Unrequited Love

t w e n t y - t w o

Zora

"We're watching horror movies." sabi ko sakanila. Noah was excited, Elijah was okay but, Kenji's pale as fuck.

"Takot ka?" i asked Kenji. He shook his head aggressively.

"F-fuck no. Who the fuck's scared of horror movies?" he said.

"You. Remember when-" tinakpan bigla ni Kenji yung bibig ni Noah.

"Dude, that was a long time ago. I can stand horror movies now." pagyayabang ni Kenji.

"We'll see bro." tatawa tawang sabi ni Elijah. Nagsiupuan na kami sa mga sofa. Tinabi ni Noah si Haru sa tabi niya. Pinagitnaan naman ako ni Elijah at Kenji.

Habang nagsisimula palang yung movie ay naramdaman ko na ang paglapit ni Kenji sakin. Si Elijah naman ay nakapikit ng konti. Noah and Haru doesn't give a shit so i don't have to worry about them too much. May plano na akong gulatin sila Kenji at Elijah kaya nireready ko yung pinakamalakas kong sigaw. As the movie was almost near the jumpscare, bigla akong sumigaw ng sobrang lakas dahilan ng pag-echo ng boses ko sa band room. Napalipad si Haru sa kung saan saan. Sinubukan itong habulin ni Noah. Kenji yelled and grabbed my arm while Elijah was just mute but grabbed my other arm as well.

"Scaredy cats. Damn guys. Masyado ata kayong busy sa kakanood ng mga drama kaya di niyo kinaya horror movies." tatawa tawang sabi ko.

"You lil shit." Sambit ni Kenji bago niya ako kinotongan sa ulo. I was trying to get out of his grip pero sumali si Elijah para kilitiin ako sa gilid ko. Noah held my feet para na rin makisali dahil natakot din siya sa sigaw ko.

"FUUUCK- BAHAHA LET ME GO FUCKERS! I CAN'T BREATHE!" sigaw ko habang tumatawa na umiiyak.

"This is what you get for scaring us." sabi ni Elijah.

"I knew it was going to happen but i never knew it will be super loud." sabi naman ni Noah habang hawak parin ang mga paa ko.

"And you basically took the hint when i went pale awhile ago. So, yes i hate horror movies to death." sabi naman ni Kenji. They continued what they're doing for like, 3 minutes?

They finally stopped after that. Hindi ako makahinga.

"Let's- *puff* continue the fu- *puff* cking movie." sabi ko habang hinahabol parin ang hininga ko. Nagsiupuan na ulit sila para manood. Gugulatin ko sa ulit sila pero napapagitnaan ako nung dalawa. So, hindi ko nalang ginawa kasi baka matorture ulit ako. Tatayo na sana ako para kumuha ng juice pero pinigilan ako ni Kenji.

"Where you goin' you fucker?" Bulong niya sakin.

"I'm going to get juice." Sabi ko sakanya.

"Please stay here til' the movie's over." He said. Tiningnan ko si Elijah. He was fast asleep. Umayos ako ng pagkakaupo tsaka ko nilagay ang ulo ni Elijah sa balikat ko. Nagulat naman ako nang yakapin niya ako. Napatingin naman ako kay Kenji sakaling napansin niya. He was just looking at Elijah's arms that are wrapped around me. Lumipat naman ang tingin ko kay Noah to ask help but, he was too focused on watching the movie. Hinayaan ko nalang yung nangyayari.

After an hour, natapos na din yung pinapanood namin. It's already 10 pm so we decided to go back to our rooms to sleep. Sinubukan kong gisingin si Elijah pero hindi gumagana yung paggising ko sakanya.

"Just leave him there." Sabi ni Kenji nang makatayo na siya.

"I'm not leaving him here alone. Tulog na kayo, ako nang bahala kay Elijah." Sabi ko sakanya. Tumalikod nalang siya bago lumabas ng band room.

"Gusto mo buhatin natin si Elijah sa kwarto niya?" Noah asked.

"I think we can." Sabi ko naman sakanya. Sinubukan naming buhatin si Elijah.

Nang makarating na kami sa kwarto niya ay agad na namin siyang nilapag sa kama.

"Ang bigat neto. Ano bang kinakain niya?" Sabi ko.

"I don't know. I guess panay ang gym niya kaya ganyan kabigat yan. Anyways, tulog ka na rin." Sabi ni Noah. Tumango nalang ako bago siya umalis. I stayed there for awhile. Umupo ako sa kama ni Elijah. He looks like an angel. Everest looks gorgeous. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit di siya nagustuhan ni Elijah.

I guess being pretty isn't enough for some people. Buti nalang talaga di ako masyadong maganda katulad ng mga model sa instagram.

Babalik na sana ako sa kwarto ko when he spoke.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Everest Maine."

Tumingin ako sakanya. What's the sorry for?

"For what?" I asked. Tumabi ulit ako sakanya. I will try to atleast accompany him. I know the feeling of having these kind of dreams.

"I can't. I can't love you." Sabi niya.

"Why can't you?" I asked again.

"He's just... he's like a brother to me. He's the last person that i'll hurt in this cruel world." He said. Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Si Kenji ba tinutukoy niya?

"Don't be sorry for what's been done, Elijah. You're okay." Sabi ko sakanya.

Nilagyan ko na siya ng kumot bago ako bumalik sa kwarto ko. I can feel his sincerity. Kaya ba naging playboy si Elijah? Para maipakita niya kay Everest na hindi siya interesadong mahalin siya para lang kay Kenji? Then Kenji is just being an asshole towards Elijah for no reason.

But i think Elijah never told him.

—

Nagising ako ng 7 am. I have nothing to do so i decided to take a run. Nagmask ako para di nila ako makilala habang naglalakad papunta sa field na walang katao tao. Pagdating ko sa field ay nagpahangin muna ako saglit. The wind is just peaceful. I just love how nature works.

"What are you doing here?" Someone asked. Not that voice. Please tell me it's not him.

"Why are you here?" I asked back.

"Here to ask you something. Is he really your boyfriend?"

Anong sasabihin ko? Akala ko yun na yung huling araw na makikita ko siya. Pero bakit parang lagi parin kaming pinagtatagpo?

"Yes. Please leave me alone." Sabi ko sakanya. Tatayo na sana ako para tumakbo pero hinawakan niya ang mga kamay ko. He faced me towards him and hugged me.

A hug that's not threatening. It's a hug that gives you comfort. Yung comfort na naramdaman ko nung una ko siya nakita. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bigla nalang ako umiyak.

"Harriet, i'm really sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Knowing that you lost people whom you called home. I should've just been there for you as a friend. But, i never took advantage of you. I really did love you. I promise i will change my ways this time. Pero hindi na kita pipilitin na bumalik sakin. This will also be the last time that you'll see me. I've realized that my kid needs a father. A good father. I'm letting you go. I just want you happy at this point." He said. I was just there, crying. Didn't know what to do.

"Please know that i'm thankful for you being there for me. I abused the love that you gave me. Goodbye, Harriet. I love you." He said those as his last words. Umalis na siya sa pagkakayakap niya. Tumalikod na siya tsaka umalis. My knees were weak so i sat down the bleachers. I was just breaking down so bad. I don't feel like running.

Before i could even move, someone covered my eyes and hugged me from behind.

"Shh. I'm here. Don't break down too much." He said.