When We Happened

Chapter 18: Friendship Not-So-Over

Chapter 18

Friendship Not-So-Over

I wasn't expecting to see him today... and I wasn't expecting my reaction to seeing him today.

Bakit? Kasi ang ate niyo, hindi kinaya ang lungkot at pagka-miss sa best friend niya. Pag sakay ko pa lang sa front passenger seat ng kotse niya, niyakap ko agad si Yap at napahagulgol.

I don't know where my anger and pride went.

"Hey, why are you crying?"

I couldn't respond. My tears and my sobs just wouldn't stop.

I felt his warmth wrapped around me. It only made me cry harder against his chest. Shit, na-miss ko talaga siya. Ayoko na awayin siya, ayoko na ring awayin niya. Ayoko na mag-away kami nang ganung kalala!

"Ash, I'm so sorry," I heard him say as his arms around me tightened. "I'm so sorry for the things I said to hurt you. I am a fucking asshole."

"I know and I'm so sorry, too." Humiwalay ako sa kanya at nagpunas ng luha. "But please, let's not fight anymore."

Ngumiti siya sa akin at pinunasan din ang ilalim ng mga mata ko. "Agreed."

And with that, I lightly punched him on his arm, smiling. "I missed your annoying ass."

His eyes softened. "I missed you, too, Asher."

"Dapat lang!"

He only chuckled. "Should we have that talk now?"

Kailangan ba talaga pag-usapan pa? Okay naman na kami at nag-sorry na kami sa isa't isa. No need na. "I can't even remember kung anong pinag-awayan natin."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa gulat. "Ikaw ba 'yan, Ash?" natatawa niyang tanong.

Sasapakin ko sana ulit siya kaso mas lalo lang ako nitong tinawanan. "Pero gusto ko ring mag-sorry talaga sa'yo. It wasn't my place to tell you those things about your relationship with Stella."

"You're my best friend," he shot back, reminding me of my place in his life. "You have the right to tell me off, okay? Please huwag mong hayaan na maging dahilan 'yung pag-aaway natin nang hindi mo pagsita sa akin."

Tumango ako at ngumiti sa kanya. "Walang magbabago."

"Good," sabi pa nito. "Kumusta ka na? How's your work? Balita ko nag-viral ka na naman noong nakaraan."

Oh, he was talking about the interview.

I must stir him out of that convo, STAT!

Napaayos ako nang upo at nagsimula na siyang mag maneho. Papunta saan? I don't know. Probably sa paborito naming tambayan.

"It's going good," sagot ko.

"But?" tanong nito. Only he can sense something isn't right with me. Being the longest relationship I had, him being my best friend, he's the only person who sees the smiles I'm faking.

I don't want to lie to him, baka magalit ulit siya sa akin. I just want to have my best friend back. "But it's too good to be true," I answered him honestly. "It's too good, I'm scared they will take it away from me."

Yap looked at me with his tired eyes. "Napag-usapan na natin 'to noon, diba?"

Tumango ako. "But everything is moving so fast, Yap. It's like everything is at warp speed." I looked at him and watched him give me that look again. "Sa tingin mo, anong progress ng career ko simula nang mag-away tayo?"

Nag-isip siya saglit. "You booked a major campaign?"

Umiling ako. "No, I'm already doing that bago pa tayo mag-away."