Vixen 3: The Abused

Chapter 20

(Third Person's POV)

BUMUKAS ang pintuan sa likuran ni Austin pero hindi sya nag-abalang lingunin kung sino iyon. Inaasahan naman na rin nya ang taong yon kaya ipinagpatuloy na lang nya ang pagsasalin ng alak sa baso habang nasa bibig nakaipit ang sigarilyo.

"Austin."

"Hmn?" Hinarap nya ang taong yon tsaka tinanggal ang sigarilyo sa bibig. "What are you doing here, Jethro?"

Pabagsak na umupo si Jethro sa sofa tsaka napahilamos ng mukha gamit ang palad. Mariin rin syang pumikit bago sumandal na tila ba pagod na pagod. Nagdulot iyon ng pagtataka kay Austin kaya naglakad sya patungo sa kaharap na sofa nito at naupo. Hawak ng kaliwang kamay ang baso at sigarilyo naman sa kabila.

"I thought you're going to visit Noam?"

"I did."

"If you did, then why are you here?" Sumimsim sya sa basong hawak nya.

"Galing na ako doon, it's just that-" Kumunot yung noo nya. "Can you please wear some shirt or something?"

Pinasadahan ni Austin ng tingin yung sarili nyang katawan at nagkibit balikat. Nakapantalon lang kasi sya, he's not wearing any clothes on top revealing his semi ripped torso.

Sumimangot si Austin. "I know that you have feelings for Noam but just so you know, Jethro. I'm f*ckin straight. I love girls. I love melons and peanuts but not eggplants and I'm not into sword fighting, okay?"

"Oh please for f*ck's sake, Austin you're so gross, magbihis ka na lang pwede?" Ikot nya ng mata, nasa tono ng boses ang iritasyon.

"Fine, whatever jack*ss."

Umirap muna si Austin bago back adabog na tumayo at nagtungo sa isang pinto. Nakasimangot si Jethro na naghintay sa kanya hanggang sa lumabas ulit ito ng naka-T-shirt at bumalik sa pwesto.

"So, you are saying that you already went from Noam's apartment?"

"Yes."

"Then bakit ka nga ulit nandito? Kung galing ka na doon then why didn't you just stay there?"

"Because I saw that woman that she's dating and living with."

Nahinto si Austin tsaka nanlalaki ang mga matang nilingon sya. "What? Noam is dating someone?"

"Yeah."

Madaling ibinaba ni Austin ang baso tsaka masayang pumalakpak. Ikinakunot yon ng noo ni Jethro na nauwi rin sa pagkakasimangot.

"That's good-"

"That's not good!" Singhal nya pero inignora sya ng kaibigan

"Chill, stop being bitter, okay?"

"I'm not bitter! Nag-aalala ako para sa kanya." Depensa nya.

"Aren't you being a little exaggerated, Jethro?"

"No." May diin nyang saad tsaka bumuntong hininga, napasabunot sya sa buhok habang inaalala yung nadatnan nya kanina. "I thought one of my student, Linus is just some kind of a bratty kid, trying to piss me off because he likes Noam for his older sister. Hindi ko pinansin yung mga pang-aasar at pasaring nya even though kinukutuban na ako na may alam sya but when I saw his sister coming out of Noam's apartment building, everything just made sense!"

'Linus?' Ngumiwi si Austin sa narinig na pangalan. 'What a weird name, though it sounds familiar to me. Where did I heard it again?'

Nagsalin ng panibagong alak sa baso si Austin habang nakikinig sa kwento ni Jethro.

"Are you not just being a paranoid?" Komento nya.

"I'm not!"

Naningkit yung natural na singkit nyang mga mata. "I don't know, Jethro, but it seems like you're just jealous."

Sinamaan sya ng tingin ng kausap. Hindi rin nakatakas as panngin nya yung pagkuyom ng palad nito kaya umiling-iling sya.

"She's suspicious, Austin. Ni hindi ako nakalapit sa mismong apartment building ni Noam, you know why? Because there are plenty of women in a white suit surrounding the whole area, and when that woman came out together with his brother and my other student, everyone just bow down and said some sort of honorifics on her."

Nakuha non yung atensyon nya kaya inisang tungga nya yung laman ng baso tsaka umayos ng upo. Nang maibaba ang baso sa mesa ay sya namang sindi nya ng panibagong sigarilyo.

"Honorifics? Like?"

