Paraiso [BL]

04. 🏍️🌃

04.
conversations on the ride home
_____

"Huwag kang matulog, please," Denver heard Nico say as they approached a red light. Tumigil saglit ang motor at nilingon ni Nico si Denver.

Their eyes met.

"Akala ko tulog ka," ani Nico bago humarap ulit para paandarin ang motor dahil berde na ulit ang ilaw.

"Hindi pa naman ako inaantok," Denver answered unconsciously near Nico's ear.

"Pwede kang yumakap kung dapuan ka ng antok," Nico reminded him. "Malayo-layo pa tayo."

"I'm fine."

They passed several streetlights in silence. Maya-maya ay nagsalitang muli si Nico.

"I'm sorry," anito. "I was being impatient, sorry."

Cautiously, Denver leaned in closely to hear Nico louder. Nagpatuloy ito sa pagsasalita.

"It's just that I thought tungkol sakin 'yung mga kantang sinusulat mo tapos malalaman ko kay Stell na may ex ka palang nachachat sa 'yo. And we still don't have a label after a year, Dev, nakaka-overthink ka, alam mo ba 'yun?"

Nico was already shouting as he continued his monologue. Denver felt the frustration in his voice. Frustration na alam niyang dala niya. Frustration na alam na niya ngayong epekto ng mixed signals na naibibigay niya, be it consciously or unconsciously.

But those songs were really for you, he wanted to tell Nico. Walang iba. Ilang ex man ang bumalik.

Habang patuloy si Nico sa paglalabad ng damdamin, dahan-dahang inikot ni Denver ang kaniyang mga kamay sa baywang nito at niyakap ang gitarista mula sa likod.

"Sabi ko sa 'yo, Dev, I will wait. Palagi 'yan. But if you—"

Denver felt how Nico visible stiffened when he felt his arms tightening around his waist. "I'm sorry, too," Denver whispered against his neck. "I didn't know I was making you feel that way, 'Ico."

It took Nico a few dangerous minutes before responding. Pasalamat sigurong hindi pa sila nakababangga, senyales na hindi pa naman completely nagblackout ang driver.

Later, Denver felt the vibrations bubbling in Nico's chest as the gitarist started laughing. Saglit na lumayo si Denver para tingnan ang kasama at alamin ang tinatawanan nito.

"Tinatawanan mo ba 'ko? Gago ka talaga kahit kailan," aniya sabay hampas sa hita nito. His ears burned in embarassment. "Sabi na, hindi na 'ko magpapaka-sappy sa 'yo. Ang korni mo talaga Suson, gago ka. Urgh!"

"Hindi," tawa ni Nico. Saglit pa itong lumingon kay Denver na agad niya namang sinaway dahil may papalapit na crossing.

"Nakikiliti kasi ako, gago, Dev, wag kang bumulong sa leeg ko. Nagddrive ako eh! Mababangga ko 'to!"

Nakahalukipkip na pinanliitan ni Denver ang likod ng helmet nito dahil sa inis. "May nalalaman ka pa kasing yumakap, tas nakikiliti ka naman pala."

Lalong lumakas ang tawa ni Nico. "Sweet kasi tingnan. Hindi ba?"

Denver did not respond. Napahiya na siya't naiinis pero nangingibabaw yung strange na feeling ng kilig na namamahay sa kaniyang kalamnan.

"Dev, hindi ba sweet 'yun? Aminim mo, aminin mo," Nico continued to tease, his laughter ringing with the wind in Denver's ears. He'd lie when he say he doesn't like it.

"Psh," he huffed to his his feelings. "Sweet mo mukha mo."

🦋