Just Because You Are

Chapter 12 - Whistling in the Dark

Creasing his forehead, Quino protested, “Alam mo, minsan I’m having second thoughts about asking your advice on such matters. You have very radical and extremely liberal views.”

Raymund laughed. “Ang sabihin mo masyado ka lang conservative and uptight just like-“

“Just like Papa…I get it, okay?” Quino finished off his brother’s sentence. “So you’re implying it’s all right to whistle in the dark even if the present circumstances are quite negative?”

“Bakit, negative nga ba? Pero in a way, yes. Ang sa akin lang, positive thinking lang palagi, Bro. If it’s meant to be, then it’s meant to be!” Raymund answered. “Alam naman natin diba, ladies are not properties…they have feelings, they make decisions. Sa isang banda, syempre respeto naman sa kapwa, bilang mga lalaki din tayo, ayaw natin na may mga umaaligid sa girlfriend natin para manligaw, diba? But for me, there’s nothing wrong if you’ll take time to get to know each other. Wala namang harm kung susubukan mong ipagpatuloy yung naumpisahan mong pag-establish ng friendship nyo, diba? Eh kung saan man yan eventually pupunta, it’s both your decision to make.”

“But after what happened, I think mas posibleng magkailangan kami instead of being closer.”

“Diba sabi mo hindi naman sya umiwas when you almost kissed her?” Raymund said. “Isn’t that a sign already? If you forced her, that’s another thing. But you didn’t.”

“Radical thinker ka talaga, Ahia,” Quino declared. “I don’t want to steal anybody’s girlfriend. I know how it feels to be treated like that by someone.”

Raymund frowned, understanding his brother’s reasons. “Hindi ko sinasabi na aagawin mo si Raffie sa absentee nyang boyfriend. I’m just helping you to sort things out.”

“I’ll keep my distance from her. I think that’s the best decision to make.”

He might have finally admitted his feelings for Raffie at that point, but moving a step higher to win her in spite of the present circumstances would just complicate his and Raffie’s lives.

So, does that mean he’ll still willfully choose to equate self-preservation with self-denial?

Raising his brow, Raymund said, “Choice mo yan. Gawin mo…hangga’t kaya mo, Bro…kung kaya mo.”

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“O, so kamusta ka na?” Louie asked her best friend excitedly. As soon as she arrived home from the two-day event she organized in Palawan, she immediately called up Raffie, expecting for some latest news about the TOA thingy.

“Okay naman. As usual, busy,” Raffie replied.

“Alam mo until now hindi ako makapaniwala na kayo ni Sir Quino eh mag-ki-click…o, di pa ba kayo nag-uusap ulit?”

Raffie bit her lip as she remembered, for the nth time, her impulsive self taking over that fateful night at the restobar. Quino texted her the next day to apologize for what he did.

She sent an honest reply that she was also rather carried away but she was definitely grateful that they were both saved by the bell when Louie came, and that she trusted it will never happen again.

Quino told her that he will talk to her as soon as he can. “No, hindi pa kame nag-uusap. Yung text lang nung Monday, yun lang. Sobrang busy, eh. Eto nga, nagre-ready nako papunta sa Forte.”