Braylee
"Say ahhh," I gestured Warren to open his mouth but instead of doing so, he looked at me with a frown. "Ahhh na kasi!" pangungulit ko sabay tutok ng kutsarang puno ng sopas sa direksyon ng bibig niya. He's sitting on his wheel chair kaya hindi siya makalayo, ang nagagawa niya lang ay ang pag-iwas sa mukha niya.
"Braylee mukha kang ta—" bago paman niya matapos ang sinasabi niya, ipinasok ko na agad ang kutsara sa bibig niya kaya napilitan siyang tanggapin ito.
"Since you had a girlfriend, nagiging rude ka na sakin!" I playfully whined as I took away the spoon out of his mouth.
Nilunok ni Warren ang sopas at ngumisi ng nakakaloko. "Three years later and you're still our big dumb baby."
"Hey!" I glared but I still had a smile on my face. "I've matured thanks to some fertilizers called Pain and Regrets," I insisted.
"Wala paring nagbago," giit niya kaya ako naman ang napabusangot.
"Stop being rude or sisiraan kita sa girlfriend mo!" I jokingly threatened and shoved another spoonful of soup in his mouth.
Warren swallowed fast. "She's not my girlfriend!" giit niya.
"That's what I kept saying back then, but guess who ended up crying and waiting in vain over a boy who vanished into thin air? That's right! This cutie!" pabiro kong sambit sabay turo sa sarili ko.
"You're acting weird again..." Warren looked at me with his squinted eyes, as if he's sensing something ominous.
"W-what kind of weird?" I stuttered. I suddenly felt nervous.
"Napakadali nalang sa'yong pag-usapan si Denver ngayon samantalang noon nakakita ka lang ng teddy bear o ice cream sandwhich, umiiyak ka na agad. Tapos may pagkakataon pa na pumunta tayo sa amusement park noon kaso may nakita kang lalakeng naka teddy bear costume kaya ang ginawa mo, hinabol mo yun at umiyak ka pa nang umiyak nang malaman mong hindi yon si--"
"'Wag mo na ngang ipaalala yon!" sigaw ko sa sobrang kahihiyan habang pilit na nagpipigil ng tawa; tawa na may halong pait matapos maalala ang mga pinakamahirap na sandali ng buhay ko. "
Warren sighed. "Come on Braylee, we all know why he left," as usual, he tried to defend his brother's decision to leave. With how Warren's defending his younger brother now, it feels surreal to remember that they once loathed each other.
"He left because he loves me," I claimed and smiled.
"Then why do you sound bitter?" he asked, making me laugh.
"I'm not bitter!" my eyes widened as I laughed. "I just don't want to remember my emotional breakdown. I was a complete emotional wreck back then. I was at my weakest," giit ko.
"Okay, hindi na natin pag-uusapan," Warren sighed again, and all of I sudden I could see pity in his eyes but he was quick to hide it with a smile. "Pero nung graduation last week, buti nalang talaga at di ka nadapa habang tumatakbo patungo sa stage," pag-iiba niya ng usapan.
"Kung makapagsalita, parang lagi akong nadadapa," pasaring ko.
"Lagi, braylee. Lagi," walang kaemo-emosyong giit ni Warren kaya agad akong napasimangot.
****
8:35PM
Paypah:
where u at b?
You:
Sa puso mo
Paypah:
That pick up line is so last decade b
srsly where r u?
You:
Warren's garage
Gonna drive back to filimon heights
Paypah:
Still can't believe you can drive now
You:
And I still can't believe he's your first love
Paypah:
Ha-ha-ha
Drive safely B
Don't you dare get into an accident
You:
What if I accidentally fall in love? hahaha
Paypah:
So goodbye denver na talaga? hahaha
You:
No goodbye for denver... after all, he never said goodbye to me
hahahaha
Paypah:
If you're going to act bitter, go date someone instead!!!
You:
I swear im not bitter hahaha
im just trying to make you guys laugh with my hugots hahaha
Paypah:
It's hard to take it as a joke since we know how much it hurt you when he left
You:
Again, P
That's all in the past and I've moved on already
Paypah:
Ok faynnn
u heading home?
You:
Yeah, it's my first day on the job tomorrow hahaha can't believe I got my dream job hahaha
Paypah:
Why does it have to be 2 hours away from filimon heights huhuhu
You:
1 hour if u drive faster hahaha jk
Love you P
gonna drive now
talk to u later
I got inside my Dad's old car and began driving back to Filimon Heights. It was already 8 in the evening so I had to drive carefully while still singing along to my driving playlist. As I got to Filimon Heights, I suddenly got a text from Haji.
Hajinomoto:
Wanna go out with me?
You can't say no to me forever
I thought of a perfect comeback so I stopped by the side of Filimon Height's main highway just to send a reply.
You:
Hajinomoto:
You:
For the nth time im not bitter hahahaha
Hajinomoto:
Sige ngaaa
kung di ka bitter makipag-date ka nga sakin hahaha
You:
That was smooth
hindi ako uto-uto though hahaha
Hajinomoto:
Oh come on!
Just for 30 minutes!
You:
Grabe siya hahaha
Hajinomoto:
Ba't ganun?
