#NSFW: He Can Tell

3: Tattooed

"BLIMEY, look at you," nasorpresa na sita ni Hook kay North na naabutan niya sa kusina. Nakaupo ito sa metal high stool kaharap ang kitchen island habang kumakain ng deretso sa container ng ice cream na nakapatong sa mesa. "You don't like sweets and you're supposed to be on a diet, aren't you? What happened?"

North Whitfield– his older cousin from his mother side and also a longtime mate– was a fitness geek and a certified chef who wasn't fond of desserts. Kaya nakakagulat na makita itong kumakain ng ice cream. Chocolate ice cream, at that.

"The girl who made this homemade ice cream is seriously cute," simple at walang emosyong sagot ni North na dinilaan pa ang frozen crème sa kutsara bago nagpatuloy. "Kaya ayokong sayangin ang pagod niya sa paggawa ng overly sweet treat na 'to."

Ipinaikot niya ang mga mata niya, saka siya kumuha ng pitsel ng tubig sa ref dahil nag-fa-fasting siya ngayon. "I'm warning you, North Whitfield," banta agad niya rito habang nagsasalin siya ng tubig sa baso. "Don't mess with the girls here. I don't wanna be ostracized in my own village if you make a neighbor cry. Sino ba 'yang pinopormahan mo dito?"

"She didn't give me her name. Pero siya 'yong Koreanang nagbuhos ng tubig sa inyo kanina. Do you know her?"

"Oh, Sori Kim," tumatango-tangong sagot niya rito. Pagkatapos, uminom muna siya bago humarap sa kaibigan niya para bigyan ito ng nagbabantang tingin. "Sori Kim is well-loved by our neighborhood. She just moved in a year ago but everyone seems to be fond of her already."

Nakilala at natandaan niya si Sori Kim dahil no'ng unang araw nito sa Paraluman Village, kumatok ito sa bahay niya at binigyan siya ng rice cake. Lumang tradisyon daw sa Korea na magbigay ng rice cake sa mga kapitbahay ng mga tulad nitong bagong lipat lang. Iyon ang unang pagkakataon na nakatanggap siya ng regalo sa gano'ng dahilan kaya tumatak sa kanya ang babae. Iyon din siguro ang rason kung bakit mabilis itong napalapit sa neighborhood nila.

"Including you?"

"Excluding me," iiling-iling na sagot niya. "She seems like a nice girl but I haven't had the opportunity to be "fond" of her yet since I'm always busy."

He was a CPA and has been working as a tax accountant in a multinational firm for two years now. As if he wasn't busy enough, he just had to enroll to his alma matter to get his MBA. It was something that he decided out of sheer irritation (and honestly, it was a bad decision). But he had his reasons then. If he couldn't have a good time (basically having s*x) during his rest days, he figured he'd make better use of his time by getting an MBA– that he didn't really need.

Who needs an MBA anyway?

Pero mas mabuti nang nasa university siya kapag weekends kesa naman nagmumukmok lang siya sa bahay habang ni-re-reminisce ang panahong active na active pa ang s*x life niya. Iniiwasan na rin kasi niyang lumabas kasama ang mga katrabaho o kaibigan niya dahil maraming tukso sa mga usual hang-out place nila. Ayaw niyang mabitin at mambitin ng mga babae.

The past six months has been nothing but absolute hell– no thanks to Hector.

"I like Sori Kim," gentle na sagot ni North. Nakakagulat 'yon dahil seryoso itong tao at bihira lang mag-soften up. After all, his cousin looked like the tough guy type because of his huge built and military haircut that accentuated his square face and strong features. Also, his bronzed skin made him look like some sort of a warrior that women digged. "A lot."

Hindi niya inasahan ang confession ng pinsan niya dahil sa pagkakaalala niya, pareho sila ng type pagdating sa mga babae. They liked their women fierce and wild. "Since when did you go for the cute and bubbly type?"

"Since I met Sori Kim," deadpan nang sagot ni North at no'n niya lang na-realize kung gaano ito kaseryoso. Wow, that was a first. "Can I live here with you?"

"No," mabilis at mariing pag-reject niya rito. Nandito lang naman si North sa bahay niya dahil kagabi, nagpunta ito sa kanya ng lasing. Hindi na raw nito kinayang mag-drive hanggang sa condo nito at mas malapit daw ang Paraluman Village kaya sa kanya na lang ito tumuloy. Hindi naman 'yon ang unang beses na nakitulog sa kanya ang pinsan niya kaya 'yong isa sa mga guest room, ginawa nitong kuwarto nito. "Anyway, where's Gloomy?"

