Rugged Men Series 5: Kayden Gonzales (TAGALOG)

Chapter 2

“YOU really don’t like me for your brother, do you?” tanong ni Patrice para mapatigil sa kanya sa pag-ayos sa sarili sa salamin.

“You’re overthinking, I don’t hate you...” sagot ni Kayden at tiningnan ito mula sa salamin.

Their eyes met for a while before he looked away and continue fixing his tie. There was something with Patrice that he doesn't know since he hates her so much. And she's right about her intuition and he lied, he hates her. In fact, he hates her so much. Dahil dito ay nabaling ang atensyon ng kanyang kambal na sa halip na magpalago ng negosyo ang atupagin. Now that Ayden has a wife and an almost two-year-old son, he decided to participate less in business meetings and extensions. Kung hindi dahil dito ay noon pa sila nakapagpatayo ng negosyo sa Korea at marahil nakapagtayo na rin sila ngayon sa sunod nilang tudla na bansa, ang Japan.

“You reaction says otherwise, Kayden,” sambit nito para manlisik ang kanyang mga mata at mapatingin dito.

“Don’t you dare utter my name as if we are close, woman...” pagpapalala niya dito at mariing tiningnan. “We are not and we are never going to be.”

Others would have looked away and would low down a head, yet Patrice meet his eyes like she wasn't bothered by his stare; by the animosity he's giving her. For just a former preschool teacher, she's a fighter, and he hates women who are headstrong just like she is.

“Don’t worry, I don't intend us to be,” sagot nito at tumabi sa kanya at nag-ayos ng sarili. “If you hate me, I hate you. Basic. People like me knew better.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Kayden at wala siyang naidugtong na kataga na iyon. He just looked at her fix her dress and then run a hand through his wavy brown hair and tuck her hair on her ears. When she blinked in front of the mirror, that's when she noticed how long her lashes are and her nose are perfect for her small face. For a moment, he has figured that Patrice has her own look that made her stand up in a crowd. And maybe that is the reason why his twin fell in love with him. Ito ang uri na babae na kahit hindi mag-ayos ay magiging kaaya-aya pa rin sa paningin. A natural beauty. One of a kind. Literal wife material.

But she was the opposite of his type.

Patrice wasn't tall like any other model, nor she was gorgeous as any of Aiden's ex-girlfriends, yet his twin deeply falls in love with her. She's plain simple. He doesn't even see her wear thick make-up even once. Even at a family reunion. Patrice always stays simple. And that made her at least elegant. She was always sweet with it comes to Ayden and to his parents, but Patrice was showing him a side that he had never seen before.

She's being feisty all of the sudden. And it's making his gut twist into a manner that even his body is starting to feel hot.

Nag-igtingan ang mga panga ni Kayden bago siya napangisi dito. “I think I would have to disagree. If you knew better, then you would not have married my brother.”

“Is it because I'm not rich?” nanunukat na tanong nito sabay humarap sa kanya.

Kayden face her and towers her with his height making her look up and her lips parted a little, an indication that she ready to jostle. Ang kataga na sana na itutugon niya ay tuluyang nawala na sa kanyang isipan sa tanawin na iyon kaya inilisya niya na lamang ang ulo para mayabang na mapailing-iling ito at mapahalukipkip.

“Cat got your tongue?” pang-aasar nito para mag-igtingang muli ang kanyang panga.

Kayden smirked and he crouched down to whisper. “One of these days, I’m going to have to make you leave Ayden, woman. Mark my word.”

“Don't bother trying..." tugon ni Patrice at malakas ang loob na sumipat sa kanya. “Because I won’t. I love your brother and even you cannot make me stop loving him.”

Tumalikod na ito at tumabi sa natutulog na si Ayden. Napakuyom ang kanyang mga kamay habang nakatitig sa dalawa bago siya bumalik sa kanyang kinauupuan at inatupag na lamang ang pagbasa ng monthly report para sa buwan na iyon. Sa tagal niyang nagbabasa ay hindi niya na namalayan na hinila na siya ng antok at nagising na lamang sa marahas na pag-uga ng eruplano.

Agad na naalarma si Kayden kaya lumapit siya sa kambal na nagising din mula sa pagyugyog ng eruplano.

“This is pilot Cinco flying Aspero 1.0, I repeat we are having turbulence, please stay seated and be calm... we are having a turbulence,” anunsiyo ng piloto para magkatinginan sila ni Ayden.

