Chapter Text
.
.
.
Rizal and Alejandrino were having a nice day out with their daughter.
If you didn't know what their situation was, you'd think they're a perfect little family. Two relatively young men with their happy toddler. The bond of the family was plain to see. But not everything is what they seemed. They were just two friends who happen to really work well together.
It's been a while since they were able to have a happy moment as a family unit. Pepé's writing career has taken off, and he had just started his private practice. A clinic established with the funds from his published works. Then there was all the seminars, interviews. It was a lot. Times like these were precious. Time with his daughter, seeing her grow. Time with one of his dearest friends and co-parent. Waiting to hear how his life was going.
Pepé knew his friend well. Being friends for years, living together for a good while, having intimate dalliances that led to having a daughter together... He knew more than most. He could tell something was on José's mind. He didn't look as distressed as he did the other day. Even had a bit of a glow about him. He also knows that whatever the hell was going on, the man needed to talk about it or else he'll end up overthinking. As he tends to do.
"You seem happy." Pepé smirked as he looked at José.
"Do I?" José shifts the way he held their daughter in his arms.
"Yes. But very distracted. Kanina pa. May ikukwento ka ba sa akin?" Pepé nudged his shoulder with his. "Come on. Tell me."
"Tsismoso ka parin talaga, ano?"
"Don't be stingy. Kwento na. I can tell something happened sa apartment ninyo. The tension the other day was thicker than Selong's mustache. SPILL. Bati na ba kayo?"
"Hay!" José makes frustrated noises. "Oo. Hindi ko nga alam kung masaya ba ako. Ang alam ko lang... Magulo."
"Okay? So bati na naman pala kayo ni Antonio. Ano pa ba ang magulo? Hmm?" Pepé had a theory. But one musn't be so presumptous.
"Kasi..."
"Oh my god MIKI. Spit it out already. You're killing me here."
"Gago. Bawal ka pang mamatay! Maliit pa yung anak natin."
"Yeah. I'm also too young and too pretty to die. But I'm too old din to wait for you to tell me what happened already. MY GOD."
"FINE!!!"
Little Esperia's eyes widened at the outburst. Pepé coos at her and kisses the top of her head. José held her closer and murmured little reassurances.
"Nagugulat sa'yo yung bata. Hindi sanay na ikaw yung hindi kalmado." Pepé snickered.
"Sorry." José sighed. "Alright. I'll tell you what actually happened. I'm still processing it all, okay."
"I'm listening."
"So alam ko namang napansin mong hindi kami ayos ni Tunying nung dumalaw ka. Kasi mga ilang araw bago yun...hinalikan niya ako. Wala siyang sinabi pagkatapos kung hindi 'magandang gabi'. Bumalik lang siya ng kwarto niya."
"Okayyyyy." Pepé was actually expecting some sort of feelings related drama, or some tension. But he didn't think they actually kissed. "Jerk move on his part to leave you hanging like that. Kilala ka naman niya eh. Hindi ayos sa iyo na iwan sa ere ng ganon... Continue."
"Sobra. Ilang araw pa ang lumipas! Hindi ako makatulog ng maayos kakaisip, tapos nakikita ko siya araw-araw mula nun? Akala ko'y mababaliw na ako. Kagabi lang namin napag-usapan ng masinsinan. Sa sobrang tahimik at pa good boy niya kasi, napikon ako. Dun ko lang yata siya nasigawan ng ganun. Kahit pag inaawat ko siya sa mga aawayin niya, hindi ko siya namura at nabulyawan sa ganung extent."
Pepé's eyebrows raised and he let out a whistle. "Wow. I am both terrified at the prospect of you going off like that, and wishing I was there to witness it."
"Alam mo namang ayokong nagagalit. I feel disgusting as I recover from any kind of negative outbursts like that."
"Yeah... So what happened? What did you guys end up discussing about that kiss?"
José ponders on how much to tell. But... Perhaps it's best to say something so the air was clear when all three of them were in the same room again.
"We ended up bickering, kasi inis na inis siya. Nagseselos pala siya sa'yo. Akala niya mahal parin kita. Mahal parin naman nga kita. Pero hindi nako in-love sa'yo. Alam naman natin pareho yan. Akala ko alam niya rin! Kaya nagalit ako lalo sa kanya. Bestfriend ko rin siya at alam niya yung pinagdaanan ko nung matapos yung ugnayan nating dalawa. Hindi naman ako magsisinungaling tungkol sa ganitong bagay."
"Yeah." Pepé nodded. Their situation wasn't typical, but their friends knew what was up. No one was pushing them to be a couple anymore, unlike the time when Esperia was just about to be born. They've already proven to every one that mattered that they're just good friends and were co-parenting peacefully. Nothing more. "Alam naman niya yun. Kaso seloso talaga si Tonio eh. Minsan nauubos na parang upos ang talino nun pag umiral ang selos o init ng ulo niya."
"Totoo..." José sighed. "Ayun na nga. Eh matapos ko siyang talakan, biglang...biglang sinabi niyang may gusto raw kasi siya sakin. Wala raw sana siyang balak aminin, kaso ito nga't nagkakabangayan na kami sa sandaling iyon."