"A nickname, calling her 'boss' or 'queen' as if she's some kind of a superior or something." Umigting yung panga nya habang nagkikwento. "Even her clothes are suspicious, who wears a freaking three piece suit in a broad daylight?"

"Hmn... What a badass chic, I knew someone badass too but she's not fond of wearing suit, she loves to wear cargo pants and boots instead-"

"This is not about another woman!"

"Okay, whatever, just describe her more." Nag-ikot ng mata si Austin. "If Noam likes her that much to the point that they're already living together, she must be beautiful and bad-ass at the same time ano?"

"She's... not that beautiful."

Ngumisi si Austin nang halos pabulong na lang yon na sinagot ni Jethro.

"Oh?" Tumawa sya. "Talaga lang huh, she's not beautiful or you're just insecure?"

"Shut up." Pumalatak ito tsaka nag-iwas ng tingin. "Her face is pretty much ordinary, nothing special except for her weird green hair."

Bigla syang kinabahan sa hindi malamang dahilan.

"Weird... green hair?"

"Yeah."

Lumunok sya bago nagpatuloy sa itatanong. "Is she... approximately more than five feet tall, white fair skin and wearing an unusual expressionless cold face?"

"How did you know that?" Nasurpresa man ay mas nangibabaw yung pagtataka sa mukha ni Jethro lalo na noong mapamura si Austin.

"Sh*t, we're f*cked." Tumayo sya para lumapit sa mesa at kinuha ang cellphone doon. "That's definitely her."

"What are you-"

Bumukas ang pinto dahilan para maputol yung sasabihin nya.

Natigilan si Daniel na syang nagbukas nang makita yung seryosong ekspresyon nung dalawa. "Oh, sorry, busy kayo?"

"No, we're just talking. You're also just in time, Daniel. I was just about to call you." Tugon ni Austin.

"Really? That's great, may sasabihin rin sana ako."

"Spill it."

"Benedict sent you a message, have you not read it yet?"

Kumunot yung noo nya. "Message? What message?"

Wala syang matandaan na may pinadalang mensahe sa kanya yung t*r*ntado nyang amo, kung meron man ay hindi rin naman sya interesado pero wala naman syang choice kundi alamin pa rin kung ano yon.

"He said that we shouldn't mind the Styx Organization since they are not a threat. May inutos sya kay Vincent Reese kaya wala tayong masyadong dapat alalahanin sa kanila."

Doon napatayo si Jethro at kinwelyuhan si Daniel, nagulat naman ang lalaki pero si Austin ay napahilamos na lang sa mukha.

"What the hell did you just say?!"

"H-hey, ayos ka lang ba? Why are you suddenly grabbing me?" Nawiwirduhang tanong ni Daniel.

"That name! Ulitin mo nga yung pangalang binanggit mo!" Singhal nito.

"V-vincent Reese." Lumunok si Daniel. "Vincent Reese Saavedra Verdan."

Binitawan ito ni Jethro tsaka masama ang tingin na hinarap si Austin.

Hindi naman natinag si Austin kahit na bakas sa mukha ng lalaki na galit ito sa kanya, ni hindi man lang sya nasindak sa talim ng tingin na ipinupukol nito sa kanya habang nagsusuntukan sa sobrang pagkakasalubong ang mga kilay.

Si Daniel lang yata yung kinakabahan habang pinapanood yung dalawa.

"Austin?"

"Calm down, Jethro." Pagpapakalma nya pero wa epek syempre.

"You and Benedict are negotiating with those filthy trash who annihilate my relatives?!"

"It's not exactly what you call a negotiation, hindi mo ba narinig? They are under Benedict's authority now." Kalmado nyang sagot, nagawa pa nyang ngumiti na para bang hindi iyon big deal.

"Even so, bakit wala kang binanggit sa'kin?! I've been here for a couple of years already pero walang nagsabi sa'kin na may koneksyon kayo sa mga taong yon! Kahit nitong nakaraan na nagkita tayo!"

"Both of you loathed each other, you think sasabihan ka ni Benedict tungkol rito? Besides I don't have the chance to tell you, I'm in London, okay?" Nagkibit balikat sya sabay iling. "Even if I told you about it, what would you do? Pupuntahan mo? Papatayin mo? Have you forget already the reason on why are you keeping your low profile?"

