Vrixian: The Missing Piece

Chapter 12: The Night at Vrix's Place

In the days following Christian's decision to distance himself, Vrix found himself growing increasingly frustrated. Alam niyang siya ang nag-umpisa nito kaya naman dapat hindi na siya nagtaka pa ngunit hindi. Iba ang nararamdaman niya ngayon. Alam niya na nakaramdam na si Christian, kaya ito naging distant sa kaniya, at unti unti rin naman na nagsisimula na siyang maiirita. He didnt want that to happen so he tried to initiate a conversation or offer help; however, Christian would respond with polite but cold indifference. Ngayon, nagsisimula nang magsisi sa naging desisyon niya. The once easy-going atmosphere between them had become tense, and Vrix didnt like it one bit.

Bakit naman niya magugustuhan kung ang tao na gusto niyang malapit sa kaniya sa lahat ng bagay ay dumidistansya? No, hindi niya gusto ito.

"Christian," tawag ni Vrix and Christian looked up. "Did you finish the report I asked for?" Vrix asked, trying to keep his tone as neutral as possible despite this irritation dahil sa walang kahit na anong emosyon sa mga mata ni Christian.

"Yes, Sir Vrix." Halos magwala na si Vrix nang marinig niya kung ano ang tawag sa kaniya ni Christian. "Na-send ko na sa email mo," sagot pa nito na hindi man lang siya tinapunan ng tingin mula sa computer.

Vrix frowned. He hated this. Christian's tone was formal, almost robotic, grating on his nerves. Huminga nang malalim si Vrix, "Good," he said curtly before walking away, clenching his fists in frustration.

Kelan ba naging ganito si Christian? When did it start? He didn't know.

As the days passed, Vrix's annoyance only grew. He noticed how Christian would avoid eye contact, how he would quietly slip out of the room when Vrix entered, and how their conversations had become painfully short and devoid of any warmth. Halos mabaliw na si Vrix dahil doon ngunit hindi niya alam kung paano ito mareresolba. Namimiss ba niya ang mga dati nilang pag-uusap? O may mas malalim na dahilan na hindi pa niya kayang harapin?

That's right, alam niya na dahil ito sa nalaman niya ngunit wala pa rin siyang lakas ng loob na kausapin si Christian. Naguilty kasi siya dahil sa mga ginawa niya gayong wala na naman sila ng nobya nito.

On the other hand, Christian was in turmoil. Ignoring Vrix was much harder than he thought. Every time he saw Vrix, a strange pang of guilt and confusion would hit him. Hindi talaga niya alam kung paano niya ito naramdaman. He couldn't understand why he was affected by Vrix's shifting moods. Was it because he missed the way they talked? Christian almost slapped himself. Paano naman niya mami-miss kung normal lang naman na usapan iyon! Or was it something deeper that he wasn't ready to admit to himself?

Marahas na napailing si Christian. Nagiging delulu na naman siya.

Dahil sa dami ng kaniyang iniisip, dahil sa mga nangyari, napagpasyahan na lamang ni Christian na mag-unwind muna. He found himself at a bar, ordering drink after drink, trying to drown out the thoughts swirling in his mind.

Hindi kasi niya magawang maialis ang ilang mga bagay sa kaniyang isipan.

Meanwhile, Ben was out with some of his friends when he noticed a familiar figure slumped over the bar counter. Bago pa lamang niyang nakilala si Christian ngunit dahil person of interest siya ng kaniyang matalik na kaibigan, talagang pinag-aralan niya ang lahat dito.

Sandali na napatigil si Ben, he squinted, trying to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Sa pagkakaalala kasi niya, hindi mahilig si Chrisitian na magtungo sa ganitong lugar.

"Christian?" he called out, walking closer. When he saw Christian's face, flushed and eyes half closed from drinking too much, he immediately grew concerned.

Napaisip si Ben kung mayroon bang pinagdaraanan si Christian upang lunurin niya ang kaniyang sarili sa ganitong paraan.

