"Habibi! Welcome back!" a drunk Eric greeted me when I got back to the del Mirasols' residence. "I missed you, Mahal! What took you so loong? Look! The sun's already goone!"
"Professor, how much did you have to drink?" I asked.
"Not muuch! Louie and I just got into a bit offa competition... Look! Florence and Franklin are also heere!"
"Come on, we need to get home now."
"Just a minute, Mahal, why don't you get something to eat fiiirst? Come drink with me and your in-laws!"
I felt myself redden.
I guess the professor getting drunk once in a while has its perks, too.
"Hey guys, meet your new brother-in-law!" he called to the people sitting in the gazebo by the pool, one of which, has his head on the dining table.
"Abaa... Is it official now?" asked Florence.
"Would I brag about it if it's not?" Eric said proudly. He sat by the table and pulled a seat for me. "Sit here beside me, Mahal! Have some of my cheesy baked oysters! I saved some of them especially for you, I even had to pry Louie's greedy hands offa this plate!"
"Ah-ha-ha! Stay clear from that guy! He's in a foul trip since he didn't get to score on his mate!" laughed Florence who seems to be drunk as well.
I was surprised to see the serious looking lawyer laugh that way.
"Wanna know what happened?" Eric grinned at me. "Blondie got drunk and fell right asleep! So guess who's not gonna score tonight?!"
"What are you idiots talking about? That's just how much I treasure my mate!" Louie said with a huff while taking an oyster from the plate Eric reserved for me.
"Oy, didn't I tell you not to touch this plate?!" Eric frowned at him. "Don't blame me if you end up with hives!"
"Huh. I'm only bad with cuttlefish! And that was just a one time thing when we were kids. The calamares we ate from that street vendor had probably gone bad!"
"But don't you get an allergic reaction when you eat prawns as well?" asked Florence.
"It just itches a bit." Louie scratched at his left arm. I could see some hives forming there. "Besides, I got some meds in advance, and these fresh seafood are well worth the itch!"
"Of course, after all, I got them straight from the sea on our trip from Batangas!" Eric boasted. "You'll all be jealous when you see our private haven there! It's paradise on earth, made us feel like we're the last people on the planet! Right mahal?"
"Yes. We should go back soon."
"Let's set a date, then, when we are all free!" said Florence who is currently nudging the sleeping person beside him.
"Ah, by the way, Habibi, that right there is Rence's twin brother, Franklin," Eric pointed at the intoxicated person whose arms where covered in tattoos. "Lin's also a lawyer, but he prefers to work on other stuff."
"`Oy, Lin, do you plan to sleep here?" Florence asked his twin.
The other answered with a grunt.
"Hay, nako, looks like this brat is out cold. How am I supposed to carry you inside?"
"That's why I told you to look for a mate as well, that way, there'd be someone else to look after you!" laughed Eric as he hugged me. "Just look at how chubby I've become `coz of my Habibi's cooking?!"
"Yeah, you two look perfect together," Florence grinned at us, "I'd have gone married someone years ago if it was that easy to find a partner... if there were any good alpha bastards out there!"
"You calling me a bastard?" Louie frowned at him.
"Well, aren't you already taken ever since we were kids?" he laughed out loud again.
"Wait a minute..." I stared at him. "Are you an omega as well?"
"Wa-ha-ha! Keep it a secret, okay?!" he slapped me on the shoulder.
It hurt.
"You'd better stay over," said Louie. "I'll help you bring Lin to the guestroom later."
I looked around the back yard.
Blessing was in the pool with her sister Mercy and her friend Miles. I do not see Nathan anywhere.
"Where are Reubert and Nathan?" I asked.
"They left early, Nathan wasn't feeling well." Eric took two bottles of beer from an icebox and handed me one. "So, how was the meeting? Just who was that 'special guest' from the US who couldn't wait `till Monday?"
"It was Dr. Eisenhower, the current head of Universal Laboratories in America," I told him, "he wanted to order our SGT kits as soon as they come out next year."
"Huh, is that all? How bothersome. You shouldn't have gone in the first place," he muttered.
"Woah! Congrats, bro! Looks like you're gonna rake in the millions yet again!" Florence clapped Eric on the back so hard that he spat out the beer he just drank.
"And also," I added, "Gen. de Leon was there, too. He asked me to send you his regards."
Eric stared at me, his face going pale.
The bottle he was holding slipped from his hand. It shattered to pieces when it hit the floor.
"Man, you're so drunk you can't hold on to your beer anymore!" Laughed Florence.
"Why don't you stay the night in Nathan's room?" said Louie. "
"No," Eric answered, his voice, suddenly serious. "Good thing Aahmes haven't been drinking yet." He took the bottle of beer away from me. "Ah, look the time, I guess we should head home now."
"`Kay then, drive sakely," said Louie, "Aahmes, I'll leave that brat to you!"
They didn't seem to have noticed the sudden change in Eric's behavior.
Well, Nathan and Reubert are no longer here. There was no reason for me to stay longer. I finished my platter and left with the professor soon after.
"Are you okay, Eric?" I asked as soon as we got to my car.
"...vil..." he mumbled.
"Did you say something?"
"The Devil... it's the Devil! And now it's targeting you!?" he whispered angrily. "He really has no plans of letting me go free! He should have died back then!"
"Eric, it's alright..."
I assured him, touching his quivering hand.
"No, you don't understand!" he snapped at me.
"Eric, calm down," I soothed him, "you don't need to worry. You know he can't touch me. He has no power over us. I won't let the devil bother us both."