INCIDENT 24
AFTER A WEEK…
“Tej? When did you come?” I exclaimed when I saw Tejie in the kitchen. “Fuck bro! We had no idea you’d returned!”
Tejie has been out of town for a week, working on his new tattoo shop and clients out of the Manila area.
He replied, smiling. “I just arrived, about ten minutes.”
“Fuck, Tej, so early for that.” I noticed he had two bottles of beer.
“It’s just a sleep aid. I haven’t slept in days.” He said quietly, with a half-smile.
I could feel his sadness right away. The sense that I felt before with Laura. A racing heart and a wandering mind that doesn’t know when to stop, tears welling up but you don’t want them to start streaming because you are not sure how to control it. He closed his eyes and inhaled the cold morning breeze just to relax. I look into his brooding eyes. He’s smiling, but I’m sure he’s torn inside. I can feel it. It’s only six o’clock in the morning. I wanted to join him for a drink to have a nice conversation but I had a duty, so I sat down next to him with a cup of coffee. He was constantly checking his inbox and call logs. He had a lot of messages for Gwen that she never read or saw. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I’m not used to him being so composed. He isn’t our Tejie!
“Are you still not talking?” I asked.
He drank his beer. “It’s been a few days now. She’s rejecting my calls, and if she answers, she’ll say she’s busy doing something,” he said sadly.
“Has it been two months?” I asked once more.
“No, not yet,” he replied quickly, then grinned.
“I explained to her bro, but she showed no interest or-she didn’t seem to care.”
“Why am I so affected? Doc? Do I love her?” he asked me pessimistically. “Why am I- fuck!”
“Thank you,” I said, rubbing his back.
“Doc, you know I’ll do anything- I’m not going to let your license be revoked! I heard those fucking rich kids want to sue you and jail you! So even though I wanted to walk away I didn’t because Lee told me that she will take care of everything in exchange for a night of fuck! Fuck bro! I fucked her all nigh! That fuckin’ horny lady drained me! Uggh!” He clung into his hair and shook his head swiftly. “I wasn’t enjoying things like that anymore when I committed myself to her! Fuck! Fuuuuck! I’m a fuckin’ looser!”
I tried to keep him calm. “That’s why, brother-thank you. I’m so sorry Gwen got mad at you. Of course, she knew you were going to do something. She wasn’t born yesterday, so she couldn’t understand your actions.” I clarified. “Sorry about that.”
He drank his beer one after the other, then looked at me. “Help me, doc, shsst!” He wiped his eyes after parting his messed-up hair. “Fuck doc! I think that “da one” is really true! Fuck! I think I’m in love,” he said, shaken. “Help me, doc, with Gwen. Please, brother-help me… I want her back. I want her so fuckin’ badly!”
I stood up and shook his hand. “Congratulations, brother! You’ve graduated from being a playboy!” I said, smiling.
The moron also smiled and shook my hand. Tejie is obviously in love. This was the first time I saw him cry over a woman. His usual explanation is that it is only a woman. I have quite a few of those. And he’s always telling me not to cry because it’s just a woman.
“Help me please, I have no idea how to please a girl…” He adds.
I chuckled, staring at him.
_____
TWO MONTHS LATER.
CLYDE AND TEJIE’S POV
Tejie and Gwen didn’t work it out. Since that night, Gwen has avoided him. He often visits with me, but whenever Gwen sees him, she leaves the house even though she has nowhere to go. Sometimes at work, he simply invites me over just so he can see Gwen. Gwen works at the club again as a waitress.
I saw that it had a big impact when they completely parted. Tejie changed a lot. Sometimes Ms. Lee comes to our house for Tejie. He avoids her as much as he can; he stays on promotion and doesn’t really come home for a few days to avoid seeing her. He became quiet as well, and the old naughty Tejie disappeared and was replaced by someone who was serious about life. Claudie and I often make fun of him because he has changed so much in just a few months. But we’re only doing it to make him happy. We know he’s been crying on the inside up until this point. He was so in love with Gwen that he kept stalking her the entire time.
I was the only one who told him to stop stalking because Gwen no longer appears to be interested in him. I’m the one who’s hurt by all the effort he’s putting in but getting nowhere. During those two months, I caught him crying three times while drinking. It breaks my heart when that happens. I also introduced him once to some of my new friends and even set a date for him, but he didn’t feel like it anymore. He always says, “Pass brother, I’m not losing hope.”NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.
He returned home from his promotion today. I missed him and hadn’t seen him in a long time, so I invited him to lunch. And we had no idea what would happen.
“Let’s go over there by the window, Clyde,” he suggested.
We walked to the spot he pointed out. We’ll pass the table where I saw two women sitting. The woman’s face reminded me of someone I knew. And as Tejie and I became closer…
“Doctor Tuason?” The woman asked, smiling.
“Doc Maita?” I smiled back. I knew it, I was not mistaken that she’s familiar with me. She’s Irene’s friend, Doctor Maita.
She stood up and extended her hand to shake mine.
Tejie came to a halt and looked at them. “Gwen?” He was surprised. He immediately noticed Gwen, who was peering out the window.
When she saw us, I could see Gwen’s eyes widened.
“Hi, Tej? Is that you?” Doc Maita asked, reaching out her hand for a shake as well.
He averted his gaze from Gwen, whose face was bowed. “How are you, Doc?” he asked, nodding to Doc Maita.
I cast a glance at Gwen, who pretended to read the menu. Tejie was just staring at her. Gwen didn’t move, and she didn’t greet me, so I didn’t either. I understand situations like that, which means she doesn’t want to know we’re friends.
