Chapter 27: Huli na ang lahat

Harry's POV

We're inside the clinic and Joker is beside me and hindi niya ako pinapabayaan. He's here with me and siya ang nagtatakip sa mga mata ko gamit ang mainit niyang kamay for me not to see the blood on my knee.

He really does care about me and he knows how to make me calm.

"Malapit na matapos, Harry. Onti na lang. Kaya mo pa ba?" Joker asked me in a very gentle way.

"Yes. As long as hindi ko nakikita 'yung dugo, okay lang ako." I said.

Habang tinatakpan ni Joker ang mga mata ko, I heard the nurse suddenly giggled.

"Tanong ko lang... 'wag kayo mao-offend dalawa ah? Ang sweet mo kasi sa kanya, Joker. Boyfriend mo? Hihi!" the nurse asked.

Bigla akong kinabahan sa tanong ng nurse but at the same time, I was waiting for Joker to say "Yes" na boyfriend niya ako. Even the slightest amount, mga 1% na sasabihin niya na I'm his boyfriend, umaasa pa rin ako. I'm now delusional, right?

"Kasi, bagay kayong dalawa talaga! Kinikilig ako sa inyo! Dali! Secret lang natin kung mag secret on kayo!" the nurse added.

Joker was still quiet about it. He doesn't want to answer. Maybe tanga lang talaga ako since umaasa ako na he'll say yes since we're not really together. And besides, he has Ate Alaiza with him. What am I thinking? Bakit ko ba ineexpect na sasabihin ni Joker na he's inlove with me?

"Yes po. Boyfriend ko si Harry." Joker said.

Joker... just said it.

Joker just said it!

I got stunned. I was astonished. I don't know what to feel.

"Secret lang po natin, ate nurse ah? 'Wag niyo po sasabihin sa iba. Okay ba?" Joker added.

"Sure! Sa atin lang 'tong tatlo! Nakakainis! Ang sweet mo kasi sa kanya! Sana all talaga!" the nurse said and giggled. "Oh, ikaw naman, Harry, make sure na magagasgasan ka ulit para makita ko kayong dalawa dito ni Joker. Ihi na lang nagpapakilig sa akin eh. Haha! Just kidding!"

Did Joker just said that I'm his boyfriend? Even though na this may be a joke... hearing it from him... made my heart jumping for joy. As in, this was the first time that a guy did not deny me as his boyfriend in front of someone.

Joker was not even my boyfriend, but then he said it. He didn't even stutter and as in parang seryoso talaga siya. Pwede ba na maging seryoso na lang talaga? Sa ginagawa niyang 'to, mas lalo akong umaasa at mas lalo akong napapamahal sa kanya.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko since I was so happy na bigla na lang tumulo ang luha ko.

"Harry, umiiyak ka ba? Parang nababasa 'yung kamay ko eh." Joker asked.

"Ang hapdi kasi ng nilalagay na gamot sa sugat ko kaya naiiyak ako." I said.

"Nurse, okay na no?" Joker asked the nurse.

"Yes po, you can continue with your business. Don't mind me... dito na lang ako sa table ko and I'll be watching a live action BL drama! Haha! Sige na!" the nurse said.

Then, tinanggal na ni Joker ang kamay niya na nakatakip sa mga mata ko, and pinunasan niya ang mga luha na gustong lumabas sa mga mata ko. His fingers are so warm that I wanted those to touch my face everytime.

Nakatingin lang ako sa mga mata ni Joker while he's wiping my tears and thinking that this guy... if only he's not taken, I'd die for him, literally.

"Ang ganda pala talaga ng mga mata mo, Harry." Joker said and biglang pinalo palo ng nurse ang desk niya at tumitili pa kaya napatingin kami sa kanya.

"Don't mind me... Go on. Continue. Audience ako." the nurse said.

I really want to supress my feelings for Joker since kapag hinayaan ko ang sarili ko, sasabog ako. I can't let him get through yet even though nasa harap na siya ng puso ko at kumakatok. If only na maging single lang talaga si Joker, hindi ako mag dadalawang isip na makuha siya.

"Kuya Joker."

"Yes, Harry?"

"Bakit mo sinabi sa nurse na boyfriend mo ako?" I whispered.

"Ayaw mo ba?" he asked.

I want. Gustong gusto ko talaga, pero hindi ko masabi sa kanya! Nahihiya ako!

"I mean hindi naman talaga totoo at baka umasa 'yung nurse." I whispered.

"Gusto mo ba totohanin?" Joker said.

I paused for a moment and looked at him in the eyes. I really wanted to say yes, but if I do, I know that I'll be in a lot of trouble and the pain is waiting for me since we can never be together.

"Pwede natin totohanin, kung gusto mo. I'll give up everything."

