Enzo's POV

"Don't smile too much, Enzo. It's fucking disgusting!" Linus Leone smirked and shook his head.

"Ang sabihin mo naiingit ka lang! Why don't you settle down like us,. . .four?" Bukas na kamay ni Conrad.

"I don't think it will happen soon to Linus Leone, Conrad. Hindi naman 'yan katulad mo!" kantyaw ni Xavion kay Conrad. Napailing na kami at natawa.

"Ang baliw ninyo!" Linus let out a short laugh and smirked again.

We are here at the Monde Rock Bar. Nagtitipon para sa bachelor's party ko. Next week is the biggest event of my life. After that, I will no longer be a bachelor because I will marry the most beautiful woman I have met.

"Anong klaseng bachelor party ba ito? Wala man lang babae?" Glenn complained.

"Hindi lahat ng bachelor's party ay may mga nagsasayaw na babae, Glenn. Pwede naman na lalaki." Ngiting biro ni Norman. Napailing na ako.

"Damn this. Come on, Henrix. Do your march!" Lakas na tawa ni Marco at nakisabay na ako.

 Lahat kami ay nakatingin sa seryosong mukha ni Henrix. He's got no expression at all and his eyes look like a block of ice, dead as cold.

"Don't joke around with our cold-blooded Prince Mondragon, Marco. Baka bukas wala ka ng dugo," kantyaw ni Drew.

"Nah, Henrix is a beauty and he's actually soft like a gelatin jelly baby. Hindi niyo lang nakikita. Puro kasi kayo babae!" awat ni Norman at mas natawa lang din ang lahat.

"What a load of crap! Am I the one getting married and being put in jail?" Henrix mouthed sarcastically and shifted a gaze at me.

"Your woman is kind of wicked, Enzo. I bet you will shed tears of blood after the wedding." Henrix smirked and looked away, and I just shook my head.

"Iyan kasi ginalit ninyo," tahimik na tugon ni Xavion. Ininom na niya ang alak at sinunod nang tingin si Henrix, na ngayon kay kumuha ng dagdag na whiskey sa counter bar.

"Sure ka na ba, Enzo? Wala ng atrasan ito?" si Conrad sa akin.

"You should think a thousand times, bro. Kapag natamaan ka na ni kupido, ay wala ka na talagang pag-asa at gusto mo ng itali ang mahal mo sa 'yo," Glenn continued.

"I second the motion!" Taas kamay Atticus, at napalingon kaming lahat sa kanya. Kararating lang niya at bitbit ang isang malaking box na itim sa kamay niya.

"How's the criminal? Ano sisimulan na natin?" kantyaw na tawa ni Atticus. Nilapag na niya ang box sa malaking mesa, sa harap naming lahat.

"Yo, Atticus Art! How are you, man?" Yumakap agad ako sa leeg niya at nag-ingay na mga walanghiya.

"This won't do. May nangyayaring dayaan dito," si Conrad sa gilid at tumayo na siya.

"What's this, Art? Kahon na ba ang regalo mo sa magiging groom natin?" kantyaw ni Norman.

Lumapit agad si Drew at siya na mismo ang unang bumukas nito.

"Damn it! Gold stash!" Pabirong tawa niya.

"Legit? Makita nga?" Sabay tingin ni Glenn, siya lang naman ang baliw at isip bata sa lahat.

"Don't get it out. Not yet. I will do the honour," si Atticus sa kanila. 

Tumahimik ang lahat, at nakaupong seryosong nakatitig sa counter bar sina Linus at Henrix. Samantalang kami ay nasa pinakamalaking round table. Tradisyon na namin ito. May kanya-kanya kaming regalo sa magiging groom ng taon. Ang iba na wala rito, ay dapat naka-on live stream sa videocall.

"Hang on, Malcolm is calling," tugon ni Xavion. 

He answered his phone and put it on top of the table. Live na naming nakikita si Malcolm sa Australia ngayon.

"How's everyone? How are you mate?" Lawak na ngiti niya kay Xavion.

Tumayo kaming lahat at kinamusta siya. Hindi na gumalaw si Henrix at Linus, kaya si Xavion na mismo ang nag-ikot nito para makita kaming lahat ni Malcolm. Hanggang sa may tumawag pa.

"Hang on. I'll just put everyone on a join video call," tugon ni Xavion at pinindot ang cellphone niya.

