"Dude, sasabihin mo na ba?" tanong ng kanyang kaibigan na si Lance na captain din ng soccer team.
"Ang ano?" Kinuha niya bag niya sa bleachers. He's also a part of the team at kinuha niya ang kanyang bote ng tubig at inubos iyon sa tatlong lagok.
Katatapos lang nilang mag-training kaya isa-isa silang nagsi-ayusan ng mga gamit para maka-uwi na.
It's already 7 pm in the evening.
"You love her, don't you?" Yumuko si Lance para ayusin ang tali ng kanyang sapatos saka tumayo at inunat ang kanyang katawan.
It's been, what? Five years since he last said those words (as a friend para hindi mahalata ni Ray). Palagi niya kasing ibinubulong sa hangin, wala namang nakakarinig.
But it's better than ok for Bryan. Alam niyang wala siyang chance sa kanya.
She's so near yet so far.
Ang hirap niyang abutin.
"Tik tok, dude. Sayang ang chance na pinaghirapan mong ipunan ng lakas."
Tama nga naman ang kaibigan.
Kelan niya ulit iyon gagawin? Kapag patay na siya ganun? In the afterlife kung magkita sila? Or kung wala na si...
Mahirap ang buhay ng isang torpe.
"Don't tell me, wala kang balak umamin?" Bryan stopped drinking his water.
Wala talaga siyang balak sabihin.
"HINDI NGA DUDE? 'DI KA TALAGA AAMIN?!" Tumahimik ang buong soccer field ng marinig nila ang megaphone na boses ni Capt.
"Tsk, ingay mo. Maka-alis na nga." He hastily put his bottle inside his bag and carried it towards the school gate.
"Bu-hey! I'm not yet done talking... Come back-"
Pero sinarado na ni Bryan ang pintuan.
>///<
"I'm home."
Walang ingay.
He went home kaagad pagkatapos siyang kulitin ng kaibigan. Pero it was too eerie, hindi siya sanay sa tahimik.
Gusto niya maingay, mas masaya.
Since he was the only person around the house, he went upstairs to go to his room and took a shower immediately.
He finally slumped in the king size bed and was about to close his eyes when he remembered about what Lance said.
"Tik tok, dude. Sayang ang chance na pinaghirapan mong ipunan ng lakas."
Kaya naman niya eh. It's just the feeling of being pushed away, embarrassment, shame, guilt, and regret that made him back down from confessing to her.
Kaya naman niya eh.
Kaya ba?
"ARGHHH! Pahamak na Lance, suntukin talaga kita sa susunod." He closed his eyes and slept on the bed, hoping the feelings of uneasiness will soon go away.
"Bestfriend? Hindi kaya pwede maging bestfriend ang lalaki at babae. What are you talking about?"
"Pwede kaya, my parents are best friends before they became a couple. There's no rule about it."
"There is! Mama told me I can't be friends with a boy." The little girl answered back, crossing her arms.
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Short StoryShe's taking things for granted...as always. He sighed as he saw her throwing the gifts away that were given to her by the company. I wonder... "Matatanggap kaya niya yung akin?"
