Undying Flame (Nathan Kyle & Jhauztine Chloe Story)

Chapter 3

"Tinanong mo ba sa kanya kung ang tinatawag niyang 'priority' eh synonymous sa 'girlfriend'?" my bestfriend quizically supplied.

I love her optimism about my dilemma, but I think it won't help my situation. Kyle already has a goddamn girlfriend ang I don't have the rights to complain.

"Dawn, this isn't helping." I groaned before burying myself with one of my fluff pillows. "I feel like crying. May girlfriend na 'yong crush ko." my words coming out as a muffled sound.

She removed the pillow on my face and let herself fall beside me, my bed moving her weight. Muteness embraced us while we started at the ceiling.

"Sobrang tuwa ko pa nang naalala niya pangalan ko. Akala ko naman espesyal ako. . ." pagpapatuloy ko.

"Hindi ka naman Monde Mamon para maging espesyal sa kanya, Chloe." She jested, earning a smack to the arm.

"Kanino ka ba talaga kampi?"

She wrapped her arms around me while giggling, "Sa'yo syempre."

Nag-mistulan akong nagtatampo pero hindi ko rin napigilan ang pagtawa ko kinalaunan, "You're the worst bestfriend ever. I'm firing you."

"Huh? Ano bang sinabi ko? Sabi ko ang pangit naman nang girlfriend ni Kyle. Eww! The best ang bestfriend ko! Matalino na! Saksakan pa ng ganda!"

"Ang masasaksak lang dito ay ikaw kapag 'di mo tinigil ang 'yang pang-uuto mo." I retorted with a laugh.

"Baka naman kasi oras na para mag-move on kay Nathan Kyle na may kalyo sa puwet."

My laughter boomed through my room with what she said. That old joke about my crush's name always get me. So, she never let that one go. Every now and then, she would throw same joke in my face. In her own translation 'Kyle' in tagalog translation for her is 'Kyle-o' tunog 'kalyo'.

"But I'm serious, though. Siguro naman wala ng sense na magpaka-loka ka sa kanya ngayon alam na natin na may girlfriend na siya."

Growing up in a broken family, I questioned the true definition of love a lot. Though, my mama and papa remained friends and never remarried, I just don't get why they didn't give their relationship enough chances for it to work out.

I even start question my existence. Was I not enough of a reason to keep them together?

When I met Dawn, I clung into her like a vine and made it a mission to make her my best friend, which I became victorious. I realized that efforts and commitment are necessitated for a relationship to smooth sailed.

I guess I won't ever really understand love.

Because if fealty required, why is it that surrendering is also demanded?

For balance, maybe?

But how you would really know when to hold on and when to let go? How would you know if you're gripping too tight or too loose? How could you know if you're loving too much or inadequately or just enough?

Is there a common language for love?

"Chloe? Chloe!" my head rushed back to reality when I heard my bestfriend screaming my name. "Good God, I can hear you thinking. Give it a rest, okay? 'Diba lagi ko namang sinasabi sa'yo, na kung para sa'yo para sa'yo, kung hindi, edi patay tayo diyan."

Muli akong natawa. The stress my deep thinking brought me rolled off my body. "I'm not sure if the quote went like that."

"Bago na, hindi mo lang alam." she mocked.

"Parang kanina lang sabi mo i-push ko pa ito tapos ngayon sinasabi mong move on na. Saan ba ako lulugar?" I jabbed earning an eye roll from her.

"Ah, basta Jhauztine Chloe! 'Operation: Move on kahit hindi naging kayo' na tayo simula ngayon. Wala ng stalking sa Fäceböök at sa iba pa niyang social media accounts dahil obviously wala naman tayong napala."

I went quiet. Dawn was still going on and on about setting me up with someone, getting a new haircut, and a lot more but I was too sunk in my thoughts.

"Ikaw naman? Anong ganap sa'yo?"

Napahinto siya sa pagdadaldal saka napaupo. Alam kong kahit nakangiti siya, may lungkot na bumabalot sa pagkatao niya. I know her too much too buy this front. Kaya bago pa siya nakasagot, sinundan ko na ang sinabi ko.

