“WHERE did Dad say they took them?” Charles asked on the other line.(Well, some of the adults are still in the same hospital, some already got discharged and had a life of their own. As for the kids, they were transferred to a facility. An adoption center, just near the Japanese restaurant we used to like.)“Okay, got it. Thanks, Light.”(That's not for free. Speaking of Japanese restaurants, how about asking me on a date—)He ended the call with his friend. Light and his nonsense. He just shook his head and then turned his full attention to the road.After a couple of minutes — thank God there was no traffic — Charles parked his car in front of the adoption center.Since that place was closer, it was the first place he visited. The hospital will be the next one.It has been years since he last paid them a visit. Charles then felt that he was greatly lacking in these people.One of his previous missions was the case of a well-known government official that was involved in human traff
HAVING the thought of asking Angelo for marriage and actually doing it are definitely two different things. Charles has been staring at the computer for hours now, trying to find articles and videos about wedding proposals. He wanted to ask Anurak but the guy is busy with his family. Wynter is currently with her boyfriend who is in the Philippines.Narae suddenly entered his room. “You know, if you want to propose, just propose as simple as you want. The very question "Will you be my partner for the rest of my life?" is only the most important.”Charles sighed before closing the tabs connected to his proposal. He then turned his chair to face Narae. “How’s your plan for the sixth anniversary?”The girl threw herself on his bed. “I haven't thought of a theme yet. We already did our common red and black last year. White and black for our third anniv. Black and gold for the second. And plain black for our first.” She turned to him. "Oppa, help." She even pouted, making Charles sigh.“Th
THE day after their wedding, both Angelo and Charles flew to America. They have already talked about this matter before they got married, and finally, they can do it without any other problems.Charles was even more in a hurry when he told him that the house he had bought from a real estate agent he knew was finished. The house had three bedrooms, one for the masters, the other was a guest room, and the final room was for their daughter.“The documents are all set according to Light,” Charles, who was busy driving, informed him.Angelo smiled as he stared at their wedding ring. “After marriage, now we'll finally be a complete family.” He looked at his husband. “It’s raining blessings, don't you think?”Charles glanced at him before he focused on the road. “I’m happy that you're happy.” “Te amo, mi Nick."“I love you too, my Gab.”In a few moments, they arrived at the adoption center. They entered the facility together and a little girl came running in their direction and immediately
CHARLES was wondering why his parents let him live in a dorm now that he's a second-year college student. At least they let me...Charles always wanted to experience being in a dorm. He wanted to be somehow independent. I just wish that my roommate will be as quiet as a mute, so he won’t mind my business."Hey, I'm Angelo Gabrielle Cortez. Second-year, IT Student." The guy in front of him offered his hand.Charles stared at the guy's face then his hand then at his face again. So much for wishing for a quiet roommate."Williams," Charles said before he turned his back and fixed his things again."So much for the first meeting." Angelo chuckled before he went to his bed and started unboxing. Minutes passed and lunch came. "Yow, I have packed lunch and I can't finish it all by myself."Who packs lunch for two if only one person is eating it? Charles thought to himself."Yeah yeah, I get ya. It was my little sister who prepared my lunch. She actually told me to get along with my roommate
“SO, what can you say about Thailand?” Angelo asked Charles who was currently busy eating Satay for the first time. “Hmm… Not bad.” Angelo laughed. “Not bad but you already ate six sticks of Satay.” Angelo laughed even harder.Charles immediately glared at the man, which immediately stopped laughing. “Anyways, where are we going next?” Finally, Charles was able to finish his last Satay stick and noticed Angelo staring at him. “What?”Angelo's hand reached for Charles' chin and wiped something off. “You’re a messy eater. Lindo.”Charles knew what that word means, because of his best friend but he didn't bother giving a deeper meaning to it. When Angelo was done wiping the sauce off, he finally answered Charles. “We can wander here until nightfall. Thailand's Night Market is one of the best.”Charles nodded. “You look like you've been here for a long time.”“Nah. I just love traveling and reading articles and magazines about different places. Es divertido—I mean it's fun. Sorry for t
DAYS passed and soon turned to months, then to years. What they thought was just a year of being roommates lasted until they graduated. They even became best friends.Charles was comfortable calling his best friend Gab, short for Gabrielle. Similar to Angelo who calls him Nick, short for Dominique.But that friendship was ruined by that single phrase."I love you, Nick."Charles can see the sincerity and pure love in Angelo's eyes. But damn! That's their rule number one! No falling in love with each other."I... I can't... You're mistaken, Gab. That's breaking rule number one—we're not allowed to even like each other—""Fvck the rules! I don't give a hell about them, Nick. You are the only one who set that rule even though I never said yes.”“No, Gab. Don’t do this—”“Don’t do this? Does it seem like it was my choice to fall for you? How many times have you pointed out that you don't want to like a friend? How many times have you slapped me with the fact that you can’t love me?” Angel
