59: knock knock
#DWTDWP

RYU

It's been damn three hours and I'm still locked out of the damn door. Ilang beses akong napabuntong-hininga.

"Titless open this door!"

"No! Never!" she replied from the other side.

This woman is seriously using all my remaining patience and to tell you, I only have a little. I was happy when she told me she loves me. In fact walang salitang makakatumbas sa kasiyahan ko— only if she wasn't apparently being a brat and just open the damn door before I smash it open.

But I know her. She would hate me if I do that. Even hate me more if I wouldn't tell her what I feel. I would but not in this setup. She would gun me down if I tell her I love her right now! Baka mas lalo pa niya akong hindi pagbuksan ng pinto. Just to remind myself, I married someone with a mentality of a kid.

"Hanggang kailan mo balak magkulong diyan?" tanong ko.

"Forever!"

I made a face. See? How the hell did she acquire a professional license and master's degree gamit ang ganyang utak?

"Oh okay, I'm going down for a bit," paalam ko sa kanya.

"Go at huwag kang bumalik pa!"

Ah this woman! As if she would like that? Kailan ko ba maiintindihan ang takbo ng utak ng mga babae?

I have to tell her what I feel! I need to be creative? But damn, Ryu and Creative are two different words. 

I think I need some serious help. Kinuha ko ang cellphone mula sa bulsa at hinanap ang group chat na matagal na pero wala namang laman.

Starting group call in

3

2

1...

Vander Bros 4 eveR!!! ❤
Connecting....

Ah, maybe I should wring Cooler's neck some time for this group name!

Halos magkasunod lamang nilang sinagot iyon.

Cooler's grinning face was on screen. "Wow, this GC is up for like 2 years ago pero ngayon lang nagamit. At hindi ko inaasahang ikaw Ryu ang unang gagamit!"

Gray's frowning face also appeared. "What is this about? I'm busy." From his background, I can hear a dog's bark and the witch's giggle. What? Busy? Busy walking a dog with his girl?

Zywon's bored face registered on the screen too. Kinusot niya ang mata at humihikab pa. He probably had a nap kaya hindi na siya nagsalita at nakinig na lamang.

"I need some help. Some serious help," sabi ko sabay buntong-hininga. "I'll text you an address. Be here in an hour or I'm dead. If I'll be dead, that makes you three good as dead too.

***

Wala pang isang oras ay nandito na sila. Thanks to my threat. Cooler ransacked my kitchen at nang bumalik siya sa bakuran ay may dala na siyang ilang beer in can.

"Whoah, so this house is Cronus' wedding gift?!" bulalas ni Cooler at inilibot ang paningin mula sa bahay hanggang sa medium-sized pool. "Wow, magpakasal na rin kaya ako?"

"Bakit, may jowa ka ba?" tanong ni Zy na sanhi upang mapasimangot si Cooler. My brother Zywon is close to Cooler dahil parehas silang mahilig sa karera at mga sasakyan.

Well as brothers, Zy and I bond through computer games and other computer-related matters ngunit sa huli ay naiinis lamang ako sa tuwing palagi niya akong naiingusan which is ridiculous and at some point, impossible. Damn I am Apollo the Hacker, how come he would beat me at finger works?!

He probably cheated!

Cooler's frown was replaced with a grin at tumayo sa likuran ni Gray sabay masahe sa likod nito. "Lil bro here is getting married next."

Like always, iritableng tinabig ni Gray ang kamay ng kapatid, blushing a bit on the thought. I don't know why he always show his obvious disapproval to his brother. Kahit magkasundo na sila, hindi niya suportado si Cooler sa lahat ng bagay gaya ng involvement nito sa family business.

But they're not here to chill, I asked them to come over upang tulungan ako.

"I need all your help," kinakabahang wika ko. They all turned to me, focused. "Pi... confessed she loves me."

They blinked at once, waiting for me to say more.

"And I..." Damn it, this is so gay and so out of my character. I am Ryu Vander-Morisson, I was called the devil and even worst than that. "And I think I feel the same."

Saglit silang natahimik bago nag-highfive sa isa't-isa. They even opened their beers at nagcheers pa! Before Zy could take a sip, inagaw ko sa kanya ang bote at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

He looked at me unbelievably at tinangkang agawin ang beer. "Hey that's mine."

"You're not going to drink," sagot ko.

"What?" hindi makapaniwalang bulalas niya. "I'm not even a minor!"

