Let me be the one • StellJun

LMBTO

LMBTO

Pablo caught his husband, Stell, smiling while looking at his phone. He's tapping a lot, seems like he's talking to someone, and he's having fun.

Matapos niyang mag shower saglit at magpalit ng damit na pantulog ay pinatay na niya ang ilaw at tumabi sa asawa. As usual, Stell would face his back on him, and then they would sleep without saying anything to each other.

They are used to that routine. Well, not before. He remembered almost a year ago, they would sleep cuddling. They won't be able to sleep without kissing each other after saying good night.

He knew something's wrong with Stell. He felt that there's going on with his husband. But Pablo kept silent and never brought that topic up. Isa pa, alam naman niyang isa m siya sa mga dahilan kung bakit sila nagkakaganito.

The next day, they are still on the same position last night. Naramdaman ni Stell ang pagbangon ng katabi. Pablo caressed his cheek softly before planting a soft kiss on his head. Nang marinig niya ang pagbubukas at pagsara ng pinto ay tsaka lang siya nagmulat. Ang kanina pang namumuong luha sa mga mata niya ay tuluyan nang bumagsak.

Stell didn't know why he was crying. Was it because of the pain of not being able to feel the same way for his husband that he felt years ago? Or was it because of being guilty for entertaining another man without his husband's knowing?

Or perhaps both. Stell was confused. He didn't know what to do as this moment. Nasasaktan at nagsasawa na siya sa ganitong sitwasyon nilang mag asawa. Nahihirapan na siya.

Pablo, as usual, is going home late. Eight in the evening when he decided to leave the office. Gamit ang motor ay nag maneho na siya, ngunit bago tuluyang umuwi ay dumaan muna siya sa McDo para bumili ng dalawang strawberry sundae. His boys' favorite.

He was just about to ride his motorcycle to finally go home when he heard a familiar voice somewhere. Stell?

"Tara na. Anong gusto mong kainin, baby?"

And he was right. There he is, coming out from a black car that clearly wasn't theirs, together with their son, Silver. And then there was a red-haired guy that came out of the driver's seat.

"Tito Ken! I heard there's a playground inside!" His son, Silver, said excitedly.

"Really? Let's check it out." Sagot naman ng lalaking may pangalang Ken.

"Yey! Thank you, tito Ken!"

He felt his heart dropped when Ken carried Silver and the kid even gave Ken a kiss on its cheek. Mas dumoble pa ang sakit nang makita niya ang matamis na ngiti ng asawa niya habang nakatingin sa dalawa.

Nanginginig na ang mga mata niya at alam na niya ang patutunguhan no'n. Kaya bago pa man tumulo ang luha niya ay sumakay na agad siya sa motor at pinaharurot ang motorsiklo hanggang sa makarating sa kanilang bahay.

It was quiet when he came. It felt sad and alone. Sumasakit ang puso niya. Ang hirap huminga...

He sat on one of the chairs in the dining room while staring at the melting ice cream that he bought a while ago. He's zoning out while the scene that he witnessed earlier kept replaying in his head. Until he heard a sound of a car stopped outside, together with the voice of Stell and their son.

"Thank you, tito Ken! See you next time! Ingat po. Muwah!"

"Thank you. See you next time, Silver." Ken replied.

"Salamat Ken. Ingat ka." He heard Stell this time.

"No problem. See you next time, Stell."

Pablo didn't see, but he heard Stell and Ken's voices change when they are the ones who are talking. Mas nadagdagan lang no'n ang dakit sa dibdib niya.