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Samu’t-saring mga tingin ang natanggap ni Dokyeom nang tumapak siya sa gymnasium nila, and he already expected it.
Not because of his sudden presence inside their gymnasium when he should be in the outside grounds since he's a baseball varsity player.
But because of what he's wearing right now.
A red jersey, have the number 30 on its back and capitalize 'HONG' at his back. A baseball captain wearing a basketball jersey?
And, he couldn't care less what the others thought right now.
Lalo na inis at irita sa mundo ang nararamdaman niya ngayon, kasi sino ba naman ang hindi maiirita at maiinis kung ang nobyo mo ay nabansagang “lalaking para sa lahat.”
It was supposed to be a joke, or to glorify the MVP of their university since they just won this year's UAAP basketball.
Nagkalat ang litrato ng nobyo ni Dokyeom na napapaligiran ng mga tao, babae man o lalaki. It was a nice and appreciative captured moment.
But the netizens with their so called witty banter, tarnish the photo.
It was funny and all, for everyone—but not for Dokyeom.
Especially he read the posts and captions na pinagpapantasyahan ang boyfriend niya, hindi naman talaga siya selosong tao—but something triggered it.
It was the captions saying that “Sana walang jowa si player #30, kung meron man sana magbreak na sila now na!! please 🙏🏻🥹” or like “Sobrang sarap ni player 30, sana makarat!”
Puro ganoong komento ang nabasa niya, and he couldn't help but to feel territorial—he couldn't help but feel jealous.
Siya ang nagsabi sa kasintahan niya na itago ang relasyon nila, their friends know they're together and it's already fine that way. Hindi na para ba ipaalam pa sa madla ang relasyon nila para lamang pagpyestahan o makatanggap pa ng unnecessary attention mula sa kanila.
Ngunit mula sa araw na ito, mukang ang ‘peaceful’ na relasyon nila for 3 years ay maeexpose na sa lahat ng tao.
Ang unang bumati at nakakita sa kanya ay teammate/vice captain ng university nila, si Jeonghan.
“Kyeom!” pagtawag nito sa palayaw ng isa, “nuxx naman! suot mo pa talaga jersey namin ha, saan ka nagpaggawa? tapos na ‘yung finals, tsaka ka lang nagpakita sa’min?” sunod-sunod na sambit ni Jeonghan.
Tila hindi man lang napakinggan ni Dokyeom ang sinabi ni Jeonghan kaya natawa lamang ang nakatatanda,”Si Joshua ba hanap mo? nandun siya sa cr—ingat ka ha, marami siyang fans na nanonood ngayon sa training—” and he was interrupted.
“Pake ko?” Dokyeom bluntly said, “By the way, thanks kuya han. Puntahan ko lang si Joshua”
“Ops, ano na naman kayang kasalanan ni Joshua? mukang galit si madam” Sambit ni Jeonghan ngunit habang tinitignan ang likod ni Dokyeom doon niya lang napansin ang nasa likod nito.
Doon niya napagtanto, na pumunta siya ngayon sa gymnasium para angkinin kung ano ang sa kanya.
Napahagalpak ng tawa si Jeonghan, halos hindi na nga siya makatayo kakatawa dahil sa nakita niya. It's not like they're making fun of them, but it was too entertaining on his end—at ngayon aantayin niya na lang ang mga rebelasyon na mangyayari.
“Huy! para kang tanga d'yan, nakaharang ka sa daan” sambit nang nasa likod ni han.
Agad namang nagningning ang mata ni Jeonghan sa nakita, “Uy babes! anong ginagawa mo dito?” tayong bigkas nito at akmang hahalik nang hinawakan siya ni Seungcheol sa mukha at inilayo ito.
“Sampal gusto mo?” pagbabanta nito na dahilan para umatras si Jeonghan habang may pilyong ngiti.
“Hinahanap ko si Dokyeom, mukang gagawa ng eskandalo” he looks around to find his friend.
