Start Over 12

Author's Note:

Hello Guys. Here's the next chapter of my story, Start Over.

Again, Maraming Salamat sa patuloy niyong pagsuporta at pagsubaybay sa aking kuwento. Maraming salamat din sa mga bumati sa akin nung birthday ko. 

My Hugs and Kisses for y'all, especially to Kris, Joey, RJ and Jihi (mga kabalen.LOL), Kay Sir Raffy Asuncion, Johnny Quest, Rye Evangelista, bebe red-orange,  Jed of Cavite, Jazzuah, Lummier, Poch, Paul John, Marck choi, hardname, rein, rhaye, maki, iamyours, Jan Ariez, JM of somewhere, Ken, Zrom60, reagan, Joma, at sa mga idol ko dito sa MSOB na sina Jace Page and Vienne Chase (Guys, please read their stories, they're fucking awesome!).. and also, (ihhh.  nahihiya ako...ihhhh *blushing*) one of my inspirations why I am here in MSOB, si bossing A. Lim. sir, I am your fan. I have read your "unexpected", and believe me, the story made me lost my sanity for weeks, (in a good way).. Hindi ko pa sinisimulang basahin ang "untouchable" kasi inaantay kong matapos mo, ayoko kasi nabibitin haha God knows how hard for me to skip your updates para lang di ko masimulan, haha. looking forward to reading your Untouchable, soon, when it's done. :) Saludo ako sayo sir A.Lim. (sana mabasa mo 'to, haha)

Lastly, to my ever paboritong si Bing, sorry bro medyo naging busy lang lately si kuya.  Yung cake? Naku, ubos na. Ehe Treat nalang kita minsan. LOL. Miss you binggoy.. Hmmmm...

Happy Reading Guys.

Mahal ko kayo,

Alexander Chua

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"ano bang ginagawa mo?" bulong sa'kin ni jek whilst we're walking our way to the room.

"i'm just tellin' the truth jek.. and besides.."

"matalino kang tao, alam mong mali yang ginagawa mo. Oo nasaktan ka, pero hindi naman dapat kailangan maghiganti ka. Hindi ganyan ang kilala kong alex.." pangputol nito. Napahinto ako at inalis ang kamay nito sa aking balikat.

"of all people, i thought ikaw ang mas lalong makakaintindi sa akin." sagot ko.

"sinabi ko bang hindi kita naiintindihan? ang sa akin lang, di ba mas maganda kung hayaan mo nalang yung tao at mas magfocus ka sa sarili mo."

"why do you sound like mas pinapaboran mo pa siya? ako ang nasaktan dito jek, ako yung nagmukhang tanga, ako yung pinaglaruan at ginago,  at higit sa lahat, ako ang kaibigan mo, Di ba dapat sa'kin ka kampi?"

"hindi naman sa mas kinakampihan ko yung tao, ang point ko, huwag mong sayangin ang oras mo sa mga bagay na alam mong ikaw lang din ang talo, nagmumukha ka lang desperado eh."

"ako pa ang desperado?"

"siguro naman ngayon malinaw na sayo ang mga sinabi niya, oh kailangan ko pa ulitin alex para matauhan ka?Hindi ako sumagot at napayuko nalang.

"Hindi kita masisisi kung mahulog ka sa kanya o may iba kang maramdaman, pero siya ba umamin sa'yo? ni minsan ba sinabi niyang mahal ka niya? sinabi ba niyang gusto ka rin niya? sinabi ba niyang nahuhulog rin siya sa'yo? Wala di ba? Tama? Ngayon nagmumukha ka lang desperado, feeling mo kailangan mong gumanti kasi nasaktan ka, feeling mo nagsisinungaling lang siya, feeling mo may tinatago ito, pero Alex, naisip mo bang baka nga wala talaga siyang nararamdan sa'yo at ikaw lang ang umaasa?"  dagdag nito habang nakaharap sa akin at nakatitig sa aking mga mata.

Napatulala ako sa mga sinabi nito. Parang binagsakan ako ng lupa't hangin. Hindi ko na alam anong iisipin ko. There are a lot of questions in my mind, and every minute it gets harder and harder to handle and unpuzzle. Hindi na ako sumagot at nauna na akong naglakad papasok sa kuwarto.

