connected to his proposal. He then turned his chair to face Narae. “How’s your plan for the sixth anniversary?”The girl threw herself on his bed. “I haven't thought of a theme yet. We already did our common red and black last year. White and black for our third anniv. Black and gold for the second. And plain black for our first.” She turned to him. "Oppa, help." She even pouted, making Charles sigh.“Th
“WHERE did Dad say they took them?” Charles asked on the other line.(Well, some of the adults are still in the same hospital, some already got discharged and had a life of their own. As for the kids, they were transferred to a facility. An adoption center, just near the Japanese restaurant we used to like.)“Okay, got it. Thanks, Light.”(That's not for free. Speaking of Japanese restaurants, how about asking me on a date—)He ended the call with his friend. Light and his nonsense. He just shook his head and then turned his full attention to the road.After a couple of minutes — thank God there was no traffic — Charles parked his car in front of the adoption center.Since that place was closer, it was the first place he visited. The hospital will be the next one.It has been years since he last paid them a visit. Charles then felt that he was greatly lacking in these people.One of his previous missions was the case of a well-known government official that was involved in human traff
ANGELO deeply sighed a couple of times as he looked out of the window of the plane. He saw the news about the bombing of his sister's wedding, he called for days, but nobody picked up the phone except Narae and Anurak who were thankfully not present at the scene.Angelo already has an idea about who blew up his sister's wedding. For a year, he learned all the lessons he could learn about the life of his father and sister. He also learned how to use a gun and how to fight physically.His father honed his mental and physical skills for him to safely enter that world. His lessons are still not done and were supposed to continue for another year in the USA, but the bodyguards did not stop him when he said he was going home because he was worried about his family's condition.The news showed that his stepmother and Autumn were at the wedding, so he was even more worried. But the person who occupies the most space in his mind was his sister's groom.“Please secure your seatbelts for when we
TIME flew fast. A year has already passed, and everyone is busy. Cameras kept flashing from left to right. Reporters are outside the church, and they are noisy as hell. Everyone has smiles on their lips except for the groom.Charles looked like a living zombie as he stood there and got clothed by three or four assistants. Someone puts make-up on his face and others put on his clothes. He was frowning but he has already given up on having an escape plan months ago. He could do nothing but follow his father's wishes.“What’s up, groom?” Light teasingly smiled at him as he entered his room.They’re currently in a hotel getting ready for the wedding. He no longer had to ask what was going on at the church they were getting married to because it was in the news a few hours ago.Charles is irritated because his marriage to Wynter seems like a big deal that the whole world needs to know. Maybe if I was marrying Gab, I would’ve felt the opposite of irritated. Charles just shook his head. To t
NARAE and Anurak both fell on the sofa in the living room of DAWN's penthouse. They were both stunned by the absence and sighed minute by minute. They both felt drained after a load of trials to make Wynter and Charles talk to each other."Can you think of anything else?" Anurak asked his cousin even though he was still staring at the turned-off television."Gone. My brain is very dry, Oppa,” was her lifeless answer. They sighed once again.It has been two months since those two’s soon-to-be wedding was announced in public, and it has been two months since Wynter and Charles talked to each other. Both of them act as if they do not exist in each other's worlds.Last month, Wynter flew back to the Philippines and worked her ass off to keep herself busy. Charles, on the other hand, stayed in Thailand but separated from them and did not live in the penthouse.That is why Anurak and Narae are so tired that they fly to the Philippines and back to Thailand just to make sure of the situation