The Red Flag Enjoyer (BL)

🚩14: Bedside Confession

WIN

Days had passed, and Pablo kept me updated about the case. Amanda and Calvin requested the company's CCTV footage with Pablo's help through legal action. Wren, being the best guy in the world, helped me conquer my trauma and episodes of post-anxiety.

I cut everything off with Rendy. I stayed away from anything that reminded me of him. I even avoided staying in my unit just so I wouldn’t think of him. My social media accounts were already deactivated, and I stopped watching TV to avoid seeing anything related to him.

Kinain din ng ilang araw bago ako nakapagdesisiyon na balikan ang lockbox na nakita ko sa loob ng walk in closet ni Warren. Nagtatalo ang Id at Superego ko kung dapat bang buksan ko ang bagay na 'yon dahil alam kong personal siya kay Warren. I made a decision that if the key pendant really fits the lockbox, I will open it and reveal whatever has been hidden inside.

Nasa trabaho ngayon si Warren. It's past 2 PM. Nalinis ko na ang buong unit niya. I was down to the last thing on my list, which was to open this lockbox if the key pendant was really designed for it.

I took the lockbox out of the closet and placed it on the bed. The metallic feel brought a cold serenity to my bare skin. My mind went haywire, imagining the endless possibilities of what could be inside.

Napahawak ako sa suot kong kwintas. My hand traced the small key pendant on my chest. If it was meant to be, it would be. I needed to open it now, so I removed the necklace from my neck. Slowly, I inserted the key into the padlock and twisted it, making a tiny click sound. They were meant for each other.

"Wren, what have you been keeping from me all this time?" I whispered to myself as I slowly removed the tiny lock.

My heart was racing inside my chest. Nanginginig ang mga kamay kong binuksan ang lockbox. For a moment, what I saw inside froze my whole system.

Random things were kept inside. Old movie ticket stubs caught my eye; I recognized them from the films we watched together in the cinemas. Tiny souvenirs and keychains were scattered across the surface. I picked up one that reminded me of our trip to Enchanted Kingdom. I also found a turtle keychain from our time in Palawan. Sa dami ng mga alaala namin, halos mapuno ang lockbox na ito. As I carefully removed each item, my heart skipped a beat when I discovered two handmade bracelets. May mga letra na nakaukit na may pangalan ko at ni Warren. It melted my heart to know that Warren had crafted these with his own hands.

Sa isang gilid, nakatupi ng maayos ang isang lumang jacket. Gumilid ang mga luha ko nang maalala 'yon. When we were kids, we used to explore every corner of our hometown. One time, we went near a lake, and bullies made fun of us and hid our clothes. As someone who loved wearing jackets, I kept one inside my bag. That jacket helped us cover our naked bodies—like we truly shared it, enjoying the warmth and closeness. Hindi ko malilimutan ang bagay na 'yon. I thought he had already thrown it away, but he kept it after all.

I placed the old jacket aside and continued to check the other items inside the lockbox. Nang sumilip ako'y tuluyan nang lumundag ang aking mga luha.

There were sheets of raw sketches, and every reference was of me. Warren, an artist who poured his heart into his work, had filled his sketchbook with my face. I never realized that, while I saw him as a best friend, he saw me so vividly in his art. It hurt to think that, even though I only felt platonic towards him, he might have had deeper feelings for me. It made me feel both honored and melancholic, knowing I was his muse but uncertain about what that truly meant for our friendship.

Makapal din ang mga raw sketches na iyon. Nang mailabas lahat ay sumilip akong muli sa lockbox. There's only one thing left inside and that is a worn out journal.