Chapter 13

“I HEARD that one of them often stays in this bar.” Ani North habang nakaturo sa mapang nasa mesa kaharap si Monroe.

Tumango-tangong sinundan ni Monroe ang kamay ni North na itinuro ang isang lugar.

“We'll divide the places. You will first stroll and gather information in these areas meanwhile I, will gather information in the east side of this town.” Lumingon siya kay Monroe habang nanatiling seryoso ang kanyang paningin at ang kanyang kamay ay nasa mapa pa rin. “Then we will meet in this bar tonight.”

Nanatiling nakatingin sa kanya si North kung kaya't kunot-noong tiningnan din ito ni Monroe.

“Any problem?”

“Not at all.” Madiing sambit ni North sa kanya.

“Okay, then.” Monroe answered saka humiga sa sofa na malapit lamang sa mesa. 

North looked at him while looking at Monroe who was currently in a sleeping position. Annoying. 

He let out a sigh. 

He can't bear himself handling a task with this man. Monroe's too annoying, he's often noisy, and a freaking philanderer.

Naiinis na iniayos ni North ang mapa sa mesa before getting himself up from the couch sabay ligpit niyon at maayos na inilagay sa loob ng kanyang bag. Naglakad siya patungong pintuan saka iyon binuksan.

“Where are you going?” 

“Out. We'll meet at the bar as planned, later.” North answered without even bothering looking at him. 

North slammed the door shut saka tahimik na tinahak ang daan sa labas. They rented a small inn enough for the both of them to stay for a couple of days while they gather information.

Hapon na at masyadong maingay ang lugar na pinuntahan nila. North made his way to the east part of the town at nagkalat doon ang napakaraming tao, mapabata man o matanda.

North continued walking when a heavy noise caught his attention. Nilingon niya ang kinaroroonan ng ingay and there, he saw an old man and a person who was wearing a cloak na nagkabanggaan. Nahulog ang bitbit na mga prutas ng matanda and the person who was with a cloak didn't even bother helping the old man. Tila walang nangyari at nagpatuloy lamang ito sa paglalakad.

North's forehead creased saka nagmamadaling nilapitan ang matanda. Tahimik niyang tinulungan at kinuha ang mga nahulog na prutas then he glanced at the person who was wearing a cloak. Nagmamadali itong naglakad paalis habang Panay ang paglingon-lingon nito sa paligid which North thought was suspicious.

“Maraming salamat, hijo.”

Tinanguan niya ang matanda saka nagmamadaling naglakad upang sundan ang tao kanina. The person was built huge which he presumed was a man.

Tahimik niya itong sinundan hanggang sa natagpuan na lamang niya ang kanyang sarili na nagtatago malapit sa isang madilim na eskinita.

The man stood there as if it was waiting for someone and North wasn't mistaken when someone really did appear with the same outfit. 

“Did you get it?”

North saw how the man handed out something to the person who suddenly appeared. 

“Good. Now I need you to...”

North wanted to move closer para mas marinig niya ang pag-uusap nila when he accidentally stepped on an empty can, enough to make a sound which alerted both men in cloak.

“May tao ba diyan?”

Bago pa man mahuli ay mabilis na nilisan ni North ang lugar na iyon. Malalaki ang hakbang na naglakad siya papunta sa lugar kung saan sila magkikita ni Monroe. 

Habang naglalakad, hindi na nawala sa kanyang isipan ang dalawang lalaki kanina. He doesn't want to judge but he's feeling bad auras from those men.

Ilang oras din ang ginugol niya bago tuluyang nakarating sa lugar na iyon. North stood at the slightly huge building.

Bar X.

The moment North entered the place, he was welcomed with the loud stereo at halos mahilo siya sa sari-saring ilaw na naroroon. The place was crowded at halos nahirapan siyang pasukin ang dulong bahagi ng bar.

North made his way to the darkest part of the bar. Doon siya umupo saka tahimik na iniikot ang kanyang paningin sa buong lugar. He scanned the whole place nang sa wakas ay nahanap niya rin niya si Monroe.

North's face became blank matapos makita ang tatlong babaeng nakapaligid sa lalaki. Just as he thought. Napailing na lamang siya saka nandidiring tiningnan ang apat sa malayo. Kung makangiti ang lintek sa tatlong babae ay tila parang nagugustuhan pa nito ang pagdikit ng tatlong babae sa katawan nito. 

Napairap na lamang si North, “F*cking philanderer.”

Hindi na sana niya ito papansinin pa at naisipang mamaya na lamang lapitan ang lalaki lalo pa't mukhang busy ito when another woman came in the view and straddles Monroe's lap without even hesitating. 

