"Jaydel, please, just this once, be my boyfriend."

Isang pakiusap na halos ikaatake ko sa puso. She is Laila Blastique, my best friend ever since I have known this world isn't a good one to live in. Just earlier, I heard the doctor confessed that she is not in a good state because of a lot of heartbreaks she experienced, and here she is asking me to be the next target. She's only eighteen to have a few years left.

"No, Laila. I don't want to be your boyfriend. That's final."

Tumayo ako mula sa tabi niya. That news is heartbreaking to hear but look at who's smiling like an idiot. And I nearly miserably wanted to go outside to cry. 

"Bakit naman ayaw mo? Hindi ba ako maganda? Sabagay, kumpara sa mga naging ex-girlfriends mo, sino nga ba naman ako?"

Napapikit ako. "Hey, ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa iyo na wala akong ex at lalong-lalo na wala akong girlfriend!"

Malapad siyang ngumiti at bumangon sa kama. Halos atakihin pa akong muli sa puso dahil muntikan pang matanggal ang suwero niya. "Eh 'di mas maganda! Walang sabit! Dali na, pumayag ka na kasi! At least hindi ka na mahihirapang ligawan ako!"

"Hindi naman iyon ang punto rito, Laila. Narinig mo naman kanina. The doctor said, you might not be able to take the next heartbreak if you get into a relationship again."

"Bakit? Hindi mo naman ako sasaktan, hindi ba? If it's with you, I know, we'll have a good breakup since we're best friends."

I heaved a deep sigh. How can she say those things as if she really trusts me? I am a nineteen-year-old guy who doesn't even know how to take care of myself. How am I supposed to take care of her?

"I'm sure you'll make me happy, Jaydel, just like what you are doing for me today. Narito ka sa hospital, kasama ko. Binabantayan ako. I know you won't break my heart unlike other guys. Dapat noon pa lang, inaya na kitang maging boyfriend ko para naman hindi ako nagsayang ng oras para sa kanila." 

I saw how her eyes welled up tears. Her last heartbreak was so big that I nearly hoped that her guy was in her spot today. Sana 'yong gagong Maximo Cuevas na lang, hindi ang best friend kong si Laila.

"So, please, Jaydel, hmm? Para makalabas na rin ako rito. Gusto kong magmahal ulit sa huling pagkakataon, pero sa tamang tao na."

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinaplos iyon habang nakatingin sa mga mata kong maraming kinukubli. "How can you be so sure that you're asking the right person?"

"I know it in your eyes, Jaydel. You want to make me happy too, don't you? And that feeling they called love is making me feel alive despite my illness. If one day you find someone else you'll love, it is you, I'm sure, that will give me a proper good breakup. I won't have a heartbreak even after that because I will understand. For now, just be my boyfriend. Please? Let me love, Jaydel. Let me love you."

I gulped a huge lump in my throat and I shouldn't have done that if that would just let that word pass and come out from my mouth.

"Okay... okay, Laila. I'll be your boyfriend."