Chapter 9

The helicopter had barely landed on the HGC helipad when he jumped out quickly. His happiness is at stake here, so he should not waste time. He had already ordered a search while in the air, but Laura was nowhere to be found, not even at the homes of Laura's former high school classmates. The cellphone he’d given her with a tracker was turned off. If only she’d turned it on, it could have helped the search. He’d already asked his Daddy Sebastian to pull up Gael’s profile—he needed his Daddy Sebastian’s expertise. With connections worldwide, he was sure his father figure could locate Gael and her woman.

Ezi was on standby, waiting for his signal. He needed Gael’s current number to pass on to Ezi so they could track him. Once Sebastian gave him the information, he sent it straight to Ezi.

He called their housekeeper, but Laura hadn’t returned home. She wasn’t even at the institution where her father stayed. He cursed repeatedly as he drove to the Malonzo family’s house. When he arrived, only the housemaids came to meet him. Despite all his shouting, Gael didn’t come out. He screamed outside the gate like a madman. The guards nearly restrained him, but he broke free, got back in his car, and waited for some time. He was convinced Gael was still in the Philippines and had planned to elope with Laura on her wedding day. He only left when Ezi called, confirming that Gael was in Mexico, and his Daddy Sebastian said the same.

He returned home with his shoulders slumped. His parents’ worried faces greeted him, but he ignored them. He still wore his tuxedo, now dishevelled and untucked, torn and covered in dust.

He entered his room, undressed completely, and went straight to the shower, not caring how cold the water was.

If Laura wasn’t with Gael, it meant she truly wanted this—she despised him that much. She couldn’t even stand to look at him. It hurts. He’d hoped she felt something for him, even a little. What would happen now to the family he’d planned to build with her?

Out of nowhere, he punched the bathroom wall. His knuckles bled, but he felt no pain—nothing hurt more than Laura’s betrayal.

He didn’t bother treating his injury. After showering, he left again, going to the Del Franco home, but she wasn’t there either. He had a serious talk with Asia, who also knew nothing. She’d been just as shocked by Laura’s actions.

In the following days, he tracked down her friends and acquaintances, sometimes searching until dawn. He even followed women who looked like her, becoming obsessed. By dawn, he’d find himself at ZL Lounge bar, drinking heavily. This became his routine for three weeks. He even became a stalker, following Gael for two weeks.

A month passed, and each day without Laura became increasingly difficult. He couldn’t bear to be home, where her memory haunted him. His mother agreed with his father’s decision to send him to Caramoan. He tried to distract himself, but when he wasn’t drinking, he found himself with women. He didn’t go to work anymore. Alcohol became like water to him, and even his friends couldn’t stop him.

Four months into his stay on the island, he still hadn’t changed. Bars and women filled his nights. Plenty of women wanted to sleep with him, and he didn’t turn them down. But he always used protection. Whenever he brought a woman to his mother’s house, his father got angry, so he sent his woman to his cabin.

He wanted to erase Laura from his system. In the past, he hadn’t even looked at other women; being near Laura was enough. Just sharing a roof with her made him happy.

“Ohhh, harder, please!” M0aned the woman he was with.

“F*ck, so tight,” he groaned as he moved faster inside her.

Until she cried out, “I’m close... Ohhh…” He almost wanted to punch her. She was so loud he knew they could be heard outside. But he didn’t care. It’s just that he does not like women who are so noisy when they are having s3x. 

Afterwards, he told her to leave. She wanted to sleep beside him, but he shouted at her, furious.

“I said, get out!” he yelled when she didn’t budge.

She spread her legs, showing off, before quickly dressing. His face was red with anger at her persistence.

He’d made it clear he didn’t sleep beside any woman, and once he’d had them, he never came back for more.

In his fifth month on the island, he filled his days with sleep, drinks, swimming, and sometimes fishing with villagers. Occasionally, he’d visit his mother’s old village, where he had cousins and friends. 

“Three cases,” he replied. “I have more at the hotel. I can call my butler if we run out.”

Those three cases were Red Horse, but he also had branded alcohol in the car.

It was a farewell for John, who would start military training next month.

“Why are you joining the military, bro?” he asked suddenly.

John didn’t respond, so his cousin Ethan answered, chuckling, “Brokenhearted, cousin. He’s ready to die in the field to forget.”

He looked at John, understanding why he’d been withdrawn lately, not joining Ethan and Buknoy when they’d visited the resort.

John glared at Ethan, saying seriously, “Can’t it be for the family to support us? She just happened to leave me. My life isn’t centered on her. I have family to support.” He took a sip, adding, “I love her, but I won’t beg her to come back. If we’re meant to be, then great; if not, I accept that fate.”

John’s words echoed in his mind, reminding him of his search for Laura. He’d centered his life around her. Now he realized his family needed him too, even if not financially, but as their son.

He grew intrigued by John’s talk about the military. He’d seen it in movies and felt drawn to experience life in the field. Mostly, he wanted a fresh start. John’s words encouraged him—maybe he’d meet someone better there.

When he returned to Manila, he told his parents about his decision. His mother was furious, and his father tried talking him out of it. He knew they were worried about the dangers of military life. They disapproved, but he promised to come back alive. Until he could let go of Laura, his parents wouldn’t get their old son back.

With the help of his Daddy Sebastian and his godfather Axel, he entered the Philippine Military Academy and passed the entrance exam. Even without the test, his connections would have gotten him in.

His mother couldn't change his mind. He asked his younger sister, Andy, to take care of their mother until she married Ezi. As for his father, he knew he would always take care of his mother.

His friends were shocked at his decision. They gathered at ZL Lounge for his farewell before training started.

“Are you crazy? Planning to die in battle?” Ian yelled at him. They were close, with Ian’s father being his Daddy Sebastian.

“Relax! Of course, I’m coming back alive,” he replied, forcing a smile.

It was clear they weren’t happy with his decision.

“Yeah, if you’re lucky enough to survive,” Lexxie said, frowning.

“Exactly. I don’t want to attend your funeral,” his cousin Dariel added, with DK, the youngest, nodding in agreement.

Ezi and Callen stayed quiet, ignoring him. But by the night’s end, each friend hugged him. Like his parents, they couldn’t change his mind, so they chose to support him instead.