Hoax (VBoys Series #1)

014

EUNICE
DAY 10

Ever since I stayed at this resort, ito pa lang yata ang umagang gumising ako ng walang pino-problema.

Eleanor has left my list of problems. Hindi na nya ako ginagambala. Hell, ni hindi ko na nga sya naaaninag kahit na sa iisang resort kami ngayon tumutuloy. But I didn't mind, as long as we were both at peace.

The only thing that hasn't been crossed out on my list was my relationship with Ace. I would often see him, ngunit halatang umiiwas sya. We haven't spoke to each other since our karaoke night talk a week ago. Minsan ay nahuhuli kong nakatingin sya sa'kin, but he never approached me. Kapag kasama namin sya ni Alex, he would only talk to him.

Hindi naman sa nagde-demand ako na magka-ayos din kami, but that would be better, wouldn't it? Mas maganda nang mawala ang tensyon sa pagitan namin. If only we could communicate, our problems would be solved.

My thoughts were cut short when Jaiden suddenly tapped my shoulder. Agad naman akong tumingin sa kanya ng nagtataka.

"You've been staring at that wall for a long time," medyo natatawang aniya at tinuro pa ang pader ng kuwarto na kanina ko pa palang tinititigan.

"Ah, sorry. Nag-iisip lang ako." I forced a smile to assure him that I was okay.

"Mm, what are you thinking about?" he said as he sat down beside me on the bed.

I stared at his face for a second. That face has been my source of happiness recently. Tuwing napapatitig ako sa kanya ay parang gusto kong ngumiti ng malaki. Ang kanyang mga mata naman ang palaging nakakapagpakalma sa diwa ko. His impact on me was powerful, but I was never this bothered by that.

I've been having this unexplainable emotions lately. Lagi kong hindi maintindihan ang mga nararamdaman ko tuwing kasama si Jaiden. Was it just joy? Not really. Was it more than that? Certainly. My gut has been telling me that our relationship has been changing, but I think that I would be a fool to believe.

I knew what we were. I knew how far we could only go. Everything we do, more or less, were still hoax. And that will never change.

Jaiden's brow raised when he noticed how long I was looking at him. I shook my head to erase everything in my head bago ako bumaling muli sa kanya.

"Wala 'to," pagpapalusot ko. "Tara? Breakfast na raw."

He nodded at me, but I still saw the hint of confusion in his face. I knew how weird I've been acting these past few days, but he never complained. That's how utterly kind and understanding he is, a trait that I admire him for.

Before I could even step out of our room, he held my hand and linked it with his. I could go all day talking and counting how many times he's done that, but I'd rather not. Nasanay na rin ako sa pagiging sweet ni Jaiden. Kung ako nga ang tatanungin, ayaw kong bawasan nya ang pagiging ganoon ka-sweet sa'kin. I wouldn't want him to change a bit.

We walked towards the main area where everyone was gathered. Nakita na rin namin doon sina Teo. Lumapit kami sa lamesa nila para doon makisalo.

"Aray ko! Joke nga lang, eh!" nakangusong reklamo ni Teo, mukhang si Clyde ang kausap.

"Ewan ko sa'yo, tarantado ka." sagot naman ni Clyde.

"Sakit mo naman magsalita! Nakaka-hurt ka, ah!"

I only laughed a little. Hindi na yata mawawala ang ganitong scenario sa araw ko. Walang oras na hindi sila nag-aaway kapag magkasama. Minsan naman ay sinasaway sila ni Night dahil nakakarindi sila, pero madalas naman ay napapatawa nila kami kaya hinahayaan na lang.