T-Shirt Girl (COMPLETED)

TSG 1 - She's Killing Me

"I love her half to death, but she's killing me." --She's Killing Me, A Rocket To The Moon

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"Ano 'yang nasa mukha mo?" He pretended to not feel anything when she touched him. Masakit ang pasa sa mukha nya pero mas masakit ang haplos ng babaeng kahit kailan ay hindi na magiging kanya.

Jasmine's face was etched with worry. She was touching his chin with her fingers, tilting his head gently to the left, as she examines the bruise on his face.

"Oo nga. Parang linggo-linggo na yatang may bangas 'yang mukha mo. Sino na naman ba ang nakaaway mo?" kunot-noong tanong ni Rico.

"For sure, gawa na naman ng girlfriend nya 'yan," kumento ni Gale.

He rolled his eyes as his friends tried to come up with conclusions as to what had happened to him. But he already knew what they were thinking.

"Grabe talaga 'yang girlfriend mo. Ang sama ng ugali!" Gale lamented.

"Magkaugali lang kayo, Gale," sagot niya.

"Excuse me!" Umirap ito sa kanya.

"Ang tibay mo, Toby. Nakakatagal ka ng ganyan?" concerned na tanong sa kanya ni Femi.

"Mahal kasi nya," sabat ni JT, boyfriend ni Femi. Umakbay ito sa kaibigan niya at saka humalik sa pisngi. Femi blushed instantly. Hindi niya napigilang mapangiti.

It's been a while before Femi was finally able to move on from Rico. Nadala ito sa santong tiyagaan ni JT and now, she seemed so happy. Minsan ay naiinggit siya rito. Halos pareho lamang sila ng sitwasyon dati. Silang lima.

They used to chase the wrong tails.

Jazz and Femi loved Rico. Rico loved Gale. Gale loved him. And he loved—and maybe still—loves his best friend, Jazz.

Things changed through time. Gale and Rico are together now. Femi has JT. He has his girlfriend and Jazz was already married to Kent, Gale's brother. Up to the very last minute, he fought for his feelings. He refused to let go. But somehow, seeing her walk down the aisle, all smiles, changed all that. She couldn't take her eyes off of Kent and he knew at that moment that he had to let her go. So he stepped aside and let the groom take his bride to the altar.  

"Toby, isa na lang talaga, susugurin ko na 'yang girlfriend mo," banta ni Jazz.

Nginitian niya ito at kinuha ang kamay nito saka niya idinait sa pisngi niyang may pasa. "Wala lang 'to, best friend. Sanay na 'ko."

They heard someone clear his throat quite loudly. Agad niyang binitiwan ang kamay ng kaibigan. Lumayo naman ito sa kanya nang lumabas si Kent mula sa kusina. Lumapit dito si Jazz at kinuha ang isa sa mga kambal na kalong-kalong nito.

That could not have been his kid because he knew that even if Jazz and Kent didn't end up together, he would still have no chance with her. Because she doesn't love him like he loves her. But his girlfriend does.

"Ano na naman kasi ang ginawa mo at nasuntok ka ng amazona mong girlfriend?" tanong ni Femi. Nakita niyang sinamaan ito ng tanong ni JT. 

Femi felt threatened by her kaya ito naiinis. Baka nga naman kasi maisipan nitong agawin si JT kay Femi. But he won't let that happen.

Because he likes her.

What he feels for her is not as deep and intense as when it comes to Jazz but he feels something, alright. At para na rin sa ikatitino niya, pinanghawakan niya iyon, gaano man kaliit at kababaw. Gusto niya ito. Medyo kaugali ito ni Gale. Mataray at magaan ang kamay. Maarte pa. But he somehow enjoys being punched in the face.