Darren Espanto? My ex-friend. (Darren Espanto and Juan Karlos Labajo)

Chapter 10: Promise? Promise.

Darren's POV

"Hi tito," I greeted tito Niel once we got back from Manila. It was already Sunday. Juan Karlos, Lygienel, Nash, Ron, Hayes and I are going back to school tomorrow and do some catching up. Tomorrow will be very very different. I'll ignore Lygienel starting tomorrow. I hope I'll survive.

"How's your trip?" tito Niel asked me. I smiled and about to answer when my mom, dad and my little sister, Lynelle, got out of the van and went inside the house. "Pare," dad greeted tito Niel, man-hugging him. I chuckled a bit and went to the living area. I saw Juan Karlos and kuya Rhed talking to each other. My heart beat quicken. Did Juan Karlos told kuya Rhed? 

Flashback~ (Chapter 9: Word Hunts and Crosswords)

"...Why don't we make a deal, Darren?" he asked. I immediately went back to my senses. I looked at him with a puzzled face. "Now that I confessed to you that I love her, will you please keep it as a secret? If you'll agree, I'l keep your secret as a secret, too," he said, smiling a bit. Should I trust him?

"Deal?" I told him, extending my hand for him to shake. Instead of Juan Karlos to shake it, he squeezed it really hard, making me wince in pain. "Deal," he grinned. "Pero sinisigurado ko sa'yong.. mapapabilis ang pagsasabi mo ng totoo. At, sinisigurado ko din na, sa bibig mo lalabas ang katotohanan," he said. If he is planning to tell the truth to Lygienel.. I would care less.

End of flashback~

"Hey there, Darren!" kuya Rhed greeted me as he patted the seat beside him. I sat and smiled at him. "How was your trip?" he asked. I smiled and then answered, "It was fine though, we all actually enjoyed it." He grinned at me. "My sister told me that she can't join us on our bonding today, she's tired.. so.. I let her rest," kuya Rhed said. Juan Karlos and I both nodded and smiled at kuya Rhed.

"It's okay, kuya. I wanted her to rest din kasi." I told him. We talked about NBA, Super Bowl and other stuffs when kuya Rhed mentioned a name of a guy. "Then, I just suddenly remember Gio," he sighed and said. Gio? Who's Gio?

"Who's Gio?" Juan Karlos and I both questioned at the same time. Kuya Rhed looked at us with a sad look evident on his face. "You really want to know, don't you?" he asked us. We eagerly nodded making kuya Rhed sigh so deep.

"Gio was Lygienel's childhood friend and childhood sweetheart. They were really really close with each other. When they were 9 years old, Gio left for States. He came back to the Philippines when they were 11, Gio was a model already. Again, they went schooling together. And in an instant, Gio became famous because of his looks. Then, he bullied Lygienel until they become 12. After that school year, Gio was no where to be found. Until now," kuya Rhed sadly told us. I felt knives stabbed me right on my chest.

I felt bad for Lygienel. I feel so guilty, so bad. I never knew that someone would ever do that to Gienel. I really feel guilty.

"Darren and Juan Karlos, you're both my sister's friends right?" he asked us. I looked up at kuya Rhed and nodded. Then, kuya Rhed put his hand on our knees. "Please, please promise me that you're not going to imitate Gio and do that to my sister again, I don't want her getting hurt," he begged. I want to promise kuya Rhed but, I can't. I can't promise that. Because, anytime now, the truth shall be revealed.

"I promise not to imitate Gio and do that to Lygienel," Juan Karlos promised. Then, Juan Karlos raised his eyebrows at me and smirked. "How about you, Darren? You're not going to hurt my sister, right?" kuya Rhed asked, making me pale. I swallowed my saliva and closed my eyes. I'm so sorry kuya Rhed, I just hurt your sister and she's going to realize it.. real soon. I just did hurt her, I'm sorry.