STELLJUN Stories

Happy pill

He just got out of the shower, dried his hair, then flopped face down onto his bed. It had been a long day and all he wanted now was sleep. He tried not to think of the songs he's currently working on or needs to finish. He just wanted one thing at that exact moment. Sleep.

Even with the pandemic, their schedule has been very hectic with several projects and performances lined up. He is grateful that they are still able to work but sometimes he can't help but wish that he could just go away and disappear for a day or two. He's just too tired. But whenever he thinks of his group members and A'Tin he quickly flushes out those thoughts away.

He was slowly drifting off to sleep when his phone rang. He planned on ignoring it hoping that whoever is calling will give up, but the caller seems to be persistent cos his phone just kept on ringing.

Still lying face down in bed, he reached for his phone and tapped the answer button. He didn't bother checking the caller ID as he already has an idea who it is. For the past six months or so, it has been his routine to call him at night, just small talk and usually just to say good night. He was used to it by now.

"Yo," he greets the caller.

"Ang kalat mo kanina" says the person on the other end.

"What are you talkin' 'bout?" he answered while trying to remember what it is that he was referring to.

"Ay may amnesia?"

"Stell, I'm tired. If you're not gonna tell me, then let me sleep."

"I said, kalat mo kanina."

He smirked and closed his eyes thinking, bala ka dyan.

"Pau... oy...tulog ka na?"

"Vester, I'm really tired. Just tell me what it is, please..." He normally call him Stell but when he's serious, Stell becomes "Vester".

"Yung ice cream, remember now?"

He slowly opened his eyes and laughed as he realized what Stell was talking about. "Oh, ano naman problema dun?"

"Eh ikaw kasi kung makatingin ka kanina, parang iba. Ano ba kasi iniisip mo na isusubo?"

He smirked and rolled onto his back. "Wala... alam mo na yun."

"Itatanong ko ba kung alam ko. Ano nga?"

"Ah basta, I'm sure yun din iniisip mo."

"Hindi ah! Ice cream nga eh, di ba?"

"Ooy, defensive! Oh, pano mo nasabing hindi, if we're not thinking of the same thing?"

He heard laughter from the other end and grinned to himself.

"Hay, sige na nga, let's agree to agree."

"Di ba agree to disagree yun?"

"Eh sabi mo pareho tayo ng iniisip, so agree to agree dapat."

"Hahaha, Stell...stop making me laugh at mawawala antok ko."

"Pau, it's all part of the job. Di ba, I'm your happy pill?"

"Ha?! Pinagsasasabi mo. Happy pill of the group, not exclusive to me."

"Same same... pikachu peek a boo boo doo be doo be doo ba..." He could hear him do his rap part from their latest song release but with some lines replaced making him laugh.

"Hahaha...hay ang kulit mo...nawala na tuloy antok ko. Wait lang..." He sat up and turned to his bedside table in search for his wireless earbuds.

He propped his back onto two pillows, connected his earbuds and placed the phone on the bedside table.

"Pau...?"

"Mm?"

"Gusto mo hanapin ko antok mo?"

"Hahaha! Sira".

"Sorry if nawala antok mo, I'm sure pagod ka."

"Okay lang, pagod ka rin naman, all five of us actually. But since kasalanan mo, panindigan mo."

"Ha? Panindigan agad? Wala pa namang nangyayari satin ah..."

He could hear Stell laughing.

"Luko luko ka talaga. I meant kwentuhan mo ako or usap tayo until I fall asleep."

"Ah, easy. Kahit hanggang umaga pa kung gusto mo. Kaw pa, lakas mo sakin."

"Talaga lang ha?"

"Opkors". He had a feeling Stell is smiling.

They were quite for awhile. It wasn't an awkward kind of quiet. Just a pause where both were waiting for each other to speak.

"Oh, kwento ka na..." he says to break the silence.

"Once upon a time..." Stell started.

He laughed and laid back down in bed while listening to Stell's animated voice as he tells him one of his funny stories. He didn't remember what time the call ended or what time he fell asleep. All he knows is that he feels much better this morning.

He picked up his phone to see a text message from Stell.

Stell:
Gusto mo mag breakfast dito sa bahay?

He couldn't help but smile as he started typing a reply. Happy pill indeed.