"But I'm your older brother and if I said no, then no," sagot ko. Walang silbi ang pagbabawal ko dahil inabot ni Gray kay Zy ang kanyang inumin. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at napatingin sa kanilang tatlo.

"So back to the topic... What should I do?" I know I sounded desperate but I really am!

"Wait, you got married before confessing?" tanong ni Gray.

Cooler snapped in front of him. "Because eeeenk censored  that's why baby Rocket comes first before their marriage."

Zywon sneered. "I'm pretty sure he's doing it backwards. Paano naging huli ang pag-amin ninyo?"

I pulled my hair in frustration. "It doesn't matter okay? Ang kailangan ko ngayon ay tulong ninyo. What should I do?"

Ibinaba ni Cooler ang hawak na beer in can at tumingin sa akin. "Talk to her dude!"

I smirked. "I tried but..."

Napatingin sila sa akin, nag-aabang ng kadugtong sa sasabihin ko.

"...she locked herself in one of the rooms and refused to open the door for me ."

They all burst out laughing.

Damn it. I'm closed to smashing their head using the beer cans!

They think this is funny? It's bullshit. She locked me out and refused to talk to me. I have so much to say but damn woman is determined not to open the door!

"You three should shut up before I shoot you all in the face."

Napatigil sila sa katatawa ngunit hindi pa rin maitatago ang aliw sa mukha nila. Cooler even bite his lower lip to stifle his laughter.

"Let me clarify this, Pi confessed and locked you out the room, tama?" tanong ni Cooler.

I nodded a short reply. "Tama."

"Just knock and knock! Nagpapalambing lang 'yon! Konting lambing mo lang—"

Huh, I wish that was the case. "No that's not the case. I kept on waiting and begging for damn three hours straight ngunit wala talaga siyang balak na pagbuksan ako."

They all choked on their beer at muling nagtawanan. "Three hours?"

Damn, I could kill these three! Kaya ko sila pinapunta rito ay para tulungan ako, hindi para pagtawanan ako.

"Should I get a gun?" naasar na tanong ko. Unang nagtaas ng dalawang kamay si Cooler na para bang sumusuko.

"Okay, sorry. It's just that... Pi really did that? Whoah, she had you at your neck."

Napahinga ako nang malalim. "I want to confess too."

"Then you should," sabi ni Gray. "Ano bang sabi mo sa kanya?"

"Did you tell her your feelings behind the door?" tanong ni Zy.

I looked away. "I didn't."

Sabay silang napangiwi. "Ano?!"

"You don't know her. She'll kill me if I won't tell her what I feel but she will skin me alive, claw my eyes out and shoot me on the dick one hundred and fifty times before killing me if I will tell her what I feel in a most unromantic way," I sounded desperate. "Help me."

Muli silang nagtawanan at konting-konti na lang ay mananakal na ako. I'm sure candlelight dinner won't work. I trip to a romantic island doesn’t even stand a chance. Renting out a whole resort has no effect. I have to be creative. 

"Gray? How did you confess?" I asked, whipping my head to his direction. Napatigil siya sa katatawa at nawalan ng kulay ang mukha lalo na at nakatingin na kaming lahat sa kanya.

He chugged his drink and tried to escape my question. "You should plan well because women are complicated."

"Hey hey, don't try to dodge the question lil bro!" Cooler sneered at him. "Ano bang nagustuhan ni Amber sa'yo eh mas hamak na gwapo naman ako?"

Natampal ni Zy ang noo samantalang napasimangot na lang ako kay cooler. He glared at us, lalong-lalo na sa akin. "What? Diba totoo naman Ryu?"

I replied with a smirk. "He's the witch's choice."

He frowned and sulked samantalang hindi pa rin ako mapalagay. Anong gagawin ko? Sa anong paraan ko aaminin ang nararamdaman ko?

"You know her right? What does she likes?" Zy asked.

What she likes?

Titless enjoyed something gore, something brutal. She like guns and ammunition. She prefer guns than makeup brushes. Her taste in things is not of normal girls but that just made her distinct. Unique.

"Does she like puppies?" tanong ni Gray. "Naging mas close kami ni Amber nang binigyan ko siya ng cute na tuta. Maybe that will work too."

I shook my head, the image of Shabu, their family dog comes in mind. “I think a puppy won’t work either. She prefer attack dogs who have tendencies to kill at her command.”

Napa-facepalm silang tatlo, feeling the great dilemma I am in.

“Chocolates!” suhestiyon ni Zy.

