Chapter Twenty Four

Kanina pa nagkulong sa kaniyang silid si Kith. Dalawang linggo na ang nakakalipas simula ng kusa niyang iniwan si Theron. He has his reason kung bakit hindi niya ipinagtuloy ang tatlong buwan na ayon sa pinag-usapan nila ni Theron. At bakit naman niya itutuloy ‘yon, kung sa simula pa ay alam niyang hindi niya mapa-ibig si Theron. Naging walang kabuluhan ang mga layunin niya.

He felt so empty. Nanatili siyang nakatitig sa kisame at mistulang doon niya makikita ang sagot sa ilang katanungang nasa kaniyang isipan. His lips dried and cracked. His throat constricted. Nanlabo ang mga mata niya dahil may namumuo roong luha. Isa ang natutunan niya na kapag talo siya sa simula ay ayaw na niyang sumugal pa. Masasaktan lamang siya kung susubukan niya ‘yon muli.

He clearly remembered how Theron pleaded with him and beg him to stay. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nasa isip ni Theron, kung ano ang nararamdaman nito. Hindi na niya inalam pa ‘yon. Ayaw na niyang isipin pa si, Theron. He wants to focus on ignoring him in his system. He wants to forget him. Gusto niyang kalimutan ang dating kaibigan na minahal niya at ibaon na lamang ang huli sa limot.

Sa huli nilang pagkita ay hiling niya na sana ay wala na siyang nararamdaman sa binata. At sinisigurado niya ‘yon. Maling mahalin si Theron. Sana hindi na lang siya umamin noon. He wanted to go back to the time when he was secretly in love with him. Gusto niya sa bawat pagpikit niya ay hindi si Theron ang nakikita niya pero nagkamali siya. Parang eksena ito sa kaniyang isipan at hindi niya madaling matanggal sa kaniyang isipan.

Kahit pa na ayaw na niyang isipin ang binata ay gumagawa ng paraan ang puso niya para bigyang tuon ang natitira pang nararamdaman niya kay Theron. His lips on him, how he kissed him, how he hugged him lingers still. He clenched his teeth. Painful, never he experience that when he was still secretly in love with him, he has a pain in his chest.

When his brain try to comfort him and said get up fix your broken heart. He was clueless about which parts he will fix, his heart shattered into a million pieces. Huminga siya ng malalim. Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang mga mata. Tumagilid siya para bigyang daan ang butil ng mga luha niya. Malayang binagtas ng mainit na likido mula sa kaniyang mga mata ang mukha niya at bumagsak sa kama.

Naninikip ang dibdib niya. He sobs while breathing heavily. Simula ng nakagising siya kaninang alas tres ng madaling araw ay hindi na siya dalawin pa ng antok. Nakapikit na lamang siya kahit hindi siya muling makatulog. Clock chimes four, and there he was weeping and wailing. He was too down in himself. He hugged himself and bit his lower lip in agony, every sound of clock sound brought an ache in his heart. He was dead to the world.

Patuloy ang paglandas ng luha niya hanggang sa nakatulog na siya muli. Payapa siyang nakatulog at wala ng bumabagabag sa kaniyang isipan.

“Kith?”

Dahan-dahan siyang nagmulat ng mga mata nang marinig ang boses na ‘yon kasabay ng pagyugyog sa kaniyang balikat.

“Wake up Kiddo”

Walang ibang tumawag sa kaniya ng kiddo kundi si Theron lamang. Wait, gugustuhin niya bang makita ito? At paano ito nakapasok sa loob ng kwarto niya. He used to listen to his sweet voice, he used to fall in love with his voice. But now he doesn’t want to open his eyes and see him. Patuloy ang pagyugyog nito sa kaniyang balikat. Napilitan siyang nagdilat ng mga mata. Hindi niya alam kung nadismaya siya o hindi. It wasn’t Theron it was Noam, kaboses ni Theron. Pero mas kaakit-akit ang boses ni Theron that’s why Kith was falling in love with him.

Alas sais Trenta na pala. Mabuti na lamang at ginising siya ni Noam at baka tatanghaliin pa ang gising niya. He stood up and stretched his body. Nanatiling naka-obserba lamang si Noam sa kaniya.

“Why?” He asked nang napansing hindi inalis nito ang tingin sa kaniya.

