Bittersweet

Chapter 7 - Bittersweet confession

As the final notes of the concert fade away and the crowd begins to disperse, Devyn, still buzzing with excitement, turns to us with her eyes sparkling.

"Hey, let’s not end the night just yet! How about we take a walk around the campus?" she suggests, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Without waiting for an answer, she grabs Cania’s arm, pulling her along with Vixon and Dice.

"Tara na minsan lang to!" she laughs, leading them towards one of the nearby pathways.

I watch them go, feeling a pang of something maybe longing, maybe something else—settle in my chest.Hindi ko namalayan na kami nalang pala ni Eleven ang natitirang nakatayo dito, I glance at him, unsure of what to say.

The night air is cool against my skin, the breeze carrying away the remnants of the night’s festivities. He meets my gaze, and without a word, we both start walking in the opposite direction from the others, our footsteps quiet against the cobblestones.

Nakatingin lang ako sa mga paa ko. Madaming bumabagabag sa akin lalo na’t siya lang ang kasama ko ngayon. Madaming nga bagay na pumapasok sa isipan ko na nagpapabigat sa dibdib ko.

We wander aimlessly, letting the night guide us. The sounds of the concert are just a faint echo now, replaced by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant hum of the city beyond the campus walls.

Eventually, we find ourselves in a secluded garden, a place I hadn’t even known existed. A single bench sits under a large, old tree, its branches reaching out like protective arms.

“Let’s sit here for a while,” Eleven suggests, nodding towards the bench.

We sit down, and for a moment, we just breathe, taking in the peaceful atmosphere around us. But there’s a tension in the air, a weight in the silence that feels almost unbearable.

Tumingala ako sa langit. Alam kong huli na pero hindi ko maiwasan na ipagdasal na sana wag muna. Parang hindi ko pa kaya kahit alam kong ito ang ikakasaya ni Eleven.

Eleven is the first to break it. “That last song they played… ‘Bittersweet’…” he starts, his voice low, almost hesitant. “It really hit me.”

I turn to look at him, my heart pounding. Of course it did. I could see it in his eyes while we were listening. But I keep quiet, letting him continue.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” he admits, his words coming out slowly, as if they’re difficult to say. “About Devyn.”

There it is the pang in my chest again, sharper this time. But I force myself to stay calm, to keep the turmoil inside from showing. Dadating din talaga ang tamang panahon para dito, masakit pero sino ba ako para magdesisyon sa kung sino ba ang dapat mahalin ni Eleven.

“What about her?” I ask, even though I already know where this is going.

He hesitates, his gaze dropping to his hands. “I… I care about her a lot. More than I should, maybe. But I’m scared, Eve. I’m scared of what could happen if I tell her.”

Each word feels like a knife twisting in my heart, but I don’t let it show. I can’t let it show. Alam ko na alam ko kung saan papunta ang usapan namin at kahit alam kong ikadudurog ko ito nanatili ako sa tabi niya.

“What are you scared of?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

He looks at me then, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

“What if she doesn’t feel the same? What if everything changes? I don’t want to lose her as a friend.”

I swallow the lump in my throat, forcing myself to stay composed. Matagal ko ng alam na gusto niya si Devyn pero mas masakit pala na galing mismo sa kaniya, galing mismo sa bibig niya.

“You won’t know unless you try, Eleven. Sometimes you have to take a risk, even if it’s scary.”

He looks at me as if searching for reassurance, for a sign that it’s okay to feel this way. Pareho lang naman kami ng sitwasyon, mas lunod lang talaga ako sa pagmamahal na meron ako para sa kaniya dahil alam kong talo ako.

“You really think so?”

I nod, though inside, I’m screaming. “Yeah. If you really care about her, you owe it to yourself—and to her—to be honest.”

For a moment, he’s silent, just thinking. Then he lets out a breath, and his expression softens. “You always know the right thing to say,” he says quietly, gratitude lacing his voice. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Before I can react, he leans over and pulls me into a hug. It’s warm and filled with a kind of unspoken emotion that I can’t quite place. I close my eyes, holding on for just a little longer, knowing that this might be the closest I’ll ever get to him.

When we finally pull away, there’s a new determination in his eyes. “Thank you, Eve. I think… I think I know what I need to do now.”

We stand up, and as we begin to walk back towards where we left the others, I can feel a shift inside me—a quiet acceptance of the reality I’ve been avoiding for so long. I’ve made my choice: I’ll support him, no matter what it costs me.

Siguro hanggang dito nalang. Tapos na talaga ang laban na sa una pa lang talo na ako. Si Devyn na 'yon eh kahit sino matatalo sa kaniya. She's beautiful, kind, talented, sporty and especially she's a woman. Sinubukan kong ayusin ang sarili ko dahil ayokong sirain ang birthday night ni Devyn.

When we rejoin the group, Devyn is the first to greet us, her smile as bright as ever.

“There you two are! Kanina pa namin kayo hinahanap!Saan ba kayo galing?” she asks, frowning her eyebrows.

I glance at Eleven, who gives me a small, grateful smile before turning back to Devyn.

“Nagpahangin lang sa tabi-tabi.” he says, his tone easy, though I can sense the undercurrent of something deeper.

As we all start walking back towards the main campus, I can’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions—love, loss, and a bittersweet kind of peace. I look around at my friends, at the way they laugh and joke with each other under the clear night sky. The stars above us twinkle faintly, like distant promises, reminding me that some things are just meant to be out of reach.

But that’s okay. I’ve made peace with it. Sometimes, love isn’t about holding on; it’s about letting go.

And as I walk beside Eleven, I know that no matter what happens, I’ll be okay. Because loving someone also means wanting what’s best for them, even if it means setting aside your own heart.

We’re all still together, and for now, that’s enough. Kung sa ganitong paraan ko pala makikitang masaya si Eleven sino ba ako para maging hadlang? Halos laging siya ang laman ng mga dasal ko at ngayong dininig na ng ama sa itaas ang lahat magiging masaya nalang ako para sa kaniya.