“Hah eskandalo? e in my perspective, aangkinin niya lang naman kung ano ang kanya?”
“Baliw ka ba?” aakmang aalis na si Seungcheol nang hatakin siya ni Jeonghan papalapit.
“Isa. bitaw, Jeonghan.”
“Ayoko nga, hayaan mo na ‘yung dalawang ‘yon. Ayaw mo ba ng drama? bili na lang tayong popcorn babes”
“Baliw ka ba talaga? You don't know how Dokyeom behaves when he's pissed off!”
“Edi mas masaya!”
“Kyeom!”
The two of them were interrupted with that voice, it was Joshua's voice calling out kyeom’s name.
“Dokyeom!” Joshua calls out as he ran towards his lover, who's currently trying to get away from him.
Agad nagtaka si Han at Cheol sa nakikita nila, at ang tanging nasa isip lamang nila ay ‘What in the k-drama is this?’
Namumulang mata ni Dokyeom at alalang mukha ni Joshua habang hinahabol ang kasintahan.
Ngunit paano nga ba humantong sa ganon ang lovebirds sa labstori na ito?
[rewind «]
Nang malaman niya kung nasaan si Joshua, agad siyang naglakad papunta sa CR. Doon niya rin nakita ang bleachers na puno nga ng mga babae na pinapanood ang training nila Joshua ngayon.
Nagtinginan naman ang mga ito sa kanya, at mga nagbulungan. He knows because he saw how gorgeous he is, aware si Dokyeom na may title siyang “The shy type prince” ng so called golden trio that consists of him, Joshua and Eunwoo who's the volleyball captain.
At nang dumapo naman ang mata nila sa likod ng jersey na suot ni Dokyeom, ay agad lumakas ang bulungan ng mga ito.
Napangisi naman si Dokyeom habang nasa isip ay ‘Yep, you all see it right. I'm his, and he's mine kaya pwede ba umalis na kayo?’
He knows it's kinda childish na tila nakikipag kompetensiyahan siya sa mga fans ni Joshua, but you can't blame him. Tao lang din siya, nakakaramdam ng selos sa mga bagay-bagay.
Nang makarating siya sa CR na para sa mga athletes lamang, he looks around and searches for Joshua.
And there he saw Joshua changing shirts.
He knows exactly why his lover gathers sooooo much attention.
And he honestly couldn't blame them.
Look at this feast, only for himself.
A gorgeous face with a gorgeous body.
“Love.” tawag ni Dokyeom.
And when Joshua saw him, “Ay jusko po! bakit may magandang anghel dito? kukunin na ba ako ni lord?”
Dokyeom chuckles with how Joshua overreacts, the other opens his arms to invite him with an embrace and of course he gladly accepts it.
It's only a minute when it registered in Joshua's mind what Dokyeom was wearing.
“Wait” kapa ni Joshua sa damit, at hinarap pa nga ang likod ni Dokyeom sa salamin.
“Diba jersey ko ‘to?” takang tanong ni Joshua.
“Wait, what? you're wearing this the whole time!?” gulat na gulat na sambit ni Joshua.
“Why?..” Dokyeom said with a hesitant voice, “Hindi ba bagay? Is it because it's too small for me?..” pahina ng pahina na sambit ni Dokyeom.
“Woah, kapag nag agree ako dyan baby baka ako ang maoffend kasi mukha bang sobrang liit ng physiques ko?” Joshua unseriosly said which made Dokyeom glared at him and hit his shoulder lightly.
“Parang tanga naman! dapat ang response mo comforting hindi ‘yung sarili mo pang feelings iniintindi mo” he rolls his eyes and Joshua chuckles.
there goes my big bratty baby.
One thing that satisfies Joshua the most with their relationship, is with how his dokyeom becomes that bratty babygirl whenever they're only together.
Siya lamang nakakakita kung paano mag-inarte at magmaldita ang nobyo niya.
And he takes that as a privilege, because handling and taking care of Dokyeom is what he wanted in life.
