Chapter 16: Choose.
DAMA NI Kaizer ang sama ng tingin sa kaniya ni Tonny na siyang hawak-hawak nila Tim at Hell. "Give me back my phone, Dela Cruz!"
Kung hindi lang sana ito lasing at may delikadong ginawa ay natakot na si Kaizer at sinunod ito, pero may maaapektuhan kasing iba sa kalasingan ni Tonny na ayaw niyang mangyari. "Sober up first, Dela Paz," seryoso niyang wika sa kaibigan.
"I said give it back!" muling sigaw nito saka sinamaan ng tingin ang dalawang nakahawak dito at nagpipilit kumawala. "And let me go!"
Umiling naman si Kaizer. "Nope." Sinigurado niya munang hindi na ulit nag-message si Beverly tungkol sa pinagsasasabi ni Tonny saka niya pinatay ang cellphone nito at inilagay sa bulsa ng pantalon niya. Nilapitan niya naman ang pinakalasing sa kanila saka seryoso itong tiningnan, mata sa mata. "Bruh, I'm serious. Sober up first. Hindi kita hahayaang idamay si Beverly sa magulo mo pang buhay."
Napabuga naman ng hangin si Tim saka inalalayan si Tonny na makaupo sa lapag at makasandal sa may sofa. "I agree with Kaizer, Anthony."
Sabay na napabuga ng hangin sina Kaizer at Tim habang pinapanood ang ekspresyon sa mukha ng pinakabunso nilang kaibigan. "I don't even wanna ask if you no longer feel anything for her, Tonny. Based on your reaction — based on this," he pointed at the beer bottles scattered on the floor and the messy-looking drunkard, "she's still in your system. You're still affected."
"Kaya nga mas delikado kay Beverly eh," ani Kaizer. Gone with the playful and goofy Kaizer, he was all concerned and serious when it comes to this matter. "Nagpakalasing ka dahil sa kaniya, pero chinat mo si Beverly. And based on what I saw, you were even low-key confessing." Sinamaan ni Kaizer ang kaibigan nilang nakayuko pa rin. "You know how much I hate people who uses other people to escape someone or escape their pain, Dela Paz."
Tim had to tap on Kaizer's shoulder to calm him down. "There, there. I'm sure that Tonny won't do that. He just needs to calm down, and well," he threw his pocket a glance, "stay far away from his phone until he finally becomes sober enough."
Umiwas na lamang ng tingin si Kaizer saka bumuga ng hangin at umayos ng upo sa lapag. "You'll need to choose, Dela Paz. Either you accept her back and leave Beverly alone, or completely let her go and be with Beverly. You can't live in both worlds, and I hope you know that. Matalino ka naman, diba?" anito saka inabot ang isang balot ng Chippy at kinain 'yon.
Nanatili namang tahimik sina Hell at Tonny. Hell kept blaming himself for letting this happen. Kung binantayan niya lang nang maigi ang ate niya ay hindi sana nito pupuntahan si Tonny para kausapin at makipagbalikan.
Si Tonny naman ay tuluyan na lang na ipinikit ang mga mata habang inaalala ang mga sinabi ni Kaizer. Habang ginagawa iyon ay biglang pumasok ang mukha ng kapatid ni Hell at ang mga sinabi nito.
"Never once did I forget about you, Anthony. It was stupid of me to think that you'd follow me even after knowing about him. I know I'm at fault, but please know this. I regret my decision, and I still love you, Anthony. Please, let's fix this."