"Pwede ba'ng manligaw?"

Hugo's heart beat accelerated after hearing those words from Vito. His mind went blank, unable to process those words in his system.

Hindi niya inaasahang marinig ang tanong na iyon mula sa binata. Both of them are dating yet wooing doesn't really exist between them, not until now.

"please, let me prove my affection to you. I really like you to the point that I want you. I want you beside me, I want you for me" he added with his low baritone voice. Almost a whisper.

Oh, God. How could he say 'no' if he feel the same way? How could he refuse if the man in front of him was eyeing him with pleasing look.

Despite the acceleration of his heartbeat and rampaging of his system, he spoke calmly, "what's the use of this date if i'll say 'no'?" Hugo asked and the corner of his lips rose up.

Vito's face brightened and laugh, "thanks, God" he said in relief.

Hugo chuckled and shook his head. Still amused with Vito's reaction.

"Please say 'yes', I want to hear it loud and clear" he insist.

He rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, "okay, a big YES for you, Tesoro mio. Happy?"

"absolutely!" he rejoice and suddenly pulled Hugo for a tight hug, ignoring people around them.

They enjoyed the night and each others presence, shared both of their opinions in something and talk about themselves to delve into each others life.

"Now, let's talk about our first love" Vito said.

"You go first," Hugo replied.

"Okay," Vito held his chin and looking at the air like he's reminiscing something.

"My first love is Delilah, my ex girlfriend. One of the three girls in my life that I trust the most. Her, my mother and secretary. They are the three important woman in my life. We're in a relationship for five years but..." his smile fade away that made Hugo's heart clench.

"But you guys broke up" he completed Vito's incomplete statement.

"Exactly," he said.

Silence coated the atmosphere, a question popped in Hugo's head and that came out from his mouth.

"Are you... are you still into her?" his questions is almost a whisper but Vito still heard it. He stilled, not expecting that question and Hugo's reaction.

The enthusiasm he felt earlier was no longer can be felt. Vito want to punch himself for ruining the moment.

Hugo smiled bitterly and frown, standing up with his stoic face.

"I... I want to go home" Hugo said.

"Okay, i'll drop you off--" Hugo interrupt Vito's speech.

"No, I can handle myself. Just go home as well. Drive safely" Hugo said before turning his back and walked away, praying that Vito would chase or just stop him from going anywhere but nothing happened. He let him walk away with a pang on his chest.

Hugo arrived in his condo unit and his phone suddenly vibrate, he receive a message came from Vito.

Tesoro mio:

Thanks for today and i'm sorry, good night.

He rolled his eyes and ignored his message.

He change his clothes into his pj's before dropping himself on his bed. He remained looking at the ceiling before closing his eyes and fell asleep.

VITO frowned after checking his phone again. Hugo didn't replied but he knows that he saw his message.

It's his fault, he brought it in after that enthusiastic atmosphere. What a wrecker.

He heard a knock from the outside, he groaned in response.

"Time for your lunch, Sir. Do you want something?" his secretary asked.

"No, I just want to go home. Can you handle the company for me? I want to rest, I don't feel well" he said in a low tone voice.

"Sure, Sir. I'll order Julious to drive you home" she said.

"Thanks," he said.

His secretary smiled, "no worries, can you walk or should I accompany you?"

"I'm good," he replied.

"Okay, i'll just call Julious. Please give me a minute or two" she said and went out of his office.

He grabbed his coat and went out of his office, ignoring his spinning system.

"Julious is currently at the underground parking lot. Waiting for you, sir"

He nod his head and walk directly at the elevators direction. Mas dumagdag pa ang ikot ng kanyang paningin dahil sa pag galaw ng Elevator.

"F*ck," he weakly curse before his body dropped on the cold floor of the elevator and heard a emergency alarm rang before passing out.

HUGO growled when Vito keep bugging his mind so to give peace in his system he decided to go and see him.

Baka mabaliw siya kapag hindi kumalma ang sistema niya. He drove his Rover to Piero's company.

When he arrived, he went out of his car and went inside of the building. Some of Vito's employees are murmuring about something.

