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“Hindi ka na ba mapipigilan?” is what Baekhyun hears habang hinigpitan pa lalo ang yakap sa kaibigang si Jongdae. Nagsway-sway pa sila ng slight for a few times bago maghiwalay.
“Abuso ka na masyado,” Baekhyun chuckles. “Hindi na, I have to go back. Ano, ikaw lang ang yayaman?” He fires back, tulak-tulak ang luggage cart niya palapit sa pinto ng departure area.
The Manila International Airport is packed despite it being midweek. All around him are the murmurs of goodbyes, promises, and soft reminders. Baekhyun exhales, taking it all in.
“Kailan ka uuwi ulit?” He hears his friend ask again na ikinalingon at ikinangiwi niya sa kaibigan.
“Kung sagot mo ba flight ticket ko, why not? I’ll come back before you know it,” Baekhyun laughs, tumigil siya ulit to hug Jongdae one last time. “Thank you for the hatid. Ingat ka pauwi.” He says, halos alas-diyes na rin kasi on a wednesday night.
Jongdae sighs yet tightens the embrace. “I will miss you. But sure? Don’t you feel like you left something?” For good measure, inihilig pa nito ang ulo sa balikat ni Baekhyun.
“Asus, we can FaceTime and chat naman. Hindi man tugma timezones natin, you know I’d still send in my replies. Ba-bye na,” Baekhyun parts from Jongdae and checks kung dala na ba niya lahat ng kailangan niya sa kanyang carry-on bag. Etong kaibigan niya kasi, malakas magpa-overthink! But he’s made sure dala niya lahat. So he goes on to the entrance.
“Okay, and Baekhyun,” pahabol pa ni Jongdae once he waved goodbye. “Watch the video, utang na loob! I’m trying to prove something here!”
Tumawa si Baekhyun and nods bago tuluyang tumalikod papasok ng departure area with one final wave. Pabalik na siya sa Massachusetts. Umuwi lang siya sa Pilipinas para makita ang mga magulang at ang mga kaibigan, well pagbigyan pala ang pinagkakautangan niyang kaibigan na si Jongdae.
He made a promise na sasalang siya sa isa sa mga segments ng kaibigan bilang isang social media content producer. Si Jongdae lang naman ang chaotic mind behind the popular YT channel na “TBH Corner”, isang massively popular YT channel dissecting relationships and situationships with brutal honesty and viral humor.
It was an empty promise for Baekhyun noong minsang mabanggit ng kaibigan through FaceTime. Pero tinotohanan naman ni Jongdae, of course he did. And so he prepared what he claimed was “the perfect concept.”
A drinking game. With fuck buddies.
Payaso man ang friend niyang si Jongdae, he finally agreed kasi he’s also curious how his then-buddy turned out. Ang huli kasi niyang kita rito ay noong nag-martsa sila from college. (And to actually test a ridiculous hypothesis na bitbit niya since he moved to Cambridge nga for further studies.)
Now, sitting near his boarding gate with two hours to spare, Baekhyun hears a ping on his phone.
Naka-book na ako ng grab. Ingat ka!
Please watch it! Just watch it, then you’ll see.
Iyon ang mensaheng nabasa niya from no other than Jongdae. Baekhyun shakes his head and finally clicks on the link that glares at him back sa nakabukas na conversation nila ng kaibigan. Hindi naman sa iniiwasan niyang panoorin ang content nila, it’s just that Baekhyun already knows what happened, bakit niya pa papanoorin ulit para lang ipahiya ulit ang sarili niya ‘di ba?
Still, he sighs, puts on his AirPods, and presses play.
He sucks in a breath when they appear on screen. And instantly, his eyes just followed the other guy as the camera pans onto him. Pogi naman talaga ito, as he always been. But seeing Chanyeol Park again after five years, older, sharper, and softer in all the right places, Baekhyun felt something he can’t name.
CHANYEOL:
Hello, I’m Chanyeol Park, 28 years old.
He motions Baekhyun to do the same.
BAEKHYUN:
Hello, I’m Baekhyun Byun, 28 years old as well.
The tension is thick enough that Baekhyun feels it echo through the screen. Chanyeol appears steady, perfectly collected, while Baekhyun wonders how he must have looked beside him that day. All he remembers is how strangely conscious he’d been, how Chanyeol somehow made him feel that way without even trying.
Tanda pa niya na pinaningkitan niya ng mga mata si Jongdae when he said, “For starters, ice breaker kumbaga. Each of you has to tell one truth and take one shot.”