Pagkatapos niyang mabasa kanina, nagmamadali siyang umalis ng park at umuwi ng bahay. He couldn't walk around the village with a boner.

Matagal na silang magkaibigan ni North kaya isang tingin pa lang niya rito kanina, tumango na ito. Alam niyang kahit hindi siya magpaliwanag, naiintindihan na nito kung bakit kailangan niyang umalis agad. Naiwan naman ito sa park para bantayan at iuwi si Gloomy.

"In the dog house," sagot ng lalaki, saka muling sumubo ng spoonful ng chocolate ice cream. Sa pagngiwi pa lang nito, sigurado na siyang nato-torture na ang dila nito sa matamis na flavor. Mga bata pa lang sila, hindi na talaga ito mahilig sa matatamis. "Don't worry. The gates are locked, saka nakakabit na uli ang collar niya."

"That's good. Thank you, mate."

"No, thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have met Sori Kim."

"Do you know how many times you've mentioned Sori Kim for the past five minutes?" naiinis na tanong niya rito. "Wait, she looks young. Sigurado ka bang nasa tamang edad na siya para pormahan mo, ha?"

"Hindi ko pa siya pinopormahan," tanggi naman nito, sabay kunot ng noo. "s**t. Sori Kim looks like a baby. But she's not a minor, is she?"

"I don't know. But you're already twenty seven so be careful," iiling-iling na paalala niya rito. Pangalan lang kasi ang alam niya kay Sori Kim kaya hindi niya masagot ang tanong nito. "Anyway, bakit ka niya binigyan ng ice cream kung hindi mo pa siya pinopormahan?" Kinuha niya ang lid ng container. Homemade ice cream daw iyon ayon kay North pero may pangalan nang nakasulat sa cover– Ri-ya's Frozen Crème. "Does the ice cream taste good?"

Unlike his friend, he actually had sweet tooth.

"Actually, this ice cream is for you."

"What do you mean?"

Pinadulas nito sa kitchen island ang isang pink envelope. "When I walked Sori Kim home after Gloomy and their dog's mating session ended, she asked me to wait for a while. Paglabas niya, may dala na siyang ice cream at letter. Siya raw ang gumawa ng ice cream at bigay daw niya sa'yo 'to as an apology in behalf of her friend's behavior kanina. Pero 'yang letter, si Melody Rose daw mismo ang nagsulat."

"Melody Rose? Is that Melo's full name?"

"Yeah."

Damn, even her full name is pretty. "Anyway, pa'no mo nalaman ang full name niya? Tinanong mo ba kay Sori Kim for my sake?"

Tumaas ang kilay nito na parang nagulat sa tanong niya. "You don't know her?"

"Am I supposed to know her?" kunot-noong tanong niya dala ng curiosity. "Is she famous?"

"Melo is a model," sagot ni North. "Her fame isn't celebrity level yet but she's social media famous. She's also known for posing for several famous men's magazines." Saglit itong natigilan na parang nag-isip. "I used to date one of her colleagues. I remember Melo Rose from the runway show that I've watched during that time. It's hard to forget a woman like her."

"I know– she's too hot to be easily forgotten."

"Yeah. There's something about her that attracts men. Medyo na-attract din ako sa kanya noon. But not as much as the male guests who flocked to her that night."

"You used to be attracted to her, huh? How about now?"

"Not anymore," deretsong sagot nito. "Sori Kim is the most adorable human being I've seen and now that I'm aware of her existence, I'm no longer interested in other girls." Binitawan na nito ang hawak na kutsara na para bang sinukuan na ang pagkain ng ice cream. Pagkatapos, kinuha nito mula sa kanya ang lid para isara ang container. "Akin na 'to, ha? Thanks, mate."

"Kinain mo na, eh, so wala na kong choice," iiling-iling na sagot niya, saka niya binuksan ang pink envelope para kunin ang sulat sa loob. "Pardon me. Babasahin ko lang muna 'to."

"Go ahead."

First sentence pa lang ang nabasa niya, muntik na naman siyang magka-hard on: "I really want you, sir. But I know that assaulting you in public was very wrong. I'm sorry. If you want to file a complaint, I will understand. But I'm sincerely asking for forgiveness. Maybe we can talk this out? I promise I won't attack you again."

