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Nanalo ang kaba ni Kenjiro nang makita niya na lang ang sariling nagbabasa in advance para sa recitation nila mamaya. Sigurado naman siyang hindi niya mabobokya iyon dahil hindi naman siya na-late sa pagbabasa, iyon nga lang, nakakatakot pa ring isiping baka mayroon pa siyang hindi naiintindihan
“Shira! Kumain ka na ba?”
Hindi niya nilingon si Kanoka na umupo sa tabi niya, instead he simply shook his head to answer. Alam na alam na nito kung saan siya hahanapin kung hindi sa library. Nanatili ang mata niya sa libro na puro highlight at tingin niya nga ay kabisado niya na.
“Sus! Kahit naman anong gawin mo papasa ka pa rin doon–kay Dr. Dela Cruz ‘yan?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, I get why you’re anxious, pero kumain ka muna.”
Tinatamad na siyang tumayo at pumunta pang lagoon kaya naman hindi niya na pinansin si Kanoka.
“I know what you’re thinking. Pabalik na si Mika tsaka Toya, may shawarma rice.” From his peripheral vision, he could see her slowly opening her burger, as if teasing him. “Kakain na ‘yan,” pang-asar pa nito.
Irap na lang ang naisagot niya dahil naririnig niya na ang malakas na boses ni Motoya na sumisira sa tahimik niyang secret spot.
“Oo nga, nakita ko kasama ni Kuroo–aray! Hindi kita niloloko parang tanga naman”
“Pics or it didn’t happen.” Boses iyon ni Mika.
“Fine–Shira! Kain na!”
“Toya, ‘wag kang sumigaw,” sagot niya. Hindi niya isinara ang libro at hinayaan si Motoya na ayusin ang tatlong styro ng pagkain sa harap niya, habang patuloy pa rin sa pagdaldal ito. Malawak naman ang lamesa kaya hindi ito naging problema.
“By the way, Shirabu. Nakita ko si Semi kanina ah. Kasama si Taichi tsaka Tanaka, hinahanap ka.”
Finally, napatingin siya sa kaibigan.
“Ako yung bumili ng pagkain niya, ni hindi niya natingnan?”
Hindi niya pinansin si Motoya. “What did you say?”
Mika shrugged. “I said you’re studying, syempre I didn’t say where.”
He nodded. “Thanks.” Bago pa man makaangal si Motoya, tiningnan niya ito. “Thank you, Toya. Bayaran kita mamaya.”
He continued reading while the three were telling gossips still, paniguradong tungkol na naman sa adventures ni Toya. Sanay naman siya sa boses ng mga ito kaya ayos lang, these three were making sure he’s also aware of some gossips. Yet, he was already too engrossed with what he’s reading kaya hindi niya na naiintindihan ang kwento.
“Speaking of, may nililigawan ba si Semi sa CHK?”
“Huh?”
The three turned their heads to him synchronously, at doon lang narealize ni Kenjiro ang ginawa niya. He bowed his head again to his book, hoping the three would let go if it, pero syempre–hindi! Lalo na si Mika at Motoya dahil si Kanoka ay tatawanan lang siya.
“Anong huh? Hindi mo alam?” tanong ni Mika. “Bakit hindi mo alam?”
Few seconds of silence went between all of them bago niya narinig ang pagpalo ni Motoya sa lamesa nang mahina dahilan para mapalingon siya rito.
“Akala ko tropa kayo?”
Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Kenjiro. Tropa nga. Pero hindi ibig sabihin alam niya na lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay nito. Umiwas siya ng tingin sa kaibigan at ibinalik sa libro dahil naiinis siya sa tingin nito sa kaniya.
“But, he’s right, Shi. Nagtatakha rin ako, ang dalas ni Semi sa CHK eh SoSci siya? Ginagawa niya ro’n?”
“Hindi naman kasi dapat alam ko lahat,” sagot niya, mahina. “Hindi naman dapat lahat sabihin niya sa’kin.” Hindi niya alam kung sinong kinukumbinse niya.
These three were right. Magkaibigan sila ni Semi kaya hindi na dapat nakakapagtakha kung alam niya ang nangyayari rito. However, despite holding on to that friendship, he’s also cognizant of the fact that high school was long gone. Matagal na siyang hindi ganoon kaaktibo sa nangyayari sa buhay ng mga ka-team niya dati.
