3

Nanonood ako ng TV dahil sa sobrang bored. Wala rin kasi akong magawa rito sa dorm. Si Adrian kasi wala rin.

vinceledesma: Jace?

Napangiti ako nang makita ang chat ni Sky. Sa wakas!

jaceaugustin: Hi Sky!

vinceledesma: So do you want to know some things about Lux?

jaceaugustin: Oo

vinceledesma: Lux is a really nice person. Mukha siyang strikto pero ayaw niya lang talagang makadisappoint ng tao.

Napanguso ako. That explains his bossy attitude.

jaceaugustin: Mukha nga, ang sungit sa practice eh

vinceledesma: 'Di siya masungit. Talagang ayaw nyang may nagkakamali. He's not perfectionist tho. From what I know, may taong ayaw niyang madisappoint.

jaceaugustin: Sino? Mama niya?

vinceledesma: I also don't know. He never tells us family problems. Kay Gio, Nic, at Sam lang.

jaceaugustin: Ahh.. nga pala, may girlfriend ba siya?

vinceledesma: Wala, if meron dapat di na kita tinulungan.

jaceaugustin: Sabi ko nga

vinceledesma: Gtg, may gagawin pa akong thesis. Chat you later!

jaceaugustin: Ahh sige goodluck!

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang malaman ko na single pala si Lux. So may chance pala kami. Charot, 'di nga ako gusto nun eh. Humiga nalang ako sa kama at nag-isip isip. What if may ibang gusto si Lux? Pa'no naman ako. Char. Matutulog na sana ako pero may halimaw na biglang pumasok sa kwarto.

"Hindi ka ba marunong kumatok?!" sigaw ko.

"Ay sorry!" tumawa siya ng malakas. 

"Ano ba kasi?!" Iritang sabi ko.

"May practice daw sabi ni Lux." Aniya kaya napatayo ako agad.

"Ha?! Kailan?! Anong oras?! Ngayon na ba?!" sunod-sunod na tanong ko.

"Mamaya pa 1:30! Ikaw ha obvious na namiss mo agad siya!" Tumawa nanaman ang g*go.

Inirapan ko lang siya at humiga ulit sa kama. Hindi ko talaga alam bakit pumayag akong iisa kami ng dorm nitong ni Adrian. Nakakabw*set naman kasi to eh! Inaantok naman ako kaya natulog nalang ako para may energy ako mamaya. Ayokong masermonan ako ni Lux. Nakakahiya.

Nakagising ako dahil bigla akong nagutom. Tinignan ko muna kung anong oras na. SHUTA 3:22 NA! G*GO LATE NA AKO. Dali dali akong tumayo at nagbihis. Nagulat naman ako nang biglag sumulpot si Drian. Mukhang kalmado si g*go ahh.

"Hoy! Diba may practice? Tapos na?" Tanong ko.

"Ahh, oo tapos na," Aniya.

"G*go! Ba't 'di mo'ko ginising!?" Hinampas ko siya ng damit.

"Gago joke lang! Walang practice may emergency raw si Lux." Tumawa lang siya ng malakas.

"T*ngina mo talaga!" naiinis na ako sakaniya.

"Since nakabihis ka naman, arat punta tayo ng BGC. Inimbita ako ni Zayn kaya dalian mo!" aniya.

"Ang lakas mo naman sa Lasallian na 'yon ahh." umupo ako sa kama.

"Syempre! Crush ko 'yon eh! Kaya tara na!" hinila niya ako palabas. 

Grabe naman 'to makahila, buti nalang nadala ko phone at wallet ko. Excited makita yung Lasallian, putek. 

Pagdating namin dun, puro Lasallian lang naroon. Nakaka-op pero since napaka friendly nitong ni Drian, 'di na ako na-op kasi kinakausap naman kami ng Lasallians. Mostly na kumausap sa'kin is si Sky kaya medyo okay na ako. Mamaya-maya, may dumating na lalaki. Si Lux 'yon.

"Bro, bakit ngayon ka lang?" Tanong ni Zed.

"I needed to go home in Katipunan, may emergency." ani Lux.

"Anong ba'ng nangyari?" tanong ni Gio.

"Uh.. wala. Tara na," sagot niya sabay tingin sa'kin pero mukhang walang pakealam.

Nag-ikot kami sa BGC at bumili ng kung ano-anong pagkain. 'Di ko mapigilan na tumingin kay Lux. Mukhang wala sa mood kaya napasimangot ako. Ano kayang nangyari? 

"Jace! Come here, may ipapakita ako." tinawag ako ni Sky kaya pinuntahan ko siya.