Umupo ako sa dati kong puwesto, at pansin ko naman ang pagbalik ni Ty sa una niyang upuan. Pumasok si jek sa loob at laking gulat ko sa pagdiretso nito sa harapan at umupo sa bakanteng silya malapit kay ty. Naiwan ako mag-isa sa likuran. Ugh! Naging tahimik ako buong klase. Minsan hinihingi ni Engr Guengco ang aking opinyon, pero umiiling nalang ako. I can't seem to think straight. There are a lot of things that are bothering my mind right now, and god knows, my head feels like it will explode anytime soon. 

"Alex, you have to stop. Jek's right. The situation's already fucked up, and please don't make it even worse. Don't do something stupid when you're not even sure of it in the first place. Drop the drama and let go of the anger. Please." says my mind.

"No, No, No. You're just starting, and not even half of the plan yet. Someone's gotta pay, and he needs to pay for lying over everything and for playing your feelings like a freakin pro without giving any credits as if he didn't enjoy it at all. Come on, alex. Life is already not fair, but you can get even especially when you have your chance to. Don't be such a loser. Make him pay and make him realize that he messed up with the wrong man." says the other side. Ugh! I think I'm lossing my sanity. 

"Alex?"

"Alex?"

"Hey! Alex!" sigaw ni Engr Guengco and I heard a snap on his fingers. 

"Ye-yes Sir?" utal kong gulat na sagot

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, am just feelin' a lil dizzy but am gonna live."

"Okay" sagot nito at itinuloy ang pagdidiscuss. 

I stood up ang walked myself out of the room the minute our class ended. I went to the john and locked myself to one of the cubicles. Ugh! I don't think I can stay with him in one place any longer. The more I see his face, the more complicated i feel inside. Complicated?  I dunno. I can feel myself wanting him to also suffer every little thing he caused me, I can feel my blood boilin and bublin whenever I see how cool he can be after causing me this so much pain, but there's this one thing I can't deny inside of me, something that's hoping everything he said wasn't true, that he had to do what he did because... because... because... Aaaarggghh! Tumayo ako at lumabas ng restroom. Napapailing ako sa mga bumabagabag sa aking isipan. Naglakad ako ng naglakad and God knows, I don't know where I'm gonna stay and spend my time until I get to my next class.

Umupo ako sa may bench, ilalim ng puno near school's sports center. I put on my earpods and kept myside drown to soothing songs. I want to forget all the things roaming 'round inside of my fucking head. I closed my eyes and feel the rhythm. I can feel the wind blowing across my skin, the wind's so relaxing, it's warm and it's like God's small way of making me understand that I gotta do the right thing, that I gotta drop everything off and start with whatever I have inside. Napangiti ako.Nabigla ako when I felt a pat on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and saw jek, smiling.

I smiled back. I heard him giggled at dali dali naman itong umupo sa tabi ko. Tahimik.

Tahimik parin.

Maya maya pa nararamdaman ko ang siko nito sa aking tagiliran, parang inaabot nito ang aking katawan at nagpapansin.

"If you're gonna say something jek, spit it out" pagtataray ko pero pigil ang tawa.

"Eeeppp yuuurr gunnnaa zzzay zzzamting jek, iissspit eeeeyt aaawt" parang batang ginaya lang ang mga sinabi ko. Tumawa ito, pero pinigilan ko ang aking sarili.

"Crazy"

"Krezi por yu, tatz me wan an Ay no eyts tro"  sunod nitong banat, parang baliw sa pagkanta. Pinigilan ko parin ang aking sarili sa pagtawa.

"tumigil ka nga"

"tumigil ka nga... tumigila ka nga..." sunod nitong sambit na parang nag iisip na naman ng pambanat.

"Aaaah!  tumigilka nga, ngayon at kailanman, kailangan mong malaman na ikaw lamang ang tunay kong.....minamahal...at tangi kong hiling ay makapiling ka, muli.. tumigil ka ngaaaaa..." sunod na banat nito na sinabayan pa ng mga pag-indayog ng kanyang kamay na parang sumasayaw nang kundiman. Hindi ako umimik at yumuko lang.

