The Light Before Dawn (BxB)

Chapter 31

"That's the shop, right there."

Nang makapagpark siya sa tapat nito ay agad na kaming lumabas.

"Why are you still here? Go home! I don't want you near me." He irritatingly said.

"Okay." Tignan lang natin kung may tutulong sayo dyan sa loob.

Hindi ako umalis, hinihintay ko siya na lumabas. Parang hindi mo kilala ang mga kaibigan natin para ibilin ka sa kanila. Masyadong tarantado ang mga iyon hindi ka pa nasanay.

Nasa harapan ko na siya ngayon pero tinignan ko lang siya. What now, Benjamin?

"Samahan mo ako sa loob, ayaw nila akong kausapin." Hindi ko siya pinansin at nilagpasan ko lang siya na parang naghahanap ng masasakyan. Isang tawag pa, Benj. Gusto ko lang magpakipot ng kaonti.

"Lucas!" Narinig kong tawag niya. I didn't react immediately. I missed that. I missed him calling me by my name. "Ihahatid na kita pauwi samahan mo lang ako sa loob." He added.

"Kiss muna." I said out of nowhere. Nakatanggap naman ako ng sapak sa braso saka niya ako hinatak sa loob.

"Hi, babe!" Bati sa'kin ni Pinky saka ako nito niyakap. He's been like this since then. Isa siya sa mga creative stuff sa kasal ni Dylan at Sam kaya hindi na siya ganon kaiba sa amin. Maliban lang kay Jayden dahil medyo ilang ito sa kaniya dahil sa kaniya may gusto itong si Pinky.

"Benjamin, this is Pinky. Pinky si Benjamin."

Nagbatian silang dalawa at saka sinimulan ang fitting. Nakaupo lang ako sa upuan sa gilid habang naghihintay sa kanila na matapos.

"Galing dito si Ellie kahapon, nabanggit niya ba sa'yo?"

"Really? She did not mention it. Ano ang ginawa niya rito?"

"Nagpaalter ng damit para sa kasal. Tinanong pa nga kung nagagawi ka rito."

"Okay, I'll just message her later."

"Bakit hindi pa ngayon? Ikaw din."

Tumawa ako rito at muli ay iginawi ang tingin kay Benjamin na nasa harapan ng salamin, nakatingin sa akin.

Agad niya akong inirapan at saka ginawi ang tingin kay Pinky. Nag-usap pa sila nang kaonti at tumulak na rin kami pagkatapos nito.

We are now heading towards my condo. Wala kaming ibang ingay na naririnig dahil hindi naman niya binukas ang kanyang speaker.

"Who's Ellie?" He asked out of nowhere.

Tinignan ko lang siya saka siya nginitian. My Benjamin's jealous huh? Hayaan mo ikaw pa rin naman.

"What's with the look? I'm just asking you!"

"She's a friend." Matipid kong sagot.

"Iyon na 'yun? Tell me something about her!" Saka niya ibinalik ang tingin sa akin.

"She's the twin's cousin. You both have the same attitude you know. Parehas kayong mapang-asar kaya lang ako ang puntirya hindi tulad mo na si Jayden at Chloe. Masungit din madalas pero mas masungit ka pa rin." Then I laugh. He gave me a death glare that's why I shifted my gaze back on the road, I might die because of that.

"Where do you want to eat?" He asked of out nowhere.

"I'm good, Benj." I softly said. "Hatid mo nalang ako sa condo para makapagpahinga ka. Kauuwi mo lang hindi ba?"

Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko kaya naman hindi ko na siya pinilit pa. Muli ay itinuon ko ang aking atensiyon sa daan saka ko namalayan ang mabagal na pagmamaneho nito ng sasakyan at saka ito huminto sa restaurant kung saan kami unang kumain na dalawa.

"Labas!" He said the moment he stopped the car.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa dahil ito naman talaga ang gusto kong mangyari. Siya lang ang iniisip ko kanina dahil mukhang puyat ang itsura nito. Ngumiti nalang ako sa kaniya nang makababa kami bago tumungo sa loob ng kainan.

"Anong order mo?" He asked me without giving me a look.

"Kahit ano nalang, libre mo kaya ikaw na ang bahala." Sagot ko rito at nagtipa ng mensahe kay Ellieanna dahil sa sinabi ni Pinky.

Sinipa niya ako sa ilalim ng lamesa kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Ubusin mo pa ang pasensiya ko at iiwanan kita mag-isa rito." Masungit nitong sabi sa akin. I gave him a confused look and then I saw that he's staring at my phone. "Go fuck yourself! I don't even know what I'm doing here anyway." Then he stood up.

Fuck!

I followed him outside the restaurant. Nang maabutan ko siya ay saka ako nagsalita.

"She's our friend, Benjamin. Walang kahit anong mayroon sa amin."

"I don't care, okay? Wala akong pakialam kahit sino pa siya." Then he went inside his car. Ang akala ko ay aalis na siya pero bigla niyang ibinaba ang bintana nito.

"Sumakay ka na." Mahinahon niyang sabi.

"Benj, we're just really close...."

"Don't talk please. I told you, I don't care." Saad nito at mabilis na pinaandar ang sasakyan


Nakarating na kami sa harap ng condo, I just fix myself for a short time before I head out.

"Thank you and I'm sorry." He did not respond. He didn't even bothered looking at me.


The night came and all I think about is on how I spend the rest of the day with him. It did not end how I expected it to be, but at least I got the chance to be with him again. 

Kinumusta ni Jayden kung ano 'yung nangyari kanina and I told them everything.

"Well, at least there's a progress, but you'll never know what will happen after you two had a dinner. Napakaseloso talaga ng Benjamin na iyon kahit hindi naman na kayo."

"Why do you even have to say that? Tarantado ka talaga!"

"Para lang mas maramdaman mo kung gaano ka katanga." Then he laughed. "Anyway, I'll do something. Bye!"

"Yeah, fuck you!"


It's already 4 in the morning and I am in my balcony waiting for a little light to come before I head off to my bed. I just starred in the view in front of me and wonder what's Benjamin doing right now. So, without thinking, I took a picture of the view. Then, I send it to him. He immediately saw my message, but he did not bother replying. So, I send another.

"Everything will feel better if you're sitting right next to me, Benj."

I waited for his reply, but just like the first time, all he did was to ignore it. It's fine, I just want you to know that within those times that we were separated, all I can think about is you. How deeply we loved each other and how every sunrise witnessed it. 

I am now in my bed, scanning through the secret Instagram account that I did for him. I just want to find peace again since we almost spend the whole day together. As I am going through our first photo, my phone rang.

Benjamin's calling.

I immediately answer it. Nakaoff ang camera nito habang ang akin naman ay nakatapat sa aking inaantok na mukha.

"Napindot ko, ibaba ko na."

"No, wait!"

"What?"

"Can you sing me to sleep just like you always do?"

"No." Matipid nitong tugon. 

"Okay." Then, I close my eyes without looking if he ended the call or not. "I miss you, Benjamin. I miss you so much."

Then I fell asleep.