17: The Day I Met a Duplicate

Emil's POV

After the day my parents gave me an advice that made me felt better, I didn't stop seeing her. Just looking at her laugh and enjoy made me smile but I still have a stinging pain inside me seeing her happy with the other man. I could see that she's having a hard time studying everything for the exam but she would always keep her head up high with books in her hands. Now, it was the day of her exam and I took a leave in my office. I didn't go to her nor even see her. I went straight to the church and prayed for her. Damn but I did pray for her to do her best and let God guide her through her exam. I kneeled and prayed for thirty minutes straight and I didn't even know that I took that long to pray for her. I stayed there for the mass and still have my prayers for her. God! I know she's doing great but give her extra help today. I want the best for her and this is my way to do it. When I was done, Gabriel called me asking for my whereabouts. I told him I just got out of the church and he told me to get into a local bar three blocks away from where I stood so I started to walk. Many had recognized me as I passed by, whispering things, gawking, and taking pictures of me. I just let them and walked silently hoping I would reach my destination without anyone blocking the way. Of course someone blocked me and judging by how expensive his camera was, I assumed he's a photographer. He was wearing a black shirt, black jeans, and black running shoes. The colors contrasting his attire were his hair which was dirty blonde and his eyes which I noticed where light blue.

"Hello sir!"

"Hello."

"Can- Can I take a picture of you?" He fiddled with his camera. I continued to walk while he still followed me.

"What for?"

"I just want to emotions." He replied meekly.

"You're not a professional photographer?" He shook his head.

"No sir but I am a hopeful one."

"You like this?"

"Yes sir. Very much." With the expenses he gave just for that camera, I'm impressed that he's pursuing his passion.

"Can I see your photos?" I said and he carefully handed his camera to me as if it's a diamond. Of course it's precious to him. He must have earned it so hard just to buy this and I wouldn't be in the way. I like people like him. Pursuing the career he likes not caring how expensive it is as long as it gives him satisfaction and happiness. I played the pictures back and saw that he really had some good shots. I saw a woman having her coffee at a shop, an old man feeding pigeons, and multiple shots of a brunette; some of the pictures she's laughing, then she's smiling and at one end she's at the library reading a thick book and there's a stack of books beside her.

"Lady of yours?" I asked him showing him the picture of a woman I thought she's interested with.

"Uhm... no."

"Friend?"

"Yes."

"Well, you obviously like her." I commented and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah..." He dragged and I laughed.

"How old are you?"

"I'm 22 years old, sir." He's got a nervous smile on his face. I slowed down and gave him his camera.

"Well, you have taken wonderful shots." A big smile escaped his lips showing his teeth.

"Thank you, sir. It means a lot coming from you."

"You know me?"

"Of course, sir. You're Emilio Carini." He said.

"Okay."

"So can I take your pictures?"

"Why are you interested with me? You can have other subjects other than me." I asked him and it felt like I was interviewing him for a job but we're not I the office, instead, we're in the sidewalk.

"Because there's something I want people to know about you, sir." That made me look at him in amusement. Seriously. This kid is something.

"And that is?"

"People always think of you as a high and mighty person with your restaurants bringing tastes into the world but now that I have seen you as my subject, I think there's a lot more to know about you."

"How can you say that?"

"Uhmm... Perhaps the half- smile you give to people, sir?" He was uncertain but he's right.

"I always see you on the T.V screen having a smile on your face while you do your thing but when I saw you earlier, I saw that you're just like an ordinary person with feelings. You might be a celebrity chef with great restaurants smashing other competitions but you still you. I want others to see that. I want others to see that you don't always smile." Strange to hear that but it actually made sense. Also, not all people in photographs are smiling. Photography can show who you really are and in a way, this kid is making me want to do it.

"You got a good eye, kid."

"I'm not a kid." He protested to which I chuckled.

"Sure." He's got a reason and he's right.

"I will give you my consent to have my pictures but only for personal purposes and for your gallery."

"Gallery?"

"Yeah. You're dreaming about it. Why not think of having a gallery show?"

"I'm still not that good sir."

"You studied photography?"

"Yeah."

