Chapter Two

Buong buhay ni Theron Amherst, wala siyang ibang ninais kundi ang protektahin si Kith Sylvester. Dahil alam niyang mahina ito. Alam niyang kailangan siya nito. Dahil sa paningin ng mahinang si Kith, siya ay isang nakakatandang kapatid. But Theron was mistaken.

He can't imagine that for almost years na pala ang paghulog ng loob ni Kith. He wasn't suspicious, tho. Why on Earth that Kith was fell in love with him. It was because he showed so much kindness for him or treated him well?

Kailanman ay hindi niya binigyan ng malisya ang pakikitungo kay Kith. Unang-una ay alam niyang lalaki si Kith. Pangalawa ay kaibigan niya ito na parang kapatid na rin. He was totally upset with all the thoughts thrusting inside his mind.

Hindi niya maiwasan ang hindi magalit sa sarili sa isang rason na siya man ay hindi niya kayang ipagsabi. Imahe ni Kith ang naglalaro sa kaniyang utak. Mga mata nito'y nagpapahiwatig ng paumanhin o, parang nababasa niya kung gaano ito nasasaktan.

Did he hurt him? Ano ba naman ang kasalanan niya. Kith need to face the consequences. He's not obliged to heal him but as a best friend ay naawa siya kay Kith. Normal lang ang main-love that's part of growth. Pero naisip niyang sana main-love si Kith sa ibang tao.

He doesn't give a fuck if he's bisexual. Wala na siyang paki-alam kung sino man ito. 'Yon ba ang matagal na itinago ni Kith sa kaniya. Ang totoong pagkatao nito. A total stranger he met two years ago who looks in his eyes so intimately. He became his best friend. Matalino si Kith. Palagi siya nitong tinulungan. Palagi itong nasa tabi niya. And even influence him to do good.

Inimpluwensiyahan siya nitong maging matino at magpakabuti sa lahat ng aspeto. How the innocent kith is too bold to encourage the typical bad boy, Theron. And to change Ther's behavior. Sinubukan nga niyang magbago. He quit fights and quit being troublesome. Theron slowly became fucking good.

He thanked him for his presence back then during the days when he was too down in himself. Dahil unti-unting bumagsak ang business ng Daddy niya. Kith was there to cheer him up, and even draw a plan to surpass the challenge. He met success once again. Bring honor to the Amherst family. He was very thankful. But it is still a great surprise for Theron kung bakit nanatiling estranghero si Kith sa kaniya.

No personal question ask about him. Sa tuwing magtatanong siya sa personal na buhay ni Kith ay palagi nitong iniwasan ang tanong niya. Siguro nga ay parte rin 'yon ng pagtatago nito at pagkukunwari nito. That hurt him even more. Bakit nangyari 'yon sa espesyal na araw nila. Galit siya inaamin niya 'yon sa sarili. Galit siya kay Kith at galit din siya sa sarili niya.

Time can't change. You're still you, Kith. The weakest of all. He said in the air. Ang mga kamay ng orasan ay patuloy sa pag-ikot sa mismong mundo nito. Gayunpaman ay 'di kayang baguhin ng panahon ang mga pangyayaring 'yon. It's been written and he will remember it. Right the moment, Theron was still puzzled about how to forgive Kith.

Wala naman itong kasalanan pero ang ginagawa nitong pagtatago ng totoong sarili at identidad nito ay isang kataksilan. It's better to tell him right away. He doesn't care anyway. Mahal niya si Syd. A love that means to break and separate. To part ways. That's love, the willingness to let go. Mahal din niya si Kith bilang kaibigan pero hindi kontento ang huli.

Sinabunot ng binata ang sariling buhok at inihilamos ang mga palad sa kaniyang mukha. Paulit-ulit ang katanungang paano nangyari ang lahat. Paanong nagtaksil si Kith sa kanilang pagkakaibigan. Pero nagmamahal lang ito katulad ng sinasabi nito. There's nothing wrong to love someone.

Pero hiling niya in fucking hundred times na sana alam ni Kith kung saan lulugar. Nalungkot si Theron. He gasped and lit the cigarette between his lips and blew a thick gray smoke.

Naguguluhan ang kaniyang utak. Hindi niya alam kung paano tumakas sa sariling pag-iisip. Gusto na niyang kalimutan ang nangyari noong nagdaang linggo sa pamamagitan ng paglalasing. Too drunk and forget all the fucking emotional and mental problems he had. But his mind was still focusing on the last week's scene. He ignored him.

Umalis si Kith at naiwan siyang mag-isa. He waited for him in vain akala niya ay babalik ito at humingi ng tawad. Pero parang bolang naglaho si Kith sa kadiliman ng kalye ng Sta. Rosa. Ipinagtuloy niya ang pagdiriwang sa gabing 'yon. Friendsarry nila 'yon.

He celebrated alone. Eating and drinking alone. It was terrible day in history. Why the hell does his perfect dinner companion disappear like a tiny ball.

