Good Boys Like Bad Boys Too

0002 : Oreo is His Name!

Joaqim secretly hid a list of all the supernatural events that happened in his life. This not because he is scared or something, he's just keeping the list because there is still no scientific proof to prove them.

Tulad nalang nung kwentong multo na namamahay sa ancestral house nila sa Batangas. Sinasabi na isang babae na may suot na puting damit ang nagpakamatay sa loob ng bahay nila. Namatay ang babae na hindi pa natatapos ang misyon niya sa mundo kay nagmumulto siya sa bahay para ipakita na nandoon pa siya.

Joaqim thought that the story is both illogical and stupid. Una sa lahat, bakit kailangan na sa bahay pa nila mangyari ang pagpapakamatay? Is there any reason why people would choose to die on somebody's house? Is it because the location is good and the house looks majestic? Kung pwede lang nga sana matagal na niya itong kinasuhan ng trespassing dahil sa wala itong permiso para pumasok.

Second, why did she committed suicide knowing that she still has a mission to finish? Utterly stupid.

Joaqim thought that this story was only told to scare them as kids. Pero kahit bata pa si Joaqim, o kahit sino man sa mga kapatid niya, wala namang natakot sa kanila sa kwentong ito. All of them thought that their grandfather is outright stupid for spending that fifteen minutes wasting their time. But they keep it on themselves because they loved the man very much.

Now, Joaqim has the urge to take that list out to jot this event. The title would be "OREO, THE MOOD SLAYER", because seriously his mood has gone to a roller coaster ride the moment he saw the individual. Damn that scholarly smile, it makes his teeth itch.

Joaqim adjusted his position to balance his body. Inihiga niya ang kanyang likuran sa sandalan at ipinamahinga ang parehong mga kamay sa arm rest. Iginalaw niya ang kanyang kanang paa paitaas sa kaliwang tuhod at umupong nakadi-kwatro. He focused his eyes to look at Oreo only to show that he is listening.

"Pwede bang ulitin mo ang sinabi mo?" Tanong ni Joaqim.

"I am giving this one millio-"

"No, before that," Joaqim rolled his eyes to show a little bit of contempt. "Didn't you say that you hate me, no?"

Oreo nodded his head quite clearly. "I do. I really hate you."

"Then? Are you giving me this money to send me off?" Joaqim asked. Halata ang pagka-inis sa tono ng boses niya.

"Seryoso ka ba? Alam ko namang hindi ka mapapaalis sa lugar na ito kahit na sampung milyon pa ang ibigay ko," Oreo scoffed.

So you're aware of that, Joaqim thought. "Then? Why are you giving me this?"

Oreo looked ahead to Joaqim's eyes. He then pushed the money towards his direction as an offering.

"I want you to love me," Oreo announced.

Tuluyan nang nagsiliparan ang mga baboy sa langit at natagpuan na sa wakas ang puting uwak. Ang mga tainga na nakarinig sa mga katagang iyon ay hindi maiwasang linisin ito ng ilang beses sa hanggang dumugo. The monkey playing cymbals on their head suddenly released a spark rendering the working process useless.

A lump suddenly appeared on Joaqim's throat. The words that he can easily use before was stuck on his tongue making him speechless. Sinubukan niyang maintindihan ang sinabi ni Oreo pero sadyang napakamatalinghaga nito na kahit dictionary ay di magawang i-translate ang mga salita. He forcibly pushed that lump down to force a few words out.

"What the f**k?" And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Joaqim's first time to curse someone due to his inability to think properly. Even the members could only utter the same word to express their surprise.

Oreo, on the other hand, wondered if he said something wrong. That's when he realized that he said those words very vaguely giving off a meaning that is more or less very improper. Hinawakan niya ang upuan na kinauupuan niya at bahagyang hinila paabante para ipaliwanag ang sinabi niya. Of course, he didn't want to be misinterpreted.

"Wait, I phrased it wrongly. That is not what I meant," gagad ni Oreo na bahagyang sinapak ang sarili. "Ang gusto kong sabihin ay pretend to love me. Yes, I want you to pretend that you love me."

However, despite the correction, the same meaning held the phrase - to love him.

Joaqim drummed his fingers to the armrest. Nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa mga galaw ni Oreo. He wanted to understand his body language to at least catch a hint from the movements. Pero sa nakikita niya, masyadong relax ang taong ito. He can even tell that Oreo is just telling all his thoughts straight out without worrying about what might happen to him.

Oreo is an open book, easy to read yet difficult to comprehend. Makikita mo sa malayang ekspresyon sa mukha niya na totoo siya sa mga salita niya pero hindi mo maintindihan kung bakit ginagawa niya ito. Joaqim never met a person who is as stupid and unreadable as this one. Ito ba talaga ang sikat na si Oreon Summers?

