"SO, when do you leave?" tanong ni Agnes kay Serene. Sumimsim muna si Serene ng hawak niyang margarita bago lingunin ang kaibigan.
"Later this evening." walang gana niyang sagot sa kaibigan.
"And you just told us that news in what, five minutes ago?" pagsusungit naman sakanya ni Suzanne na kanina pa tahimik sa balitang sinabi niya.
"Guys, kahapon ko lang din naman nalaman. I didn't know na kailangan kong umuwi agad doon. At isa pa, magkikita kita lang din naman tayo ngayon so,I didn't bother to inform you yesterday." walang ganang pagrarason niya matapos ay malalim na bumuntong hininga.
"You think I like to go back there? No. Kung hindi lang ako kailangan ng kakambal ko, I will never ever step foot in that country ever again."
"Teka, ano ba kasing problema niya at kailangan pa ang assistance mo?" biglang tanong ni Agnes na siyang umagaw naman sa atensyon nilang dalawa ni Suzanne.
"Yeah, care to explain her problem? She knew you dont want to come back, so bakit sa lahat ng tulong na hihingin niya ay ang bumalik kapa doon?"
Serene sighed to herself.
Wala nang pagasa ang mga kaibigan niyang makumbinsi na umuwi siya. Hindi naman niya kailangan ang mga pagpayag ng mga ito. Ang gusto lamang niya ay alam ng mga ito ang gagawin niya. After all, they became a family to her in her one year of stay here in New York.
"She wants to unwind. And the other problem is, I haven't known it yet. Malalaman ko lang kapag nandoon na ako. She wants me to see it myself." Serene explained after gulping the remaining drink in her glass.
"And she made you her cover up person?" tanong ni Suzanne habang nakataas ang isa nitong kilay na ikinatango lamang niya.
"Guys, wag niyo nang masyadong pahirapan si Serene okay? Instead of interrogating her, let's just watch kung hanggang kailan ang itatagal niya bilang ang kakambal niya. I think it's fun to see her wearing such very conservative and appropriately formal clothes!" Sambit naman ng biglang lumitaw na si Genesis sa kanilang mesa.
Kagagaling lamang nito sa dance floor na kung saan ay naiwan pa ang dalawang lalaking kasayaw nito.
Serene rolled her eyes.
Ginawa pa talagang kalokohan ang sitwasyon niya.
"Aren't you drunk yet?" nakahalukipkip na tanong ni Serene ng tumabi sakanya si Genesis at nagabot ng isang baso ng margarita.
"Nope. Kasisimula ko pa lang tinatanong mo na agad iyan? Come on! Dapat ikaw ang nagpapakasaya dito ngayon, hindi yung nagmumukmok ka lang diyan. Don't you want to dance?" Tanong ni Genesis sakanya habang pataas-pababa ang dalawang kilay nito.
Napailing lamang siya at muling nilagok ang punong baso ng kanyang inumin sa gusto nitong iparating.
"Oh wait---- I've heard may mga businessman daw dito." Malakas ang pagkakasabi niyon ni Genesis kaya naman kahit na ang busy na sina Agnes at Suzanne sa pagboboy hunting ay naagaw ang atensyon sa sinabi niya.
But not Serene.
Nope.
Tonight,wala siyang ganang makipaglandian sa kung sino mang mga kalalakihan. So her eyes remained on the dance floor but couldn't stop herself from listening on their conversation.
"What's new? Wala namang bago doon. This is one of the most famous and high-class Bar that ever built here in New York. Ofcourse dito ang tambayan ng mga single na business man." Narinig niyang wika ni Suzanne.
"Duh!Dont you think I know that already? What I want to say is that, this 'businessman' is different from the businessmen that usually visits here."
Kahit na namamatay sindi ang ilaw ay nakita pa rin ni Serene ang ginawang qoutation sign ni Genesis sa sinabi nito.
"Really? How so?" Naghahamong sagot ni Agnes.