"Huwag mo nang pigilang tumawa, baka mautot ka pa niyan" dagdag nito. And right then, pinakawalan ko na ang tawang kanina ko pa pinipigilan.

Nagtawanan kami. Then I felt his arm on my shoulder. 

"sorry kanina ha, nataasan kita ng boses." 

"wala iyon..." sagot ko.

"at saka huwag mong isipin na..." sunod nito sanang sasabihin nang mapansin ko si Precious, the school paper girl. Dali dali akong tumayo at nilapitan ito.

"hey! pre-precious right?" 

"hello..."

"about what I said earlier.."

"oh yeah, someone just confirmed that he saw tyler kissed you before, sa classroom niyo.. "

" I lied.. everything I said wasn't true. Ty is not gay."

"but... someone saw tyler ki-kissed..." utal nitong pagkabigla.

"that was an accident, someone just pushed him from his back, and it's just so happened that I was in front of him that time.. so.... if you can just retract the column and clear his name, He's not gay." pagdadahilan ko.

" I don't believe you. I know you're lying.. why? coz you guys prefer to hide your thing and keep it yourselves?" sabay halakhak nito na parang nangiinsulto.

"look, I'm humbly asking you to drop it. It is a school paper, and should focus more on inspirational features to chirk up and motivate students and not to ebb and ruin their lives.."

"you don't get to decide what I feature in MY paper..My paper..."  pagmamayabang nito.

"you dont have an option, coz remember this, the minute I see his name and my name in your god damn paper, I will make sure, shove this to your pimply ass, I will make sure that you lose your position.. I have read some of your work and to be honest? It's trashy and non fucking sense. Grade school can even write better than you do. Aren't you shamed of yourself? Vitiating and stripping other people lives to make us read your crappy paper? So let me make myself clear, one more time, You are not writing any stories and tell lies about neither Tyler nor My life. I was once an editor of a known magazine, and I can easily kick you out and fill in your part. Dont force me.. You don't know what I'm capable of. You understand?"

Para naman itong namatayan sa pagkabigla. Tumango lang ito at tumakbo palayo. Napailing ako.

 "Sorry, I just need to do it to clear everything out.." bulong ko sa sarili. Bumalik ako sa upuan namin ni jek.

"oh sino yun?"

"wala.. tinanong ko lang kung bakante ba yung posisyon niya sa school paper.."

"yung totoo?"

Here we go again, wala talaga akong maitatago kay jek, he seems to feel everything that I do, he knows exactly when I am lying and telling the truth. He's reading my mind again. Kinuwento ko sa kanya kung paano ko nakilala si precious sa hallway kaninang umaga, at mga sinabi ko rito to situate everything back to where it should be and pee over the flame I started. Hindi maiwasan ang pagtawa nito sa mga ginawa ko at pananakot sa kawawang estudyante.

"about nga pala sa sinasabi mo kanina.. don't worry, I get it now.."  sabi ko sabay pilit na ngiti.

"mabuti naman kundi ako mismo ang kukutos sayo hanggang sa matauhan ka.."

"like im scared, duh?!" 

"arte! haha tara na nga.." anyaya nito.

"oh san tayo pupunta?"

"sa library, tulungan mo ako sa assignment ko, essay kasi tas english pa. haha"

"ayoko nga, bayad muna.."

"sapat na ba ang katawan ko?" sagot nito.

"ka-inin mo yang katawan mo, gago!"

"hahahaha oh sige anong gusto mong bayad para lang tulungan mo ako?"

"ka-inin mo ang katawan ko...hahahaha" bigla kong sagot, God, please tell I didn't just say that.

"hahahaha iyon lang naman pala, simulan na natin dito..." sabay hablot ng suot ko at pilit na tinatanggal. Itinulak ko ito palayo.

"gago ka, biro lang naman eh. tara na nga.." pagdadabog ko habang inaayos ang damit.

At tinungo na nga namin ang library. It took us hours to finish his homework, we even skipped our next class for it. Ang hirap kaya gumawa ng essay about computers and technologies, kung about sex and love lang ito, panalo na ang brain ko. "yeah right, fucking pervert" says my mind.

