Chapter Text
Grade 6 si Joshua ng makilala niya si Jeonghan. Kakalipat lang ni Joshua sa school nila dahil sa business ng family nila.
"Hello." Inalok ng batang Yoon Jeonghan ang kamay niya kay Joshua. Joshua blushed dahil nagulat siya ng biglang lumapit sa kanya si Jeonghan.
Jeonghan was that Kid. Unang kita mo pa lang alam mo ng top ng klase. Yung tipong iboboto mo as class president. Yung laging nagsasagot sa blackboard. Yung taga-ligtas sa tumbang-preso.
"Ako nga pala si Yoon Jeonghan. Sama ka samin mamaya mag-laro." Yaya sa kanya ng bata. That day he became friends with the Yoon Jeonghan.
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"Shua dito!"
Hinanap ni Joshua kung saan galing ang boses ni Jeonghan. Nang makita niya kung saan ito naka pwesto ay agad niyang pinasa yung bola.
Joshua watch as Jeonghan smoothly glide against their opponents and made a perfect 3 point shot.
Narinig niya ang sigawan ng mga kaklase nila. Nanalo sila at natalo ang kabilang section.
Sobrang ingay pero di yun naririnig ni Joshua. Naririnig niya lang ay ang malakas na tibok ng puso niya habang nakatingin sa kumpulan ng basketball team nila na pinupuri si Jeonghan.
Iniisip niya na baka sa pagod lang sa laro kaya bakit sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya. Pero ng ibalik niya ang ngiti sa kababata at bestfriend niya mas lalo lang bumilis at lumakas.
Umiling siya. Mali. Maybe he's just sick.
Nakita niyang papalapit sa kanya si Jeonghan kaya agad siyang ngumiti dito.
Jeonghan was also smiling so bright at him. Tumakbo ang binata at tinalon ng yakap si Joshua.
Joshua had to balance himself para di sila matumba. Jeonghan broke the hug immediately.
"Shuji we won! Ang galing talaga ng team-up natin." Masayang sabi ni Jeonghan.
"Yeah. You did great with that last shot. As always Jeonghan Yoon for three!" Joshua even acted na magshoshoot siya. Tumawa lang si Jeonghan.
"Tsk. Dami mong alam. Anyway, may gagawin ka ba mamaya?" Tanong ni Jeonghan. His eyes looks hopeful.
Minsan iniisip ni Joshua na alam ata ni Jeonghan na mahina si Joshua sa mga mata niya.
"Uhmm..wala naman. Bakit?"
Naglakad na sila papunta sa bench para kunin ang mga gamit nila.
"Nothing. Just wanted to hang out. Di na tayo nagbobonding. I miss spending time with you."
Joshua almost choke on his water dahil sa sinabi ni Jeonghan.
He tried his best not to be flustered by what he heard.
"Han alam mo ba na halos magkasama tayo for 1 month dahil sa practice and we even have the same classes anong sinasabi mo?" Joshua fake a laugh after he said those.
Jeonghan looks at him with those eyes again. Yung akala mo tinatakwil na tuta.
"So ayaw mo? 4 years na tayo magkaibigan Shua tapos ganito mo lang tatapusin pagkakaibigan natin."
Natawa si Joshua dahil sa sinabi ng nakababata.
"Oo na. Ang dami naman nasabi. May sinabi ba akong hindi ha?"
Jeonghan smiled and also packed his things. After that he immediately pulled Joshua by his arm and went to Jeonghan's home to play and just chill.
They were watching a movie when suddenly Jeonghan move too close for Joshua.
Jeonghan leaned his head on Joshua's shoulder. Joshua flinched pero di nahalata ni Jeonghan dahil busy siya manuod.
Lagi naman clingy si Jeonghan. He wants to always be close with Joshua. Jeonghan said it was becuase they are brothers and brothers should be comfortable with each other.
This is normal. Joshua thinks.
But the thing that is not normal for Joshua is the loud and fast beats of his heart. It never happened before but now as he look at Jeonghan's face on his shoulders and when the latter laughs at every funny scene in the movie.
Joshua realizes something.
Joshua was in 3rd year Highschool when he realize he fell inlove with his childhood bestfriend.
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"Umalis na si Jeonghan. Sabi niya dadaan na lang daw siya mamaya." Joshua nodded at his Mom.
Today, Joshua decided that he will give up his feelings for Jeonghan.
"Di mo ba talaga sasabihin sa kanya na lilipat na tayo?"
Iniwas ni Joshua ang tingin sa nanay niya at tinuloy ang pag-iimpake.
Joshua's family will be moving to another place. To the city to be exact.
He likes this quiet and peaceful town but his family needs to move to the city again for their business.
Also Joshua seen this as oppurtunity to give up his stupid feelings for his bestfriend.
Alam niyang mali na hindi niya sinabi kay Jeonghan na aalis siya. Pero pagod na si Joshua. Pagod na siya makita si Jeonghan araw-araw na di lang kaibigan yung tingin niya. Araw-araw kayang may umagaw kay Jeonghan at wala siyang kayang gawin. Araw-araw abot kamay niya lang yung taong mahal niya. Kaya niyang gawin pero ayaw niyang may masira. Di niya kaya yung kapalit kapag inuna niya yung nararamdaman niya.
Everyday felt like torture for Joshua. Kaya naisipan niyang sumuko. Ayaw niyang pumili kaya naging duwag siya. He decided na isuko lahat. Feelings and years of friendship.
Joshua put his earphones at full blast ng umandar ang sasakyan nila. Hapon na at aalis na sila sa lugar na halos kinalakihan na niya. They were passing through their neighbourhood.
Joshua close his eyes ayaw niya makita na iiwan niya ang lugar kung saan naranasan niyang sumaya.
Pagkabukas niya ng mata niya. What he saw broke his heart.
He saw Jeonghan staring straight at him. Naglalakad siya papunta sa bahay nila Joshua.
At first he smiled but then Jeonghan saw the boxes on the top of their car. The car did not stop. By then, Jeonghan realized what was happening.
Even if the music in his ears at fullblast he heard how Jeonghan screamed for his name.
"SHUA! SHUA! SAN KA PUPUNTA?"
"Joshua. Jeonghan is calling for you. Do you want us to stop? Atleast say goodbye. Kawawa naman." His mom asked him. His Dad was also about to pull at the brake.
"No. Please. Just..let's just go." Joshua smiled. Di alam ng parents niya. Akala lang nila ay nag-away ang dalawa.
Joshua never tried to look back pero napatingin siya sa side view mirror and he saw Jeonghan trying his best to run for them.
Jeonghan is crying. He kept on running but then he stop.
"JISOO PLEASE STOP!" He shouted.
Joshua cried silently. Jeonghan called him with his true name. He never called him that unless he was really serious.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Han." Joshua cried all throughout their trip.