"'Wag kang ngumiti-ngiti diyan na parang okay lang sa'yo ang lahat. Baka sakalin kita gamit 'tong kumot ko."

She finally revealed her true self, in a slight, sad smile. Her eyes went soft but doleful. "Well, ano pa nga ba bago sa buhay ko. Alam mo namang puno ng drama lagi, nagtataka nga ako kung bakit wala pa akong reality show."

I too sat up and smack her face with my pillow making us both giggle. But when the laughter evaporated, her voice went serious.

"Dad set me up again with a potential loser when he learned that it didn't work out with the recent one."

"Sinabi mo ba sa kanya na ayaw mo?"

Mapakla siyang natawa, "You remembered what happened to Ate when she did that, right? She ended up with a blackeye and a split lip when sge refused to marry Cairo. Baka lamayan mo ako kapag sinuway ko ang utos ng Papa."

Wala akong ibang na-i-offer kundi ang akap ko sa kanya. I wished her life isn't as shitty at this. At times, when it got really hard for her, she wished her parents' separation. So, she can break free from the chains his father coiled around her and her sister.

Naawa naman ako sa kanya. But she doesn't take pity. Ayaw na ayaw niya 'yon, baka masapak lang niya ako.

"Soon, Dawn-nut. Soon, matatapos din lahat 'yan."

She snickered. "Yeah, right. Matatapos lang ito kapag nahanap na ni Papa ang perfect asshole na mapapakasalan ko."

"Kung lalaki lang ako, hay nako, tinanan na kita." I said in attempt to make the atmosphere lighter, since we're going deeper into topic we do not want to divulge in.

"Kung lalaki lang ako at nalaman kong crush mo ako, gagawin ko lahat para maging tayo." I laughed at he witty repartee.

That relaxing day with Dawn did put some of my tensive nerves into rest. Plus, with Kyle scheduling our meeting about a week later, medyo um-okay-okay na ako.

Don't get me wrong, I still have strong feelings towards Kyle, but I'm positive that I will soon forget about him. Hindi naman ako robot na kapag sinabihan akong 'wag, titigil na agad. Feelings don't have an off botton, but when you put in extra work, soon those unreciprocated feelings will vanish.

Dawn-nut: My Chloe-bar,

kayang-kaya mo 'yan! Tandaan mo kapag tumanda, kukulubot din balat niya at mababawasan ang kagwapuhan.

Napahalakhak ako sa text na natanggap ko mula sa bestfriend ko. May meeting kasi kami ulit ni Kyle, may mga issues kasi siya sa drafted proposals na gusto niyang ma- address agad.

Me: Pero babae lang ako. . . marupok. . .

I saw her reply bubble with three dots dancing before I received a reply. And boy, she was mad.

Dawn-nut: Masasampal talaga kita kapag nagkita tayo ulit.

I laughed and immediately wrote back.

Me: I was just kidding! Sige na. I'm here. I'll tell you the deets when we see each other. Love you!

I got an 'I love you back' before I tread my way into the conference room with my team.

The presentation went well, there were some clariffications but over all we did a great job. Wala naman masyadong naging problema pero si Kyle parang wala sa mood.

I was glancing at him every now and then, and that deep furrow in between his eyebrows never once left his handsome face. I wonder what has gotten into his skin that he's glooming all over the place.

When the meeting was finished, and the schedule for the contract signing was pinned, I purposely slowed my movements in packing my things. I know Dawn will kill me after this, but I have this itching feeling to know what's bothering him.

Even if it wasn't my place.

"Trouble in paradise?" I asked when only a few people are left inside the room with us.

He scratched tthe back of his head and let out a small but worried smile.

"Can I offer an advice? As a. . .as a friend?" I cleared my throat. God, it hurt blurting that one out.

"Sure, Clo."

I blushed when I heard him giving me a pet name. Good thing he wasn't looking.

"I think, you should talk it out with her. Masamang nagtatago ng sama ng loob sa relasyon."

He stopped gathering his things and lifted his head to look at me, "Hindi naman kami, eh."