CHARLES thought that it would be the last time he gets to see and talk to his ex-best friend, Angelo Gabrielle, but fate was actually playing with them. ‘Cause three years later, Dominique found himself staring at his ex-best friend."Well, Dom, An, and Nar meet my half-brother, Dad's side, the one I'm talking about, Hermano Gabriel. But I call him either Hermano or Gabby, and did you know? He's the same age as you, Dom!" Wynter was cheerfully introducing her older brother to her friends. Not noticing the shocked look on Dominique. "And my brother here is bored, so he asked me if he could somehow work in our club. Ooh! Did I mention that he studied bartending in the States? He fits perfectly, don't you think?""Of course! As for your older brother, he is more likely to be one of the reasons why our customers keep coming back." Narae, being the seducer that she is, seductively wrapped her arms around Angelo's. "Are you, by chance, single and free tonight?"Wynter laughed, "Be careful,
"SAY cheers!""Cheers!"As usual, they're at the LUST DAWN, and by they, it means Dom, Nar, and An. Wynter can't come due to studies. She said she was not satisfied with the BS in Psychology, she wanted to be a psychiatrist."I miss Wyn," Narae blabbed."Yeah, me too. She should've just studied here, just like you." Anurak poured another wine into his glass."She still has a family business to take care of. We can't really blame her," Dominique defended his best friend."She should've at least built a branch of Heaven Taste here in Thailand," Anurak pointed out."Hay! We know her reason why she won't approve of that idea," Narae ended the topic, leaving them all in silence. But a minute or two later, Narae stood up. "At least, even though sister Wynter left earlier..." She walked towards the railings and stared at something… or someone. "She left entertainment."Dom stared at the guy, who was mixing drinks, smiling, and flirting with their customers."Hey, you okay?" An asked him. He
THE day after their wedding, both Angelo and Charles flew to America. They have already talked about this matter before they got married, and finally, they can do it without any other problems.Charles was even more in a hurry when he told him that the house he had bought from a real estate agent he knew was finished. The house had three bedrooms, one for the masters, the other was a guest room, and the final room was for their daughter.“The documents are all set according to Light,” Charles, who was busy driving, informed him.Angelo smiled as he stared at their wedding ring. “After marriage, now we'll finally be a complete family.” He looked at his husband. “It’s raining blessings, don't you think?”Charles glanced at him before he focused on the road. “I’m happy that you're happy.” “Te amo, mi Nick."“I love you too, my Gab.”In a few moments, they arrived at the adoption center. They entered the facility together and a little girl came running in their direction and immediately
HAVING the thought of asking Angelo for marriage and actually doing it are definitely two different things. Charles has been staring at the computer for hours now, trying to find articles and videos about wedding proposals. He wanted to ask Anurak but the guy is busy with his family. Wynter is currently with her boyfriend who is in the Philippines.Narae suddenly entered his room. “You know, if you want to propose, just propose as simple as you want. The very question "Will you be my partner for the rest of my life?" is only the most important.”Charles sighed before closing the tabs connected to his proposal. He then turned his chair to face Narae. “How’s your plan for the sixth anniversary?”The girl threw herself on his bed. “I haven't thought of a theme yet. We already did our common red and black last year. White and black for our third anniv. Black and gold for the second. And plain black for our first.” She turned to him. "Oppa, help." She even pouted, making Charles sigh.“Th
“WHERE did Dad say they took them?” Charles asked on the other line.(Well, some of the adults are still in the same hospital, some already got discharged and had a life of their own. As for the kids, they were transferred to a facility. An adoption center, just near the Japanese restaurant we used to like.)“Okay, got it. Thanks, Light.”(That's not for free. Speaking of Japanese restaurants, how about asking me on a date—)He ended the call with his friend. Light and his nonsense. He just shook his head and then turned his full attention to the road.After a couple of minutes — thank God there was no traffic — Charles parked his car in front of the adoption center.Since that place was closer, it was the first place he visited. The hospital will be the next one.It has been years since he last paid them a visit. Charles then felt that he was greatly lacking in these people.One of his previous missions was the case of a well-known government official that was involved in human traff