His personality is different from what he expected.

And this made him very interested in him.

Ngumiti si Joaqim, pero ang mga ngiti na ito ay hindi umabot sa kanyang mga mata. Nakaramdam ng kilabot ang lahat ng miyembro na nakakita sa mga ngiti na ito. All of them understand the personality of Joaqim so they know that when he smiles like this, only disaster will happen. Napatingin sila kay Oreo sabay handog ng kandila at dasal sa kanya - naway sumalangit ang kaluluwa mo.

Nakita ni Oreo ang ngiti kaya napangiti rin siya. Hindi niya nararamdaman ang malamig na hangin na kumakagat sa mga kaluluwa ng mga tao sa paligid niya. He thought that Joaqim is open for such a deal so he continued whatever explanation he prepared beforehand.

"I know asking this out of blue is a bit weird. I mean you are a guy, and I am guy... I'm not against homosexuality but..." He shrugged his shoulders. "Hindi ko pa talaga naisip na magkaroon ng karelasyon kaya hindi ko alam ang gagawin."

Wait, so does it mean that he's okay with it? Joaqim thought, making his smile reach his ears.

"I know you are all confused. Lahat ng mga salitang sinasabi ko ay magkasalungat sa bawat isa. Why am I asking you to pretend to love me if I did not want to be in a relationship? Well, it has something to do with my family," paliwanag ni Oreo.

Oreo slightly lowered his head as he fumbled his fingers. Jaoqim found his action amusing but not cowardly. Huminga ng malalim si Oreo na hinahanap ang mga salita sa utak niya.

"It will be a very long story so I am cutting everything short and vague. Actually, I thought that after this you will have your men to look for the information about me. I won't object. Things would not be hidden that long anyway," Oreo heaved a sigh. "I am actually getting engaged... maybe."

"Maybe?" Tanong ng isang miyembro na nakikinig sa usapan. Agad niyang tinabunan ang bibig niya dahil sa di sinasadyang pakikisali. But Oreo is not offended and Jaoqim seems to be fine as well.

"Oo, hindi ako sigurado pero alam ko na mapupunta rin ako diyan," isang malungkot na ngiti ang ibinigay ni Oreo sa miyembro bago humarap kay Joaqim. "And that's when I thought I should make a move before that happens."

Isang alab ng apoy ang biglang lumitaw sa kinang ng mga mata ni Oreo. Hindi maiwasang titigan ito ni Joaqim. Ang nagsasayaw na apoy ay nagsasaad ng kakaibang determinasyon at kalakasan na maikukumpara sa katapangan ng isang dragon. Joaqim thought that he would like to watch those eyes to continue burning - to show its passion and strength.

"Kaya pumunta ako rito pata gumawa ng kasunduan. I know your prowress Joaqim Salvador, I am well aware of your strength. Kaya ikaw ang pinili ko para sa pagkukunyari na ito. You are the perfect candidate," Oreo announced.

Joaqim is not narcissistic but he is all aware of his appearance. Normal lang na may magkagusto sa kanya. But the way Oreo said it, why does it feel like he is not attracted to his looks? Joaqim released a light laugh before crouching forward to lessen the distance between the two.

"I actually got the gist of it. May hinala na ako sa kung anong kaguluhan ang nangyayari sa pamilya mo. But why me? Aside from my influence, marami namang iba diyan na mas deserving. At baka nga tanggapin pa ang alok mo ng basta basta," he said. "You could even choose a girl."

"If you want to listen, I have three good reasons," sambit ni Oreo.

"Spill it," gagad ni Joaqim.

"One, choosing a girl is impossible," Oreo stated.

Joaqim gave him a 'why' look.

"Because I know that any girl coming from this school is from an influential family. Para makapasok sa paaralan na ito, dapat mayroon kang malaking halaga ng pera- well except for me," Oreo shrugged his shoulders. He is the only scholarship student that survived until the last year in High School.

"My family wanted me to marry on someone with the equal footing. Kaya anong silbi ng pagkukunyari kung malaki ang posibilidad na ipapakasal pa rin ako sa mapipili ko? Kahit sino man ang piliin ko, I will still be engaged," he said.

"True, I agree with you on that," tango ni Joaqim.

Oreo smiled with his agreement. Well, what he said is really logical. Kahit sino man ang piliin niya, be it the girl his family wanted to marry, or the girl he will hire to pretend with him, isa sa kanila ay ipapakasal pa rin sa kanya. And he pretty much knows that both families will not disagree because of his high status.

"Two," Oreo showed his two fingers formed in a 'V'. "It is because you are a Salvador."

