Flipped Justice: A KENTIN AU (COMPLETED)

FJ 10

Days seemed to go by so quickly after Isaac discovered his besbud's secret. Javier and Samuel usually spend another weekend with Justice, but lately, Samuel has been preoccupied with his bespal and has neglected to spend time with his bestie.

Javier asked his friend, who was sitting on the couch editing photos, "Ano, wala na naman si Well?"

Justice responded with a shrug. A little while later, there was a knock on the door. "Baka 'yan na," Justice rushed up to welcome him.

Justice greeted the man, "Oh, napadalaw ka?" with a sigh of dismay.

"Yeah," he said icily. Without delay, he entered and set three snack bags on the counter.

"Dre, diyan ka na pala? Uy! Salamat sa josh may pafoods," Javier hurried over to him, beaming as he looked over the snacks.

Sitting next to Just, he stated, "Maaga natapos meeting ng org, so I drop by here."

Justice should be ecstatic right now if he's still the same Justice—little obsessed with his long-time crush. But he is not anymore. He is no longer shivered by ice.

"Did you see Well sa meeting niyo?" Justice asked the man beside him.

He nodded, saying, "We met, but he left early. Sinundo ni Philip."

"Kung naaawa ka lang sakin, you can leave now. I'm good having just Javier here," Justice said, making Isaac chuckle. "What's funny?" he continued.

"Ay Hustisya, kumpadre time talaga ngayon hindi sizmars time. Gabi pa ako ng sabado umuuwi sa inyo ni Well, remember?" Javier responded.

"Ikaw talaga ang sampid sa tropahang 'to, hindi si Ice," Diab continued.

"In other terms, he's Diab now, not Jav," Isaac joked as well.

"Mga bwisit! Lumayas nga kayo sa bahay ko!" Justice exclaimed.

Raising his eyebrows, Javier said, "Na bahay ko rin hangga't kasal pa tayo." He has been sharing a roof with Just for the past year or so. Unless Samuel carries him to Just's side, he normally sleeps on the couch.

"Tss!" he exclaimed. "Sige nga kung kumpadre time, asan 'yong isa niyong dre?" Justice stated.

"Uy, dre! Pasok kayo," he heard Jav shout as he walked up to the front door. Justice's heart seemed to be pounding fast, and he was reluctant to look.

"Dre! Hinatid ko lang si Saint," the man replied back. "Isaac? I thought may date ka, nagmamadali ka kanina," he exclaimed, seeming shocked to see Isaac.

After hearing Flip's voice, Isaac could tell Justice was uneasy. "We're about to leave," he said, holding his hand and bringing him closer.

Isaac looked up at Diab, seeking for his approval before continuing. And he slipped out without turning around as soon as Diab nodded and gestured for them to leave.

"Seryoso ba? May date sila?" Samuel asked Jav as he placed his belongings on the couch. "I thought brotherly treatment?" he pouted.

Flip said, perplexed, "Teka dre, naguguluhan ako. Akala ko ba si Diab?"

"Ha?" Javier asked, clearly shocked.

"Ano kasi," Samuel murmured in response to Jav's intense gaze. He clarified, "Just is single and free to date anyone."

"Ano 'to Sam? Pinapamukha mo namang two-timer si Justice," Javier coldly and angrily remarked.

"If I know, hindi siya katulad mo, dre," he continued.

"Saglit lang!" cried Samuel. "I didn't mean it that way."

"Eh ano? Did you even bother thinking kung kumusta na ang bestie mo? How is he coping with everything that's going around lately? Asan ka when he needed you the most?" Javier responded. His anger had simply exploded; he was no longer able to control it.

Samuel said, still attempting to maintain his composure, "Javier, naririnig mo ba sarili mo? I'm Just's friend. Hindi ako alalay na kailangan nakabuntot palagi sa kanya. Hindi lang siya ang may problema sa mundo, okay?"

Javier asked Samuel again, "And you consider yourself a friend?"

"Hindi kay Justice umiikot ang mundo. Kung sayo, oo, might as well think kung ano ka lang nga ba niya," Samuel responded.

"Sorry, dre. Kasalanan ko. I kept dragging Saint with me, wala kasi akong ibang karamay sa problems ko. Not knowing na kailangan din pala siya ni Justice. Akala ko kasi enough nang nandiyan ka as his boyfriend," Flip said with regret.

Samuel at last clarified, "They're not together. I just told you that para hindi ka maguilty na sinasamahan kita."

"Naiintindihan ko na, sorry ulit. Mauna na ako," he said, leaving the two.

"Sorry, Jav. Thirdy also needed me. I had to choose him kasi si Justice merong ikaw. Thirdy got no one," Samuel also apologized.

"Ako rin, pasensya na. Naalala ko lang itsura ni Hustisya for the past few weeks. Awang-awa na ako," Javier replied.

Javier pulled snacks from the countertop and offered them to Samuel as they both settled in. Samuel asked, "So what's the deal with Ice?"

Javier sat next to him and replied, "Justice can't face Flip after the engagement post. He was hurt deeply, kahit hindi niya aminin, umasa talaga siya. You know him, justice pero palaging dinedeny ang katotohanan."

Without pausing, Samuel's lips made the long-overdue remark, "So, bakit si Ice? Are you still going to deny your feelings toward Justice?"

He said, naively, "Gaano kahalata, Well?"

"Freshmen pa lang kami, obvious na," Sam replied. "Junior ka namin non, you were helping us with our lessons kahit naghahabol ka na rin sa readings niyo. All that effort for Justice? Oo, hindi nga obvious."

"And biglang lipad sa Canada to get married? Ibang usapan na 'yon, Jav," he continued. "Irason pa nga si Athena, eh iniwan mo rin nga nung malapit na kayong mabuko ng parents mo."

"Masyado ka nang maraming nalalaman. Oras na para patahimikin ka," Jav joked, putting Isaac on speakerphone. "Hello, dre? Pasalubong daw sabi ni Sam—"

Sam grabbed his phone and abruptly ended the call. He yelled, "Tangeks ka!"

Javier warned him, "Yare ka sakin pag sinabi mo 'to kay Hustisya."

"Hindi ko ugaling pangunahan kayo sa mga nararamdaman niyo. I kept it for years ha," Sam reassured him. "So, bakit nga si Ice? Hindi mo sinasagot. Nakakatampo," he stated.

"Tampo o selos? Wag ka magalala, Ice treats him as his younger brother," he said. Seeing Sam's intense gaze, he felt compelled to respond more. "Oo na! I just wanted to heal Just's inner child. He liked him for so long."

"Kaya hindi nagpapatalo sa lahat ng game against Ice para lang i-dare siya to get close kay Just? Pati ba 'yong kanina dare lang din?" Samuel asked.

Javier nodded. He said, "But this time, si Ice ang may gusto. I've only dared him to keep Justice from feeling down."

"Hanggang kailan ka magiging ganito kay Just?" Samuel said.

"Just until our contract ends. I'll leave the country after that and focus on medschool," Javier answered.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I forgot my car keys. I handed it over to you, Saint."