Obsessive Men 1: Lucas Clemente

Prologue As soon she took a step outside the plane, the coldness of the wind embraced her and the sun rays touched her skin. Wala sa sarili siyang napangiti. I'm home. She's home, but not for a vacation or living for good. She's here for a certain job to be done. "Damn it! Your toys kept calling me, Xia. It's irritating!" she heard a feminine voice as she walk down the stairs. Napangiti siya. "Change your mobile number, then. I'm done playing with them." Napapantastikuhan siya nitong tinignan. "You really a bitch." "At least not a slut." She winked. Muli itong humugot ng malalim na hininga at naglibot ng paningin sa buong paliparan. Welcome home, Xiana. She murmured to herself. Nagsimula na akong maglakad na sinundan ni Melody. "Seriously, if it weren't your request, we'll go directly to Romblon now." She said. How she love to hear her manager's rant. That's right, she's her manager, Melody. And her boys-s***h-toys keeps on calling her, maybe they're frustrated they didn't got the chance to bed Xiana. Poor them. She only do foreplays, and she says no to s*x. "Ana!" she heard her mother's voice as soon as she went out from the arrival area. "Oh my gosh, baby!" Nakagat niya ang kanyang ibabang labi nang maglingunan ang ibang mga tao sa pwesto nila. Some people took out their phones and the flashes of cameras began. Castro's guards immediately stopped some of her fans to get near her. Nilapitan siya ng kanyang ina at kuya, she smiled. I miss this idiot. "Mom!" She hugged her mom and smiled to her brother. "Just call me Xia, mom. Ana sounds disgusting," she murmured as she back away from the hug. Mahinang natawa ang kanyang ina. Her brother kissed her cheeks and she hugged him. It's been a year since she last saw her brother, and it's been more than a decade since the last time she took a step on the soil of Philippines, her true home. Where she was made. She lives in Greece since she turned ten, and lived there for twelve years. Now, she's twenty-two, turning twenty-three on the next three months. Laking pasalamat na lamang niya at hindi niya pa rin nakakalimutan ang lengwaheng filipino. "I missed you," Xia murmured as her arms wrapped around her brother's waist. Ngumiti lamang ang kanyang kuya at iginiya sila palabas ng airport. Tinanguhan nalang ni Xia ang manager niyang Melody, telling her she'll spend this day with her family. Mabait naman si Melody kaya pumayag na lang ito. "You've grown so pretty I'm about to cry," histirekal na sambit ng ina niyang si Xyrille Amadeo- Castro. She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Kanino pa ba ako magmamana? I have a pretty mother that's why I'm pretty also." That's true. The genes of the Amadeo's and Castro's never failed to create such a drop-dead beautiful human being just like her cousins. Kahit sa edad na fourty-nine, hindi maipagkakaila ang kagandahan na taglay ng ginang. Well, talking about beautiful genes. "Ang lalaki ng ulo niyo," her brother-Sebastian murmured. Inismiran lamang ito ng dalaga at niyakap ang kanyang ina. They entered a car-which she thinks it was owned by her great brother. Sumakay siya sa backseat habang ang kuya niya ay dumiretso sa driver's seat. Her mother settled herself on the passenger's seat. "Peináo," she murmured. [translation: I'm hungry] Nilingon naman siya ng kanyang ina habang ang kanyang Kuya ay tinignan lamang siya sa salamin. She pouted. They didn't understand me. "I'm hungry, I said," ungot ng dalaga nang sinimulan nang pausarin ng kanyang kapatid ang sasakyan. Her mother nodded. "I've cooked some lunch for you. And please, Xia. Don't use greek language when you're here in Philippines." Tumango ang dalaga. Muling umayos ng tayo ang kanyang ina hahang siya ay hinugot ang kanyang cellphone sa kanyang sling bag. Melody will be staying in a hotel for this night, together with the other staffs she's with. To tell the truth, her project should be on Maldives. But she heard that the company she's working in will have a project in the Philippines. Marinig pa lang ang salitang Pilipinas ay na-i-enganyo na siya. That is why she volunteered to be the model the project. Yes, she's a model. She's one of the victoria's secret model. Ngunit ang kompanyang may proyekto sa Pilipinas ay hindi ang Victoria's Secret, kundi ang Tan's Clothing Line. "Anyway, sweetie. We'll held a celebration tonight," sambit ng ginang na ikinakunot ng noo ng dalaga. "What celebration?" "Your welcome party. Para makilala ka ng lahat at malaman nilang may prinsesa ang pamilya Castro," nakangiting saad nito. Rinig niya ang pag-ismid ng kanyang kapatid. "She's not a princess, mom. She's the witch-" "Ipagpatuloy mo sasabihin mo kung balak mong mawalan ng leeg," pagtataray ang dalagita. "Chazos," she whispered. [translation: Stupid] But her brother didn't mind her. He won't understand her anyways. Well, perks of living abroad is the knowlegde of a foreign language. Biglang umugong ang kanyang cellphone dahilan upang magbaba siya dito ng tingin at mangunot ang noo. Tyler: You we're out of reach. Where are you? Christof: Xia, please answer my calls. Alder: Baby, I'm begging you please reply. Hindi maiwasan ng dalaga na mapangisi habang binabasa ang ** account niya na puno ng mensahe ng mga lalaking naging mga naging laruan niya. For her, boys are just