The Light of Midnight (BxB)

Chapter 8

"It's just an egg, spam and fried rice. Will that do? I can cook more no worries." 

"This will do. Bibilisan ko na rin dahil baka mahuli tayo." 

"Just take your time. I don't mind." 

My dorm has its own dining table, but he chose to sit beside me in the sofa. I put a stereo on and scan my social media while wanting for him to finish eating.

"What's the song?" He asked. 

"Find it out yourself, I don't want it to get famous. People will ruin it."

"Don't worry, River. I love indie too. I can recommend some if you want to." 

That's when I looked at him because I don't know any people who love the same type of songs. Most of my friends like pop, rnb, and alternative rock. It made me so excited that I immediately went to playlist show it to him. 

For the remaining time that we have waiting for our class, we talk about music and how the genre speaks to us. Kahit na gusto ko na mag-usap lang kami buong araw tungkol sa kung saan saan ay hindi kami napagbigyan dahil sa parehas kami na may klase sa araw na 'yon. Siguro ay bukas nalang o sa mga susunod pa na araw. O baka mamayang gabi kung wala kami parehas na gagawin. 

"Bye, River. See you tomorrow!" Sabi nito matapos akong ihatid sa room ko. 

"See you later." Ang naging tugon ko. Bahala siyang mag-isip sa kung anong gusto niya. Bibiglain ko nalang siya. 

Sa maghapon na iyon ay puro aral lang ang ginawa ko. May mga patakas kami na kuwentuhan na apat tuwing nakatalikod ang professor namin. 

"You're close with Pierre, River?" Chloe asked.

"Yes?" 

"Hindi ka sigurado?" Natatawang tanong nito. "Anyway, you know his brother, Milo and their friends?" 

"I know Thiago and Milo, but not so much with the other two. I forgot their name." 

"Really? Sayang at ibebenta ko pa naman ang sarili ko kay Jackson." Muli ay tawa nito. Napalakas yata dahil pinagbawalan kami ng Prof. Liano

"Puro kasi harot ang nasa isip ayan tuloy." Si Jayden. 

"Kaysa naman sa'yo na walang sumeseryoso." Si Chloe. 

Naghagikgikan kaming tatlo kaya mas lalong napalakas ang ingay sa room. Doon na kami pinagalitan dahil sa nangyari. Mabuti nalang at hindi kami pinalabas dahil baka malaman pa ito nila Daddy at mapagalitan na naman ako. 


Nakauwi na ako ng condo nang alas kwatro y media. Inaaya pa ako ng tatlo na gumala kaya lang ay ipinaliwanag ko na simula ng practice ko bukas kaya lulubusin ko ang pahinga ko ngayong araw. Hindi naman na ako pinilit ng mga ito at nag-aya nalang sila pagkatapos ng unang game ko, libre ko raw kahit panalo o talo. 

I took a bath after cleaning my dorm and taking a rest after. It is just six in the evening, but I am already in my bed watching an episode of Shameless. I get up at seven because I am not yet eating and I am too lazy to cook that's why I went outside and took-out some foods in the nearby restaurant. 

Nang matapos ako kumain ay doon ko napagpasiyahan na tumingin muna sa social media accounts ko nang maalala ko na may dapat nga pala akong gawin ngayong gabi. 

"You are now friends with Pierreson Cornellius Valdeviesco" 

His name immediately went into my screen asking if I should answer the video call or not. I stood up and immediately went to the mirror to see how I look and I don't fucking know why I did that. What's happening to me?

I did not answer his call after realizing the thing that I did. Shit, just shit. I muted him so, his name will not be registered while I am watching. After seeing an episode, I went into my study table and read until I got tired and sleep. 


The next dame came and I took my whole class then went into gymnasium even though it is still two in the afternoon. The practice will start at three so I still have an hour to spend it to myself listening to my playlist. 

I am just looking everywhere until I saw Pierre running towards my way with a huge smile on his face. What's with him?

"Ano?" Unang sabi ko dahil pagod na pagod na naman ito. 

"We're Facebook friends! I'm so happy." Then he sit beside me and get the other half of my earphone. 

"Touch you softly, I called you up late at night. Know that it isn't right, but you could be my one and only."  Pagsabay niya sa kanta na pinapakinggan ko. 