ANGELO deeply sighed a couple of times as he looked out of the window of the plane. He saw the news about the bombing of his sister's wedding, he called for days, but nobody picked up the phone except Narae and Anurak who were thankfully not present at the scene.Angelo already has an idea about who blew up his sister's wedding. For a year, he learned all the lessons he could learn about the life of his father and sister. He also learned how to use a gun and how to fight physically.His father honed his mental and physical skills for him to safely enter that world. His lessons are still not done and were supposed to continue for another year in the USA, but the bodyguards did not stop him when he said he was going home because he was worried about his family's condition.The news showed that his stepmother and Autumn were at the wedding, so he was even more worried. But the person who occupies the most space in his mind was his sister's groom.“Please secure your seatbelts for when we
TIME flew fast. A year has already passed, and everyone is busy. Cameras kept flashing from left to right. Reporters are outside the church, and they are noisy as hell. Everyone has smiles on their lips except for the groom.Charles looked like a living zombie as he stood there and got clothed by three or four assistants. Someone puts make-up on his face and others put on his clothes. He was frowning but he has already given up on having an escape plan months ago. He could do nothing but follow his father's wishes.“What’s up, groom?” Light teasingly smiled at him as he entered his room.They’re currently in a hotel getting ready for the wedding. He no longer had to ask what was going on at the church they were getting married to because it was in the news a few hours ago.Charles is irritated because his marriage to Wynter seems like a big deal that the whole world needs to know. Maybe if I was marrying Gab, I would’ve felt the opposite of irritated. Charles just shook his head. To t
NARAE and Anurak both fell on the sofa in the living room of DAWN's penthouse. They were both stunned by the absence and sighed minute by minute. They both felt drained after a load of trials to make Wynter and Charles talk to each other."Can you think of anything else?" Anurak asked his cousin even though he was still staring at the turned-off television."Gone. My brain is very dry, Oppa,” was her lifeless answer. They sighed once again.It has been two months since those two’s soon-to-be wedding was announced in public, and it has been two months since Wynter and Charles talked to each other. Both of them act as if they do not exist in each other's worlds.Last month, Wynter flew back to the Philippines and worked her ass off to keep herself busy. Charles, on the other hand, stayed in Thailand but separated from them and did not live in the penthouse.That is why Anurak and Narae are so tired that they fly to the Philippines and back to Thailand just to make sure of the situation
“WHAT the fvck was that?!” Charles shouted at his best friend who had just entered their penthouse. Wynter didn’t even flinch at the loudness of his voice and just blankly stared at him. Charles continued to lash out at her. “Did your dad tell you about this?! I thought you and dad had a conversation?! What nonsense is this?! I never knew he couldn’t keep to his words!”Charles looked at the dumb Angelo. Once again his blood boiled. When I thought that everything was fine, this freaking motherfvcking problem happened! He was mad as hell that he planned to confront his dad personally.Charles tried to call his parents thousands of times but they won’t pick-fvcking-up! When he heard the news, his eyes automatically flew to the man beside him, and his heart broke when he saw his lifeless eyes. Fvck this fvcking life!“Dom, calm down—”“What do you mean calm down?!” Charles ’voice filled up the place. “Who is calm in this situation, Wynter?! My father just fvcking announced to the whole w
ANGELO woke up smiling and his world seemed colorful. Maybe it was his dream, or the memory of what happened last night, he couldn't quite decide which. All he knows is that he's happy, and his Nick has something to do with it.He left the room when he saw that it was bright outside. He planned to cook something for breakfast when he smelled something delicious coming from the penthouse's kitchen. He immediately went there and saw Anurak cooking."Sawatdee, P'Angelo."He immediately smiled at the guy. "Buenos dias, Anurak."He handed him an apron and then went back to cooking. "Good thing you're awake. I heard from Wynter that you can cook. Mind giving me a hand?"He smiled and looked at the food being cooked and then looked back at the young man. "Nah. What do you want me to do?"They talked for about half an hour about what breakfast they would cook for everyone. Exactly when they finished serving, Narae entered the dining room."What's up, beautiful people?" The lady greeted them a
CHARLES woke up feeling thirsty in the middle of the night. So he left his bed and went out of his room only to stop halfway. He also saw that the man who was about to leave Wynter's room got stunned. Both Angelo and Charles stared at each other for a minute, trying to feel each other’s next move, but the former was the first one to let go of their gaze and walked toward the kitchen.And because Charles also planned to drink water, he walked slowly behind him. He was just staring at the guy’s back as they walked to the kitchen. No one was talking and trying to think of what the others were planning to do next.Angelo was the first to take a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and when Charles thought he was going to leave immediately, the man handed him a bottle of water. He silently accepted it and drank the whole bottle. Angelo was still not leaving the kitchen so Charles didn’t leave as well.They both seem to be unaware that they are waiting for the next thing to do or say. Th