Forevermore

// As endless as forever
Our love will stay together //

OCTOBER 17, 2013

Around 12pm

"Zeke boi." Kiel heard someone call one of his "pet names," just before the owner of the voice emerged from the hallway.

"Tope." Kiel acknowledged.

"Ang lalim na naman ng inisip mo ah. Ano ba 'yan?" Tope asked, but before Kiel could even respond, someone suddenly interrupted.

"Mali ka, Tops. Hindi dapat "ano" ang tinatanong mo diyan kay Ezekiel, kundi "sino."" Tope was obviously confused by the comment of the other guy, who just joined in their conversation.

"Hoy, Ezekiel. Alam kong best friend mo si Dayle, pero hindi naman yata tama na mas marami siyang alam sa akin. Baka naman pwede mo rin naman kwentuhan!" Both Kiel and the other guy, Dayle, laughed at Tope's remark. And, even if Tope was supposed to be angry at their reaction, he ended up laughing with them.

From afar, two ladies, who were passing by, saw them and thought the boys looked like lunatics having a grand time.

"Pero, seryoso nga. Ano bang sinasabi nito ni Dayle? Sino ba'ng iniisip mo at natutulala ka ng ganyan, Zeke?" Kiel was surprised that Tope still didn't let go of the topic even after the three of them laughed it off.

Instead of giving a straight answer, Kiel pointed to the sun, which was blazing hot then because it was past twelve noon, and then pointed to Dayle after.

Tope may look like he's a slow guy, but he liked solving clues, and that one was a piece of cake to him.

"Holy shit. Trip mo 'yong kapatid ni Dayle?! Si Shine?!" Kiel and Dayle still get surprised whenever Tope figures out their challenges and puzzles, and that was not an exception.

Kiel slowly clapped his hands in amazement, and Tope started jumping in celebration after knowing he guessed it right.

"Ano na'ng balak mo ngayon?" Dayle asked Kiel out of nowhere, while Tope was busy celebrating beside them.

"Ayos lang ba sa'yo kung liligawan ko 'yong kapatid mo?" The two of them have known each other since they were in grade school. They have been best of friends ever since, but that was the first time Dayle saw Kiel dead set and serious about something—someone—and he had no doubt that Kiel will take good care of his baby girl.

But, then, Dayle also knew the decision wasn't his to make.

"Si Sinag lang ang makakasagot n'yan, Ezekiel." Kiel turned into stone at the mention of her name.

It wasn't the first time it happened, but Dayle still found it entertaining whenever he saw just how much power his sister had over his best friend.

And to think they haven't even met personally yet.

"Tingnan mo 'to. Hindi mo pa nga nakakausap 'yong kapatid ko, natatameme ka na. Paano pa kapag kaharap mo na siya? Eh alam mno namang suplada rin 'yon." Dayle didn't want Kiel to panic, but he wanted the guy to be prepared when he finally comes face to face with his sister.

Since Dayle never got to formally introduce Kiel to Shine, he knew his best friend will have a difficult time starting a conversation with her.

Shine had these invisible walls that surrounded her—so thick and so tall—even Dayle has a hard time getting through sometimes, and he didn't want his best friend to say he hasn't been warned.