"Go to my main office tomorrow morning. Tell them your name and you will be directed to meet my staff that handles arts and media. What's your name?" I asked him as I pulled out my wallet and took a business card. I gave it to him.

"Dante." He said with a surprise look on his face.

"Si- sir... Can I ask you something."

"Of course."

"Why are you doing this? You barely know me." He asked while he used his index finger to rub his nose twice in a swift motion. He reminded me of Biya. She does that sometimes but I remember her telling that her nose rubbing habit was a mannerism of hers. She doesn't know when and if she did that. I think it was cute.

"Because I see a man with talent. I like people that has passion." He smiled.

"Thank you for trusting me even when you just met me, sir."

"Don't thank me yet. We'll have to make sure you get the deal first. You will meet my lawyer tomorrow for this. I don't want any of my pictures being sold to the market." He knew what I was saying and nodded.

"Of course, sir. I won't give this to reporters."

"Good. I will see you tomorrow." I stopped and faced him. I offered him a handshake.

"Thank you, sir. It means a lot."

"We'll discuss this matter tomorrow. I have to see my friends."

"Of course, sir, and I promise I won't be disturbing you. I will just take shots from afar or I will have my shots taken without bothering you." He said.

"Thank you. You can do that when I'm at work or I'm busy but when I'm free, just do your thing. Don't live by the shadows." I didn't want that to happen again. I won't. Living by the shadows made me get separated to the woman I love and I won't be doing it again to anyone of that matter. I put my wallet in the inside pocket of my suit before taking my phone out as we continued to walk.

"What's your full name? Give me your full name and you will also tell that to the woman who will receive you tomorrow. Do that so I will know it's you." I said and went to my calendar.

"Dante K. Umile." He replied now in a soft tone.

"What's the K for?"

"K for Kairis." I almost stumbled at what I heard. I looked at him to see if he's playing with me but he had that nervous look on his face.

"You're serious?"

"Yes, sir." He confirmed it. Kairis. Her surname is Kairis. Are they related?

"It might be a topic you don't want to discuss, sir, but I'm not related to her."

"You sure?"

"Yeah..." That uncertain tone again of his.

"You're not sure."

"I'm adopted and Kairis is the only word my parents managed to see at the wet letter left in my basket at an orphanage." He blurted out. Sensitive topics started to come out so I decided to stop. I will find out what's with him and Biya.

"Okay. Well, it's good to meet you, Dante. I will see you in my office tomorrow." I said changing the topic. He cleared his throat and nodded.

"Thank you again, sir. See you again tomorrow." He sent me a smile before we parted ways. God! Kairis. Is it possible that they are related? I can't dismiss the thought I have running inside my head. Biya had mentioned that she has her real family when she was a kid but she doesn't remember everything about them. She just knew her parents died. That's it. She never mentioned having a brother. I tried shaking it off as I entered the bar Gabriel told me about. I scanned the area and then I saw them.

"Hey man! What's up?" Gabriel Montessoro greeted as he saw me approach them.

"Why were you in the church?" Gio asked as I sat.

"To play poker, obviously." I stated sarcastically and they both laughed.

"Prayed for Biya, didn't you?" Gabriel asked giving me a glass of whiskey.

"Yeah. Why are you both free?" I asked. I'm beginning to feel like the third wheel of the party. I stopped any relationship I have with women and my friends have their ladies now.

"Percyla is with her parents. They are nervous about Biya so I let them have their space." Gio explained while Gabriel downed his drink.

"Caralei is invited as a guest speaker at a convention. She'll be gone for 4 days." Gabriel spoke once he was done then he ordered some more.

"Then why are you drinking like there's no tomorrow?"

"They had a fight." Gio commented while Gabriel shot him a glare.

"She's mad." He sighed.

"What for?" I asked.

"I will tell you... later." So much for information.

"She's mad because a girl keeps on coming back."

"Who? Is it?"

"Eriena." Gabriel spoke with a huff.

"Holy shit! That's your ex- girlfriend back in college." I pointed entertained at how Gabriel had that regretful look on his face. Yeah. We're all regretting all the fun that we had now that we met the women we wanted for real. Well, except for Gio who seemed to be fine.'

"She's not your girlfriend." I raised a brow at him.