"Baliw ka talaga, Kuya Joker! Maniniwala 'yung nurse niyan sa atin eh." I jokingly said.

Joker, then, messed up my hair and suddenly, someone called his name.

"Joker, are you there?"

It was Ate Alaiza and kakapasok niya lang sa clinic. She walked towards us and kinamusta niya ako.

"Okay ka na ba, Harry? Are you feeling well?" Ate Alaiza asked.

"Yes po. Thank you." I answered.

"Pwede ko ba mahiram ang boyfriend ko saglit?" she asked.

I looked at the nurse and she was stunned and nahiya ako since she thought na mag boyfriend talaga kami ni Joker so nalungkot siya.

"Yes po." I answered.

Then, Joker and Ate Alaiza went out of the clinic. Afterwards, Ace came in and sat beside me.

"Kamusta ka na, Harry?" Ace asked.

"Actually, I'm physically fine, but not mentally." I answered.

Ace looked at me and smiled.

"Don't worry, Harry. Laban lang! You still have me as your friend. And I will scold you everyday until na magising ka at magsawa ka." he said.

"Do I look so pathetic, Ace?" I asked him.

"If tatanungin mo ang opinion ko? I'd say yes. 100% walang labis walang kulang. Lahat ng stupidity that God has bestowed us, sinalo mo na." Ace answered.

Well, this friend is the one that I needed the most right now. The one that will not sugarcoat everything and the one na sasabihin ang totoo sa akin even though it will be very painful to hear.

"Anong gagawin ko?" I asked Ace.

"Okay, ano ng status ng puso mo. Tell me, sinong mas matimbang ngayon sa puso mo. Sabihin mo sa akin honestly and I'm not going to judge you... but maybe will scold you. Haha!" Ace asked.

I was afraid to tell him that mas matimbang na si Joker sa puso ko. That I'm more into him than Chester now. But I needed to tell someone since baka hindi ko na din kayanin.

"If I'd say... Joker, what will you think of me?" I answered.

Ace looked at me straight in the eyes and umiling siya.

"Sure ka na ba? Gusto mo na si Joker now?" Ace asked.

"I felt loved. I felt cared. I felt everything. Masisisi mo ba ako? He didn't even denied that he was my boyfriend when the nurse asked us when all of the guys I've been have denied me everytime. Even Chester denied me in front of you, but Joker didn't kahit hindi totoo na mag boyfriend kami." I answered.

"Parang may gusto akong sapakin, and the name is Joker! Harry, he's taken. He has a girlfriend. What are you thinking? Okay sana if he's not committed. Hahayaan kita na magkandarapa sa kanya, but then, he isn't." Ace replied.

"But, hindi ko na din mapigilan. Iba kasi ang pinapakita niya sa akin and I really can't handle it." I answered.

"How about Chester? Anong nararamdaman mo sa kanya? What did you feel when he hugged you a while ago?" Ace asked.

"I felt nothing. I felt coldness. I don't feel anything from him. Hindi man lang niya ako hinanap and buti pa si Joker, he was there. He comforted me all through out." I said.

Ace sighed and bigla niya pinalo ang sugat ko sa tuhod.

"Aray ko! Why would you do that!" I exclaimed.

"To make sure na hindi ka pa manhid." Ace answered.

"What do you mean? Paano ako magiging manhid from all of this happening? I asked.

"Chester..." Ace said calmly.

"Chester what?" I asked.

"Chester did try to find you. He looked for you everywhere." Ace said.

"Huh? Why would he do that? He doesn't even care about me anymore. Isa pa, let him have his own way." I answered.

Ace, then, showed me the text messages of him and Chester. I checked the time stamp and it was around morning and that's when I decided to go alone.

"He still cares for you, Harry. He looked for you and hindi siya umattend ng activities. He was looking for you the whole time. It's just that... nauna ka lang makita ni Joker." Ace said.

Is this true? I thought that Chester doesn't want me anymore? Akala ko ayaw niya na sa akin?

Right now, my mind is confused. Who will I choose? Si Joker ba o si Chester?

"Ace... anong gagawin ko?" I asked Ace since I really don't know what to do.

"Harry, simple lang. Let your heart take the lead. Isipin mo kung kanino ka mas magiging masaya in the long run. But right now, sa tingin mo, sino ang mas nagpapasaya sayo?" Ace asked.

"Si Joker." I answered without any doubt.

"He really took over your heart, right?" Ace asked.

"Oo, Ace. I'm so sorry." I answered.

"Don't be sorry, Harry. Hindi mo naman kasalanan. You were just looking for a love that you think you deserve. It's just that masyado lang mailap sa'yo ang pagkakataon. I can't blame you if you'll fall in love with Joker sa kung paano ka niya itreat. Any person would fall for that." Ace answered.