Biglang nandilim ang mga mata ni Joaqim. Oreo said that he has good reasons so the possibility of choosing because he is a Salvador is high. Pero ayaw na ayaw ni Joaqim na ituturing siya ganito dahil sa isa siyang Salvador. His family's fame is not equal to his individuality kaya ayaw niyang ikinukumpara siya ng mga tao dahil sa Salvador ang apilyedo niya.

Napatayo si Joaqim sa kinauupuan niya. Oreo didn't notice his fault so he only watched the person to walk towards him. Ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagpapaliwanag niya habang sinusundan ang mga galaw ni Joaqim.

"Your family's influence is grand enough to flick enemies away. Kung ikaw ang pipiliin ko, malaki ang tyansa na hindi ako magagalaw ng pamilya ko. Hindi sila makaka-angal kung sasabihin ko na ikaw ang gusto ko, at gusto mo rin ako. It will stop them from pestering me and-"

Hindi alam ni Oreo kung nakikinig si Joaqim kaya tinitignan niya ito para sabihin na siya ang kinakausap nito. Though, somehow, Joaqim kept on walking until he reached his position. Naglakad ito papunta sa likuran niya kaya tumalikod rin siya para harapin ang binata. Suddenly, Joaqim forced his way forward surprising Oreo.

Biglang nawalan ng balanse si Oreo na napatayo ng di sinasadya. Tinulak siya ni Joaqim sa lamesa sa hanggang napa-upo si Oreo sa ibabaw nito. Sinubukang lumaban ni Oreo pero hindi na niya nagawa. He was trapped in between the arms of Joaqim as he sat on the middle with his back on the table. The expensive tea set that they used earlier is now on the floor, shattered in pieces.

Nagulat si Oreo sa nangyari. He looked up to see Joaqim and found his eyes looking at him deeply. Somehow, he can't help but to stare at those dark orbs as he is slowly getting sucked in. He thought, this isn't bad. Napangisi si Joaqim nang makita ang pagkamangha sa mukha ni Oreo imbes na takot.

Well, who wouldn't get scared if a lion suddenly attacks you? He is not a herbivore, you know.

But, as what they say, just look at a lion's eye to stop him from moving. That's the only way you can save yourself.

"I see, so you do know who I am, right? You should be aware of what kind of things that I can do," Joaqim said hoarsely, purposely enticing each word that seems to bite.

His every breath is warm and suffocating that even Oreo has to keep his air well to not get choked. Pero, hindi niya iniwas ang mga tingin niya. Alam niya na ito lang ang pagkakataon na mayroon siya. If he will run with his tail in between his legs then he is wasting the courage that he had already shown. And Oreo is the one who hates that trait the most.

"Mn. It's because you are a Salvador that is why I approached you," he said firmly.

Joaqim suddenly grabbed his jaws and pressed it. Oreo almost yelled in pain but he swallowed the pain down. Makikita ang pangungugat ni Joaqim sabay pamumula ng kanyang mga tainga. One can tell that he is angry. And anyone who makes him angry only faces death.

"Ibig sabihin alam mo na kung ano ang mangyayari sa iyo," nakangising tanong ni Joaqim, pero halata sa nandidilim niyang mga mata ang puot at galit. "Alam mo na pwede kong tanggihan ang sinasabi mong kasunduan. At tsaka..."

Joaqim look at Oreo's body provocatively as he bit his lower lip. Halata ang sinasaad niyang mensahe sa binata. But Oreo remained firm on his self. Kahit na malagkit ang mga matang nakatingin sa katawan niya, hindi pa rin niya ibinababa ang pundasyon. Well, it is because he knows that Joaqim is just testing him.

It is because he knows that Joaqim is a smart and sensible man. He's not the type to fall into lust.

"Hindi mo tatanggihan ang inaalok ko. It's because it is you Joaqim," saad ni Oreo.

"Paano ka nakakasiguro? Gaano ba kalaki ang isang milyon para bilhin ako?" Saway ni Joaqim.

"But this is enough for you to survive," buong tapang na sabi ni Oreo.

"To survive?" Huh? Napatanong si Joaqim. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"It is because you are already very poor..." Oreo announced.

Joaqim: ... huh?

And that Oreo, once again, had shaken the foundation of the Den. Nobody really knows what he is thinking!

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Good Boys' Little Theatre

Joaqim : *Grabs Oreo's jaw firmly* Alam mo naman siguro kung ano ang kaya kong gawin?

Oreo : *Puppy eyes* Im sowwwy

Joaqim : *self control* I know what you are trying to do. Hindi mo ako mauuto!

Oreo : *LARGER PUPPY EYES* But I ownly want you to wav me wuwuwuwu~~~

Joaqim : *self control intensifies*

Oreo : *Full throttle cutesy teary largest eye of all*

GAME OVER - PLAYER JOAQIM DIED FROM NOSEBLEED

GAME OVER - THE AUTHOR IS TOTALLY FANGIRLING