Note: this chapter is a little bit confusing, wag kayong magpapalito hehehe.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
When Baekchan left, Chanyeol heaved a deep sigh. Ang gulo, naguguluhan ako. Pero wala akong magawa, bakit ganon?
He decided to waste himself tonight. Hapon pa naman ang recording bukas, pwede akong maglasing. I want to unwind.
Dumeretso siya sa bar. Hindi niya alam kung bakit doon siya dinala ng mga paa niya dahil ayaw niya sa bar, puro landian lang naman eh. But since he likes noisy places, dun siya nagpunta.
"Give me tequila," sabi ni Chanyeol sa bartender at umupo sa isang stool. Hindi naman ako magpapakalasing.
He sat there comfortably, trying to drown himself in his thoughts as he drinks.
Mukha akong nareject. Ay, oo nga, nareject nga pala ako. Ano ba yan, she likes me daw pero we're not meant to be. Anong kagaguhan yon? Fortune teller ba siya para malaman kung meant to be kami o hindi?
But somehow, I felt relieved na hindi naging kami. I don't know, but when I said the words "I love you" to her, it felt so wrong. It feels like those words are not meant for her, but for another person. Ano ba to? Gusto ko siya, alam ko yun eh.
Ano nga bang nagustuhan ko sa kanya?
"A penny for your thoughts?"
Napalingon si Chanyeol sa nagsalita. He didn't respond at tinignan niya lang yung lalaki as he sat on the next stool beside him, "You don't know me, but I can help you."
Chanyeol eyed the man from head to toe. He's beautiful, eh? "How can you be sure that you can help?"
The man chuckled, "Oh com'n, I've already helped a lot of persons. And I'm currently helping someone right now. Trust me, you're going to thank me after this."
Chanyeol finds the man so weird, "Are you some kind of an angel? You look beautiful," nasabi iyon ni Chanyeol nang wala sa sarili. Eh sa nakatitig siya sa mukha ng kausap niya at tipsy narin siya at sobrang ganda ng lalaking kausap niya.
The man chuckled. Jusko po, nagawa pang makipagflirt. "Yes, I'm an angel," literal, angel ako hehehe. "And I'm here to help you."
Chanyeol smiled. Hindi talaga siya susuko hangga't hindi niya ako natutulungan no? Sige, since pinipilit niya ako, I'm going to share my problems. Wala naman masama, hindi ba? Baka matulungan niya pa ako.
"Love," simpleng sagot ni Chanyeol habang pinaglalaruan niya yung baso ng alak. "She likes me, but she rejected me."
The man pretended to be shocked, "Really? She likes you? Then why the hell would she reject someone she likes?"
"Yan din yung tanong ko sa kanya eh, pero sabi niya hindi lahat pwede ko raw malaman," Chanyeol chuckled.
"And then?"
"I don't know," ininom ni Chanyeol yung baso niya. "I feel frustrated? Not by the fact that she likes me but she rejected me. I feel frustrated because.. hindi ako malungkot na nireject niya ako?"
The man arched an eyebrow, "Really?"
Chanyeol nodded his head, "Yes. Parang it felt so right that she rejected me. And it felt so wrong when I said I love you to her."
The man grinned, "It's simply because you don't really love her."
Nangunot ang noo ni Chanyeol. Eto nanaman tayo. "How can you be so sure na hindi ko nga siya mahal? Hindi mo naman ako kilala, hindi mo siya kilala. Wala kang alam."
"Do you miss someone right now?" the man asked, still with a grin on his face.
Automatikong pumasok sa isip ni Chanyeol si Baekhyun. Napayuko siya, "Yes."
"How badly do you miss that person?"
Chanyeol didn't even think, because just the thought of Baekhyun's name makes him miss Baekhyun so much. "I miss him, so much."
"Do you see that person to someone?"
Napangiwi si Chanyeol, "Yes." si Baekchan.
"Who's that person?"
"It's the person who rejected me."
"Can I ask," the man leaned a little bit to Chanyeol. "Kapag ba nandiyan yung namimiss mong tao, nakakalimutan mo siya?"