Wala namang ganun sa usual format from all the videos Jongdae have uploaded so far. He wonders what his friend is up to.
CHANYEOL:
Alright, truth. I actually confessed I liked B one year in our set up.
Hindi umiinom si Baekhyun pero nasamid siya sa sinabi ng lalaki. Umani rin ng collective gasps from Jongdae and his team. Si Chanyeol ayun, he took his shot like he never dropped a bomb at this early stage of their video.
Nagulat man, he collects himself calmly.
BAEKHYUN:
Wow, that’s…intense. (Chuckles) okay so related na lang din doon ‘yung truth ko.
I rejected him that time.
That was followed by a heavy silence. He took his own shot at naubu-ubo pa siya dahil sa sting ng alak. Cuervo pala ang laman ng baso nila. Akma niyang isusunod ang cola sa tabi niya but Chanyeol stops him to it.
CHANYEOL:
Walang inuman ng chaser. Pait no? You deserve it! (Laughs)
Everyone laughs in the background, including Baekhyun but not after telling Chanyeol, “heh!”
It was edited out but Chanyeol had asked Jongdae to switch Baekhyun’s chaser with water. Baekhyun is really not into carbonated drinks. Final boss niya ang tubig out all the rest. Now that he thinks about it, Jongdae has a smug smile on his lips during the filming.
The video was then cut to him reading the first question.
BAEKHYUN:
Who asked who for this set up? (Points to Chanyeol right away)
CHANYEOL:
Yep, it was me. (Points the stick to himself, as well.) But ikaw nagsabi that we can do it until graduation!
Second question, who’s more horny between you two?
BAEKHYUN:
Why are you looking at me like that? It was you who always showed up at my door! (points to Chanyeol with his own hand)
CHANYEOL:
(looks at the crew) Pero siya yung palaging nangangalabit and asks for 2nd round! Aray! That’s very violent of you, B.
Akmang papaluin ni Baekhyun si Chanyeol but he never reached for the man, pero ang reaksyon para talagang pinalo niya ito.
BAEKHYUN:
Barbero! Huwag ka nga gumawa ng kwento. It was you! (Points the stick to Chanyeol)
CHANYEOL:
(Surrenders) To protect his image, sige na nga, ako na lang.
Both drink from their glass. Naalala pa ni Baekhyun na nainitan siya because of that question. Nahihiya na siya, he squints at Jongdae who looks like he’s having the time of his life.
BAEKHYUN:
Third question, who’s the reason things get spicy 10/10 times? (Gets flustered) I’m getting worried sa pinupuntahang direksyon nito, ah.
At this point, gusto na lang ni Baekhyun maglaho kasi nahihiya na siya sa mga tanong. He made a mental note to squeeze Jongdae out of nothing after this. Ang loko, naka-okay sign pa sa kanila.
CHANYEOL:
(Laughs) Well this one is B. Everything he does just turns me on. Oh, don’t look at me like that. That was five years ago, ano ba.
BAEKHYUN:
Ugh, thanks? (Laughs and downs his drink)
Well, I have to tell you, you gotta take the credit too, Chanyeol.
CHANYEOL:
You know, you have to expound on that.
BAEKHYUN:
(Faces the crew) He’s sexy, right? Like his mind; he’s smart, sensible, nasabi ko na bang rational siya? Yep, he’s nothing but intelligent, and kind, and gwapo. Kita naman diba? Mukha pa lang it felt like nanalo ka na sa lotto.
Chaos ensued offcam. Mukhang kinilig ang lahat, Baekhyun saw Chanyeol turn red too kaya natawa siya. Baekhyun rarely throws compliments on someone so when he does, it’s actually the truth.
Then the video was cut to their fourth question, after they took a five-minute break.
They were briefed that there will be a new set of questions. Medyo nahimasmasan ng onti si Baekhyun. He hopes he stops embarrassing himself sa mga susunod na tanong.
CHANYEOL:
What’s something you’ve been wanting to do with me but ended up not having to do it?
BAEKHYUN:
(Gulps) Pwedeng mauna ka sumagot?
CHANYEOL:
(Shakes head) Eto, madaya. But fine.
I’d dreamt of having a serious relationship with you before. Kaya nga ako umamin. (Then looks at the crowd and shrugs) but he rejected me nga so we didn’t happen.