"Moon? Anong gagawin ko sa moon necklace na 'yan?" kumunot ang noo ko at tinignan siya.

"I'll buy it, but ibigay mo kay Lux. He loves the moon." ngumiti siya at binili na nga ang necklace.

"G*go? 1,420 pesos 'yan? Babayaran nalang kita!" sabi ko.

"No need, that's my treat. Just don't tell Lux na ako bumili." ngumiti lang sya.

Napanguso nalang ako at tumango, bumalik na kami sa grupo at nagikot-ikot ulit hanggang sa nakita nila 'yong bar na may arcade ata. Pumasok sila dun kaya sumunod nalang ako. Hindi naman ako mahilig uminom, bakit andito ako?

"Guys, dun tayo sa usual spot." Lux said. 

Usual spot? Lagi silang pumupunta dito?

"What do you guys want to drink? My treat." ani Ash at ngumiti.

"Order ka ng isang BL, 'di tayo puwedeng malasing, andito sila Drian." sagot naman ni Zed.

"Okay, one Black Label coming right up!" sabi ni Ash at umorder na ng Black Label.

"I'll be at the arcade." sabi ni Lux at pumunta sa arcade.

"Same," saad din naman ni Nic.

"Sama ako-" sabi ko pero nauna na sila.

Napasimangot nalang ako at mukhang napansin ni Sky kaya kinausap niya nalang ako habang si Drian, nakikipaglandian kay Zayne.

Luxury's P.O.V

"Bro, bakit ngayon ka lang?" Tanong ni Zed.

"I needed to go home in Katipunan, may emergency." sagot ko.

"Ano ba'ng nangyari?" tanong naman ni Gio.

"Uh.. wala. Tara na." sabi ko at tumingin kay Jace pero iniwasan ko namang agad.

"Mag-ikot ikot muna tayo, hanap tayo ng pagkain, nagugutom ako." sabi ni Zed.

"Lagi ka namang gutom," Sky replied which made Zed scoff.

"At least healthy no!" Inirapan lang nga si Sky at nauna nang maglakad.

I didn't mind them since I was feeling uneasy. I couldn't forget what happened earlier. While they were talking, I was spacing out. Nago-overthink ako sa sitwasyon ngayon. What if I agree..?

"Hey, you okay?" Nic tapped my shoulder.

"Huh? Oh.. Yeah I'm fine." I replied.

"Sure?" He really assured.

I just nodded and smiled so he won't worry. Nic, I'm not fine.

Nag-ikot ikot kami para kumain. I didn't eat a lot. Wala akong gana, pero I still ate the food they bought for me kasi sayang. Habang naglalakad, I heard Sky calling for Jace kaya napalingon ako. I'm sure 'di napansin ni Jace na lumingon ako.

"Jace! Come here, may ipapakita ako."

Lumapit naman sakaniya si Jace. I acted normal. I just continued to overthink. While waiting for them, I thought of things that happened earlier. 'Di ko matanggal sa isipan ko eh.

<3 hours ago>

"Anong nangyari kay mommy!?" Sigaw ko.

"She just fainted—" Tito Vito said.

"Just? Just fainted?! Do you think it's just a normal situation?! Bakit hindi mo siya dinala sa hospital?!" I yelled once again.

"Calm down. There's nothing to worry about, your mom's safe." He calmly replied.

"F*ck? Pa'no ako kakalma kung hindi mo maalagaan ng mabuti 'yong nanay ko?! We need to take her to the hospital to know what's wrong! Mahirap bang gawin 'yon? Tito, you're the f*cking husband but why can't you do something right for my mom?!" Lalo akong nagalit sa pagiging kalmado niya.

"Kuya calm down please..." pinapakalma ako ni Pat.

"Fine. Let's take her to the hospital." He finally agreed.

"If there's something wrong about mom's health. Ikaw mismo ang sisisihin ko." I threatened him.

I aggressively went out the house and waited for them. Sa kotse na ako naghintay dahil susunod lang naman ako. After a while, dumating na kami sa hospital and ginawa ba rin ang tests for mom.

"So? What seems to be the problem, Doc?" Tanong ni tito.

"Vito, you're wife has cancer..." Ani Doc na mukhang malungkot.

"What kind?" Tanong uli ni Tito.

"One of the common cancer, brain tumor. If you want to make your wife better, I suggest a surgery." Sagot ni Doc.

Tumingin ako kay mom at pinigilang umiyak. Hindi 'to puwede. Hindi pa puwedeng mamatay si mom... Lumingon naman ako kay Pat na umiyak na. I just hugged her tight.

"Doc.. A-ayaw ko ng surgery. Wala na bang ibang paraan?" Tanong ni mom.