“Ayden...” pagtawag niya dito nang marinig ang pagbabaw ng paghinga nito. “Relax. This is Ramirez airplane. We are going to be fine.”

Nang umuga muli ang eruplano ay napailing-iling ito at nag-aalala na sumipat sa asawa. “It’s your fault, Kayden.”

“How is it my fault?” asik na tanong ni Kayden. “It’s nobody's fault, Ayden. You’re being irrational.”

“Because you’re being selfish. Tiniis ko ang mga binigigay mong masama sa aking asawa, Kayden. Una pa lang na pinakilala ko siya sa ‘yo ay nagkakutob na agad ako na hindi mo siya gusto,” saad ni Ayden at umiling-iling. “I respect you so much that's why I didn't say a thing. Pero putang-ina, kung hindi ka lang nagmatigas na sumama dapat sa date naming mag-asawa ay hindi kami hahantong ni Patrice sa sitwasyon na ito.”

“I know I've been a jerk but no one is going to be dead,” pagtitiyak ni Kayden at puno ng pag-aalala na tiningnan ang kambal. “Walang mamat—”

Hindi na naituloy ni Kayden ang kataga ng biglang sumalpok sila sa kung anong bagay at hindi niya alam ang sunod na nangyari ng dumilim na ang kanyang paningin.

“KAYDEN...” ani ng pamilyar na boses para tuluyan na niyang maimulat ang mga mata.

Nang bumungad sa kanya ang puting paligid ay ganoon na lamang ang kanyang pagka-alarma at dahilan ng pagbabaw ng kanyang paghinga. He’s in the hospital, obviously. And when he's in the hospital something bad must have reqally happened.

“Gonzales, it’s me," wika ng pamilyar na boses para mapatingin siya sa kanyang gilid. “It's Morales, man. You can calm down now.”

“Where's Ayden?” tanong ni Kayden para mawalan ng kataga si Nikolas.

“Ayden is...” panimula nito at bumuntong-hininga para magbigay sa kanya ng kakaibang pagkabahala.

“Fine, right? He’s fine,” dugtong ni Kayden sa kataga ng kaibigan para maipanatag ang kanyang sarili. “Ayden's fine, so where is he?”

Malalamlam na tumingin sa kanya si Nikolas at hinagod ang kanyang balikat. “Ayden’s... dead, Gonzales. Your twin’s gone.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” pagak na wika ni Kayden at luminga-linga sa paligid. “Of course, what you say just now is a prank. Where’s Sanchez? He must have hidden the camera here... or... or there, in front of me where everyone can see my hilarious reaction just now.” Turo ni Kayden sa kanyang harap kung saan naroon ang halaman. “Right? This was one of Kyron's pranks.”

“No, Gonzales...” wika ni Nikolas at malungkot na umiling.

“So if it's not Kyron?” tanong ni Kayden at pagak na tumawa. “It's Alvarez? If it's not Kyron then it's probably Zach, right? This is Zach's prank. Hindi ninyo ako maloloko.”

“No, Gonzales. This is not a prank. I am telling the truth, man,” ani Nikolas para mas bumabaw ang kanyang paghinga at mamuo ang kanyang mga luha sa kanyang mga mata. “Ayden's dead. He’s gone...”

Dahil sa mga katagang iyon ay hindi na napigilan ni Kayden ang pagluha at paghagulhol nang malakas ng ilang minuto. Hinayaan lamang siya ng kaibigan hanggang sa tinapik muli ni Naikolas ang kanyang balikat.

“But Ayden's wife has live, Kayden,” wika ni Nikolas para matigilan siya sa paghikbi. “However because of the strong impact, she loses her sight.”

Hindi alam ni Kayden ang rason kung bakit sa kabila ng kanyang kanyang hinagpis para sa kanyang yumaong na kambal ay ganoon rin ang kanyang naramdaman na kaginhawaan nang malamang buhay ang asawa ni Ayden. Maybe because he felt guilty for what he did. And now that his twin died instead of him, whether he like it or not, the responsibility of taking care of Ayden's wife and son will be his now.

“I need to see her...” humihikbi na wika ni Kayden.

“I know you, Kayden. You are not planning to do what I have in mind, right?” tanong ni Nikolas at umiling. “Tell me you’re not.”

“I don’t have any choice,” sagot ni Kayden at pinalis ang kanyang mga luha. “So, please, Morales. Let me see her. Let me see Patrice. Because that would be the first thing Ayden would do if he lives.”