Teenage Dirtbag (Opposites Attract-JhoCey Spin-Off)

16

The world seemed to stop as Stacey's trembling voice whispered, "I'm sorry..." She gently closed the pink velvet box in Jan's hand, and the sound of the lid snapping shut felt like a door slamming between them.

For a moment, Jan's face was frozen in confusion, his hopeful eyes dimming as the realization hit him like a wave crashing onto the shore. Stacey opened her mouth to explain, to say something—anything—but before she could get a word out, Jan stood up, his lips pressed into a tight line. Without looking back, he turned and walked away, his steps heavy and uneven on the sand.

"Jan, wait!" Stacey's voice cracked as she called after him, but it was too late. Jan was already retreating into the shadows, disappearing from the warm glow of the fairy lights.

Guill immediately stepped in, gently placing his hand on Stacey's shoulder. "Teka lang, Stacey. Hayaan mo muna siya."

Tears were streaming down Stacey's cheeks now. "Guill, I'm sorry. Hindi ko siya gustong saktan," she sobbed, clutching the bouquet of pink tulips to her chest, the flowers now feeling heavier than before.

Guill's voice was soft, reassuring. "It's okay. Wag kang mag-alala. Hayaan muna natin siya. Kailangan lang niyang mag-cool off."

Stacey shook her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, Jan... hindi naman sa ayaw ko eh. Hindi pa lang ako ready para mag-asawa. Kung gusto niya ako maging girlfriend, papayag ako. Pero kasal agad? Sobrang laki kasing hakbang nun!" Her voice was rising as the emotions poured out of her. "Alam kong matagal na namin hinintay ang isa't isa pero Guill, iba pa din kasi kung magsimula kami as boyfriend and girlfriend di ba?"

Guill nodded, quietly listening as Stacey tried to make sense of her feelings. He could see she was overwhelmed, caught between her love for Jan and her fear of rushing into something as big as marriage.

"Pano kung hindi niya kayang tiisin yung kaartehan ko?" Stacey continued, her voice quivering. "Yung kaingayan ko. Paano kung biglang ayaw niya na? Paano kung may makilala pa siyang iba? Guill, gustong gusto ko si Jan. Mahal ko siya, oo. Pero hindi ko kasi talaga inexpect na kasal agad ang gusto niya. Lalo na ngayon, nasa peak kami parehas ng careers namin."

Guill pulled her into a comforting hug, patting her back gently as she cried. "Alam ko, Stacey. Iba-iba talaga ang takbo ng isip ng tao. Hindi mo naman kasalanan kung hindi ka pa ready. Siguro, Jan just got ahead of himself. Mahal ka niya, no doubt. Kaya nga ganyan siya. But don't worry, he'll understand. Hindi naman kailangan lahat agad-agad."

Meanwhile, over at the parking lot, Nick finally caught up to Jan, who was standing next to his car, his back turned. The night air felt colder, and the silence was thick with tension. Nick took a deep breath and called out, "Jan!"

Jan slowly turned around, and Nick's heart sank at the sight of his friend's tear-streaked face. There was a rawness in Jan's eyes, a mix of confusion and pain that Nick hadn't seen in him before.

"Hindi ba siya sigurado sa akin?" Jan's voice cracked as he spoke, barely above a whisper. His hand was still clenched around the pink velvet box, the ring now a symbol of his heartbreak rather than a promise of forever.

Nick approached him carefully, choosing his words. "Hindi ako si Stacey, bai. Hindi ako pwedeng sumagot on behalf of her dahil hindi ko naman alam ang nararamdaman niya."

Jan's shoulders trembled, and before Nick could say anything else, Jan broke down, tears spilling uncontrollably. Nick quickly pulled him into a hug, letting him cry against his shoulder.

"Bakit ganon?" Jan sobbed, his voice muffled. "Hindi ito kasama sa naplano natin. Hindi niyo ako natrain na ganito pala kasakit, Nick."