Sa ibaba ng sulat, nakalagay ang phone number, address, at lahat ng socila media accounts nito. Sa tabi naman ng pangalan nito (ginamit nito ang full name na Melody Rose) ay may doodle ng female cartoon character. The caricature had huge puppy eyes and her hands were clasped together as if she was asking for forgiveness.

She doodled herself.

Hindi naman niya naisip na mag-file ng complaint at hindi 'yon dahil sa lalaki siya. Wala lang talaga sa plano niya 'yon dahil alam niya sa sarili niya na ginusto rin niya ang nangyari sa kanila kanina. It wasn't her entire fault.

"I c****d up, mate," iiling-iling na sabi ni Hook nang itiklop niya ang sulat. "I really c****d up this time."

Kumunot ang noo ni North. Kahit na matagal na silang magkaibigan, mukhang hindi pa rin nito nakakabisado ang mga British words na nasasabi niya kung minsan. "You what?"

"I messed up," paglilinaw niya. "I'm attracted to Melody Rose."

"No s**t, Sherlock."

"But I can't have her because of the bloody mark Hector left on me," iiling-iling na sabi niya sa frustrated na boses. "That bellend will pay once I see him."

"Do you want to see Hector again?"

Bigla siyang natigilan sa tanong na 'yon at napunta na sa nakaraan ang train of thought niya.

He spent his childhood and adolescence in his father's hometown: England. Pero nang maghiwalay ang mga magulang niya, mas pinili niyang sumama sa Mommy niya na Filipina. Ang daddy niya ang nagloko kaya sa galit niya, iniwan niya rin ito.

Mabilis din namang nawala ang lungkot niya no'ng nasa Pilipinas na siya dahil nand'yan naman si North para sa kanya. Tumira muna sila sa bahay nina Tita Risa (ang mommy ni North na older sister ng mommy niya) kasama ang pamilya nito habang nag-a-adjust pa siya sa bansa. No'ng freshman year niya, nasa senior naman ang pinsan niyang si North na kumukuha ng bachelor's degree sa Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts. Pero kahit magkahiwalay sila ng university (dahil nasa Culinary School ito) at mas matanda pa ito sa kanya, naging close pa rin sila dahil nakatira naman sila sa iisang bahay.

Mas naging exciting pa ang buhay niya nang maging classmate at kaibigan niya si Wilde Stilwell. That man w***e taught him how to enjoy his youth in a very, very fun way. So during that time, he had almost forgotten that he left two precious friends in England: Abigail Lewis and Hector Fagestrom.

Yes, that arse used to be my best friend.

And Hector made sure he didn't forget them in a very unique way.

"I'm sorry," mayamaya ay sabi ni North sa halatang nakokonsensiyang boses. "You don't have to answer my question if it's making you uncomfortable."

North was probably his most sensitive and logical friend so of course, he knew that talking about Hector would always upset him. Pero wala naman itong kasalanan dahil siya ang unang nag-bring up ng topic. He was just caught off guard by his cousin's question.

Did he want to see Hector again?

Siyempre, galit siya sa lalaki kaya at sa tuwing naaalala niya ang ginawa nito sa kanya, nagkakaro'n siya ng violent thoughts. Pero hindi rin niya masasabi kung talagang magagawa niya dito ang mga naiisip niya dahil kahit ano pa ang nangyari sa pagitan nila, hindi mababago na naging kaibigan niya ito simula pagkabata.

And it isn't like I don't understand Hector's hatred toward me.

"I was getting ahead of myself," pag-amin niya mayamaya nang ma-realize niya kung gaano ka-ridiculous ang mga claim niya kanina. "How could I make a god pay for what he did to me?"

"Hector is not a god, Hook," paalala naman sa kanya ni North. "Sure, he has god-like abilities, but that doesn't make him a god."

"But that doesn't change the fact that I've got nothing on him."

"You have a godlike friend on your side, dear cousin."

Napangiti si Hook dahil naging successful si North sa pagpapagaang ng mood niya. Kung minsan kasi, nagiging pessimistic talaga siya at nakakalimutan ang mga blessing na meron siya. "Right– I have Wilde Stilwell."

"Should we see him later? Ang tagal na rin nating hindi nakikita si Wilde, eh."

"Yes, please call Wilde and tell him to meet us tonight," pagsang-ayon ni Hook. "I badly need to get wasted and forget about Melody Rose ASAP."