Kung… kung totoo mang may nililigawan ito, wala na siyang masasabi roon. Wala naman siyang karapatang magsalita tungkol doon.
They had been close. But they had grown also, so as their priorities. Masyado siyang maraming problema na dapat isipin kaysa sa–
“Akala ko break mo, bakit nag-aaral ka?”
Kenijiro’s eyes widened when he felt an arm over his shoulder, it could be anyone and he would not hesitate to slap them, but that voice…
“S–semi, what are you doing here?” he asked, still in shock.
“Hinahanap kita. May gagawin tayo.”
When Kenjiro found the strength, he pushed Semi away. Hindi niya inintindi ang titig ng mga kaibigan niya sa kaniya, maging ang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya. “Kung ano-ano na naman sinasabi mo. Can’t you see I’m busy?”
Sumimangot si Semi. He was wearing a grey shirt, and black ripped pants. Imbis na bag, gitara ang nakasabit sa balikat nito. “Nakikita ko nga, hindi mo nga nagagalaw ‘yang pagkain mo oh.”
Right. Nakalimutan niya.
Umiwas siya ng tingin. “Kakainin ko ‘yan pagkatapos.”
“May apat na oras kang break bago si Dela Cruz. Maaga pa, unahin mo munang kumain.”
Kenjiro’s fist clenched on his thigh. He could feel his face contorting into irritation. “Nagpunta ka ba rito para pakielamanan ako?”
Imbis na ma-offend, of course it’s Semi we’re talking about, malakas lang itong tumawa. Tanging tawa niya lang ang maingay bukod sa tahimik na kwentuhan ng mga kaibigan niya na alam niya namang nagpapanggap lang pero nakikinig talaga sa usapan nila ni Semi.
“Chill! Wrinkles mo.” Again, he laughed. “But seriously, kumain ka muna, tsaka ko sasabihin kung ano kailangan ko.”
Hindi niya na nagawang umangal sa inis, idagdag mo pa ang smirk sa mukha nito na hindi niya na gustong makita. He’d rather follow this man, rather than let him stay. Baka hindi niya kayanin.
“tropa–tropa, ‘no?”
Kenjiro glared at Motoya when his voice got louder which his friend answered with feign innocence. He watched as Motoya looked at Semi before speaking, “Semi, may tanong kami. Chismis lang–”
“Toya–”
“Anong ginagawa mo sa CHK? Dalas mo ro’n ah.”
Kenjiro knew he would never be prepared for Semi’s answer kaya naman mas pinili niyang magfocus sa pagkain para makabalik siya sa pagbabasa. He wanted to be away from Semi as soon as possible as he was afraid he would be too distracted to go to his classes later.
“Ay iyon? May haharanahin ako.”
Nanlaki ang mata ni Kenjiro. Hindi sinasadya ay nahulog niya ang plastic fork na hawak kaya sa kaniya natuon ang atensyon. “S–sorry, tuloy niyo lang.”
Mukhang naintindihan siya agad ng mga kaibigan dahil kinantyawan agad ng mga ito si Semi. Halos sabay-sabay ang tanong na hindi na ito nakasagot dahil walang maintidihan sa sinasabi nila. Namalayan na lang ni Shirabu na tapos niya na ang kinakain at nagmamadaling tinanong si Semi ng kailangan nito.
Semi grinned. “Ikaw kailangan ko, pero busy ka pa kaya mamaya na lang. Bye!”
Before he could react, tuluyan na itong nakatabo palayo. Kenjiro stared at his empty food, and sighed. “What was that?”
“We don’t know. You tell us,” Mika answered.
“Maybe hindi mo napansin pero we did notice na iniwasan mo si Semi after Hinata’s despedida party. Kailan pa iyon? A month ago? You’ve become more stiff kapag nandiyan siya, at parang palaging gusto mo siyang umalis,” Kanoka explained. “We know hindi ka naman clingy, pero kilala ka namin,” she followed.
He blinked, probably thrice. He didn’t have the courage to look at his friends’ eyes because he was guilty. Tama naman ang napansin nila, it’s just that… halata ba talaga?
“If you noticed it, do you think nahalata niya?” mahina niyang tanong.
Nagkatinginan ang tatlo. Si Motoya ang sumagot, “most likely.”
Napapikit na lang siya.
