Vanished

Chapter 11

"Justine, tara?" Gabi motions for him to come while his friends are waiting.

Kill shyly walks up to Gabi's side while looking at his circle of friends. Everyone is either eyeing or observing him except Ven who rolls his eyes upon seeing him.

However, he couldn't care less because he was here only for Gabi and solely for Gabi.

"Ah Justine, meet my friends! I'm sure you know them based on how loud we get in the classroom. This is Tine, Vince, Kite, Topi, and Ven." Gabi introduces and points at his friends one by one to at least get Kill acquainted.

After a series of exchanging hi's and hello's they make their way to the cafeteria where each of them has to line up for the food.

Ven decides that he should just let Gabi buy food for himself. Either way, he has to adjust to this kind of setup because he will never be always there for him.

"Gabi, ikaw muna buy sa food mo." Ven instructs him calmly and asks Topi what he wants for today's lunch.

The younger guy nods in return, he knows that this is bound to happen when Ven says things will change and he will always prioritize Topi.

"Ano sayo Gabi?" Kill asks trying to know what the older guy wants.

Gabi wanted his usual spaghetti and chicken but for some reason, he wanted a change of lunch. Probably because the food reminds him of Ven ordering it for him every day.

It's hard when everything reminds him of his best friend.

"I'll take the Pork Belly and the cream puffs," Gabi replies while eyeing some food he can add.

Tine, Kite, and Vince get taken aback by Gabi's choice of food. "A change of heart, I supposed?" Tine asks while chuckling.

"Yup, I figured I should not just eat the same food over and over again," Gabi replies while showing a weak smile.

"Right, sinasabi ko pa yan sayo noon but gusto mo talaga spag and nokma! I'm glad you decided to try other options." Vince interjects the conversation while pointing out what happened before.

"Kaya nga, bibilhan ka talaga ni BNT para lang sa spag and chicken mo." Kite unknowingly adds to the conversation without knowing how it made the circle awkward.

Everyone stops talking and Kite could only mouthed himself in profanities for talking without properly thinking about it.

"Don't worry, nandito na ako. Para sa kung anong cravings ni Gabi!" Kill interjects to save what awkwardness had happened.

They take a seat while bringing the food over to their table. Ven holding a tray for Topi and his food, Tine, Vince, and Kite are each holding their own trays while Justine holds a tray for both Gabi and him.

Gabi takes a seat beside Justine while facing Ven. He wanted to change places because he did not want to hurt his heart looking at them being giddy or close.

He expected to be hurt from looking at Ven's presence but Justine made sure that all of Gabi's attention was on him. He made funny jokes that made the circle laugh except Ven who's grumpy.

"Gabi, ganda mo." Justine blurts out suddenly.

"Ano namang kalokohan to, Justine?" Gabi chuckles at his face.

"Wala lang, di ba pwedeng ma appreciate yung ka gandahan ng friend ko?" Justine replies to him while pinching his cheek.

"Ang weirdo mo talaga!" Gabi laughs at Justine's antics and continues to chat with them.

Way back in the classroom, Gabi and Justine walk side by side while laughing at whatever topic they are discussing. Ven and the others can clearly see how happy Gabi is talking to Kill.

"Paano yan BNT, baka may bagong BNT?" Kite teases him while nudging him.

Ven's veins pop off and pushes Kite after getting angry. " Fuck off, Guerrero!" He spits out and proceeds to angrily walk away hitting Gabi and Kill in the process.

"Hey!" Kill tries to get the attention of Hollow who bumps into Gabi's shoulder.

But Ven did not look back and did not care he hurt them in the process. He just wanted to get away from them at this moment.

"Anong nangyari?" Gabi asks them at the back.

Kite could only chuckle boisterously while Tine shook his head.

"Pinagtripan kase nya si pres! Ayun nagalit HAHAH." Vince explains to him.

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"Uwi na kami guys ha?" Tine bids farewell to the four figures in the classroom which are Ven, Topi, Gabi, and Kill.

The bolakbol boys have something to do which they initially invited them but the four do not want to join them because they each have their own reasons.

When they left the classroom only four of them remained. "Gabi and Kill sabay nalang kayo sa amin." Topi offers them sincerely.

"Ah thank you sa offer pero may bike naman ako." Kill reasons out.