Monroe and the four other girls.

The scene infront of North is making him throw up. Naiiritang tumayo siya sa kanyang kinauupuan saka naglakad papalapit sa mesa ni Monroe. Ngunit hindi manlang siya nito tiningnan dahil abala ang mga paningin nito sa apat na babae sa kanyang harapan.

“The waiter is here. Drinks on me.” Monroe was smiling at the four women, “What do you guys would like to have?”

Now, North became a waiter. Really?

North crossed his arms. This bastard surely can't stop womanizing even during their mission! He can't believe how a man like him became the kingdom's military commander. Goodness.

Isa sa mga babae nito ang mas dumikit pa kay Monroe at kitang-kita ni North ang pilit na pagdikit ng dibdib nito sa braso ng lalaki. 

“Baby... We're already fine having you.”

Halos manginig ang buong pagkatao ni North matapos marinig ang napakalanding tono ng babaeng na sa kandungan ni Monroe. The woman wrapped her arms around Monroe's neck at hindi napigilan ni North ang mapangiwi.

He glared at Monroe na ngayon ay nakangising nakatingin pa rin sa mga babae nito. Imbes na suntukin ito ay pinili na lamang ni North na manahimik saka nilisan ang mesa ng lalaki at nagtungo sa bartender station.

North sat and ordered his favorite cocktail nang may tumabi sa kanya ng upo. It was a man with the same outfit, with the same black cloak. Hindi niya masyadong kita ang mukha ng lalaki dahil sa balabal na nakaharang sa mukha nito. 

North can't tell if it was the same person or not. He was sipping his drink while he carefully stare at the person beside him.

“North! You're here..!”

Napaigtad si North matapos marinig ang boses ni Monroe sa kanyang likuran. Nilingon niya ito saka blanko ang mukhang pinagkrus ang dalawang braso.

“Finally done with your women?”

Monroe faked a laugh saka napaiwas ng tingin. F*ck. As he faked a smile at North, he was sure that one wrong move and he will really lost his balls. Napakamot na lamang sa kanyang ulo si Monroe when he noticed the man beside North who was pulling something out from his pocket. It was a knife and he was aiming at North. The person didn't noticed Monroe's stare at him kung kaya't bago pa man nito masaksak ang walang kamalay-malay na si North ay mabilis ang naging pagkilos ni Monroe at agad niyang naiiwas ang katawan ni North mula sa kutsilyo at iginiya ito palapit sa kanya.

“F*ck.” North muttered.

The man with the cloak started panicking and was about to ran away ngunit mabilis ang naging pagkilos ni Monroe at nagawa niya itong pigilan. The man swayed his knife and tried to hit him ngunit hindi ito nagtagumpay. Monroe was about to pull out his gun when North called out his name.

North laid back beside the bar stool who was flustering red and his breathing were getting heavy. Ibinalik ni Monroe ang kanyang paningin sa kaaway na ngayon ay mabilis ng tumatakbo papaalis subalit hindi iyon pinalampas ni Monroe. Sinundan niyo ito at mabilis na tumakbo. Monroe grabbed the man's cloak ngunit nagpumiglas ito kung kaya't nabitawan nito ang hawak na kutsilyo. Hindi napansin ni Monroe ang panibagong kutsilyo mula sa lalaki kung kaya't tagumpay na nasaksak ng lalaki ang kanyang kaliwang braso. 

Mabilis na napabitaw si Monroe sa lalaki but he was able to pull out his gun and aim at the man's leg, slowing him down. He wasn't able to shoot him the second time dahil bigla-bigla na lamang itong nawala.

Monroe muttered a curse before slowly standing up. Muli niyang ibinalik ang kanyang paningin kay North at ganun kabilis ang naging pagkilos niya matapos makita ang itsura nito.

Monroe held North's shoulder. 

“What the hell happened to you, North? Hey! North! Hey!” 

North was trembling all over his body. He was feeling hot and every part of him tickles. It was making him crazy. He pushed Monroe's hand away from his shoulder.

“S-Stop... Stop touching me. It t-tickles. I don't like it.”

Monroe stared at North's face. He was flushing red and his body was burning up. Bigla ay wala sa sariling tiningnan ni Monroe ang basong kanina ay hawak ni North.

He took the glass and smell the inside of it. There were no liquor left but he could smell the drug that was possibly mixed in the drink.

“Aphrodisiac...”

But who the hell would — the bartender! Mabilis na hinanap ni Monroe ang bartender kanina subalit wala na ito sa posisyon nito. The station was empty and the people inside were panicking.

