It Has Always been You: Chapter 8- Being Themselves

                Yen knows that James and Devon are together. “The girl I told you that I like, sabi niya. Wala naman ako’ng ibang kilala na gusto niya, si Devon lang.” Her thinking was cut-off when her phone beeped. 1 text message received.

TEXT CONVO:

James: U’re really brave, try 2 convince her 2 listen 2 him? U must b hapi 2 see dem fall apart so dat u can hav Ivan.

Yen: yeah..but if dat’s wat can make him hapi, I’d still giv way.. :)

James: dat’s so u Yen.. :)

END OF TEXT CONVO

                Devon saw him smiling upon reading a text message. “Who could that be?”

Devon: Who’s that? (peeked at his phone but James kept it from her)

James: Oh, just a friend. (smiled)

Devon: Eh bakit ganyan ang ngiti mo kung friend lang?! (nakasimangot na si lola)

James: The text is funny. (pagsisinungaling niya) And why are you even bothered? Selos ka noh? (tumawa siya ng tumawa)

Devon: Ako? Magseselos? Huh! Bakit mo naman naisip ‘yon? (nakasimangot pa rin, guilty kasi eh)

James: Remember the “me,myself and I” na text mo sa’kin? (bumunghalit na talaga ng tawa ang James)

Devon: Waaah! Ikaw talaga! (Pak! Pak! Pak! pinaghahampas si James sa balikat) Ano bah? Joke lang ‘yon noh?!

James: You’re so defensive Devon.. haha

Devon: Ewan ko sa’yo! Hmpf! (nag-cross arms siya at tumingin sa labas)

James: You know what? I miss this. (smiled)

Devon: What THIS?

James: Mga ganitong pagkukulitan natin. Simula kasi nung nililigawan ka  na ni Ivan, hindi na tayo nagkakasama. Palagi kasi siya’ng dumidikit sa’yo. (batid ang pagka-irita sa tinig nito)

Devon: Oo nga eh. 1 year din iyon ah. Di biro yon..haha.. Wait. Are you jealous? (naughty smile)

James: What?! (namumula na ang tenga)

Devon: Wahahah! Namumula ang tenga.. I know you, your ears become red if you’re feeling shy or embarrassed..uuuyyyy.. nahihiya siya..haha (siya naman ngayon ang tawa ng tawa)

James: Hey, I’m not. Why should I? (tinakpan ang tenga)

Devon: ‘Wag mo takpan.. (pilit kinukuha ang kamay ni James sa tenga nito)

James: Hey, stop it Devon. Or else, I’ll kiss you. (cupped Devon’s face at inilapit ito sa mukha niya)

                It’s only an inch apart. Nabigla si Devon sa sinabi ni James, napatigil tuloy siya sa pang-aasar at natahimik. They were looking at each other’s eyes. Nang biglang  ‘Pak!’

James: Ouch! That metal hands again. (hinihimas ang braso na buong pwersang hinampas ni Devon)

Devon: Ikaw kasi eh! Kung anu-anong pinag-gagagawa mo. “Pero aaminin mo Devon , kinilig ka noh? Pero umayos ka, baka nakakalimutan mo’ng may problema ka sa boyfriend mo!”

James: At ikaw naman, kung anu-anong iniisip mo. “God! Muntik na ‘kong mabuking.”

Devon: Haaay.. It’s been a long time since I laughed like that. Thank you James! (smiled sweetly)

James: Yeah, me too. Thank you din. (smiled back) “That smile again. Tsk.tsk.tsk.”

Devon: Know what? Nagiging makulit ako kapag ikaw kasama ko. Serious kasi palagi si Ivan eh. In short, I’m only Me when I’m with you. “Shocks! Ano ba’ng nasabi mo? Halata ka na huh!”

James: Oh, I’m touched. Actually, me too, I was able to laugh so hard if I’m with you.  

Devon: Ehem! Pwede na ba tayo’ng kumain? Nagutom kasi ako kakatawa eh. (laughed)

James: Me too. (laughed)

****************************

Still at the restaurant,

Ivan: Yen, thank you so much for being there for me. You always do what you can to help me. You helped me make Devon notice me, you even helped me hand my love letters to her, you convinced her to say ‘yes’ to me, you comforted me before when April dumped me, you have done so many things for me, I don’t even know how to repay you.  (smiled and held her hands)

                Yen was startled when he held her hands. Yes, ang dami na niyang ginawa for Ivan. If he’s asking what he can give to repay her, she would say it would be his love. But she knows that she’s not the one Ivan loves.

Yen: Ivan, all I wanted was to make my friends happy, and that includes you. (smiled)

Ivan: Know what? If only I met you first, nagustuhan din kita. (smiled)

Yen: Huh? “Totoo ba narinig ko? Na there’s a possibility na mahalin din nya ako?”

                Biglang na-realized ni Ivan ang nasabi niya. He released Yen’s hands, kinamot niya nalang ang ulo niya. “What have you said dude!”

Ivan: Ah, eh, sabi ko, madaling magkakagusto ang mga lalaki sa’yo kasi ang bait mo. (smiled)

Yen: Ahh..hindi naman. (smiled shyly) “Eh bakit ikaw, hindi mo ‘ko nagustuhan?”

                Ivan took her home. When she got home, naabutan niya sina Bret at Fretzie sa sala, nagtatawanan ito.

Yen: Good evening! And why are you here? ..uuyyy.. (poked Bret)

Bret: Nah, just talking about things. (laughed)

Yen: Hmm..umamin ka  nga Fretz, nanliligaw ba toh? (umupo sa tabi ni Fretzie)

Fretzie: Ah, eh.. (looked at Bret)

Bret: Okay, yes I am. (shooked his head)

Yen: At kelan pa? (smiled at them)

Bret: I think 3 months?.. (laugh)

Yen: I knew it. Halata ka kasi eh.. well, putting that aside, did you know what happened?

Fretzie: Why? Ano nangyari?

Yen: Remember April? Ivan’s ex-girlfriend?

Bret: yeah. What about her?

Yen: She set Ivan up. She kissed him in front of Devon. She’s unreachable right now, naka-off siguro ang phone.

Fretzie: Oh my God! Kaya pala di ko siya ma-contact.

Bret: Why would she do that? They’re over so many years ago.

Yen: She said she still love Ivan and she said she wants him back. But we don’t have to worry, everything is settled now. April promised not to interfere with them anymore.

Bret: But we can’t be so sure.

Fretzie: Yeah, naaawa ako kay Devon, she doesn’t deserve this.

Bret: She will get through this, matapang si Devon.

Yen: I hope so, naaawa din ako kay Ivan, nasasaktan kasi siya eh.

                Fretzie and Bret looked at each other and smiled. They both know how Yen care so much for Ivan. Bret received a text message, it’s from James.

Bret: I better go now, we should talk about this tomorrow. Bye, goodnight! (waved and smiled)

Fretzie: Hatid ko muna siya hah. (nilingon si Yen)

Yen: Sige, goodnight Bret. Ingat. (smiled)

Bret: Okay, I will. (smiled)

                Nasa labas na sila ng kotse ni Bret, said goodnight to each other.

Bret: Don’t worry about Devon, she’s with James. (smiled)