PORTION 55

Zack's POV

He is kneeling in front of me now and asking, "Why, why did you have to do that!? I was about to tell you everything but then I figured out between the two of us, you're the one who's lying?"

My heart hurts because of what he said. I want to hug him but I can't, I know he wouldn't let me.

"Answer me, why!? I'm asking you!" he continued.

"Because I've been in love with you since then," I answered him calmly.

He was startled, "Si-since w-when?"

"10 years ago. When we were in 6th grade, when I met you. That moment when I have nothing; my grandpa died and my fraternal twin went abroad. From extrovert to introvert, naging tahimik ako, wala akong gustong pansinin at wala rin akong gustong kausapin, because I don't want them to be attached in my life. . . . and after a month, you transferred in. When you're introducing yourself and I see your smile, it enlightens up my heart, my world."

He's just looking at me, and still doing nothing. Baka hindi pa nagsi-sink in sa kanya ang lahat.

"Yung ngiti na inakala ko lang ay iba kasi hindi na ako napangiti pa simula ng aksidente na 'yon. . . . but it's different, that's not what my heart says. I'm in love with it, I fell in love with your smile. You can still smile despite what happened to your Papa. We became best friends. You became the brightest light in my darkest night. You were my first love."

TJ's POV

". . . You were my first love."

The last sentence makes everything clear.

Unti-unti kong inalala ang mga pangyayari.

Flashback...

"Byul means star, right?" I asked, when I suddenly remembered what he answered when one of our friends asked what does byul mean?

"You're my star."

End of Flashback...

A star, I'm his star.

"A star because even though I don't see you always, I know you're there. Especially when I'm in the dark, you're there, shining."

That's what he said to me, that I'm the star.

Flashback...

"What is love to you?"

"Love? It's you . . ."

End of Flashback...

Love for him? The answer is me?

I suddenly remembered what happened on our date.

"I'm Zack, I'm 22 and I've liked you for a very long time."

Because of what he said, I was speechless now.

It took me minutes before I responded, "Wait, what? You liked me for a very long time?"

"No. . . . it's a lie."

I frowned, naguguluhan ako!

What!? Alin ang tama alin ang mali? Yung sinabi niya bang 'he likes me for a very long time' a lie? Or the answer 'no'?

"What are the truths and a lie about your statement, 'I'm Zack, I'm 22 and I like you for a very long time'?"

He smiled at me, "My age, me and my fraternal twin were born in Korea. We are a year older than you. . . . and about the 'no' that I answered, I said it's a lie," he explained.

Zack's POV

"You forgot already? I was the one who gave the nickname Tj to you back then." Then smiled at him.

He frowned, probably thinking of it.

"Oo!" his voice rose, "That's why it feels like dejavu because you said the sentence to me twice, 10 years ago and 2 months ago."

"You became my seatmate, my bestfriend. Time to time, lagi mong bukang bibig ang first love mo. You were happy while I'm hurt, but that's okay. . . . And after a month, you transferred out. I, Zack, became more introverted."

"I didn't mean it," he said, a bit sad.

"I decided to make new things. I tried to learn to cook because you're a big eater, and someday, pagluto kita. I tried to learn to play a guitar because you said you wanted to play and sing to your loved ones' special day, at sa akin, kaarawan ko ang pinaka-espesyal na araw sa akin at pinili ko na tugtugan kita sa araw na yun."

He can't speak again but his eyes are full of tears.

"Your smile captured my heart. And I can't imagine that I, someday, can touch or even kiss it but then, nangyari ang lahat. We're always together, and I always try to smile but as days pass by, I don't care if I'm trying to smile or I am smiling willingly because I'm happy to be with you."

Hagulgul na hagulgul siya sa harapan ko, "Why you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't tell because I'm afraid that you will hate me because I'm a guy."

"Why did you love me?" he asked again.

"You were there when I had nothing, how can I not love you?"

He hugged me, "I love you too. Once again, I understood you. I'm happy because you chase me. After knowing this, agad ng napaisip ako. Do I deserve you? I don't think so."

He's crying again but not because he's hurt, it's because he's happy.

Deserve mo pa nga ba ako? Hindi talaga. You don't deserve me, and I don't deserve you.

"Sorry kasi ngayon ko lang sinabi at kinailangan ko pang magsinungaling sa 'yo. I just did that because I really love you."

He smiled, "Um, I know. . . . but please, don't do that anymore. We're both wrong for hiding and I'm sorry about that also."