Hindi niya pinansin ang mga 'yun sa halip ay diretso lang ang lakad niya papunta sa elevator.

Masyadong malaki at malawak ang bawat palapag ng building kung kaya't hindi ka agad makakarating sa nais mo'ng paparoonan.

He went inside the elevator together with Vito's employee.

Ngumiti sa kaniya ang mga babaeng pumasok bago pumwesto sa unahan niya.

"Narinig mo na ba ang chismis?" tanong bigla ng isang babae sa kasama nito.

"Alin?" bigla'ng tanong ng kasama nito.

"'yung tungkol kay Sir Piero," biglang nagpantig ang tenga ni Hugo dahil sa narinig.

"Ah, 'yung pumanaw siya? Oo, narinig ko. Sinabi sa 'kin no'ng katabi ko"

Ano kamo? Pumanaw na raw si Vito? Parang kahapon niya lang nakasama ang binata, pumanaw agad? Bakit daw? Dahil hindi siya nakapag-reply sa text niya?

"Woi, gag*! Sasagap ka na nga lang ng chismis mali pa. Nahimatay si Sir Piero kaya sinugod siya sa hospital. Anong pumanaw ka d'yan? Gusto mong mauna?" Inis na tanong nito sa kasama.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator kaya lumabas sila. Naiwan naman sa loob si Hugo na hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

Nahimatay si Piero? Bakit? Iyan ang dapat niyang alamin agad. Bumukas ang elevator paghinto nito sa pinakamataas na palapag ng building kung saan makikita ang opisina ni Vito.

Agad siyang lumabas at sinalubong naman siya ng sekretarya ni Vito. Agad itong namula at maliit na ngumiti sa kaniya.

"Auh, si Sir Piero ba ang ipinunta mo rito? Pasensya na, wala siya rito. Dinala siya sa Piero Med Hospital dahil nawalan siya ng malay habang sumasakay sa elevator" biglang na lungkot ang itsura nito.

Tumango siya, "salamat" sabi ni Hugo at mabilis na tinalikuran ang babae at bumalik sa loob ng elevator.

Paglabas ng building halos liparin na niya ang distansiya na kailangan niyang lakarin papunta sa kaniyang sasakyan.

Natuwa siya ng kaunti nang makapasok sa sasakyan niya at pasibarin iyon papuntang hospital.

Laking pasasalamat niya dahil mabilis siyang nakarating sa Hospital. Thanks to his beloved Rover.

He step out of his car and went inside the hospital.

"Is there a patient named Vito Piero?" Asked Vito.

"Oh, Mr. Piero is currently in Room 200, westward." The nurse replied.

"thank you," he said.

It took him five minutes to find Vito's room. He held the doorknob and unlock the door before stepping in.

The room is just a plain white, the only decoration is the curtain and some paintings.

He sighed when he saw Vito laying on the bed, peacefully sleeping. Sadness coated his heart while looking at Vito. The room felt empty, asan ba ang mga magulang niya? Mga kaibigan? Bakit wala man lang nagbantay sa kaniya.

Naglakad siya palapit sa kama ng binata at binuhat ang stool para may maupuan siya.

He held Vito's warm hand, pinanood niya itong huminga habang natutulog. He look so d*mn perfect but he know he's lacking.

"Bakit ka naman nahimatay? Tss, masyado mo'ng pinapabayaan ang sarili mo" he scolded.

Hugo sighed again, "gumising ka na. Okay na ako, tinopak lang ako kahapon. 'Di ka pala marunong manuyo, psh."

Inayos niya ang buhok ni Vito at umayos ng upo. Biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng silid na kinaroroonan nila ni Hugo at pumasok ang isang doctor.

"Good afternoon, doc" bati niya.

"Are you his relative or what?" the doctor asked.

"Ah, Just someone special to him, I guess?" Hugo unsurely replied.

The doctor smiled, "well I've been waiting for anyone here just to let you know about the patient's condition, you came first so I'll tell you about him"

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya sa kaba habang hinihintay na dugtungan ng doctor ang kanya'ng sasabihin.

"His condition is not that serious but we should not ignore it. He's over fatigue, so I suggest for him to rest and i'm going to prescribe him some antibiotics" he said.