He wants to forget it pero tulad ng sinabi niya ay 'di niya 'yon makalimutan sa isang iglap lamang. The fuck he wanted to disrupted and shattered if it's only glass. He will squeeze it in his hands 'till it's shattered.

Malakas na napailing si, Theron. He raised his shot glass with whiskey on it, itinungga niya 'yon hanggang sa huling patak. Kahit ilang baso na ng whiskey ang naiinom niya ay pakiramdam niya ay walang epekto 'yon sa kaniya. He was still on the same ground. Parang tubig lamang 'yon sa kaniya.

Gusto niyang tawagin si Syd para sabayan siya nito pero sa huli ay desido siyang huwag na lang tawagan ito ayaw niyang abalahin ito. He's a cool Med-student and he feels that it is too much for Syd if he shares his burden.

A part of his mind is also aware of Kith. Iniisip niya ang kalagayan nito. He can't ignore it. The fact he was fucking disappointed in him, but he was his Bro who badly needed him. He used to be his Bro. But now, he let the situation decide. He can't grant Kith's wants and desires.

Why does Kith desire him? They're not meant to be. Not in this lifetime. It was too much when the two friends created a boy love story. He can love Syd because he wasn't related to him. Sa tingin niya ay hindi 'yon unfair depende na lang sa pagka-intindi ni Kith.

It wasn't my damn concern to date a friend. He whispered. I'm such an irrelevant, but too smart keeping friendship.

Too early for Kith to love Theron. But he can't love him too late either. May bahagi ng utak niya ang nagtatanong kung nasaan na si Kith sa kasalukuyan. He tried to call him once this week pero cannot be reached ito.

Napailing na lamang si Theron at muling itinungga ng laman ng shot glass niya. A guy who danced on the dance floor waved to him. It was Sense his friend. Humakbang ito papalapit sa kaniya.

"Alone?"anitong tinapik ang balikat niya at humarap sa bartender. "A glass of beer, Please." request nito at umupo sa tabi niya. " 'Yung kaya ang one liter," dagdag na biro nito.

Napailing siya. "Sense pa naman name mo. But it seems you don't have the sense at all. Look around. Count 'em, Bro."

"Calm. I mean you coming here alone."

"Dami namang tao. I wasn't alone at all." He said, smirking.

"Stay calm."

"Okay, kahit 'di naman ako kumalma ay guwapo pa rin ako. Right?"

Sense shrugged and accepted the glass of beer then look around. The guy seems to look for something or someone. Hot babes. He's horny damned.

"Look," anitong umayos ng upo. "Base sa tono ng pananalita mo ay parang may problema ka."

"The hell. Kung may problema man ako. Maka-apekto ba 'yon sa mundo. Kulang na lang siguro noh, kung magpaputok o magpasabog ako ng Nuclear bomb."

"You being pilosopo. Look there" he said pouting his lips.

Tumingin nga siya sa dancefloor. There was a beautiful lady there. She was dancin' crazily. Maganda ito at sexy.

"Yun, deserve na putukan." He smirked. "Yabang namang mag-twerk patay kang babae sa'kin mamaya, baka gusto no'n ng mala-malusog na talong sa haba," dagdag ni Sense na hindi inalis ang tingin sa dancefloor. "Pero ang lagkit ng tingin sayo. Go bro putukan mo na,"

She wasn't his type. Kahit sinasabing bad boy siya ay never siyang nagka-interest sa ganong klaseng babae.

"Thanks"

Tumawa ito. At seryoso ang mukhang nakatitig sa kaniya. His expression was questionable. He asked him why anyway's.

"Siyanga? Di mo kasama si Kith?"

Kith doesn't fit the place. Hindi ito uminom. Wala itong bisyo. He's a good son of an unknown father. Ang pangongolekta lang ng libro ang hilig ni Kith. Ang tanging bisyo nito ay ang pagmamahal sa taong 'di ito kayang suklian ng konting pagmamahal.

"Si Kith?" Tanong ulit nito dahil hindi siya makasagot sa unang tanong nito.

"Jesus, bakit mo siya tinatanong? At sa'kin pa" he started to show annoying glance.

"Why not? He was your best friend," anitong itinungga ang baso na may lamang beer. " I don't even see him around this week."

Tama si Sense. Dahil siya rin mismo ay hindi niya nakikita si Kith. O, baka sinolo nito ang miserableng buhay nito. Hindi rin ito nag-update sa mga social media accounts nito. Inactive. Gusto pa man niya makita o makausap si Kith na baka sakaling mabago pa niya ang lahat, o mabago pa niya ito.

"Me either," he said and lit his cigarette.

"Man? Sasama ka ba bukas?"

Hell Yes. Tomorrow will be the boring day kung hindi siya sasama papuntang Isla Tagumpay. Will Kith coming. He must be lost. He'll be damned. But he's expecting him to be there. He's also part of the group. His presence isn't a big problem at all.

"I want you to look for Kith also"

"Shut the fuck up." He groaned.

"The fuck you shut up," he said, smirking.

"You want a fight, Huh?" He clenched his fingers on his lap.

"Nah, Calm. Not this time. We need a ring."

"You little cocoon."