After nang mga klase namin, sabay ulit kami umuwi ni Jek. While driving home, I made a promise to jek that I will start thinking about myself and my studies, just like what I told JM yesterday. Sumang-ayon naman ito at nangakong sasamahan niya ako lagi. 

Halos everyday ganoon nga ang nangyari, naging normal ang aking buhay estudyante. Papasok kaming sabay ni jek, sabay kakain, sabay din uuwi. Kung wala akong pasok, nasa bahay lang ako nagkukulong, minsan lumalabas to grab a cup of coffee, minsan din pag walang pasok, nanunuod kami ng sine ni jek. This life is way too far from I had in the city. This simple life, boring as it may seems, but I'm starting to like and get used to it.

We spent most of our times together. Minsan nakikisleep over ito pag wala kaming pasok kinaumagahan at late na natapos mga pinapanuod naming DVDs. Minsan sa kanila ako kumakain lalo na pag masarap ang ulam nila, pero halos gabi gabi rin naman sa amin ito nakikikain at binabawi lang ang mga utang ko sa kanila. Kung malaswa lang ang utak mo, you will think of something else happening between us. I've never gotten myself into this type of friendship before, yung feeling na you can share eveything with no lies, you can do anything with no hesitations. Pure friendship, no malice and no stressful feelings. Kung di ko lang alam na straight itong mokong na 'to, I would think he's hiding the same pink feather. Pero hindi eh, when he talks about his secrets, you will feel how manly and pervert he can be. 

Hindi natuloy ang pag-uwi ni Joyce at anak nito dahil nagka problema daw sa papers. Nalungkot si jek, but I made sure na andoon ako lagi para sa kanya. I know he misses his kid and wife. Jek's been telling me about how he wants to raise his kid on his own someday and how he dreams of living with his wife under one roof. Jek's really a good man. And I hope he gets to reach all of his dreams someday coz he deserves it. He's a beautiful soul.

I never heard anything from JM since the last time we talked at si Tyler, naging mailap ito. I can catch him looking at me pero babawiin din nito ang mga tingin, he's been off lately, like he's not the Tyler I first knw. He never talked that much and preferred to be alone when on breaks. God, what happened to Ty? He seemed lost and miserable. But on the other side, he made it easier for me to get over him and focused on myself, he did what i asked him before, to keep the distance between us. He never talked to me, and he never bothered me anymore.

After two weeks.

Naging part ako ng student council and I met other people. Sumali din ako sa iba't ibang Clubs para may pagka abalahan when I don't have classes whilst jek has. Naging kilala ako sa school at dumami ang mga naging kaibigan ko. I was able to leave my past behind and hide my heart to the deepest cave inside me. Everyone thinks I'm perfect. I have surrounded myself with people who knows nothing but my physical appearance and my academic skills. Yes, I made it to the top and now considered as one of the gods in school. This crazy bitch is now the school's most popular, that is according to the survey cascaded by a certain group. But honestly? I don't feel the honor. Something's still missing.

One day, I was featured in the school paper, rumored as a gay and hiding my relationship with tyler. Itinuloy talaga nitong si Precious ang lahat, fuck. I wish I could've done something else before it happened. I heard people murmuring shitty words whenever I walk along the hallway, All eyes trying to see through the wall I built before me, I can feel their questions rubbing against my skin like a disease desperately digging inside of me. I got distracted. Funny how carking these bitches are, I was once their god and just, just because of this one fucking rumor thrown against me, I am now like a piece of trash to their eyes and filthy mouths.  So once and for all, I used all of my resources and power to talk to the Management and questioned their credibility. I luckily got support from them and had permitted me to cooperate with the IT people to film a video that will be played entire the campus.

To my fellow students,

This is in response to the rumor started by the editor in chief of the school paper, Precious Ladroma. I didn't know that this thing would make such noise or would even matter to you. For everyone's sake, Yes I am Gay. But question is, since when did it stop people from reaching their dreams? since when did it pull us back to be a better person we could ever be? This is not a life threatening disease that will make us suffer and give up ourselves. This is something that we should be proud of, because after all, We all are humans.

I am proud of what I am. I am not ashamed neither afraid of letting it all out. I never intended to hide this from you, coz again, I know this would not matter.

This might be the most clichéd thing you're gonna ever hear, Love has no gender, and so are dreams. 

