I didn't know that I'm staring at the night sky for so long. Kung hindi pa ako tinawag ni Adriel ay hindi ako matatauhan.

"Bakla naman naaaning ka na ba?" Agad kong siniko si Adriel na nasa aking tabi. I rose my brow up on him.

He chuckled. Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at muli iyong inangkla sa kanyang braso.

"Shall we?" He smiled and gestured the entrance. He chuckled when he saw me rolled my eyes.

"We'll make him jealous." He whispered to my ear before we finally entered the hall.

Pagpasok pa lamang ay may bumati agad sa amin ni Adriel. Ngiti lang ang isinukli ko roon at si Adriel na ang nakipagusap.

Nang naramdaman ni Adriel na naiinis na ako sa kanilang usapan ay agad na itong nagpaalam sa kaharap.

"You know Lucille, right? Tell me if you see her." If I am not mistaken they already met and he's invited kaya hindi imposible na kilala na nila ang isa't isa.

"Hmm." He hummed and I saw how his brow creased even I'm just beside him. "I thought we're here for Creed?" Pahabol niya.

"Hmm, I just want to greet Lucille." We continue whispering to each other, talking about what we'll do later as we walked with no certain direction. Natitigil lamang iyon kapag may bumabati sa amin o may nakikita na kakilala.

I was talking to a college batchmate when Adriel whispered something on my ear. "Lucille's there." He looked at my right side, low-key telling me where Lucille is.

"See you around, Eli. Excuse me." Paalam ko sa kausap, mabuti at may lumapit dito kaya naman ngiti nalang ang naisukli sa akin.

I placed my hand on Adriel's arm as we walked towards Lucille.

Saktong paglapit namin ay ang pagtalikod ni Lucille sa kausap kaya napaharap ito sa amin.

Her smile widened when she saw me approaching. I saw Lucille's eyes turned to Adriel and her eyes dilated as her mouth formed an 'o'.

"Wow, look who's with you!" Sambit nito sa akin.

"You're here, Mr. Cervantes," Makahulugang sambit ni Lucille, she glanced on my hand hanging on Adriel's arm and looked at me while bitting her lower lip. I knew that kind of look from Lucille. I rolled my eyes on her. She expended her hand to Adriel for a handshake maybe.

"Yes, Ms. Montecillo. Congratulations for another year of the company." Adriel muttered in a firm way as he shake Lucille's hand. Lucille shrugged.

"Anyway, congrats!" I smiled, for another milestone of their company.

She rose her brow up on me. "Akala mo naman talaga! Tell that to my Dad instead."

"Yeah, whatever. Si Creed, nakita mo na?" I asked. I wonder if Creed's with Cerys. What were you thinking, Lavinia? Of course he's with Cerys.

"Cree--" Lumagpas ang tingin nito sa amin ni Adriel. "Speeking." Makahulugang sambit nito bago ngumiti ng malaki.

"Good evening, Ms. Montecillo. Congratulations for another milestone of the company." My knees wobbled after hearing that firm cold voice, kaya naman lalo akong napahawak kay Adriel. Creed stood beside me wearing his suit as he greeted Lucille.  No one's with him, maybe Cerys is busy. Hindi ko na naintindihan kung ano ang isinagot ni Lucille kay Creed dahil nagtagal ang titig ko dito. Nagiwas ako ng tingin nang bumaling sa akin si Creed.

"Lavinia." His voice toned down a bit.

I turned to him and was about to answer when Adriel extended his hand. "You're here, Ferron. A pleasant evening." Muntik ng umikot ang aking mga mata dahil kay Adriel. Baklang 'to! Handshake pa nga.

Creed glanced on Adriel's hand, pagkatapos ay dumako ang tingin nito sa aking kamay na nakapulupot sa braso ni Adriel. I don't know if I am hallucinating or Creed's jaw really clenched.

"Good evening, Cervantes," Creed greeted as he shook Adriel's hand. Magkahiwalay na ang kamay ng dalawa ngunit hindi ang tingin nila sa isa't isa. They're looking at each other like they're talking using their eyes.

I heard Lucille cleared her throat. "Excuse me for a while, Mr. Ferron." She turned to Adriel. "Take care of Vinia." Makahulugang sambit nito. She turned to me and low-key winked at me before exiting.

"Sorry for the trouble in your office, last time." I didn't get Adriel at first. Then I remember what he's saying.