Walang imik na ngumiwi si Jethro, napatakip naman ng bibig si Daniel tsaka pasimpleng idinako ang paningin sa ibang direksyon para hindi magsalubong yung tingin nila ni Austin.

Parang nahagip kasi ng mata nya na sinamaan sya nito ng tingin.

"You're here to do your job, so am I. My job is to keep the branch safe and take care of this growing business of your family, while your job is to lie low, pretend that you're under Benedict's command and attack him from behind when the right time comes."

Napalunok si Daniel. Wala syang alam sa plano na yon pero ngayong narinig na nya eh wala na syang magagawa kundi ang mag-go with the flow sa usapan.

Narinig naman na nya, kaya pakikinggan na nya lahat.

"Fine." Pagsuko ni Jethro na sinabayan pa ng pagbuntong hininga. "You have your point."

"Nice." Ngumiti si Austin tsaka bumaling sa kanang kamay. "Daniel, is there anything else?"

"Ah, y-yes." Alerto nyang sagot tsaka napakamot sa batok. "Vince's people are also looking for someone. If they managed to find the guy named Noam our business branch here will be remove permanently."

Sabay na bumakas ang pagkasurpresa sa mukha nung dalawa, nagkatinginan pa sila bago sabay na kumuyom ang mga kamao at nagtagis ang mga ngipin.

Umatras naman si Daniel, ngayon kasi hindi lang si Jethro ang galit, pati na rin si Austin.

"That bastard..." Galit na napasipa si Austin sa mesa tsaka tumingala. "Giving orders like that will make Noam as the Styx Organization's leverage towards success!"

"Verdan." Napapikit si Jethro. "Verdan si Linus, his sister... s**t! Why didn't I realized before?!"

'Ah, I wanna leave.' Anya ni Daniel sa isip nya habang pinapanood ang dalawa.

Salitan sa pagmumura at kung ano-ano pang pang-sadboy na galawan yung ginagawa nung dalawa kaya pakurap-kurap na nagpapalipat-lipat sa kanila yung tingin ni Daniel.

"This might be their strategy. Maybe sinadya nung ate ni Linus na mapalapit kay Noam so that she can easily take him."

"I think so too." Pagsang-ayon ni Austin sa naisip ni Jethro. "If my memory serves me right, Vince told me once that he has several source of headaches inside the organization, three specific people that he warned me about not to get involved or avoid crossing paths as much as possible.

"His cousins, which is the younger siblings of the quadruplets." Pagpapatuloy nya. "Linus, the youngest yet the most cunning among them. Monique, the second to the youngest who has the wealth and connections. Then the second born after the twins whom he claimed as the most dangerous one among them, that woman with the green hair-Morgan Verdan."

'That's her. I'm sure Linus mentioned that name before when he was trying to provoke me.' Usal ni Jethro sa isip nya.

"We need him as soon as possible, Austin. Hindi natin sila pwedeng hayaan na sirain yung lahat ng ginawa natin para kay Noam."

"Yeah, I know, but you can't talk to Noam as if you know sh*ts and craps about illegal stuffs because he only knows you as 'Jethro', not as 'Angelo'." Nakairap na saad nito tsaka humalukipkip. "I'll be the one who will do the talking."

"Okay." Kumunot yung noo nya nang may maalala. "But how sure are you na papayag syang sumama sa'tin? Also, what about that woman?"

"Isa ako sa pinaka-pinagkakatiwalaan ni Noam bukod sa totoong ikaw bilang 'Angelo' na kapatid ni Benedict. He'll believe me, more than anyone." Puno ng kumpyansang saad ni Austin tsaka napangiti.

Ngiting sinsero, iba sa pekeng ngiti na laging naka-plaster sa labi nya.

"Kukunin natin sya ngayong gabi."

Napalitan ng ngisi yung ngiti nya na sinabayan pa ni Jethro, nagkatinginan na naman sila na para bang nagkakaintindihan kahit wala silang binabanggit na kahit ano.

Pwera na lang kay Daniel na itong nagpapalipat-lipat ang tingin sa kanila.

***

ISANG malakas na ringtone ang umalingawngaw sa kalagitnaan ng pagsasalita ng isang empleyado sa meeting. Nagkatinginan ang mga taong may matataas na posisyon sa kumpanya hanggang madako ang paningin nila sa taong may-ari ng cellphone na yon.

Ngumiti si Benedict bago sumenyas sa mga ka-meeting at tumayo para maglakad palabas ng meeting room.