Hiyang-hiya ka sa mga nagyayaya sayo ng date kaya lagi mo sila pinagbibigyan kaso pagdating sakin hindi? may mali ba sakin?
You:
They weren't dates, nilibre lang nila ako
ok fine... libre moko
Hajinomoto:
Consider it done!!!
thank heavens u dont know how to say no
You:
NO
****
"Thank you!" I smiled as Haji put the box of pasta right in front of me.
"Always, welcome." Taas-noo niyang pagmamalaki saka naupo sa tabi ko imbes na sa tapat ko.
"There's an empty seat there," pabiro kong sambit sabay turo sa bakanteng upuan.
"I like it better here," Haji grinned as he was sitting next to me
"Nice! Gusto rin namin ang pwestong 'to!" Nagulat kaming dalawa ni Haji nang bigla na lamang nagsulputan sa harapan namin sina Apollo, Magno, at Cohen. Mabilis silang naupo sa tapat namin at pabiro pang inagaw ni Magno mula sa akin ang pagkain ko.
"Oh come on!" inis na napasigaw si Haji kaya hindi ko naiwasang matawa.
I ended up hanging out with the four of them; exchanging jokes, banters, and even some crazy stories. It was actually fun hanging out with them.
Next thing I know it was already 10 in the evening, way passed my bedtime.
"Uuwi ka na agad?" napabusangot si Apollo nang magpaalam ako sa kanila na uuwi na.
"Dude, it's 10 and it's my first day on the job tomorrow," I chuckled.
"Pustahan, first day palang, matutumba ka na agad," Cohen joked kaya pabiro ko siyang inirapan. Ayan na naman tayo sa pustahan na yan at ako na naman ang talo.
"Ma-fall ka nalang please?" pasaring ni Haji kaya sabay-sabay na nagsireklamo sina Apollo, Magno, at Cohen.
"Clumsy si Braylee, di tanga," humalakhak si Apollo.
Kunot-noong napalingon si Magno kay Apollo. "Pre parang pareho lang yun?"
"Pareho ba?" napakunot din ang noo ni Apollo.
"Ewan ko sa inyo," natawa nalang ako. Kahit kailan ang gulo nilang kausap, kaya siguro nagkasundo kami kasi pare-pareho kaming may saltik.
****
I got out of the building and searched for my car in the parking lot. I searched for about 10 minutes when I realized that I parked it three blocks away since sinundo lang ako ni Haji mula doon papunta rito.
It was just a walking distance so with my head held high and my hands on my blue jacket's pocket, I began walking along the sidewalk while constantly stealing glances at the sky, looking for stars. It's a cold summer night, it's a good thing I wore a jacket over my new sundress.
As I walked along the busy sidewalk, I put on my earphones and opened my playlist, but before I could even start a song, I noticed my car parked on the other side of the road. I stopped walking and looked at the large trucks passing by and gulped. It's a national highway, it's a cruel road to cross. Four lanes.
I'm scared to cross such a busy road but I know in my heart that I have to do this.
Taking a deep breath, I clenched my fists, looking at the vehicles that just doesn't seem to stop. I don't know if it's just because i'm scared but the vehicles seem to be merciless. I took a deep breath and tapped play on my phone hoping music could calm me down; randomly choosing a song to play. This time, TJ Monterde's song started playing, Ikaw at Ako.
My heartbeat grew intense as I raised my foot. I was about to take my first step forward when a tall figure of a man suddenly stood by my side and held my hand tight.
Holding my hand, he began to cross the street so I had no choice but to follow. I looked up so that I could see his face and my eyes grew wide when I saw his face again after three years. He was looking straight ahead at the vehicles coming towards our direction, trying to get me across safely.
As we reached the middle of the road, he moved to my other side, where the direction of the cars are coming from; on what they call the danger side. And all I could do was look up at his face. It felt like such a long time, looking at his face while walking hand in hand, when in reality it was only just a few seconds.
His hand was still holding mine as we reached the other side of the road. I was still looking up at his face when he turned his gaze towards me, our eyes met and I couldn't help but smile. It's him. After three years, I finally saw him again.
"Denver," I uttered his name in happiness as vehicles continued to pass behind us.
He turned around and held my other hand. And in that moment, the corner of his lips raised into a smile. He looks healthier and happier now. He looks more mature and manly. But just by looking at his eyes, I could tell he's still the same Denver that I loved.
"Oh my God! This means you're not sick!" I cried out in happiness, still with a big smile.
He nodded as his smile grew bigger.
Denver took a step towards me, the space between us getting smaller, so I took a step back.
"I'm glad you're back, Denver. I really am." I held his hands back as I continued to look up at his face, staring at his eyes. "But I really have to go now. Maybe let's catch up in some other time?" I asked and that's when the smile in his face suddenly faded.
I let go of his hands but I still continued to smile at him.
"Goodnight, Denver." I waved him goodbye as I walked towards my car. Happiness in my heart knowing Denver Hawthorn is alive and healthy. Thank you Lord for keeping him alive and healthy.
END OF CHAPTER 58!
THANKS FOR READING!
Note: The theme for this chapter is TJ Monterde's Ikaw at Ako. I was just randomly browsing spotify earlier and then I found this hahaha The song is just perfect for the scene hahaha
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