Unwritten Love

CHAPTER 6: BOY-FRIEND

"Please, kausapin mo 'ko. Alam kong nabigla ka sa mga sinabi ko. Pero sana naman kausapin mo 'ko. Mula ng magtapat ako sa'yo hindi mo na 'ko kinakausap, Hindi mo na 'ko pinapansin. Please! Mag-usap tayo."

It was past eight in the evening. I was about to rest, but I heard someone outside. I peeked out the window, and it was CJ shouting from the gate of my house. I didn't know what to say to him, so I ignored him. He'll leave when he gets tired. I'm not ready to face him yet. Hay! I was already stressed at the office earlier, and now this.

I lay down on my bed. Suddenly, there was a loud thunderclap, and the rain poured down.

"Beauty, I know you're still awake. Let's talk, please!" he shouted.

I got up to check on him. OMG! he was sitting in front of the gate, getting wet in the rain. I tried to resist helping him, but I couldn't. I took an umbrella from my drawer and went out of the gate.

"CJ, why are you letting yourself get rained on?" I asked him and then shielded him with the umbrella.

"I won't leave until you talk to me," he replied, trembling.

"My goodness! Are you drunk?"

CJ hurriedly chased after me, his heart pounding with a mixture of regret and desperation. His eyes were pleading, a hint of tears threatening to fall.

I let him into my house first, gave him a towel, and made him a cup of coffee.

"Beauty!" he said as he wiped himself with the towel.

I handed him the cup of coffee. "Drink first to calm yourself down," I said.

"Beauty, mahal kita"

"CJ, please, stop it. You don't need to do this," I murmured as I turned away, my voice trembling.

But he couldn’t just let me walk away. He gently grabbed my wrist, refusing to let go. "Please, kausapin mo 'ko."

There was a pause—I bit my lip, holding back my tears.

"Ayos lang naman sa'kin kahit kaibigan mo na lang ako," CJ continued, his voice cracking. "Makita lang kita, sapat na sa'kin."

I closed my eyes, trying to hold back the overwhelming emotions. CJ’s grip softened, his hand sliding down to intertwine his fingers with me. "Alam kong gulong-gulo ka ngayon, pero gusto ko lang malaman mo... nandito lang ako. Hindi kita iiwan, kahit masaktan pa ako, basta mapanatili lang kita sa buhay ko."

My tears finally fell, but I remained silent. CJ took a deep breath, his own voice barely above a whisper, "Mahal kita, Beauty. Kung hindi mo ako kayang mahalin pabalik, tatanggapin ko, pero sana huwag mo akong layuan. Masakit, pero ang mawala ka, mas hindi ko kakayanin."

I slowly looked up at CJ, meeting his tear-filled eyes. For a moment, silence enveloped us, filled only by the sound of our hearts—both longing yet filled with unspoken fears.

I wiped the tear from my cheek. "CJ," I sighed. "You know that you and Darlene are my only friends, I don't want to lose a friend. Mahal din naman kita."

"Talaga,  mahal mo 'ko?" he asked joyfully.

"Yes, I love you, but... as a friend only." I saw tears welling up in his eyes upon hearing my words.

"Friend?" he stood up and turned away. "Tama, kaibigan mo nga lang pala ko."
"CJ, I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he approached me and held my hands.

"Promise me, we'll still be friends. Nothing will change. I'll still be your boy best friend who always defends you."

"Promise," I said, and we pinky promised each other.

"You'll meet other girls, those who are more worth loving and, most importantly, beautiful."

"Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sayo na maganda ka, ramdam ko ang kagandahan ng iyong puso. Iyon ang kagandahang nakita ko sa'yo, kaya nga nabihag mo ang puso ko at ngayon ay umibig sayo," he said as he caressed my hand.

I let go of his hold and stood up.

"Ubusin mo na yang coffee mo para makauwi kana."

"The rain is still strong," he said, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Hindi mo ba dala ang kotse mo?"

"Mabigat 'yon di ko kayang dalhin"

"Aba't! Pilosopo ka, ah" I elbowed him, causing his coffee to spill. 
"Aray!"  he exclaimed while rubbing the back of his neck. 
"Sinaktan mo na nga ang puso ko, pati katawan ko sinasaktan mo pa".
"Eh, pilosopo ka kasi."
Our tears were replaced with laughter.

He took off his blue polo shirt and wiped his body. Oh, CJ had 'pandesal'. 1,2,3, 4. wow, four layers. He saw me looking at his body.

"Gusto mo?" he asked.

I swallowed, "huh?" I said, adjusting my sitting position on the sofa.

"Kunwari kapa, tinitingnan mo naman ang abs ko,"  he said and posed like a model in front of me.

His face suddenly turned serious, "Beauty, can I stay here for the night? The rain is heavy, and I didn't bring my car."

"Hoy, ano ka sinuswerte?"

"Baka nga swertehin" he laughed.

"I'll remind you, Mr. Christ Jome Elcala, men are not allowed in this house. Well, only one man is allowed to sleep here," I said.

He sat next to me, "Sino?"

"The only man of my life," I replied in a sexy tone.

He crossed his arms and turned away from me. "So that's why, I'll just be FZ to you, you already have a boyfriend. How unfair!"

"Tange!" I playfully hit him.

He faced me,  "Nakaka dalawa kana, ah"

"Sorry!" I said, making a peace sign.
"It's just that you're not thinking. Who do you think are the other men in my life?"

"Besides me? Who? Your boyfriend?"

"Geesh," I held my head. "What a low gets... it's Daddy, tange!"

He scratched his head, "Oh, right?"

"Diba friend pa naman tayo, pwede naman atang dito ko muna." ." he smirked.

"No way!" I objected.
"Even if I look like this, I still value my dignity. I'm a Dalagang Filipina kaya."

"Grabe ka, sa tingin mo ba magagawa kitang pagsamantalahan?"

"Oo"

"Wala ka palang tiwala sakin"

"If it was before I knew you had feelings for me, maybe it could have been possible, but now. It's a big no, no!"

"Edi, no. Magpapaulan na lang ako sa labas. Wala na ngang masakyan. Paano 'pag magkasakit ako? Pa'no na ang mga pasyente ko?" he guilt-tripped.

"Hey, you won't get through to me with those tactics." I took the keys to my car from my pouch.

"Here, use my car to get home," I said, handing him the keys.

He took the key.  "Paano ka bukas?"  he asked while fiddling with the key.

"Well, just bring my car back here tomorrow morning," I replied.

"Ok, master! What time po ba? 3:00 AM?"  he said with a grin, raising his eyebrows playfully before winking at me.

"Loko!"  I remarked.

He stood up. "Wala bang good bye kiss?"  he asked.

"Gusto mo ikiskis ko yang lips mo sa wall?"  I snapped back.

"Ito naman 'di mabiro" he said before heading to the garage and starting the car.

"See you tomorrow, girlfriend ko!" he shouted from the garage.

I could only scratch my head.
I sigh, at least he understood me.