"This businessman is the infamous Cold-hearted Playboy and a heartless heartbreaker. He is the most sought out Bachelor within the group of outstanding gentlemen in the Business World. He is one of the most riches men who owns different billion-dollar company all around the world. And mind you, he is also a member of the Gentleman's Dignity Club. " nagsalubong ang kilay ni Serene sa huling salita na sinabi ni Genesis.
'Gentleman's Dignity Club?'
'And to think that this guy is an ultimate playboy?'
She dont think katanggap-tanggap sa lalaking iyon ang salitang Gentleman.
"What is Gentleman's Dignity Club?" curious na tanong nina Agnes at Suzanne.
"Hmp! Yan ang napapala niyo kakaupo niyo rito, hindi niyo na alam may mga bigshot na pala sa paigid niyo!" mayabang nitong sambit sa dalawa at napabungisngis sa kanilang mga itsura.
Napaikot na lamang ang mata ang dalawang magkaibigan sa astang mayroon si Genesis.
"Are you going to speak or not?" nagbabantang sambit ni Agnes.
Genesis choked up while drinking at the threatening look of the two ladies.
"Fine!Fine! Since curious talaga kayo at mukhang desperada-"
A sudden arm pinched her small waist.
"Ouch! Zanne! Stop it! Heto na talaga!"
Napapailing na lamang si Serene at mahinang natatawa sa sarili habang pinapanood ang tatlo.
'Kahit kailan talaga itong si Genesis.'
'Ang hilig mangasar – gustong gustong nakakatikim ng kurot kay Suzzane.'
"All I know is that Gentleman's Dignity Club is a club which are consists of different types of outstanding Gentlemen. The Eligibility to be a member is based on your connection, money, power, and status. So to say, you need to have all of these requirements to be only eligible – there is still the initiation for you to be accepted thus, it is very difficult to be a member. Men who are members of Gentleman's Dignity Club are the crème of the crop!"
"Then, do you know if what kind of initiation is that?" tanong ni Agnes
"I only know that you have to use all the given requirements as proof of eligibility in order to be accepted. I heard that the newest member bought an entire Island and gave it to the club for vacation or gathering purposes! Aside from that he also provided money for the club worth 10 billion dollars! Ah yes, I almost forgot –the ranking of the members is also divided into black as the highest, gold as the second, and silver as the lowest. "
Napatulala ang dalawa sa mga nalaman nila.
"Amazing…."
Kahit si Serene na pasimpleng nakikinig ay napalunok ng laway sa mga narinig.
Gaano ba kayaman ang isang tao para ilaan lamang sa mga ganon?! Damn!
Kahit tuloy siya ay curious na makita ang mga miyembro ng Gentlema's Dignity Club na iyan.
Napainom naman ng maraming margarita si Genesis matapos nitong magsalita at kontentong pinapanood ang itusra ng mga kaibigan niya.
Finally, hindi lang siya ang nakaramdam ng matinding shock sa mga impormasyong nakalap niya.
Napapailing na tumingin si Serene kay Genesis ng marinig ang hagikhik nito.
"Stop it before someone pinches you again."
Agad na tumalima si Genesis at nagseryoso ang kanyang istura. "Like what I've said, one of their members is in this club!"
"Is that for real?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Agnes
"Damn real." Siguradong sagot naman ni Genesis
" Then… where is he?" excited na sagot ni Suzzane at inilibot ng tingin ang buong paligid.
They all looked at Genesis expectantly, waiting to hear her answer but on the next second –
She shrugged her shoulder and said, "I don't know. I just heard this news from those boys" in a voice so languid, one would think she is only talking about the weather but the expression of the two ladies beside her said otherwise.
"GENESIS!!!!" matigas na sigaw nina Suzanne at Agnes.
Fortunately, maingay sa loob ng Bar na kinalalagyan nila at hindi gaanong pansin ang grupo nila or else....