CHEERLEADER SERIES - JULIE

Chapter XLIII

"He's still at it?" Zac stepped into the small hut just a few steps away from the beach. They were in his family's beach resort.

Benson handed him a bottle of opened beer, na mabilis din naman niyang inabot at sinimulang yarukin. They were all looking out to Brad who was busily building this shed he placed not too far from where they were.

They know he's been in there for quite some time now. It wasn't the first time.

Halos sabay-sabay niyang naulinigan ang tunog ng buntong-hininga nilang lahat.

It's been a year since the shooting incident and Julie has been on a coma. All throughout the year, Brad has been nothing but a sad, lonely man who has been trying to keep it together silently.

Halos araw-araw ay dumadayo ito sa beach resort upang gawin ang tila shed o gazebo na ginagawa nito. Ni hindi pa nila matiyak kung ano nga iyon.

"Why are these love stories so tragic?" Zac suddenly stated.

"What do you mean?" Gunner asked.

"I mean, Chloe and I never had it easy." he paused and looked at the bottle of beer he was drinking, recalling all the things they've been through. Mula noong iligtas niya si Chloe sa mga nambubully dito, sa paghihiwalay niya, sa pagkikitang muli at pati na din sa parteng ni hinidi niya nalaman na may anak pala siya dito. Lalong - lalo na ng malaman niyang may sakit ang anak at kailangan nito ng tulong niya, "I had to literally learn that my son is sick bago ko pa man makalimutan lahat ng galit na di ko naman pala dapat naramdaman sa kanya. Brad's wife is on a coma now, and we have no clue if she will ever recover. Gunner," he turned to look at Gunner.

"What?" tila nagsisimula ng manggagalaiti si Gunner.

"The woman you wanted just went away again and is about to marry someone else. And the most freaking tragic of all, is Benson. I can't even begin to tell this man's story. Pero parang habang tumatagal ay mas lalong nagiging tragic itong mga love story na 'to."

"Too good to be true sometimes right?" Benson smirked, "Masarap gawing telenovela o kung ano man."

Then silence filled them. Maya-maya ay nagsimulang impit na tumawa si Gunner. Sinundan iyon ng impit din na tawa ni Zac and then, in unison they all just burst out laughing.

Mahabang tawanang tila di nila kailan pa man nagagawa ng magkakasama.

"Man, when all this is over, I can't wait to just be in Paris and stay there for a long time." muling tumungga ng alak si Gunner.

"Paris?" Benson's brows arched.

"Yes. Siyempre kasama kayo. This is all stressing me out."

"Right." Zac sighed, "Well, we have to go." niyarok niya ang huling natitirang beer mula sa sariling bote at dagli nang tumayo. It was his turn today.

He stood up and started walking towards Brad. The wind is biting today. He wondered if a storm was coming. As soon as he reached the gazebo is working on, he slowly stepped inside and looked at the structure.

Natatapos na ang bubong nito. The posts looked really sturdy and soon enough, the structure would take form. It's located in a small corner beside the huge rock formation within the resort. Alam nyang hndi ito basta-basta masisira dahil na rin malayo-layo ito sa talampakan ng karagatan. The only reason it could go awry is if rain keeps coming.

"It's almost done isn't it?"

Wala siyang narinig na sagot mula rito.

"I'm sure she'll love this place. This would be perfect for both of you."