"No problem," Creed muttered in a cold way.

"I was just fuming mad when I saw my woman..." He glanced at me. Muntik na akong umapila sa sinabi ni Adriel kung hindi ko lang naalala ang plano namin. "In that situation."

Ilang sandaling natigilan si Creed bago tumango at sumagot kay Adriel. "I understand. Excuse me." Hindi na nito hinintay ang sagot namin ni Adriel at basta nalang kaming tinalikuran.

I sighed. What the hell? "Hey!" It was Adriel, siguro ay nakita ang pagbagsak ng aking mga balikat.

"He's jealous can't you see?" Sarkastikong napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Adriel.

"Jealous my ass. Halata namang hindi." Sabi na dapat hindi nalang ako umasa. He's getting married, what am I expecting.

"I am a man Lavinia, I know he's jealous." Nahihiwagaang napabaling ako kay Adriel.

I raised my brow. "Really?"

He sighed. "I'm still a man, even...you know. I know when a man's jealous." Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ba ako sa sinasabi ni Adriel o hindi. For me Creed's not jealous.

Suddenly, an idea came on my mind. "Let's follow him."

Hindi na sumagot si Adriel at sumunod nalang sa sinabi ko.

I saw Creed walking towards the restroom. May iilang lumalabas at pumapasok sa restroom ngunit bilang lang ang tao sa gawing iyon.

Creed entered the male's restroom. Mas hinila ko pa si Adriel dahil sa mabagal na paglakad nito.

"What's your plan?" Tanong ni Adriel nang makarating kami sa tapat ng pinasukan ni Creed.

Ano mang oras ay maaari siyang lumabas doon. I leaned on the wall and encircled my hands on Adriel's nape.

His eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

"Lean on my neck, kunwari hinahalikan mo."

Lalo lang namilog ang mga mata nito dahil sa aking isinagot. "Bakla, ayokong masuntok!" Eksehaderong sambit nito.

"Dali na!" Naiinip na sambit ko.

Umiling siya habang nakatingin sa akin na para bang nakakita ng multo.

"Ayoko, Bakla. Iba nalang!"

"Kainis naman, dali na!"

Kinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko para ilayo ako sa kanya ngunit hindi ko hinayaan na magawa niya iyon.

I glanced on the door beside me and saw it slowly opening. "Bakla naman wag--fuck!" He cursed when I pulled him closer and his face landed on the side of my neck. Akmang lalayo ito ngunit agad kong hinigpitan ang aking mga kamay na nakapalupot sa kanyang batok upang hindi ito makaalis. I felt the tip of his nose brushed on my neck. Ngunit kung may makakakita ay nasisiguro ko na aakalain na hinahalikan ni Adriel ang aking leeg.

I saw Creed went out of the restroom at natigilan ito nang dumako ang tingin sa amin ni Adriel. I met his cold eyes as it darkened, bahagyang akong nangatal sa lamig ng titig nito kaya lumuwag ang aking kamay na nakapalupot kay Adriel.

Lumayo sa akin si Adriel at ang kamay ko ay napunta sa balikat niya. "Why did you--" Natigilan ito nang bahagya kong pinisil ang kanyang balikat. Mabuti at nakuha niya agad kung ano ang ipinaparating ko.

Ipinulupot niya sa aking baywang ang kamay bago hinarap si Creed.

"Ferron." Kunwaring gulat na sambit ni Adriel.

"I'm sorry if you have to see us in that situation." Akala ko ay tapos na si Adriel ngunit agad nitong dinuktungan ang sinabi. "It's just that, my girlfriend's thirsty." My eyes widened, hindi ko natigilan ang sarili na hampasin ang dibdib ni Adriel. He chuckled. "I mean...tipsy." What the fuck!

My jaw fell open nang nilagpasan kami ni Creed ng hindi pinapansin ang sinabi ni Adriel. Nang mawala si Creed sa aking paningin ay agad akong napahilot sa aking sentido. Pakiramdam ko ay tumataas ang aking presyon. Hindi ko alam kung para saan iyon, kung para ba sa hindi pagpansin ni Creed sa amin o dahil sa sinabi ni Adriel. What the fuck? Anong thirsty ang sinasabi niya? At tipsy? Anong akala niya nasa club kami? At anong connect noon na naghahalikan kami? Isa pa si Creed na walang pakialam sa amin. Damn.

