Decoding The Boys ✔️

60 | facade

Racel didn't really say it, at least not in so many words, but I knew he was bothered by my ex. Sa totoo lang, gusto ko rin sanang alamin kung ano ang history nilang dalawa but I decided against it since he was obviously not cool with bringing up my history.

He wasn't that blatant about it but it was the little changes in his actions that gave him away. Minsan, nakikita ko siyang pinagmamasdan ako kada may nagte-text sa 'kin o tumatawag. May mga pagkakataon din na parang may gusto siyang sabihin o itanong pero kapag pinapansin ko 'yon ay bigla na lang siyang nananahimik. Add those to the fact that I hadn't seen him at all this week. What he was up to, I had no idea. Sabi niya may kailangan lang daw siyang ayusin. Pero pakiramdam ko talaga dahil kay Rohann 'to. Why else would he be acting this way, dodgy, cryptic and somewhat distant? Minsan pa nga, he was coming across as cold like something was occupying his mind and I was distracting him from it.

I didn't like the feeling one bit. If this was his jealousy rearing its ugly head, I didn't want it.

Ayoko na nga sanang mag-dwell. Rohann was a piece of my past—someone who taught me how to be stronger and better. Pero 'di ko pa rin maiwasan na mainis sa tuwing naiisip ko na kahit 'di niya sinasadya ay naaapektuhan niya ang relasyon ko kay Racel.

One time, I finally snapped and decided to confront the matter head-on. Racel was surprised by my question.

"What?" nalilito niyang tanong.

We were inside his BMW. After days without properly talking to each other (puro saglit na video calls lang), we agreed to go to his condo for a movie marathon to make up for the lost time. Okay na sana but his tensed silence throughout the rest of the ride irked me that I just had to speak up.

"May problema ba tayo?" I repeated, patiently staring at the puzzled expression on his face.

He turned to me, the gap between his brows creasing. "Wala. Why do you ask that?"

"You're not acting like yourself. Okay naman tayo after nung birthday celebration mo. But ever since you went to that corporate party with your family, you've been different. Whatever happened there, something changed between us. Did something happen?"

His eyes lost focus for a second, and for a brief moment, I thought he paled. He averted his gaze and brought his attention back on the road. "Nothing's wrong, baby. I was just thinking."

"About?" I urged, careful not to sound like I was prying.

"Some unimportant things. They're nothing, really." I knew he was trying to make his tone sound casual enough but I could still hear the reluctance in them.

"They don't seem unimportant to me." I softened, "This isn't about Rohann, is it?"

Sa sinabi ko ay mas nagulat siya. Mabilis siyang bumaling sa 'kin. "Rohann? What? Ginugulo ka ba niya?"

"What? No, no!" mabilis kong sagot. "I guess I was thinking if, well, he was bothering you."

Understanding dawned on him and his tight expression relaxed as he sighed in relief. He shook his head. "No, not anymore. We've already talked about it and I already drilled sense into him anyway."

My brows raised in confusion. "Meaning, what exactly?"

The barest of smiles took over his lips. "I told him to fuck off and leave you alone. That's not a bad thing, is it?"

That would explain why I hadn't received any more news about him. No more texts, friend requests, or messages on any social media. After that night we met kasi, Rohann tried to contact me but days after that, he suddenly stopped. Akala ko nagsawa na lang siya sa kaka-snub ko sa kanya. May iba pa palang dahilan.