I
Still thinking about what his father told him, Atty. Garette felt confused. This was the first time that he felt his world might be turning upside down. Since he stepped foot in his teen years, he already crazily knew that he wanted to be the best lawyer he could be, which he could proudly say now that he did and would love to continue doing. Taking his father’s wishes would mean surrendering part or worse most of his lawyer’s job. Would he take it?
“Hey, Dude, what’s eating you up? I could sense that something is bothering you.” It was Atty. Greg, who asked while taking a seat beside him. They were then at the side of the balcony of their mansion, where they could freely view the manmade waterfalls.
Seeing the manmade waterfalls, Atty. Garette could not help to sigh. That waterfall was a landmark that would be engraved in his mind. It is where the turning point in his life has drastically moved to three hundred sixty-degree turns.
“Hey,” Atty. Greg said again, tapping Atty. Garette’s shoulder to call his attention.
Surprised, Atty. Garette looked at his friend, furrowing. “What? Were you saying something?”
Making a cocky look at his best pal, Atty. Greg put his backhand on Atty. Garette’s forehead. “Hmm, your temperature is fine but you seemed to be burning with thoughts, Atty. Garette?” he grinned jokingly.
Atty. Garette let out a low growl and nodded. “I was indeed in deep thought. I am turned between two important things in my life now, Brod.”
Sensing the seriousness of the matter, Atty. Greg stopped grinning and looked at his friend, quizzically. “Care to tell me?”
“I might temporarily lie low in our Law Firm Greg. My father asked me to take over his position in all of our businesses here in Texas and in the nearby city.” Atty. Garette finally said what was bothering him, all throughout the day.
Atty. Greg stiffened as he heard what Atty. Garette had just divulged to him. “So, would you be taking your father’s wishes?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Atty. Garette, glanced at the waterfalls again. “As of now, I am actually confused, Brod. I don’t know what to decide,” he said, admitting his confusion.
Atty. Garette thought, when did his friends ever see him confused when it comes to making decisions? He has always been the last word to say in their law firm when it comes to tough decisions, because it was how his mind worked and his friends relied on him for that. When he finally decides, he has no doubts about it and there will be no turning back, whatever it takes.
“Brod, we know you, you will never take any decision without any deep reason for taking so. So, I am confident that whatever decision you take, it will be for the best. We will be here to understand whatever would be your final decision.” Atty. Greg tapped his friend’s shoulder again to assure him and gave him a warm smile.
“I think we need to discuss this matter tonight. I was only given until tomorrow by Dad to decide.” Atty. Garette said and tagged his friend, motioning for him to come along.
“Where are the two cocky nerds, by the way?”Atty. Greg asked, referring to Atty. Hector and Atty. Paolos.
II
The two cocky nerds who called Atty. Garette and Atty. Greg as two cocky nerds too, when they are not around, we're at the lanai enjoying some beers and beef on the side.
“Hey, you did not call us to join you, selfish brats.” Atty. Garette scolded the two friends who were enjoying their drinking spree.
They were tired actually as they visited the mini mountain farm of Atty. Garette’s father and they truly enjoyed it. They climbed went there, had fun eating young coconuts and some fruits, and even tried to help pick mangoes. In the afternoon, they visited one of the nearby beaches owned by the O’Brien family, which is the White Dove Beach and Hotel. It is named after its attraction; a group of white doves flying or walking around the premises, owned and carefully cared for by the O Brien’s loyal caretakers.
Because of these white doves, tourists, especially those with superstitious beliefs, would choose this place to stay because they believe that white doves are symbolic of new beginnings, peace, fidelity, love, luck, and prosperity.
They swam at White Dove Beach and enjoyed eating seafood there, thereafter. Atty. Paolo was ecstatic, saying that he would return to White Dove Beach as he was intrigued by its Operations Manager, who, according to Atty, was intrigued. Garette was his classmate in Elementary, who was their class salutatorian when they graduated.
“Come on drink, you weirdos, just sit and drink!” Atty. Paolo is still in that high feeling, which he carried on from the time he met the Operations Manager of the White Dove Beach and Hotel.
“Hmm, Garette, by the way, how could I bed your resort’s Operations Manager? I am dying to tire her all day long.” Atty. Paolo asked, as if he was just asking for something ordinary. His three other friends sighed at him.
Among them, the top-notch playboy is Atty. Paolos; he has three or more girlfriends. He has different girls per day. He said, it is like a menu, he just needed to pick his choice to be his meal for the day.
The second-in-line branded playboy, of course, was Atty. Garette; the one who prided himself on not having s*x twice with the same woman. His principle actually is “Never lose a case and never bed a woman twice.” Until today, Atty. Garette could still say so, that he never bedded a woman twice. In the coming days, however, Atty. Garette is not sure anymore and that man-made waterfall was his first witness.
The third cocky playboy is Atty. Greg. There were two women already, who claimed that the father of their children is Atty. Greg. What the cocky brat did was deny it at first and when being threatened to be sued, he hardheadedly stood firm that he will not accept those children without proof of a DNA test. To his dismay at first, it turned out that the two little buddies were his, but eventually, he became proud of it, saying that he at least had proven his masculinity and genes. So, Atty. Greg is a father of two young boys from different mothers, whom he never married. He said, he was still looking for that someone, who would take his life to the next level without batting an eye.
The last one and the last playboy now is Atty. Hector. Previously, he had a lot of flings, he took women like cupcakes of different flavors; so yummy to munch, according to him, but then one fateful night turned him into a new Atty. Hector. He had a one-night stand in a popular resort in Las Vegas with a mysterious, virgin woman, who, until now he is still trying to find and hoping to see again.
“Hey, Atty. Garette, so when? When can I get close to that Ms. Fortunata Freely? Ouch, I don’t like her name, let me call her, Fort? Tuna? Nata? Hahaha. Hmm, I finally decided, I will call her Fortune.” Atty. Paolo said aloud again, which Atty. Garette answered with laughter.
“Dude, you will find it hard to bed Fortunata. She is wearing a chastity belt.” Atty. Garette said, grinning wide at the outburst of laughter of Atty. Greg and Atty. Hector. Atty. Paolos’ facial expression suddenly became frustrated with a ray of excitement. The top-notch playboy seemed to be challenged by Fortunata.
“But hey dudes, let us be serious; Garette here has got something to ponder on, that might affect the operation of our law firm.” Atty. Greg said after their laughter subsided.
And so, Atty. Paolo and Atty. Hector became serious and looked at Atty. Garette almost simultaneously, with their quizzical looks. “What?!” they both asked.