Baekhyun swears he heard audible whispers of “aww” from the people inside the room. Baekhyun smiles weakly. Well for one thing, he, too, knows the pain of having his feelings unreturned.
He was then motioned by Jongdae to proceed kasi he froze in his seat, tulala malala. But still, to make everything easy and light he cracks a joke.
BAEKHYUN:
Eto naman, it felt like I broke your heart. You laughed when I told you, we can’t diba. Ikaw talaga!
But well, for me, I wanted to keep in touch with Chanyeol when I moved to Cambridge. Kasi being friends with benefits for 3 years, naging super close naman kami. I remember I once regarded him as best friend pa nga kasi we’re together almost everyday. Pillow talk nga namin ‘yung mga kinaiinisan naming mga tao, including you, Jongdae (points to the man), akala mo. But yeah, I got busy and I thought he also had more important things to prioritize, so ayun.
CHANYEOL:
(Barges in Baekhyun’s frame) Oh diba, he just assumed. But never asked me if I’m busy or not. Alam mo, I’d make time for you, best friend.
BAEKHYUN:
(Pushes Chanyeol’s face away from his frame) Huwag kang magulo! Ha?
One from the crew raised her hand for a follow-up question. It was allowed by Jongdae. Again, another deviation from the usual format of the segment. The question raised was why did he say no daw.
BAEKHYUN:
I already had my life planned out by the time I entered college. Pre-Med, then I’d take Med sa Harvard, ayan. So having a serious relationship is not in my priority list that time. The set up with Chanyeol is actually the only spontaneous decision I’ve had. I have J in my MBTI, so I always go with a plan talaga.
CHANYEOL:
In short, ako yung fun-fun lang in B’s life (Laughs)
BAEKHYUN:
Ssh, don’t say that. Best friend nga ‘di ba? Don’t tell me you haven’t moved on? Sapakin kita ‘dyan. Ay wait, you had a crush on someone, 2nd year ‘di ba? (Faces the crowd) He confessed he liked me sem-ender ng 1st year 2nd sem. Tapos comes 2nd year 1st sem, may nagustuhan na siyang iba.
CHANYEOL:
Sino? I can’t remember.
BAEKHYUN:
Hala! Yung upperclassman niyo, si Kuya Minseok! But apparently, (faces the group of staff again) this Kuya Minseok likes no other than Jongdae!
The room lit up in an explosive laughter. Plot twist kumbaga.
CHANYEOL:
Ah! That was ages ago.
BAEKHYUN:
Yeah? (Disbelieving) You got sad and mope-y when we heard na MU na sila kaya. (Whispers to the front) Naglasing siya ‘nun, he wept all night when we’re just drinking wine!
CHANYEOL:
Oh, shut up! That’s not how it happened! We drank kasi na-senti ka that Jongdae is, what you call it, “nagbibinata na”!
Baekhyun giggles as Jongdae breaks out of his character and reacts to it. Something along the lines of, “Wow nagbibinata?! Baekhyun, talaga ba?” And that earned another round of boisterous laughter from the group. Then Jongdae says, “next question na!” kasi siya na ang hina-hotseat ng crew niya.
BAEKHYUN:
What part of me do you find the hardest to resist?
CHANYEOL:
You asked me to answer first kanina diba? Quid pro quo, baby. It’s your turn.
BAEKHYUN:
Eh? (Drinks from his shot glass) Sige na nga. We’re even na.
Jongdae also knew this.
CHANYEOL:
Ano? You’re talking about my body with Jongdae, bakit?!
BAEKHYUN:
Oh, si bintang! Let me finish kasi!
CHANYEOL:
Was that how you understood din? (Asks the crew in front)
BAEKHYUN:
Ssh, let me talk. Isa!
Jongdae also knew, kasi we’re all from UP Baguio, diba. So iisang bundok lang naman yung campus, magkakakilala lahat.
Anyway, what I’m saying is laman ng UPB Crushes na FB page dati itong si kuya mo. Maganda rin katawan at a very young age. (Laughs kasi Chanyeol flexes both of his arms)
CHANYEOL:
Ah, so you like my body, but not me?
BAEKHYUN:
Am I gonna talk o ano? Basta, maganda katawan ni Chanyeol. Masarap. Interpret it how like, go ahead.
Baekhyun hears some audible splutters. Probably some were drinking then they heard him say masarap si Chanyeol nonchalantly. Some even snorted, including Jongdae.
CHANYEOL:
So ano nga? Which part do you like nga.