"Well, it doesn't really work to all people, but chemotherapy might help." Sagot ni Doc.

"Ayaw ko doc.. 'Di naman gagana sa'kin 'yang chemo." Mom smiled sadly.

"Then you have to undergo surgery. I know a very great surgeon in Australia. He's also Filipino." 

"We'll take him." Sabi ni Tito Vito.

Inis na inis ako pero 'di na ako umimik. Magkakagulo pa eh. Pag-labas namin ng clinic, I just hugged mom at umalis na. Wala akong oras na mainis o gumawa ng eksena sa ospital. This is all my fault... I was never there for mom.

"Bro? Ayos ka lang?" tanong ni Ash.

"Huh? uh.. yeah, I'm fine." napakamot nalang ako ng ulo.

"Nako, Lux. I know you. Anong problema?" nakisali na si Gio.

"It's a family matter." sagot ko.

Tumango nalang sila at 'di na nagtanong. They know I hate it when someone asks me about my family. Nang makabalik na sila Sky, nag-ikot ikot kami ulit hanggang sa nakarating kami sa barcade. Wala masyadong tao kaya okay 'yon. 

"Guys, dun tayo sa usual spot." sabi ko sabay turo sa table na malapit sa arcade.

Pumunta ako dun at sumunod naman sila. 

"What do you guys want to drink? My treat." Ash said as he took his wallet.

"Order ka ng isang BL, 'di tayo puwedeng malasing, andito sila Drian." Zed replied.

"Okay, one Black Label coming right up!" Ash went to the bartender to order a bottle of BL.

Nabobored ako kaya tumayo ako. I want to play some games so I can forget of some things right now. Nakakapagod mag-isip na ikakastress ko rin.

"I'll be at the arcade." I told them and went straight to the arcade.

I walked around to find a game to play. I chose table hockey but I remembered wala akong kalaro so I decided to go back. 

"Where you going?" nakasalubong ko si Nic.

"Aren't you gonna play? Tara, table hockey." he continued.

I just smiled and went to play with him. I played blue and he played red. the first round, I won and the second round, he won. We're up to the third round.

"So, what's up? You look so down since kanina." He stated while we were playing.

"Everything's fine." I replied.

"Really huh?" he said and beated me.

I just sighed and stopped playing. I took a chair and sat down. I looked at Nic and told him everything about my situation. Besides Gio and Sam, Nic knows me so well. I couldn't keep my problems from him since he knows me too well.

We went back the table and took the glasses already filled with Black Label. I chugged it continuously and sat down.

"Sa'n ka galing?" tumabi sa'kin si Jace.

"I played with Nic." Tumingin ako sakaniya.

"Anong laro?" tanong nya ulit.

"Table Hockey," simpleng sagot ko.

Tumango nalang siya at sumandal sa balikat ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganun pero I felt something inside my stomach. Para akong kinikiliti... 'yon ngalang, parang kinikiliti sa kilig. I glanced at him and smiled. I just let him lean on my shoulder while I'm busy drinking.

"Lux, may sinend ako." Adrian said as I quickly checked my phone.

Meron nga siyang sinend. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman pero pinipigilan kong ngumiti. Tinignan ko si Drian ng masama at lalo naman siyang napatawa.

"What the f*ck is this Adrian?" tanong ko.

"Picture! Pero aminin mo, nagustuhan mo. Namumula ka kaya!" Sabi niya.

"F*ck you." nainis ako sa pang-aasar niya. Lux! Ano ba?! Bakit ka namumula?!

Naramdaman kong tumingin si Jace sa'kin na naging dahilan para lalong uminit ang pisngi ko. Napatayo nalang ako at akmang aalis pero may nakita akong sobrang pamilyar. It was Cole, my bestfriend.

Nung nakita niya ako, napangiti siya at agad na lumapit sa table namin. Niyakap ko siya since it's been 2 years ever since na nagkita kami. 

"Lux! How are you?" he asked.

"I'm doing fine. Ikaw?" I replied with a smile.

"I'm also good," he smiled. "Oh yeah, I'm with my friends, can we join?" he continued and we just nodded.

He called out his friends and I saw someone familiar. I'm sure napansin rin siya ni Jace at Drian.

"Guys, these are my friends, this is Mat, Fellicia, and Echo." He introduced them to us.

"Fellicia?!" napasigaw kami ni Jace at Adrian.

"Hi Lux, Hi Drian, Hi Jace... kamusta?" she asked awkwardly.

Fellicia Gray Sebastian, Flurry's twin. And yep, magkaiba sila ng school. Fellicia's Atenean, while Flurry's Thomasian. They have different dream schools kasi. 

