decoding the boys ✔️

65 | is it worth it?

"Seryoso kayo?" tanong ko sa kanila.

Nasa Mall of Asia kami ngayon, papunta ng parking lot. Medyo tipsy na ang boys dahil dalawang oras na rin kaming umiinom sa seaside. From dinner sa Timog kasi, dumiretso kami dito para i-celebrate ang birthday ni Kuya Nick.

"When are we not serious, cuz?" tumatawang sagot ni Gian sa 'kin, sabay akbay. Namumula na ang pisngi niya, sign na malapit nang malasing nang todo ang loko. Yet they still want to go to Tagaytay?

"Maganda do'n sa Papa Ds. We can continue there para maiba naman. Then later, let's drink coffee, wait for the sunrise, eat bulalo and then hit the hay," said Kuya Paul to me as we finally reached his black sedan.

On normal days, I would happily jump at the offer but the boys were clearly drunk. We're an accident waiting to happen kung matutuloy 'to so naturally, I shot down the idea.

"Aksidente yata habol n'yo. You guys are drunk," sabi ko. "Lalo ka na, Kuya. You can't drive. Let's go home na lang," I said to Kuya Paul in disbelief.

Humalakhak si Kuya Onyx. Binuksan niya ang pinto at tinulak papasok si Kuya Paul. "Who said he's driving? Kakapagawa lang ng kotse n'yan. Nobody's breaking anything under my watch."

Psh. Nagsalita ang isa pang lasing na rin.

Napatingin ako sa mga kapatid ko. Kuya Nick and Kuya Jacob were both tipsy. They were in no way capable of driving, too. Mathev, Gian, and the rest were just as drunk. If only Kuya Travis and Kuya Nick were here, mas may chance na mapapayag ko silang umuwi na lang muna.

Kuya Andrei tapped my shoulder. "Get in, Jav. I'll drive. Konti lang nainom ko."

"You sure you can?"

He gave a light smile, nodding.

Mula sa loob, sumigaw si Nick. "Have some faith, kapatid! Beterano na 'yan!"

Sighing, I relented. Kung sana may license na ako, I could drive for us since 'di naman ako uminom but unfortunately, wala pa kaya no choice ako kundi magtiis. Bummer.

Our ride had been smooth. Nasa front seat si Kuya Chris habang katabi ko sina Mathev at Kuya Paul. Nasa likod naman at nagkakantahan 'tong sina Gian, Kuya Jacob at Kuya Onyx. I think they were starting to sober down. Buti naman. Habang busy sa kantyawan ang mga nasa likod, humilig sa 'kin si Kuya Paul.

"So . . . " he trailed, "how is he?"

Nilingon ko siya. There were no signs of doubt, hurt or anything negative on his face. Just curiosity plain as the day.

"Racel?" I mouthed.

He nodded.

Napaisip ako. Ano ba ang tamang sagot sa tanong niya? There were no words available in our dictionary that could begin to describe what I feel for him and how we were as a couple. We were simply . . . content. Okay na ba 'yon?

"We're happy," I said and added, "and content. Definitely content."

I mean, I could share with him my most darkest thoughts, my inner secrets, my days, my nights-everything under the sun. Which for me is very sexy and uplifting dahil bihira na lang tayo makahanap ng tao na sobrang mag-ci-click sa 'tin. And I really appreciate those moments dahil mas nakikilala namin ng lubos ang isa't isa.

How many couples can say that about themselves, right? Ano pa ba ang hahanapin ko.

"Good. 'Yon lang naman ang mahalaga sa 'min," sabi niya sabay pitik sa noo ko. He didn't say anything else but his words left a lasting mark in me.

That was his quiet way of giving us his seal of approval, right?

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They were right about one thing. Chill nga lang dito sa Paps.