Love Me or Hate Me

EPISODE 01

Three months later. . .

It's already evening, but the air is still warm with the lingering heat brought by the summer sun which was just blazing in the sky a few hours ago. Summer has just started, but the heat has already risen by a considerable degree. Fortunately for the people inside a restaurant, they are shielded from the uncomfortable heat by the cool air coming from the AC.

The said restaurant is currently overflowing with people, mainly due to the fact that it's the perfect hour to eat one's dinner. Noises from the busy kitchen chorused with the chattering of the people on their tables, creating a chaotic and monotonous din inside the vast room.

One of the people inside the restaurant was a young man with brown hair and hazel-brown eyes. He's dressed in plain white long-sleeved shirt and black pants-the uniform of the service crew of the restaurant. The exposed parts of his skin showed a somewhat tanned complexion which greatly complemented his hair and eyes. His good looks caught the attention of some customers who gave him lingering stares. The young man, however, didn't seem to notice all the attention he's getting as he just focused on his work, greeting customers and giving them warm and welcoming smiles.

"Javi, it's almost eight. Go home once your shift is done. Ako ang napapagod para sa 'yo," sabi kay Javi ng manager nila na si Sir Rex nang mapadaan ito sa tapat ng una.

The brown-haired alpha scratched his head. "Kaya ko naman pong tumagal hanggang closing time. I can still help you clean up," Javi replied.

Sir Rex threw him a stern gaze. "Rest. I will not allow you to abuse your body. Kaninang umaga ka pa nagtatrabaho. May mga papalit naman sa 'yo para sa night shift sa bar. Don't even argue. Ipakakaladkad kita palabas kay Kuya Dexter kung magmamatigas ka pa," sagot nito.

Javi just sighed sheepishly. "Sige po. Uuwi na po ako by eight," sabi niya.

As Javi stopped at the counter to relay orders to the kitchen, his friend, Lemuel, approached him.

"Ikaw lang yata ang nag-iisang tao dito na napagalitan dahil sa sobrang pagtatrabaho. Buti na lang at wala tayong 'Employee of the Month' award dito. Puro siguro mukha mo ang nakadisplay sa dingding," sabi ni Lemuel matapos nitong masiko ang kaibigan niya.

"Tamad ka lang," sabad naman ni Javi.

"I won't argue," replied Lemuel. "Still, you should listen to Sir Rex. You absolutely have no reason to be working so hard. I mean, bakasyon naman at wala ka namang pinagkakagastusan. Besides, it's not like nangangailangan ka ng pera. Kahit siguro mag-resign ka, hindi ka naman magigipit sa pera."

Javi didn't say a word.

Lemuel stared at his friend for a long time. "Are you trying to distract yourself from Asa?" he asked in a low voice.

Nagkunwari na lang si Javi na abala sa pag-aayos ng mga menu sa counter.

"Look, hindi mo naman kailangang magsinungaling. Kilala kita. I know that you're devastated with his disappearance, pero sana maisip mo na hindi solusyon ang pagbababad sa trabaho para makalimutan mo si Asa. It won't help. What's worse, mapapahamak ka lang kung ipagpapatuloy mo pa ang ginagawa mo. Pause. Take a break. 'Wag mo nang pahihirapan pa ang sarili mo," Lemuel told Javi.

It's been three months since Asa disappeared without a trace. In the weeks following his sudden disappearance, halos walang ibang ginawa si Javi kung hindi hanapin ang tao. Nalagay pa sa alanganin ang pag-aaral niya dahil halos ibuhos na niya ang lahat ng oras niya mahanap lang si Asa.

Unfortunately, none of his efforts yielded good results. Hindi na bumalik pa si Asa sa condo niya at hindi rin alam ni Javi kung saan ang address ng mga kaibigan nito. Natigil lang sa paghahanap si Javi dahil kinailangan niyang mag-focus sa pag-aaral. Thankfully, nagawa niyang makapasa sa taong ito.

Maging ang mga news outlet ay walang alam sa location ni Asa. He basically just disappeared from the surface of the Earth without leaving a single trace behind. Sa tuwing nakakasagap si Javi ng balita tungkol sa possible na location ni Asa, agad naman siyang nagpupunta rito. 'Yun nga lang, wala rin siyang napapala. Minsan naiisip ni Javi na baka wala na nga sa bansa si Asa, na tuluyan na itong umalis dala ang anak nila. Javi's chest tightens painfully whenever he thinks of the idea, that's why he doesn't think about it as much as possible.