Nagtungo sya sa restroom at sinigurong walang ibang tao bukod sa kanya. Matapos non ay ni-lock nya ang pinto bago sinagot ang tawag.

"Calling me in the middle of my business hours? You must have a deathwish, Dante." Anya sa iritable at nagbabantang tono pero ang mga labi ay nanatiling nakangiti.

"I apologize for calling so suddenly, señorito Benedict." Ramdam nyang bahagyang yumuko yung tauhan nya kahit na hindi sila magkaharap na dalawa.

"Haven't I told you that you can't report to me during my business hours?"

"I'm sorry, señorito but I have something very important to say."

Pumalatak ang lalaki habang ang paa'y tumatapik-tapik sa sahig. Tila ba nauubusan ito ng pasensya, taliwas sa masayahin nyang mukha.

"Spill it. If that is not as important of your life, you'll be dead-

"I already found him."

Tila nagyelo sya sa kinatatayuan nya dahil sa narinig.

"P...pardon?"

"I already found him, señorito. I accidentally saw him in a mall." Madiin nitong sambit na tila ba siguradong-sigurado. "I've lost him in the crowd but I'm sure that it's Noam."

Saglit syang natahimik habang unti-unting iniintindi yung balitang narinig nya. Nang makabawi ay nagsimula syang tumawa, palakas ng palakas ang naging pagtawa nya na para bang yun na ang pinakanakakatawang narinig nya.

"Oh God, you're the best." Komento nya tsaka ngumisi at hinawi ang buhok na tumatabing sa noo nya. "Get him for me, Dante."

"Yes, señorito. The hacker on our team is currently checking all of the CCTV cameras around the mall, we're also looking for his location."

"Good. I want you to bring him back to me as soon as you get him, understood?"

"Understood, señorito."

Pinatay nya ang tawag tsaka padabog na ibinaba ang cellphone sa sink. Binuksan nya ang gripo at hinayaang lumagaslas ang tubig mula roon. Ilang segundo syang tumulala habang pinapanood yung tuloy-tuloy na agos ng tubig bago binasa ang kamay doon at nagsimulang maghilamos.

Nakaramdam sya ng excitement at tuwa. Ito yung laging nararamdaman nya sa tuwing nakikita si Noam, sa tagal ng panahon na hindi nya ito kasama ay para bang nakalimutan na nya ang ganoong pakiramdam kaya ngayong nalaman nyang magkikita sila muli ay para syang sasabog na ewan sa tuwang nararamdaman.

Iba yung sayang hatid ng binata sa kanya sa tuwing umiiyak ito, nakakatuwang makita yung galit na tingin na ipinupukol nito sa kanya, yung pagkagat nito ng labi para pigilan ang paghikbi, ang pagpikit ng mariin habang iniinda ang sakit ng katawan, ang pagpiglas nito sa kanya sa tuwing hinahawakan nya ito para ipinid sa kama-ah, ang mga bagay na nagpapasaya sa kanya. Mga bagay na hindi lang nya kay Noam ginawa pero yung thrill, excitement at yung kakaibang saya sa puso nya ay kay Noam nya lang nakukuha.

Nagsimulang lumuha yung mga mata nya, salungat sa pagtawa nya. Para syang nasisiraan ng bait habang nakaharap sa salamin.

"It's been almost 10 years, Noam."

Inilapat nya ang palad sa salamin, ang mga mata nya ay nakatitig sa sariling repleksyon na para bang ibang tao ang nakikita nya.

"10 years of running and hiding but you'll still end up in my hands." Malambing nyang anya. "I'll make sure that you'll be writhing in pain and pleasure as soon as we meet, you'll get the punishment that you deserve, my doll."

Ngumiti sya tsaka ipinagpatuloy ang pagtawa. Tumatawa pero umiiyak ng sabay, hindi malaman kung alin ba sa dalawa ang totoo nynag ipinapakita pero alinman doon ay nakakakilabot panoorin at pakinggan.

(Morgan's POV)

"I ALREADY talked with kuya Nicholas, kuya Wesley and kuya Beau. They agreed on your orders in exchange of excluding them on this conflict against the Styx Organization."

"Nice." I simply said before putting a cigar in between my lips and took the lighter to light it up.

"Wooow! Ate Monique, saan galing tong limousine mo?" Linus asked while roaming his eyes around.

