henlo. i'm reposting because i'm beginning the revision of the story. i need to be able to reread the story fast kaya ko lang binabalik. it won't have any new updates po coz i'm still thinking what to do with the book 2. if itutuloy ko pa ba sa Wattpad or di na lang.

wag nyo na po basahin 'to kung wala kayong pasensya sa mga flawed characters at madali kayong ma-frustrate. love triangle po 'to. at immature pa ang mga bida.

nasabi ko na rin 'to noon. si geon ang totoong end game. kaya kung ayaw nyo po noon, wag na po basahin. you can share your sadness but please avoid being rude to me and the charas. mangmumute na po ako.

thank you.

———————————

Javee De Villa

Few months na rin since I graduated. I could still remember how colorful and vibrant that day was kasi complete ang family para mag-celebrate kasama ko. My friends were also there. It was quite a big and rowdy event at the house.

My brothers and cousins graduated too. Sunod-sunod tuloy ang naging party namin lately kaya kahit nagre-review ako para sa board exam, okay lang. The pressure was almost nonexistent.

But that was then. Pagpasok kasi ng month of the boards, doon ko na naramdaman ang bigat ng stress at pressure dahil inaasahan ng lahat na makakapasa ako. So here, simula one p.m. hanggang ngayon, nagbabasa lang ako ng book. Puno na nga ng papers ang walls ng room ko kasi dinidikit ko ro'n ang notes ko.

I glanced at the clock. The time was seven p.m. Gosh, I needed a break.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko mula sa drawer at sakto naman ang pasok ng mga messages ko.

Tiningnan ko ang GC ko with Angelo and Kuya Andrei and grinned at the name. The Prophet. 'Yan kasi ang tawag namin kay Kuya Andrei lately dahil lahat ng mga sinasabi niya these past few months nagkakatotoo. Napansin namin 'yon lalo no'ng last birthday ni baby Ashley. Nahulaan niya lahat ng mananalo sa mind games namin. Dagdag mo pa 'yon sa new image niya ngayon. Kuya lost some bet with Kuya Jacob kasi, kaya napilitan siyang pahabain ang buhok niya. It looked good on him pero mas gusto ko pa rin ang dati niyang clean cut.

Angelo The Pichu:
I have been blessed by the prophet.

Kuya The Prophet:
I'll cut the darn thing as soon as the punishment period is over.

Angelo The Pichu:
Why? Hair like that is goals, man. I plan to grow mine soon. You should flaunt yours like He-Man.

Kuya The Prophet:
Maybe once I have the bod to rock that image.

Angelo The Pichu:
I'd rock your bod any time of the day, bro.
HAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh shit.

I burst out laughing sa sinabi ni Angelo.

I typed my reply.

Me:
Could you please not hit on each other while I'm here? 😝

Angelo The Pichu:
Heeey, I thought you're reviewing?

Me:
Screw this. I'd rather go out, Pichu.

Kuya The Prophet:
Next week then?
And Pichu? What?

Me:
Nah, now. Need to procrastinate.
Angelo - Pichu. Remember the panda he gave me? That's Picho, his brother.

Kuya The Prophet:
Where to?
Ah, okay 😉

Angelo The Pichu:
Haha! As in now? I'm sick af.
Heeey! I'm Picho's dad :((

Me:
Angelo, you need booze.
And no 😝

Angelo The Pichu:
Lol, my doc told me no booze but I can always break that for ya, Picho's mom ;)

Kuya The Prophet:
Where then? Makati? They have your Korean there.
Could you please not hit on each other while I'm here?

Angelo The Pichu:
Oh yeah, Makati has lots of Korean restaus.
Hey you just gave me a tattoo idea.

Kuya The Prophet:
So what's the plan?

Me:
Idk. Anyone up for some coffee?

Angelo The Pichu:
Let's hit Taft na lang? Cafe there is open til 1 am.

Me:
G!

Angelo The Pichu:
I'ma pick you up, Jamie V. Your bro's in QC pa. Be there in a bit.

Kuya The Prophet:
See you there, Picho's mom and dad. 😂

As soon as that was finalized, nagmadali na akong mag-ayos. Grabe. Napakabilis talagang kausap ng boys. In a snap lang, willing to go out na kagad sila.

I hastily donned on a white crop top, ripped pants and my favorite white sneakers. For good measure, tinali ko na rin ang denim jacket ko sa waist ko.

