Forced to Conceal (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 25

Chapter 25: Dream

YAEL MONTANO

Relaxing sounds, ambient lightning, glass clunking, people murmuring, smells of perfume, and the cold breeze coming from the aircon are what welcomed me as I entered the club. 

I saw some familiar faces that greeted me but I just gave them a nod. I raised my hand to Neven, the bartender here, and he just nod. He already knew what drink I'm having. 

"Having a bad day, Sir?" he asks as he gave me a glass and a bottle of sunset rum. 

He poured me a glass and I drank it straight. I didn't answer him and he just scratched his nape and then attended to another customer. 

I fill my glass again and held it. I was just looking at it and remembered why I decided to drink.

I'm pissed off. 

Manang Klarisa's grandson, Dominic, early this morning, came with a puppy. He brought it for my kids, but it seems like Solace's the one who's so happy about it. She was smiling and giggling nonstop. And watching it boils me down. 

She never smiled at me. But she's always all smiling at other guys.  

"Yow, pare!" Hindi ko nilingon si Pierce na tumabi sa akin. Hindi na rin ako nagulat pa nandito siya, Neven called him. 

"Gago, akala ko nagbibiro lang si Neven, nag-iinom ka nga," he added. He asked Neven for his own alcoholic drink.  

I rarely drink alone and I'm not an alcoholic either kaya siguro nagulat siya. 

"Problema? Personal? Showbiz?" I just looked at my glass. Ano nga bang problema ko?

"Nga pala, congrats, pareng tanda! You successfully diverted the media's attention. Puro break up niyo na ang balita. Iba ka, pre." I let out a deep sigh at what he said. 

I shakes my glass and drank it straight. Gumuhit ito sa lalamunan ko kaya bahagya akong napapikit. 

"Ano ngang problema? Parang pasan-pasan mo 'yung mundo, Pre. Dahan-dahan lang sa pagbubuhat, matanda ka na nga lalo ka pang tatanda niyan," he stated, jokingly, trying to lift up the mood. 

Pierce, as himself, is always the one who lifts the mood whenever we have a hard time. He always jokes around, but you can count on him when you have a problem. That's why he's a great friend. A friend to keep. But I won't tell him that, lalaki ang ulo ng lalaking 'to kapag nalaman niyang pinurI ko siya. 

"The problem is, I don't know what's my problem," I answer him. He looked at me as if weighing my answer before drinking his drink. 

"Labo mo naman, tanda," he commented, shaking his head.   

"I know," I replied, sighing heavily.

"Si Portia lang naman pinoproblema mo, may pa 'I don't know what's my problem,' ka pang nalalaman. Corny mo, tanda," he said with conviction on his voice.   

"How did you know?" He just shrugged at me. Psychic ata ang gagong 'to, e. 

"Dali mong basahin, tanda. Halata naman na gusto mo 'yung tao. Noong bumisita kami, konti na lang patayin mo sa sama ng tingin 'yung apo ng mayordoma mo dahil lang nagtatawanan sila ni Portia, e." Tinawanan pa ako ng gago. I glared at him and he just raised both of his arms like he was surrendering. I shook my head at his childishness. Kailan kaya titino 'to? 

"Alam mo, pwede mo namang aminin na nagseselos ka dahil gusto mo siya. Or maybe, you already love her?" bawi niya makalipas ang ilang sandali ng katahimikan. 

"I already did," I responded, my voice was low, then I breathe deeply. I still remember how she looks like when I told her how I feel. She's not happy, she doubted it.