Her Prince

- 38 -

- ADDYSON LOPEZ -

Dapat ko bang sabihin kay Hana, na bukod sa aking prinsipe, nakasama ko rin na mag-breakfast si Healer? She messaged me earlier, na pupunta siya ngayon to make sure I was still alive. She was in for a surprise, once she saw us.

Mentally, I was nodding my head.

I get it. I totally get it. Kung bakit hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin makapag-move on ang kaibigan ko.

Healer looked magnificent even in the dim morning light. He was wearing raglan sleeves–white and thin, one could easily make out the traces of his wonderful abs–loose gray sweatpants and slippers. It was hard not to stare at him, lalo na kapag tumatawa siya. I had never seen him laugh! Smile, yes, a lot. Palagi siyang nakangiti kapag kasama niya si Hetty, but laugh? I did not know he could laugh this hard and loud, he looked cute and silly. If only Hana was here to witness this!

The reason for his laugh?

It was none other than my prince, of course. Julien, who was equally striking in his thin black shirt–that hugged his chest and torso perfectly–and a black oversized pyjama. I caught a glimpse of his V line last night, while he was tossing and turning in his sleep.

Para silang Yin and Yang sa harap ko. Ang gwapo nilang pareho!

Ako? Well, I look like a normal human being at least. A normal human being wearing a neon green pyjama pair–courtesy of Hana. She had one of these too, neon blue naman. Daliri ko lang ang pinangsuklay ko, I tried tying my hair in a cute messy bun na madalas ko ring makita kay Hana, but I miserably failed in the cute part.

"You read books too, right? Not just mangas?" Julien asked me, nag-iisip na kasi si Healer ng birthday gift niya kay Hetty next year. His girlfriend loved books, so he asked us for recommendations. He was too cute of a boyfriend. Gusto kong kiligin but I felt like I was betraying Hana.

I nodded at the question and the handsome men in front of me looked at each other and smiled.

"She'd gladly welcome a new book friend." Healer offered me a smile, his dimples on both cheeks sunk.

"You'd love Hetty's library, Addy. She has thick fantasy books in series," Julien emphasized, but he smiled proudly as he added, "I've read War Horse by the way as per your recommendation. An awesome short read for a beginner such as myself."

I, too, could not contain my proud smile. He read the book I recommended to him before! It was during our study sessions. Julien did not forget. He was too sweet... of a friend.

Healer raised a brow, "And the book T lent you?"

"Hindi ko pa tapos." Nawala ang ngiti ni Julien, napakamot pa ng batok. "Ang kapal eh."

Healer opened his mouth but the door opened, revealing my clueless friend who almost lost her balance at the very sight of the love of her life. She frowned, looking at us as though we were aliens, "Nasa tamang condo naman ako 'di ba?"

Agad siyang dinaluhan ng dalawang lalaki, para tulungan siya sa mga bag at paperbags na bibit niya.

"Sorry for intruding." Healer muttered softly, I could almost feel Hana's knees wobble as she sat down to join us at the dining table.

Julien explained everything then, that he invited Healer and used the kitchen to make some pancakes. Hana, of course, was very well aware na palagi kaming sabay kumain ni Julien, either dito or sa kabila.

Tumango lang si Hana sa paliwanag ni Julien, still shocked at Healer's presence. Once it wore off though, she and her crush since middle school fell into a smooth conversation. Hindi lang sila simpleng magkakaklase. Hana and Healer were friends.

Gusto kong palakpakan ang kaibigan ko. Her eyes were bright but there was not a single hint of her feelings for Healer, she was keeping it hidden away, and was doing a very good job at it. Despite her smile, I knew she was panicking inside, and wanted to run away as far as possible from here... from her love.

"Addy," Julien chimed, "Ang kalat mong kumain."

It was over bago pa na-digest ng utak ko ang nangyari. Julien in front of me, leaned over to carefully wipe the side of my mouth. Whether Hana and Healer saw it, they did not comment on it.

I forced a chuckle, "So–sorry."

I feared my heart might explode, I stood up and excused myself. Dumiretso ako sa bathroom para kalmahin ang sarili ko. There was no way to calm this wild beast with Julien around. My whole body was shaking to squeal, pero siguradong maririnig nila ako at baka kung ano pang isipin nila.

Lumabas din naman ako a few minutes later, when my heart was a tad bit calm. Ubos na halos ang mga pancakes, nagtulong kam ni Julien na gawin 'yon, gamit ang ready-made pancake mix na nabili namin sa 7/11 noong nakaraan.

Pilit naming pinaubos kay Hana ang natira, pambawi man lang namin sa paggamit ng kitchen niya. Both boys washed the dishes after, and domestic nilang tignan.

If only...

Maybe in another universe, Hana was meant for Healer, and I was meant for Julien.

Nagpaalam na rin ang dalawa pagkatapos, they needed to get ready para daw sa gym nila mamaya. Ang alam ko madalang sumama si Julien sa gym sa kanila noon eh... ano kayang nagpabago ng isip niya?

"Teh, kaya mo pa ba?" Hana nudged me the second the boys we loved were out. "Nawa ay lahat."

"May namatay na ba sa sobrang kilig?" tanong ko sa kanya, still staring at the door. I could still feel Julien's touch on my mouth. I knew it was just Julien being kind, na wala namang ibig sabihin ang ginawa niya. Pero hindi ko pa rin mapigilang kiligin.

Ever since I acknowledged my feelings for Julien, which was just last night by the way, ang hirap nang pigilan, ang hirap nang itago ng kilig.

My friend laughed, "Paano pa kapag nag-kiss na kayo? Papa-ospital ka na?"

"Hindi naman 'yon mangyayari. Kaya wala akong dapat ipag-alala."

Hana winked at me, tinapik pa ako sa balikat. "Hindi natin sure."