Especially all dokyeom’s life, he is that independent responsible son, student, friend. He never threw tantrums when he was a child, he never asks for attention with anyone, he always understands and adjusts.
And that's how he lives his life, to avoid problems, to avoid confrontation.
Joshua knows all of it.
“Oh, bakit nakangiti ka lang jan? parang natatawa ka na? huhubarin ko talaga ‘to, you're making fun of me na e..” Dokyeom said with a pout.
Joshua is gushing deep inside with his lover's cuteness and pretty pout, making him tease dokyeom more.
“Sakto need ko rin yan sa training namin e” biro ni Joshua sa kanya and while for Dokyeom it was his last straw for getting pissed off with Joshua too.
Walang atubiling naglakad paalis si Dokyeom at iniwanan si Joshua.
Doon lang napagtanto ni Joshua na mukhang ang kasintahan niya ay may problema, and it was dumb move of him to provoke dokyeom more.
“Wait! Dokyeom!” Habol ni Joshua sa isa.
Mabilis ang paglalakad ni Dokyeom, nang makalabas na siya ay napatingin siya sa mga manonood at samu’t-saring mga tingin ang natanggap.
For some reason he felt bare, he felt so small and that made his tears start to fall.
“Kyeom!” rinig niya ang malakas na pagtawag ni Joshua sa kanya but that doesn't stop him from walking.
Tangina, bwisit kingina bakit ang laki ng gymnasium na ‘to? gusto ko lang naman makalabas.
He started walk-runs not until he heard Joshua call him once again, but this time with their endearment.
“Love! antayin mo naman ako oh!” malakas ang boses ni Joshua sapat na para marinig ng mga nasa bleachers ang mga salitang binanggit niya.
Saglit na napahinto si Dokyeom at sinilip ang mga tao sa bleachers, but it was enough time for Joshua to catch up and grab his arms.
Hinarap siya nito, agad nagtama ang mata nilang dalawa at napansin niya kung paano siya tignan ni Joshua, puno ng pag-aalala, he's clearly worried and he doesn't care when everyone that surrounds them are now focusing on the two of them.
Halata sa mukha nito na ang atensyon lamang niya ay tanging na kay Dokyeom.
“Sorry, I'm sorry, love.. I'm happy, sobra-sobra po” Joshua said with a gentle voice reassuring Dokyeom with him wearing his jersey.
“Sabihin mo sa'kin lahat, sorry kung hindi ko napansin mahal. Is there something bothering you?” mas lumapit ito kay Dokyeom at hinawakan ang kaliwang pisngi at marahan na hinarap ang mukhang iniiwasan ang tingin ni Joshua.
He leans forward to look closely at Dokyeom, just like what he always does whenever his lover doesn't want to talk to him.
Ayaw pa naman niya sa lahat ay ‘yung hindi siya pinapansin ni Dokyeom.
“Joshua, they're watching us..” pikit matang sambit ni dokyeom dahil takot siya sa kung anong mga reaksyon ang makita niya.
“Sa totoo lang, mahal.. I never really care whatever people say, that's just how I live. Some may find it arrogant, kaya nga inis ka sa'kin noon because you see me as a boastful fucker right?” Joshua chuckles remembering the times Dokyeom cursed the fuck out him.
“Pero nang nakilala kita nang lubusan, at natutunan kitang mahalin. I started to care about what they say, because I care more about how you see me. At ayokong makaramdam ka nang hiya sa tuwing binabanggit ako ng ibang tao.”
Unti-unting binuksan ni Dokyeom ang mata, at tanging si Joshua lamang ang nakikita niya.
He saw Joshua 3 years ago, kinakabahan, balisa, hirap makabuo ng salit. ‘Yun pala ay plano na niyang ilahad ang lihim na pagtingin niya kay Dokyeom.
“When you said you wanted to keep this relationship a secret to the public, I'm really fine with it.”
