Chapter 4

Earlier...

"This is the place?" Puno ng kaseryosohan na tanong ni Maximino kay Lex nang huminto ang sasakyang kanilang kinalululunan sa harap ng isang malaking establisimyento.

Tumango si Lex. "Yes. Apparently, this place is quite popular among Alphas and Betas since most of the people that are working here are Omegas." Ani Lex. "This club has been established ten years ago and it was just 6 years ago when your so-called fated pair joined this club. It also turns out that he is a very close friend of the owner of this club, Michael Esguerra, who is a beta."

"That Michael. Is he the one who asked Nexus to work at this club?" Madilim ang mukha na tanong ni Maximino kay Lex.

"I don't know. But I am pretty sure Nexus is doing this with full consent. Anyway, Nexus is very popular. Businessmen, Politicians, Celebrities and other people who belongs to the Alta-Sociedad has been coming here for one person, and that is Nexus. There was never a night where he's free---"

"I'm going in." Pagputol ni Maximino sa sinasabi ni Lex.

Hindi makapaniwalang sinundan ni Lex ang pinsan na ngayon ay nasa labas na ng sasakyan and is making his way towards the club.

Napailing na lamang si Lex. "He just don't wanna hear how many men fucked Nexus." Pabulong niyang saad bago siya bumaba na rin ng sasakyan at sinundan si Maximino.

Nang maabutan niya ang pinsan ay nasa loob na ito ng club at kausap ang mismong may-ari ng club na si Michael Esguerra. She was about to go near the two when she overheard what they are talking about.

"Ito na ang huling beses na magtatrabaho si Nexus dito sa club mo." Puno ng kaseryosohan na sabi ni Maximino kay Michael na halatang naguguluhan. "As his fated pair, I don't want him working in this kind of club. So I am telling you now in advance, I am not letting him work in this club again." Pagpapatuloy ni Maximino saka nito tinalikuran ang hindi makapagsalita at naguguluhan pa rin na si Michael.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Lex.

Alam na niyang mangyayari ito kaya't hindi na rin siya nagtaka.

"But still. That Maximino, he really don't know when to hold back, huh?" Halos pabulong niyang sabi sa sarili. 

She then looked at Michael na nakatingin sa daan na pinuntahan ni Maximino. Makikita pa rin ang kaguluhan sa mukha nito which she understands.

 Nilapitan niya ito at tinapik ito sa balikat. Gulat naman na napalingon sa kanya si Michael.

Nginitian niya ito. "Hi, I am Lex. Remember me?" 

Ilang segundo muna siyang tinitigan ni Michael bago ito tumango. "Yes, yes. I remember you. The one who booked Nexus." 

Tumango naman si Lex. "Yes. I am that person. So," she took a glance at the place where Maximino went into then looked back at Michael, "you already met him, right? The one who really booked Nexus."

"Are you referring to the guy that I just had a conversation with?" 

Muling tumango si Lex. "Yes. Pagpasensyahan mo na ang inasal niya. Matalas kasi talaga ang dila ng pinsan ko but I assure you, he truly cares about Nexus." Nakangiting sabi ni Lex.

"Pinsan?" 

"Yes. I am not just that man's manager. I am his cousin as well." 

Michael looked down. "I see." Mahina ang boses na saad ni Michael. Ilang segundo na nanatiling nakatungo si Michael bago ito muling nag-angat ng tingin at tumingin sa kanya. "Then, do you believe what he is saying? That Nexus…is his fated pair? I mean, is fated pair even real? Isn't that just an urban legend?"

Lex shrugged. "I don't know. Honestly, I have the same thought as yours. That fated pair is nothing but just an urban legend. But then, I know Maximino the most. Siya iyong tipo ng tao na walang pakialam sa iba. He wouldn't give a fuck about other people unless he is deeply involve with that person. And believe me, he has never been like this to other people except for Nexus." Pansamantalang ibinaling ni Lex muna ang tingin sa kung saan dumaan si Maximino, "As I told you, my cousin truly and genuinely cares about, Nexus," then looked at Michael again who is staring intently at her, "so please be assured that Max won't do anything that would harm, Nexus." Lex said with smile on her lips.

Muling tumungo si Michael at isang maliit na ngiti ang namutawi sa mga labi nito. 

"If what you are saying is true, then I think I should thank you and Maximino." Ani Michael.

Kumunot ang noo ni Lex sa tinuran ni Michael ngunit hindi siya umimik. Hinintay niyang magsalita itong muli. 

"Ang totoo ay matagal ko ng gustong alisin si Nexus dito sa club." 

