My Bestfriend's Brother

Kabanata 2

K A B A N A T A  2

Ninerbyos siya habang nakikita niyang nagbubuntong-hininga si Bryan. Naghihintay siya sa mga salitang ibibigkas niya. Bawat hinga niya para siyang tatae, nakakakaba. Who knows what will happen next? She doesn't know what.

After taking time, he finally begun to speak, "It started when both of us went to attend Tito Jack's wedding. I saw Angela with a priest.."

Wait, what? Ba't may Angela?

Biglang nagbago ang timpla ng mukha. Her hopes went low and dreams flushed away just like that. Tumingin siya sa kaibigan at nakangiting nagkukwento sakaniya. Is Angela really that important? Pinilit nalang niyang makinig at ngumiti.

"This priest.. He inspired me and we talked alot of things. Things..that you know, things that I haven't realize and known for a long time. Days passed, I met Angela and I've been thinking about.."

She looked at him intently. What? He developed feelings for her that easily?

"Then what?" Hinintay niya itong magsalita. He sighed and took a lot of time before saying it.

"I decided to enter the seminary."

Napakurap siya sa sinabi nito. She waited for him to say that it is all a joke pero nanatiling seryoso ang mukha ng kaibigan.

"L-Like what? Seminary..you m-mean..actually w-what? Huh?!"

"A priest. I want to become a priest."

Napatanga ang dalaga sa narinig. She was waiting for him to say 'joke' but seconds had passed, seryoso pa rin itong nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Y-You want to become a priest?" Her voice was low and calm-well trying to be-and still surprised. Her friend nodded and smiled lightly. No wonder...

Ngiti pa lang alam mo ng mabait at respetado. His innocence was no other. Kaya pala these past few days ang religious ng messages niya sakaniya. Kaya pala.

"Then, a-anong meron sa inyo ni Angela?" Napahiyang tanong niya. Nahiya siya bigla sa kaibigan dahil sakaniyang naisip.

He chuckled, "Angela's a nun."

What?

Mas lalo siyang nahiya. She talked bad about Angela inside her malicious mind not knowing that the girl was a nun. Uminit ang pisingi niya. She's totally emberassed.

"Do I have your support?" Tanong bigla ng kaniyang kaibigan. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Totoo, wala siyang masabi sa pagpapari nito. Hindi nga niya alam kung susuporta siya dito ng buongbuo. Everything was unexpected and unprepared.

There was a long silence between the both. Wala talagang salita na lumalabas sa bibig niya. She doesn't know what to say.

Nakita niyang mapait na ngumiti ang kaibigan, "Well I guess it's a no, then?"

Bigla siyang nakonsensiya. Base sa tono ng pananalita nito, malungkot ang pagkatanong nito sa kaniya.

Napabuntong-hininga siya, "Honestly, hindi ko alam." She looked straight into his eyes. "I really don't know.. Nakakagulat kasi.."

"I understand how you feel. Hindi naman minamadali ang lahat. I kind of expected that reaction from you.. Especially 'cause you are my bestfriend." He chuckled, "But I will still wait for your answer no matter what. Alam na nina kuya, mama, papa at iba pang relatives ko at pumayag na silang lahat. Siyempre, meron ding naghihinayang pero pumayag rin naman. Right now all I need is your answer. Hindi ako susuko hangga't hindi ka pa nakapagdesisyun."

Tumulo ang luha niya ng tuluyan. Suminghot pa siya. Nakakakonsensiya talaga kasi she knows herself. Alam niyang sa sarili niya tutol siya pero ang selfish pakinggan. Bakit kailangan niya ang sagot nito? Desisyon iyong ng kaibigan pero gusto talaga nitong maiconfirm sa kaniya.

"Oy wag ka namang umiyak. Ikaw talaga.." Napaiyak na din si Bryan sakaniya.

Ngumiti siya dito, this time, masayang ngiti, "Ikaw kasi, eh. Pagpapasok ka ng seminaryo, matagal tayong hindi magkikita."

Bigla siyang niyakap ng kaibigan. Naramdaman niyang ngumingiti ito, "Bestfriend kita. Hinding hindi kita malilimutan kahit anong mangyari. You're one of the best thing that happened to my life." Anito at mas lalo siyang napaiyak. "I love you, bestfriend."

Humagikhik siya habang umiiyak at niyakap niya pabalik ang kaibigan, "Pakyu ka talaga, Bry." Ginulo nito ang buhok niya. "Wag ka nga.." Suminghot siya.

Bestfriends...

For the last time, tumingin siya sa mata ng bestfriend niya, huminga ng malalim at sinabing, "I love you too, bestfriend. Please take care of yourself when you get there, ha? Hindi na pala kailangan kasi puro mabubuting tao ang makakapaligid mo doon. Huwag mong kalimutan magsipilyo tuwing gabi. Minsan kasi tinatamad ka. Huwag mo ding kalimutang maglaba kasi pagpumasok ka ng seminaryo, matuto kang maglaba at maging independent. Ibahin mo anc color at di color. Wag ka ring tanga, ha? Just please take care of yourself.."

Tumawa siya, "Opo, 'Nay. Masusunod po ang iyong gusto."

Binatukan niya ito, "Gago ka talaga."

And that was their last time together. That night, they cried and laughed their heart out. They spent too much time together. And that was too much happiness for the both of them. At the end of the day, they were still bestfriends. Because little did they know, something was about to change.

I wish you happiness. She smiled as she looked at him. They hugged each other.