Being Gay does not define me for who I really am . It's by our actions and how we accept things. For the past few days, I have proven myself to you and have made myself on top, this is Not just because I am gay, but also because I am One of God's Children,

If this you think is a sin, then how is it different from ruining our lives like we don't deserve to live the World your in? this is not a crime or something. This is something, that I call a gift.

We don't want to be part of the society that crashes people dreams, do we? So please before dropping the line, ask yourself? Is it worth it? did i make a difference? am i really this mean of making other people suffer because I can't accept for what they really are?  

Stop this discrimination and stop the hate. It just makes you even worse than this gay talking to you.

Thank You.

Yan ang laman ng video na ikinalat sa campus sa tulong ng IT department. It's hard for me to face the entire campus with no assurance of what will happen after, but I'm glad jek never left me and supported me all through out.

Because of the video, I gained more popularity and more friends. I received priceless supports coming the Management, the Faculty, Departments and students, even Gays and Lesbians who hid themselves for a long time. I was also able kick Precious Ladroma out of her throne and fill in her seat. Now, I am the Editor-in-Chief of the School Paper, and I swear I've got billions of ideas waiting for it.

One day, nagka emergency meeting kami sa council so maaga pa sa alas sais, nasa school na ako. 

Around 8 natapos yung meeting, at dahil 9 pa yung pasok ko, I decided to stay muna sa bench, where Jek and I used to hang out and relax. Bumili muna ako ng sandwich before going, para makapag almusal narin.

"hey" napalingon ako and saw Tyler, standing in front me. Halos malunok ko ang buong sandwich sa pagkabigla. This is the first time he talked to me in almost 3weeks. 

I nodded.

"how you holdin' up?"

"everything's perfect..." sagot ko.

"good for you..."

"thank you..." tumayo ako at naglakad palayo. I don't know what he's up to, but it will be better for me to just stay away from him. He's all troubles.

"I cant take this anymore." sigaw nito.. Napatigil ako, hindi ako lumingon pero napayuko.  "Lord, what the fuck is he doing?" bulong ko,

"I tried so damn hard to follow what you asked me to, to stay the hell away from you.. because.. because.. I know...."

"Stop... the last thing i want to hear from you tyler, are your lies. " pangputol ko sa anumang nais sana nitong sabihin.

"God, why can't you see it? Of all people, it's you, who should know what I really feel. Those were just words..." pasigaw nitong parang desperado. I turned around and looked him in the eyes. Jesus Christ, he really looks sad and fucking miserable. "this is just another part of his game, suck it up Alex" says my mind.

"your words and lies caused me my life..."

"what can i do to make it up to you.."

"I dont know.. maybe, get-the-fuck-out-of-my-life will do, or never-ever-talk-to-me-again, or perhaps, just perhaps, start-me-with-the-truth can somehow make me forget.. " sabay tawa ko, at tinuloy na ang paglakad palayo. I didnt know but that thing just happened back there made me smile, real smile that I lost for a few weeks. Sigh! "He's coming back Lex, better be ready..." says my mind.

Friday.

Habang nag kukuwentuhan kami ni jek sa loob ng klase whilst waiting for Engr Guengco, napasulyap ako sa bintana and saw tyler and his friends. Pansin ko ang pag iba ng itsura ni ty, he had his hair cut, and nag ayos na ito. God, para lang yung unang pagkikita namin. He's back on track. I can see it. He looks gorgeously and incredibly fucking hot. Habang papasok ito sa kuwarto, parang tumigil na naman ang mundo ko at umulan ng mga pulang rosas. I heard angels singing to one harmony, and butterflies flying all over him, making him the most handsome supernatural being I ever laid my eyes on.  He's smiling like a god of thunder and his eyes are like inviting me to his own kingdom. "oh tyler..." bulong ng aking isipan.

Inalis ko agad ang tingin ko rito at binaling kay jek, pansin ko ang pigil na tawa ni jek na parang ramdam na ramdam ang pagkahulog ng brief ko sa parating na si tyler.

"hey" isang boses sa aking kaliwa. Alam ko kung kanino ito galing. Hindi ako lumingon.

"what do you need?"

"is there something on my face that you tried so damn hard to resist staring at? sorry, but I am not..