Chanyeol blinked before he answered, "Oo." Bakit ganito yung mga tanong niya? But Chanyeol is not on his right mind tonight to think about that.
"Kapag kasama mo naman siya, namimiss mo yung isa? Hindi siya mawala sa isip mo?" the man leaned again at napaatras sa upuan ng kaunti si Chanyeol.
"Uhh.. yes." this is getting weirder.
The man looked directly into Chanyeol's eyes. Napatingin rin si Chanyeol sa mata ng lalaki at hindi niya maalis ang tingin niya dito.. it's like his eyes were glued to the other man's eyes. Feeling niya.. nahihilo siya sa mga titig nung lalaki.
For minutes, they just stared at each other's eyes. Chanyeol felt like he's drowning, he wanted to avert his eyes but he can't. May something.
Just before he passed out, he heared the man saying, "Dream about him, Chanyeol. Dream about Baekhyun while you sleep."
And Chanyeol fell asleep.
Chanyeol played basketball as he tries to calm himself down. Nakasira nanaman yung mga kabandmates niya ng isang drum. Tsk, bakit ba ang lakas nilang pumalo?
Linabas niya lahat ng inis niya sa paglalaro ng basketball. The battle of the bands are in two days, paano na niyan? Matatagalan pa bago makarating yung bagong order ng drums.
He played hanggang sa hindi niya na naramdaman yung katawan niya dahil sa pagod. He sat on the middle of the gym, hands on his knees as he look up the ceiling of the gym. Ahh, nakakapagod.
Kinuha niya yung bola ng basketball na nasa tabi niya at hinagis iyon kung saan.
"Aray ko naman!"
Napatingin si Chanyeol sa nagsalita. Natamaan niya pala ng bola. Tatayo na sana si Chanyeol para magsorry pero lumapit na yung lalaki sa kanya, "Hoy, masakit yon ha!"
"Sorry, hindi ko sinasadya," Chanyeol said as he stand up. He eyed the man from head to toe, "Ang liit mo kasi."
Biglang umusok yung ilong nung lalaki, "Wow! Ikaw na nga yung nakatama, nagawa mo pang mang-asar?! People these days! Ugh!"
Natuwa si Chanyeol sa reaction nung lalaki kasi ang cute niya. Pero hindi niya dapat ginawa yon dahil hindi naman sila magkakilala at nasaktan niya ito. "Sorry," ulit ni Chanyeol. "Hindi ko talaga sinasadya."
"Yeah, fine. Whatever, apology accepted. Bye, get lost," maglalakad na sana paalis yung lalaki kaso lumingon ulit siya kay Chanyeol, "Ang pangit mo. Sobrang pawis mo pa. Eto tubig."
Maiinis na sana si Chanyeol dahil ininsulto siya nito pero kinuha niya nalang yung tubig dahil nauuhaw narin siya, "Thanks."
"Bye," tumalikod na yung lalaki at naglakad paalis. Pinanood lang ni Chanyeol yung likod niya.
He called me ugly. That felt so nice, no one called me ugly since everyone in the campus likes me. Tinarayan niya rin ako. He's nice.
Bago pa man mawala sa paningin niya yung lalaki ay sumigaw siya, "I'm Park Chanyeol, by the way! What's your name?"
"I know, Pakyeol! I'm Byun Baekhyun, bye!"
After that basketball incident, by the power of fate and destiny, their paths always crossed. At dahil doon, naging close narin sila. They became best of friends.
They started trusting each other as they find comfort in each other. They both liked music. Baekhyun is a vocal while Chanyeol likes intruments more. They often have a duet when they don't have anything to do. Baekhyun as the singer and Chanyeol will play the guitar. They also compose songs together. That's their favorite thing to do.
Baekhyun plays soccer while Chanyeol is a part of the school band. Hindi basketball player si Chanyeol pero marunong siya. Tinanong ni Chanyeol si Baekhyun minsan kung bakit hindi siya sumali sa banda ng university at sabi ni Baekhyun ay he was once in a band when he was in highschool at gusto niya naman magfocus sa sports this time. They always promise each other na kapag may laban ang bawat isa ay manonood sila. And that promise was kept until they graduated. They never left each other side.