Malcolm is in Australia, and he's a dairy farmer. Travis joined the convo, and he's in Cordova, managing the Del Rio Farm—Vance pop-in with his humorous look like a dark angel. 

Like Atticus, Vance works in the same industry in Italy. Riftyn looks pathetic, like a man who lives in the woods away from civilisation and is in England. While Dax is in Mexico, smiling like a shit lying on his bed.

"Ano, magsisimula na tayo?" si Atticus.

"Yes, let's get this going. Hinahanap na ako ni Candy. E, wala namang babae rito dahil puro bakla ang narito." Conrad chucked and laughs and so is the others.

I stood up in front while everyone sat down. The box is beside me and I am smiling evilly. Sa wakas makakabawi na rin ako sa mga baliw na ito. Atticus took something out from the box, and handed it to me.

"Be happy, Enzo. Expand the genes and make more little doctors like you." Tapik ni Atticus sa balikat ko. 

I shook my head and accepted it. I open it, and the penny drops to a twenty-five million pesos gold cash check. 

Dammit. I showed it to everyone. 

Nag-ingay ang lahat. Sa aming lahat si Atticus ang pinakagalante pagdating sa regalo, at si Henrix naman ang pinakakuripot.

Sunod na tumayo si Drew at inabot sa akin ang puting sobre. Binuksan ko ito at eleven million ang sa kanya, at sumunod na ang iba pa.

"I'm sorry, bro. Ako lang 'ata ang pulubi rito. Kaya pasensya na kayo at heto lang ang nakayanan ko," pabirong tugon ni Glenn, at inabot ang jack daniel whiskey sa akin. Natawa na kami at nagsitawanan ang lahat.

He handed half a million to me. I shook my head and I am so reddish. Matatapos ang gabing ito at mahihiga ako sa kama ng pera rito. The rest of the boys wired their money on my bank account. Akala ko magiging kuripot si Henrix sa akin, pero nabigla ako nang makita na isang milyong dolyares ang isinulat niya.

"Build your dream hospital, bro." Tapik niya sa balikat ko.

Damn, this cold-blooded Prince is a magnet of love, and I overlooked that. I just shook my head and smiled at him.

"Ano, sapat na ba para sa isang Paediatric Hospital second branch?" tanong ni Xavion na nakangiti pa.

"Kulang pa, kulang pa!" Pagbibiro ko at kantyaw nila.

This is what we get as a gifts from our brothers. Naging ganito na ang tradisyon simula noon pa sa mga magulang namin. Kaya walang maiiwan sa amin. Ang iba siguro gustong magpakasal agad para makuha ang share nila. Pero ang totoo, takot ang mga Mondragon maitali sa mga babae.

That's why our ancestors set this type of game to encourage a Mondragon man to settle and find a good woman. No minimum amount, and everyone can give whatever is in their profit for a year. Walang sukatan ito at pwede rin naman ang lupa ang ibibigay mo.

Like Travis in Cordova, he gave me a piece of land on their massive hundreds of thousands of hectares farm.

The night was filled with laughter and unlimited beers, wine etc. The Monde Rock Bar was shut for the night and is exclusive to us. Everyone picks on everyone's back jokingly. 

My phone vibrated. I stood up and fished it out of my pocket. It was Kylie calling me.

"Hello, hon?" Lawak na ngiti ko.

"Hon? Bakit wala pa ang hinihingi ko? I thought you bought it already? I was expecting it today!"

Humakbang ako palayo sa grupo at napasandal sa gilid. I'm halfway drunk, but I can still manage myself.

"I will get it tomorrow, hon. Na-busy kasi ako sa trabaho kanina, pasensya na. . . and the boys are here. We are -"

"What!? What sort of excuse is that, Enzo?" putol niya sa pagsasalita ko.

"I was waiting the whole freaking day! And there you are, having fun with all your crazy cousins!"

Inilayo ko agad ang cellphone sa taing dahil sa lakas na boses niya. Napangiti na ako.

Oh, my darling love, Kylie Eve Fuentabella. 

Minsan hindi ko mabasa ang ugali niya, pero patay na patay ako sa kanya.

"I will get it tomorrow, hon," pagpapakumbaba ko.

"You better be! Or else I won't see you until our wedding day!"

Pinatay niya agad ang tawag at bahagyang natawa ako sa sarili.

I'm having trouble understanding her. She reminds me of my young patients, who are both adorable and unpredictable. Despite her mood swings, I still care for her deeply. Kylie is like my baby.

.

C.M. LOUDEN