"Wow." Pepé did see that Tunying had a soft spot for José. He didn't think it's truly blossomed towards this direction now.
"Natulala ako saglit. Kasi hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Tinanong ko siya kung sigurado ba siya."
Pepé lightly flicks José's forehead. "Ang talino mong tanga ano? Naisip mo na lahat, pwera kung ano lang ba talaga ang nandoon. Impulsive si Tonio pero hindi sa ganung bagay!"
"Aray-" José rubs the spot. "Alam ko naman yun eh. Pero I was in shock. And sa totoo lang, naiinis ako na umamin siya sa akin. I told him I wasn't gonna push him away. And I don't hate what's happening. But I need...time. Kasi alam kong magiging magulo ito."
"Magiging magulo nga ba?"
José blinks as he looks at Pepé. "What do you mean?"
"You guys are bestfriends. Maganda na na pundasyon iyon, hindi ba? You have great chemistry together, pun not intended. Ikaw ang pinaka nakakapagpakalma sa kanya pag sinasapian siya ng init ng ulo niya, samantalang siya naman eh magaling magpalabas ng tapang mo. I think you'll be good for each other."
"No."
"No?"
"Stop. I don't want it to make sense."
"But it does! And you know it!" Pepé shook his head. "You deserve to be happy, you know. And I know you like him."
"I do?"
"Sige. Anong naramdaman mo nung hinalikan ka niya? Hmm?"
"That's personal!"
"We have a child together. We've been more personal than what I'm asking." He rolls his eyes. "Now, tell me. How did you feel? What did you think about?"
José blushed. "I didn't hate it."
"So you liked it." Pepé huffed. "Then there's something there. You can't say that desire was the only foundation, because that's your bestfriend of many years. You like him as your friend, of course. But you wouldn't be so affected by that kiss and losing sleep over what it meant, if it was nothing to you."
José laughs softly. "And they say na landi lang ang natutunan ko sa'yo. If I told them I also gain wisdom..."
"Ay. Technically may koneksyon parin naman sa kalandian. Kasi I'm urging you na patulan at landiin mo na yang si Tonio. Wag mo na patagalin yan."
"Ano ba!" José shook his head. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for an actual relationship. And with him pa. Ikaw alam kong kaya nating maging magkaibigan kung matapos yung relasyon natin noon. Pero kay Tunying..."
"Sino bang nagsabi na kailangan na matapos? Hindi pa nga nag-uumpisa, yung wakas na agad ang inaalala mo. Ipirmi mo muna ang mga paa mo sa kasalukuyan bago ka tumakbo sa kinabukasan."
José hunched a little. Feeling a bit like a kid being scolded.
"Kung kami nga, kahit na naging magkaribal kami sa pag-ibig at nagkahamunan ng duelo, hindi ba magkaibigan parin kami? Believe in the Tunying that you know. Nakita na nating magmahal yan. Tapat siya."
"Takot akong sumugal eh. Sabi ko mag-aaral muna ako at magpapakatatay sa anak ko. Wala sa plano na umibig."
"Live a little, José. I think you two would be happy together."
"Kunsintidor ka talaga."
Pepé winked. "Malakas ka sakin eh."
José laughs heartily. "Let's see..."
"Ay. No. Pag-uwi mo ikaw naman yung humalik sa kanya. Wag ka nang torpe."
José rubbed his face. "Lagot ako kanila mama..."
"Don't worry. Hindi ko kayo ihahabla."
"Thanks, I guess."
"You're very welcome. Basta I support this. I think you guys should go for it." Pepé took Esperia into his arms. "Right, mi hija? You like Tio Tonio din, di ba? Mukhang magkaka third papa ka na!"
Esperia lets out a happy little giggle and pats her dad's cheek.
"Dinamay mo pa yung bata."
"She agrees with me. I'll take her back home to her grandparents, and umuwi ka na to secure a new potential father for her. Yan ang homework mo."
"Homework amputragis..."
"Shhh. Be a good boy and make me proud."
"I hate you." José scoffs and shook his head at his friend's antics.
"You love me.~"
José huffs. "Yeah, I do love you."
"Love din naman kita, José." Pepé leans over to kiss him on the cheek. Smiling at him tenderly. "Pero now you should go home at hayaan mo na yung sarili mong ibigin si Antonio."
José nods quietly. "I'll see how it goes."
Pepé smiled brightly at José. "You better."
There was a small pang in his chest as they parted ways for the day, but he also felt lighter. Much lighter than he had for a good while.
He loved José, but it never went deep enough. Attraction and desire can only carry a relationship so far. They both agreed that they were a better fit as friends. Time proved that they were right. He couldn't love José the way that he deserves, but he was sure Antonio was up to the task. Tonio loved fiercely. Passionately. He would be in very good hands.
A chapter has finally closed, hasn't it? He looks forward to seeing this new chapter in his friend's life. May it be a happy and fruitful one.
.
.
.
.
.