Rewritten

Pride and Chance

Heeseung's farewell party was bittersweet for everyone. They're sad that they won't have a mentor and Kuya to look after them but they're all so happy that he graduated with flying colors and would be able to work at a prestigious company in Europe.
All of them shared laughter over funny stories they had with Heeseung; made little speeches of thanks and well-wishes for him; laughed at Jay who cried despite denying it aggressively; took pictures together; and hugged Heeseung one by one.

After dinner, Sunoo and Sunghoon were left to clean the cottage since the others already did the preparations earlier. Both remained quiet during the whole cleaning up.
Right after, Sunoo stepped out of the cottage to go back to their villa and Sunghoon ran before him.

"Sunoo... wait..." Sunghoon called Sunoo who just kept on walking. Sunghoon caught up with Sunoo and grabbed his hand.

"Ano?!" Sunoo snapped at Sunghoon.

"Wait lang... can we talk?" Sunghoon pleaded.

"No, busy ako." Sunoo turned his back and went ahead to their villa. Sunghoon couldn't help but to swallow his pride and just followed Sunoo, feeling defeated.

The two entered the villa right after the other and saw that the boys were gathered around the center table in the living room playing UNO cards.

"Hay naku! Please lang." Jungwon complained.

"Di ko nga sinasadya luv." Jay chuckled.

"Di sinasadya pero tawa ng tawa."

"Natawa lang ako saglit-" Jay said as he was cut off when he saw Sunoo sat between Jungwon and Ni-ki. 

"Walang pikunan," Jake laughed.

"Nakakasira talaga ng relasyong tong laro na to." Heeseung added, smiling.

"Eto kasi si Wonie... pikon." Jay pouted.

"Hindi ako napikon sa laro, napikon ako sa tawa mo!"

"Sorry na nga... natawa lang ako..." Jay grinned.

Sunghoon who was sitting on the couch, looking over the boys playing, heard the banter between Jungwon and Jay and couldn't help himself thinking about what happened a few minutes ago with Sunoo. He was almost out of his patience and before he could calm down, he butted in with a little edge on his voice, "Nag-sorry naman na pala, Jungwon."

"Luh- kasali ka ba?" Jungwon snapped back. Sunoo sensed what Sunghoon was trying to imply and his pride couldn't hold him back as well.

"Di porke't nag-sorry na eh okay na." Sunoo commented. Sunghoon knew where this was going so he faced Sunoo.

"So, alangan namang kelangan pang lumuhod ni Jay."

"Why not?"

"Wow, ganon ba kabigat kasalanan ni Jay para kelangan nyang gawin yun? Unforgivable ba?" Sunghoon snarled. The rest of the boys were just looking at them, unable to gauge what's happening or how to control the situation.

"Alam dapat ni Jay kung gano kabigat kasalanan nya. And alam nya din dapat kung anong gagawin para ma-accept ni Jungwon yung apology nya."

"Oo alam ni Jay yun kaya nga kinakausap nya si Jungwon ng maayos. Eh Si Jungwon yung ayaw makinig eh. Ayaw makipag-usap."

"So, kasalanan ni Jungwon? Kasalanan nya na ngayon?" Sunoo clapped back.

"Di yan yung point ko." Sunghoon whose voice was slightly quivering, "My point is kung willing and open lang sana si Jungwon makinig di sana naintindihan nya kung san nanggagaling si Jay. Eh wala eh, mataas ang pride nya eh. Ayaw."

"Pride na nga lang meron si Jungwon, pati yun kukunin pa ni Jay? Ano? Kinuha nya na lahat, pati yun kukunin nya pa?"

"Ano naman ang gagawin ni Jay sa pride ni Jungwon??? Di pride ang hinihingi nya, chance! Chance na magkausap sila at magkaintindihan."

"Wow... so chance pala ang hinihingi ni Jay? And as always si Jungwon na naman magbibigay. Si Jungwon na naman iintinde?"

"Anong as always???" Sunghoon's voice slowly rose, "Kelan pa nagbigay ng chance si Jungwon kay Jay?"

"Sa umpisa pa lang, nagbigay na si Jungwon ng chance kay Jay." Sunoo answered without backing down, "Umpisa pa lang! Hindi nya yun basta-basta binibigay kung kani-kanino kasi takot sya na baka masayang lang ulit yun. Takot sya na baka tulad ng ginawa ng tatay nya, iwanan din sya."

"So may may trust issue si Jungwon, kasalanan ba yun ni Jay?"

"Di nga kasalanan ni Jay pero ginawa nya exactly yung ayaw mangyari ni Jungwon."

"Kaya nga gustong makipag-usap ni Jay para magkaintindihan sila ni Jungwon!!" Sunghoon said as his frustration showed in his voice.

"Para ano pa?? Para iwan lang ulit?! Wag na!" Sunoo almost shouted back.

"Ummmm... guys, di naman ganun yung issue namin ni Jungwon. Nabigyan ko kasi sya ng 4+ na card-" Jay interrupted, as dense as he can be.

"Tumahimik ka please..." Jungwon whispered as he pinched Jay's side.

Both Sunghoon and Sunoo paused because of Jay's interruption. Sunghoon calmed down and sighed while Sunoo kept on glaring at him.

"Ang hirap..." Sunghoon leaned back on the couch and rested his head on the back rest then he continued, "ang hirap humingi ng tawad sayo, Sunoo. Kahit yun na lang."

"Bakit? Ako ba pinagbigyan mo? Pinagbigyan mo ba ko nung araw na yun na sana makasama ka kahit saglit muna bago ka umalis ng hindi nagpapaalam?" Sunoo said, close to tears.

"I tried..." Sunghoon straigtened up and looked as Sunoo, "But I couldn't. It was hard for me."

"So you chose to walk away because it was hard for you to say goodbye." Sunoo answered as he tried to control the lump in his throat.

"That's why I came back... to make things right... sana..."

"Then what? Paaasahin mo ulit-"

"Hindi kita pinaasa." Sunghoon cut Sunoo off, but this time sadness in his eyes and voice were showing, "Yes, I left but you have no idea how hard I fought to stay."

"Right..." Sunoo sarcastically smiled, "Sorry, you're right di mo ko pinaasa. Pero sinanay mo ko. Actually, mas okay pa sigurong umasa ako para I wouldn't have to blame anyone but myself... that would've been ON ME. Pero hindi eh, sinanay mo ko. SInanay mo ko sa atin. And after you did, iniwan mo ko. And you fought hard to stay? How would I know eh umalis ka lang bigla?"

"Kaya nga bumalik ako... Sunoo naman..." Sunghoon pleaded, eyes brimming with painful tears.

"I'm tired... Pagod na ko Sunghoon." Sunoo smiled, then he looked at the others who remained quiet, "ummmm... sorry guys... t-tulog na ko."

***