Hanggang sa marating ko ang restroom. Nagitla ako nang makita ko silang magkaharap sa lavatory. Kaya naman mabilis akong napaatras at dahan-dahang sumilip mula labas.
I had never felt this comfortable leaning against the cold white wall. I leaned closer and activated focus mode in my ears, so I won't even a single word from their conversation. Only half of my face peeked through the ajar door.
"It's been a while, hasn't it? You've changed a lot. You look... awesome." There was a visible stifled excitement that Castros' voice as he smiled.
"Ikaw din. Working out?" Gaven didn't sound interested, though I could sense he was trying to.
"Y-yeah. Been maintaining this physique for a year." Silence reigned for a few seconds before Castro speaks again. "So... You've found your way back home."
Napayuko si Gaven at nakapaglabas ng kakarampot na ngiti bago niya muling tingnan si Castro. "Volleyball is just... something I can rely on."
"I'm sorry." Castro looked at Gaven, pleading for a connection that had been somewhat lost.
Hindi ko alam, pero nalilito na ako sa takbo ng diyalogo nila. It was hard to connect the dots, because I didn't even know what the dots were all about in the first place.
"There's nothing to be sorry..."
"We ended in a really, really bad way." hindi na niya pinatapos si Gaven. "I left the mess unfixed. It took me a while to realize it's my fault, but I'm far too late. I should've apologized sooner."
"Well... Time is a great healer. Now I'm fine, as I was the day before I met you."
Ohh~
That hit so hard.
Castro didn't appear affected facially, but emotionally... I know he was.
Teka, bakit parang nanonood ako ng American rom-com movie? Their dialogues and expressions were giving off that kind of vibe.
What the fuck? Ano 'tong nabubuong sagot sa isip ko?
"Good... I mean, I got my pardon now... I guess?" Nagsusumamo ang pagtingin ni Castro. His eyes were speaking more than his lips, making me realize that the saying Your eyes can tell what your lips can't is real.
"Mm," sagot naman ni Gaven kasabay ng marahang pagtango. Hindi kayang itago ng mga pekeng ngiti niya ang discomfort na nararamdam niya sa loob-loob.
Nasa'n na 'yong angas mo? Bakit lalamya-lamya ka sa harap ng bakulaw na 'to?
"The thing is... A-alam kong makapal ang mukha ko para sa sabihin 'to, pero..." si Castro na mediyo nag-aalangan. He even blew an anxious sigh at napakamot pa sa pagitan ng kaniyang mga kilay bago muling nagsalita. "I still love you."
Ah... Mahal pa rin niya talaga.
Wait. What?
He's gay?
I was eavesdropping on a cheesy romantic scene between these two Romeos?
Hindi puwedeng magkaibigan lang sila. Sinong tangang magkaibigan na magsasabihan ng I Love You? Siguro kung mga babae, oo. Pero sa lalaking magkaibigan? No! Mas sweet pa kung magmumurahan na lang.
"Uh..."
Hindi makapagsalita si Gaven na ngayo'y namumula ang mukha na parang pinagbakatan ng tosino. Napipi sa kaharutan ang kupal. Ang sarap niyang hampasin ng Abakadang libro sa mukha para matuto siya ulit kung paano magsalita.
"Hoy!"
Putcha! Bakit ako sumigaw?
Tila plinantsa ang mukha ni Gaven nang magkatinginan kami. 'Di niya yata inaasahang susunod ako sa kaniya. Sa pinapakita niyang ekspresiyon, tila nagtatanong siya ng Narinig niya ba? Kaya sinagot ko siya ng Oo narinig ko gamit din ang mukha.
BINABASA MO ANG
Dive Deeper
Romance"You're the arsonist who set my heart ablaze. I will do everything to keep the fire burning." ••• If Cerulean had to dive the deepest ocean to win against his rival, Gaven Miguel Zafra for the regular libero spot, he would do it. He thought it was t...