"Oh, okay. Thank you" Hugo smiled.

The doctor nod, "if you have some questions, just call for me... and if the patient is awake, please let me know. I have some questions to ask" sinulayapan niya si Vito at muling ibinalik kay Hugo ang paningin bago tumalikod at lumabas sa silid.

Nakahinga ng maluwag si Hugo at umupo sa stool, "bakit kasi nagpupuyat ka? Anong nakukuha mo roon? Psh, lintek na mata 'yan, hindi ko man lang makitaan ng eye bags"

katulad kanina ay wala'ng sumagot, muli niya'ng hinawakan ang kamay nito at pinakatitigan na lang ang binata.

Ilang saglit pa ay naramdaman niya'ng humigpit ang pagkahawak ni Vito sa kamay niya. Hindi sobrang higpit pero sapat na para maramdaman niyang gising na ito dahil may lakas na itong higpitan ang pagkakahawak sa kamay niya.

"Tesoro mio," he called for him.

pero hindi pa rin ito nagmulat.

"Tesoro mio!" he called again and stood up.

Vito's forehead creased and grip his hand. A whimper escaped from its mouth. Vito's awake!

"Please open your eyes, your making me worry!" Hugo exclaimed.

Ilang segundo lang ang hinintay niya dahil unti-unti na ring nagmulat si Vito. Napakurap-kurap pa ito at mariing ipinikit ang mata na para bang nasisilawan pa.

"Babe..." he said and reached for Hugo's cheek. He let Vito's thumb brush his cheek.

"Tesoro mio..." Hugo weakly uttered, enjoying the warm moment between them.

"I'm sorry for yesterday, I didn't mean to bring that things up--" he hushed him.

"It's okay so shut up," Hugo said.

Vito shook his head, "I'm not into her anymore, i'm just kinda sad yesterday for I remembered everything between us but at the same time i'm happy for her and for myself too. She built me, she made me better and here I am. I am a better person and I thanked her for that. She built me for you," he said and smiled.

"Tss, whatever, Tesoro mio" he tried to snatch his hand away fron him but he didn't let it go. Mas hinigpitan lang nito ang pagkakahawak sa kamay niya.

"Babe, bati na tayo. Paano kita liligawan niyan kung nagtatampo ka sa 'kin?" nakasimangot na tanong ng binata.

"maging BDO ka..." tugon niya na ipinagtaka naman ng binata.

"Huh?"

ngumisi siya, "find your ways" at tumawa siya sa sarili niyang biro. Na hinto lang iyon nang hinila siya ni Vito kaya napahiga siya sa tabi nito.

"I miss you, babe..." bulong nito sa tenga niya.

Nanindig ang balahibo niya dahil sa boses nito at sa mainit nitong hininga na tumama sa tenga niya. It sent shivers in his system.

"Alam ko," tugon ni Hugo na ikinatawa nito.

Napangiti si Hugo dahil sa sarap ng tawa nito na naghatid ng kakaibang pakiramdam sa puso niya.

Na higit niya ang hininga nang inilapat ni Vito ang kanyang labi sa kaniyang sentido, ilang segundo itong nanatili roon bago lumayo ng kaunti.

"I miss you babe... please tell me that you feel the same way too" Vito begged.

"Psh, pasalamat ka at pasyente ka kaya pagbibigyan kita, I miss you too" he said.

Napangiti si Vito at niyakap si Hugo, umayos naman ng higa si Hugo pa harap kay Vito para pareho sila'ng komportable.

Hugo buried his face in the hollow of Vito's neck, inhaling his manly scent and enjoying his heat.

In the middle of cuddling, someone barged in. Both of them heart a shrieked so Hugo immediately went off the bed and looked at the two person who's standing at the entrance of Vito's room.

Both of them are in their mid forties but still stunning and gorgeous.

"Oh my god!" the woman covered her mouth in shock while the man beside him remained stoic.

"Mom, Dad?"

Gulat siyang napatingin kay Vito. Mga magulang nito ang kaharap nila ngayon?!

'Oh my god... I met my in-laws'