BAEKHYUN:
Lahat nga! (Looks in front) This is what he loves. You have to rub it in his face. Explicit.
CHANYEOL:
(Shrugs) Parang lugi ka pa ah. Just say you always loved my abs then go!
Baekhyun just rolls his eyes making Chanyeol laugh. Kung tumawa pa naman ang lalaki sa una lang may sound then mawawala na. Bakehyun fondly watches Chanyeol do his thing and downs his drink. Then the video cuts to when Chanyeol has calmed down and made instructions to Baekhyun which the latter gullibly obliged to.
CHANYEOL:
As for me, B can you show them your elbows? Ayan. It’s pinkish. (Says matter-of-factly) Then observe his eyelids, the tip of his nose, and his lips. Pinkish din ano? Even his ears, fingers and toes. Now imagine ano pa ang pinkish sa kanya.
Namula si Baekhyun nang maintindihan ang sinasabi ng kaharap. Maging ang mga crew na kasama ni Jongdae ay naasiwa rin. The room feels warm instantly.
BAEKHYUN:
Siraulo ka, maba-block ng MTRCB ‘tong video natin. Sayang effort! Oh my god!
CHANYEOL:
(Asks Jongdae)
It’s what the segment is all about ‘di ba?
Baekhyun hears Jongdae’s crisp laugh as a response. But Baekhyun is shooting death glares sa katabi na umiinom sa alak niya nonchalantly. Masyadong bastos!
He has to sit there while the room combusts. He’s sure he is beet red at that moment. Good thing, they had moved on to the next question afterwards.
CHANYEOL:
What’s the hottest moment we’ve had so far?
Damn, everything, baby!
BAEKHYUN:
Okay ka lang? (Disbelieving) Andali naman i-please nito.
CHANYEOL:
I’m a simple man, B. Ang sexy kaya ni B.
BAEKHYUN:
Okay fine. I don't think I can ever win against you, diyos ko po!
But well for me, I think ‘yong last time namin. Oh bakit? Let me talk, huwag kang ano. (Laughs at Chanyeol’s big eyes)
Para kasi siyang final practicum namin sa isang subject na we have to do our best para maka-uno. It felt like that. Parang last hurrah.
CHANYEOL:
Kita mo ‘to. Tinulugan mo kaya ako that time.
BAEKHYUN:
Dude, sun’s almost out that time, pinagsasabi mo? You keep asking for more rounds until we just drop dead, gagi.
CHANYEOL:
Because it’s the last. (Shrugs)
Then a few days later, B flew to Harvard na. Tapos hindi na siya nangumusta.
(Faces Baekhyun) Kantot-kalimot, ganon?
Both laughed at Chanyeol’s comment. It was just a fond memory by now. Well for Baekhyun, Chanyeol is eternally an embodiment of what peace feels like. Of comfort. Of goodness.
The one good thing he had during college.
Leaving for Harvard never felt as fulfilling as he expected. Something felt missing. And now, he knows what.
So for the last part of the segment, it’s the “To be honest Corner” where they have to tell one thing they never got to tell the other.
Baekhyun draws a deep breath.
CHANYEOL:
I’ve been nothing but honest to B, he knows that. (Faces Baekhyun) But I’m sorry. I told myself I’d take this to my grave but I spent the last five years wondering about it.
BAEKHYUN:
Uy ano ‘yan. Bakit serious bigla?
CHANYEOL:
Hindi, (laughs) eto naman. Let me kasi baka I’ll spend the rest of my life still wondering about it or baka mabaliw na lang talaga ako.
Kasi ‘di ba I told you I liked you end ng first year natin? And I also told you I understand despite your rejection kasi, okay, I thought maybe I can keep you still if I let you keep how we did things back then.
But B, I never stopped liking you, actually I just said ‘like’ that time para hindi ka mabigla. I was actually in love with you, B. I still did kahit hanggang ng graduation natin.
So yeah! Cheers!
Baekhyun just watches Chanyeol raise his glass until he downs the liquid in it. Bottoms up.
Chanyeol’s voice is even and calm but it felt like isinigaw kay Baekhyun ‘yung mga narinig niya. They were very clear, very sincere and very true. Baekhyun doesn't have to think twice kung tama ba ang narinig niya.
Baekhyun was once again reminded how he felt with Chanyeol by his side. And Baekhyun felt happy. Genuinely, for the first time in five years.
At this point, all Baekhyn can see is Chanyeol. His fuck buddy turned the best thing he ever had when they were younger.
