NAMON and MEWGULF and BRIGHTWIN BL• A JAR OF STARS

Chapter 48

GELO’S POV:

I’ve been noticing something different about Cleane’s actions and gestures right after I came back from the restroom. He can’t be drunk. I mean he can. But a few glasses of grape juice can’t make him drunk.

I don’t really drink much tonight. That is for me to be clear-headed in case of unexpected circumstances. And I’m driving, too. It’s my responsibility to keep Cleane and Kuya Abcdef safe.

But Cleane on the other hand, seems to be a bit more ‘out of himself’. His smiles are weird, yet he remains to be cute. But there’s just something in its curviness that tells me there’s something wrong. His eyes are a bit closed, too. And his face is a bit reddish.

“Cleane, are you alright?” I ask him softly as I hold his shoulder even though I clearly see he’s not.

“Mhmmm,” he hums as he giggles cutely. Yet not himself.

“Did you just drink a bottle of Handuay Ice?” I ask.

He shows his forefinger and thumb, gesturing a small amount. “Konti lang naman po,” he says in a much higher tone and cute enunciation.

Kuya Abcdef gets a hold of Cleane’s glass of grape juice and takes a smell at it. His reaction says it all. “Nilagyan niya nga ng Handuay Ice iniinom niya,” says Kuya Abcdef and returns the glass on the table. “Bunso, ba’t mo naman ginawa ‘yun?” Kuya Abcdef adds softly while he’s holding Cleane’s back.

Cleane looks at him with his head appearing to be heavy. “Wala lang po, Kuya.” Then he giggles.

“Cleane, you shouldn’t have done that,” I say softly as well. “I’m sorry I didn’t take good care of you.”

He slowly turns to me and his head is tilted a bit to the side. “Hmmm?” Then he giggles. “Ang pogi- pogi mo talaga. Alam mo, crush kita,” he continues as he squeezes my cheeks.

I can’t deny the fact that his drunken state is still a cute scene for me. He tells me I’m handsome and he has a crush on me, too. In front of all these people we know.

I then smile at him brightly. “Tama na ‘yang inom mo, Bhe ha,” softly, I say. “Lasing ka na kasi.”

“Bunso, tama Bhebhe mo. Tama na ‘yan.” Kuya Abcdef rubs Cleane’s back. Then he gets the glass from the table in front of Cleane. He keeps it away from him.

Cleane whines like a baby after he sees what Kuya Abcdef did. He tries to reach for it but he can’t. “Aaahhhhh, gushto ko pang ubushin yun ehhhhh. . . Kuyaaa, balik mo shakin yun, pleashh?” Then he turns to me. “Pogiiii, inagaw shakin ni Kuya yung ayun ohhhh,” he says and points at the glass.

I smile at his cuteness and for calling me ‘Pogi’. He’s so adorable. I’m yearning for more of this. Is it bad, though?

“I think kailangan na nating bumalik sa apartment, Bhe, para makapagpahinga ka na,” I tell him.

“Mhmmm.” All of them agree. I can see that they care for Cleane, too. We have just started for like thirty minutes ago and I thought they’ll stop us for leaving early. But they do understand. I really love these guys and girl so much.

“Pero gushto ko pa ditoooo. . . Mashaya dito ehhh,” he whines again as he shakes my arm.

“Bunso?” Cleane turns to Kuya Abcdef. “Balik na tayo sa apartment, okay? Para makatulog ka na. Para makapagpahinga ka na,” he continues. He then looks at me. “Gelo, ako na’ng sasama kay Cleane pabalik sa apartment ha.”

I respond immediately. “No, Kuya Abcdef. Let me do it po. Stay here at para makasama mo pa po si Kuya Gav. Ako na po bahala kay, Cleane.”

“Ikaw na shashama shakin, pogi? Hindi mo ko iiwan?” says Cleane so innocently.

I smile at him as I hold his back with one hand to keep his balance. With my other hand, I squeeze his cheek. “Oo, Bhe. Hinding-hinding-hindi kita iiwan.”

“Awwww,” he expresses and claps his hands together. “Mahal mo ‘ko nuh?” he asks.

“Oo, sobra kitang mahal. Mahal na mahal,” I answer with all my heart. It earns an ‘awww’ from them.

“How sweet. . .” Kitty expresses as she’s fond of our intimacy while she’s holding Kuya Kennedy’s arm.

Cleane then taps the tip of my nose softly and I face to him again. “Mahal na mahal din kita, pogi. Shana boyfriend kita,” he says then he falls asleep.

I can almost tear up out of joy because of those words that Cleane uttered. It’s extremely delightful hearing it straight from him and to take into consideration that drunken people tend to be more honest. Especially with how they truly feel inside them.

Kuya Abcdef helps me carry Cleane all the way to my car. I tell him that he can ask Kuya Gav to drive him back to our apartment and he immediately affirms it.

I have already bid goodbye to them as well, especially to Kuya Gav. They wish us safety and to handle Cleane with care.

While in the car, Cleane is still asleep. I intently drive the car fast enough to reach our apartment as soon as possible. We did reach it safely. I then carry him all the way to my room, piggy- back style.

I choose to let him stay in my room. My bed’s big enough to fit the both of us, and I lay him over it gently.

“Nashan tayo?” says Cleane, eyes half-closed, still drunken and lying. He awakens maybe because of the movement I made.

“Nasa apartment room ko, Bhe. Pupunasan muna kita para makatulog na tayo ha,” I reply as I stand near him.

He smiles fondly at me. “Mhmmm. . . Shalamat, Bhe. . . Alam mo, crush kita nung elementary pa. . . Kaya lang hindi ko mashabi shayo kashi hindi mo naman ako pinapanshin nun eh. . .” he says and then laughs.

My eyes widen and my heart starts to race because of his confession. “Totoo ba, Bhe?” I say trying to hide my excitement because I want to hear from him more.

“Oo syempre. . . . Crush kita shimula nuuuuungg. . . Kindergarten pa tayo? Tandaan mo nung binigyan mo ko cupcake?” Then he laughs again. “Alam mo, nagpurshige talaga akong maging matalino para makilala mo ‘ko. Kahit di tayo pershonal na nag- uushap. Papanshin kashi talaga ako sha’yo nung elementary eh. . . Kaya lang parang di mo naman ako love. . . pangit ko kashi eh,” he says as tears are starting fall from his drowsy eyes.

I sit beside him to wipe his tears. Then I hold his face. Somehow, I’m also on the verge of crying. His confession means a huge thing to me. He has loved for a long time now, too. Like I am. His love for me started at the same day I loved him. “Shhh, little angel. Hindi ka pangit. You’re beautiful,” I say softly.

He smiles yet his tears continue to fall. I don’t know if he notices it. “Ba’t di mo ko pinapanshin noon?” he asks sadly.

“Because I thought you never notice me, too. At kagaya mo eh takot din akong matukso ako. Matukso ka. I could never forgive myself if they hurt you,” I say as the tears have successfully run down from my eyes.

“I love you shinsh elementary pa,” he says.

“I love you more since the day I knew you, little angel,” I reply. Then she falls asleep again with a smile. I ruffle his hair as he sleeps.

“I will never ever let you go, Cleane Xyz Cortez- del Castillo. I will keep you forever.”

I then look for a small towel to clean his body. But I don’t have any. And so, I get two clean clothes from my closet and a piece of pajama pants.

I then get a basin of warm water and dip one of my clothes in it. Then, I go to Cleane on the bed.

“Bhe, I’ll be taking off your shirt so I can clean you, okay?” I ask for his permission and I don’t expect any reply.