Busy being Yours

18. Always Has, Always Will Be

He looked at me deep in the eye, to the point that it almost made me conscious. Ako ang naunang umiwas ng tingin at pumikit, I slowly leaned my head again on the stairs' bannister.

I don't know if what I said was already enough to say my piece. I don't know if it cleared the air for the both of us, but I'm hoping that I already made a point.

There's Celia. And if she's really someone who holds an important part of his life, then I don't wanna be the one who would make things complicated for the both of them. Unfair sa part ko, unfair sa part ni Celia. Unfair sa pagkakaibigan naming dalawa ni Jas.

I mean, yeah, the sex was good... But if it means destroying what we all currently have, 'wag nalang.

"So we keep still, June?"

Dahil sa biglaang pagsasalita nito ay unti-unti ko na namang minulat ang mga mata ko. I glanced at him.

Ayoko talaga ng ganitong Jason. Parang hindi ko siya kilala but at the same time ay kilalang-kilala. He looks far different from the guy with a gummy smile and defined dimples who always goofs around that I'm used to seeing, but I also know that this serious-looking guy with his lips pressed in a thin line and brows furrowing is also him. Ang kaibahan nga lang ay tila may bumabagabag sakanya.

We've been friends for almost six years now. Hindi naman ako ganun kasamang kaibigan to not master the book of Jason Andres. I know that something is up, the only problem is I don't know what.

"We're always keeping still, Jas. We can't afford to complicate things, ang daming dapat pagkaabalahan. 'Wag na tayong dumagdag pa."

He sighed again.

Nanatili akong nakatitig sakanya, this time ay magkasalubong na ang kilay ko.

Akala ko ay may sasabihin pa siya pero wala na itong kasunod. We did keep still for a few more minutes before I stood up. I noticed how his stance was ready in case I lose my balance, I'm still drunk after all, but I didn't.

"Babalik na ako sa loob, uuwi na ako." pagpapaalam ko. "Tara na?"

He ran his hand through his hair before taking another deep breath. Umiling ito saka may inabot sa bulsa niya. I looked at him as he took out a pack of cigarette, took one and placed it in between his teeth.

"Susunod lang ako," I watched him light his cigarette. "Hatid kita pauwi?"

I wanna say yes. Nakasanayan nang siya talaga ang naghahatid sa 'kin pauwi tuwing may inuman, but surprisingly, things are already a bit different now.

I shook my head, "Sasabay ako kay Kuya. Ihatid mo nalang si Celia."

Tipid niya akong nginitian bago tinanguan. "Hindi ka lasing ha? Mag-aaral ka pa bukas. May reporting sa Community Med sa Lunes."

I scoffed.

I saw how his face glowed when he saw my offended look but I just brushed it off.

"Ikaw ang magtino diyan, don't get too wasted, birthday boy. Mag-aaral pa tayo bukas."

"Yes ma'am," he chuckled, "I'll pick you up at nine in the morning. Meeting pa with SGD."

I nodded. He smiled.

"Happy birthday, Jason." Bulong ko.

He looked up at me, saglit itong humarap sa gilid niya para ibuga ang usok galing sa bibig nito. I scrunched my nose and covered it using my hand. He chuckled.

"Thank you Bebi." He said before grinning at me again, this time he looked more like the Jason that I've always known.

My smile got wider.