Rugged Men Series 1: Alejandro Ruiz (TAGALOG)

Chapter 2

“CAN you imagine that? My father asked for a child as an ultimatum, f*ck!” pagbibigay-alam ni Alejandro bago itinungga ang isang shot ng Jack Daniels. “He could ask for my Penthouse, my Highest Supreme Yacht, or my Ronin R17 helicopter. But f*ck, he asked a child.”

Napahalakhak si Isaac. “That sucks, bro… but you do know that kind of ultimatum can save you as a sinner. You wouldn’t know in the future. A child can probably change you.”

“I don’t need saving nor changing myself, what I need is our family’s distillery,” giit niya sabay muling itinungga ang alak na hinanda ni Kyron para kay Isaac.

“You know what, f*ck it. If your father wants a child, then might as well give him one,” suhestiyon ni Kyron at tinapik siya sa balikat. “And if you are that desperate to have your family’s business then might as well do it tonight.”

“Tonight?!”

Iritadong napalingon si Alejandro nang marinig ang ingay ng apat babae sa hindi kalayuan na mesa mula sa kanyang kinauupuan kasama ang mga kaibigan. Napako ang tingin niya sa dalaga na suot ang hapit na pulang bestida na nahahayag ang dibdib nito at ang makikinis na mga braso. Nang ngumiti ang dalaga sa mga kausap ay nagbigay iyon sa kanya ng kaunting kaginhawaan bago ibinalik ang atensyon sa mga kaibigan.

“Tonight? Are you kidding me?” asiwa niya sabay hinagod ang buhok gamit ang mga kamay. “Kapag ginawa ko iyon ay para na rin akong sumulong sa impyerno.”

“Come on, don’t be so dramatic. Pinapalaki mo ang maliit na problema,” kantiyaw ni Kyron na mas lalong nagpadikit sa kanyang mga kilay. “Just bang a woman and then fill her womb tonight. And then boom, instant baby, my man. Money can always make life go round, that’s when we do the bribe. A million would be fine.”

Tinungga ni Alejandro ang alak at nag-isip, inalala ang bawat kataga na sinabi ng ama nang araw na iyon.

“You have no other choice, Alejandro Joaquin Ruiz, or else you will lose the distillery business to your cousins…”

“What? Dad, that’s absurd. You can’t do that, I am the heir. Stop kidding around.” Natatawang tugon ni Alejandro sa kagustuhan ng ama. Nagawa niya pang tawanan ito ngunit sa loob-loob niya ay kinakabahan na siya ng matindi.

“I am not kidding and yeah, try me. Give me a child, son. Give me one and the company is all yours until your last breath.”

“F*ck!” muling anas ni Alejandro nang maalala ang umagang iyon.

Of all the luxurious things he could afford, how can he have a f*cking descendant as an ultimatum for CEO endorsement? Hindi naman iyon kasing dali nang makaulayaw ng kahit na sinong babae at magpalit na lamang kung kailan niya gusto. Sapat na sa kanya iyong nakakaulayaw niya ang mga babaeng malugod na inaalay ang mga katawan sa kanya. In that way, he was free like a hawk, always ready to choose his next target out of pure s*x without being committed. And the hell with commitments. Committing to one woman is definitely a no to him.

Sa panahon ngayon ay mahirap ang proseso o kahit na makahanap ng willing egg cell donor, sapagkat mas mahirap ang pag-aasawa na halatang kagustuhan ng kanyang mga magulang. To hell with his parents if they think the ultimatum will make him settle. Never. Hinding-hindi mangyayari ang kagustuhan nilang tumaguyod siya ng isang pamilya. He wasn’t that kind of man. Having a family is the least thing he wanted to do in his life and being tied to one woman is not what he intends to do.

Let alone live with an unwanted child.

However, the ultimatum didn’t change his goal. Their family distillery must be his no matter what. Kung kailangang makipagpatayan ay gagawin niya para makuha ito. It was meant to be his property at the first place. Iyon ang pinaghirapan niya para makuha. Nag-aral siyang mabuti para lamang sa layunin na iyon. Nagtrabaho siya bilang COO para lamang mahanda ang sarili sa pagpapatakbo ng distilerya. And there’s no way that a f*cking ultimatum can change his mind. He is still getting it by hook or by crook.

A child perhaps will not be a problem, at least. Besides, nannies exist. Just like him when he’s a kid, he survives his life with 25 nannies, and for him offering money is just offering a cheap candy—too lenient. He isn’t called a millionaire for nothing. With money, he can always find a way.

“Or you can settle down and have children…” biglang suhestiyon ni Isaac na mas lalong nagpakirot sa kanyang sentido.

“Child is already pain in the ass, man,” ani Alejandro sabay muling tinungga ang alak. “What more if it’s f*cking plural, moron. Baka iyon pa ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ko.”