Their friendship is almost perfect not until one day, in the university's ball, Baekhyun was sexually harassed.
Chanyeol saw Daehyun dragging Baekhyun in one of the university's bathroom forcefully. He even tapped Baekhyun's mouth and blindfolded him. Hindi alam ni Chanyeol pero agad siyang nakaramdam ng galit at nagdilim ang mga paningin niya. He immediately went to Daehyun at binugbog niya ito ng walang awa. He ignored Baekhyun's cries over the tape on his mouth dahil wala siya sa sarili niya. All Chanyeol thinks that time is that.. Baekhyun is in danger at kailangan niyang sagipin ang best buddy niya.
Daehyun is Baekhyun's suitor, but Baekhyun always rejects Daehyun. At dahil sira-ulo si Daehyun, ayun, nalintikan na. Tinry niyang gahasain si Baekhyun dahil obssessed na siya rito.
Nalaman ng principal ang nangyari at pinatawag si Chanyeol sa office. He received two weeks suspension dahil bugbog sarado si Daehyun, muntik pang macomatose.
Wala naman nagawa si Chanyeol dahil nangyari na eh. At least, ligtas si Baekhyun.
"Chanyeol naman eh! You should have not done that! Tignan mo tuloy, suspended ka! Paano nalang yung mga tasks na maiiwan mo? Paano ka makakahabol? Malapit na finals! Gagraduate nalang tayo nagkarecord ka pa!" naiinis na sabi ni Baekhyun. He felt na siya yung may kasalanan.
"Baek, okay lang ako. Madali lang naman ako makakahabol, I can do my projects while I'm on suspension. Wag ka nang mag-alala," Chanyeol said as he ruffled Baekhyun's hair.
"Naman eh!" inis na inalis ni Baekhyun yung kamay ni Chanyeol na nasa ulo niya, "Hindi mo dapat ginawa iyon! Hinayaan mo nalang sana akong marape! Tignan mo tuloy!"
Nainis bigla si Chanyeol sa sinabi ni Baekhyun. Hayaan siyang marape? Alam niya ba yung sinasabi niya? "Pwede ba, Baek? Pwede bang magpasalamat ka nalang dahil linigtas kita?! Hindi rin naman madali para sa akin to eh!"
Umiyak lang si Baekhyun at nagwalk-out. Chanyeol wanted to follow him but he decided na wag nalang, mainit ang ulo niya at baka ano pang masabi niya.
They didn't talked for weeks after that.
It was the school band's last performance before they graduate. After their batch, mapapalitan na sila ng mga bago next year.
And Chanyeol didn't invited Baekhyun to watch. Dahil hindi parin sila nagkakausap simula non.
One week left before their graduation at three weeks na silang hindi naguusap. Wow, natiis niya ako.
They performed as usual with the crowd being hyped as always. They thought it was one of those normal performances they always do, but it was not.
For Chanyeol, this performance is so boring. Because Baekhyun is not watching.
Chanyeol performed lifeless the whole show but thankfully, the audience didn't noticed that.
Nang matapos ang buong performance ay nanatili lang si Chanyeol sa pwesto niya. He watched as the people leave the auditorium. Some people asked for his autograph at hindi naman siya nagdalawang isip na bigyan sila nito.
Nang makalabas na lahat ng tao pati narin ang mga kabandmates niya, pumunta siya sa mga drums.
I feel like I wanna burst out. This is the first time Baekhyun didn't watched my performance.
Chanyeol played the drums as he thinks about Baekhyun. Linabas niya lahat ng frustrations niya sa drums. Eto lagi ang ginagawa niya kapag naiistress siya.
Who am I kidding, natiis nga niyang hindi ako kausapin ng three weeks eh, umasa pa akong manonood siya. Ha!
He broke our promise.
Chanyeol closed his eyes at tumugtog pa ng sobrang lakas. Nakakabingi yung tunog dahil sa sobrang lakas ng hampas ni Chanyeol sa mga drums, rinig na rinig na nga siya sa labas ng auditorium, pero wala siyang paki.
Why do I feel like this? I feel like I lost my other half..
"C-Chanyeol.. stop."
