Parcel | StellJun

Chapter 29 - Stormy Waters

PAVLO'S been tossing his mechanical pen for about a minute thinking only about Vester. With furrowed eyebrows, he stopped and picked up three crumpled pieces of paper from his desk and threw them into the bin like he'd been playing a basketball game.

"Shoot! Three points! Nice, nice! Isa pa nga!" he cheered for himself.

"Pao, I know that you're a baller pero umayos ka nga, please lang!" Keir warned, looking at the older seriously. He's been worrying too at how grumpy his friend is since yesterday.

"What? Maayos naman ako, ah?" Pavlo glances at him but goes back to shooting more crumpled paper like he doesn't care if he would make a mess. It's what worries Keir most because a clean-freak Pavlo is nowhere to be found.

"Pao, stress na rin ako habang pinapanood ka." The younger frowned, trying to tell his friend to compose himself since his aching temples are pundering silently. "Sabi ko, umayos ka kahit ngayon lang."

He rolled his eyes, fixing the strands of his hair that blocks his view but eventually slips off after. "Eh 'di 'wag mo akong panoorin. Madali lang naman iyong gawin. Pinapahirapan mo pa ang sarili mo. Maglaro ka na lang ng mobile games. Bakit ba kasi nagpapaka-stress ka sa panonood sa'kin eh hindi naman ako isang pelikula?"

Keir grunted in annoyance, accidentally crumpling the empty disposable coffee cup he'd been holding while his eyes were closing tightly. "Ayan, nagtataray ka na naman!" God, please shower me more patience dahil baka masapak ko ito ngayon.

Pavlo eyed him. "So, nagagalit ka? Galit ka, Keir? Galit ka na ngayon?"

The younger tried his best to hold back his frustrations. He's not wishing to add fuel to the fire so he clenched his fists tightly and smiled. "Hindi ah. Bakit naman ako magagalit? I'm calm as the lake. Ikaw ang dapat mag-chill. Concern lang kami tapos kung makapagtaray ka sa'min, parang kasalanan pa namin ang lahat. Hustisya naman."

He pouted, feeling guilty about it since he was quite a handful today and the previous day. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

Keir nods, acknowledging his apology as he crossed his slender legs while eating the last piece of donut he found in the box. "Okay lang, dre. Sus, kung hindi lang kita mahal, natampal na kita eh. Kahapon ka pa talaga. Sarap mong isako, gagi ka! Buti napigilan pa ako ng fried chicken ko."

Pavlo chuckled after sighing heavily, messing up his hair. "I love you too, yuck! Nakakakilabot! Kadiri!"

The younger made a face and acted like he wanted to turn up. Pavlo wanted to burst out of laughter looking at Keir's reaction. If only his heart and mind weren't in trouble, he could have made fun of it.

"Ew, Pavlo! Yuck, yuck! Hindi ako sanay na sumasagot ka sa mga I love you namin. Yuck, umayos ka nga!" One more push and Keir is willing to smack Pavlo straight in the head.

"Alam mo ikaw, imbis na i-appreciate ang effort kong mag-i love you too, nag-d-drama ka pa riyan!" he pointed out, throwing a crumpled paper to Keir that the latter happily avoided.

"Sige, sabihin mo nga kung sinong maniniwala sa'yo kung ang kasunod naman ng I love you mo ay yuck at kadiri? Gagi ka, masasapak kita eh!" Keir mocks a glare at him. "Ano, gano'n din ang sinasabi mo kay Vester? Sus, kung ako si Vester, mag-t-tatlong isip na ako kung tama ba ang desisyon kong jowain ka."

Pavlo ducks his head at his desk the moment Keir mentions that name. The ever-silent Jallen who just happened to watch and listen to their banters stood up and walked behind the oldest, giving him a shoulder massage.

"Pao, don't think too much. Think positive ka lang. Magiging okay din naman ang lahat. Focus ka na muna sa kanta ng client mo. Sige ka, baka abutan ka ng deadline tapos hindi mo pa natapos ang kanta niya."