Now and Forever |순키| Finished

17

Gabriel

Nagmamaneho ako papunta sa bahay ni Xan. I just left Kei's place, as usual, I helped them sa karinderya kahit meron na silang nahanap na makakatulong nila pero hindi parin ako natibag. I still want to help them.

I arrived at Xan's huge place. His place is big but still doesn't want us staying here. He said that this is his own place and he doesn't want someone living in it with him, kahit pa kaming mga kaibigan niya.

Noong makababa ako sa kotse ko ay agad na rin akong pumasok sa bahay niya at naupo sa sofa. The entire place was dark, parang walang tao, pero I am sure he's just upstairs, probably taking a shower.

"Hello" I stood up after someone talked. Mabilisan kong isinarado ang kamao ko at inamba iyon sa taong nagsalita. He was next to me.

"Huy hala wag ka naman manuntok! It's me Aeron!" He said. Napasimangot ako at napailing nalang noong sabihin niya yon. Ofcourse he's here, bakit hindi ko yon naisip kanina?

Naglakad ako papalapit sa switch at agad itong binuksan. Bakit kasi hindi ko siya agad nakita kaninang pagkapasok ko? Was I daydreaming? Hindi naman, hindi ko lang talaga siguro siya napansin.

"Hey... So, where is he?" I asked. He smiled. Umupo ako sa tabi niya at muling sumandal. Gusto kong humiga kaso nakakahiya naman kay Aeron. Sobrang sakit na rin ng likod ko pero I was doing it for him, kaya wala lang ito.

"Nasa taas, kinuha niya lang yung mga libro. Weren't you supposed to be with your partner?" Kumunot ang noo ko noong maalala ko na meron nga palang research na by partner. Putangina pagod na ako.

"Hey, you're here na pala, kumain ka na? There's food on the table go get some if you want." Sambit ni Xan noong makita na niya ako. He sat next to Aeron and started doing their works.

Hinayaan ko nalang silang gawin ang kailangan nilang gawin. I took my phone and started scrolling through social media, not until someone sent me a message.

From Laine:
Hi! Kelan tayo magsstart ng work?

From Laine:
We can do it here in our house naman! I don't mind!

From Laine:
Hi???

From Laine:
Heeeeyyyy you're making me worried eh :( can you atleast reply to my messages so I'd know na you're okay?

Nakasimangot kong binabasa ang mga messages na sinesend niya. Hindi ko nalang yon pinansin at muling nagscroll sa social media and she started sending messages again.

From Laine:
Do you want me to go there sa house mo? Or kung gusto mo sa Starbucks tayo?

From Laine:
Wait for me, Jaze! I'm on my way.

From Gabriel:
Do not call me Jaze. Let's start tomorrow, sa library. No starbucks and no houses. Wag kang pupunta sa bahay.

I replied before setting my phone on mute and do not disturb. It would've been perfect kung iba yung kapartner ko. Narinig ko siya yesterday, talking to our professor if he could make us partners. Kuhang-kuha niya yung inis ko.

"Why aren't you like that to Kei?" Nilingon ko si Xan at agad kong pinatay ang cellphone ko noong makita kong buong katawan na niya ang  nasa tabi ko. He was looking at our convo. Hindi na nahiya sana siya na nagreply.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Umupo siya ng maayos at malapit kay Aeron. Both of them are looking at me smiling weirdly. Ewan ko ba rito sa dalawang to kung anong nakain nila.

"What I mean is, you were always the biggest shit to us, your parents? your friends? But never to Kei, you don't even know him that well..." Sumimangot ako. I am not treating everyone differently what does this guy mean?

"Also, you only let us call you Jaze kasi ayaw mong ipost namin yung picture mo na nakacostume ka ng Dora. But to kei? Okay na okay lang." Natahimik ako. It's true that I do not want someone calling me Jaze.

Because when I was still a kid. If I was about to get scolded by my Father, he would always shout my middle name, Jaze. It makes me so mad. At kaya lang ako pumayag na tawagin nila akong Jaze dahil takot akong mapahiya sa socmeds. But who would get mad at someone calling you using your middle name? Me? No? His voice are perfect and sweet, bakit naman ako magagalit?

"Do you like my bestfriend?" Aeron asked out of nowhere. Napalingon ako sakanya at ganon din ang ginawa ni Xan. Both of us were glaring at him pero siya, he was calm still looking at me dead in the eyes wanting me to answer his silly question.

"Aeron... What made you think he likes Kei?" Xan asked him. Aeron looked at him tska binitawan ang hawak hawak na ballpen. Nakatingin lang din ako sakanya at naghihintay ng sagot.

"He was so gentle to him, the way he talks? Kulang nalang mag baby talks pa siya, the way he acts? Para hindi siya. Also how he was willing to spend a whole day with Kei, how he was willing to do whatever Kei asks him to." Sagot ni Aeron. Xan smiled and started nodding. Muling bumaling ang attention sakin ni Xan dahilan para mapasimangot ako.

"Y'all are crazy. I was tryna be nice to him! Ofcourse I want him to feel comfortable to me, tska I just want to help him!" I defended myself. I don't want them getting the wrong ideas. I don't like him... I don't... I can't...

"And... You're being defensive..." Aeron answered. Xan laughed at nagsimula nang asar asarin ako. I stood up and took my phone and keys.

"Isusumbong ko kayo kay Miko, pinagtitripan niyo nanaman ako." Xan's laugh became louder. Lumabas ako ng bahay niya at dumiretso sa kotse ko.

I went inside and I could feel my cheeks starting to burn. Nahihiya ako? Hindi ko nalang pinansin ang weirdong nangyayari saakin at nagsimulang magmaneho.

I do not like him. Me and Kei are just friends. Nothing more than that...