"Bakla, kinabahan ako! Feeling ko talaga kanina susuntukin ako." I saw Adriel leaning on the wall and his hands were in his chest while looking at nowhere. Bigla itong napabaling sa akin. "Ikaw kasi, ang wild lang, Bakla!"

Inignora ko ang sinasabi niya. I slightly punched his arm. "He isn't jealous." Nanlulumong sambit ko.

He stared at me for so long so I raised my brow up on him.

"He isn't jealous?" Para bang hindi makapaniwalang sambit nito.

I nodded while rolling my eyes.

"Anong gusto mo, bakla? Sabihin niya sa'yo na nagseselos siya? Buang ka ba?" Nahihiwagaang tanong niya sa akin.

"What are you saying?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo! Bahala ka magmukmok dyan, ikakasal na si Creed!" Angil sa akin ni Adriel. Really, I don't get him.

I don't know what I'd do. Kasi naman, sa dami ng pwedeng magkaamnesia, si Creed pa.

Sinalikop ko ang aking buhok na tinatangay ng malakas na hangin.

My grip on the flowers on my hand tightened as I saw the mausoleum for our family.

I shut my eyes off tightly before walking near it.

I placed the flowers above the tomb and smiled. I stared at it for a while.

I frowned when I saw a doll house, there are lot of toys near the tomb. Different sizes of barbie dolls, kitchen toy set, and even clothes for a kid. Most of it were in color pink.

Does Mommy bought all of these? Ano ang naisip ni Mommy at bigla nalang bumili ng mga ganito? I shook my head and ignored what I've saw.

I caressed the tomb and smiled but I doubt if it reached my eyes. "How are you, baby?" I asked and stopped, waiting for her like she could answer.

"I missed you already. I'm sorry if I didn't had a chance to visit you last month." I was so desperate to get Creed back that I forgot to visit her. I smiled bitterly. I can't imagine that I stoop that low just to get Creed's attention.

"I hope you're happy."

I stayed inside the mausoleum for I don't know how long, just staring and talking to my daughter.

My phone started ringing and I immediately picked it up when I saw my Mom's name.

"How are you?" She suddenly asked and I frowned. She's so random when she'll tell something that I don't want.

"I'm alright, Mommy. What is it?"

"Where are you?" Bungad niya sa akin.

"Amherst mausoleum, why?"

"Papa's looking for you, papuntahin daw kita sa bahay." Mommy answered. Napahilot ako sa aking sentido matapos marinig ang sinabi niya. Ano na naman ba ang kaylangan ni Lolo? I already agreed on what he wants. "Is that Lavinia?" I heard Lolo's voice from the other line.
"Yes, Papa."

"Let me talk to her." I almost rolled my eyes when I heard that.

"Apo," He called.

"Yes, Lo?" Bahagya ko pang pinasigla ang aking boses.

"The Mafia chart for last month was already out." Oh, that. It is a ranking of Mafia groups. I am not sure but I think I've read that there were three former bosses who's responsible for the ranking, the thing is we don't know who's who.

"And?" If I am not mistaken, we're on the third or fourth spot? I don't know, I'm not sure. Hindi ko naman kasi pinagtutuonan ng pansin iyon. Ano ba ang mapapala kung nasa first spot kami? Oh, well maybe the clients would go to whoever on the first spot. I shrugged.

"Cosmos is already on the first spot." My eyes widened. Cosmos were always on the second spot, last last month or last month, I think they got the third now they're on the first.

"Good for them then." The Universe and the underbosses of Cosmos is really good when it comes to planning. See? Nakabawi agad sila, they even got the first spot.

"What are you talking about?" May halong diin ang boses ni Lolo na iyon.

"What?" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses ko ngunit hindi naman iyon napansin ni Lolo.

"We got the fourth spot." Oh, well deserved. Muntik kong maisatinig iyon mabuti nalang at napigilan ko ang aking sarili. "Ano ang pinapagawa ko sa'yo." I heard him continued. I frowned, may pinapagawa siya sa akin? Ano 'yon?

"I...don't know?" Alanganing sagot ko, I can't remember.

"I want to know who's that fucking Universe." Para bang naputol ang pasensya nito.

"Alright." Sagot ko nalang para matapos na ang usapan.

When the call ended, I immediately composed a message for Lucille and Adriel informing them that we'll go to Xylo later. I think I need a drink.

_________