"Christian? anong nangyari sa 'yo?" tanong ni Ben, umiling habang umupo sa tabi ni Christian.

Christian mumbled something incoherent, his words slurring together. Halata namang lasing na lasing na ito. Ben sighed, knowing there was only one person who could deal with this kind of situation. Of course, hindi rin naman siya tatawag ng ibang tao para i-deal si Christian. He pulled out his phone and dialed his best friend, Vrix's number.

Hindi naman nagtagal ang pag-ring nang sagutin ito kaagad ni Vrix. "Hello?"

"Vrix, you need to come down to the bar. I saw him here, Christian, I mean. He's here at the bar and he's really drunk. I think he needs someone to take him home, and I am not in the position to do that."

Mabilis naman na nagbago ang tono ni Vrix, his irritation turned into concern. "What? Where are you? I'll be there in ten minutes."

Kaagad naman na binigay ni Ben ang address, and true to his word, Vrix arrived quickly, his face a mask of worry. Nang makita niya si Christian na nakasubsob sa bar, halos hindi na makagulapay, kumirot ang puso niya. Sa hindi niya malamang dahilan, pakiramdam niya, kasalanan niya ito.

He hurried over and put his hand on Christian's shoulder and shook it a little. "Channy... Tian, hey, it's me. Let's get you out of here."

Christian looked up, his vision blurry. "Vrix?" he mumbled, blinking slowly as if trying to process what was happening.

Kahit anong pilit niya na i-process ang lahat, hindi naman niya magawa dahil sa nakuha na ng alak ang ulirat niya.

"Yeah, ako 'to. Tara na, uwi na tayo," sagot sa kaniya ni Vrix, malambing ang boses, nalimutan ang lahat ng inis niya kanina. With Ben's help, he managed to get Christian to his feet and out of the bar after he paid for everything.

As they walked towards Vrix's car, Christian leaned heavy on him, mumbling incoherently. Paulit-ulit siyang nagmumura pero may ilang salitang nakakalusot na nagpakirot sa puso ni Vrix. "Bakit..." he paused, which made Vrix look at him. "Bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko...?" bulong ni Christian, halatang litong-lito at nasasaktan.

hindi naman nasalita si Vrix at nang makarating sila sa sasakyan, Vrix drove in silence, glancing at Christian every now and then. He could see the distress on Christian's face, even in his drunken state. Hindi niya maiwasang mag-isip ng kung ano ang nagtulak kay Christian na magpakalasing ng ganito. According to what he gathered, hindi talaga umiinom si Christian kaya naman nagtataka siya. Was it work? Or something more personal? And why was he so affected by the way Christian had been acting lately.

Alam ni Vrix ang apartment ni Christian ngunit wala siyang balak na ihatid si Christian roon. When they arrived at his place, Vrix helped him inside, guiding him to his room and to his bed. "You should get some rest," Vrix said softly as he gently laid Christian down.

Bago pa man makaalis si Vrix sa kwarto niya, bigla siyang hinawakan ni Christian sa pulos dahilan upang mapatigil siya. Mahigpit kahit na lasing na lasing na. "Vrix... bakit ganito... ang nararamdaman ko?" tanong ni Christian, halos bulong na lang. malabo ang mga mata, puno ng kalituhan at isang damdamin na hindi maintindihan ni Vrix.

Vrix swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I don't know, Christian. Maybe... maybe we both need to figure that out. However, right now, matulog ka na lang muna," he replied, his voice equally soft.

Hindi sumagot si Christian. Unti-unti nang pumikit ang mga mata niya, at nagluwag na ang hawak niya sa pulso n iVrix habang tuluyan nang natutulog. Vrix stood there for a moment, watching Christian's peaceful face, before gently pulling his hand away, leaned down, and kissed his forehead.

Habang palabas si Vrix ng kwarto niya, hindi niya maiwasang isipin na may malaki nang pagbabago sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Pero kung mas maganda o mas masama ba ang mangyayari, hindi pa siya sigurado.