At Last, Him

Chapter 16: Undeniable Bond

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow on the small kitchen as I moved around, flipping eggs and stirring the hangover soup simmering on the stove. The sizzle and pop of breakfast filled the air, mixing with the light, rhythmic clinking of utensils. Cam sat at the table, his hair disheveled, looking up at me with a sheepish grin that I'd seen a thousand times before. It was the grin of someone who had no idea the mess he'd caused.

"Man, that smells amazing, Shan," Cam said, stretching his arms above his head. He was acting like any other morning after a night out, oblivious to the chaos he'd unknowingly stirred up.

"Yeah," I replied tersely, keeping my eyes fixed on the stove. I couldn't bring myself to look at him, not after last night. The memory of his slurred confession echoed in my mind, and the frustration bubbled up in me like the soup I was trying so hard not to burn.

Parang naamoy ni Cam ang pagbabago sa aking mood, ang kanyang ngiti ay naglaho habang pinapanood akong gumalaw sa paligid ng kusina nang matalim at maingat. "Okay ka lang?" tanong niya, may bahid ng pag-aalala sa tono ng boses niya.

"Bakit naman hindi?" I said, the sarcasm biting through my words as I turned to set his breakfast in front of him. The clatter of the plate against the table was louder than I intended, and I winced internally.

Napakunot ang noo ni Cam, lalong lumalim ang pagkalito sa kanyang mga mata habang nakatitig siya sa akin. "Galit ka ba sa akin? May ginawa ba ako kagabi?"

Tinitigan ko siya, nararamdaman kong unti-unti nang nawawala ang aking pasensya. Talaga bang hindi niya naaalala? The frustration I'd been holding in threatened to burst. Humigop ako nang malalim na hininga, sinisikap na kontrolin ang sarili ko. "Hindi, Cam," sabi ko sa wakas, tipid ang mga salita ko. "Wala kang ginawa."

The lie hung between us, obvious and painful. He watched me for a moment longer, his expression shifting from confusion to hurt as he picked at the eggs on his plate.

"Shan, I know when something's up with you," sabi niya nang mahinahon, sinira ang katahimikan. "Just tell me what's wrong."

I looked at him, really looked at him, and all I saw was the years we'd spent as best friends—the laughter, the arguments, the nights he drove me home safely. And now, the secret that had lain dormant between us for so long, clawing its way to the surface. The truth was, I wasn't just angry. I was hurt. Because if he'd just told me how he felt, maybe everything would have been different. Maybe I wouldn't be standing here now, nursing a heart that felt bruised from all directions.

"Ayokong pag-usapan," sabi ko, iniiwas ang aking mukha sa kanya at abala sa paghuhugas ng mga pinggan. Ang tunog ng umaagos na tubig ay pumuno sa katahimikan, at naramdaman ko ang bigat ng kanyang titig na parang pinipiga ang aking likod.

Cam let out a sigh, the kind that spoke of surrender. "Alright, Shan," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "But whenever you're ready, I'm here."

And with that, the kitchen fell silent, the only sound the steady drip of water and the beating of my own heart, heavy with everything unsaid.

It was a bit of an odd day, to be honest. The kind where silence hangs between you and a friend, and you're left with nothing but the weight of your own thoughts. Today, I gave Cam a tour—something I was happy to do, but something about it just felt off. Maybe it was because of the pain still lingering in my leg from the injury, or the exhaustion that crept up on me as the hours went by. I had let Cam drive. I still wasn't in the best shape to be behind the wheel, and honestly, I was grateful for the rest.

He drove us around, taking in the sights of the city while I stared out the window, my thoughts a million miles away. I wasn't even paying attention to the usual landmarks that popped up—maybe I should've been, considering it was a day to enjoy. But all I could focus on was... well, everything.