Rugged Men Series 4: Wyatt Hernandez (TAGALOG)

Chapter 22

ABALA si Wyatt sa panonood ng kanyang mga nahuling laban sa kanyang Smart 65 inches TV habang minu-minuto rin na sumisipat sa kanyang cell phone. He was waiting for Madison's call yet it's been almost hours since he left the clinic. He was expecting some thank you text or call, or a word for his for doing the job well done. But based on the hours he has been counting, Madison must have forgotten him.

Though, he understands. Madison needed a lot of keeping up with her friends and rest from work. But it would have been amazing to hear from her or hear her voice after he sleeps. Iyon lamang ang hinihintay niya bago matulog.

Wyatt sighed and turn off the TV. Sandali siyang napatitig sa kawalan habang nakahilig sa sofa. Sanay na naman siyang mag-isa sa anim na taon na kanyang pamamalagi sa Tokyo, ngunit para bang ngayon niya lamang naramdaman ang kakaibang pagkalumbay. And he wasn't a fool not to know. He missed Madison. This time not as a friend that is missing a close friend but something more than that. Something he just found out because of that smile.

That alluring smile.

That smile ruins his judgment for his best friend. He has seen it a lot of times. More than he could count. But that smile hit him right off the chest. Pinahamak siya ng ngiti na iyon dahil doon siya nakaramdam ng kung anong pagtingin sa kanyang pinakaiingatan na kaibigan. That was the trigger he was avoiding. But also the trigger he wants to happen again.

Marahas na napasabunot sa buhok si Wyatt at muling sinipat ang kanyang cell phone. If he will call Madison right now, he will probably ruin their girl's night. He doesn't want to ruin their moment. After all, it was a big reunion for Madison. Those girls are the reason why Madison keeps up without him. Somehow, he was thankful.

However, he keeps craving for Madison's presence. Na para bang hindi magiging buo ang kanyang niya kapag hindi ito nakita at maka-usap. Kaya ito ang kanyang pinakakaiwasan kahit noon pa man. Na mahulog kay Madison. Na tingnan ito bilang isang babae. He tend to keep things. Tend to be selfish for something he wants. And Madison is in that order now. He have done it for more than a deacde but that was only his extent. He wanted some more.

He wanted something more when Madison doesn't like him anymore. He was only a friend to her now. A product that can satisfy her needs. How f**k is that? Should he regret it now or was he already regretting it? He has become complacent. Get arrogant to his friends that he can't fall for Madison. But look at him now. Swallowing his words. Bending some credence as to what he always believes.

He's doomed.

Nagdekuwatro si Wyatt at nag-isip. Para bang bumaliktad na ang sitwasyon nila ni Madison. So, this must be Madison feelings when she likes him six years ago. He could say that it sucks because it's only one sided. Back then, he was thankful that there is Zacharias who always on Madison's side but he doesn't think he could be thankful anymore. Tiyak na simula ngayong nagugustuhan niya na ang malapit na kaibigan, ang presensiya ni Zacharias ay magbibigay sa kanya ng matinding pagkabahala. Because he wasn't the same man before.

He likes Madison now.

“HOW DO I look?” tanong ni Madison at umikot. She smiled as she wait for their reaction. She was wearing a satin dress that it is so thick, she thinks it would be torn any minute but good enough to make Wyatt swoon.

Samu’t-sari ang kanyang natanggap sa dalawang kaibigan. Sabrina is on the agree side while Annie is on the thumbs down side, as always.

“You look nothing like you,” ani Annie at umiling-iling. “You must change.”

“No, I think you’re great! Don't listen to Annie,” pagsalungat ni Sabrina at hinudyatan siya na umikot.

Ginawa niya ang gusto ni Sabrina kaya mas lalong napailing-iling si Annie.

“That's like a dress that would fell off anytime,” pagbibigay-diin ni Annie at halata sa mukha nito ang pagkadisgusto.

“That was the purpose of today’s night, Annie. The dress will fall and a steamy night will prevail,” pagpapaalala ni Sabrina.

“Wow, since when did you become poetess, huh?” sarkastiko na wika ni Annie at pumalatak. “That dress will literally be torn off so it would be a waste. Masasayang lang ang tela. That Wyatt is a beast, you know. He's capable, isn’t he, Madison?”

Napaisip si Madison at napatango-tango bilang pagsang-ayon. He could imagine Wyatt tearing her dress and letting it drop on the floor like it was nothing. And that imagination even excites her even more. It would be a great experience for sure. Lagi niya iyong nababasa sa mga akda ni Mika at para bang sa lahat ng mga iconic signature scene na iyon ay pinagpapantasyahan niya iyong mangyari sa kanya balang araw.

”See? Madi agrees,” ani Annie at humalukipkip. “So, no. I am saving the dress because that's like Jakovo's clothing line. That is one hell of an expensive dress ”

“So, it's the dress that you are worried about and not Madison plan on giving Wyatt a thank you s*x, huh?” tanong ni Sabrina at naningkit ang mga mata.

“I am thinking about both... but yeah, I am more worried about the dress. It's like cost a half million, that is a lot of money to waste, Sab,” malungkot na wika ni Annie at sumimangot.