"Gay, right? you're not gay! Believe me, I've heard of it before.." sarkastiko kong sagot, hindi parin ako lumilingon.

"No, I was about to say, I am not that easy to get, you gotta work a lil harder than just staring at me. Why not you keep my number and let's see what happens next"  sabay abot nito sakin ng isang papel na nakalista ang number niya. I crumpled the paper and threw it away. 

"Not interested." sagot ko. He chuckeled. 

"we both know your lips don't lie, we both know how your lips felt like when you brushed them off against mine" para akong pinukpok sa ulo nang isang bloke ng yelo. god, hindi ba ito nagiisip at maraming nakakarinig? Ang kapal!

"sorry, I can't remember..."

"let me make you remember how it feels like" sabay lapit nang mukha nito sa aking mukha, our lips are again, after a few weeks, an inch away, and his soul's trying to break out an enter mine. Holy Mary Magdalene, napatigil ako sa ginawa nito, I can smell his scent that I have been craving for so long. I can smell his life and his happiness. Aargh! This can't be...tinulak ko ito palayo..

"you're crazy.. sigaw ko.

Tumawa lang ito at umupo na sa kanyang puwesto sa harapan, kasunod nang mga tumatawa rin nitong mga kaibigan. I looked at jek at di rin maitatago ang paghalakhak nito. I rolled over my eyes at di ko ito pinansin.

And things went back like the way they were. Tyler began opposing my ideas again like he's getting his long lost spotlight. He makes it even more challenging and people started to shout out loud like they miss this game. They would agree to my point at first but when he says his side?, they'll change their minds like a bunch of fucking gold diggers switching their bets to tyler. He's using his charm again, and I don't know, it is irritating but I kind of liked it too. I smiled inside.

Lunch Break.,

"hey guys, can we join?"  si Joy. I looked at her and she's smiling. I gave her a poker face and blank stare but she never took her smile back like she understands me and knows what I am feeling. She's with his friends and of course, the arrogant jerk's one of them, holding a tray of his food.

"Oo naman" sagot ni jek. Umupo ang mga 'to sa aming table at ang iba'y binuhat ang isa pang table para idugtong at mapalawak ang puwesto. Ty sat in front of me, he's smiling like a demented pervert while putting down his tray on the table. Yumuko ako at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain. Joy started to talk at nakipagkuwentuhan kay jek. Nag-aaya ito nang house party tomorrow sa place daw nila, sumang ayon naman agad itong si jek without even asking for my permission.

"di ba, sama tayo bukas.." tanong sakin ni jek sabay siko sa aking tagiliran.

"ah eh.. I need to go back to Manila tomorow, ikaw nalang." palusot ko.

"ano naman gagawin mo don? sige na..masaya yun, di ba guys?" lahat naman tumango at sumang-ayon.

"eh kasi.. may gagawin ako bukas, May meeting pala kami sa council, tapos yung...yung sa school paper.." pagdadahilan ko

"lex, I think you're forgetting something, I am part of the council too, at wala tayong meeting bukas..." singit ni Joy. Namula ako sa hiya.

"ah basta, hindi ako puwede bukas...next time.." pilit kong pagtanggi, then i heard Ty giggling.

"nakakatawa ba yang kinakain mo?" tanong ko.

"you won't go because I am there, because you're afraid you might lose your control and kiss me again, you're afraid you're gonna lock us in my room and sleep in my bed again, you're afraid that something might come back, something you've been avoiding and keeping away from you all along..." he chuckeled even more.

"dude, what I think is, umakyat sa ulo mo ang yelo ng iniinom mo at sobrang presko mo na naman. It's not funny, it's irritating. The truth is,  i don't want you near me so please stick to what we agreed on, keep the distance.." sigaw ko, hindi ko na tinapos ang kinakain ko at tumayo na ako.

"jek, wait kita sa library.." paalam ko kay jek. Tumango lang ito.

But I didnt go to the library! baka sumunod pa itong mga 'to. I sent a text to jek and said, kita nalang kami maya sa next p class. I went out of the school, sa mga tambayan ng ibang estudyante. I lit up a stick of cigarette and let go of what I'm feeling right now. Just when everything's okay, and everythings on my favor, here he goes again, trying to make me... make me.. well, i don't actually know what he's trying to bring up. I just don't like him this way, irritating and arrogant! 