Lalong kumunot ang noo ni Lex sa sinabi ni Michael and that's when she started asking, "Then why didn't you do it? As far as I know, hindi lang simpleng empleyado ang turing mo kay Nexus and it seems like you really care about him. But if you really do, then why did you let him work in the sex industry? No offence meant, I know that this is your business but we both know that this kind of job is not decent. Moreover, it's dangerous. So why?" 

Huminga muna ng malalim si Michael bago ito sumagot. "I tried to stop him and took him away from this kind of job and from this kind of life but he refused to do so. Instead of listening to me, what he did is went on different places and look for an Alpha that he can have a one-night stand with. What he did angered the hell out of me to the point that I even thought of locking him inside my house just to make sure that he won't run away. But I know that that won't resolve anything. So instead of letting him wander everywhere and be with some other Alpha that I don't even know, I'd rather let him work here where I can see him and protect him from Alphas that might abuse him."

Lex looked at the people in front of them then nodded. "I see. But Mr.Michael, you're not inlove with Nexus, right?" She asked out of curiosity before she looked at Michael again who is now also looking at her and has a bewildered look on his face.

"Of course not!" Tugon ni Michael matapos ang ilang segundong pagtitig lamang nito sa kanya.

Lex chuckled. "That's good to hear then. At least alam ko ng hindi ka magiging problema kay Maximino." 

Umiling-iling muna si Michael bago ito nagsalitang muli, "Nexus is nothing but like little brother to me. And yes, I won't be a problem for your cousin. Not until he starts causing harm for Nexus. I might look like an easy and laid-back guy but when it comes to Nexus, I don't hold back."

Lex chuckled again then patted Lex's shoulder again. "I already told you, there is nothing for you to worry. Because out of all the people who is in Nexus's side right now, Max is the one who wants to protect him the most." Said Lex before she looked again at the direction where Maximino headed to.

Present...

"Maximino…" Hindi makapaniwalang bulalas ni Nexus sa pangalan ng lalaking Alpha na nasa kanyang harapan.

Kagabi lamang ay napanood niya pa ito sa balita and now, he is already right in front of him. He even said last night that he don't want to be associated with him ngunit ngayon ay customer na niya ito.

Is God playing tricks on him?

"You look fine." Walang kaemo-emosyon na sabi ni Maximino habang mariin ito na nakatitig sa kanya.

Hindi nakapagsalita si Nexus. Pakiramdam niya ay may bumikig sa kanyang lalamunan that it's making it hard for him to talk. He could even stand. He just kept on sitting on the edge of the bed as he stares at Maximino, still couldn't believe that the guy is right in front of him now.

"Won't you even invite me to sit down? Not just as your customer but as your old classmate?" Muling pagsasalita ni Maximino na bahagya niyang ikinagulat. 

What is Maximino doing here? How did he found this place? Does he usually do this? Wait...Michael said that he is a new customer so this is probably his first time going in this kind of place. But it could also be that he frequents in some other clubs like this, who offers physical services and that it just happened that he has never been here, reason why Michael said that he's a new custome---

"It seems like you're lost in your own thoughts." Biglang pagsasalita ulit ni Maximino na siyang naging sanhi upang matigil si Nexus sa kanyang pag-iisip. 

Tuluyan ng pumasok si Nexus sa silid at isinara ang pinto saka ito umupo sa sofa na katapat lamang ng kama na kanyang kinauupuan.

"How long are you going to be surprised? Is it really that shocking to see your old classmate whom you've never seen for years?" 

Walang ideya si Nexus sa kung ano ang iniisip ni Maximino. Hindi niya rin mabasa ang ekspresyon na nasa mukha nito. 

Maximino did not looked so surprise seeing him working in the sex industry which made him think a lot of things. 

May malaking posibilidad na alam na nito that he is a sex worker even before he booked him. But how did he know? Who told him? At paano siya nito nakilala? Seven years has passed since he went away from his town and from the people who knew him and he sure changed a lot since from then. Isa pa ay hindi naman sila magkalapit ni Maximino so how did he managed na makilala siya? 

He can feel Maximino's intense gaze on him, dahilan upang bumilis ang tibok ng kanyang puso.

He's nervous. Maximino is staring at him as if he's some kind of a specimen na sinusuri nito. 

Maximino's stares are too much for him to handle resulting to him avoiding it's gaze.

He first cleared his throat before he spoke without even looking at Maximino.

"What...are you doing here?" He asked in a small, almost trembling, voice.