That night, he could hear Semi’s voice as he sang a Fall Out Boy’s song along with his bandmates. Kenjiro was silent as he leaned on the wall, sipping on his water dahil katatapos niya lang kumain. Hindi naman siya out of place lalo kasama niya ang highschool team kanina, kaya lang, ramdam niyang unti-unti na siyang nawawalan ng social battery kaya siya na ang lumayo.
“Shira, shot!”
Tinanguan niya lang si Sugawara, who he was thankful ay hindi pa lasing. Kung minalas siya’t lasing ito bago siya ayain, pina-chug na naman siya nito.
Nang mawala sa paningin niya ang mga ito, dumiretso siya sa garden ng bahay ni Kageyama. This one’s a surprise despedida party for Hinata na pupuntang Brazil, and knowing him, daig pa ang mayor sa dami ng kaibigan at kakilala kaya naman napakaraming tao sa loob.
Fortunately for Kenjiro, there was no one outside. The sound was also muffled at hindi niya na mabosesan si Semi, ang namilit sa kaniyang pumunta rito kahit sinabi niyang busy siya which was true.
Tumingala siya, at tanging buwan lang ang nagbibigay liwanag sa garden. Kaya siguro walang nagpupunta. He sat on the lone bench in front of a huge tree, leaning on it. He had… so many worries today, at hindi niya alam paano is-sort isa-isa. Ang daming fears. Ang lapit na ng pasukan niya, and he’s afraid he’s not on the right track.
A muffled scream escaped his throat when he put his arm on his mouth. Ang frustrating, pero wala siyang choice.
“Ginagawa mo rito?”
He removed his hand on his mouth when someone spoke. He could only see the man’s silhouette, pero kilala niya na ito.
“Kapagod sa loob,” simpleng sagot niya.
He heard Semi chuckled, before sitting beside him. Nanatiling nakasandal si Kenjiro sa puno habang si Semi ay naupo pa-gilid, nakapatong ang hita sa upuan, nakaharap sa kaniya.
“Ikaw?” tanong niya. “Aren’t you performing?”
“Tapos na. Did you like my performance?” his voice was low, dahil hindi naman kailangan lakasan. Nakakahiya sa gabi kung mag-iingay sila.
Hindi siya nakikita ni Kenjiro nang buo, he doubted Semi could see him also dahil nga buwan lang ang ilaw nila. Though, dahil sa sinag ng liwanag na galing sa loob ng bahay, may kaunti siyang nakikita sa balat nito.
“Galing magdrum ni Miya,” sagot niya.
“Pasikat talaga ‘yon si ‘Samu,” biro nito. “Sabi ko ‘my’, bakit iba tiningnan mo?”
Kenjiro couldn’t help but chuckle because of how Semi sounded. “Joke lang.” A sigh escaped his lips. “Yeah, you’re good. The Phoenix?”
“Yup.” Semi nodded.
“You’ve improved. I remember no’ng kinanta mo ‘yan, 2nd year, pumiyok ka.”
“Pinaalala pa!?”
Laughs erupted from Kenjiro. Bukod sa naalala niya kung pa’no pumiyok si Semi noon, natatawa siya sa hitsura nito ngayon. “Sabi kasi volleyball ang i-practice, tapos ikaw naglabas ng gitara,” dagdag niya pa.
“Buti wala si coach.” Lumalim ang gitla sa noo ni Semi. “Change topic na nga! Dapat hindi na ‘ko nagtanong.”
Natatawa pa rin, tumango siya. “Fine, fine.”
Nang umayos na siya, saka lamang nagsalita si Semi. “Pero ano ngang iniisip mo kanina? Bago kita lapitan, mga 30 seconds na ‘kong nakatitig sa’yo.”
His eyes widened, nilingon niyang bahagya ito at nakitang nakapatong na ang baba nito sa gitarang hindi niya pansin ay dala nito. “Creepy,” sagot niya na lang.
“Grabe! Nagtatakha lang ako anong ginagawa mo.” Semi nudged his shoulder. “Dali na, kwento ka. Kung problema, dagdagan natin.”
“Wala ka talagang kwenta.”
“Biro lang! Pero seryoso, kwento ka. Baka makatulong ako, senior mo ako, ‘diba?”
Sumimangot si Kenjiro. “Oo na lang, kunwari hindi mo ako sinusungitan noon.”
Napanganga si Semi. “I’ve changed!” A huff escaped his lips, making Kenjiro laugh. “Edi ‘wag.”
