Chapter 60 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 60

“Well,” Secretary So continued. “They didn’t really go into specifics. They just said the CEO was very excited when he saw the project.”

“Well, at least we didn’t need to cancel our appointment with them today, right?”

“No, President, we don’t. The CEO was on his way when his secretary called to inform me. I should get ready for his arrival.” Secretary So stood up when he was dismissed to prepare for the GAP’s CEO’s arrival.

If it was only the employee, they might just need to clean a bit, but this was the CEO.

Off prepared himself as well.

Word: 100

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Chapter 59 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 59

“Yes, sir,” he continued. “Apparently, the architect you chose to design the new shop building in Pangasinan had another project. They had a misunderstanding with their client and had to redraw a whole new design.”

“Oh wow,” Off sat on the sofa inside his office. He gestured for his secretary to do so. “That’s rough. So did they say they’ll send a new one?”

“Yes, sir. Apparently, GAP’s CEO found out about it and volunteered to do the project instead.”

“Oh? Aren’t they busy running their own firm?” Off said. He scanned another file from the previous meeting.

“Well… Uhm.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 58 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 58

Off, at thirty, was a successful businessman in the fashion world. He co-owned a photography studio with Tay who managed the ‘taking-the-pictures’ part of the business while he managed the ‘talking-to-possible-clients’ ones. 

Arm’s fashion house was also co-owned by him. His friend didn’t want to deal with the business side of the fashion industry and Off wanted his friend to focus on his creativity. 

Everything was good. They were. Until Gun walked back into Off’s life. It was the best.

“President,” his secretary worriedly approached him. “GAP called. There’s a delay with the architect they’ll send.”

“They said why?”

“Yes.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 57 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 57

It’s been half a month. Off’s busied himself with his business plans. Tay and Arm learned what happened after Off’s off behavior - he became more introverted and closed-off. He stopped coming with Tay when he visited New on the other side of the campus.

He thought he’ll get a message from Gun at least to explain what happened - if there’s even explaining what he did - but nothing. Gun stopped messaging him. Apparently, he also never mentioned him in front of New. At all.

At first, Off was very hurt. He was angry. Then he learned to move on. 

He did.

Word :100

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Chapter 56 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 56

Gun pulled Off’s polo shirt’s hem. “P’, let me explain. Please. P’Off, let me explain.”

He touched Gun’s hands and slowly pried them away from his shirt. He shook his head. “I need to think about this, Nong. I need to think about us. I hope you do, too.”

He exited Gun’s apartment building after he calmed himself down in the restroom on the lobby floor. 

He didn’t want to go back to his dorm. He didn’t want Tay to tell him “I told you so.” 

Off found himself driving around the city until he found an empty playground. 

Silence.

Word: 100

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Chapter 55 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 55

Gun attempted to grab Off’s right lower arm, but he chucked it away. Dodged him.

“If you were to cheat on me, why even boost my hopes up? I asked you to date because I love you, okay? You think I only fancy you then get tired of you later on?”

He clenched his fist. He cried harder. “It hurts here.” He gripped his chest; above his heart. “It hurts, Gun. It hurts.”

Gun repeatedly says “I’m sorry” while sitting in front of him. He was crying, too. 

“I think I need to get out of here.”

“No, P’. Explain.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 54 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 54

Off plowed his way inside Gun’s apartment. The night’s activities were visible even though they “cleaned” before letting him in.

Gun’s bed sheets were chucked away in the laundry basket. New, fresh, seemingly unused one was covering his neat bed. But that didn’t hide used condoms in the trash can. Or the lube.

Like a dying candle, Off sat on the floor next to the decorative amphora. He couldn’t look at Gun. 

“We haven’t even started yet,” he cry-whispered. He looked up at the silent Gun. “Why? Why, Gun?”

“P’, I’m sorry,” Gun rushed to his side. “I’m really sorry.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 53 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 53

“Please let me in,” Off continued. “I’ll be waiting here in the hallway. Take your time. To clean up.”

“Uhm,” Gun hummed. “O-okay, P’.”

Off paced outside for another five minutes before the door swung open. It revealed a taller, brawny man with a mocking smirk on his face. Behind him was Gun who was fidgeting in his large T-shirt and black shorts. He was barefoot.

Off would have swooned if he didn’t remember that another man saw him dress like that first. 

“Yo, P’Off!” Joss greeted. “Gun, gotta go!”

He turned and left the two of them.

“Really, Gun?”

Word: 100

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Chapter 52 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 52

He rang Gun’s intercom. He waited, but no answer. He rang it again. The guard downstairs told him the young man was in. Unless he exited the back door, no one saw him come out yet.

After the third ring, a hoarse voice asked from the other side, “Yes?”

“Nong Gun? This is Off.”

“Gun!” The voice shouted. He didn’t hear the next conversation because the man who answered let go of the microphone. When it came back again, Gun’s on the other side.

“P’Off?” he sounded uncertain. Scared.

Why was he scared? Of whom? Of Off?

Ridiculous! 

“Nong. Please.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 51 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 51

“Where are you going?” Tay asked.

Off was putting his red-and-white Adidas shoes by the doorway. “I’m going to Gun’s place?”

“Huh? Why?” Tay demanded. He tried to hold onto Off. He’s acting like the current girlfriend or a mother refusing her child to go on a school trip. “Why do you have to go?”

“Since you’ve been putting doubts in my mind,” Off said nonchalantly, “I’ll ask him himself. To make all things clear.”

