ROMEO ain’t w/ Juliet.

- Cliché pero I feel nevous/ excited heart sped up

I locked the door and turned my phone off. Ilang beses pa akong tinawagan ni Red sa cellphone matapos
ang halos isang oras niyang pagkatok sa pinto. It was Elle who made him stop from banging my door
down, and buti na lang talaga at nakinig siya.

I bursted out. Fortunately, hindi iyon tuluyan nangyari sa harapan mismo ni Red. At least, at some point,
there was a wall dividing us kasi kung hindi ay baka mas makalat pang emosyon ang nangyari. Hindi ko
maisip kung bakit ang makita silang ganoon ni Reka ay may kung anong dulot sa sistema ko.

Maybe… maybe because finally everything is slowly getting clearer… and clearer… and clearer. And
regardless how much effort I excert, parang mas mahirap lang lalo ang nangyayari sa sitwasyon.

Hindi na bale at ayos lang. At least, no matter how strong this feeling this feeling is, I value our
friendship over anything else.

Pinindot ko ang down button sa gilid ng elevator. A few second have passed, finally, the lift came
through. Iyon nga lang at mabilis pa sa alas-cinco ang pagtalikod at paglakad ko palayo sa elevator
matapos bumukas niyon.

“Valkyrae!” Red called my name.

Hindi ko pinansin iyon at dahdan-dahan dahan akong naglakad palayo. I then saw Elle at the end of the
hallway, glancing at my back, trying to get a sight of whoever’s calling my name. Dahil sa ilang araw na
pagiwas ko kay Red ay napapansin niya na, huminga ako nang malalim.

“Val!” Red called my name again.

This time napansin ko na ang katawan niyang nakasiwang sa pintuan nito habang ang kamay ay
pinipigilan ang pagsara. He was staring, as though waiting for me to ride the elevator with him… so I did.

“I know you need the elevator. Use it”

“12th floor, please” ani ko na lang dahil malapit siya sa pindutan.

Redford sighed. Lumayo na lang ako ng konti lalo at mas tumahimik para hindi niya na ako kausapin pa.

The sound of elevator whirs enveloped the lift. Hinayaan kong abalahin na lamang ang sarili sa
panunuod ng swelas na pinaguumpos sa dulo ng sapatos. The lift was still several floors far from the 12 th
when I heard Red mumble something.

“Have you… have you had enough space yet?”

“Huh?”

“The last time we talked… you said you needed space so…” he exhaled sharply “ I was wondering if you
had enough space you needed. Have you?”
Napakagat na lamang ako sa pangibabang labi matapos maalalang muli ang nangyari noong gabing iyon.
I didn’t answer him and just let the silence enveloped us hanggang sa makababa ako sa hindi tamang
palapag.

It was one of the several stunts I pulled just to avoid Red. Although there were times where we needed
to sit on the same table with him, pinipilit kong makipagpalit ng upuan kila Maree, huwag lang kaming
magkalapit ni Red muli.

Unfortunately, itong huli na lang yata ang hindi ako nagtagumpay dahil nasa iisang pwesto kami ng mesa
nakaupo para sa naturang laban namin.

“You know what, Valkyrae, If only I had known that Archer and you are just colleagues, iisipin ko
talagang magboyfriend kayo” biglang sabi ni Maree, ilang minuto bago kami sumalang.

“At bakit mo naman nasabi ‘yan, Maree?” sarkastikong tanong naman ni Elle na abala sa pagaayos ng
saya na suot namin.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang marinig ang paguusap nilang iyon tungkol sa amin ni Archer. It was purely
nonsense dahil alam kong walang ibang ibig sabihin ang ginawa ni Archer para sa akin at sa competition
naming na ito.

They’ve been bickering over the Goodluck photo that Archer has posted on his story for me. Larawan ko
iyon na kinunan niya pala habang kumakain ako ng pancake na ibinigay niya sa akin noong misa.

“Huy, Elle! May spark kaya sa kanilang dalawa, di mo ba pansin?”

“Ang alin ba kasi? Anong spark spark?”

Napailing na lang ako at natawa, lalo na nang magumpisa silang guluhin ang iba pa naming kagrupo. But
unfortunately, everything went down when we all heard a sudden furious lob in one of the seats.

Padarag na inatras ni Red ang upuan niya bago maglakad papalyo sa amin.

I glanced at Elle & Maree who’s unaware of what just happened. Nagkibit balikat na lang ako sa kanila
nang iginiya ni Maree sa akin ang dinaanan ni Red papalabas.

“Red!” I called him whilst running pero hindi siya lumingon.

Buti na lamang at nang makaabot sa kabilang dulo ng pasilyo ay tumigil siya. “5 minutes na lang tayo na
ang sasalang”

“Is Archer and you together already?”

“What?!” halos sumabog ang dibdib ko sa gulat ng tugon niya “No! Bakit mo naman naisip yan?”

“Was he the reason why you’re avoiding me, Val?”