"We're fuck buddies back then. Now, she has come back to God knows the reason is and she's messing with Caralei."

"Lucky she has not hit her yet." Gio butted in before taking a drink.

"She did. Hell, I got a beating."

"It's seems like you're more of the submissive type and she's the dominant one."

"We're not into that play role thing like you have, Emil." Gabriel said glaring at me.

"You sound like you are sex- deprived." That earned me a punch from him and I laughed.

"Damn you. It's not about the sex. I am happy just by being with her."

"Bullshit. Everybody needs pleasure once in a while."

"And you don't? You have abstained for a fucking long time now so don't play with me, Carini." Gio watched the two of us banter while laughing.

"And you!" I pointed at Gio. He raised a brow.

"Your wife is pregnant so are not having any either!" He chuckled.

"Actually, I can." Smugness was on his face.

"You can?" Gabriel looked at him in disbelief and he set his glass down.

"Yeah."

"While's she's pregnant?"

"Yeah."

"You won't poke the baby?" His tone rose still not believing him.

"Shut up, Gabriel or lower your voice. Jeez!" I told him as others started to look at us. I just nodded at them and they went back to what they were doing before.

"Seriously... you can?" Gio cracked up and laughed.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you so interested? Is Caralei pregnant?" I asked him.

"No. I just didn't know that."

"You can. I asked the doctor."

"You are sick, brother." Gabriel then broke into a smile with a low soft laugh.

"I'm betting on it. He will also do that." I nudged Gio as I talked about Gabriel.

"Fuck you." He cursed then drank again.

"Caralei and I... we're still not doing it." He confessed as he played with his glass.

"Now that is abstinence. I'm excused. I don't have a relationship but you two are. Seems like Gio won."

"I'm taking it slowly."

"Like a turtle." I added and he glared at me.

"There's something about her and I still don't know. I respect that so we're taking things slow." I saluted at him.

"Respect!" He chuckled.

"Yeah. She's more important than other things." That made me smile. Gabriel has changed a lot since Caralei came back to her life. And by change, I mean, he had changed for the better. He's being careful now and not acting as reckless as before. When we were in college, once he spotted someone hot, he would immediately go to her but now, he has his eyes focused in only one girl. Same applied to Gio but he's not reckless. He was such a workaholic he could defeat a robot from operating but when Percyla came along, she started spending time with us, and his family. And to me, I also changed. I didn't want anyone being kept in the shadows, started to care for others and I am starting to fight for the ones I love especially Biya.

"And you? Any news lately? You've been silent." Gio asked and yes, my name appears on the screen but because of my dishes and latest achievements plus the shows I'm in and not because of the speculations I'm involved with.

"Boy, I need a drink for this." I said gulping down the whole glass of whiskey. Both guys laughed.

"Why?"

"I met Kairis." Their eyes grew wide as large as saucers and Gabriel's jaw dropped.

"Seriously?!" Gabriel cried out.

"Yeah."

"What did she say?"

"You mean what did HE say." I corrected Gio and they both got confused.

"I met an aspiring photographer earlier. He's 22 years old. He's a Kairis."

"Is he related to her?" Gio asked.

"I still don't know. He said that he's adopted and there was a letter in his basket so I guess he was a baby when he was left in the orphanage."

"How did he know about the Kairis name then? What if he's playing with you?" Gabriel asked this time.

"That's what I'm thinking. He said that the letter was wet and Kairis was the only word they managed to read."

"If you want, I can do some background check on him." Gabriel offered.

"Yeah?"

"Of course." Gabriel said with a smile.

"And I will ask if Percyla knows something about this. We'll help you out."

"Thanks, guys."

"Anytime, bro. We're the bastard knights after all." Gabriel's statement made me laugh out loud.

"Bastard knights?"

"Yeah. We save but we're still the three idiots that mess up with things."

"Percyla called me a dark knight before and not the knight in shining armor. I'm good with it."

"I believe that deserves a toast." I said and they all agreed. We made the bartender refill our drinks before we raised our glasses up in the air.

"To us, the bastard knights!"

"We're fucking idiots in doing this." Gabriel gave a comment and we all laughed before we all drank.

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