My tears were about to fall again but I looked up, so it didn't happen, "Sorry, and how can I not love you even more now, when I figured out that you love me too?"

He left hugging me and then looked at me eye-to-eye, "I couldn't ask for more, all I just want is honesty. Ano pang tinatago mo sa 'kin?"

He's crying while looking at me with a smile plastered on his face. . . . but I decided to look away.

"Why you're not saying anything? I'm right, there's more," he said.

Hindi ko talaga siya deserve! I don't deserve even a glance from him.

His phone suddenly rang, which caused him to wipe his tears and walk away from me.

I'm just looking in his direction. I raised my arm, reaching him from far.

"You are my once in a lifetime star."

Flashback...

"Er. . . . Jaybi and Nathan, a friend of mine, want to talk to you," Tom said.

Kumaway ako, but I have a poker face still.

"Why?" And then another guy put his arm around this guy.

"Can I ask for a favor?" I straight-forward asked.

He frowned and laughed after, "Bakit, sino ka ba? Ni-hindi nga kita kilala eh."

"Teka nga, is that porn?"

At binigyan ng batok nitong isang lalaki yung kasama niya, "Nathan, stop it! Isa pa at batok ulit ang abot mo sa 'kin!"

"I'm just asking!"

"So you're Jaybi, and this is Nathan." And pointed at them, "And you have another friend named Tj, right?"

And they nodded.

"I'm Zack, Zackarios Zeyn Coates. . . . and I like your friend, Tj, for a very long time."

Napatingin silang dalawa kay Tom, and Tom nodded, and back their gaze on me and I nodded as well. They aren't saying anything.

"You heard it right. So, I'm asking for your help. I want him to court me," I added.

"Wait, what!? Hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala sayo para sa kaibigan ko pero—"

"Pero parang ganun na nga."

"Oo!" Jaybi agreed, isang batok ulit ang nakuha ni Nathan, "Singit pa, at sisikmuraan kita." At saka tumingin uli sa akin, "To be exact, why do we have to do that?"

I explained everything.

"It must be hard for you. . . . but I'm okay if Tj is going to do it, ako willing akong tanungin siya."

Nathan is with me, we're on the same page.

"You must really love him. . . . but! I'll give him time, like 100 days."

Nakakunot noo kaming tatlo dito, "100 days?"

"Yes! If he falls in love with you then continue your relationship but if not, it's not my fault. At least may pagkakataon ka. Tao tayo pre, masakit sa 'tin kapag nakakakita tayo ng naiyak, ang mas malala pa tayo ang dahilan." And then offered me his hand, "I'm happy that you love him. I will leave my friend to you but in one condition, make him happy. Don't make me regret my decision."

I shook his hand, and I accepted the offer.

End of Flashback...

The first time that I met Jaybi and Nathan. I shook my head but I never would be this happy.

I was a fool to do that. But Tj coming into my life was the unexpected thing that I will always treasure. He makes my life so easy.

Flashback...

"Grandpa, did you miss me?" with tears in my eyes, "Um. I miss you too, Grandpa."

I'm at the funeral, visiting my grandpa. I knelt down and cried non-stop while looking at his grave. I cried for many minutes, but then I still wiped my tears.

Grandpa, we met again. I'm sorry if it's too late, I just couldn't face you. I don't even have the right to be here. Grandpa, I'm sorry, but Grandpa, I met him again. My first love that I would never forget, do you want to know him"

"Grandpa, it was him, who changed my life." I'm looking at him now.

"Huh? Am I?"

He was shocked, basically.

"Yes, thank you for coming into my life." I pat his head, touch a little bit of his ear.

End of Flashback...

Naalala ko tuloy kung gaano pa ako kasaya nung kinukwento ko si Byul kay Grandpa.

I lean, try to reached the drawer beside couch. I took the box out of the drawer, and I opened it and saw a lot of pictures of me and my grandpa together with Ate Eyey. Mom gave it to me when we talked. This is the gift that I dreamt about, the gift that grandpa gave in my dream. I figured out it's true.

Paulit-ulit na tumutugtog sa speaker ko ang kanta ng Huling Sandali by Kamikazee ft. Kyla.

Suddenly, Byul looked at me, "Totoo ba?"

My tears are starting to fall again, baka ngayon nakapag-usap na sila.

He walked towards me, crying while walking to me. When he reached me, he glared at me before asking.

"Totoo ba? Totoo ba na ang puso ni Ate Eyey ay galing sa Papa ko?"