Hatin' Hue: A JOKEN AU

HH 9

Though he was a little hesitant to express what was on his mind, Caleb summoned the confidence to say, "Sabi ko, pakitang-gilas ka sa mga babae don," while attempting not to come out as overly jealous.

Cold sweats. The man next to him was staring at him, and Caleb could feel his gaze. His breathing started to become uncontrollable and his heart started to race.

The music playing as they passed a music store didn't make things any better.

He, though, still cannot discern Han's emotions. It was something he thought he would never comprehend without hearing everything from Han himself.

Then Caleb's hand stumbled across the man's swinging hand next to him, and his heartbeat quickened even more.

And as Han slid his palm on his and clasped their fingers together, his bafflement at what Han was up to gradually deepened.

Caleb heard Han say in a deep, raspy voice, "Hindi mo ba pansin, I'm showing off to you and you alone?"

It wasn't that Caleb didn't want to reply; at the moment, his mind was simply unable to process information. He was completely unable to react to anything. His body seemed to be controlled by his heart.

Caleb bit his lip to keep from grinning as they walked, letting their hands entwine.

"Caleb!" Silver yelled out of nowhere as he raced in their direction. Caleb's smile vanishes as soon as Han removes his hand from him.

"Awit! HH while walking?" Silver asked in jest, grinning widely.

Han looked at Caleb, who is now frowning. He replied, "Hindi 'no! Pinakitaan ko lang ng 'Han Teodoro as a boyfriend' para mabayaran ko agad 'yong pinangtreatment. Diba? Diba? Ayos ba, Cal?"

And all those times, he thought he finally understood Han... but he ended up hurting, thinking that Han could meet his feelings halfway.

"No," he curtly replied before calling a cab.

"Tanga!" Silver yelled to Han as they walked back to Han's house after Han had told him what he had done earlier.

"For sure, napahiya 'yon. Gago ka, Hate! Suyuin mo ngayon 'yon," he added.

"Nabigla lang naman ako. Malay ko bang ikaw pala 'yon, eh alam mo namang mahina 'tong mata ko lalo pag malayo," Han tried to explain himself to his furious friend.

"Napabitaw tuloy ako agad," Han continued as he massaged his temples.

"Timang, wag kang maistress. Migraine ka naman niyan," Silver replied, passing him a bottle of water and his medication.

Looking very disappointed in himself, Han said, "Eh paano naman kasi, pagtingin ko sa kanya nakasimangot na. Nasabi ko tuloy ang 'di dapat."

"So, ano nga? May namumuong feelings ka na ba kay ssob?" Silver asked in an intrigued voice.

Han chuckled and replied, "Ang tanging namumuo rito par ay malaking utang."

As they reached home, Silver immediately went to Han's kitchen and prepared their lunch. He asked, "Anong plano? Paano mo mababayaran 'yang utang mo?"

"Hindi ko pa alam, par! Ayaw naman niya maging jowa ko, kita mo naman paano bigla na lang umalis kanina. Diring-diri sakin ampota," Han replied while exercising his eyes with a children's game on his phone—identifying colors.

"Akin na nga 'yang phone mo, pagpahingain mo naman mata mo," Silver said, trying to get Han's phone.

Han immediately dodged him and remarked, "Kilala kita, Sylvester! Tatawagan mo lang si Caleb, pahamak ka talaga."

Silver responded, chuckling, "Tungaw! Nagtatampo nga kasi 'yon! Dali na call mo na!"

Han didn't have a choice but to call Caleb, however, Caleb wasn't picking up. He tried to call once more, and luckily, his last attempt was a success.

Someone answered the phone, "Hey, Mr. Bodyguard. Just call another time or wait til Caleb's sober."

Han was too stunned to speak. "Si Crimson ba 'yon?" Silver asked Han.

"Did I hear Silver right there?" the man on the other line asked. He continued, "Yo! Silver! It's Crimson; I thought you'd be at my party."

Silver grabbed Han's phone and answered, "Huy, Crimson! Sorry, kailangan ko samahan si Han eh."

"Han? Isama mo na siya; I wanna meet the bodyguard," Crimson stated.

"Subukan ko," Silver responded, biding farewell before hanging up.

Rolling his eyes, Han exclaimed, "Bodyguard, tsk!"

"Anong gusto mo? Boyfriend? Totoo namang bodyguard ka ni Caleb," Silver said, intentionally provoking his friend.

But instead of responding, Han pulled Silver out of the house and called a cab.

"Gago, Hate! Saan tayo pupunta?" Silver shouted in confusion.

Han replied, "Saan pa? Edi makiki-party!"

"Tanga! Richkid party 'yon? Lasing 'yong kaisa-isang kapit natin? Ayos nga 'yang plano mo," Silver responded sarcastically while rolling his eyes at Han.

Han asked, raising an eyebrow, "Anong gagawin ko, par? Hayaan lang na lasing si Caleb sa kamay ng mayayamang 'yon?"

What Han had said made Silver laugh, "Talaga ba? Hindi ka nga talaga in love, Han."

The organizers welcomed them, "Good evening, sir. You're not on the guest lists. Sir Ajero, table number 1 po." when they arrived at the location.

"Hindi, okay lang. Dito na ako, Silver. Pumasok ka na at bantayan mo si Caleb. Hihintayin ko na lang kayo dito," Han said, reassuring his friend that he's fine.

Han waited for five, ten... and another ten more minutes outside the venue. Han was sitting on the floor like a child, fiddling with his shoelaces, when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

Chuckling and unable to stand still, the man said, "Tara, uwi na tayo."

"Caleb!" Han yelled, catching him in his arms as he lost his balance. "Asan ba si Silver? Sinabi na ngang bantayan," he murmured.

"Tinakasan sila ni Caleb," Caleb responded, still chuckling over nothing. It must be the alcohol.

"Ha? Tinakasan mo?" Han asked, taken aback by Caleb's behavior.

Caleb grinned widely and nodded. He murmured, "Iuwi mo na 'ko, sayo."

To be continued...

ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ Author's notes:
Pahabol!
Umabot pa ang update.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, hons!