The Space Between

Chapter 20: Pandora

Then it was a whirlwind of activities... school, practice, presscons, appearances... I feel like I'm being swallowed alive by time. Or maybe I feel like I'm running after time.

I have to strictly adhere to my schedule, otherwise, I'll be eaten alive by all of my activities.

... And then there's Kiefer.

I'm not exactly sure how to describe what is happening between us. But I've slowly come to terms to what there is between us.

Like how we are as friends most of the time. And how we are when just being by ourselves...

"Ly, are you gonna finish that chicken?"

"Kief, kung totoong mahal mo ako, 'wag na 'wag mong pakialaman ang nasa plato ko."

"Sayang kase, Ly. Maraming nagugutom sa mundo..."

"Save the best for last ang drama ko ngayon, Kief. So please, stop..."

His smile was so huge, that even his eyes were smiling, too. "Just in case, Ly: ako na ba ang last mo?"

"Pwede, kung hindi kita mapapatay sa kakulitan mo," I said, slapping his hands away from my plate.

That's how it is between us now. Friends alternating to something greater than being friends.

But when the night comes, before I'd go to bed, I'd open the box of Pandora and stare at it for a long time.

Can I wear it now? Should I? Will I?

Then I heard my phone's notification. It's Jovee. That really made me curious. I checked on his message:

From: Jovee

Hi, Ly. Nami-miss na kita. Pakita ka naman sa amin o. Reunion of sorts ng mga balibolista ng USTe. Tayo-tayo lang.

Well, that would be fun... I miss them guys. I checked my calendar. It seems really impossible...

To: Jovee

You're alive. I'll try but I can't make any promises yet. Next month pa mafi-free up ang sched ko.

From: Jovee

Arte mo na ngayon. Haha, joke lang. E sa next month ka pa pala free e. So next month ulit kita yayain. Wag mong isama si Ravena ha? Tayo tayo lang yun.

To: Jovee

Mas maarte ka ngayon. At oo, di ko naman talaga isasama si Kiefer. Kaya kong pumunta mag-isa ko. At sabi mo nga, USTe lang di ba?

I was about to disregard my phone and go back to Kiefer's gift, when my phone vibrated again.

From Jovee:

So dati ba, hindi ako maarte? Di naman ako nagbago, Ly. Ako pa rin si Jovee. The Jovee you looked up to as a big brother, the Jovee who fell in love with you. O bago negative reaction, aware naman ako sa paths na kinuha natin, and I guess we're both happy na. Ang gusto ko lang sabihin is, di pa rin naman ako nagbago. Flaws and all.

There are times in your life when you just let go and not dwell on the past. Not because it's still painful. But it just isn't relevant to what is happening right now, except for what has been learned in the process.

And it is just one of those times.
* * * * * * *

"Ly, saan tayo?"

We were in his car, and he offered to bring me home. Well, it seems to be automatic for him nowadays to bring me home, whether in my condo or at the dorm.

"Gutom ka ba? We could grab a bite before heading home...," I suggested.

"Makita lang kita, busog na ako," he smiled, trying to provoke and start something, of which made me automatically slap his arm, and him, to complain.