“That’s literally sweet,” Gray said before frowning. “but  since a puppy won’t work do you think a chocolate does?”

“Hmmm, how about heroine-stashed chocolates?” tanong ni Cooler at napasuko ulit nang tatlong pares ng mga mata ang tumingin nang masama sa kanya. “Okay, kidding. Why would we give drugs to a pregnant woman? That was stupid of me.” Mahinang sinapak niya ang sarili.

“She’s not a drug junkie Cooler,” wika ko. “And yes, the Bellomos smuggled drugs. She doesn’t need any of that.”

Napailing si Gray. “This is too much information. Hindi ba kayo natatakot na isumbong ko sa kapulisan ang negosyo nila?”

This time, he’s the one who shut up when we glared at him. He can report all he wants but that’s not my concern now. How the hell do I confess?

Cooler snapped his fingers as if he got an idea. “Let’s make a strategy. Let’s put our shoe in Pi’s shoe.” Bumaling siya kay Zywon. “Halimbawa, ikaw ang nasa loob ng kwarto. Anong sasabihin ko para buksan mo ang pinto?”

Zy smirked. “Z, open this door. Sayo na ang McLaren 570S ko.”

“Nice try Z, but no. You can’t have my baby but anyway that’s not the point,” Cooler said.

Zy crossed his arms, still smiling. “But nice concept though. Won’t you try considering?”

“No,” mabiis na sagot ni Cooler. “How about you Gray?”

Si Zywon ang sumagot para sa kanya. “Gray open the door, Just Amber is here.” Tiningnan siya nang masama ni Gray ngunit ngumisi lamang si Zywon sa kanya.

“Right!” sabi ni Cooler at muling tumingin sa akin. “So how about Pi?”

“Maybe if I will say Harry Styles is here, bubuksan niya ang pinto,” sagot ko. “Where can we get that guy?”

Napabuga sila ng hangin at umiling. “Next option.”

“Or Cooler.” Since she had a crush on him right? I could use him as bait.

Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Cooler. He looked at us with a frown before shaking his head. “No, not me. I don’t want to be a rabid woman’s stress ball. I’m sure she’s ready to kill any moment dahil sa nangyari. If I lure her out, I’m good as dead.”

Exactly my point.

“How about ask her to do something she enjoys? Like activities?” suhestiyon ni Gray.

I don’t have the heart to tell these kids what Pi enjoys, as she confessed. You know, she like it best when I’m between her silky thighs. I recalled all the steamy moments we had. I like it when she purrs in pleasure. She would dig her nails on my back when she gets fired up.

When I was snapped back, Cooler was back from the kitchen with another bucket of drinks. Yeah, Tito Cool really gave us not only a house but also everything inside huh? With the absence of idea on how to make Titless open the door, we spent the remaining hours drinking.

*** 

I have a low tolerance in alcohol kaya malamang ako ang unang natumba. When I woke up, we were still at the terrace with the empty bottles scattered around. Nakasubsob sa mesa at tulog na rin ang tatlong kasama ko. Nang tumingin ako sa suot na wristwatch, it’s almost seven in the evening.

What the hell?! It’s been eight hours?! Pumunta ako sa kusina at naghanap ng mga senyales na lumabas ba si Pi ng kwarto, she must be hungry so malamang lumabas siya. But no, no signs of her presence on the kitchen. Napailing ako at uminom ng malamig na tubig bago naghanap ng silid. There were three rooms upstairs, one where Pi was, and two empty rooms.

Isa-isa kong binuhat ang tatlo at halos ihagis na sa kama ng bakanteng silid. Nagsiksikan sila sa isang kwarto and if I’m still not lucky enough to make titless open the door, sa isang bakanteng kwarto na lamang ao matutulog. Matapos silang malipat sa kwarto ay iniligpit ko ang pinag-inuman namin at nagbakasakali ulit na tumayo sa harap ng pinto.

Isn’t she hungry? Is she that stubborn not to come out kahit magutom man siya? I battled with myself and knocked on the door.

“Pi...”

No answer.

“If you’re listening will you say a word?” sabi ko at muling napabuntong-hininga.

I waited for her response that didn’t take that long.

“A word!” she shouted from inside. Napamasahe na lang ako sa noo ko. This woman is really beyond crazy! So tinitiis niya nga ang gutom para lamang ipakita ang katigasan ng kanyang ulo? I’ll make sure to punish her later.

“Pi... I love you.”

Then the door opened and I was pulled inside.

#

ShinichiLaaaabs✒️