Beyond His World

15

DRAKE.

The next morning, I woke up feeling a little lightheaded. Did I drink last night? Parang hindi naman?

Well... what did I do last night?

It even looks weirder because I woke up on the couch and not on my bed. I'm still trying to figure out whether I really intended to sleep on the couch last night when I suddenly remembered the conversation I had yesterday with my father.

Right, I finally made it out of his hell hole.

But what else happened as I got home? Bakit wala akong maalala?

Ignoring whatever probably happened with a mystery still lingering inside my head, I got up to cook my breakfast and get ready for the day. All I can do today is take a rest and plan about getting a job as soon as possible.

No regrets, though. I'll build my own name from now on. Having no company won't stop me from helping the people in need.

I just finished cooking when the doorbell rang and I immediately went to open the door. Kiel, Cedric, and Hans were there. They were holding bags, which I assume conceal food and drinks for us.

"We found out what happened yesterday and we decided to stay with you today." Cedric mentioned. My eyebrows furrowed.

"How did you guys know? Ikukwento ko palang dapat eh."

"It was all over the news." Hans answered. "And obviously, you haven't seen them yet."

I shrugged before letting them in. They even brought packed lunch, a lot of snacks, and a lot of alcohol.

"How are you holding up?" Kiel asks as he helps me clean the tools I used for cooking.

Cedric and Hans are in the living room, fixing the couch and the floor so we could lie down while watching a bunch of movies.

"Okay lang. It wasn't even too much of a burden for me. Matagal ko naman nang gustong umalis, alam niyo 'yun, nag-iipon lang talaga ako. But I think kaya ko na ngayon."

I dry my hands after washing everything before facing Kiel. He looks worried so I gave him a smile to show him that I'm okay.

"I'm not pretending this time, Kiel. Okay lang talaga ako. Kaya nga kayo na'ndito ngayon, 'di ba? Magcecelebrate tayo!" I cheerfully said, making the both of us laugh.

"Power hug?" I offered, opening my arms infront of him. He took a step forward before wrapping his arms around me.

"Hoy, ang dadaya! Sali kami!" Hans came in running and immediately joined the hug, squeezing Kiel and I together.

Cedric also joined not too long after and all four of us then started the day to have fun and put every bad thing that happened behind us.

---

"What happened na pala to that neighbor of yours? Balita ko nagkakamabutihan kayo ah?" Cedric asks, lightly poking the side of Drake's waist as he teases him.

The other's eyebrows furrowed at that. "Kapitbahay? Yung Simon? Kanino mo naman nalaman 'yan? Ang sungit sungit kaya nun." He answers with an annoyed face.

"Eh akala ko ba dinalhan ka ng pagkain nung nakaraan?" This time, Hans spoke.

Drake's forehead creases even more as he tilts his head to the side.

He chuckles lightly before saying, "Alam niyo, hindi ko alam kung kanino niyo nakuha 'yang kwento na 'yan but Simon never gave me any food. Halos hindi nga kami nagkikita or nagkakausap eh."

The three's eyebrows furrow this time as they give each other confused glances. All their faces scream WHAT? in all possible languages, being totally confused at the situation on hand.

"Refill ko lang 'tong chips natin." Drake excuses himself to go to the kitchen and the three immediately huddled together.

"But why would Lea lie to us?" Cedric whispers and the other two just give him a shrug.

"Baka nang-aasar lang si Lea? Alam mo naman silang dalawa, parang magkapatid na. Kasi why would Drake lie to us?" Kiel answers.

"What if ayaw lang pag-usapan ni Drake because their situation is complicated?" Hans asks this time.

"How would their situation be complicated? Magkapitbahay na nga sila eh." Kiel says, as a joke, making the three of them chuckle.

He quickly takes it back, though, saying, "Joke lang. Well, 'di naman natin alam yung buong kwento so bahala na siguro. Kaya na nila 'yan."

He finishes and they all agree before Drake comes back to the living room and they act as if nothing happened.

----

CEDRIC.

I immediately made my way to the balcony after responding to Hans' message. Ezekiel even called my name but I didn't look back.

Siraulo ka talaga, Hans. Wala sa hulog ampota.

"Hello." He casually greeted with a smile on his face as I enter the balcony.

I look back, making sure the other two weren't there, before closing the sliding door behind me and standing infront of Hans.

"Seriously? At a balcony?" I said before the two of us bursted into laughter.

Oh my god, this is awkward.

Nakakakilig, though, kainis. Natatanggal angas ko, hindi pwede 'to.

"May I hold your hands?" Hans politely asks and I nod before he took two of them.

He gently plants a kiss on top of my knuckles before looking at me in the eyes.

Feeling ko matutunaw ako. Ang intense naman tumitig nito. TuT

"Ced– love..."

I snickered upon hearing Hans' endearment for me.

"Walang label pero love ang tawagan. Hanep ah." I joked, making us laugh.

"Kainis naman 'to! Stop ruining the moment!" Hans said, getting frustrated now but still laughing along with me.

"Well, tama ka naman, but ngayon may karapatan na talaga akong tawagin kang love." He said before breathing deep.

"Cedric... will you, pretty please, let me be your boyfriend, and let's make this official?" Hans finally asks. I pulled him into a hug before nodding.

"I thought you'd never ask."

He pulled away from me before gently cupping me face 'till we shared a sweet precious kiss.

Our First Kiss.

We kissed with our heart's desire until–

"Really? In MY penthouse?" ... we were interrupted by Drake's voice.

We faced him and he has a smug expression on his face while Kiel was standing behind him, trying to contain his laughter.

Then, Hans and I started laughing as well.

"Hay. Lord, when?" Drake said in a frustrated voice as we all make our way back into his room.

We continued laughing our asses off while Hans and I share our little story with our two friends. It's all funny now.

"I already had a feeling, kaso ayoko naman kayong pangunahan. Mas gusto ko kapag sa inyo mismo manggagaling." Drake says and Kiel agrees with him.

"Ako rin. But anyway, congratulations, mga maharot!" Kiel said and we laughed again.

We picked another movie to watch and played some video games on Drake's Xbox before we started packing our things to get ready to go home.