Obsession: Marco De Luca

OBSESSION TWO

It was past two in the morning, and after the sudden incident at Marco and Julius' table, the two of them spent their time drinking and smoking.

"Ugh," Julius muttered, wincing as a sharp pain pulsed behind his eyes. "My head is throbbing. How long have we been drinking, Marco?" he asked his friend, who was sitting silently in his chair, still drinking.

Marco didn't answer nor gave a glance at drunk Julius. Marco was like in a deep thought while his eyes are on the champagne and his hand is slowly playing with the glass. Julius snapped his fingers.

"Hey! Marco." He called. "Hindi pa ba tayo uuwi? Madaling araw na and I believe you still have some business to do later."

"You go ahead first, Julius," Marco ordered him.

"Huh? Why?" nagtatakang tanong ni Julius. "Hindi ka pa ba lasing, Marco? Naka ilang bote na tayo."

Marco took another sip, unfazed. Despite the empty bottles scattered around them, Marco's gaze remained steady, his speech is sharp. The liquor hadn't touched him—not really. It never did. Alcohol barely made a dent in Marco. His tolerance was the stuff of legend unlike his friend in there—Julius.

"I'm not yet drunk, Julius," Marco answered his friend na isang inom na lang yata ay tuluyan nang babagsak sa kalasingan. "Spare the ample sanity in your body to drive yourself home. I still have unfinished business to do here." Sabay sulyap ni Marco sa kabilang table kung saan nandoon si Myrina at mga kaibigan nito.

Julius shook his head, unable to believe Marco had taken the bait. "Are you seriously falling for that? Come on, man, it was obviously part of their game. That lady showing up a bit tipsy and kissing you? What a lousy move."

Bago pa sabihin iyon ni Julius, kanina pa alam ni Marco ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon. But still, he wants to know what will happen after. The curiosity inside of him wants to unravel how would Myrina act later if she meets him.

Marco didn't answer and just blankly stared at his friend. "Oh geez! If you want to stay here, I don't hella care. I'm going home. Bibisitahin ko pa si Hannah sa bahay nila," wika ni Julius bago tutumba-tumbang tumayo at kinuha ang kaniyang coat.

"All right. Go home, weak. Sana hindi ka makauwing buhay para naman mabawasan na ang problema ni Hannah," Marco teased his friend, and as expected, Julius smacked him with his coat.

"f**k off, man!" tugon ni Julius habang nakasimangot ang mukha na umalis palabas ng bar.

Marco was left alone, drinking and waiting for nearly an hour. A few girls at the bar tried to talk and flirt with him, but he wasn't interested, so he shooed them away. He was down to his last glass of champagne when he noticed Myrina stand up and head toward the restroom—but some random guy stopped her. Their conversation was close enough to his table that, despite the loud music, he could still hear them.

"Hey! Wanna dance with me?" slurred the drunkard who had stopped Myrina, swaying clumsily to the beat.

"No. Excuse me," Myrina said, swallowing hard as she fought the urge to vomit. She tried to step around him, but he grabbed her arm and yanked her closer.

"Oh! Trying to act strong, ay?" the man sneered with a laugh. He placed both hands on her waist and began swaying even more exaggeratedly.

"Hey!" Myrina snapped. She couldn't hold it in much longer. If he didn't let go soon, she might end up throwing up all over him.

From his table, Marco watched the scene unfold. He glanced over at Myrina's friends, trying to see if they were aware of what was happening to her. Unfortunately, they were all too busy gossiping and laughing to notice what was going on at the dance floor.

"I said, don't touch me! I'm about to throw up!" Myrina's loud shout reaching Marco's ears.

She was pissed. Her friends had dared her to kiss a random guy, knowing full well she had a boyfriend. She only went through with it to prove she wasn't a killjoy—or some old-time Maria Clara stuck in the 21st century. They had pushed her to her limits, and now guilt was swallowing her whole.

Without thinking, Marco found himself walking toward her. It was too late to back out now that he had already reached their spot.

"Let her go," Marco said in a baritone voice, full of warning.

The drunk man and Myrina both froze, confused, and turned to look at Marco—who was now glaring at the man with a death stare.

In the middle of the loud, chaotic crowd partying inside the bar, only Marco had stepped in to help, placing himself between Myrina and the drunkard. She didn't know why he was helping her, but she was grateful all the same.

"Brother, I found her first." The man smilingly said while looking at the gloomy face of Marco.

Instead of answering, Marco's gaze from the drunk man went down to the arms holding Myrina's waist. He flinched.

"We better go," wika ni Marco at inagaw si Myrina mula sa pagkakahawak ng lalaki sa kaniya.

"W-Wait! I need to go to the restroom. I'm gonna throw—" But it was too late. She had already thrown up—right onto Marco's shirt.

Disgust twisted across the drunk man's face, but Marco—the one who had actually been thrown up on—showed no reaction at all. He simply stood there, holding Myrina by the arm, watching silently as she finished.

"I'm out of here." The disgusted man said before he left.

After she threw up, Myrina covered her mouth with one hand. She didn’t know whether to face Marco after what she had unintentionally done, or run away and hide. She was really embarrassed, but couldn’t decide what to do.

“I-It was unintentional. I kept saying I needed to go to the restroom, but you wouldn’t listen.” Trying to hide her embarrassment, Myrina acted like it was Marco’s fault.

Marco scoffed as he heard what the lady said. Sinisi ni Myrina ang binatang si Marco sa pagligtas nito sa kaniya, at ang nangyaring pagsuka ng dalaga sa suot na damit ni Marco ay kasalanan din ng binata.

"Is that the proper way to say thank you?" Seryosong tanong ni Marco kaya naman napatingala ang dalaga sa binata.

Matangkad nang kaunti si Marco kumpara kay Myrina, at may kalakihan din ang katawan nito. He has a strong jawline, broad shoulders, and his hands are big and rough.

"I-I am..." Myrina couldn't get any words from her mouth while looking at Marco's eyes. She's stuttering like an idiot now that she can clearly see Marco's face.

His face was striking strong, but not harsh. A defined jawline gave him a commanding look. His eyes are deep-set, sharp-look and intense, something unreadable, yet magnetic. It's like, if Myrina would stare at him even longer, she will devoured by him. His thick brows framed them, slightly furrowed in thought. His lips were full but firm, the kind that didn’t smile easily.

"Aren't you going to offer me a payment for the laundry?" Marco said again, pointing to his dirty polo shirt.

Myrina looked at Marco's shirt, feeling shy.

He wore a simple polo shirt that clung just enough to show off his build broad chest, strong arms, and the hint of abs beneath the fabric.

"Just tell me how much is the cost and I'll pay you right now," mabilis na wika ni Myrina. She needs to go back to her friends' table.

Marco smirked.

He thinks, what if sinabi na lang pala niya na palitan na lang ng dalaga ang polo shirt na suot niya, bagkus na ipalaundry na lang. Siguro ay hindi magkakalakas ng loob ang dalaga na magsabi nang ganoong mga salita kapag nalaman nito ang presyo ng suot ni Marco.

"Why don't we settle this business outside?" Pagtatanong ni Marco. "I have spare clothes in my car. I'll change first," ngunit bago pa makatugon si Myrina ay hinatak na siya ni Marco palabas ng bar.

Obsession: Marco De Luca