“Ah! Doc, who else is with you?” I pretended to ask, looking at Gwen.
“Ah, my friend, we’re doing some serious business here,” Doc Maita responded, looking at Tejie. “And you look so fit, Tej.”
When Doc Maita said that, I saw Gwen simply look sharply at her, then at Tejie after she finished, and I noticed Tejie was nervous that even a simple push was being done behind me, so he poked me repeatedly, pulling the hem of my yellow long sleeve, like a child asking for candy.
“Ah okay, see you around; we’re just passing through,” I said as I waved goodbye.
“Would you like to join us for lunch?” asked Doc Maita. Tejie and I exchanged glances.
“Ah! We’re finished, doc, we’re going home,” I replied. The idiot’s narrow eyes widened, as if he was desperate for a seat and continued to pull my sleeve behind.
“Nice to see you again, Doc; are you staying at the South Medical?”
“Ah, not any longer; I have a private clinic nearby,” Doc Maita replied.
We said our goodbyes once more.
“Good to see you again, Tej! Can I invite you for a drink sometime?”
Tejie grinned, “Sure, if- I’m available.”
Gwen’s face was solemn as she looked at Doc Maita.
Doc Maita’s pretty face blossomed. She fixed her gaze on Tejie. As far as I recall, she was one of the girls Tejie drove insane.
_____
DOCTOR MAITA IMMEDIATELY told Gwen their backstory after the two had left.
“Really? That guy is your ex?” Gwen said smiling.
“Yes, Gwen, that handsome is an animal in bed, oops! Sorry!” said Doctor Maita, covering her mouth. “Well, we’re not kids to act out, so-why is it that we’re together now because of those unexpected pleasures, right? Fuckin’ dicks are pain after they spat out!” she laughs.
Gwen laughed. “How and why did you split up?” She kept asking as if she didn’t know him.
“He’s such a womanizer; that time he had a sugar mommy, that super rich Fatima Lee was fuckin’ obsessed with his body!” Her brow furrowed irritably, she was carried away with her story.
“Fatima Lee?” exclaimed Gwen.
“Yes! His sugar mommy, she’s a billionaire, isn’t it disgusting? She’s married, and she’s crazy about that very handsome Tejie, so even if her husband catches her, she won’t let go of Tejie,” Doc Maita stated. “Tejie is a fuckin’ beast. I swear to you, that guy can go seven rounds, seven fucking rounds!”
Gwen blushes as she laughs. “Are they still together?”
“Oh, probably! She wouldn’t let go of that hot bod! Well, I admit that, I’m once obssesed with him too, it came to the point that I want him to fuck me, every night! That I’m craving for his fuckin’ cock so badly that he keeps me drooling all the time that I’m thinking of how he fucked me! Ugh!” She bit her bottom lip. “Too bad I didn’t get his phone number. I’m in the mood for some foreplay. He might be useful. Doc Tuason is also handsome, isn’t he? They’re both gods!”
Gwen was suddenly intrigued. “Doctor Tuason? What is his background? Do you know much about him? Is he also a womanizer?”
Doc Maita quickly responded, “Oh, he’s an angel. He participated in many charitable programs, he was such a kind hearted one. He was sometimes mistaken for a gay because he rarely flirts and the way he moves and talk. Irene is my friend, that’s why I met him. Shucks! I forgot to ask him about her.”
Gwen smiled, unaware that she is simply gathering information about Clyde’s past.
“So? I’ll wait for you tomorrow, right? It’s 10 a. m., and you already have the location. Anyway, if you don’t mind, where’s the father? Is he a married man? Is that why you want to get rid of that sperm?” Doctor Maita teased. “You’re such a pretty lady, I’m sure that angel inside you is blessed.” She adds up smiling. “But if dad was like Tejie- better kill that before she discovered everything about her dad!”
“H-huh? Ahh… Re- really? Is- is that so?” Gwen stuttered. “I’ll come tomorrow,” she said, ignoring the doctor’s question.
“OK, just make sure! There’s no turning back once you’re on my table. My appointments have been canceled. I’m giving you my day just to fix that “problem,” she pointed out further down Gwen’s belly. “Fixed! That’s ₱15, 000 with all the medications.”
Gwen nodded.
_____
CLYDE AND TEJIE’S POV
“Why didn’t we even last that long?” Tejie grumbled. After talking with Doc Maita, we went straight to the parking lot.
“Who are you calling?”
“Laura,” I replied quickly.
“Did you miss her right away?” he asked, his face bright with joy at seeing Gwen.
“I’m just curious why Gwen met Maita, aside from-you know the backstory, she’s your ex, right?” I said to him.
“What-background?”
“Maita, isn’t she an abortionist, Tej? Irene said to me.”
“Oh, yeah, yeah-she is!” Tejie’s eyebrows met.
“Oh! Do you have the same thoughts as I do?” I tapped him on the shoulder because he appeared to be deep in thought.
And then…
“Laura?”
“Gwen?”
At the same time, we both exclaimed. We’re both puzzled.
“Come on, I’ll ask Laura about it; I hope it’s not her,” I said. “But, Gwen, what if?”
“Call me right away, Clyde, after you talked to Laura; I won’t be going back to promotion tonight,” Tejie was bothered. “Call me okay? I’ll be at the shop.”
Is what suddenly came to my mind correct? He was disturbed as well, and I saw how he reacted.
June_Thirteen