At exactly 8 PM, dumating si Angelo para sunduin ako. It was a Saturday kaya smooth at mabilis lang ang naging byahe namin papuntang Taft. My brother was already waiting for us on the second floor when we got there.

Tumayo siya at ginulo ang buhok ko nang makita ako. Then Kuya raised a brow as his eyes cut between Angelo and me, not bothering to hide that infamous knowing smile. For the past few weeks kasi, walang ibang ginawa ang kapatid ko kundi asarin ako kay Angelo. He didn't really vocalize it pero alam ko sa bawat smiles niya na ganoon nga ang iniisip niya.

I flipped him off the first time. Angelo was my best friend. Bawal ang magkagusto sa tropa. Isa 'yan sa mga rules na pinanghahawakan ko. At isa pa, alam ko sa sarili ko na kahit naka-move on na ako, 'di pa ako ready na humanap ulit ng bagong relationship.

"That was quick," sabi niya.

"No traffic," sagot ko. "Ikaw ang mabilis. You drove your car? Hindi ko yata napansin?"

"Nah, yung Ducati ang dala ko."

"Oh, nag-motor ka papunta dito?" Pumito si Angelo. "Sleek."

Umorder na kami matapos non. Habang hinihintay ang order, napansin ko ang titig ng kapatid ko sa buhok ko. Absentmindedly, napahawak na rin tuloy ako doon.

"You're sticking to that color? Looks nice on you."

I nodded. 'Yon nga din ang sabi ng mga kaibigan ko. Summer last year, I went crazy and dyed my hair ash blonde. Pero this year, with the encouragement of Angelo, I tried to cross out one of my bucket lists and dyed my hair platinum blonde. Mas agaw pansinin na tuloy at mas high maintenance pero bumagay naman sa akin at mas binigyan ng buhay ang complexion ko. I liked it.

"Parang ayaw ko nang bumalik sa black. Nagsawa na ako."

"Yeah, tama 'yon. Past is past. 'Wag na balikan," natatawang pasok ni Angelo.

Napangisi ako. Asshole. Napakahilig talaga sa double-meaning.

Tumingin sa akin si Kuya Andrei para panoorin ang reaction ko, like he was asking if I still had feelings for . . . him.

I shrugged, waving him off.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam. I hadn't seen the guy since the hot air balloon fest, and that was a few months ago na. No'ng nakita ko siya no'n, I'd admit na may kirot pa. Nando'n pa rin yung pagka-miss ko sa past pero I was strong enough to not look back and check on him.

I was serious with what I said. Ayoko na. We were too unhealthy for each other anyway. And unless magiging maayos siya sa mga kapatid ko, unless magkakaroon ako ng lakas ng loob na magtiwala ulit sa kanya, wala na talagang chances.

Besides, he hadn't contacted me since the ADHOC party. Kahit papano happy ako na nirespeto niya ang naging decision ko. We both needed to heal.

Still, I stood by my previous statement. I didn't regret anything. Masaya ako na nagmahal ako at nasaktan because thanks to that, natuto ako at nag-mature. 'Yon ang mahalaga sa akin.

The lights blinked, indicating our orders were ready kaya bumaba na ako para kunin ang mga 'yon. I ordered a dark mocha frappe and their choco chip dough cheese cake. Sabi kasi ni Angelo masarap daw.

He was right. Nang natikman ko 'yon halos gusto kong bumaba para itanong kung paano nila ginawa 'yon.

Angelo grinned at my expression. "Told you."

I grinned back at him. Sa tagal ko siyang kilala, kabisado na niya ang mga gusto ko. I couldn't believe taon ko na rin siyang kaibigan.

An hour after, sumunod sa 'min sina Kuya Paul at Kuya Onyx.

May pinag-uusapan silang yoga instructor na naging ka-block ko ng senior year ko. Nagawa pa nilang ipakita ang Instagram stories sa 'kin.

"It's this one," said Kuya Onyx. "She's sliding in my DMs right now. You know her?"

Hinampas ko kagad si Kuya Onyx sa braso. "Stop it, Kuya. She's my friend!"

"What? I'm just saying. She's been trying to talk to me. Won't say no if she's down for some fun."

I gave a noise of disapproval.

Angelo grinned at my reaction. "Glow up daw, dudes. Have some character development."

Kuya Onyx smirked. "Porket nandito si Javee, nagpapakabait ka? Ano, magseseryoso ka na ba?"

Bumaling na rin sa 'kin si Angelo, parang nag-iisip habang lumalawak ang ngiti. Kaya kami inaasar, e. He was feeding their teasefest.

