The first time he uttered the words of breaking up with her, he felt relieved. Calm and composed, even. He was so tired of being second fiddle, of having to live in her shadows. After all the time of waiting for her, he was still made to wait for her when they became a couple. It wasn't fair for him. It wasn't right.
He slugged the bottle of beer, his fifth for the night, and puffed vape to calm his thoughts. He thought he would be able to breathe and move freely when he severed ties with her. He was even proud of himself - the first guy the Phenom fell in love with, and it was him who broke up with her.
Because he was tired of pretending that it was okay to be second in her list of priorities.
But right now, he is tired of pretending that he isn't in love with her.
He puffed another deep one.
Yes, he has been in love with her since the moment he met her, and it didn't die down. Not even when they broke up. He is still in love with her, even if friendship is what they only share now.
And he hopes to have her back in his life.
While his friends have been gregarious, enjoying the night, and him trying to join them in the fracas, his thoughts are only of her. He has been stalking her on social media, and the more he sees her face, the more deep his attraction goes. He took out his cellphone and sent her a message:
To: Baldo
Ly, magkita naman tayo nina Ella o. Libre niyo ako kase nami-miss ninyo ako.
He smiled, knowing that it would annoy her.
"Maligalig tayo ngayon a. Anong meron?" Lang asked, handing him a plate of hors d'oeuvres.
He picked one and took a mouthful, "Di na sumasama si Baldo sa mga lakad natin. Apaka busy ba niya?"
"At naisip mo pa talaga yan habang nakangiti ka. Ang totoo, Jovs?" Lang insisted, also taking a mouthful.
"Wala nga, kulit lang," He said, yawning at her, "Nami-miss ko lang si Baldo. Di pa niya ako nililibre."
Lang looked straight into his eyes, "Bro, walang nililibre si Baldo. Ever."
"Ako kaya, nailibre niya dati," he munched on the salted peanuts and downed them with beer.
"E kayo pa nun, unggoy! Alam mo naman yan... kelangan maging girlfriend muna para manlibre," Lang laughed.
"Sa tingin mo, Lang, pag niliga-"
Jem jumped on the seat beside him, making him spill his beer, "Jem naman o!"
"What? Anong problema mo?" Jem retorted cheekily at him. He just sniffed and went back to wiping the spilt beer on the table with a table napkin.
Lang softly punched Jovee's arms, "Wag kang mambitin, Jovee! Uupakan kita! May sinasabi ka kanina..."
"Wala na ako sa mood," he shrugged off the sting from Lang's punch.
Lang crossed her arms across her chest, "Gusto mong ligawan ulit si Baldo."
He stopped wiping the table and gave his full attention to her, "Wala akong sinabi na ganun."
"Pero yun ang gusto mong sabihin kanina," Lang raised an eyebrow.
"Wala nga, 'Tol. Kaya chill. Wala 'to," he murmured.
"Meron," Lang insisted softly, drowning her words with a bottle of beer.
****************************************
Rachel was shrieking on the phone.
I sighed, "Ate Rach, easy ka lang. We're just going out for lunch."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Space Between
Hayran Kurgu(A Kiefer Ravena and Alyssa Valdez Fanfiction) They have been friends for the longest time. And they wanted it that way, they have been comfortable with it that way. But sometimes, life has a funny way of making them realize that maybe, just maybe...
