I.
"Jihoon!"
Jihoon lifted his gaze up to the person who just called his name, 'yung best friend niya na si Seungcheol. He was smiling widely at him.
"Laro tayo!" Seungcheol said habang kinukurot ang braso ni Jihoon.
"Ano'ng lalaruin natin?"
"Kahit ano, basta 'wag lang 'yung feelings ko."
Napatahimik naman dito si Jihoon. Taena talaga nitong si Cheol, he thought.
"Joke! Volleyball." Seungcheol added nang hindi siya sinagot ni Jihoon.
"Dala mo 'yung ball mo?" Jihoon asked. Bihira lang naman kasi dalhin ni Seungcheol 'yung volleyball niya sa school. The older faked a gasp, which confused Jihoon.
"Grabe ka naman, Jihoon! Syempre araw-araw kong dala 'to. Hindi naman detachable 'to— Aray!"
Ayan tuloy, binatukan ni Jihoon si Seungcheol.
II.
"Oh, ako na magse-serve ha." Jihoon said habang bumubwelo sa pag-serve ng volleyball.
"Go on. Hit me baby one more time!" Pabirong sabi ni Seungcheol habang tumatawa at naka-position na rin para mag-receive. At sa kakatawa niya, hindi niya na-receive ang bola. Sapul tuloy sa mukha.
"Uy, sorry." Agad nilapitan ni Jihoon si Seungcheol na ngayo'y naka-upo na sa damuhan ng field nila at nakatakip ang kamay sa mukha.
"Sorry? Matatanggal ba ng sorry 'yung sakit na dinulot mo?!" Seungcheol glowered. Jihoon panicked. Never pa kasing nagalit sa kanya 'to. His mind was suddenly a tangled mess. Ano'ng gagawin niya? Shet lang, Cheol! 'Wag ka magalit please. Hindi ko naman sadya. Huhuhu. But Jihoon kept his composure and just rubbed Seungcheol's back, trying to remove his best friend's hands which were covering his face.
"Sorry na, Cheol."
"Jihoon naman eh! Ang sakit, sakit n'ong ginawa mo!"
"Hindi ko naman sadya eh."
"Malamang hindi mo sinadya, best friend mo ako eh. Best friend mo lang ako." Seungcheol remonstrated, emphasizing the last sentence habang ini-angat na ang tingin kay Jihoon.
Ah, Seungcheol's intense gaze. Jihoon stared back at Seungcheol before looking away. He tried to analyze if his best friend was just pulling off another joke or if he's trying to imply something. Nakaka-tempt umamin, Jihoon thought, but he did his best to just shrug it off. Madalas naman kasi siyang sabihan ng pick-up lines o ng kung anu-anong 'malandi' na banat ng best friend niya, nasanay na lang dito si Jihoon. It's just that today felt different. The words coming out from Seungcheol's mouth felt a lot more vivid and scintillating.
And yes, Jihoon loves Seungcheol. 'Yung tipong love na hindi pang-best friend lang. But of course, he isn't that stupid para umamin lang basta-basta. He's seen cases of broken friendships all because of deep affection and he doesn't want that to happen between him and Seungcheol.
"Jihoon, pansinin mo naman ako..." Seungcheol pleaded lowly while Jihoon was spacing out.
"Ha? Ah ano, pinapansin naman kita ah."
"Lagi ka na lang sa iba nakatingin. Ako naman pansinin mo."
Luh, ikaw nga 'tong lagi sa iba nakatingin.
"'Wag ako, Cheol." sagot ni Jihoon at saka tumayo pero hinawakan ni Seungcheol ang kamay niya.
"Jihoon, 'wag mo akong iwan."
The younger sighed. Mapapaamin pa yata siya nang wala sa oras.
"Hindi naman kita kayang iwan, Seungcheol."
Halata naman ang pagkagulat ni Seungcheol sa sinabi ni Jihoon. Hindi niya inakalang sasakyan nito ang trip niya. Pero hindi naman 'yun basta trip lang. May halong totoong feelings. And hearing Jihoon say those words made his heart skip a beat.
"Talaga? Hindi mo ako iiwan?" Seungcheol asked, grinning proudly.
"Hindi ko nga kaya, 'di ba."
"Yie! Love mo talaga ako, Jihoon."
"Oo naman."
"Luh? Weh?!" Gulat na gulat ulit si Seungcheol kaya napatayo siya at hinarap si Jihoon. But then he thought, sus, asa ka pa.
"Oo nga, Cheol."
"As a friend, ganon?"
Nag-iwas ng tingin si Seungcheol habang hinihintay ang sagot ni Jihoon. Gusto niya lang naman talaga na magbigay ng hint kay Jihoon tungkol sa feelings niya para rito. Hindi naman niya akalaing darating sa punto na tatanungin niya ito tungkol sa pagmamahal nito sa kanya. Kumbaga, hindi rin siya handa sa kahihinatnan nito. Pero panindigan mo 'yan, Cheol, his brain said.
"Taena mo naman, Choi Seungcheol." Jihoon groaned as he scratched the back of his head, frustration evident on his face.
"Huh? Bakit?" As seconds passed, it felt like Seungcheol's heart rate was increasing. Nakikita niya naman na kung saan papunta ang usapan nila. Ayaw pa lang tanggapin ng sistema niya na baka oo nga, gusto rin ako ni Jihoon.
"Ano? Feelings mo lang bawal paglaruan, ha?!" Jihoon retorted. His brain was already cursing himself. Goodbye world, goodbye Seungcheol. Batman, ikaw na ang bahala.
"U-uy Jihoon! Ba't ka galit?"
"Mahal nga kita. Ano, ha? Masaya ka na? Mahal kita!"
"As a friend?!"
"Manhid mo, Choi. 'Wag ako paglaruan mo."
"Mahal din naman kita eh..."
"As a friend?"
Seungcheol laughed when Jihoon asked him the same question.
"Manhid mo, Lee."
"Ginagaya mo ba ako?"
"Ginagaya mo rin ba ako?"
Nginitian ni Seungcheol si Jihoon at saka pinisil ang mga pisngi nito. Hay nako, Jihoon. Kung alam mo lang.
"Mahal nga kita, Lee Jihoon. Hindi lang as a friend. Hindi mo pa ba naramdaman 'yun?"
"Gago."
"Seryoso ako, hala! Ganyan ka ba kiligin? Nagmumura? Magmahal ka na lang kaysa magmura. Tapos ako 'yung mamahalin mo."
"Okay. Edi mahal din kita. Mahal naman talaga kita, hindi lang as a friend." Jihoon replied, his face void of any emotion.
"Hoy, Jihoon! Uso kiligin!"
"Leche ka, Seungcheol." Jihoon said as his lips started to curve into a smile (na kanina pa pigil na pigil) at saka yumakap sa nakatatanda.
"Sus, leche raw. Mahal mo naman." Seungcheol teased as he wrapped his arms around the younger as well, kaya naman nakatanggap siya ng palo sa likod mula kay Jihoon.