Nick sighed, tightening his hold on his friend. "Jan, hindi kasi pwede na lahat ng bagay ituturo namin sa iyo. Kailangan may mga bagay na matutunan mo on your own, first hand. Bakit ba hindi mo siya hinayaan mag-explain?"

Jan shook his head, still crying. "Hindi ko ata kayang pakinggan ang rejection niya. Confident na kasi ako nung sinabi niyang matagal niya din akong hinintay. Akala ko ito na yun. Hindi pa pala."

Nick took a deep breath, gently pulling away to look at Jan. "Pasensya ka na, bai, kung hindi ka namin napigilan. Akala din kasi namin magyeyes siya sayo eh. Pero, baka kasi masyado pang maaga? Napakalaki din kasing hakbang ng gusto mong itake ninyo."

Jan wiped his tears with the back of his hand, his eyes red and swollen. He looked utterly defeated.

Nick continued, his tone calm and understanding. "Isipin mo, Jan. Nasa peak kayo ng career niyo. Siguro nabigla lang si Stacey. Hindi ko kasi ma-explain sayo lahat ng bagay eh. Hindi naman ako si Lord, 'no. Pero, Jan, hindi naman dahil nadapa ka ay hindi ka na babangon."

Nick gave him a small smile, hoping to lift his friend's spirits. "Sabi nga ng iba, 'fall down seven times, get up eight.' Every time na matutumba, wag kang mag-self pity at sasabihin mong lampa ka. Kailangan matutunan mo kung paano ka tatayo ulit."

Jan let out a shaky breath, his sobbing slowing down. He listened as Nick continued.

"Pwede din kasing mahal ka ni Stacey, pero hindi pa enough yun. Malay mo mas gusto niya pang patibayin yung kung anong meron kayo. Nung bumalik ka after mo siya i-ghost, hinayaan ka niyang mag-explain ng sarili mo. Sana ganon din ang gawin mo sa kanya. Pakinggan mo siya, Jan. Panigurado meron siyang magandang dahilan. Ngayon na may tiwala at kumpiyansa ka na sa sarili mo, sana magtiwala ka din sa taong gusto mong mahalin."

Jan hugged Nick tighter, his chest heaving as the weight of Nick's words settled in. Though he still cried, there was a slow, gradual acceptance in his nodding.

Nick patted his back. "Kaya mo 'to, Jan. Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Hindi pa rin siya tapos sayo."

As Jan's breathing evened out, Nick pulled away slightly, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Tara na. Uwi muna tayo. Magpahinga ka. Bukas, mag-decide ka kung ano ang susunod mong gagawin. Pero wag mong tatapusin 'to nang hindi kayo nag-uusap ulit."

Jan nodded silently, wiping the last of his tears.

Nick pulled out his phone and called Guill, giving him a quick update. "Bro, I'll drive Jan home. Kaya naman ni Stacey 'yan, siguro kailangan din nilang magpahinga muna."

Guill, still with Stacey, glanced at her worried face and nodded into the phone. "Sige. Dito muna kami."

Nick hung up and helped Jan into the car, casting one last glance at the beach. He hoped that whatever was broken tonight could still be mended.

Meanwhile, Guill turned to Stacey, who was now sitting on the blanket, looking lost and drained. "He's fine, Stacey. Don't worry. Nick is driving him home."

Stacey sniffled, wiping away the last of her tears. "Sigurado ka?"

Guill gave her a soft, reassuring smile. "Yeah. Tara na. Ihatid muna kita sa inyo. Next time na kayo mag-usap ni Jan. You both need rest. It's been a long night."

Stacey nodded, her eyes still filled with worry, but she allowed Guill to help her up. As they walked toward the parking area, Stacey stole one last glance at the fairy lights, the setup that was meant to be a moment of joy but had turned into something far more complicated.

Guill led her to his car, casting her a warm smile as they drove off into the quiet night. Tomorrow, things would be different. They both just needed time.