"Ikaw Gabi? Sama ka sa convention ngayon na pupuntahan namin ni Hollow! I'm sure magugustohan mo doon because maraming activities." Topi excitedly suggests innocently.

But Gabi knows he can't do it.

He can't and will never do it.

Because he knows the boundaries of being a best friend.

Only a best friend.

He cannot just intervene in what seems like a hangout between Ven and Topi.

Besides he will just be hurting his heart looking at them talking to each other closely and laughing while feeling like an air around them.

An invisible matter.

"Wag nalang, I'm sure makaka-abala lang ako." Gabi shows a weak smile.

"Ha? Hindi ka makaka-aba-" Topi did not finish what he was about to say.

"Sige. Una na kami." Ven replies dragging Topi outside.

When they left only Gabi and Justine remained walking towards outside. The younger could not help but ask a question.

"Akala ko ba best friend kayo?" Justine asks him.

"We are silly, ano bang sa tingin mo sisirain ko ang date nila?" Gabi awkwardly chuckles.

"Ay may gusto si Hollow kay Topi?" Justine asks trying to confirm.

"Yup! Gusto nya si Topi! I mean who wouldn't right? Same sila ng interest, cute and adorable si Topi plus parang match made sila in heaven." Gabi tried to force a happy expression.

"Bakit ka malungkot?" Justine asks, he wonders why Gabi showed such expression.

"Happy lang ako for Ven. I mean, always sya stuck with me kaya maybe nakakasawa talaga ako kasama. Maybe he needs Topi as his breather." Gabi shows the saddest smile.

He can't help but feel this way.

Justine pinches his cheek getting him out of a frenzied state. "Ako? Hindi ako magsasawa sayo. Besides mas cute and adorable ka sa paningin ko." He magically says as if it is the natural thing to say.

Gabi gets emotional and the teary eyes start to swell. He hugs Justine in response. "Thank you, Justine! For making me feel better about myself."

He can't help but feel emotional because he knows that Ven will never pick him and will always choose Topi over him but Justine makes him feel selected.

And it made him happy and worthy.

"Uwi na tayo? Sakay ka sa bike ko again?" Justine offers him a ride home.

"Baka matumba tayo ha! I don't want to have scars around my legs. HAHAH." Gabi laughs as he tries to tease the younger.

"Sus, wala yan. Nag practice ako sa amin!" Justine replies while unlocking the lock on his bike.

"Siguradohin mo yan Kill Justine baka sumigaw ako sa kaba, pepektusan talaga kita!" Gabi says while sitting on the back.

"Kapit ka, Gab," Justine says endearingly.

"Gab?" Gabi asks trying to make out what Justine has said.

"Hmm, mula ngayon I'll call you Gab. In short for cute." Justine randomly reasons out while pedaling.

"Ang dami mo talagang pakulo Justine! Your energy never runs out HAHAHA." Gabi replies while hugging Justine in the moment.

"About sa date natin, kailan natin gagawin yun?" Justine opens the conversation.

Gabi remembers that he agreed to this date to help Justine get experience and also him to get experience.

"Ikaw? Saturday's? But where?" Gabi asks curiously.

"Hmmm, I'm thinking sa Alorica?" Justine rhetorically asks.

"Alorica? Diba expensive dun?" Gabi asks him trying to dismiss the place.

"Ako ang nag-aya so it is only right that I pay for all of it. Plus, may savings naman ako. You will just need to stay pretty and be with me." Justine replies.

"Ang sweet mo naman sa date Justine, kikiligin talaga yung person na kina-kainlaban mo." Gabi says while adoring the younger guy for his words.

"Sana kiligin ka," Justine whispers just enough for himself to hear.

"What did you say? I did not hear it." Gabi asks again trying to listen for the second time because he did not hear it.

"I said that I will make sure you enjoy every moment with me! Kaya you don't have to worry anything." Justine lies while continuing to pedal on the way to the younger's home.

"Parang you did not say that earlier. Ang taas kaya compared earlier." Gabi pouts in response knowing Justine lied about it.

Justine chuckles at the thought that he can figuratively see Gabi's pouting even though he is facing in the front.

"Alam kung nag-pout ka Gab, pinch ko cheeks mo magkabilaan." Justine teasingly says to the younger.

Gabi laughs and hits the younger guy lightly while saying profanities.

At this moment, even for a moment.

Gabi forgot the pain.

It subsided for just momentarily.

Because Justine is with him occupying his thoughts.