Chapter 3: Truth, then Dare
The three Ortega cousins arrived at Pure Act Café almost the same time. It was past seven o’clock that time, and they immediately ordered food for dinner.
Auguste wanted to order something stronger than beer to somehow pacify the bad mood he has ever since he saw that invitation sent to him this morning. He just doesn’t want his brother and cousin to notice, so he opted to wait after the dinner where they can have stronger alcohol.
“I’m glad that you were able to join us, Cuz,” Thirdy said to Auguste. The latter looked at him, but did not speak.
“You see, Big Brother, life is not just about work, or the Ortega Group for that matter,” Geoffroy said. “Why don’t you let your people work for you? You said you have a good team, so have faith in them more and let them do the job.”
Geoffroy need not say that. Auguste believes in his people very much. There is another reason why he has kept himself busy with work, and he knows his two companions know that very well. Good thing they don’t bring it up even as a joke.
“That advice obviously came from a lazy bum,” Thirdy said to Geoffroy.
“Excuse me! You are not allowed to use the adjective lazy to describe a bum, because that is the very manifestation of redundancy, and we don’t like that,” Geoffroy retorted.
The two younger Ortegas continued in their banter as Auguste just watched on the side. Once in a while, he smiles when the two goes on into a funny exchange.
Dinner is served. Auguste is starting to feel like his decision to come tonight is right as he started to enjoy the food and the company of his two companions. Until Iñigo came and joined them.
“Hey! The trio is here,” he said as he sat down uninvited on one of the vacant stools.
The three cousins stared at him; partly because of surprise, partly because of annoyance.
“What are you having here? Oh! This is good!” He gushed at the food served on the table, and the three became more irritated.
“What are you doing here?” Geoffroy asked. He did not bother hiding the annoyance on his voice.
“Why? Can’t I come here in Pure Act?” Iñigo asked instead.
Geoffroy did not answer, but his annoyance to his cousin obviously increased.
“I came here with my friends,” Iñigo said, indicating some men on a table not far from them. “I have friends too, you know.”
“Surprisingly,” Geoffroy commented.
Iñigo did not reply to that, or maybe he did not hear what Geoffroy said since he said it quietly. And Auguste noticed that Iñigo probably had some stronger alcohol as he seems a little drunk.
“We were having a good time, then I saw you three,” Iñigo said. “Thought I might say ‘Hi!’ first.” He then looked at Auguste. “And you’re also here! Wow! I wonder how these two were able to make you come tonight.”
Auguste avoided Iñigo’s gaze, also to avoid having unwanted conversation with him. In the process, his eyes rested on a table not quite far from theirs. It was a group of five ladies, and everything seems normal. Until he saw one of them walk to the bar.
“You know, Iñigo, you should go back to your friends,” Thirdy said. “I think they are waiting for you already.”
“Nah! It’s fine. I want to hang out with you for a while,” Iñigo insisted.
As Thirdy and Geoffroy continued persuading Iñigo to leave, Auguste’s attention focused on the woman who was heading to the bar. He frowned as he saw her stop walking a few feet away from the bar counter, although it didn’t take long before she continued. The bartender immediately approached her when she arrived.
Again, Auguste thought it was just a normal scenario, until he looked back at the woman’s companions. They are also looking at the woman by the bar, chatting and laughing as if mocking her. Auguste didn’t like how they are acting, and he kind of felt annoyed at them, and a little sympathetic to the woman at the bar.
“Hey, Auguste!”
Auguste’s eyes diverted to Iñigo.
“Have you heard the news about Astrid?”
Auguste felt his heart pound on his chest.
“She’s engaged!” Iñigo said like he is a noontime show host announcing the winner of a contest they just had. “She gave me an invitation to her engagement party. Of course, she was also my classmate. I am sure you also had one.”
Auguste wasn’t able to stop the glare he casted on Iñigo. The latter doesn’t seem to mind it anyway. Probably because he was already drunk to begin with, or that was really what he wanted his cousin to act and feel.
“Imagine, she’s getting married to the prince of Xeglington!” Iñigo continued. “How fortunate that classmate of mine is. She’s getting married to a real North American prince, and not just some dude who claims they have royal blood from a long distanced French ancestor–”
“You know, you should really go back to your friends now,” Geoffoy said to Iñigo. He was literally pushing him away.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Thirdy agreed as he helped Geoffroy push Iñigo away.