"I bought it." Monique smiled sweetly as her finger kept on twirling the ends of her hzair. "Dad told me before that mom has several limousines when they were just starting as husband and wife, so I thought of buying seven of it."

"Seven?" I frowned. "Where are you going to use those seven limousines?"

"For the seven of us." She answered with her eyes twinkling out of excitement. "One for kuya Lauren, one for kuya Levi, one for kuya Laz, one for kuya Lax, one for you ate Morgan, one for me and one for Linus!"

Linus gasped before clapping his hands and screamed. "Waaaaaaaaaah! Talaga ate?! May limousine rin ako?!"

"Oo naman! Hehehehe! I bought a white one for you but we can customize it if you want."

My lips automatically pressed into a thin line while looking at them. Linus is sitting beside her while Salazar is on the passenger seat. Both of them are clapping and squealing like a freaking 9 year old children talking about their crushes.

I blew the smoke and clicked my tongue that caught both of their attention.

"I don't need a limousine."

"Baka lang naman need mo for emergency! Like, mga biglaang party or bonggang occasion ganon. Hihihi~"

"You're wasting your money on cars that you're not going to need."

"Uy, nagsalita yung bumili ng house and lot na halos sing-lapad ng limang bahay na binebenta natin sa Saadra Village."

One of my eyebrows twitched-no, it's not really my eyebrow that's twitching, it's the nerve on my forehead that's twitching out of irritation.

Excitement is written all over their face especially Linus who kept on putting that stupid reaction. His eyes are shining on me and his lips are formed into an 'o' shape.

"Whaaat?! Bumili ka na ng sarili mong bahay ate Morgan?!"

"Shut up." I hissed.

"Ayieeeh~ Ayaw nya lang sabihin kasi nahihiya sya-"

"Shut your mouth, Monique." I blew the smoke from my cigar. "Quit blabbering nonsense."

"Ih ate naman dapat yung mga ganyan chinichika sa kapatid."

She cling into Linus arms and began mumbling-which is not really mumbling at all because I can still hear her.

I can't help but to heaved a sigh. They are both hard headed so it's useless to scold them, they will still do whatever they want. It's better to let them say or do whatever sh*ts they want instead of stopping them, I'll just tire myself if I'll do that.

"Kumuha kasi sya ng house and lot doon sa isang Saadra Village natin-ay! No, actually yung isang buong village yung naka-reserve sa pangalan nya ih. Ang lawak ng sakop non tapos need pa ng golf cart kapag papasok papunta sa bahay-ay wait, mansyon nga yun eh kasi super big and super elegant!"

"WOOOW!" Linus' eyes got suddenly teary. "Bakit hindi mo chinika sa'kin ate?! Huhuhu! Kailan kayo lilipat ni sir Noam doon? Sama akooo!"

"Quiet."

It's true that I bought a house on one of our Villages. I got that idea from JR. She bought a house for his husband, Eren, so I thought, why not buy one for Noam? It's not like I hate his apartment or anything, but it's also good to have large space of environment.

Though I like his small apartment more. Its small size allows me to be at his side every second, I love how his skin touches mine. No lewd fantasies, I just love the warm feeling that he's giving me whenever that we've been cuddling.

Yes, the cuddling part.

"Ano na? Sama ako! Huhuhu!"

"Hala hala, hindi ka pwedeng sumama!" Monique replied while pouting.

"Ih bakit naman? Gusto kong makasama si sir Noam ihhh!"

"Eh kahit na! Kailangan nila ng privacy!"

I nodded. Yes, yes. Privacy, my Noam and I needs some privacy.

"Privacy? Para saan?" Linus asked innocently which pissed me off a little more.

Stupid. Didn't he know about privacy between a couple? Monique has a point, we need privacy. He kept on interrupting my kiss on Noam, he's bothering us every single d*mn time that our lips are touching in a sensual way-

"Privacy para sa labing-labing session nila!"

"..."

My body suddenly stiffened for an unknown reason. No words got out from my mouth but my eyes locked on Monique instead.

Even though she used some lame word to describe it, I knew what she's actually pertaining to. That is something that I never though of doing with Noam especially because of his condition. I love kissing and hugging him but doing that kind of 'thing' with him never crossed my mind-well, maybe sometimes but I'll never force him to do that. He may be a man, but he still has the rights to refuse and besides, he's still struggling to overcome tha trauma that he's been enduring for a long time. Doing something like that wouldn't heal the wounds on his heart and soul.