This time, he finally felt he made the right decision.
BAEKHYUN:
Okay, wow! What a confession, huh? All this time, may malisya pala ha, siraulo ka!
CHANYEOL:
(Laughs) Sorry. It was the easiest thing to do.
BAEKHYUN:
(Shakes head) Ang alin?
CHANYEOL:
Loving you.
Baekhyun swears he hears squeals from the crew. Even Jongdae has a creepy smile on his face. And in return, he unconsciously beams too, and looks at Chanyeol.
BAEKHYUN:
Well, you were right. It wasn’t really that hard, ano? Because Chanyeol, I’m letting you know that at one point of it all, it was never just one-sided.
Hindi naman ako manhid. I see things, hell, I feel things. But I don’t want to ruin it. If I could keep you the way I did five years ago, I couldn’t ask for more.
It was the next semester after you confessed. Ang funny, right? But I don't want to mess it up so I stayed on the sidelines and just meant to protect the bubble we were in.
But you know, I also spent the next five years after that wondering, too.
So yeah, it was nice to see you again today.
The video ended where they were face to face smiling resolutely at each other.
Two weeks after the filming, he received an imessage from Chanyeol. Nagyayaya magkape and Baekhyun gladly took the chance. He missed his friend.
So they met over coffee and had a catch up. But neither really touched the elephant in the room. Not that it was weighing them down. Nor for closure. Kasi to begin with, there were never loose ends between them.
“Kailan pala flight mo pabalik?” Baekhyun looks up at Chanyeol. Ang gwapo-gwapo pa rin niya after all this time. Five years just made him more beautiful in Baekhyun’s eyes.
“In two weeks. I still have residency and mag-start na rin ako agad. How about you, anong pinagkakaabalahan mo?”
“Well, just here and there. I haven’t found my footing. Mama told me, it’s okay and that I should take my time. But yeah, I was actually waiting for an email doon sa in-apply-an ko.”
“Whatever that is, I hope good news will come soon.” Baekhyun says and hears a ping from his phone then they say their goodbyes. Singit lang talaga itong meet up nila ni Chanyeol.
“Take care, and good luck!” were his parting words for Chanyeol saka siya sumakay sa sasakyan ng Mama niya. He was actually sent off to an errand at hinahanap na ‘yung pinapabili sa kanya.
But Baekhyun gets into the car and just sits there, smiling like an idiot at how awkward their hug was. How warm it felt. How boyish his heart suddenly became.
Seeing Chanyeol had reduced him to a highschooler na nakita ang crush from afar, diyos ko po!
So now, back to where he is seated at the airport, Baekhyun locks his phone with a pair of welling eyes. He glances at his watch and sees he only has 30 minutes to spare and feels na parang hindi niya kayang umalis ulit without doing something. So he did the first thing he thought of.
And that is to dial Chanyeol’s number.
“Hey,” he says hurriedly after the line connects. Maingay sa kabilang linya kaya hindi sigurado si Baekhyun kung narinig ni Chanyeol ang bati niya. “Hey,” he repeats , louder this time.
“B?” Baekhyun hears a shuffling sound at the other line. “Hold on.” It seems like may kausap si Chanyeol but Baekhyun can’t really make out the words. Baka ibinulsa ni Chanyeol ang phone niya so he waited pariently.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Baekhyun hears the worry in Chanyeol’s voice. “Isn’t your flight today?”
“Yep, but andito pa ako sa gate. Twenty-five minutes pa.”
“Okay, good.” The warmth in Chanyeol’s voice makes something deep within Baekhyun unclench.
“I just called kasi wala lang.” Baekhyun laughs and Chanyeol does the same. “Okay fine, I called to tell you I’m keeping in touch with you. Okay lang ba?”
“No need,” Baekhyun hears his heart break a little.
“Bakit?” Garalgal ang boses na sagot niya. Hindi niya in-expect ang sagot ni Chanyeol na ‘yun. So ‘yung nangingilid niyang luha kanina bumabadya ulit na pumatak. And he feels na may tumabi sa kanya sa kinauupuan niya kaya umiwas siya para takpan ang mukha niya.
“Oh bakit ka umiiyak?” He hears it loud and clear at the end of the line. Pero narinig niya rin iyon sa tabi niya. And when looks up, there he sees Chanyeol grinning like a sun.