Lately ay hindi na napapadalas ang paghahanap niya kay Asa. Ang ginagawa na lang niya ay araw-araw siyang dumaraan sa condo nito sa pag-asang baka makita man lang niya ang kahit isa sa mga kaibigan ni Asa.

"Fine. I admit it," Javi said. "Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako natatahimik tungkol kay Asa. Can you blame me, though? Nawala siya nang wala man lang pasabi. Alam ko naman na kailangan kong umalis matapos niyang makapanganak, pero hindi ko naman in-expect na bigla-bigla na lang niya akong iiwan."

"And I understand you, bro," Lemuel replied. "Kahit kami naman ay nagulat. You totally didn't deserve to be left hanging like that. I mean, you did everything for Asa. At least sinabi man lang niya dapat sa 'yo personally kung kumusta siya at ang anak niyo."

Javi sighed heavily.

"Well, Asa's been missing for several months already. Kung gusto niyang magpakita sa 'yo, dapat ginawa na niya noon pa. Not that I'm telling you to totally forget everything about him, but don't you think it's time para ibaling mo naman sa ibang bagay ang oras at atensyon mo?" asked Lemuel.

"What are you trying to say?" Javi replied, eyeing his friend suspiciously.

"Ang problema sa 'yo, sa oras na mag-focus ka sa isang bagay, binubuhos mo ang lahat ng oras at atensyon mo roon. When your mother got sick, halos balewalain mo na ang lahat para lang makaipon ng panggamot niya. When Asa came to your life, itinuon mo rin ang lahat ng oras mo sa kanya. You always give everything to other people. Don't you think oras naman para sarili mo ang pagtuunan mo ng pansin?" sagot ng kaibigan niya.

"Get to the point," Javi said.

Lemuel elbowed him a little. "Find an omega."

Javi didn't even look surprised. "Bakit pakiramdam ko narinig ko na 'yan sa 'yo noon pa?"

Chuckling lightly, Javi's friend replied, "Well, true. Sa tingin ko ay oras na para kahit papaano ay palawakin mo ang experience mo sa pag-ibig. Hindi ka na rin bago sa sex, so I don't think magkakaproblema ka sa bagay na 'yan. There's nothing wrong with going out with a few people. I can even give you a few recommendations. Si Asa na mismo ang nagsabi na pwede kang mamuhay na parang binata matapos niyang makapanganak. Paano pala kung makakalimutan mo si Asa sa oras na makahanap ka ng iba?"

Javi was about to retort, but Lemuel immediately cut him off.

"Before you say anything, let me just remind you na wala ka nang ibang obligasyon pa. Your family is well. Bakasyon din. Besides, I'm pretty sure kaya mong balansehin ang pag-ibig at iba mong mga priority. Ako ang numero unong saksi sa mahiwagang time management mo. It wouldn't hurt to try, lalo't hindi ka naman na bata," dagdag pa nito.

Javi threw his friend a weary gaze. "Kagaya rin ng parati kong sinasabi, may mga mas importanteng bagay akong dapat na pagtuunan ng pansin kaysa sa pag-ibig na 'yan. Marami pa akong gagawin sa buhay. I'd rather distract myself with work and my family than to frantically search for a partner," he replied.

"Pero nakipaglandian ka kay Asa?" sabad ni Lemuel.

Isang hampas sa ulo ang natanggap nito.

"Jokes aside, I just really want you to be happy," Lemuel added. "I don't want to see you looking all down and depressed. You are an amazing person who deserves everything in the world. As your friend, gusto ko lang na makita kang masaya dahil nakikita ko ang sipag at dedikasyon mo. I only want the best for you, dude. I hope you can understand why I'm like this."

Huminga na lang nang malalim si Javi. "Salamat na rin sa concern mo. Alam ko naman na gusto mo lang akong matulungan. Maybe I'll try your suggestion in the future. For now, gusto ko lang munang pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga bagay na ginagawa ko ngayon," sagot niya.

"Tapos na ba ang drama natin diyan?" sabad bigla sa kanila ng cashier. "Kailangan ng waiter sa kiosk 6 sa taas. Mamaya niyo na 'yan ipagpatuloy na therapy session niyo."

Javi and Lemuel both chuckled. "Ako na ang bahala," sabi ng una sabay diretso sa hagdan. "Magtrabaho ka na rin, ugok. Puro kalandian ang nasa isip mo."