The One That Got Away

The Billionaire Boys

Good times and crazy friends make the best memories.

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."Cheers!"

Romanée-Conti, Royal Bain De Caron, L'Ermita, Fornasetti, Petrus, Penfolds, Montefalco.

Expensive wines on the table. Coz why not? TBB is complete!

Minsan lang nagka kasama ang buong barkada at tuwing nag kikita-kita sila ay nauuwi iyon sa maghapong pagpa-party.

But you see, it's not me

It's not my family

In your head, in your head, they are fighting

With their tanks, and their bombs

And their bombs, and their guns

In your head, in your head they are cryingIn your head, in your head

Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie

What's in your head, in your head

Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, ohDo, do, do, do

Do, do, do, do

Do, do, do, do

Do, do, do, do

Sinabayan nila ang awiting iyon habang nag he-headbang pagkuwa'y tila mga lokong nagtawanan.

TBB o The Billionaire Boys, iyon ang tawag sa kanila ng mga Society Pages. Samahan ng mga pinagpalang nilalang. Bukod sa nakakalulang bank account ay pawang mga pinaglihi pa kay Adonis. Their friendship started from their grandparents past to the third generation--- it's them. Their grandfathers are the founders of the Villa Grande, a paradise island with white sands and crystal clear water. It is surrounded with luxurious mansions. It's a dream destination. Tinaguriang Maldives ng Pilipinas. 

After three days of raining due to typhoon ay tumila na rin sa wakas ang ulan. Nagkataon na pareho silang nasa Villa kaya nagpasya silang magkita-kita para mag-enjoy bago bumalik sa kanilang mga trabaho.

Nasa cockpit sila ng yate. Masayang nag-uusap at nag iinuman.

"Hooo! This is life!" Masayang hiyaw ni Felix. "No deadlines, no business meetings, no pressure, just party!"

Humiyaw din ang iba bilang pagsang-ayon.

"Villa Grande always feels home." Masayang turan ni Harry. "I will never get tired of this place."

"Yep." Sang-ayon ni Noah sa sinabi ng kaibigan. "Been to beautiful places all around the globe but I always found myself coming back." 

"The feeling is mutual, man." Wika ni Walter. "This is paradise."

Pagkuwa'y napalingon sila sa kaibigang si Max at kasintahan nito na masayang naghahabulan at nagtatampisaw sa dagat sa di kalayuan. They looked so happy together. A picture perfect.

"Whoah. Look at that view. Obviously he's very much in love." Maang na wika ni Alexander. "Kulang na lang lumabas gilagid niya sa kakangiti eh."

"Right. I still can't believe that he's about to get married." Turan naman ni Justine na napapailing.

Alexander chuckled. "You guys still remember when he told us that he never believed in marriage? That he hated commitment?"

They all laughed and grinned.

"Scam!" Naka tawang wika ni Lenard. "He even stopped the full operation of my airline just to stop his fiance from leaving."

Napuno ng malakas na tawanan ang yate.

"That's why I vowed not to fall in love. It's just a pain in the ass." Nakatawang turan ni Noah.

"Ameeen!" Sang-ayon ng iba.

Pagkaraan ng ilang sandali ay natuon kay Angelo ang kanilang atensyon. Ito lang kasi ang tahimik at halatang may malalim na iniisip.

"Hey." Justine tap him on the shoulder. "Kanina ka pa walang kibo. Something wrong?"

Angelo made a heavy sigh. He just received a call from his mom this morning. Balak daw nitong makipaghiwalay sa kanyang ama. She's planning to file an annulment. Sa huli ay nakumbinsi niya rin ito to take it easy at pag-isipan muna ang desisyon. He was so devastated and very angry at the same time. Pagbalik na pagbalik niya ng Manila agad niyang aasikasuhin ang plano sa kabit ng kanyang ama. Hindi siya papayag na masira ang kanilang pamilya ng ganun na lang. Whoever that woman is, pagsisisihan nito ang pakikipagrelasyon sa kanyang ama. He will make her pay. Napatagis bagang siya sa naalala.

"It's about your dad right?" Lenard asked after a long silence. Hindi na lingid sa kanila ang pinagdaraanan ngayon ng kanyang pamilya. Maging sila ay nag-aalala rin dito.

He nodded. "Yeah." Pagkuway itinuon sa karagatan ang tingin.

Biglang tumahimik ang yate.

"What's your plan?" Tanong ni Felix pagkatapos ng mahabang katahimikan.

"Pag-iisipan ko pa." He said and then forced a smile. "I think I need a good swim to clear my thoughts."

Pinagod ni Angelo ang sarili sa paglangoy paroo't parito to ease his emotions. Ibinuhos niya sa paglangoy ang galit sa ama at kabit nito. 

Mula sa yate ay nakamasid ang mga kaibigan na nag-aalala sa kanya.

"Hey Montefalco! you hungry?!" Sigaw ni Justine mula sa yate. "I, Justine Conrad Laxamana The Great, grilled a pork for you. You're a damn lucky, man!" Pabiro nitong sigaw.

"Man, you should try my beefsteak!" Sigaw naman ni Harry. "It's not really that delicious but it's the CEO of Fortaleza who prepared it! You gotta hurry before these monsters eat this!"

Nagtawanan ang mga ito at nag high five pa sa isa't-isa.

"Man, I can't cook! But I have girls! I am more than willing to share! Just for today of course!" Natatawang sigaw naman ni Walter at muli silang nagtawanan.

Di napigilan ni Angelo na mangiti. Pag magkasama talaga sila ay lumalabas pagka abnormal ng mga kaibigan niya. Hindi halatang mga batikang negosyante. Obviously, ay nais lang siyang patawanin ng mga ito para gumaan ang kanyang pakiramdam.

Naiiling na lumangoy siya pabalik ng yate. Pasampa na siya sa swim platform nang may mapansin siyang lumulutang na bote isang dipa lang ang layo sa kanya. Nag tatakang inabot niya iyon. Napakunot nuo siya nang mapansin na may laman ng bote?

Napatawa siya ng mahina. Is it a message in a bottle? Napatawa ulit siya.

Seriously?

He found it intriguing kaya isinama niya ito sa pagsampa ng yate.

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VILLA GRANDE SERIES #1: Seth Angelo Montefalco (The One That Got Away)

VILLA GRANDE SERIES #2: Harry Fortaleza ( Wilderness)

VILLA GRANDE SERIES #3: Lenard Alfonzo Zabini III (Extraordinaire)

VILLA GRANDE SERIES #4: Justine Conrad Laxamana (Apollo)

VILLA GRANDE SERIES #5: Alexander Tantoco (Bewitched)

VILLA GRANDE SERIES #6: Felix Arthur Dela Cuesta (One Night Fumble)

VILLA GRANDE SERIES #7: Noah Cleo Romanov (The Possessive Billionaire)

VILLA GRANDE SERIES #8: Walter Philip Bernadotte (Under Her Spell)

VILLA GRANDE SERIES #9: Maximillian Santillian (Put on Lock & Key)