He left Tay inside with his mouth on the floor. 

The guard in the building from that night recognized him.

“Sir, you’re visiting N’Gun?”

“Yes.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 50 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

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Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 50

“Not just for me,” he said, angry. “What? I already got his okay to date him.”

Tay stood to fetch water. He gulped down the whole glass before turning to Off. “Peng, N’Gun was a notorious flirt. He likes attention, parties, and fun. You’re don’t. Your incompatibility will only make the relationship between you two miserable. It’ll make you miserable. Period.”

Off chucked his cold noodles in the trash can, took a change of clothes, and entered the restroom.

“Well, I guess I have to woo him more,” he said to himself as he turned the knob on. 

He showered.

Word: 100

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Chapter 49 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

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Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 49

Tay turned to him. “Off, are you really serious about N’Gun? I told you -”

“I know what you told me, “ he snapped. When he realized what he did, he apologized. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. But Tay, I love him.”

“Peng,” Tay called cautiously. “I really think N’Gun is not serious about you.”

“But you still gave him my name,” Off said. His noodles were plumping up without his attention. 

Tay made an offended sound. “He asked okay. Besides, it’s just your name. I didn’t know he would search your name online. Besides, he was a good friend. Kind. Bubbly. Cute.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 48 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 48

“Oh.”

“Peng, you’re just a little bit weird and more disoriented today. What happened?” Tay reached for his backpack to bring out his thick notebook.

“Nothing.”

Tay shrugged and returned to his notes. Off busied himself in the kitchen. He boiled water for his cup noodles and peeled green Indian mangoes. 

“Want some?” He asked Tay as he deposited it on his desk.

“Thanks.” He put one on his mouth and savored the juicy taste. “Oh yeah, Peng, I saw N’Gun in The Hoop last night. You didn’t go with him?”

“No.” 

“Why not?”

“He didn’t invite me.”

“Oh…”

“... Indeed.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 47 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not copy or post to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 47

“Peng!” Tay entered their room while dragging a sack of rice. Off was on his bed in his pajamas, and it was ten in the morning during a fine Saturday. “Help me here, dammit!”

“Arm?” He asked as they carried the sack into the tiny kitchen, propping it against the wall next to the 3-feet rice dispenser.

Tay washed his hands and dried them with a clean dish towel. He looked at Off with a “duh?” face and proceeded to the restroom. “Library volunteer.”

“You don’t have to go anywhere today?” He sat down. Tired. Sleepy.

“I just came back?”

Word: 100

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Chapter 46 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

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Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 46

“So…” Off started. “Gun, do you want to go on a date this Saturday?”

Gun put a sad face. “Right, P’, about that. I don’t think I can go.”

He looked uncomfortable. His brows met and he was fidgeting with his T-shirt’s hem, crumpling it. 

It was awkward. Off felt awkward. He was hesitant but excited… Now he couldn’t describe what he was feeling. 

Gun was looking at the paved sidewalk when he said, “I promised a friend I’ll go to their house on Saturday…”

“Okay,” Off uttered. “Hey, don’t feel bad about it. You’ve promised them first. No problem.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 45 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

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Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 45

Gun’s silence was deafening. He continued shoving his teriyaki chicken inside his mouth, some sauce staining his plump lips.

New noticed Off’s attention on Gun, so he turned to his friend.

“And what are your thoughts?” He asked the man.

Gun swallowed, “Good for him.”

Tay and Arm laughed, while New shook his head. Off? His heart dropped.

“Nong Gun,” he called. “She didn’t even introduce herself. I didn’t know her. Never plan to get to know her.”

“I know,” he replied. “Don’t worry, P’. I understand. Eat your lunch. You only got three bites when she asked for you.”

Word: 100

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Chapter 44 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

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Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 44

“I’m sorry, “ Off replied automatically.

Her lips wobbled and she ran away. A friend, who was definitely glaring at him, met her in a comforting embrace.

There were whispers amongst other students. A glare from him quietened them.

He went back to his friends.

“Oh, wow!” New chuckled. “P’, it’s your first time on this side and you’re already attracting birds and bees alike.”

Tay teased. “Our Peng is so popular among our juniors. They regard him highly; even teachers are so proud of him.”

“Her friend’s glare was definitely cutting you to pieces,” Arm sent him a shit-eating grin.

Word: 100

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Chapter 43 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

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Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 43 

“P’, may I speak with you privately?” She asked as she nervously glanced at his companions.

Off pursed his lips and turned to his friends. He searched Gun’s eyes asking for permission. 

When he nodded, Off turned to her, “Okay.”

He excused himself and led the girl a couple steps away. 

He waited until she could gather her thoughts and nerves - at least that’s what he thought she was doing. 

Meanwhile, he tried to figure out what she needed from him. She looked awfully young - maybe a freshman or sophomore undergrad. 

“P’, please date me!” She exclaimed loudly. 

It echoed.

Word: 100

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Chapter 42 Take Her To The Moon

 By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

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Take Her To The Moon

Chapter 42

New pecked Tay’s lips with a quick kiss. Off’s a little envious, but he didn’t want to put Gun on the spot.

After pushing two tables together, Off volunteered to stay with their belongings while they fetch their trays of lunch.

On his phone, he was scrolling through Instagram when a female student approached him shyly.

When he lifted his head to look at her, she shied away. Off blinked. Confused.

After everyone came back and Off got his own lunch, the same student stopped next to him. 

“May I help you?” Off asked politely. 

Gun’s eyes bore on him.

Word: 100

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