Make Peace, Not War
"Is that true?" tanong ni Miles, lumabas mula sa pinagtataguan niya.
But Troy isn't surprised when he sees Miles. He just nods simply.
Miles looks confused for a second, then frowns. He's mad. Mabilis siyang pumagitan sa'min ni Troy, "Then why didn't ask us for help back then? We were your friends too." nanunumbat na tanong niya.
Unang beses ko yatang makitang ganito si Miles, kahit kasi maloko siya, mahaba ang pasensya niya. Ikaw ba naman ang araw-araw na kasama ni Tyler?
"I suck at asking for help..." nakayukong pag-amin ni Troy, "How could I? I was hurting Tyler. Hindi ko alam kung maiintindihan n'yo ako, or if you guys would believe me. Kaya no'ng pinalipat ako ni Dad sa Saunder, hindi na ako tumanggi. I needed to go. It was an escape for me, alam ko naman na hindi n'yo papabayaan si Tyler kahit umalis ako."
"Fucktard." Miles says, still angry at parang handa nang bangasan si Troy si harap niya.
"I am." says Troy, sincerely.
"You should have told us. Why wouldn't we believe you? You were our friend for fuck's sake!"
"I'm sorry. I should have trusted you guys."
"Kaya ba kahit nasa Saunder ka na, ginugulo mo pa rin si Tyler?" I ask because I'm curious, and to interrupted them as well dahil baka bigla na lang silang magsuntukan.
Tumango ulit si Troy, "I had to... Ayokong bumalik siya sa dati... I'm sorry kung pati tuloy kayo nadamay sa gulo naming magkapatid. Pheonix are just bored guys, kaya kapag niyaya ko silang manggulo dito, they just go with me without questions asked... till it became our past time too."
"It's the same with us. May thrill namang kabakbakan ang Phoenix eh." Miles says.
Mahabang katahimikan ang lumipas before Miles finally cracks a smile.
Troy smiles too.
Parang gusto ko tuloy mapatalon. "Please lang, wala nang bakbakan. Make peace, not war."
They both laughed at my corny joke. Nakakapanibago, tumatawa si Troy. Akala ko puro yabang at evilness lang alam niya eh.
"Edi okay na? Bati na kayo?" tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa.
They suddenly look awkward. Ang tagal nga naman kasing nag-away ng mga grupo nila.
"Come on, shake hands na." I urge, hinawakan ko ang parehong braso nila at pilit silang pinaglapit. "Wala nang bakbakan at bugbugan ah."
Sana magkabati na rin ang buong grupo, at ang pasaway na magkapatid na Smith.