Paradox [BoybandPH]

t w e n t y - t h r e e

OH God. I signed up for this, didn't I?

Kung may award lang sa pinaka-awkward na ride, I would gladly nominate this.

Sinundo niya 'ko katulad ng sinabi niya saken kanina. It's been almost an hour and here we are, still jammed in a traffic along EDSA. None of us tried to talk, not even a single word. Well, maybe except 'hi' and 'hey' kanina when he picked me up.

How I wish I can at least turn on the music pero parang ayaw din makipag-coordinate ng mga kamay ko. It has gone coma on me. Eh kung magpanggap kaya ako ulit na tulog? UGH.

"So kumu-"

"What did-"

Nice one on trying to have a small talk, Sef.

"Jeez, grabe. I can't believe why there's this tension between us. You're not mad at me, aren't you?"

"What? No." I looked at him weirdly, "Bat mo naman naisip yun?"

Of course, there is. But I won't tell him that.

"Uh, I dunno." He trailed, "Maybe.. maybe because of what I said about Niel the other night?" I was stunned, "It's.. it's so low. I know. He's my friend. I shouldn't have said that."

"Joao." I honestly don't know if I want him to stop because I can see he's struggling, but the other part of me wants to hear him say these too.

"Nah, I feel so guilty, I haven't... I haven't like.. Tried talking to him. I... Hell, I'm horrible. I didn't ask about how he's kuya is doing kahit na we're always together. Never mentioned it once. I felt bad. Bad for myself, bad for him."

I sighed, "I know he understands. Tsaka I don't think he's ready to.. ready to talk about what happened sa kuya niya." I caught myself, I'm afraid he might misunderstand it. "Not that I'm saying na you're not close or friends or anything. It's just that-"

I bit my lip, stopping myself from talking further when I noticed he starts chuckling, "You actually don't have to explain that part. Niel pretty filled me in with that information. Besides, hindi talaga kami sobrang close- at least not how close YOU are. Our parents happened to know each other for a long time, so we're friends. But if you think about it. We barely know each other."

Tumango na lang ako, understanding what he's trying to say.

Somehow, I felt relieved that we're finally talking now, or maybe I felt better now after he apologized.

Am I the bad guy here? I judged him so wrong, even from the start. Sa totoo lang, I wasn't expecting what just happened. I was shocked. In this world full of egoistic guys thinking they're so cool to be a gentleman, hindi ko inexpect na siya yung tipong mag-aadmit ng mali nila, let alone apologize for it.

How many times will he prove me wrong?

How many times will I continue to stereotype him?

"Well, I hoped you don't mind."

Nilingon ko siya, he was nodding towards the radio. Thinking that he was asking me to turn it on for him, nagulat ako nang magtama ang mga kamay namin.

"Sorry." We both said in unison.

"N-no, no.. It's fine. Go, pili ka na lang ng radio stations or you can connect your phone, here.. We'll listen to your playlists or your Spotify or whatever."

I raised an eyebrow at him kahit hindi niya nakikita, "Is the big guy rambling?"

"What?" He blushed!

"You're turning into a tomato. I hope you're aware." I continued teasing him, his face gone redder.

"Am not."