It can wait. I can wait. I'm not a pervert anyway. I'm Morgan, not Veronica.

Linus tilted his head on the side and smiled even though confusion is visible in his eyes. "Ano yung labing-labing?"

She's smiling from ear to ear while making that dreamy expression on her face as if she's imagining something unimaginable... perhaps it is something that a kid shouldn't hear.

Linus will turn 18 this coming week but his brain is still buffering and stucked on being childish so I'm still considering him as a child.

"Ateee! Ano nga yung labing-labing?"

"Edi se-"

"Enough." I cleared my throat. "This not the right time to talk about-"

"S*x?"

"MONIQUE!" I yelled that made them jump on their seats and I'm not f*ckin kidding because both of them literally jumped!

They were surprised because I yelled at them but I knew that the driver on the front and Salazar are much more surprised, I could feel it on the sudden sway of the limousine as if the driver left the steering wheel for a second.

"Ito naman si ate hindi na mabiro!"

I glared at her. "I don't want to hear any malicious things coming out from your mouth!"

"Oh, okay! Pero bakit ka muna namumula?" She asked as if she's wondering why I'm blushing-yeah, right! Why the f*ck am I blushing?! I should not blush!

"Hala! Namumula ka ate!" Linus said while covering his mouth in shock. "Kinikilig ka ba ate o nahihiya?"

"Will you shut up?!"

"Halaaa pikooon!" She gasped before letting out a chuckle. "Si ate nag-i-imagine na ng labing-labing moments nila! Ayieeeh~"

"I'm not, you dimwit!"

"Weh? Baka mamaya-"

"One more word, Monique and I will literally kick your ass out of this car!"

Linus squealed. "Homaygad, ako ate shut up na ko, ayokong masipa! Waaaaah!"

Both of them squealed. I heaved a sigh as I started massaging both sides of my forehead, trying to reduce the pain and relieve the continuous pulsing of my nerve because of stress.

"Kidding aside! Your people are currently arranging the rooms that kuya Beau, kuya Nicholas and kuya Wesley will use. As of now, they are waiting for your orders."

"That's something that I want to hear from you, Monique." I took my phone out and opened the notepad app. Linus was glancing on my phone while pouting.

"Eh? Sa notepad nakasulat yung mga plano mo ate?"

"Yeah."

"Ihh! Ang angas-angas mo tapos yung mga plano mo nakasulat lang sa notepad? Diba dapat nakaprint na yan tapos naka-folder para mas maangas tingnan? Parang mafia ang datingan, hehehe!"

I glared at him. "You're annoying."

Linus made a peace sign on his hand and smiled. "Alam ko! Hihihi!"

This brat is really getting on my nerves. I'll beat him up one of these days if he keep this attitude of his.

"Tell Beau to find these people on the list that I'm going to forward to you. I want to have their background and information about their businesses, also tell him to make an invitation and send it to those people. As for Nicholas, I want him to look after on this person."

Her forehead creases as she stare on the picture that I sent her just now. It's a picture that Charlotte sent me yesterday, she's still my friend even though I hate her because of Noam. I personally don't know that man but Charlotte told me to keep an eye on him.

"Who's this?"

"A friend of Noam."

Linus chuckled. "Ayieeeh~ Friend lang ba nya talaga?"

"Wanna die?" I asked.

He immediately shake his head and zipped his mouth.

"Oki! How about kuya Wesley?"

"He will be Noam's bodyguard for the mean time." I blew some smoke from the cigarette before dumping it on the ashtray. "I'm not sure about the date but I'll be gone for a week right after Beau finished his task. I'll be meeting the people that I've been eyeing to be the member of the new organization that I'm planning to build."

"Oh, sounds good." She nodded and smiled. "Sana after na ng birthday ni Linus ka umalis."

"Oo nga ate!" Linus suddenly hugged me. "Ayokong mag-birthday nang hindi ka kasama! Huhuhu!"

I tsked. I totally forgot about Linus' birthday, it will be this coming week too.

"That depends on how fast Beau can finish his task."

Both of them pouted but I know that Linus is somehow disappointed to the fact that I may not be able to attend his birthday next week.

I took a glance on my phone, hoping for Noam's text messages on my screen but I saw nothing but his face as my wallpaper. It made me a little bit uneasy.

I don't know why but I suddenly feel weird.