Just A Friend To You (BOYSLOVE) COMPLETED

CHAPTER EIGHT

Why did I let Eli suffer when I love him so much? I'm a fool, Cole – a coward! Seeing Airah, I fled, consumed by self-loathing.

"Hey Cole wait." sigaw ni Airah.

"What?" galit kong sabi sa kanya.

"Saan ka pupunta?"

"I'll just go to see Eli," I said, and quickly left. I searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found. I asked our classmates, but none of them had seen him. Exhausted, I decided to return to the cottage for my phone. As I entered, the room was empty. I grabbed my phone and was about to leave when I heard sobbing. I traced the sound to the bathroom, slowly opening the door to find Eli crying inside. My heart went out to him; I wanted to comfort him, but I hesitated. Instead, I left to find Gail.

"Gail!" sigaw ko rito.

"Bakit?" sigaw niya rin.

"I need your help." sabi ko sa kanya, tinignan niya ako ng masama.

"Inaway mo na naman ba si Eli?" agad nitong sabi, tumango naman ako at pilit na ngumiti sabay kamot sa batok.

"Hay nako Cole ba't ang hilig mong pagtripan ang bestfriend ko?" sabi nito sakin.

"Sorry na." maikli kong sabi rito.

"Ano ba ang nangyari?" tanong nito.

"Nagselos ata kay Airah."

"Diba sabi ko sayo layuan mo na si Airah? Cole ha! sabihin mo na kasi kay Eli na may gusto ka rin sa kanya." sabi ni Gail.

"Akala mo ba ganoon lang ka simple na sabihin yun? natatakot ako Gail." sabi ko.

"Natatakot saan? natatakot kang husgahan ganoon ba yun?." tumango naman ako rito.

"Cole, if your love for Eli is genuine, you'll withstand the criticism. What others think shouldn't matter; focus on your love for each other," Gail advised.

"Tama ka Gail." sabi ko nalang rito.

I let Gail talk to Eli inside the cottage. We gathered for dinner when Gail and Eli arrived, just as our principal announced a budol fight tonight. After eating, we hung out by the seaside, enjoying the bonfire and singing together. I hadn't sung in ages, so I took a turn, performing Ben&Ben's 'Kathang Isip.' Was this song for me? Maybe for Eli and me? If I keep hurting him, he might slip away someday. I gazed at Eli as I sang.

As I finished my song, Airah grasped my hand and leaned on my shoulder. She gave me a kiss, prompting applause and cheers from our classmates. But I was startled by her sudden gesture. I glanced at Eli, and my heart sank – he was in tears. He stood up and hastily left, hurt once more. Gail's angry gaze met mine before she stood, joined Matthew, and they both departed.

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ni Airah.

"I have to go." hahanapin ko si Eli.

Hours of searching the resort, but Eli remained elusive. At dawn, I found him sleeping, tears glistening in his eyes. I tenderly wiped them away, whispering apologies for hurting him again. Then, I retreated to my bed. A morning walk by the sea helped clear my mind. Airah tried to reach out, but I wasn't ready to engage.

"Hey I'm so sorry about that kiss." sabi nito.

"Pwede ba Airah leave me alone, I need to think." inis kong sabi sa kanya.

"Cole I'm sorry." humikbi ito.

"Fine, pwede ba wag kang umiyak."

"Ok." sabi niya at agad siyang yumakap sakin.

I was sitting in a cottage when I spotted Gail and Eli strolling by, Eli wearing sando in public for the first time. I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. I observed them joyfully playing by the sea. My friends invited me to eat, and I joined them. During our meal, I overheard the conversation from the next table; they were betting on whether Eli would reply to Matthew. Concerned, I left my friends to find Eli. My heart raced as I saw Matthew approaching Eli, even offering him buko juice. Matthew left with his friends, including those I'd dined with earlier, who had been betting on Eli's response.