“What happened, Monroe?”

Nilingon ni Monroe ang nagsalita. It was Dex, the owner of this bar and a friend of his. 

“North was drugged,” he answered.

“Boss, there's a knife.” 

Mabilis na tinanguan ni Dex ang kasamahan saka inilagay ito sa lalagyan. He then checked North's body temperature.

“We'll examine the knife.” Sambit nito habang nakatingin pa rin kay North, “And this lad right here needs a rest. You can take him upstairs to let him rest. You guys, can spend the night here. I will bring medicines, enough to lower down his body temperature first.”

Tumango si Monroe. “Thanks, bud.”

Dex nodded then patted his shoulder. 

Agad na tinulungan ni Monroe si North upang makatayo ito saka ito inalalayan palakad patungo sa ikalawang palapag ng bar upang makapahinga ito.

“There. You stay here, alright? I'll go get the meds from Dex.” Aniya matapos niya itong ihiga sa kama. He touched his forehead to check his temperature but North's body remained burning.

Akmang tatayo na sana si Monroe nang bigla siya nitong pinigilan at hinawakan sa kamay.

“Don't leave. I don't feel too well.”

“I know. That's why I need to get the meds para mainom mo.”

But North shook his head while looking at him with pleading eyes. 

Monroe sighed. “Fine.”

Ngunit ganun na lamang ang pagkagulat niya nang biglang hinubad ni North ang pang-itaas na damit saka tumingin sa kanya.

“Hey hey hey. W-What do you think you're doing?” 

Northed stared at him, “F*ck. Why the f*ck am I burning?”

“You've been drugged, North. So it's better for you to take a rest.”

“I can't.” Wala sa sariling ibinaba nito ang paningin sa ibabang parte ng kanyang katawan. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Monroe when he noticed North's arousal.

“I don't know what you're thinking, North. But I really need to get the meds before your condition worsen.”

North was flushing and was about to grope his thing when Monroe stopped him. 

“I f-feel weird. I-I can't take it anymore, Monroe. I just need to...”

Monroe sighed, releasing hands from his grip.

“Fine then. You do what you want and I'll go get the meds, 'kay?”

Hindi na hinintay pa ni Monroe na sumagot si North. He stood up from the bedside nang bigla siyang hinila ni North pahiga sa kama.

North pinned him down. Nakahiga sa kama si Monroe habang si North naman ay nasa ibabaw niya. 

North stared at him deeply at halos ramdam ni Monroe ang bigat at init sa hininga nito. He gulped at the scene in front of him. North pinning him down, panting and flustering while staring deeply at him.

“Stop it, North—”

Monroe was cut off when North suddenly smashed his lips into him. Both their lips met and unmoving. Ngunit ganun na lang ang pagtindig ng kanyang balahibo when North started grinding his hips to his crotch while biting his neck.

“Wait— What the hell do you think you're doing?”

“Shut up, Monroe.”

With that North continued kissing and biting Monroe's neck shamelessly while grinding his ass against his manhood.

Monroe tried pushing North away. He's sure as hell that North will regret this tomorrow when he regained his senses.

Monroe held North shoulders stopping him from whatever he was doing. North groaned and struggled to make his way out from Monroe's strong arms. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Monroe then reversed their position. Now, he was on top of him, pinning North down on the bed.

North was about to attack him once again when Monroe uses all his force to stop him from doing things he knew that he'll regret — enough not to hurt him.

“STOP IT, NORTH! I SAID STOP!!”

Pero ganun na lamang ang gulat na naramdaman ni Monroe when North's lips began to quiver, his face contorted and tears were forming from his eyes.

Oh shit.

“Hey, hey, hey. I-I didn't mean to yell at you, North. I was j-just...”

“So you don't want to do it with me, huh?” Tears welled out from his eyes and his lower lip was quivering, “But if it was those girls, you'll surely do it with them, right?”

Monroe was stunned. What the hell— Is he even aware of what he's saying? Probably not. 

Monroe calmed himself first before caressing North's hair.

“Hey... I think it's better for you to rest for now, okay?”

North didn't answer, instead he just nodded then silently laid himself on the bed. Monroe placed the blanket over him saka tahimik na tumayo sa kama.

“I'll go get the meds.”

North didn't answer him and before he could closed his eyes the door was already slammed shut. After Monroe closed the door, wala sa sariling napalingon na lamang siya sa ibabang parte ng kanyang katawan.

He sighed.

“How the hell did I end up like this?” He muttered unbelievably while pertaining to his aroused manhood.