“What are you doing here?” He asks in a small voice. At ‘yun na nga. Tuluyan nang tumulo ‘yung mga pinipigilan niyang luha na agad niya ring pinunasan. Pinatay na rin niya ang tawag kasi kaharap naman na niya ‘yung taong gusto niyang makausap.
“Eh, I wanted to see you before you go.” Kibit-balikat na tugon ni Chanyeol, nakaharap lang ito sa kanya. “Stop crying, mamaya sabihin nila pinapaiyak kita.”
“Which is very true naman,” Baekhyun shoots back, natatawa pa habang tinutuyo ang mukha niya. “How did you even get here? Don’t tell me you bought a ticket? Sapakin kita ‘dyan.”
And true enough, iwinagayway ng lalaki sa harap niya ang ticket. “No way,” Baekhyun says, disbelieving. “Magastos ka for someone na walang work.”
“If I could get to see you even for just a minute, I’ll take it.” And there it is, the erratic beating of Baekhyun’s heart in his chest. He swears Chanyeol could hear it too.
“Huwag kang pa-fall. Matagal-tagal pa ako sa Massachusetts.” Baekhyun sniffs, para kasing iiyak ulit siya eh.
“It’s okay. I’ll be here to catch you.” Chanyeol chuckles and leans closer to Baekhyun. “I’ll be here to be with you. Sasama ako, akala mo.”
“Weh?” Pasigaw na react ni Baekhyun, nanlaki pa ang singkit niyang mga mata. “Be serious, isusumbong kita kay Tita.”
Chanyeol’s phone plops down on his lap as a response. “Tawagan mo pa nga si Mama ngayon eh.”
But Baekhyun didn’t move. He just basked on the feeling na kasama niya si Chanyeol ngayon.
Baekhyun is not fond of airports. Airports sound sad for him. Kasi more than those tourists na excited sa kanilang byahe, mas marami pa rin ‘yung mga nagpapaalaman sa isa’t-isa. Halos lahat ay babalik naman, pero mayroon pa ring mga hindi na. Saying goodbye is Baekhyun’s least favorite. He never wanted to do it actually. Kaya hindi na siya nagpahatid sa Mama niya. Mapilit lang talaga si Jongdae kanina. But this, this moment could be Baekhyun’s favorite memory.
“Saan nga punta mo?” Baekhyun asks.
“Kung saan nga punta mo.” Chanyeol answers.
“Parang ewan. And what are you gonna do in Cambridge naman?”
“Remember the email that I was waiting for? It was an acceptance letter to Harvard. Ano, akala mo ikaw lang magaling?” Baekhyun felt an arm behind him, at the backrest of the bench they’re sitting on.
“Oh eh bakit ayaw mo na akong friend? Sabi mo ‘no need’,” for good measure, ginaya niya pa how Chanyeol did it awhile ago. Natawa tuloy ang lalaki.
“Kasi we’ll keep seeing each other everyday, why do you have to do that pa. Oh you’ll be sick of me,” Baekhyun feels Chanyeol nuzzle in his hair. At hindi pa nakontento, humalik pa sa sentido niya.
“Oh eh bakit ang lapit mo? I remember you have not asked me anything and I never told you anything yet either.”
“Ang damot!” Chanyeol mutters but moves a bit, still hindi pa rin kasya ang holy spirit sa gitna nila. Then softer, “I just don’t want to waste anymore of my life not having you. Tama na ‘yung five years. Kung ayaw mo, eh ‘di wag. I still get to study at Harvard though.”
Baekhyun laughs. ‘Yung tawang malakas that he already got other people’s attention. Napatakip tuloy siya ng bibig afterwards. “Ganyan ba ha? How sure are you na I’ll accept you ha? Ang tapang mo na ah.”
Both chuckles yet deep inside them, alam na nila ang sagot. Baekhyun feels Chanyeol’s hand on his. He looks up to him and smiles. “Boyfriend na kita ha. Bawal maling sagot. It should have been eight years ago. Ang arte-arte pa. Oh ano, sa akin lang din bagsak mo.”
Baekhyun laughs again. Indeed love is easy after all. “Oo na nga,” he answers. “Andami pang sinasabi.”
A minute later boarding begins. Sabay silang tumayo at hawak-kamay pumasok ng eroplano.
The last time, Baekhyun walked away and Chanyeol remained behind, their paths splitting like two drifting stars. But now, side by side, they choose the same sky. And it no longer felt like leaving for Baekhyun. But rather a beginning of something they were always meant to share.