“Kasi totoo naman ang sinabi mo, kapag nalaman ng lahat kung anong meron tayo, we won't be able to stop them to say unnecessary or rude things”
Kinuha ni Joshua ang dalawang kamay ng nobyo at hinawakan ito.
“And to be honest, I don't give any fuck about what they say. Still, I won't let them say rude things about you. Handa akong awayin lahat if it means protecting you— your name.”
“At ngayon, humarap ka sa'kin wearing my jersey knowing I have my surname on it.”
“Alam mo naman siguro kung anong mangyayari sa pakulo mo ngayon, ‘diba?” Joshua chuckles once again.
Joshua stares at Dokyeom, waiting for the latter’s response.
Medyo nahirapan bumuo ng salita si Dokyeom, but with Joshua's assuring and gentle eyes, he tries to construct words.
“Sorry.. kasi ano–magulo ako? ayun nga, sinabi ko na gusto kong itago sa kanila kung anong meron tayo.”
“Pero, kinain ako ng selos mahal” idinaan ni dokyeom sa mahinang tawa ang hiya niya sa sinabi.
“The whole world loves you, and they're all freely conveying whatever they want to say about you..”
“Kaso paano ako? I also want to post you on my socials, congratulating you and flexing my MVP”
“Gusto kong pumunta sa mga laro mo, at buong boses isigaw ang pangalan mo”
“Gusto kong isigaw na ‘yes! baby ko yan! no. 1 shooter sa puso ko!’ just like what others cheers for you”
“Ayun…gumising ako and when I woke up wala ka na sa tabi ko at alam kong you have early morning practice. Nakita ko jersey mo and without a thought, I wear it and go to campus”
Dokyeom's cheeks started to become beet red from embarrassment, he just realized that what he did was too embarrassing.
Something that others wouldn't expect that he would do.
“Masama ba? kung gusto kong ipagsigawan sakanilang lahat?” at dinuro ni dokyeom ang mga fangirls at fanboys ni Joshua
“Na— na..” huminga ng malalim si Dokyeom at naghahandang ilabas lahat ng nararamdaman niya.
“SA'YO AKO, AT AKIN KA?!” Dokyeom's voice roared throughout the whole gymnasium.
“KASALANAN BANG IPAALAM KO SA KANILANG LAHAT NA AKO YUNG KINIKISS AT NIYAYAKAP MO GABI-GABI?!”
The people inside it were stopping themselves to breathe even let out a small sound.
“MASAMA BA NA IPAGSIGAWAN KONG MAHAL NA MAHAL KITA, HA?! JOSHUA HONG?!”
“THAT WE'VE BEEN LOVING EACH OTHER FOR THREE YEARS?!”
“AT IKAW NAGCONFESS SAKIN EVEN HAVE THE GUTS TO ASK FOR A FUCKING KISS?!”
Huminto si Dokyeom at huminga nang malalim, he gave Joshua the sweetest smile that he has.
At si Joshua ay naiwang gulantang, at nang maprosesa niya lahat he lets out a snort that build up to a loud boisterous laugh.
“YES! NARINIG NIYO ‘YON? AKIN SI DOKYEOM AT SA KANYA AKO!” Joshua laughs like a maniac from too much happiness.
The whole crowd goes wild, mga tili at hiyawan. Iisa ang nararamdaman nilang lahat, tanging kilig at inggit.
Hinigit ni Joshua ang nobyo ng yakap sa bewan, at tsaka naman hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi nito.
“Wala nang bawian ha?” sambit ni Joshua habang abot tenga ang ngiti. It was his dream to shout from his lungs to let the whole world know that he loves Dokyeom.
“May magagawa pa ba ako? alam na nilang lahat oh?" Dokkyeom responded with a sweet smile, he leaned towards Joshua and placed a peck in Joshua's cheeks.
Dahilan para tuluyang maging tuliro ang madla.
A kiss that is far more better than a thousand compliments and awards that Joshua receives.