In Every Hues

Chapter 9

Ill

"Kung magkaibigan pa rin tayo ngayon, I'll back down." Nanginginig ang labi ko. "But we're not best friends anymore. Kaya wala ng bro code, Trev! It doesn't exist 'coz it died within our friendship!"

I lifted a smirk and tauntingly pushed his chest. Napaatras siya at tumitig sa 'kin gamit ang malalamig na mata.

"Are you doing this for revenge, then?" Pagak siyang tumawa at umiling-iling. "I have my reasons for ending it. Maybe you'll find it petty, too. Ganoon naman lagi kaliit ang mga bagay para sa 'yo. You'll court Maureen just to get into my nerves."

Hindi ako umimik at mas lalo siyang tinitigan ng mariin. He pushed back his hair as he placed his both hands in his pockets. Sinalubong niya rin ang titig ko.

"I like her, how can you fucking say that as if you knew everything about me?"

"I still do..."

Napalunok ako sa sagot niya.

"Kalimutan mo na. I already forgot about you."

Ngumisi siya. "Not everything. You still know how to get into me. And I knew that you're a jerk yourself. Kailan mo lang nakilala si Maureen, imposibleng magkagusto ka agad, imposibleng liligawan mo agad. Lalo na sa nangyari sa 'yo."

Kinagat ko ang labi sa inis. I felt my chest building up a hot steam. Pakiramdam ko ay sasabog na ako.

Bakit kailangan niyang sabihin 'yon? Fuck, what do I expect from someone who was emotionally intelligent (I don't know if until now) back then?

Marunong siyang ayusin ka, kaya alam niya rin ang paraan para gibain ka.

"Alam mo ang epekto, Yolo. Don't inflict it to another person just because you still haven't healed from our friendship. Ibunton mo sa 'kin, huwag lang sa kaniya."

"What makes you think that I haven't healed? Hindi na ako apektado sa 'yo," malamig kong sagot.

"Bakit mo pa ginagawa 'to?" Gumalaw ang kaniyang panga. "I still know if you really like someone, Veracruz. You're affectionate, you're pure... you're clingy, everything that anyone could pray for. So don't ruin that just because you're mad at me."

Tulala ako noong tumalikod siya. Napahilamos ako ng mukha at hinabol ang hininga. I felt my chest banging as his words kept on lingering in my mind.

As he turned to leave, I couldn't hold back any longer.

"Bro," I called out, my voice betraying the turmoil within me.

He paused, his back still turned against me. "What?" I sensed a hint of vulnerability.

"I just... I need to know if any of it meant anything to you. Our friendship... did they hold any value for you?"

He turned slowly, his expression was unreadable. "Of course, they meant something. But people change... and sometimes, petty reasons are left unsaid."

His words pierced through me, a mix of pain and guilt evident in his eyes. I struggled to find a response. His words felt heavy.

"You don't deserve a friend who thinks ill of you, Yolo." He smiled and with that, he walked away.

"Nabusog na ako at lahat-lahat, inuwian mo pa 'ko ng pasa!" Nakangisi si Iverson nang pumasok ako, nag-aabang sa mesa.

Iritado kong tinulak ang dibdib niya kasabay ng halakhak niya. Salubong ang kilay akong umupo at hinaplos ang gilid ng labi ko.

Inignora ko ang mabigat na nararamdaman. I should damn shrug this off. It would only hold me like a damn cage.

They all stared at me with a grin. Umiling ako at kinuha ang chopsticks sabay dampot ng cabbage. I hissed when I opened my mouth.