Parcel | StellJun

Chapter 44 - Usher's House

One month later...

"WHERE does the balloon go after you let it go? Where do birds go after they fly freely?" Pavlo asked while looking at Keir, his eyes are puffy and his lips are pouting heavily. He is playing with an empty bottle of water in his hands.

"Aba'y malay ko kung saan." The younger man shrugged nonchalantly while he's busy on his phone. "Bakit hindi sila ang tanungin mo? Sure ako, may sagot sila riyan."

Pavlo grumbles, swatting him on his shoulders. "Mean and brat."

"Violent." Keir gets back at him.

"Bakit ba ang sungit-sungit mo? Parang nagtatanong lang eh!" Pavlo complains as he munches his fries—Keir's fries to be exact as the younger man neglects eating it so he volunteers happily.

"Do you think I'm a bad boyfriend, Keir?" asked the older with a tearless eye but his voice says so.

Keir drops his phone. "What do you mean?"

The older shots glares at him. "Tinatanong kita. Kunwari ka pang walang alam. Batukan kaya kita, gusto mo?"

Keir returned the gaze with the same intensity. "Bakit din ang sungit-sungit mo? Nagtatanong din naman ako, ah. Ano, magbatukan na lang kaya tayo?"

Pavlo rolled his eyes. "Alam mo ang ibig kong sabihin."

Keir cleared his throat. "Of course not. Sino ba ang nagsabing masama kang boyfriend? Ano, saan ba iyan nakatira? Sampolan natin nang matuto."

Pavlo chuckles, biting his inner cheeks. "Talaga? Eh bakit ako iniwan?"

"Agoy ka, Pao—ewan ko na sa'yo!" Keir looks so done with his rants over and over.

"Am I not good enough? Lagi na lang akong iniiwanan. Hindi naman ako naging masama. Minahal ko naman sila ng buo. Kung tutuusin, mas mahal ko pa yata sila kaysa sa sarili ko pero wala... iniwan pa rin naman nila ako."

"Pao, may dahilan kasi si Vester—"

"Fuck those excuses, Keir. If I know, nagsawa na siya sa'kin. Maybe, nahihirapan na rin siyang intindihin ako kaya umalis na lang siya at nagpakalayo-layo. Sa gulo ba naman ng buhay ko, I don't think na may tatagal pa sa'kin. I should've known. Dapat talaga ay last na iyon. Hindi na ako dapat na ma-in love ulit."

"Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo? Talaga bang ikaw iyan? Jusko ka!" Keir exclaimed.

Pavlo looks away, suppressing his bitter-sour laughter. "It's still me, Keir. Nasasaktan lang pero ako pa rin naman ito. Nakakabanas naman. Nabawasan pa ang angas ko. Tingin ko, hindi na ako malupit. Wews! Back to zero! Kainis naman talaga!"

Keir pursed his lips as he stared at his helpless friend. "Pwede kang umiyak. Hindi kita huhusgahan. Nandito lang ako. Pretend that I'm not here."

Pavlo turns to look at him. "Gustuhin ko man pero walang luha, dre. Siguro pati luha ko napagod na rin sa'kin at ayon, iniwan na rin ako. Sumama pa yata kay Vester."

Keir reached for his hands. "Alam ko na. Gusto mo bang tawagan natin? Tanungin mo lang siya kung naisama ba niya ang mga luha mo. Maybe, you can ask him na ibalik ang mga iyon at siguro pati na rin ang puso mo. Dala-dala pa kasi niya eh."

Pavlo smiled painfully, Keir saw it and his heart clenched for his friend. "Ilang beses kong ginawa. He didn't picked it up and ayon, napagod na siguro siya kaya pinatay na lang niya ang phone niya tapos hindi ko na siya makontak after that."

"I guess, pinalitan na rin niya ang number niya. Pumunta pa nga ako kagabi sa bahay niya pero wala siya. Naghintay ako pero hindi siya dumating. Pumunta ako kina Joseph pero wala raw siya roon eh naaamoy ko naman ang pabango niya."