“Why are you pushing me away?” Iñigo asked. “I was just asking our cousin here about an old friend’s engagement. Surely, nothing’s wrong with that?”
“Everything’s wrong about that,” Geoffroy said.
Iñigo smirked. “You talk as if your brother is not yet over Astrid.”
“How can he not be over her? He already had a girlfriend after her,” Geoffroy said.
“Yeah, but where is that girlfriend now?” Iñigo asked, to which Geoffroy was unable to answer. “They broke up, because–”
“Because I was too busy with work and I lost time for her.”
The three Ortegas looked at Auguste. His expression is stern, obviously displeased with what is happening.
“Ah! The classic break up reason,” Iñigo commented. “Is that really it? Time?” He looked at Auguste sardonically.
“Do you know better than me? I was the one in the relationship,” Auguste said.
Iñigo laughed scornfully. “You say so, Cousin. You say so.”
“You know, just go back to your friends,” Geoffroy said to Iñigo again.
“You push me away as if you’re hiding something,” Iñigo said to Geoffroy.
“I am not. I just don’t want you here with us,” Geoffroy said, unable to stop himself from being blunt.
“Ah! And why don’t you want me here?” Iñigo asked.
That made Geoffroy frown. “Is alcohol clogging your brain that it makes you stupid already?”
“Geoff!” It was Thirdy. “Stop it.”
“Yeah! Stop it!” Iñigo agreed. “Stop defending your brother.”
“Why does he need to defend me?” Auguste asked.
Iñigo faced him. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
Auguste’s patience is really expiring right now. One more taunt from Iñigo and he himself will say bad words to him. That, or he will just punch him straight in the face.
“I just want you to be honest with yourself, Cousin,” Iñigo said to Auguste. “It’s not right that you force yourself into believing something that is not true.”
“What is not true?” Auguste asked.
“About you and Astrid,” Iñigo answered. “Or rather, about how you really feel for her. How you still feel for her.”
Auguste’s fist clenched, as well as his jaws.
“It’s unhealthy, my dear cousin,” Iñigo said to him. “Just accept the truth, and it will set you free.”
“What can I do to prove that I am already over her?” Auguste asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe, look for a one-night-stand?” Iñigo answered.
“That is insane!” Geoffroy commented.
“That is what you do almost every day,” Iñigo said to Geoffroy, silencing him.
“Iñigo, Auguste is not someone who does those things,” Thirdy said, still trying to be calm amidst the situation. And his annoyance with Iñigo as well.
“Fine! He’s the hearts and flowers type of guy, I guess,” Iñigo said. “But why hasn’t he found another love yet?”
“He told you he was busy, you moron!” Geoffroy exclaimed.
“Busy my ass!” Iñigo retorted.
The two cousins stared at each other, as if gauging where the situation might lead them. The other customers started paying attention to them as their conversation became louder.
“Because love is not a game, Iñigo,” Auguste said. “It’s a very precious thing. It’s not something that you walk into a bar to, stumble upon during a jogging session, or search for in the Google search bar. It’s something that grows through time.”
Iñigo looked back at him. “But that won’t happen to you again because you keep on resisting the idea that you can love again. And that is because your heart is still with Astrid.”
“I told you I just don’t have the time. But if I want to, I can.”
Iñigo’s right eyebrow raised. “Really?”
Auguste looked around the restaurant. He actually doesn’t know what he’s looking for. Probably something deep to say to Iñigo again? His anger is making him say things from deep down his heart and soul. He’s starting to get agitated because of that.
Then suddenly, he caught sight of the woman at the bar. He doesn’t know how or why, but an idea suddenly struck him.
“If only I want to, I can get any woman’s attention.” He looked at Iñigo. “Like that girl at the bar.”
Iñigo smirked evilly, while Geoffroy and Thirdy looked at Auguste in surprise.
“Show me,” Iñigo ordered.
Auguste stared at Iñigo, part of him already regretting what he just said. But it’s worse to retreat right now and give Iñigo the privilege to mock him again, than be a cad towards that lady by the bar.
He gulped his remaining beer, then put the mug on the table with a loud thud. Then he looked at Iñigo menacingly before walking towards the woman quietly sitting by the bar counter.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone