CHAPTER 3

Rafael's Point of View

 "Come on, Fuentabella, stand up straight." 

I mumbled to him. 

I don't like having one-on-one drinking sessions with Raiko because he can't even stand on his feet when he gets drunk. He will drink too much but cannot bear to stand up after. This crazy friend of mine is one of a kind. He is the only friend that I always needed to bring home.

"Crisha, baby"

Raiko said while touching my face. I laughed as I looked at Raiko's face. He is really into that woman named Crisha.

"Fuentabella, stop doing that. I am not Crisha."

I said while I put him in the passenger seat. I set his seatbelt, and after that, I turned to the driver's seat. 

"You did not change, Fuentabella, until now. I am still your instant driver and caretaker whenever you get drunk."

I said while shaking my head in disbelief. But it is not a big deal for me. After all, he is the friend who is always there for me. 

"Shut up, Villarante. I want my baby."

Raiko whimpered, but I could still hear it. I shook my head as I drove my car at the average speed. I wonder why he let himself be wasted by the alcohol. 

"Crisha, please love me back. Promise I will be good all the time."

Raiko shouted, which made me look at him and laugh. Now I get it. The woman does not love him. 

"Oh, man! You are in love. That sucks!"

I commented to Raiko while laughing. I cannot believe that I heard what he just said. I wonder. What is into that, Crisha? That my friend became like this. He looked like a stupid drunken man.

Well, that may be what they call love. I am not familiar with the concept of adoration because I never tried being in love with someone. I stick to playing around with women because that is convenient for me. 

After all, I always get what I want, especially for women. They are always ready to give me what exactly I want. Every woman knows that I am not into serious commitments. So, once they confess their feelings for me, they ask about a relationship. I will ditch them immediately.

I had seen how my mother nagged my father in those years when I was living under the same roof as them. My father acts like the mighty lion king in his company. But whenever he goes home, he transforms into a little cat. He always follows what my mother wants and everything she commands. 

I also see some of my friends whose wives have nagged. They cannot even hang out and have drinking sessions with us. It is like their wives have been holding their necks. Funny because when they are bachelors like me back then, they can do whatever they want. That is the reality when you have a woman, and you will let them control you. I swear that I won't let that happen to me. 

I let out a sigh when I saw the sign of the Royal Times Square Hotel. 

I patted Raiko to wake him up from his deep sleep. Instead of waking up, he talked again as if he were dreaming.

"Crisha baby"

Raiko said. There is also a trace of concern on his face, as if something terrible happened in his dream.

"Fuentabella, wake up"

I said while continuing to pat him on the arm. Raiko woke up, but worry could be seen on his face. He looked around until his eyes landed on me. 

"What happened, Villarante? Where is Crisha?"

He asked. Sweat was visible on his forehead. 

"Calm down, Fuentabella. You're just dreaming. Nothing terrible happened to Crisha."

I saw that he calmed down because of what I said. He took a deep breath and only realized he was inside my car.

"Thanks for driving me home, Villarante."

He said with a shaky voice. He seemed to be absentminded.

"Come, and I'll take you to your unit. You might stumble along the way. That is a big shame to the Fuentabella clan."

I teased him. He laughed and nodded in accord with what I said.

I got out of the car and went about to the passenger seat. I opened the door. An absent-minded Raiko was exposed to me. He had a horrible dream and will never forget it.

"Come on, Fuentabella. I'm sure she is waiting for you too."

I commented while smiling to bring him back to his senses. He beamed and nodded at me. He exited the car, but his balance was not good when standing up. 

I am right about that, well, we have been friends for so long, so I know him well. 

"You drink too much alcohol. You have not changed."

I taunted him, but he just chuckled. 

I immediately pressed the button on the fourth floor where Raiko's unit was. I noticed he was quiet and seemed deep in thought while looking at the elevator door.

"Fuentabella, are you alright?"

I asked him with a concerned look. It looks like he is still thinking about his dream. I kept thinking about what that was and what happened because he seemed so affected.

"I'm fine. I can't forget the dream I had earlier."

He spoke earnestly, then took a deep breath.

"What did you dream about?"

I asked with a curious face. Raiko looked at me and smiled tentatively. 

"I dreamed about Crisha."

He began. I did not interrupt him and waited for him to continue to speak.

"I dreamed that he left me and married someone else."

He sighed again and shook his head.

"Then his brother beat me."

I frowned at what he said—beaten up? What for?

"Why did you get beaten? Do you have a debt?"

I questioned.

"I have no debt, but."

Raiko uttered. He looked at me and smiled hesitantly.

"He doesn't want me for his sister because I am known for being a playboy. He once threatened to beat me if I continued pursuing his sister."

Raiko said with a smile. The corners of my lips rose, and I shook my head.

"And you continued? You're ridiculous, Fuentabella."

