To Be With You

Chapter 2 : Little Rays of Sunshine

~PONS~

Pons is about to gather his things from the Library Desk deciding to finish his readings at home when someone softly tapped him by the shoulder...

"Pons... going home already?" It was Yen looking glum and trying hard to look otherwise...

"Uh... I... yeah but it's early yet if...” but seeing the deep furrows in her pretty forehead and the stiff corners of her lips… “Hey, is there something you want to talk about?"

These past two years despite Pons' determined resolve not to get too close, Yen managed to maneuver herself into a comfortable friendship with him... seeking him out whenever she and Troy  had an argument or a fight making him an unwilling listener, comforter and confidant... to which he couldn't say no...  

He was powerless to resist her, like a moth to a flame, like a wet puppy  seeking warmth, his heart is addicted to her smile...

"I called my Mom, told her not to fetch me because I'm walking home with you..." she tried so hard to smile but it didn't reach her eyes...

"Walk? or ride my bike while I do the walking?" He playfully berated Yen to which she responded this time with a genuine smile...

"Uh, yeah? if you'll let me?"

 "Sure... as if you needed to ask? where's Troy? is he coming with us?"

"Duh? since when did he ever walk home with us?" Pons could see the disappointment returning to her pretty almond eyes...

"Another fight?"

"As usual..."

"What about?"

Pons hitched this own backpack on his back and snatched Yen's to carry it for her... Yen tried to pull it back but she knew it would be futile since Pons would take it from her eventually and so she gave in...

"Watch out,  it's a bit loaded with books Pons..."

"It's ok... so what was the argument about this time?"

"You remember that he promised to join us this weekend at my house to study for next week's quarterly exam right?"

"Let me guess, he can't make it?" Pons is trying hard to keep his voice neutral despite the sudden surge of joy at the possibility of a studying alone with Yen minus Troy

"Right... and for such a lame excuse too..."

"What's the excuse this time?"

"The usual... Basketball Practice..."

"But there'll be no game during the examination week so what's the practice for?"

"Nothing really, just so he and his teammates could have a legal excuse to hang out, shoot a few ball and play with whoever groupie is present..."

Pon and Yen stopped by at the guardhouse to fetch the bike before exiting the school gate, Yen  waved goodbye to some of her girlfriends who are still around… and it didn’t pass Pons’ sharp eyes that some of their classmates had this curious look in their eyes upon seeing them together minus Troy…

Pons shook his head and stifled a groan… “Troy, really, he promised me he’ll make better grades this third quarter since he barely managed some decent ones the first two quarters…”

Yen suddenly felt alarmed and “Do you think he’ll manage to get passing grades enough to qualify him an entrance at a good university?” she anxiously asked Pons

“Don’t worry Yen, even if he bungled his grades, his coach will manage to get him into a good university with a basketball team… Troy is really skilled so there’s no need for you to worry…”

When Yen was about to ride the bike, Pons hitched Yen’s bag on top of his own at his back and assisted her in mounting the bike…

“You’re sure I won’t get in trouble with Troy for allowing you to ride the bike on the streets? He almost decapitated me last time you know…”

“Oh don’t mind him at all… he’s just overreacting to compensate for all the times he neglected me… he’s all talk you know, he’s really nothing but a nag.”

Pons let go of the rear of the bike when he felt Yen’s pedaling becomes stable…

“Just keep it slow ok?” he warned…

“Don’t worry I won’t speed ahead and lose you…” Yen smiled before pedaling a step’s distance away from Pons and all he could do is just sigh at the impossible situation he’s got himself into… watching the girl of his dreams, always from a distance and the little crumbs of time spent with her are but little rays of sunshine enough to shed light and a little bit of warmth in the bleak secret place he’s hidden his heart.

~YEN~

It was like a reflex, an involuntary reaction to whatever bad or awful happening between her and Troy, the first instinctive and coherent thought is to go find Pons...  Troy's bestfriend since childhood and hers these last two years at least... he'd been there for her and Troy since the beginning of their courtship... a quiet but dependable friend... there even was a time during freshman year when she actually thought Pons feels something special for her but when he supported Troy's courtship she gave up the stupid notion about Pons...

"Hey you promised to slow down..."

Yen was shaken out of her reverie finally registering in her brain that Pons is hollering behind her and immidiately hit the break and almost toppled over if not for Pons immidiately grabbing the rear of the bike and balancing it by sheer force... 

Yen mounted off the bike in haste and... "I'm sorry Pons I got so carried away... there was no traffic at least..." and then she smiled...

"Troy will skin me alive had anything happened to you..." Pons declared

"As if he cares?" 

"Of course he does... you're his girlfriend and he care about you..."

"You're just saying that because he's your friend..."

"And it's true too..."

"How do you know?"

"I just know..." Pons replied 

"How? when you two haven't spoken to each other for ages now since he's so busy with those stupid practices and games..."

"Yen..." Pons warned the now angry Yen

"What? I'm just stating facts... when was the last you two hang out?"

and when Pons couldn't reply... Yen knew she hit some sensitive spot in him and...

"I'm sorry Pons... I guess I'm still pissed... with him, not at you and I'm sorry for taking it out on you..."

Pons expression cleared and managed a hint of a smile...

"It's ok Yen I'm used to it already..."

"I'm really sorry Pons... there are times I couldn't help asking  why he couldn't be more like you..."

"That's unfair Yen... you shouldn't be saying that don't let Troy hear you say that..."

"I know Pons, I know... he just piss me so bad sometimes that I'm afraid I'm beginning to lose faith in him... worse, I'm beginning to  hate him..." Yen instinctively look up at his face to gauge any reaction but all she could see was a very sad look on his face...

"Yen, I think you and Troy badly needs to talk... you should be saying these things to him not to me..."

"I know but he couldn't make the time..."

"Then we'll find a way for him to make the time..." 

"I wish..." 

"Stop wishing Yen, if you love him you have to make him listen to you..."

Yen wanted to tell Pons that talking to Troy is not on top of her wish list right now... she almost blurted out in his face, in her boyfriend's bestfriend's face that right now it was Him and not Troy she wishes to tell all the pent up emotions and confusions in her heart, that for quite a while now, it was Pons and not Troy she wants to be with.

*I will try to update and edit this chapter after school today... promise :))