Chapter 14

“THANK YOU,” Wynter said when Charles entered her office.

“You’re my best friend, Wyn. Of course, I will protect your family as much as I can,” he replied as he sat down on the visitor’s chair.

Wynter just hummed and continued reading and analyzing the important documents piled on her desk. “But humor me, how did you know where he was?” Wynter’s voice sent shivers to his spine.

“As I told you yesterday, I had a meeting with the other reckless groups in that club. Then I saw your brother heading towards a VIP room guarded with heavily armed men. I was well aware of your brother’s innocence towards that kind of life so I made sure to put a tiny microphone on a tray that was delivered to that room, and voila, I guessed right about those men,” Charles lied flawlessly that even Wynter believed it.

Wynter sighed and settled the papers on her desk before looking at her best friend. “At least we now know that they won’t hunt for my brother anymore.”

Yeah, now he’ll be safe. “Anyways, how long will you stay here in the Philippines?” Charles changed the topic.

“For as long as I can settle all this.” Wynter gestured to her stacks of folders that needed to be signed. “So more or less, a month.”

“Well, those two have to come back to Thailand by the end of the week. Narae still has a class and Anurak has a job.”

“And you? What are you gonna do?” Wynter went back to signing the documents.

Charles stood up. “Clean up, I guess. Dad left a list of criminals who committed unspeakable crimes.”

Wynter smirked. “Let me guess, the government could no longer handle them.”

Charles put his hands on his pockets before he walked towards the door. “What can I say? They need us so badly.” He chuckled.

“Dom,” Charles stopped walking but didn’t turn. “I’m thankful that you saved him, but my decision stays the same. Coincidentally or not, stay away from my brother. I believe you respect our friendship.”

“I do respect it, Wyn. And don’t worry, I don’t wanna be associated with him in any way,” he assured her before leaving her office. I hope I wasn’t lying.

WEEKS PASSED and not a single text or hint from Charles did he get. Angelo wanted to clarify what happened between them that night in Wynter’s condo, but the young man seems to have no plans to meet him and it’s pissing him off.

Just yesterday, the three of them returned to Thailand to return to LUST DAWN and their jobs. Unfortunately, Charles didn’t join them, and they had no news of where he was.

Angelo’s the type of person that will always smile at anyone. He, Narae, and Anurak have almost the same temperament. And speaking of those two, even they had no news from their best friend, but unlike him, those weren’t worried as hell.

This has happened before so they are not worried at all. It’s always the same thing, Charles would be gone in a few weeks, max would be a month, and the reason for that is because of their business.

Angelo wanted to think it that way but then he just couldn't help but worry about the young man. Is it really business or does he already have someone? Angelo just shook his head. What if he already has a boyfriend, it’s not like something is going on between them.

He let out a deep sigh and stared at nothing. For a moment he felt someone shaking him. He blinked multiple times before looking at the woman in front of him.

“—Earth to Oppa!” the woman shouted.

“Oh. Hey, Narae. Do you need anything?” He forced a smile.

Narae stared at the man. Is he okay? Or maybe he already misses D? Narae let out a sigh before smiling at me. “I need nothing, how about you, Oppa?”

I need his presence. Angelo shook his head and smiled. “Nah, I’m fine. I'm sorry and I was lost in thoughts for a moment.”

“Don’t sweat it. Anyways, if you don’t feel like working, you can take a week off.” Narae sat on a barstool across from him.

“I’m okay, really.” Angelo looked behind the woman. "Is there a miracle going on? There’s no Anurak behind you," he chuckled.

Narae put her elbows on the counter before resting her chin on her hands and pouted. “An has no work tomorrow, while I do have classes. So there you go! He’s free to bed anyone he wants.”

Angelo laughed at the woman's behavior. “You know you can still flirt around, but that's it. You’re not allowed to reach the third base or home run. ” He laughed even harder when Narae pouted even more.

“Why is the time so slow?! If Noona hadn't continued her studies, I would have been the only one studying with the four of us. Ugh! I feel like my life is so boring,” the young lady complained.

Angelo mixed a drink for her while talking. “You should enjoy being a student. Because when you start working, you’ll have more responsibilities.”

Narae rolled her eyes. “So what dad used to say.” She sighed. “I just can’t really avoid being so envious. Especially when the three of them are busy with their work and I'm not working. I often just hang out at home.”

“Well, you can try something else.” He handed the glass to the girl. “How about new friends?”

The lady took a sip before she tsked. “As if that’s easy. The DAWN were the only people I know who have accepted me fully and have understood me fully ever since. As for the other people, they only befriend me because they need something. Money, fame, s*x, especially men. All they want is s*x.”

Angelo couldn’t say that he felt the same because he didn’t. Besides, he never got any friends after Charles, he was scared that he might end up loving that person too much again. So in the end, he wasn’t able to move on with Charles.

He would always ask his sister about him ever since he learned that those two were best friends. But of course, he didn't inform his sister since she might suddenly tell her friend, and then all will be revealed.

He even went so far as to follow Charles to the countries he would go to and simply look at him from afar. He became a stalker because of him. Though according to his sister, it’s still not considered an obsession.

Fortunately, he still has a sober part of his mind.

“How about you, Oppa? Other than working here, are you also busy with other stuff?”

He got preoccupied with what he heard. And of course, his brain flashbacked again. He was just shaken.

"So other than bartending, you're not doing anything?" Narae asked again.

Angelo smiled at her. "Sometimes I roam around places, but often I just sleep to be able to stay awake when working here."

Narae nodded her head as she hummed and finished her drink. "Anyways, Christmas is coming soon, do you celebrate it with the Vasquez's?"

Angelo showed a small smile. “Autumn and Wynter, even tita Summer wants me to celebrate all the occasions with them, unfortunately, there’s dad… And I know for sure that he doesn’t like me.” That’s why I’m trying my hardest. To be worth it. For him to see me as his, not just his mistaken firstborn.

“Well, that’s basically three versus one.” Narae chuckled. “Anyways, the talk within the DAWN was that every December twenty-fourth, we’ll celebrate it in our own houses, in short, family time. But the next day, it’s DAWN time, wanna come? ”

“I’m not part of DAWN.” Angelo laughed which caused Narae to roll her eyes. “Kidding, sure sure. If my schedule says it’s free.”

“Schedule, my ass. You don’t have one, Oppa,” the maiden sighed as he laughed.

They talked for a while until his shift was over. Anurak even joined them before they parted ways.

As he leaves the club, sunrise greeted him, and for the second time, he felt as if someone was staring at him. He turned his head to search for it until it settled on a man entering its car.

Angelo shook his head, it couldn’t be his Nick. He would have entered their club. He must be seeing things. The more he misses the young man, the more her reality is affected.

He's probably not avoiding me, right? Angelo couldn’t help but ask himself. He thinks that it has something to do with what he did that night. Is he purposely avoiding me? I hope not.

Angelo sighed before hailing a taxi and went to his place to rest his mind and body.