“Joke lang kasi.” Once again, he looked above and saw the stars finally coming out of the clouds. He hugged himself as the breeze suddenly blew. “It’s… nothing. Pasukan blues? Ulit? Uncertainties? Ang dami kasi.” He should be used to this kasi second year niya na ‘to, pero ito siya ulit, parang bago nang bago.
He felt Semi shifted, he felt his knees brushing over his side pero hindi niya inintindi.
“Nakakatakot lang kasi… alam ko namang gusto ko ‘to. But, what if I can’t do it? What if I give up easily? Baka hindi ko pala ‘to kaya. Baka ino-overestimate ko pala sarili ko.”
Finally, he said those words. Now that he said them, medyo mas magaan. Lalo dahil may nakikinig. Semi wasn’t saying anything, but Kenjiro could feel his breathing beside him, and he didn’t realize how comfortable it was to have someone beside you as you finally acknowledged your fears.
“Magaling ka, Shirabu. You’ve handled your first year.” Those are what came out of Semi’s lips, making Kenjiro freeze on the spot. “Isa pa kung hindi ka magaling, edi hindi mo na-handle si Ushijima.”
“That’s different.” He looked at him
“Siguro on the surface, it is.” Semi smiled. “Pero magaling ka, at wala kang dapat ikatakot kasi kaya mo.”
Napakasimple.
Semi’s words were simple, straightforward. Pero kuhang-kuha si Kenjiro. He didn’t know how he managed to look away when he almost got drowned by Semi’s eyes. The sound coming from a different singer was not only muffled, but completely silenced with how loud Semi stared at him.
“You know what, kantahan na lang kita.”
Not minding his erratic heart, he joked, “i-v-video ko na ‘to para kapag pumiyok, ia-upload ko na.”
As he set up his phone hindi kalayuan sa kanila, making sure everything’s covered. He could hear Semi strumming his guitar already. Bumalik siya sa puwesto niya, nakasandal sa puno, pero ang paningin ay na kay Semi na.
Did I drive you away?
I know what you'll say
You say, "Oh, sing one we know"
Oh.
Akala ko nakalimutan ko na. Hulog na naman.
He watched as Semi muttered the words, eyes closed, face looking so peaceful as if he was just talking. The moon and the stars seemed to brighten enough, illuminating his face. Semi’s voice… was nothing he had already heard of.
It speaks…
But I won't let you down
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I will, yes, I will
Since when did he start thinking about Semi in general? Since when did he find himself wanting his voice to be heard by him only?
Yeah, I saw sparks
And I saw sparks
Yeah, I saw sparks
Sing it out
And when Semi opened his eyes, he couldn’t find the strength to look away. They both stared at each other in silence, eyes speaking. Semi’s right hand reached his face, his eyes, and wiped the tear he didn’t know fell.
What happened next was something Kenjiro wouldn’t ever have imagined. At first it was his fingers, until he felt Semi’s lips on his.
“What? Wait, nagkiss kayo, tapos?” Motoya reacted when he finished his story.
Kenjiro shrugged. “Tumakbo ako.”
Mika facepalmed. “What–okay, what about Semi? How did he react?”
Doon siya natawa. “Wala. Hindi kami nagkita agad kasi pasukan na pero when we saw each other again, parang walang nangyari. Siguro lasing lang siya no’ng gabi kaya niya nagawa ‘yon.”
“Diba may video?”
“Right, right.”
“Meron. But I watched it, and saw when the phone fell before Semi could even finish singing.” Natawa na lang siya. Hindi niya alam kung anong trip ng universe, pero siguro it meant to be that way. It meant to be forgotten.
“Ang cruel–saglit tapos na break namin ni Kanoka! Ituloy mo kwento ha.”
Both he, and Motoya watched as the two ran.
“Mahal mo?”
“Motoya, hindi ako magpapahalik kung hindi.”
“Kwe–”
Before Motoya could finish his sentence, Kenjiro’s phone rang. He looked at it, and froze when he saw the caller.
“What?”
“Mag-isa ka na ba?”
Nagsalubong ang kilay niya sa tanong nito. “Bakit? I’m still with Toya.”
“Ay okay na ‘yan. Balik ako.”
“Wait–” pinutol na nito ang tawag. “Babalik raw si Semi rito.”
Motoya gave him a meaningful look, and acted as if zipping his mouth before nodding. “Okay.”
Hindi naman nagtagal dahil bumalik nga ito. Mukhang tumakbo pa dahil pawis na pawis ang hitsura. “I’m back!”