"I didn't know you smoke.. you know it's bad for your health" bati ng isang boses.

"just when I'm stressed with something.." sagot ko rito.

"I'm really glad you joined the council, big help." sagot nito. He's Andrew Garcia. The president of student council, 4th year BS Accountancy. He's really good looking, sporty and intelligent. Like he knows every possible way out of double crossed maze. Genius! Too bad, he's married. "WHY DO ALL THE HOT GUYS ARE MARRIED?" asks my mind.

"Oh please, shut up, if you're talking about jek, it's long way over. You two are best buddies for nicole's sake." says the other side.

"who's nicole?" asks the first one

"duh?! The legal wife? trending sa twitter and facebook. " says the other.

I smiled. These creeps are driving me crazy.Wait, what did this guy just say again? Ahhh.. about me joining in the council.

"Been always my dream to be in the council.." pasartiko kong sagot sabay labas dila na kunwari naduduwal. Napatawa ito. This guy's really hot, like.. hmmmm.. forget it.

"I gotta go, still have my next class.."

"Okay, see you around."

I smiled and waved my hand as I walked back to the school. Naabutan ko si jek nakaupo sa may hallway.

"uy ano ginagawa mo diyan?" tanong

"ah hindi ba mukhang nag aantay ako? sige nagbibilang siguro ng mga dumadaang langgam.." sarkastiko nitong sagot.

"sira ulo..tara na sa room.."

"san ka ba galing? sabi mo sa library ka lang, wala kayang intsik dun."

"haha lumabas lang ako, nag pahangin,"

"nagpahangin oh nagbuga ng hangin.." banat ulit nito.

"ganoon narin iyon..haha"

Same routine happened to our next class. Clashes of our ideas really amuse people, like they are watching two politicians fighting over their votes. Natapos ang klase na walang bukam bibig itong si jek kundi yung house party bukas sa place nila Joy, even while we are driving back home, lagi pa rin nito sinisingit, na pumayag na raw ako,na it's time to loosen up and have fun.

Wala na ako nagawa kundi pumayag nalang para matigil na ito sa pangungulit. Then I saw him grabbed his phone out of his pocket and pressed the keypad like hell as if  he's texting somebody and reporting a crime at talagang nakangiti pa 'to. Hindi ko nalang ito inabala.

Hindi muna ako umuwi pagkarating namin sa aming lugar, nakitambay muna ako kina jek at naki kain, nagluto daw kasi si tita lorna ng pansit. Pumasok kami sa kuwarto ni jek, at nanuod ng AirGear, one of our favorite animes.

After namin kumain, nagtanggal ako ng sapatos at pantalon, umakyat ako sa kama nito para magpahinga. Nagpaalam itong, i-papasok lang sa amin yung car at ipagpapaalam ako kay nay cleng na nandito ako sa bahay nila. I just nodded and gave him they key.

I laid down to his bed, at hindi ko na namalayang nakaidlip pala ako sa pagod. After a few minutes, I heard jek entered back to the room,  pinilit kong minulat ang aking mga mata and saw him half naked, nakatapis lang ng tuwalya, katatapos lang ata nito naligo. He laid beside me, wearing just a boxer short. He held my head and let it rest to his arms. Inaamoy amoy pa nito ang buhok ko sabay tawa ng maliliit.

"jek, I'm really fucking tired. idlip lang ako, wake me up later ah.."

"sige.." tipid na sagot nito. 

Then I fell asleep again. After a few minutes, or hours maybe, I don't fucking know. I heard the door opened. The room's dark but I can see a shadow entering, I'm sure it is a girl. It must be tita lorna.

"tita, ikaw po ba yan?" tanong ko. Hindi ito sumagot, jek's still sleeping and I can hear his snor.

I heard a click and the lights turned on. Holy Crap, a lady carrying a kid is standing in front of us. I looked at jek and What the fuck!? , jek's arm all around me, hugging me and his lips almost touched my neck. Awkward.  No. No. No. Napatayo ako sa gulat, at nagising si Jek.

"Joyce?!" gulat na tanong ni jek.