Napailing nalang ako. "You morons never change."

"Why? Kayo na lang. I'm just saying. Wala kang maririnig na reklamo sa 'kin kung magiging kayo," sabi ni Kuya Onyx.

"That won't happen, dude. Best friend ko 'yan," sagot sa kanya ni Angelo.

"Malay mo," biglang pasok ni Kuya Andrei sabay baling kay Angelo. Parang he was saying something to him through his eyes. "You never know."

Kinabahan ako sa sinabi ni Kuya.

He wasn't possibly saying na magiging kami ni Angelo, 'di ba? That felt wrong. That was like breaking my rules all over again. I broke mine twice and look where that got me. Had my heart broken twice din.

Ayokong maulit pa 'yon, at masyadong dangerous with Angelo. He was my best friend. He was also chummy with my family. It's wrong to even consider it.

Besides, we didn't like each other that way kaya sigurado akong hindi talaga.

Kinabahan talaga ako dahil sa mga tingin ni Kuya Andrei. Buti nalang bigla siyang tumawa at sinabing nagbibiro lang siya. That eased me up and I was able to sigh in relief. We were not calling him a prophet for nothing. Ayokong magkatotoo 'yon kung seryoso nga siya.

Angelo shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head. "Gago nito. Wag gano'n, bro. Ayokong ma-bad shot kay Jacob. I still want to keep my life, please."

And that was that. Two days later, nakalimutan ko na ang pang-aasar ng boys dahil exam period na. Matapos ng first day of exam, niyakap ko agad si Dad pag-uwi ko dahil pakiramdam ko babagsak ako. Naiiyak na nga ako at todo sorry sa kanya pero saktong nakisali si Kuya Andrei at sinabing makakapasa raw ako. Kuya Andrei said he could already see me jumping in happiness dahil nakapasa ako.

That's just my supportive brother trying to comfort me, right?

Kabadong-kabado ako no'ng second day kaya hinatid ako ni Kuya Jacob para i-boost ang confidence ko.

"I-enjoy mo lang. Kayang-kaya mo 'yan," sabi niya sa 'kin na nagpagaan ng loob ko.

I was jittery the whole day kaya nang makita ko si Angelo na naghihintay sa labas ng school para sa 'kin, halos yakapin ko siya sa tuwa.

"What are you doing here?" agad kong tanong sa kanya nang makapasok ako sa kotse niya.

"The prophet summoned me. Said you were in turmoil." He revved the engine and slowly pulled out of the curb.

"Wala kang work?" I asked as we steadily drove along the road. He was working part-time for his uncle kasi in Makati.

"Naaah. Took a sick leave. But don't tell them I'm not really sick. I'll get a beating for this."

Tumawa ako. "Seryoso. Why are you here?"

He took his eyes off the road, an excited grin spilling on his face, then he flicked his eyes to me. The sparkle in his gaze made me giddy.

Kinuha niya ang bag niya at inabot sa akin. "Check what's inside."

Dali-dali kong sinunod 'yon at laking gulat ko na plane tickets 'yon papunta sa Cebu. Naka-schedule 'yon for next month.

"We're going to Cebu? Why?"

"Gift ko to you 'cause you passed the exam."

"I haven't passed yet," confused kong tanong. "Sa katapusan pa yung results."

"Ano ka ba? Claim it. Besides, your brother said you'd pass." Then he chuckled. "Also, the better question is, anong gagawin natin sa Cebu?"

Napatitig ako sa kanya, waiting for what he'd say next.

"Remember what you told me about? Yung isa sa mga bucket lists mo? We did the Targaryen blonde, hot air balloon, and bungee jumping na. So what's next?"

I quickly did the math. Then my eyes widened.

Hoshet. Could it be?

"Sky-diving?" gulat kong tanong.

"Hell yeah! We'll go sky-diving, baby," he announced, nodding.

I was a bundle of euphoria nang marinig ko 'yon kaya nawala na sa isip ko ang naging exam ko. Bumalik na lang sa akin ang kaba ko no'ng araw na ng results. It seemed I didn't really have to get so nervous.

Because come the end of the month, tama nga si Kuya. Nang makita ko ang resulta mula sa PRC, nagtatatalon akong pumunta sa kwarto nina Mom and Dad para sabihing nakapasa ako.

Nang matapos 'yon, doon ko lang naisip na tama na naman ang sinabi ni Kuya Andrei.