“Umupo ka nga muna.” Hindi niya na napigilan ang sariling magsalita. “Wala ka bang panyo?”
“Naiwan.”
“Saan? Sa CHK?” Nakagat niya ang labi. “Don’t answer that. Oh, extra towel.”
“Concern na concern Shirabu, hindi naman ako mamamatay sa pawis,” biro nito habang nagpupunas. “Anyway, hindi naman sa ayaw kong marinig nila Mika at Kanoka, pero parang gano’n na nga.”
Tumango si Shirabu. Pinanood niyang kuhanin nito ang bottled water sa harap niya, na sa kaniya, at uminom. Hindi na siya nagreklamo, at tiningnan ang nakasarang libro.
“Birthday ni Ushi sa isang araw diba?”
Napatakip si Shirabu ng bibig. “Oh–oo nga pala. What? May plano team?”
Semi nodded, too excited not to be suspicious. “We plan to make him man-up on his birthday!” kulang na lang ay magningning ang mata nito.
“Okay, so anong role ko rito?” tanong ni Motoya.
Parang alam na ni Kenjiro ang gustong ipahiwatig ni Semi. He looked at him, questioning, but he didn’t get any answer.
“Please make sure nandoon si Sakusa.”
Nagkatinginan sila ni Motoya. “Wait, Semi–for real? Bakit iyon?” Kenjiro reacted.
Still grinning, Semi looked at him. “Na kay Ushi na lahat, Shirabu. Si Sakusa na lang wala, kaya iyon na lang regalo nating team sa kaniya.”
Kung iisipin, ilang taon na nga namang pining ang ex-captain niya rito. Pare-pareho lang silang hindi alam kung kailan ito kikilos. Pero–
“Not to be nega, but… what if ma-reject si kuya on the day of his birthday?” nag-aalala niiyang tanong. Hindi naman nila alam kung gusto rin ni Sakusa si Ushijima.
“Hep!” singit ni Motoya. “You don’t have to worry about that. Ako nang bahala. Tell me how do you plan to do this?”
“Sa totoo lang si Tendou may pakana nito kaya sa kaniya ka na lang makipag-cooperate.” He then laughed like a mad man. “Pero siguradong hindi ganoon karami ang tao, kaming team lang, att kapag nandiyan na si Sakusa, aalis na kami–tayo kasi nandoon ka rin. Pagkatapos ko siya haranahin siyempre.”
Nagkatinginan ulit sila ni Motoya, as if a question was answered.
Motoya was suddenly too jumpy, kulang na lang ay magningning din ang mata katulad ni Semi. “Okay, I’ll go to Tendou. Bye!”
Hindi pa man nakakaangal si Kenjiro ay iniwan na siya nito kay Semi. Hindi niya na binigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagsalita ito dahil agad niyang binuksan ang libro. “Mag-aaral na ‘ko.”
“Shira–”
“Mag-aaral na ‘ko.”
“Fine!”
Safe to say na muntik nang malagutan ng hininga si Kenjiro dahil habang nag-aaral siya ay tahimik lang na nakaupo sa tabi niya si Semi.
—
Today’s finally the day. It’s already 10 pm at kani-kanina pa nagsimula ang surprise sa condo ni Ushijima, pero wala pa si Sakusa. His condo was chaotic as ever as the team fought for karaoke, for food, while the celebrant was laughing on the side.
“Si Semi lang ang may karapatang kumanta!”
“Ay bakit, siya lang anak ng Diyos?”
“Ingay niyo, nandito na yung cake!” That was Tendou.
Kenjiro stopped drinking his water when Reon started putting a blindfold on Ushijima, tinatakpan din nila Taichi at Goshiki ang tenga nito. Si Tendou naman ay itinulak malapit sa pinto ng condo ang malaking box na kasya ang tao na kanina pa nakatambay lang sa gilid.
“Reon, what’s this?”
“Cap, hindi ba tapos ang gabi mo.”
Bit by bit, he could already hear Motoya’s footsteps, and slightly frantic voice. Na-s-stress sa kausap.
“Oh, hawakan mo ‘tong cake tapos pasok ka diyan.”
They could not see what’s happening kasi nakaharang ang malaking box. They thought magpupumiglas pa si Sakusa, not until they saw Motoya’s thumbs up.
“Ayan, konting lakad, Cap!”
He was holding his breath when Ushijima finally reached the box. There was nothing but silence, but he noticed Semi going to the mic and his guitar.