I laughed and hit him in his right arm.

"What should I do? I always wanted to be with Crisha. And he can't stop me with that."

He said proudly. I shook my head at Raiko's crazy confession.

"The last time I talked to that friend, he asked me if I was still seeing her sister. He senses that I've always been around Crisha."

He said. I chuckled at him in response.

"Are you ready to get beaten up? Don't worry. I will send you an ambulance when that happens."

I responded to him, which made him laugh.

"Stop it, Fuentabella. That might end your life."

I said seriously, but Raiko just laughed at me again.

"How about you, Villarante? If someone commands you to stop seeing the woman you love. Would you do that?"

Raiko asked. I shrugged my shoulders. Well, I never had that love for someone. And I don't plan to be in love either. 

"Well, I can get everything I want, Fuentabella."

I replied to him proudly.

"Are you sure? How about the girl you want? Are you sure you can have her?"

I frowned at what Raiko said.

"I know Villarante. You're really into that woman, don't deny it."

He teasingly said. I had yet to answer Raiko when the elevator stopped just in time. A signal that we had reached the fourth floor. The elevator opened, and we stepped out quietly. 

"What's your room number?"

I asked Raiko. He is still smiling at me.

"408"

I looked around to find room 408. 

404

406

"Villarante"

I turned to Raiko and frowned at him.

"I will introduce you to Crisha."

He said. I just nodded and smiled in answer.

Raiko knocked on the door of unit 408 while I was looking around. In fairness, the Royal Times Square Hotel is okay. It is one of the most famous hotels in New York. It is also known as one of my hotel's competitors.

I stopped thinking when I heard my cell phone ring. The caller was Janica, so I answered right away.

"You called? Is there a problem?"

I asked as I answered the call.

"Are you busy? I have something important to say."

Janica spoke seriously from the other line. I turned to Raiko, who was also looking at me. I signaled to him that it was an important call. He nodded at me.

"I will introduce you to her next time, Villarante. Thanks again for the ride."

Raiko suggested. I nodded to him and then started walking back on the elevator.

"What is that, Janica?"

I asked her. I was about to press the button when a woman pressed it first. The woman entered the elevator and was followed by a man. I decided to ride on a different elevator and stuffed the other button. I was about to step in when I looked at the woman. I was stunned. It was her—the woman I had been chasing. 

"Uncle called me earlier."

I came back to reality because of what Janica said. I clear my throat before answering her again.

"What did Dad say? Why didn't he call me?"

I asked in annoyance. Dad can call me directly instead of calling Janica. I said to myself. 

"He wants you to go back to the Philippines, brother."

Brother. I only hear that word from Janica often when she is scared.

"Did Dad scold you, Janica?"

I asked her worriedly. I know, Dad. Even though someone is innocent, he will reprimand her, especially when he is not obeyed. It is one of the reasons why my older brother has not come home since they argued about his dream and life plan.

"No, but he told me to tell you to return to the Philippines as soon as possible. If you don't go home, he will block all your modeling projects."

I clenched my fist at what Janica said. Dad is different. He loves to insist on what he wants. I have no plans to return, especially, and I know I will be forced to hang out again with his business partner's daughter.

"Brother?"

I sighed before speaking again.

"I'll take care of everything, Janica."

I replied to her,

"Are you going back, brother? Uncle might do something."

The tone of Janica's voice was full of concern.

"Don't worry, and I'll take care of it. Get some rest. It's already late in the evening."

I said to her, I heard Janica sign on the other line.

"Alright, brother, good night."

She said before hanging up. I shook my head, thinking Janica was scared because of what Dad did. He didn't need to pass his threat for me on to others.

The elevator rang, signaling that I was in the lobby. I got out of the elevator while looking around. I remembered again what I saw earlier—that woman. Our paths crossed again, but I could not catch up with him.

Where can I see her here? It's a prominent place. I want to know which part she was at and if she is still with that guy. I speak to myself.

That is not the man she was with on the plane, so does that mean they broke up? Could he be her new lover? I solely chuckled at my thoughts. I questioned myself as if I knew the answer.

I walked through the lobby of the Royal Times Square Hotel. It is my first time here, so I'm supervising every part of it. Its design is beautiful and very intricate.

"Good evening, Sir."

One of the hotel staff greeted me warmly. I smiled in response.

My attention went to the vibrating cell phone. It was a message from Harper's staff. The designer and owner of Harper's Suit and Tie Collection, of which I am one of the models.

I almost forgot about the Fashion show tomorrow. I sighed. I decided to go home because I needed to be early for tomorrow's event.

I was about to take a step when a sweet smile of a woman prompted my attention—it was her again. I smiled, thinking that I could finally approach her this time. But my smile disappeared when I saw her smiling from ear to ear at the man in front of her.  for the man before him.

"Are they dating?" 

I asked myself exasperatedly.