One Last Time

Chapter 8: For Real

"So you don't have feelings for Josh?"

"Ako? Magkakaroon ng something kay Josh Cullen Santos? Hard pass bro." Sagot ni Ken kaya natawa si Josh at Jah. "Ewwww!" He complained when Josh jokingly hugged him.

"Oh? Ano na?" Justin said while he looked at both of us. "Bigyan namin kayo ng time."

"So?" Stell began. "Love at first sight pala?"

I rolled my eyes then went to give him a hug.

"Kung alam mo lang kung gaano na katagal kitang hinintay na bumalik sakin." He said.

"Bumalik? San ako galing?" I asked since it was all new to me.

Tinitigan ako ni Stell at halata ang sakit na namuo sa mata niya. It was visible that he was hurt by what I had said.

"Pau..it may seem too early pero I want to explain everything to you now." Luminga siya sa paligid at bumuntong hininga. "Mamaya na lang sa condo. Uuwi ka naman sa atin diba?"

"Oo naman." Sagot ko at nginitian siya.

Inasikaso na lang namin sa buong araw lahat ng naging ganap namin. Nagkaroon kami ng short live where Josh and Justin were playing with the filters again. Naging makulit si Stell at Ken sa live habang kinakain ko yung dala ng staff na mga inihaw.

"Pablo!" Sigaw ni Ken nung binuhat siya ni Stell. "Pablo! Tulong!"

I put my food down then walked to them. Hinihila ko si Ken pero hindi siya binibitiwan ni Stell. He was laughing so hard and he wanted to run while carrying Ken.

"Tama na yan." Suway sa amin ng isang staff kaya tinigilan ni Stell si Ken.

"Pinipisikal mo ako!" Ken said then ran to me. "Pagsabihan mo yan, inaaway ako."

He acted like a child tapos sumunod naman si Jah sa kabilang gilid ko.

"Pau, inaaway ako ni Josh. Mukha raw akong electricfan na walang outlet."

Pinigilan kong matawa dahil sa narinig ko. Ano raw? Huhuhu.

"Oh, sabi ng A'tin, Pablo patahanin mo mga anak mo." Josh laughed while Ken and Jah clung on me.

After that little wild live ay umuwi na kami ni Stell. He made sure na safe lahat. I was getting ready to go to bed when he brought out a photo album. Tinulungan ko siya at tinignan ang dinala niya.

"Ready ka na bang malaman ang totoo?" He asked kaya tumango ako.

Binuklat niya ang first page at pictures namin ang lumabas. The album was about me and him mostly. Nakita ko na may mga sulat sa gilid.

It was my handwriting.

"February 7, nag-usap kami ni Stell about family." Tinignan ko siya at pinapanood niya lang ako. "What is this?"

"Tapusin mo ang photo album. Malalaman mo." He answered.

I opened the next page and saw a screenshot of our message.

"April 19, nag-uusap na kami constantly sa messenger. Minsan inaabot na kami ng madaling araw pero masaya naman kami."

"May 12, inamin ko kay Stell na gusto ko siya."

Tinignan ko ulit si Stell at napansin na hindi siya gumagalaw. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin.

"July 20, hinihintay ko pa rin si Stell kahit alam kong takot siya."

"You waited for me...kahit na walang kasiguraduhan." Stell added.

"December 1, sinagot na ako ni Stell. Kami na."

Napalingon ako kay Stell when he captured my face to plant a small kiss.

"Wait..." I said. "Tayo ba?"

"Oo." He answered me with a smile. "Hindi ka ba naniniwala?"

"Naniniwala ako pero bakit hindi niyo agad inamin sa akin?"

"Pau, we were all afraid na hindi mo kayanin lahat ng information na ibibigay namin sayo kaya hindi namin sinabi lahat sayo." He explained. "At isa pa, there was never a proper time to explain it all."

"I understand." Sagot ko. "Tulog na tayo, boyfriend."

"Mahal naman wag ka ngang ganiyan." Stell said.