"I'm sorry, Ace. Nasira ko ang friendship natin tatlo with this stupid love." I said again.

"Sa totoo long, Harry, I'm the one who's supposed to say sorry. Maybe if it wasn't for me, hindi siguro magkakaganito. If hindi ko na trigger si Chester with his feelings for you, hindi tayo mage-end up sa situation na 'to." Ace answered.

"Nope, Ace. It was my fault. Matagal na ako may gusto kay Chester. It's just that I was too greedy for love. Hindi ko alam if kaya pa natin bumalik sa dati since nagkagulo-gulo na. But after this incident, hindi ko na talaga alam ang mangyayari." I said.

"Kahit ako, hindi ko na din alam talaga. Cut off the deal, Harry. I don't need that 10k sh*t. I just want our friendship to go back to the way it was. I want us three to be the same old stupid happy friends." Ace answered and he stood up but nakatalikod siya sa akin. "Whatever your decision is, I'll respect it. But don't say that I didn't warn you. If naisip mo magsuicide from all of this, hanapin mo lang ako... ako ang papatay sayo, you stupid piece sh*t! But seriously, look for me if you don't know where to go. I'll still be your friend." he said and left.

I was speechless after our conversation.

In my mind, if hindi ko pipiliin si Chester, I'll be able save our long time friendship. If pipiliin ko naman si Joker, I'll suffer the consequences.

What am I to do?

"Laban lang, Harry! Kung gusto mo makipag inuman, I'm ready!" the nurse suddenly whispered.

"No, thank you. I'm fine. I'm too tired to drink." I answered.

I smiled at the nurse and thanked her for her service for cleaning my wound and I went out of the clinic.

I tried to look for Chester since I want to talk to him.

I've decided...

I've decided to save our friendship.

Yes, I've given up on Chester already. I don't feel the same way I did before sa kanya anymore. I've already thrown it away... all my feelings. The one's that are left are my feelings for him as a friend.

Maybe... just maybe, we can still go back to the way it was. I can still reverse it habang hindi pa masyadong lumalala ang lahat.

Baka kaya pa? Baka hindi pa huli ang lahat?

I looked around the campsite, in our tent and even sa whole village but hindi ko nakita si Chester.

I tried texting him but he left his phone sa loob ng tent namin. Since I was too tired, I decided to go to the grassy patch where I can rest and look at the night sky.

Nang malapit na ako makapunta sa grassy patch, I saw Chester resting and just looking at the night sky.

Huminga ako ng malalim since kailangan ko bumwelo before I talk to him and say to cut things off. Even 'yung pagiging FuBu namin, we'll stop that as well.

Habang naglalakad ako, I heard two voices... a girl and a guy and it seems that they are fighting.

I also heard my name, that's why I became attentive. Nagtago ako sa isang puno where I can hear their conversation clearly since natunugan ko na it's all about me.

When I looked kung sino ang naguusap... it was Joker and Ate Alaiza.

"Joker! Masyado ka ng obvious!" Ate Alaiza shouted.

"Mapipigilan mo ba ako?" sagot naman ni Joker.

"Mabubuko tayo niyan! Nakikita ng ibang tao na sobrang lapit mo masyado kay Harry!" Ate Alaiza replied.

"Nakakapagod na eh. Hanggang kailan ba? Hanggang kailan tayo magpapanggap na mag partner tayo?" Joker said.

What the hell? Joker and Ate Alaiza are not really partners? It means that I have a chance... I still have a chance that Joker will love me!

I was so happy when I heard their conversation. I never felt so alive since then! It means that Joker asking me to be his boyfriend was not a joke! It was true!

I've decided now...

I'm confident...

I'll cut off my ties with Chester and we can now go back to the way it was! Wala na ako magiging problema! Wala na ako iisiping judgement! I can be with Joker without hurting someone!

I quietly walked out from the tree where I was hiding and lumapit ako patungo kay Chester where he's resting.

I sat beside him and I looked at the sky. Biglang umupo si Chester and he called my name.

"Harry..."

"Chester... may gusto ako sayong sabihin. I've decided that—" I was interrupted...

I was about to say that I don't love him anymore and to stop all of our non-sense.

But then... Chester... suddenly kissed me.

"Mahal kita, Harry. Please don't leave me." Chester whispered.

I got stunned and I didn't know what to do! This was the first time that Chester kissed me and said that he loved me... but it's too late. I have thrown away all of my feelings. And now, I love Joker more than ever.

Chester started to kiss me again but hindi na ako nakagalaw since everything went too fast.

"Harry? Chester?"

I immediately pushed Chester away from kissing me and when I looked at the person who called our names...

It was Joker and he was so shocked.

End of Chapter 27