Our Late Night Story (Ours Series #1) (Epistolary)

All Those Late Nights (Part Five)

September 2019

Jes is not the type who sulks about anything for a long time. Kahit nga no'ng 'break up' nila ni Enzo dati ay dalawang araw niya lang iniyakan. But the thing is he's the type of person who goes irritable to hide his pain.

Ilang araw na silang hindi nag-uusap ni Avery. At hindi niya nga alam kung kaya niya pang kausapin ito. Hindi naman siya galit. Avery is just being real with him and if he doesn't feel the same for him ay hindi niya naman ito pwedeng pilitin.

It's just that hindi niya nga alam kung paano haharap pa rito ulit. He has been hurt and Avery saw how vulnerable he was that night and he probably thinks he's a big loser right now. Alam niya namang hindi gano'ng klaseng tao si Avery but he just can't help to feel that way.

"Jesubear! Tulala ka ulit." Keiser suddenly appeared in front of him pero hindi niya naman ikinagulat ito.

"Uy, I thought you went on lunch already?"

"Dito na lang rin ako mag-la-lunch. Tsaka I don't want to leave you alone," Keiser said. "Binilihan din kita ng food."

Keiser beamed at him at binigay sa kanya ang paper bag na may lamang Korean Egg Drop sandwich.

"Oh my, thank you! Gutom na gutom na rin talaga ako."

"Bakit kasi ayaw mong bumaba? It's not like the Psych Lab will go anywhere."

Today, Jes and Keiser was tasked to man the Psychology Lab. May open house event kasi ang Victorino ngayon. Victorino's open house event happens every September every year. And since silang dalawa lang ni Keiser ang nakakabatang members ng Psychology council, sila ang napagkaisahan ng ibang officers.

Naiintindihan naman nila ang mga ito because most of them are graduating students, ang iba ay naghahabol and others are doing their OJT.

"So kumusta ang puso, Jes? Buo na ulit?" Keiser asked jokingly but although he asked in that manner, alam naman ni Jes na sincere itong nagtatanong.

Keiser is actually younger than Jes. Not just by year level but also by age. Add to the fact na accelerated pa ito kaya dalawang taong mas bata ito sa kanya. Pero kahit gano'n ay parang si Keiser pa ang mas nag-aalaga sa kanya instead of the other way around.

"Okay naman," Jes answered and took a bite of his sandwich. "It still hurts but I think I've sulked enough."

"Really? 'Wag mong madaliin ang healing process, Jes. You're allowed to get sad about it, you know."

"I don't even know if I should start 'healing' already. Wala naman akong nakuhang matinong sagot kay Avery. And there is still hope in me na baka pwede pa."

Keiser nodded. "Yup. Understood. But if you need someone to talk to about it, I'm always here naman. I'll take care of you for the meantime. While Avery is still not sure if he's up for the role."

Jes appreciates what Keiser is doing for him. He appreciates that even if they just just got introduced this year ay parang matagal na silang magkaibigan.

"Hindi ako maniniwala until you give me a hug," Jes bluffed.

"You won't be Jesubear if you won't ask for it." Keiser opened up his arms and enveloped Jes in a bear hug, the one he always asks for.

Jes just loves his warmth. There's something in it that assures him that everything will be alright.

But something suddenly made the experience different. Instead of the usual warm feeling in Keiser's arms, coldness struck Jes's body when he saw Avery looking at them from afar.

Jes doesn't understand why but he saw pain in his eyes. He's not sure either whether to feel flattered about it or hurt just like him

He wanted to say something. He wanted to let go of Keiser and run to Avery. But before he could even decide what to do, Avery turned his back to him and walked away.