STELLJUN Stories

Trouble in paradise

"Stell, hear me out muna. Please?"

Stell kept mum, pretending to be busy with his phone. He's sitting on the couch and hasn't moved since Pablo came over that morning.

"Baby, please look at me."

"Don't call me that!" Stell snapped.

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't say no. But it's not what you think."

"Then what is it? What do you want me to think Pau?"

Pablo sat on the other end of the couch, dejected.

"You're going to take a girl with us on our work slash vacation trip, and you want me to think there's nothing going on between you two? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?"

"She's just tagging along, sasabay lang since she knows one of the staff. Besides may kasama naman tayo na iba. Di naman exclusive to SB19 lang." Pablo tried explaining again.

"Yes, pero yung iba ang kasama nila their other halves, their jowas. So iisipin ng tao na jowa mo rin sya. And that's what I would think too!"

"She's just a friend and you know that."

"Right. I don't even know if I should believe that or not."

"Stell naman."

"If may sinama ba ako na hindi natin ka group at di rin natin common friend, what would you think? I'm sure mag-seselos ka rin di ba?"

"Yes, but it's different."

"Different how?!" Stell exclaimed.

"You guys knew about her already. Naikwento ko na sya noon pa. You've even met her before."

Stell paused and stared at Pablo. "Wait, the past few days that you've been busy, were you with her?"

Pablo was silent.

"I see." Stell smiled bitterly. "I think I know where this is going. Alam mo Pau, if you wanted to break up with me, you could have just told me. Madali naman ako makaintindi. Kaw na mismo may sabi witty ako di ba? I can take a hint. Sana sinabi mo nalang. Wag naman ganito." He said in a faint voice and teary eyes.

"Stell.."

"Stop saying my name!" Stell shouted as tears burned his eyes and his lower lip trembled. He tried to choke back his tears but couldn't stop them from falling.

"Baby, please don't cry." Pablo moved closer, got on his knees and held Stell's hand. "We're not breaking up. Okay?"

"Says the guy who just told his boyfriend that he's taking his ex-girlfriend to a vacation."

"You make it sound so bad. This is why I didn't wanna tell you cos you'd jump to conclusions."

"So kasalanan ko pa ngayon?" Stell pulled his hands away and wiped the tears from his cheeks. "You avoided me and now I found out you've been with her, ano gusto mo isipin ko?"

"I'm sorry. Yes, I was with her but only to comfort her. She's going through a breakup."

"Comfort? What kind of comforting do you need to do to stay away from me for two days? Does comforting her include sleeping with her?"

"No! She's not like that."

"Of course not. She's perfect. I guess you're just waiting till she gets over this one and then she'll take you back. Is that the plan?"

"No! You're my boyfriend and I love you." Pablo grabbed his hands again and squeezed them. "But, she's a dear friend and she needs me."

"Why you? Wala ba siyang ibang kaibigan?"

Pablo shrugged. "I don't know. Nasanay na siguro siya that I am there for her when she's going through stuff like this."

"Buti pa ex-girlfriend, may nag comfort, sa boyfriend wala. Maybe I should go to my ex too for comfort? Let's see how you'll feel."

Pablo grabbed his arms. "Don't you dare do that."

"See?! Sinasabi ko pa lang galit ka na agad? But don't worry that won't happen. I am not like that. I don't go around begging an ex for comfort."

Pablo sighed. "Okay, how about this, I'll talk to her and tell her she needs to keep her distance from us while we're there. Would that be enough?"

"What?! Why don't you just tell her that she can't come with us?"

"Because I already said yes."

"Because you already said yes. Do you hear yourself? I know dati pa that you can't say no to her. Pero akala ko naka move on ka na. I'm your boyfriend now. You should at least consider my feelings."

"That's why I'm telling you now."

"What's the use of telling me now when you've already made your decision?"

"I know. I'm sorry baby. It won't happen again. It just happened that way. I couldn't say no. She's been a friend for a long time, even before I met you. It's like you and Josh di ba. You do favors for each other cos you've known each other for a long time."

"This is different Pau! She's your ex girlfriend. I have a valid reason to be jealous of her. While Josh is not my ex. You wouldn't be jealous of Josh, di ba?" Stell asked exasperatedly.

"No, of course not. Kay Ken pa maybe."

"W-what?! What does Ken have to do with us?"

"Well cos you seem close these days."

"See? Ang bilis mo mag selos kahit walang basehan. Tapos ako, I have every right to be jealous and you would just say, 'please try to understand'? And don't you dare turn this around on me! Ken and I are just good friends."

"I know. I'm sorry. Just please." Pablo grabbed his hands again. "Stell, baby, just this once. Please. It won't happen again. I swear."

"This is exhausting Pau. We're getting nowhere. Kahit ano pang explaination mo I wouldn't understand. But if you insist, fine, go ahead. Di naman kita mapipigilan, di ba? Sino ba naman ako. Do whatever you want to do." He yanked his hands from Pablo's grasp and stood up. "I'll try not to get in your way."

"Stell please..."

"Lock the door on your way out." Stell turned and walked into his bathroom, locking the door.