“Il y a un cadeau pour toi (There’s a present for you)”

“Present? From you? Oh, tinambakan na ako ng mga regalo mo,” alam ng huli na malungkot ang kapatid nito kaya sa tuwing umuuwi ito galing sa opisina ay palagi itong nagdadala ng regalo sa kaniya. Tinamad pa si Kith na buksan ang mga ‘yon. He wasn’t the type of guy that’s too fond of accepting presents unless it’s from his favorite person. But he appreciates Noam, tho. He understands that Noam wanted him to smile, ayaw nitong makita ang lungkot na namayani sa mukha niya.

Noam shrugged “No, not from me. There’s no address better to open it.” He smiled.

“Nasaan na? Paano kung bomba ang laman?”

“In the living room, it’s a fine and expensive box, I hope it’s not a bomb like what you have mentioned.” He chuckles. “Hmm, perhaps from your special someone” tinaasan siya nito ng isang kilay.

“Nah, special someone my ass” He laughed. Pero hindi ‘yon bukal sa loob. Ayaw niyang ipinakita rito o kay daddy man niya na parang pasan niya ang daigdig. Mabilis siyang lumabas ng kaniyang kwarto. He feels a little excited.

Kith? I hope this letter finds you a peace. I just want you to know that you already have the half percent of me, it feels like magic, I thought I was damn and dumb playing around, I couldn’t help but fall in love with you. I know it’s hard to ask you, to love me, to be my kiddo a lover kiddo, but I’m willing to wait. This is love and I’m pretty sure, I love you- much affection and love Theron Amherst.

He dropped the fine white paper, the letter. He was having trouble breathing and his mouth felt dry. Ang kasabay ng liham na ‘yon ay photo albums na pawang mga litrato nila ni Theron. Isa ring necklace box ang nasa loob niyon. He opened it, it was an expensive men’s necklace with a pendant KT-Kith and Theron. Oh, god, Theron’s feeling’s is developing. He couldn’t believe it. Ano namang kalokohan ang nasa isip ni Theron? O, baka totoo na ito at nagdevelop na nga ang feelings nito sa kaniya. Sana nga, Sana nga.

He was sitting there in the living room silent and only keep looking at the floor. He hugged the photo album. He kissed the necklace pendant. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nababagay niyang reaksiyon sa nalaman niya kay Theron. Hysterical and fucking shocked like he won a billion pesos on the lottery. He finds it awkward, he kept it in himself na lang.

Tama nga ang sapantaha niya noon na may naramdaman din si Theron sa kaniya at hindi pa ‘yon nito nadiskubre. Theron has a feeling all along. Tumingala siya at nagbuga ng buntong hininga.

Theron, Theron, totoo na ba ‘to?” Mistulang tambol sa lakas ang puso niya. Mabilis ang tahip ng dibdib niya.

Noam smirked while he observed his little brother. Napangiti ito sa sarili nito. Susuportahan ni Noam kung ano man ang gusto ng nakakabatang kapatid nito. Lumapit si Noam at umupo sa tabi ni Kith. Humarap si Noam kay Kith. Pinahid nito ang basang pisngi ng kapatid dahil ‘yon sa ilang butil ng luha na tumulo mula sa mata nito.

“Are you feeling happy now?” Noam asked.

“I don’t know, I couldn’t believe it.”

“If you don’t believe him, why don’t you give him a chance to prove it? Be with Theron again”

Kith shocked. “You knew him?”

Sa halip na sinagot ni Noam ang tanomg niya ay patuloy nitong pinahid ang basang pisngi niya at pinisil ang mga pisngi niya.

“Yes, I do. It’s been two weeks since you locked yourself in your room. You don’t want to see the world. You don’t want me to talk with you. Do you know that Theron is going back to his work at PBB?” He smiled.

“Are you serious?” He was shocked.

“Yes, cause I’m his new boss.”

Napangiti siya. Salamat at bumalik doon si Theron. Ang saya-saya na niya sa balitang ‘yon.

“Sir, please allow me to love your employee once again.”

“Crazy,” Noam murmured.

“Kuya naman”

“Oh, Kuya? I heard that only this time.”

“Please”

“No,”

“Please”

“Okay, love him then. He’s waiting for you. Theron is waiting for you. Don’t waste time. Please chase him and he’ll chase after you.”

Ngumiti si Noam. Tumayo ito at iniwan na siya sa sala. Naiwang ngumingiti si Kith. He’s excited to meet him again.