"Ayos naman kami, ikaw ba? Ngayon ka lang namin nakita ulit ah!" ani Adrian, it's true though.

"I couldn't hang out with you guys. I had to do a lot of projects since Business Management kinuha ko, plus I always have my practice for cheer dance. Actually, I had to stay in my condo in Katipunan everyday. Wala na ako sa Dapitan, I moved to Katipunan so I could go to school early." She explained.

"Grabe, wala kang pinagbago. Ang pangit mo parin, joke!" tumawa si Adrian nang asarin niya si Felli.

"Ikaw rin, wala kang pinagbago. Mukha ka paring unggoy!" bawi ni Fellicia kaya napatawa ako.

Tumingin lang sa'kin ng masama si Adrian kaya lalo akong napatawa. Oo nga naman, mukha parin siyang unggoy. Joke.

"Fellicia? Umiinom ka pala?" Tanong naman ni Jace.

"Yeah, but 3 to 4 shots lang." ngumiti si Felli.

"Take a drink then." I said.

Umupo na rin naman silang lahat kaya nagsimula na yung kuwentuhan. After an hour, napagisipan na naming umuwi. Cole asked me if puwedeng sumabay sa'kin since may pupuntahan pa raw si Mat at Echo. 

"You really got your dream car huh?" Cole smiled.

"Yeah, Dad gave it," I smiled.

"Which dad?" Cole suddenly ask which made the others looked at me curiously.

"M-my real dad." I stuttered.

"Oh.. nag-uusap pa pala kayo ni tito?" he asked once again.

"Yeah, he's my dad after all. Plus, he helps me financially." I answered.

Napatango nalang siya while I continued driving carefully. I dropped Jace and Adrian first sa España, I dropped Cole and Fellicia in Katipunan. After that, I drove off to Quezon City. My Dad lives there. My real father.

Nang makarating ako, binati ako ni manang Elsa. Pumasok na rin ako sa loob and nakita si Dad sa kitchen, I guess he's cooking for dinner. When he turned around, he saw me and smiled widely. Agad siyang pumunta sa'kin at niyakap ako.

"I thought you wouldn't come," aniya.

"You know I always come," I just smiled.

"Lux! You're already here," binati ako ni Tita Marian at niyakap ako.

Tita Marian is my father's new wife. They already have two kids. Chloe and Justin. My younger siblings.

"Wait hon, masusunog na 'yong niluluto ko, I'll be back." ani Dad.

"So Lux? How's architecture?" Tita smiled.

Buti pa si Tita, she knows me so damn well.

"I'm doing fine. I finish them early so I won't pass late." I replied.

"That's good then. I heard you're top 1 in the Dean's list. We should celebrate!" She said happily.

I just chuckled and sat down. Tita Marian was always my second mother. She never treated me badly. Tinanggap niya ako and even called me her own son. I love my mom, but Tita Marian was just different.

"Mommy! Si Kuya oh!" I heard Chloe yell.

"Hay nako! What happened?" tanong ni tita.

"He won't help me with my assignment," Chloe pouted.

"Dalhin mo dito, ako na tutulong." I just smiled.

"Kuya Lux!" masayang bumaba si Chloe para yakapin ako.

"ANDYAN SI KUYA LUX?!" agad ring bumaba si Justin.

"Yes I'm here." I chuckled.

Pumunta rin siya sa'kin para yakapin ako. I ruffled his hair and patted his back.

"Justin, you should be helping Chloe, mas nakakatanda ka eh." I told him.

"Eh kuya, may ginagawa rin ako." He complained.

"If so, okay lang. Ako na tutulong." I just smiled. 

"Bago kayo gumawa ng project, halina't kakain na tayo." Sabi ni Dad at sumunod kaming lahat.

I'll be joining them tonight and sleep here since after 2 days, they'll be flying to Japan for Christmas vacation. We had our dinner and it feels different for me. It feels like kumpleto ang pamilya ko. After dinner, I helped Chloe with her project and afterwards, nagbihis na ako for bed.

I did some of my assignments muna before going to bed. I also drank milk so I could sleep properly. I already have my own room here. I planned that after I graduate, mas madalas ang pag-uwi ko dito. Siguro paminsan-minsan nalang ako sa condo. Inantok naman ako agad while doing some homeworks so I already headed to bed.

Tonight was fun... Sana lagi nalang ganito.

______________________________________

Characters I added;

Ateez Mingi as Cole

Ateez Wooyoung as Mat

ITZY's Yeji as Fellicia

TXT's Heuning Kai as Echo

ITZY's Yuna as Chloe

TXT's Beomgyu as Justin