TinamoCafé

Reinier and Nexus

Drink for the day: Empi Dark (cf) because alcoholic coffee is for the strong.

Barista Tip: 'Yung tipong magigising ka sa katotohanang nalasing ka sa maling tao.

It's funny how scenes are supposed to play out differently in real life and in fiction. But fiction was made out of real people's fantasies, and yet it isn't real since it's just a product of our minds. But think about it, your brain is another universe altogether, and isn't another person's fantasy their own reality too?

Let's just say fiction and reality overlaps sometimes, and hilariously, Ryen's moment of that paradoxical coincidence has presented itself to him; in a form of a boy.

Nexus, who may or may not have feelings with Ryen's bestfriend—for nine years and counting—is standing right in front of him. Suspiciously frozen at that too.

And to Ryen's fast reflex and thinking, before Nexus could even bolt away he quickly surged forward to grab the kid by the arm and prevent him from escaping.

Ah, I see, the kid was planning to snitch him out; tell the EXC boys that he was in Ilocos and Nexus just has luckily found him dilly-dallying on the zoo with a small girl—

"May jowa ka na?" Nexus asked, his mouth dropped. "Paano na si Ate Gil?"

"Walang kami, at wala akong jowa." Ryen rolled his eyes and gripped Nexus's arms tighter. "You can't tell anyone I'm here, you understand?"

"Hindi. Bakit bawal? Ang tagal ka na naming hinahanap. Bigla kang nawala, ang daming nag-aalala sa 'yo!"

"I never asked for you people to find me. It's not your choice whether I want to be found or not. Didn't it ever occur to you guys that I left because I want to be alone and away from you?" He says, his forehead knotted in frustration.

Like any other day, Lyka Richardson reached out to touch Ryen's back. This was her form of consolation whenever Ryen feels complicated emotions. Well, it's the only form of comfort Ryen ever accepts anyway.

Of course, Nexus didn't miss the gesture either.

"Magjowa kayo e!"

"Sasaktan na kita, Nex."

Lyka Mich broke the tension by laughing obnoxiously loud. "Hi, ako si Lyka, at hindi kami magjowa. Sadyang close lang kami, hindi kami talo."

Ryen smirked. "Of course not, mababa kasi standards mo. Masyado akong matangkad para sa 'yo."

"Nasa'n na 'yung Rai na iyak ng iyak? Namiss ko s'ya bigla."

Nagngisihan silang dalawa, habang si Nexus ay papalit-palit ng tingin sa kanilang dalawa, nagugulumihanan sa mga nangyayari.

"So, bakit bawal kong ikalat lokasyon mo?" Nexus interjected between the contest or whatever they're doing.

Ryen looked at him and sighed. "Baka mahanap ako ng mga fans ko, alam mo naman na ako ang Diyos ama 'di ba? Kailangan din ni God ng pahinga sa lahat ng milagrong ginawa n'ya."

"Mukhang nahanap mo na ulit sense of humour mo." Nexus rolled his eyes.

"It's just common sense, Nex, calm down." Ryen beamed uncharacteristically.

"Whatever, so . . . can't I at least tell Reinier about this?" Nexus blushed at the mention of his crush.

Ryen's eyebrows rose. "Bakit? Para may dahilan ka para kausapin s'ya? Ayokong tumulong sa torpe, 'wag mo akong gawing rason mo."

Nexus blinked once to let what Ryen said sink in. He opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't utter a single word. Sorry Nexus, you knew how unfiltered and savage Ryen is, why would you even try?