“Tanggalin niyo blindfold–1, 2, 3! Happy Birthday, Wakatoshi!”
The moment his eyes opened, the box revealed Sakusa Kiyoomi in a casual fit, holding the cake. Mukhang hindi nito alam kung sino ang celebrant with the way his eyes widened also. The cake was small, halatang props lang na ginawa ni Tendou para sa pakulo nila na ito. Meron naman na kasi siyang mas malaking gawa na kanina pa kinakain ni Goshiki.
The two were silent, probably a few seconds of flush, and staring at each other as if mga bata.
And suddenly, Semi’s voice echoed through the space.
I hope you love me in the morning
I hope you love me in the evening too
Cause baby I'm so in love with you
So won't you kiss me?
So you can miss me too?
“U–Ushi–happy birthday?”
That’s the only thing he could hear because he already made his way out of the condo. Hindi niya pa kayang marinig ulit kumanta si Semi sa ganitong pagkakataon. Dinala siya ng mga paa niya sa convenience store katabi lang ng condo, at dahil gabi na, siya na lang ang tao.
What he didn’t expect was to hear Semi behind him just a few minutes later.
“What are you doing here? Kumakanta ka–”
“Tapos na.”
“Okay.” Akmang aalis siya nang hawakan ni Semi ang kamay niya.
“Shirabu, iniiwasan mo ba ‘ko?”
Doon nalaglag ang panga niya. The cold suddenly felt too cold for his liking, creeping in his stomach. Naalala niya ang bagay na isang buwan niya nang kinakalimutan.
“What made you say that?” kalmado niya tugon, nakatago ang kamay sa likod para maitago ang panginginig.
Semi snorted, his tongue pushing the insides of his cheeks. “Halata ko naman Shirabu. Iniisip ko lang magiging maayos din, pero hindi na ‘ko makapaghintay.”
“Hindi kita iniiwasan.”
“Please, tell me.” His voice was desperate, pleading, so were his eyes. “Hindi ko kayang pati pagkakaibigan hindi ko makuha sa’yo.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ako naunang magtanong, Shirabu.”
Humigpit ang kapit ni Kenjiro sa kamay niya. He was staring at Semi’s eyes, they were staring at each other, and he could feel Semi’s intense gaze–while his was exhausted. “Kasi Semi, kung hindi mo pala kayang mawala kahit ang pagkakaibigan na ‘to, bakit mo ako hinalikan?”
That stopped Semi. Kenjiro could feel Semi physically reacting to his words. He was frozen, and when another second passed, he could not help but smile humorlessly. “That’s what I’m saying.”
“No, wait… nagulat lang ako kasi naalala mo,” Semi confessed. “I thought you were drunk, because you didn’t say anything noong nagkita tayo ulit.”
Kenjiro, hearing what Semi said made him stop. Biglang nawala lahat ng words sa isip niya, at wala siyang maisip na sabihin dito. It was as if his mind was spiralling at that moment, forming conclusions, questions.
“Mahal kita, Shirabu.” Semi gasped, as if he himself could not believe he finally said it. “Matagal na, kaya nang hinalikan kita a month ago, at gumanti ka, ako na yata ang pinaka-maswerteng tao sa mundo. Pero tumakbo ka, and I even considered apologizing kasi baka na-take advantage ko ang vulnerability mo nang panahon na ‘yon, pero hindi ka galit, hindi ka masaya–parang hindi mo naalala kaya ayos na, kung magkaibigan lang talaga, ayos na–”
“Mahal kita,” he cut Semi off. “Finally, I said it,” he murmured.
Deafening silence went between them, until it became an awkward one.
“Huh?”
“Mahal kita. Do whatever you want with that information,” he repeated.
Kenjiro turned around. He could feel his face getting redder each step he took to the condo, but before he could get away, nahawakan na naman ni Semi ang braso niya.
“Saan ka pupunta?”
“Condo ni Kuya Ushi?” patanong niyang sagot.
“Huwag ka na bumalik kasi masaya si Wakatoshi tsaka Sakusa. Wala na sila Tendou, baka iba na madatnan mo.” Napahilamos ito ng mukha. “Akala ko aalis ka na naman, ang bobo, ilang taon sinayang ko,” bulong nito sa sarili na narinig din ni Kenjiro.
“Oo nga,” pag-agree niya.
“Ilang taon nasayang?”
“Hindi. Na bobo ka.”