"See you tomorrow." He stood up.

"I'll crush your bone, Sense Mather Tolledo."

"Sense is Mather" he laughed.

"But having no sense at all. You fuck"

"Sense my ass. Pay that for me." He said running away.

"Hurl'd and kiss my ass you bitch." Sigaw niya.

Kumaway ito at nagmamadaling lumabas sa lugar na 'yon. Naiwang mag-isa si Theron at ipinagtuloy ang pag-iinom at pagsisintimpyento.

SA SUSUNOD na araw ay makitang magka-akbay si Theron at si Syd. Hanggang balikat ni Theron si Syd. Magka-akbay ang dalawa palakad sa pier. Nando'n na ang mga kasama nila at hinihintay sila ng mga ito. Napilitan lamang si Syd na sumama sa kanilang mga engineering students. Pinilit niya kasi ito.

Dahil ang misyon ay saktan si Kith emotionally pag makita sila nito. Nang dumating si Pier ay agad na makita nila sina Sense, Bae, magkambal na sina Nial at Nell, Maude, and Irvin. Kith wasn't there or hindi pa ito naka-abot doon. He's looking for him.

"Oh, early-bird" Sense smirked.

"You, after—"

"Hep," Sense gasped. "That's only a glass of beer."

"So, who is he?" Asked Nial staring at Syd.

"Syd," mabilis na sambit ni Sense. "His name is Syd from Med faculty."

"Ah, you know him better more than I do," said Theron.

"Only dumbass like you knows nothing about his boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Everyone's shocked.

Theron nodded. Irvin's reaction was indifferent. He's Kith's friend. Marahil ay alam nito na may gusto si Kith kay Theron.

"That's our generation," said Nial. "In the future who knows If I'm dating guy?"

"At ipakilala mo kay Mama?" Nell asked him.

"Who knows? Our parents are not a homophobic one."

"Pwedi namang tayo na lang" Maude pretend to hug Bae.

"Baliw." Bae has a funny reaction.

"Enough." Sense stopped them. "Okay, who cares if all of us dating a guy one day. Now we are here. Ready na ang bangka we can leave na. Naghihintay na si Rhea.

"Let's go," said Theron and hold Syd hand's tightly.

PAPALUBOG na ang araw at wala pa rin si Kith. Kanina pa niya ito lihim na hinahanap. Dahil sa inis ay lumabas siya. Kasalukuyang nagpapahinga si Syd sa tinutuluyang kwarto nila sa bahay nila Rhea sa Isla. Naglalakad ng mag-isa si Theron.

Gulong-gulo ang isip niya. Dahil sa pagkawala ng preseniya ni Kith ay bigla niya itong namiss. He was his makulit best friend. Nasaan ba ito at bakit hindi ito sumama sa kanila. Gusto niyang sumbatin ang sarili niya. Bakit hinayaan niyang umalis na puno ng sakit ng dibdib si Kith sa gabing 'yon.

Napameywang na huminto si Kith sa dalampasigan. Nagbuntong hininga at minasdan ang balod ng alon. Hindi niya alam kung saan pweding hanapin si Kith. Dahil wala ito sa apartment nito. Nang makita si Irvin na naglalakad papalapit sa kaniya ay nagpakawala siya ng isang malakas na buntong hininga.

Nakita niya ang lungkot na gumuhit sa mukha ni Irvin. He's Kith's close friend. Gusto niyang itanong dito kung nasaan si Kith. Pero nahihiya siya.

"Pakiramdam ko hinahanap mo si Kith," he said. Salamat na lang at kusang ito ang magbukas sa paksang 'yon.

"It isn't easy to heal a wounded heart," anito at umupo. Umupo sa tabi nito.

"Do you mean alam—"

"Bago umalis si Kith ay ikinuwento niya ang lahat." Mabilis na sambit nito. "Kitang-kita ko kung gaano at paano nasasaktan si Kith. He cried a lot. Pero sa huli desido siyang umalis."

"Umalis?" Nagsimulang kumabog ang dibdib niya.

"Oo at wala na sa Pilipinas si Kith sa ngayon." Diretsang sabi nito.

His heart beating so fast, faster and faster."May gusto ka bang I-reveal sa pagkatao ni Kith?"

"Limitado lang ang alam ko sa buhay niya. Ang alam ko ay isa siyang mestizo. His Mom is French. His Dad is Filipino-American."

Tumatango siya. Ngayon ay medyo naliwanagan siya. Kaya pala minsan nagsalita ng French si Kith. Paano na ngayong wala na ang dating kaibigan na palagi niyang protektahin. Babalik pa ba ito. Iyon ang mga katanungang naglalaro sa utak ni Theron.

Tumayo siya at iniwan si Irvin. Naglalakad palayo at hinayaan ang ilang butil ng luhang nagsisi-unang pumatak. Their friendship will not going to work again. He was sure of that. He loses his best friend. He lost his favorite dinner companion.

Fuck Kith, babalik ka na at ako mismo ang humingi ng tawad. Sigaw niya sa kaniyang isip habang pinunasan ang basang pisngi.