Natigil si Chanyeol at lumingon sa likod niya. At doon niya nakita yung hinahanap hanap niya.
Unti-unting lumapit si Baekhyun sa kanya, "C-Chanyeol.."
Tumayo si Chanyeol mula sa pagkakaupo. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng self consciousness dahil sa tingin sa kanya ni Baekhyun ngayon. He cleared his throat, "Baek--"
Chanyeol froze when Baekhyun suddenly hug him, so tight. Naramdaman niyang basa yung damit niya kaya he pulled away to see Baekhyun crying at agad rin na sumubsob ulit si Baekhyun sa dibdib ni Chanyeol, not wanting the giant to see his crying face. "Chanyeol, I'm sorry!" Baekhyun sobbed harder, "H-Hindi ko sinasadya na masigawan ka! Nagaalala lang naman ako sayo. Wag ka nang magalit please? Hindi ko kayang m-mawala ka! C-Chanyeol.."
Chanyeol found himself smiling as Baekhyun kept on asking for forgiveness. In an instant, biglang nawala yung inis at frustrations na nararamdaman ni Chanyeol kanina. Chanyeol wrapped his arms around Baekhyun, tightening the hug. Natigil si Baekhyun sa pagrarap ng sorry, "C-Chanyeol?"
"Shh, Baek," hinimas ni Chanyeol yung buhok ni Baekhyun bago siya humiwalay sa yakap, pero nakahawak parin siya sa waist ni Baekhyun. He smiled, "Apology accepted." and he kissed Baekhyun's forehead.
They hug again and stayed like that for a couple of minutes, "Chanyeol, you did great today."
"Nanood ka?"
"Oo naman," Baekhyun chuckled. "But promise me don't perform like that again, you'll lose your audience."
"Wait, teka. I thought I did well?"
"You still did great kahit na ganon yung performance mo," Chanyeol felt Baekhyun smiled through the hug.
And once again, they were reunited.
"C-Chanyeol..."
Napadilat si Chanyeol nang marinig niya yung boses ni Baekhyun. Kumulog nanaman at napatakbo si Baekhyun na may yakap na unan papunta sa kama ni Chanyeol, "Can I.. sleep with you tonight?"
Chanyeol didn't hesitated when he saw Baekhyun shaking because he's scared of thunders and lightnings, "Halika dito, Baek."
Humiga si Baekhyun sa tabi ni Chanyeol. They felt awkward at first at may konting distansiya sa pagitan nila. This is their first time sleeping beside each other. Dito kasi sa dorm ng The Unbeatable makikitulog si Baekhyun dahil ang lakas ng ulan at hindi siya makauwi.
Nagpatuloy lang ang kulog at kidlat. Nanginginig parin si Baekhyun and he kept on changing his position. Nababahala naman si Chanyeol dahil hindi siya makatulog. He pulled Baekhyun in a hug, "Hug me, Baek, and put yourself at ease."
Baekhyun was shocked and just like that, he forgot about the loud thunder and lightnings outside the house. He hugged Chanyeol and burried his face in his neck.
And they slept comfortably that night.
"Chanyeol," the man called as he watches Chanyeol change his facial expressions. "Hindi mo ba naisip na.. pwedeng iisa lang sila?"
Chanyeol suddenly saw Baekchan, starting from her first performance, the mole in her thumb, the way she sings, the way she dance, the way she talk, the way she acts.
And Baekhyun suddenly appeared. Yung scene na naghahalikan si Baekhyun at Chanyeol.
And Chanyeol focused his gaze on Baekhyun's thin lips. One thing he noticed..
Baekhyun's mole on his upper right lip.
Then suddenly, Baekchan appeared on the picture. Chanyeol scanned her face and he saw one thing..
Baekchan's mole on her upper right lip.
Biglang pumasok lahat lahat kay Chanyeol. Lahat ng similarities ni Baekchan at Baekhyun.
Nagcollide si Baekhyun at Baekchan.
And reality slapped Chanyeol hard.
Baekhyun and Baekchan are one.
"Chanyeol," the man softly said. "wake up. Baekhyun is gone."
And Chanyeol's eyes fluttered open.
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