Flipped Justice: A KENTIN AU (COMPLETED)

FJ 12

At Justice's house, his friends Javier and Samuel were left having a deep conversation about their lives lately.

"Biglang lipad sa Canada to get married? Ibang usapan na 'yon, Jav," Samuel stated.

Javier was just listening to his friend, but deep inside, he was hurting so bad he wanted to cry.

"Biglaan. 'Cause I'm running out of time."

"Irason pa nga si Athena, eh iniwan mo rin nga nung malapit na kayong mabuko ng parents mo," Samuel went on.

"I didn't leave her. She left me... two weeks after the wedding."

Samuel questioned, "Hanggang kailan ka magiging ganito kay Just?"

Javier held his breath, attempting to hold back his tears. "Until our contract ends. I'll leave the country after that and focus on medschool," he stated.

They turned their heads to look behind them as soft footsteps got closer. To their surprise at who they saw, Jav dropped their snacks on the floor.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I forgot my car keys. I handed it over to you, Saint."

Javier yelled, "Sht!" Sam, stunned, straightened up and stared at Philip while he searched in his pockets for the keys.

"Sorry talaga, dre," Flip uttered in an attempt to help him pick up what had fallen.

"Kanina ka pa ba?" Samuel asked Flip, handing him his keys.

Flip shook his head, saying, "Kababalik lang, nagmuni-muni pa ako doon sa swing. Justice had lots of throwback photos there."

Samuel sighed in relief, saying, "Paborito ata ni Just doon nung bata siya. Diba, Jav?"

"Ha?" Javier said as he heard his name. He stared at Samuel, who motioned him to just agree. "Ah, oo," he said.

"Nako, dre. Wag ka na umiyak. Papalitan ko na lang 'tong natapon," Flip remarked, observing that Javier was in tears.

But until Javier felt a warm liquid on his cheeks, he had no idea what he was talking about. He lied right away, wiping it off and said, "Sensya na paborito ko kasi 'to."

Flip chuckled, tapping Jav at his back, saying, "Anyway, aalis na rin ako."

"Ingat, Thirdy," Samuel murmured as he watched his bespal move away from them.

As Flip got on the door, he once again turned around and asked, "Kailan ka pala aalis, dre?"

Jav and Well were momentarily stunned by what they heard from Flip, as if an abrupt shock of electricity had suddenly flooded through their veins.

"Ah, narinig ko kasi about sa contract," Flip added, scratching his head as he awaited Jav's answer.

With a slightly furrowed brow, Javier questioned in a serious tone, "What else exactly did you hear?"

"Ah 'yon lang, dre. Bakit? May secret kayo?" Flip replied. "Sorry, sorry!" he added, gesturing with a peace sign.

"Wala naman, dre. Soon, I'll tell you. May mga ibibilin din ako sayo bago ako umalis," Jav said.

"Sure, dre. Hintayin ko 'yan. But I can just ask our agency kung kailan mateterminate contract mo," Flip replied.

"Ha?" Jav asks, confused again. "Ah, oo! Tama, modeling contract nga," he said. "But what? You signed the contract? Paano dad mo?" inquired Jav, looking apprehensive but astonished.

Flip was at a loss for what to say. He is uncertain if Isaac revealed his secret to him. He paused, but just as he opened his mouth to respond, someone hurried by.

He watched Justice dash over to give Javier a tight hug. He wished it was him who's in between Just's embrace.

Justice encircles Javier's nape, pressing his face into his neck while Javier wraps around Justice's waist with his arms. They both let their tears fall down their cheeks, and for a moment there was just silence.

Jav remained where they were and uttered, "Pota, Isaac. Sabing wag mo palulungkutin."

"Anong magagawa ko? Masaya 'yan kanina sa ice cream," Isaac defended himself. He passed on to Samuel the bag of ice cream he was holding and said, "Pasalubong," with a broad smile.

"Nagabala ka pa. Salamat," Samuel grinned in response. "Thirdy, dito ka muna. Meryenda," he uttered while raising the ice cream.

Flip, still looking at Justice and Javier, said, "Di na, Saint. Sa susunod na, hinahanap na ako ni Jade." And left the four.

Isaac yelled, "Partners, dibs sa bed!" as he took Justice's bed.

Wiping away their own tears, Justice and Javier parted ways. Diab replied, "Si gagi, sizmars time na ngayon hoy! Umuwi ka na!"

Samuel questioned, perplexed, "Partners? What did I miss?"

"A lot," Justice answered. "But ako pinaka-miss mo," he continued, giving Well a hug.

Javier leaped onto Isaac's side and exclaimed, "Dibs sa tabi ni Ice!"

"No way! Tabi tayo, Sammy," Isaac claimed.

"Ay oh! Si flash pala 'to," Justice remarked.

"Siya lang kasi single dito," the older explained.

"De, walang dahi-dahilan dito," the oldest stated, chuckling.

They were all in the kitchen getting ready for dinner as night fell. Justice impatiently watched the two older friends cook, saying, "Sabi sa inyo, we should just order."

Javier answered, "Maghiwa ka na nga kasi ng sibuyas."

Justice said, pointing to his swollen eyes, "Pagod na ako umiyak today."

"Maawa ka kay Sammy, siya na lahat gumawa ng mga inuutos sayo," Isaac retorted.

"Eh di kinilig na naman ang buchi ni bestie," Justice teased his friend.

Justice let his friends cook while he stepped out of the kitchen. Despite having lived there for so long, he has never used the kitchen by himself. It's the least he wanted to do. He is fortunate enough to have known Javier since childhood. Justice lived with his Lolo, but they are mostly apart because of their business. When they were younger, Javier basically raised him.

"Hello, diko? Naririnig mo ba ako?" Justice asked, waving at the camera. "Nandito friends ko wag ka magalala, kumakain ako on time," he said.

"Si Kodi ba 'yan?" Isaac asked, to which Justice nodded in response.

"Uy Kodi! Uwi ka na! Binata na si bunjing," Javier stated, making Justice roll his eyes.

As they are all happily talking on the phone to Justice's only brother, Kodi—the one he's been calling diko—a knock on the door caught their attention. "Hustisya, ikaw pinakamalapit," Javier ordered him.

Justice was forced to open the door, creasing his brows. A silhouette of a man in a black hoodie panned into view as the door eased open. Due to a loose bulb on the front door, it was difficult for Justice to distinguish who the man was. The man raised his hand, startling Justice as he attempted to get a better look. Justice anxiously stepped back. However, instead of the knife that he's been expecting, it was a bag of takeout food that's in his hand.

He asked, "Available pa ba 'yong hangout nating lahat?"