Chapter Text
"Break na kami."
Kaito spat out their Mango Shake, Fruitas to have been specific. The rest of the workers in the room couldn't have believed it.
"Seryoso ka?!" Juno asked in surprise. "Akala ko kay Elias ka lang!"
Fio was slightly less surprised. "Iyan kasi. Kaka-Genshin mo yan, tol!" she hit Kylo's back.
"Aray, ano ba?! Hindi kasi.." Kylo tried to find the correct words, "Mahirap kasing i-explain.."
The concept of Kylo even breaking up or falling out of love with Elias was impossible to think about. Kylo was head over heels for that boatman, and he let everyone be subjected to his rants and dreams regarding him. Many, Bow in particular, had grown tired of his rambles.
But ever since the start of his genshin addiction, Kylo stopped appearing to work. It was always Fio who had to tell everyone that Kylo had to stay at home.
And now, in a late at night meeting like this, it was unbelievable to hear.
"Grabe pre, may bagong topic na si Bow para sa Tiktok niya!" Klyde teased.
Lolo Coda, who sat right across the seat from Kylo, tilted his head in surprise. "So... akin na si Elias?"
"Hindi kasi!" Kylo yelled, his voice echoed in the spacious meeting room.
There was a long pause, accompanied by a soft sigh as Kylo's left hand caressed the side of his face.
"It's just... may nakikita akong bago." He glanced at Fio. "Naalala mo pa ba si.. si Flins?"
"Ano!? Si Flins?! Sa lahat ng tao, pinili mo si Flins?'
Kylo replied offended; "Na para bang ganun siyang kalala! Exagg ka, teh!"
"Si... Flins?" asked Coda. "Naku, grabe yung downgrade sa taste mo, Kylo."
Kylo gave Lolo the sharpest and most judgmental side glance he could give, but it could never compete with Coda's unbothered attitude.
"Hindi kasi Kylo, wala kaming problema kay Flins—" Kaito interrupted to talk. "Tinatanong lang namin.. bat mo ba iiwanan si Elias?"
"W.. wala lang!" he stuttered. An embarrassing look for him.
"Magkinig lang kayo muna kasi! Si Elias, mabait siya... pero hindi siya kagaya ni Flins.."
One of the 'Kai's raised an eyebrow. "Baliw.." they whispered to themself.
"Flins is nice.. siya'y—tumulong siya sa pagsisimula ng kalayaan para sa kanyang bansa! He's a gentleman.. wealthy pa siya!"
Juno muttered to Kaito from across the table. Something along the lines of 'when can we talk about sales again?' if Kaito read his lips correctly.
The influencer told him to wait, as Kylo was still talking.
"Mahal ko si Elias.. pero hindi katulad ng pagmamahal ko kay Flins."
Fio looked at him; "Kylo.. tama na.." she stared at him up and down as if she couldn't recognize her own friend anymore. "Tama na sa Genshin.."
Again, the rest of the room could not make a sound. There left nothing but silent judgment and curiosity. Kylo left his seat and quickly ran out of the building out of spite. Fio was about to chase afer him, but she was held back.
"Fio, huwag na." Juno said. "It's better to leave him alone until he's fine."
Kaito stood up from their seat. "Tama si Juno. Guys, lahat kayo—" they clapped twice to grab everyone's attention "—go back to your cubicles and continue what you were doing a while ago. Bahala na si Kylo, at kung anumang ginagawa niya."
Within minutes, everyone else rushed out of the room. No one remained... no one except Coda.
Lolo Coda watched from the window as Kylo stood in the middle of the street, as if he was waiting for something to hit him. "Diyos ko... mga bata ngayon."
ding!
The downstairs doorbell rang louder than it did before.
"Ako na bahala!" alerted Kaito. With nothing else to do, Coda decided to follow him down.
Both of them quickly entered the building's elevator. Kaito, who had no time to lose, pressed the ground floor button as quickly as they could.
The elevator doors slowly closed, and it was expected for the two of them to share about 15 seconds of awkward silence.
Yet Coda broke that silence; "Nak, nakita mo si Kylo noong lumabas siya diba?"
Kaito spoke back as they checked their watch. "Hindi ako sigurado."
Lolo Coda looked at the influencer with a smile. Kaito didn't notice.
