-"¡callarse la boca!" -"Hazme."

JayKe: triangle eye trick

Joaquin = Jay
Jaeon = Jake

“Bakit ang daming sinasabi ng mga tao sa paligid?
Kesyo ‘di raw tayo bagay, lumayo ka na
Ako daw ay sinungaling, lolokohin ka
Iiwanan ‘pag nakuha na ang gusto niya
Sana lang ay ‘wag kang makinig sa kanila
‘Pagka‘t ‘di nila alam kung ano‘ng mayro’n tayong dalawa”

The song continues as Joaquin plays nonstop with the keys in his fingers. Jamming along to the song, a smile formed on his lips despite of how slightly annoyed and worried he feels right now. Maikee’s Letter is something else. It never fails to make him dive into it’s beats as it’s the closest song to his relationship status with his best buddy, Jaeon. Relatable, it is.

Alas dose na ng gabi, sobrang liwanag na ng buwan sa labas at tahimik na ang buong building na pinagtutuluyan ng dalawang binata pero gising pa rin ang madalas na maagang matulog na si Joaquin. Anim na oras na siyang naghihintay sa roommate niyang paniguradong gumagala na naman sa labas. Ang mas pinag-aalala niya pa, hindi man lang ito nagpaalam bago umalis. Hindi rin nagrereply. Naiwan rin ng kaibigan ang duplicate key sa sala kaya no choice si Joaquin kundi hintayin na makauwi ang nakababata.

“Where were you?” An intimidating deep voice coming from the corner spot of the living room welcomed Jaeon as soon as he opened the door. It was automatically responded to by a shout caused by shock. After recovering for seconds, he then turned on the lights and there — Joaquin appeared. Sitting on the couch, crossed arms, eyes fixed on the younger. Deadly stare, it is. It scared Jaeon more.

“Outside.” The younger simply answered and then proceeded to the kitchen area to grab a glass of cold water.

“Saan sa labas?” Napaigtad ulit si Jaeon dahil sa biglang pagsulpot ni Joaquin sa gilid niya. Nakasandal ang tagiliran at nakatukod ang kanang siko nito sa kitchen counter habang ang mga mata’y nakatitig sa kaibigang nasa harap niya na nabibilaukan dahil sa gulat. Joaquin chuckles at the sight and immediately put his left hand on his back to pat it while his other hand reaches for Jaeon’s lips to wipe the spilled water from his mouth.

Jaeon would be lying if he’d say he doesn’t feel something about it. About how gentle Joaquin’s hands are, about how they’re so close to each other right now, and about how he could literally feel his breath touching his face. May misunderstanding lang sila pero paminsan minsan ay tinitigasan pa rin siya. Magaling lang talaga siya magpigil.

“C-can you not..” Iritang sabi ni Jaeon at mahinang itinulak ang kaibigan. Naiirita, nahihiya, naiilang. It’s a mixed feeling for the younger one. Agad itong nagtungo sa lababo para maghilamos gamit ang malamig na tubig dahil ramdam nito ang biglang panginginit ng kaniyang katawan. Hindi niya alam kung nagmumula ito sa alak na ininom niya o dahil sa tensyong naramdaman niya.

“You’re drunk, Jae.” Nag-aalalang komento ng nakatatanda at agad na kumuha ng pot para ipagluto ng paboritong Haejang-guk ang kaibigan na madalas nilang kinakain pag umiinom silang dalawa o umuuwing lasing ang isa sa kanila.

“Tulog na ‘ko.” Pagsusungit ni Jaeon para makaiwas sa tensyong akala niya’y kanina niya lang mararamdaman — malas dahil ramdam niya pa rin.

Akmang tatalikod na sana ito para maglakad paalis but before he could even turn his back, Joaquin was quick & strong enough to manhandle him and put him on top of the kitchen counter. His face was dead serious. It was more serious this time.

“We’re not yet done, Jae. Umayos ka.” With the way how Joaquin’s talking to him right now, he felt the shivers down his spine. It’s the first time he heard his friend talk to him like that. Pag nagsasagutan sila, lagi namang lumalaban si Jae kasi pikon siya at madalas ay kalmado pa rin ang pananalita ng nakatatanda kahit ay pasigaw niya na itong inaaway. But this time, the deadass serious tone affected the latter. “Did you hangout again with my cousin?” Joaquin spoke pero hindi ito nakatingin sa nakababata. Nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa niluluto at naghihintay lang na marinig ang sagot mula sa kaibigan.