“A man that never settle is good as coward to me. Man up, Al. It was obvious that your parents like you to have a family,” muling pang-udyok ni Isaac. “I mean look at them, they are not getting any younger. Life is short, my friend. Halatang gusto na nila Tita ng apo… at daughter-in-law.”

Napahilot lamang si Alejandro sa isipin na iyon. Iisipin niya pa lamang na magka-anak ay hindi niya na masikmura, paano pa kaya kung magtaguyod ng sariling pamilya. And the f*ck with those men who said that family became their holy grail and getting married is their best lifetime choice. He is not going to be one of those f*cking pathetic. Masyadong mahal niya ang sarili para magpatali sa isang tao. Kung hindi lamang iyon ang kagustuhan ng ama ay sana’y may ikinakama na siya ngayong babae para pagbuntungan ng galit and pagkahumindusan. Sapagkat hindi… kailangan niyang maghanap ng paraan.

“Huwag ka masyadong advance, Isaac. Al could give them grandkid if he will consider my plan… Admit it, it’s a brilliant idea. Of course, the daughter-in-law is an exemption to that but f**k it, when you look it at thoroughly, it can still work out.”

“That is why Al disagrees with your plan because it’s f*****g absurd,” mariing pagtutol ni Isaac. “Al is too smart to just settle for less and he’s not f*cking impulsive like you. One night stand is the most unreasonable thing to do. It’s f*cking stupid.”

Nang maubos na ang isang bote ng Jack Daniel ay marahang inilapag niya ang shot glass na hawak. Kasabay niyon ay ang pagbuo niya ng desisyon.

“I’m f*****g doing it,” ani Alejandro sabay naglagay ng alak sa panibagong bukas ng Jack Daniels at muling tinungga iyon galing sa shot glass.

Naguguluhan nagkatinginan ang dalawa, parehong nagtatanong ang mga mata kung ano ang pinili niyang suhestiyon.

He gave the two a determined face. “Tonight, I’m with Kyron’s.”

Mayabang na napatingin si Kyron kay Isaac bago ito nagkibit-balikat nang pabiro. “What can you say, I’m brilliant.”

“You will regret this one day,” pahayag ni Isaac na nagpaismid sa kanya.

“Regret?” Pagak na napangisi si Alejandro. “This isn’t worth it, man.”

“Yeah, not even close to being worth it, Is,” segunda ni Kyron para mapahalakhak siya ng mahina. “This is for the business, not for that love you are thinking about. So, what we will do tonight is to find a willing woman.”

“Most woman inside this club is a willing woman,” pagmamayabang ni Alejandro sabay walang-ganang umismid. “Kanina ko pa nararamdaman ang mga kakaibang tingin na ibinibigay ng mga kababaihan sa akin sa loob ng club na ‘to… maliban sa apat na babae sa kanan ko.

Sabay na napatingin sina Kyron sa kanyang kanan at nakita ang apat na babae na masinsinang nag-uusap. They were eye-catching honestly. One of them was different beauties, but only one woman has ever captured his attention. And that is the woman in a red satin dress.

“The one in a suit is too silent so she’s out of the list. Who would even wear a suit in a club? Mukhang suplada at serysoso ang isa na hawak ang ballpen at memo pad kaya hindi rin, obviously workaholic. I can’t trust the one in a red dress, masyadong inosente. Panigurado nasa loob ang kulo niyan kapag mga ganyang babae. Why not try the chinita one, the one in a white maxi dress? She looks fun to be with… all three of them are too reserved baka kapag sa tatlo ka makipagtalik ay magkaproblema ka pa kapag naghandog ka na ng pera para sa bata.” Si Kyron habang nakatuon pa din ang mga mata sa apat na babae.

Iniwas niya ang mga mata at pinakatitigan ng mariin ang shot glass na para bang naroon ang solusyon.

“Well, the woman in a white maxi dress was obviously taken, you can tell it by the way she smiles, don’t be dumb. As for the other two, I agree with Kyron. Why not try the one in a red satin dress, she’s meek and looks… innocent but based on her dress, she’s up for tonight. Mukhang madaling mabilog,” ani Isaac sabay tumingin sa kanya para sa kumpirmasyon. “Hindi lahat ng mukhang inonsente ay nasa loob ang kulo, karamihan ay sadyang madali talagang mauto.”

Napatingin siya sa tinutukoy ni Isaac at napa-isip. Sa apat na magkakaibigan ay ito lamang rin ang nakakuha ng kanyang atensyon. Hustong napatingin din ito sa kanya kaya sandalling nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata. He saw something behind her lashes… astonishment and lust. Ngunit segundo lamang ang tinagal bago nito iniwas ang tingin. He could see her cheeks turned crimson despite the dim light of the club. She is the best choice. After all, those innocent ones always give him fun and excitement. It always turned him on.

Alejandro smirked as she stared at his target. “I’ll definitely go with Isaac this time...”