"Sayang sina Kylo at Elias, noh? Ang gwapong-gwapo ni Elias—iniwan lang siya ng batang iyan! Na para bang elibarra... hm.."
"Lolo.. hinto na tungkol kay Elias." Kaito ordered firmly. "Kylo is.. struggling right now with his relationships after all. I'm not sure if it's the correct time to be pursuing that boatman—"
"Anak, makinig ka saakin. Noong ako'y kasing-edad mo, madaming na ang mga ex ko." Coda interrupted. "Alam ko ang pakiramdam ng makipaghiwalay sa taong mahal na mahal mo noon."
Kaito looked at Coda thoughtfully, fully expecting him to say something inspirational that could change their perspective about Kylo's current situation.
"Pero hindi ako siraulong tao, kasi siraulo lang ang maghihiwalay kay Elias!"
Kaito frowned in disappointment and slapped his face. "Akala ko naman—"
Suddenly the elevator finally opened, the thin iron doors revealing a familiar face at the front desk.
"Sir, pasensya na po! Wala ngayon yung register namin so-"
"Huwag nang mag-alala." said the man, who reeked of ocean water. His dark skin, rather muscular build, and traditional straw hat was remnant of a certain man that seemed to have on both of their minds lately. Though it finally occurred to them who he was when he took off the hat, revealing his shoulder length black hair.
"Ginoong Elias?!"
"Ako dapat ang humihingi ng tawad sa ating tatlo.. mayroon akong gustong kausapin dito." he held the hat close to his chest, and his eyes were full of genuine worry.
Lolo Coda, who was down bad, took his chances; "Alam kong masama ang tingin ni Kylo sa inyo na, pero alamin mo to. Nandito ako para sayo, pogi. Heh."
Elias couldn't help but cover his flushed face with the hat he held onto, and Kaito couldn't help but feel more than just embarrassed.
"Hinto.. wala dito si Kylo?" the two workers suddenly turned anxious.
"Saan siya napunta? Kailangan kong mag-usap sa kanya—"
Without a second thought, Kaito pointed to the streets. Immediately did Elias run to find his dearest. With nothing else to do, Kaito and Coda chased after him.
"SHET, UMUULAN!" yelled out Coda, who did not bring an umbrella.
Kaito, who did the same, started to unbutton their suit's jacket. "HETO LOLO, GAMITIN MO TO PARA HINDI KA MABABASA!!"
"SALAMAT NAK, IKAW NA YUNG PABORITO KONG APO!"
"SINO BA TALAGA?! AKO O SI KLYDE??"
"SINO?"
"Kylo, are you okay?" said the tall figure, moving his violet blue hair strand away from his face and behind his ear. "What's wrong, my dear?"
Kylo stuck to his phone, continuously playing Genshin. It was only now he noticed that there was rain, for he had become too glued to his screen.
The two of them were standing on the side walk, and Flins, being the gentleman he was, carried an umbrella for the both of them.
"My dear, it's getting late. I enjoy our time together but you need to rest. Please, let me escort you to your neighborhood."
The rain poured harded that it usually did in such a country, it felt... unexpected.
"Wait. I'm almost done finishing this quest..."
The sound of puddled footsteps in the semi flooded road grew nearer and nearer. It was as if Kylo's name was echoing in the streets. It was like a familiar voice was the one speaking as well.
Kylo.. hinto..
Maygustong akong sabihin sayo..
Kylo..
Ky..
"Kylo!"
Finally, the sound was enough for Kylo to shy away from his phone.
Elias.
The two were a mile away from the other, maintaining eye contact. Elias was standing in the middle of the road dumbfounded.
"...Who is that? Do you recognize him?" Flins asked unfamiliar.
Elias looked desperate. As if he was urging Kylo to reply with 'yes'.
It seemed unclear, as everything else started to blur within his vision, but Kylo could recognize at least two of his co-workers chasing after Elias.
"My dear, what is going on?"
...
Kylo finally replied back; "I'm not sure who they are. Let's just go."
With that, Kylo and Flins walked away, leaving behind a devastated Elias in the middle of the pouring rain.
Coda and Kaito could only stare in shock; Kaito, because they couldn't believe Kylo would ever dismiss Elias, and Coda because he couldn't ever imagine rejecting someone as fine as Elias