"Before I answer your question, can you calm down first? I am not here to cause you any harm, Nexus." Ani Maximino dahilan upang maibalik ni Nexus ang tingin sa mukha ni Maximino. 

Nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata and Nexus could swear, he saw fire in Maximino's eyes that it made him gulp.

Calm down? How can I calm down if he is staring at me like that? How can I calm down if I don't know what he's thinking and what he's really after? How can I calm down after seeing a man I never wanted to see?

Ilang beses na huminga ng malalim si Nexus upang pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili. Malakas at mabilis pa rin ang tibok ng kanyang puso ngunit kahit papaano ay nabawasan na ang napakadaming tanong na tumatakbo sa kanyang isipan.

Muling humugot ng malalim na hininga si Nexus bago siya muling nagsalita habang sinasalubong ang tila nakakapaso na tingin ni Maximino. 

"Now, answer me. What are you doing here?" 

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Maximino. "Hindi ba dapat at alam mo na ang sagot sa tanong na'yan?" 

Muling napalunok si Nexus. 

Alam niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Maximino at gusto niyang batukan ang sarili.

His question was so stupid. Of course, Maximino is here for sex.

And as much as he doesn't want to, hindi na siya pwedeng tumanggi pa. He was booked by him and as what Michael said, he paid lots of money. And Michael will be surely disappointed once he tells him that he doesn't want to cater Maximino's sexual needs although hindi nito ipapakita sa kanya iyon. 

This will be the first and the last time. Hindi na ito mauulit pa. After this night, papakiusapan ko na si Michael na kung maaari ay huwag ng papasukin rito si Maximino. I'm sure he'll understand. He silently told himself.

Bumuga muna ng marahas na hininga si Nexus bago siya tumayo.

"Then, let's get this started." Nexus said as he took off his shirt.

He was about to unbutton his jeans nang magsalita si Maximino.

"I was not serious about what I said earlier. I was just kidding." Anito na ikinanganga ni Nexus.

He's kidding? He was not serious? He doesn't look like it! He looked so freaking serious while saying those words! Kahit sino ay iisiping seryoso siya sa sinabi niya! Nexus thought.

"Get dressed, Nexus. Put on your shirt again or I really won't be able to control myself." Muling sabi ni Maximino habang pinapasadahan ng tingin ang buong katawan ni Nexus. At nang muli na namang nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata ay muli na namang napalunok si Nexus.

The fire in Maximino's eyes was still there. At sa hindi malamang kadahilanan, dumoble pa ang lakas at tibok ng kanyang puso.

He wanted to avoid Maximino's gaze but for no apparent reason again, he can't. It's like his eyes were glued to Maximino's. At habang tumatagal ang pagtatagpo ng kanilang mga mata ay naramdaman din ni Nexus na unti-unti ay nakakaramdam siya ng kakaiba sa kanyang katawan. His body is starting to get weird.

Hanggang sa tumayo na si Maximino at dahan-dahang humakbang patungo sa kanya. 

Hindi pa rin magawang i-alis ni Nexus ang tingin sa mga mata ni Maximino. Maging ang gumalaw o humakbang paatras ay hindi na rin niya magawa. It's like his body has lost it's strength and he don't know why. 

Why is he acting like this? Why is his body getting weird? And why is his heart beating so fast as if he's on a marathon?

Hanggang sa nasa harapan na niya si Maximino ay hindi pa rin siya nakagalaw. Nanatili lamang siya sa kanyang pwesto as he still can't take his eyes off of Maximino.

Nang ilang dipa na lamang ang layo ni Maximino sa kanya ay saka lamang ito tumigil sa paghakbang. Maximino stood right in front of him, his eyes never leaving his. At ngayong nasa harap na niya ito at malapit na ito sa kanya ay tila dumoble pa ang lakas at bilis ng pagtibok ng kanyang puso.

"You felt it, do you?" Ani Maximino as he gently caresses his cheek that made Nexus flinch a little. "The moment our eyes met, you instantly felt it, right,Nexus? You felt our connection." 

Hindi maintindihan ni Nexus ang mga sinasabi ni Maximino. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang koneksyon na sinasabi nito. He's confuse. He's puzzled. At nakita naman iyon ni Maximino sa kanyang mukha.

"You're confused, aren't you?" Mula sa kanyang pisngi ay bumaba ang kamay ni Maximino sa kanyang labi. Maximino gently touched Nexus' slightly opened lips that made Nexus gasp a little. "Then, let me get straight to the point, Nexus," Maximino made a pause for a second before he spoke again which shook Nexus' world, "You are my fated pair, Nexus. And I am here to get you out of this place."