His voice is good, not that "good" good, but it is enough for me to appreciate it. My heart sank knowing how this man is changing everything in me. Tang ina. I wasn't like this when I am in Manila. My heart doesn't always skipped a beat, it never race faster for someone, it is always for something, recitation, reporting, but not this kind. When I am only alone with him, listening to a song, with a peaceful and quiet ambiance.

Shit, Pierre. What are you doing to me?

Nanatili lang kaming gano'n. Tahimik, hindi nag-uusap, hanggang sa isa-isa ng dumating 'yung mga kateammate namin at doon na kami nagsimulang magtraining. 


For the next weeks, my life had been busy because of our basketball practice and school related stuffs. I often update my friends and family during those times because I might forget what it really feels like living in Manila and stay here all my life. The people are always warm as well as the place. I felt like I already found my safe space, the one where I will always come feel like coming back without ages of being in here. 

"Pierre!" Sigaw ko dahil kaonting oras nalang ay mauubos na ang oras at tanging dalawang puntos nalang ang lamang na kalaban. Ipanasa ni Pierre sa'kin ito at itinara ko ito sa tres para manalo na kami at makaadvance sa semi-finals. At hindi ako nabigo. 

We celebrated our victory drinking all night and getting wasted until dawn. It feels light knowing that I did something for this team and I am hoping that my parents is always proud of me. Kahit madalas ay nagkakamali, pumapalpak. I also celebrated my victory with my classmates especially to Jayden, Kayden, and Chloe. For months that I had been in here, I was able to fully adjust and always find the place interesting. From the Capitol drive that I am always walking to every dawn or dusk, from the massive mountains, endless beaches, and divine city lights. I let myself fully grasped of being a local here and call it my home. 


"Faster, River." Pierre demanded.

"Palit tayong posiyon, gusto mo?" Pagsusungit ko. 

We are hiking in Mt. Samat cross. Kahit kailan talaga ay hingalin itong si Pierre dahil kasabay ng paglalakad ay ang walang  tigil nitong bibig kakasalita. Kaming dalawa nalang ang nahuhuli dahil ang iba ay nauna na sa taas. Kung kaya ko lang siyang tiisin ay baka iniwan ko na siya rito mag-isa. 

"Pahinga muna tayo, 'Ver."

"Pahinga na naman? Baka mamaya 'yung pagdating natin doon ay pag-uwi na nila." 

"Ikaw naman kasama ko kaya mas ayos. Nagsasawa na ako sa mga 'yon, hayaan mo sila." 

"E kasama mo rin ako araw-araw. Mas madalas pa nga kumpara sa kanila , hindi ka nagsasawa? Dalian mo na!" 

"Gusto nga kasi kita. Hanggang ngayon ba ay hindi ka niniwala? Gusto mo bang iba nalang ang gustuhin ko?" 

"Bilisan mo na! Gusto ko nang makarating sa tuktok. Fifteen minutes nalang oh!" 

Ngumuso ito at kalaunan sumabay nalang sa paglalakad ko. Nang maabot ako ay umakbay pa ito at isinandal ang kaniyang ulo sa balikat ko na parang hindi ito mabigat. 

"Lambingin mo ko, River. Napapagod na ako." 

I punch his stomach and continue walking while he's on his knees, kneeling because of too much pain that he felt. That's what you get for always being such a shit. 


Another weeks had passed and I can tell myself that I really grew closer to Pierre every fricking day of my life. I am so comfortable to him that I gave him the spare key of my dorm para hindi na ako gigisingin nito tuwing pumupunta rito. Araw-araw kami na magkasama, minsan kahit sa Linggo dahil inaaya ako nito na magsimba tuwing umaga. Tuwing Sabado naman ay nagjo-jogging kami sa park. Kung saan-saan kami gumagala na dalawa at kung minsan ay kasama pa ang buong team. Madalas na tuwing pagkatapos ng training ay kumakain kami kung saan-saan at uuwi akong hinahatid nito. 

I really like the feeling of Pierre always being with me. I feel safe and at ease whenever he's around. I am always unsure of what I am feeling towards his action, his words, in him literally, but I guess that time will come where I can finally promise him and to myself what I really feel. 



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Hi. I won't be able to update for the following days or weeks because of academic related stuff. Hope you'll understand and would still support this story. 

Thank you and stay safe!