"Zafh?" sabi ni Xandrev pagkalabas niya ng banyo, habang kitang-kita ang pagtulo ng tubig mula sa kanyang ulo pababa sa kanyang katawan.
Infairness may ibubuga naman ang mga muscles ni Xandrev.
Nakatopless kasi ito kaya kitang kita ang hindi dapat makita ng mga mata ko. At hindi kalaunan ay hinubad na rin ni Eli ang suot nitong v neck shirt.
Bigla tuloy ay napalunok ako at napapikit sa kadahilanang maakit ako sa katawan nito.
My virgin eyes! You sinful creatures...
Why do they love showing up shirtless? Then again, I’m the one who walked into this room. No one invited me. I guess I should blame myself later.
"I came here to see you, not to see your abs." pang aasar ko kay Xandrev na hindi pinapansin ang presensya ni Eli kahit pa katabi lamang niya ito.
Try harder Zafh. Kung bakit ba kasi hindi ko maiwasang tumingin dito. Sinusubukan ko naman ngunit mukang tinatraidor ako ng aking sistema.
"You really came here to see me?" halos pandilatan ko na ito ng mata upang lang tigilan na ako nito.
Xandrev? Please I need your cooperation.
"Yes. I just came here to SEE YOU XANDREV." may diin kong paglilinaw dito.
"Ooohhhhh!!" ring naming hiyaw ni Isaac.
That's Isaac bringing up his psycho character again.
I don't know what to do with you anymore, cousin.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Bro! Michaelson! You haven't informed us about your proposal for Maui!"
Bigla akong natigilan, at parang may nag-utos sa akin na lingunin si Eli. Gusto kong makita ang reaksyon niya. Masaya ba siya? Kaya pa ba niyang tumingin sa akin nang diretso?
When I heard that, it was the most bitter thing I've ever heard in my entire life. Napalunok na lamang ako at hindi ito pinahalata sa kanila.
"You fell from that gorgeous monster, eh? Remember how hard she punched Debbie in the face? She needs justice for that!"
Noon di'y kinuha nito ang tuwalya at tsaka pumasok sa banyo.Gusto kong matawa sa ikinikilos ni Isaac ngayon. If Debbie could only hear those words from him, her face would probably turn as red as a tomato.
"Anong nangyari kay Jan?" Eli asked.
"Tinamaan ng pana ni Kupido." Naiiling na sagot ni Drev matapos ay ngumisi.
"Nagpropose ka na pala kay Maui El," sambit ko.
"Oo."
He just said yes. Just yes.
"Well, I am wishing you all the best things to happen." Ngumiti ako dito na para bang hindi apektado.
Great job Zafh! You are now a nominee for Oscar's award.
Noon din ay nasilayan ko na naman ang mga ngiti niyang totoo—mga ngiting alam kong nagpahulog sa akin. Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko.
He's so happy with Maureen, and I'll be happy for him too because that's all I can do for him right now-accept someone's happiness, even if I'm not part of it.
"Mukhang may mangyayaring riot mamaya sa basement."
Did Xandrev feel the tension between us so that he welcome a topic?
"Gusto kong sumama," maging ako ay nagulat sa nasabi ko.
"Huwag na Zafh. Babae ka, at isa pa delikado para sayo."
"Your sibling is right, Siann. It doesn't suit you." He used to call me by that name.
Siann.
Gusto ko sanang makinig sa kanya but then I realized, it's just pointless.
"I can take care of myself. I am done watching you secretly joining the riot for the past years. Maybe you can let me this time and besides, you'll be there to protect me."
" I will. Always." Ramdam ko na napilitan lamang ito dahil sa pakiusap ko.
"Mauna na ako Drev, Siann. Magkita na lang tayo sa basement mamaya. Someone's waiting for me." tumango si Xandrev bilang tugon.
Kahit hindi niya man sabihin. I knew it was Maureen. Isinarado ko kaagad ang pinto at tsaka umupo sa gilid ng kama ni Drev.
"Okay ka lang ba? Yung mga tingin mo kanina."
"Oo naman. Bakit hindi?" I gave a fake smile.
"You can't hide that from me, Zafh. I know exactly what you're thinking and how you feel. It's okay. It's alright to be hurt, I'm here."
Alam kong kahit hindi ko sabihin, alam niya ang tinutukoy ko. Lumapit siya sakin at tsaka ako niyakap.
"Kahit anong mangyari, kapatid mo ako. I'm always right here by your side. Don't hesitate to call my handsome name. I am just one call away."
I laughed.
Salamat Xandrev.
"Ehem .."
Humiwalay ako mula sa pagkakayakap kay Xandrev.
Isaac.
"You looked like lovers.
Damn Cousins!"
Kinuha ko kaagad ang unan at tsaka ito hinagis sa kanya. Isang batok naman ang natanggap nito kay Xandrev.
"Aray! Insan ano ba?! Hahaha
Oo na. Alam ko naman kasi kung sino yung nagpapatibok tibok ng puso—"
Kaagad naman itong natigilan nang subuan ni Xandrev si Isaac ng tissue.
"Yan ang dapat sa maiingay."
"Enough. Muntik ko ng makalimutan na may naghihintay nga pala sa akin. I'll go ahead. See you when I see you. It's nice seeing you with those fats cousin." I said teasing him.
"The what?! Can't you see I'm wearing this freaking abs?! You blind! Come on, Zafh!"
Drev chuckled at his back. I laughed too.
Hinakbang ko na ang mga paa ko palabas ng pinto nang tawagin pa ako ni Xandrev.
"Zafh!"
"What, Xandrev?"
"I love you." hiyaw nito. I just laugh again.
"By the way. I have a new roommate. Anne Haselton, deadly gorgeous. Wanna meet her?"
"Maybe later?"I chuckled.
Such a flirt guy cousin.
BINABASA MO ANG
The One Who Stares Behind
عاطفيةWhile I was desperately searching for answers, I stumbled upon you-unexpectedly finding you amidst the chaos that even I couldn't untangle. You arrived just when I needed someone the most, yet despite your presence, everything still feels so wrong.
