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馬鹿 — idiot.
"Akalain mo 'yon?! 'Yon ang sinabi niya sa'kin! Mas type daw niya ang mga lalaking sweet, 'yong sensitive tsaka magaling kuman—marunong naman akong kumanta ah?!"
Inirapan siya ni Jihoon bago ito bumaling ulit sa kanyang dala-dalang music magazine. Seungcheol slumps over the table with a slight pout on his lips as Jihoon nonchalantly sips his own coffee. Ayan na naman kasi, hindi na naman kasi siya pinapansin ng nakababata at inirapan pa siya.
Hindi na naman gumagana.
"Jihoon sagutin mo 'ko, hindi ba marunong naman akong kumanta?" he urges on, forehead creasing with determination. "Hindi ba marunong naman akong kumanta? Naalala mo ba 'yong kinantahan kita sa karaoke? Nagustuhan mo naman 'yon 'di ba? 'Di ba?!"
"Ah 'yong nagcrack ang boses mo nang sinubukan mong abutin ang high note ni Taeyeon?" Ni hindi man lang tumingin sa kanya si Jihoon. "Yeah I remember that."
"Seventeen pa ako n'on okay? Inaayos pa ako ni puberty. Kita mo 'to?" tinuro niya ang kanyang biceps na naka-flex. "Tingnan mo Jihoon bilis!"
Jihoon hums monotonously and gives him a bored glance, eyes on his flexed arm.
"Tingnan mo ang laki ng katawan ko! Produkto na 'to ng magic ni puberty! Kung gumanda ang katawan ko, mas lalong gumanda ang boses ko. Magugustuhan na ako ni Jeonghan!"
Those very words left a bitter taste in Seungcheol's mouth he almost cringed. It is ironic, since he was the one who just said that and brought that up.
He's starting to sweat as Jihoon looks up to him when he mentioned Jeonghan. Umaasa si Seungcheol na may makitang kahit anong reaksyon mula sa kanya, anything. Kahit ano mula sa kanyang cute at blankong mukha. But specifically, he wants to see any trace of jealousy. He wants to see that scowl Jihoon makes when something irritates him. He wants to see that crease in his forehead whenever something distasteful crosses his vision or gets in his radar.
Gusto niyang malaman kung nagseselos ba si Jihoon sa kanilang dalawa ni Jeonghan. So Seungcheol had to make Jihoon think they have a special thing going for them, to see how Jihoon would react.
And if he did react negatively, Seungcheol would have that one, strong sign.
A sign if he should pursue this growing feelings he had for him that's been pestering him ever since five years ago.
For Jihoon.
Just a sign, sabi niya sa sarili. Sign lang na gusto mo rin ako, at hindi ako bibitaw.
Sometimes Seungcheol thinks he's being an idiot for doing things like this instead of just straight out confessing. Pero masyadong malaking bagay ang nakasalalay dito. Ang manatili sa tabi ng bugnuting Lee Jihoon na 'to. There's so much at stake, Choi Seungcheol doesn't want to risk confessing.
At least man lang sa pamamaraang 'to malaman niya, even if it's a really long shot, if he has a chance.
"Jeonghan doesn't deserve you."
"Hmm?"
"You want me to lay out the reasons why?"
Seungcheol leans in with mild interest as Jihoon draws imaginary figures on the coffee table.
"Isa. Hindi ka marunong kumanta."
"Hoy—"
"Dalawa. You're not sensitive. You're as dense as the earth's core."
Seungcheol blinks as Jihoon raises a brow at him. "Sa tingin mo papasa ka sa standards niya? Jeonghan wants a decent guy and this . . . " he gestures at Seungcheol's confused features. ". . . is nowhere near decent."
"Oy! Nang-iinsulto ka ba?" Kung hindi lang talaga kita mahal e.
Nagkibit-balikat si Jihoon. "I'm just saying. And there's also the fact that he already likes that guy named Jisoo from my club. Sumuko ka na."
Seungcheol blinks for a few seconds then scowls. "May gusto siya kay Jisoo?"
"Kasasabi ko lang 'di ba?" Pinandilatan siya ni Jihoon. "Akala ko ba close kayo? Hindi mo alam?"
"Teka. Paano mo naman nalaman 'yon? Eh hindi mo naman kilala sa personal si Jeonghan ah?"
Napaigting si Jihoon sa kanyang kinauupuan. He shifts in his seat then clears his throat. "I-I did some research."
Tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Seungcheol. "Research?"
"Na-curious ako. You were babbling so much about the guy, I had to look up a few things," kaswal na sagot ni Jihoon tsaka tumikhim ulit. "'Di kayo bagay. Suko ka na."
"Paano mo naman nalamang hindi kami bagay—"
Jihoon groans out, sending the older a piercing glare. "Hyung just shut up okay? I know it's a mutual understanding. Mukhang niligawan na nga ni Jisoo si Jeonghan. Kung gusto mo ng lovelife, 'wag na 'yong mahirap abutin. Jeonghan is too good to be true. Settle for something that can be attained."
Seungcheol makes a face then slumps back again on the table, not really hurt or anything because of that fact. He's stomped because of another reason altogether.
Another attempt to make Jihoon jealous failed. Mukhang naiinis pa nga ito sa kanya ngayon. Seungcheol turns his head at his half-empty pineapple juice with a sad look on his face, not catching Jihoon's hurt expression as he gazes fondly at Seungcheol, thinking of another thing.
Pangatlo. I'm here. Settle for me instead.
Ibinalik ni Jihoon ang kanyang mga mata sa kanyang magazine nang bumangon si Cheol at nagsimula na naman siyang daldalin.
There is just no way Jihoon is gonna say that out loud to him.
"Pero tsk, mas gwapo pa rin ako d'on sa Jisoo. 'Di ba 'di ba?"
Jihoon sighs, absolutely done at the older's childishness yet smiles inside. "Okay, fine, oo na. You win."