“Lady Courtship Annie of Senara, since when did you value money so much?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Sabrina. “You could even buy me as a person if you like. Even this village we're at. That's how rich you are.”

“Well, I am not anymore,” sagot ni Annie at nagkibit-balikat. “And correction, it's my Marquess father who is rich, not me. The dress will stay and will not be torn, that's an order.”

Sabay silang nagkatinginan ni Sabrina at napa-ismid. Mahahalata talaga na seryoso si Annie dahil sa gamit nitong makapal na British accent. At tila ba nakakatakot itong pakinggan dahil mautorismo ito sa pandinig. Just like what Sabrina said, Annie's family is so powerful she can buy a whole village with its people.

“Fine,” pagsuko ni Madison at eksaherada na pinaikot ang mga mata. “I'm going to wear a smiple, yet still a sexy dress. Is that fine now, Lady Courtship?”

“Yes,” seryosong sagot ni Annie bago napabuntong-hininga. “And please, don't call me that. I hate that title. Proceed with changing of clothes and Sabrina will be in charge of the make-up.”

“That's duly noted, Lady Annie,” pang-aasar na sagot ni Sabrina at bahagya pang yumuko.

“Cut the crap, Sab,” sita ni Annie at marahas na inihilig ang ulo sa sofa. “It brings me back bad memories, f**k!”

Natatawang nagkatinginan sila ni Sabrina dahil minsan lamang ito magmura.

“If you want us to stop calling, Lady Courtship, then stop acting like one,” tudyo ni Sabrina at itinulak ito. “Besides, it’s my first time hearing a royal cuss. Ang sosyal pakinggan.”

“Agree!” pagsang-ayon ni Madison at napahalakhak. “Nagulat ako, eh. Kapag nanggaling ang mura sa bibig ni Annie parang mahiwaga, eh. Sana all.”

“Kung si Annie lang din naman magmumura, magpapamura na lang ako ng maraming beses! Unli-mura, ganern!” natatawang saad ni Sabrina at nakipag-palad sa kanya.

“Hashtag kay Annie lang magpapamura!” pang-aasar ni Madison bago napalakas ang kanyang tawa.

Hindi makapaniwalang nasapo na lamang ni Annie ang noo. “The f**k, guys?”

“And that in Annie's cheeks is what you called a royal blush,” segunda pa ni Sabrina para mas mapalakas ang kanyang pagtawa. “Sana all rossy cheeks.”

Napaungol na lamang si Annie bilang tugon nang umugong ang malalakas na kanilang tawa kasabay ang mga kantiyaw nila kay Annie.

“Harhar! Very cranky, guys...” wika ni Annie at pinaikot ang mga mata. “Gibberish.”

Napangiti si Madison sa dalawang kaibigan bago ito sabay na niyakap. “I’m really glad to have you, guys...”

“So are we... but you really need to move your ass,” wika ni Sabrina at tiningnan siya mula ulo hanggang paa. “Just wear something. Anything. He would get down there if he really wanted to. And f**k the make-up, you don't need it, Madi. You don't need to conceal something. You’re beautiful as you are now.”

Tumango si Madison bilang pagsang-ayon bago humalik sa mga pisngi nito. She wore a navy open-back cocktail dress and fix her hair to have a little volume. Tiningnan ni Madison ang sarili at napangiti sa resulta ng kanyang ginawa. She have to admit that decent clothes suits her more than sexy dresses. Ngayon, nakikita niya na ang gustong ipahiwatig ni Annie. That she could be beautiful even if she wear something that doesn't so much skin. That a beauty of a woman doesn't define of sexy dresses but if how you handle yourself.

Ngumiti si Madison sa salamin nang matapos niya nang ayusan ang sarili. Nang handa na ay ipinakita niya ito sa mga kaibigan.

“Now, I can see the real Madison from that dress,” wika ni Annie at ngumiti sa kanya. “But that dress is expensive, too. Dapat ang ganyan ay display lang sa bahay at naka-frame.”

Napaungol si Sabrina at pinaikot ang mga mata. “God, ikaw lang ata ang kuripot na countess na nakilala ko. Just... don’t listen to Annie, Madison. You look great. Wyatt will be enchanted for sure.”

“Okay, I heard you. I’m going now, guys...” pagbibigay-alam ni Madison.

“Aren't you going to call him first?” tanong ni Annie.

“Then it's not going to be a surprise if I did, right?” balik-tanong ni Madison bago kumindat.

“Atta girl!” sigaw ni Sabrina at inakbayan si Annie. “Make us proud!”

Nakita niya ang pagngiwi ni Annie bago siya tumango. “I will.”

Mas lalong napangiwi si Annie bago napailing-iling. Pumasok na siya sa sasakyan at binuhay ang makina at nagmaneho. Pasado alas-otso-treinta nang dumating siya sa bahay ni Wyatt na nakapatay na ang ilaw maliban ilaw ng gate nito. Mabuti na lamang at alam niya ang password ng gate ni Wyatt kaya walang kahirap-hirap na naipasok niya ang sasakyan. Kumatok siya sa pinto at husto ang pagtawag ni Wyatt.