toys. She will mingle with them and left them feeling so giddy of her. Marami nang lalaki ang sumubok para bumigay siya, but looks like no one can make it. Ayaw niyang magseryoso, dahil ang nagseseryoso ay natatalo. "I hate that smirk on your face, Xia. It's irritating," her brother murmured, glancing at her on the rearview mirror. Matamis niya itong nginitian. "Ang ganda ko kasi." Her brother 'tsked' and rolled his eyes. "Stop playing with every guys' heart, young lady. Many people proclaimed they are your boyfriend!" "Where's kuya Shaun?" she asked instead, not heeding any attention towards what her brother said. "He's busy taking care of his preggy wife," nakangiting tugon ng kanilang ina. "Hay, mabuti pa si Shaun at nakahanap na rin siya ng babaeng makakasama niya sa habang buhay. How about the two of you? Xia, kailan ka magpapakilala sa'min ng daddy mo ng boyfriend? And you, Sebastian. When?" Sabay na napaungot ang magkapatid. If there is one thing that made them similar, it's they both hate settling down. LUCAS TOOK a sip of his wine while wondering his eyes all over the place. Mula sa nagpapatay-sinding ilaw, sa mga taong nagtatawanan at nag-iinuman sa pool area, at sa malakas na tugtog ng DJ. Wala sa plano niya ang magtungo dito, ngunit inimbitahan siya ng isa niyang kaibigan kung kaya't mahirap niya itong tanggihan. He knows Sebastian too well. Hindi ito titigil hangga't sa hindi nito nasisigurong sisipot siya. Kaya sa kabila ng pagiging abala niya bilang isang mayor ng lungsod ng Romblon at isang negosyante, pinaglaanan niya ng kaunting oras ang kaibigan. This is a welcome celebration of Sebastian's sister who was out of the country for more than decades, and seriously, he's not interested about the reason behind this celebration. Uuwi rin siya mamayang madaling araw, baka hanapin na siya ng kanyang katipan. "Oh, the mayor's here. 'Zup, man. How's life?" Tinapik ng kaibigan niyang si Aries ang kanyang balikat dahilan upang mahila siya pabalik sa reyalidad. He shrugged and lays his goblet on the centre table. "Still the same." "Balita ko ikakasal ka na, kailan?" tanong ng kadadating lang din na si Zeno mula sa bar counter. "Three months from now," Lucas murmured, looking at those people wearing their swimming attire and having an entertaining conversations with their friends and aquaintances. "Woah, that fast?" Sumimsim si Aries sa kanyang alak. "You should enjoy life sometimes, man." Lucas rolled his eyes in a manly way. Sa kanilang magkakaibigan, si Aries ang tipo ng taong hindi marunong makuntento. He changes girls like how he changed his clothes making Lucas wonders how can he sleep better at night knowing someone out there is waiting for him and in pain because of him. But nonetheless, Lucas doesn't care. It's none of his business anyway. "Nasaan ang mag-pinsan? We should meet Seb's sister," Aries said, roaming his eyes around the place. Sabay naman sila ni Zeno na napaismid. Knowing Aries, iba ang takbo ng utak nito pagdating sa babae. Hindi niya na lang pinansin ang binata at naglibot din ng paningin. Nasa esklusibo silang Resort na pagmamay-ari ng mga Amadeo. The welcome celebration is held here since ayaw ni Sebastian ng kalat sa mansiyon kahit na nasa condo na niya ito nananatili. It's a pool party, so garbages are expected. "Mabuti naman at pinayagan ka ni Pamela na pumunta dito. Ilang oras din ang biyahe mula sa lungsod mo papunta dito," Zeno said while taking a sip on his wine. Nilingon ito ni Lucas. "But I'll be home this early morning. Marami pa akong aasikasuhin sa munisipyo." "Workaholic as ever," someone interjected their conversation, and it was Sebastian. "Breath sometimes, Luke. Maaga kang tatanda niyan." Napailing si Lucas at nagfist bump sila ni Seb, ganoon din kay Shaun na kasama ni Sebastian na dumating. "Just enjoy the party, assholes," Shaun said, picking a glass of wine on the table and drank it 'til drop. "Nasaan si Angel?" tanong ni Zeno. "Nasa bahay, nagpapahinga. Uuwi rin ako maya-maya," sagot naman ng binatang si Shaun na ikinatango ng huli. Lucas took another sip of his wine when Aries talked, "Nasaan nga pala ang kapatid mo, Seb?" Nangunot ang noo ni Sebastian at napailing naman si Zeno at Lucas. "She arrived here first, didn't she greet you?" "Nope, we didn't saw her," Aries replied. Tumango si Sebastian at tumayo. "I'll go find her." Hindi na nag-abala pa ang binatang si Lucas na makinig sa usapan. He's not interested about Sebastian's sister. He's more interested about how to make an excuse para makauwi siya kaagad. "Hey, lunatics. This is my sister, Xiana. Xia, this is Zeno, a professor on AU and Aries," rinig ni Lucas na pagpapakilala sa kapatid niya. "And of course, Romblon's almighty mayor. Lucas." Nag-angat ng tingin ang binatang si Lucas upang sana ay tipid na ngitian ang dalaga ngunit natigilan ito. His eyes involuntarily raked all over her body. From her ponytailed hair, and down to her body. He suddenly gulped. He knew his friend's sister is hot, but he didn't know it would be this sizzling hot. His hand tightened the grip of the goblet as he heard her voice. "Hello! I'm Xiana Castro. I'm happy to meet you all." The girl smiled while looking at them one by one, until her eyes stop at him. The moment those chestnut eyes settled on his, he knew it from the very moment. He will be in doomed.