“Red, that’s not because of that okay – ”

He scoffed “
It was already 9 in the morning when we finally arrived at the Complex Center for the symposium.
Medyo malawak ang loob niyon at nababalutan ng mga pinalamutiang bandiritas at bulalak. At kahit na
ba walang ventilador ay mayroon pa ring malamig na hamog na lumilibot sa loob.

“Huy, Elle! May spark kaya sa kanilang dalawa, di mo ba pansin?”

“Ang alin ba kasi? Anong spark spark?”

Napailing na lang ako sa kanilang dalawa. Everyone was listening vehemently to the orators in front, at
nakakahiya mang sabihin, ay mukhang mesa lang naming ang may ginagawang ingay sa loob ng hall dahil
sa dalawa.

Lumingon ako sa gilid ko at hinayaang magdaldal si Elle at Maree sa isang bagay na wala namang
katuturan. They’ve been bickering over the goodluck photo that Archer has posted on his story for my
competition

 Umaga almusal
 Away ni Red v Val
 Patapos na yung symposium, nagsalita si Elle na need niyang pumuntang board mamaya para sa
solo flight niyang event. Then Mesa w/ Red nabasa ni Maree yung congratulatory post, red was
staring at her with sadness and anger dahil sa naririnig. Pagkatapos na pagkatapos nung
dismissal tumayo padarag and lumabas ng pinto.
 Tried to chase him pero hindi inabutan sa pinto. She hit her shoulders pero tinignan lang siya ni
red bago magtuloy tuloy sa lakad.
- “Anong problema mo?” “Why are you even here? Hindi pa tapos yung meeting” “I could ask you
the same question, Red” “Psh” “Is there something going on with you and Arch?” “What?” “Just
answer the question Val” “That’s none of your business okay” “Then you should’ve just stayed
inside”
“I should be the one asking you that question, Val”
OUTAKES

- Sa elevator, biglang bumungad si Red kaya tumaliko na lang siya agad “Val!...”” I know you need
the elevator, use the elevator” pumasok then di nagsalita. Elevator whirs, I just stared on my
feet and waited for the elev to stop at the right floor “ Have you had enough space yet?” “is
there something I did wrong?”/ “be honest, is there something keme keme-“ “its different okay”

“Ready na ba yung damit natin mamaya?”

“You know what, Valkyrae, If only I had known that Archer and you are just colleagues, iisipin ko
talagang magboyfriend kayo”

“At bakit mo naman nasabi ‘yan, Maree?” singit ni Elle na ngayon ay abala sa pagkain ng kung ano sa
plato.

It was already 9 in the morning when we finally arrived at the Complex Center for the symposium.
Medyo malawak ang loob niyon at nababalutan ng mga pinalamutiang bandiritas at bulalak. At kahit na
ba walang ventilador ay mayroon pa ring malamig na hamog na lumilibot sa loob.

“Huy, Elle! May spark kaya sa kanilang dalawa, di mo ba pansin?”

“Ang alin ba kasi? Anong spark spark?”

Napailing na lang ako sa kanilang dalawa. Everyone was listening vehemently to the orators in front, at
nakakahiya mang sabihin, ay mukhang mesa lang naming ang may ginagawang ingay sa loob ng hall dahil
sa dalawa.

Lumingon ako sa gilid ko at hinayaang magdaldal si Elle at Maree sa isang bagay na wala namang
katuturan. They’ve been bickering over the goodluck photo that Archer has posted on his story for my
competition

It’s like I’m playing charades with you. And no matter what I do, you ain’t giving me no clue to solve
whatever’s in your head// “Val, I am your bestfriend. If ever I did you wrong or something, then fvcking
call me out. Hindi yung ganitong, nangangapa ako sa kung anong dapat kong gawin makausap ka lang”
The entire

competition week was so awkward ‘cause they were always being paired to each other

when it comes to seating arrangement (lunch, games, seminars and all). May one time panga na inask
siya if may costume siya for Halloween party pero nagshrug lang siya. (although really meron siyang dala
sa bag niya)

“Heard Red will be wearing a tux or something for the after party later tonight. Ready ka na?”

“Di ako aattend sa party”

“What!? Bakit!?”

“Ayoko lang”

“That’s it. Ayaw mo lang?” “Pano naman ako? Edi ako lang mag-isa doon?”

“Red will be there too, okay”

“And Reka? Tapos, ending third wheel ako sa kanilang dalawa”

Scratch her forehead then bumuntong hininga “If you’re not coming because of some shallow reason
that I’ve been hunching about over the past few days, then you’re not being reasonable at all. Wag mo
namang hayaang di maexperiencee yung party dahil lang may iniiwasan ka”

“Wala akong iniiwasan okay. Wala lang akong dalang damit –”

“Kaya nga dinalhan kita ng para sa’yo – ”

“ – Masakit rin ang ulo ko”

“Val…”

Lumapit na ako sa pinto at binuksan na ito para sa kanyang paglabas “Let… Let’s probably just drop this
conversation already, Elle, okay? Thanks for covering my need pero wala talaga akong balak pumunta sa
party mamaya. Sorry”
<< insert good shit>> nagdala ng coffee na may sticker paper na nakadikit ‘im sorry for lashing out on
you, earlier. I didn’t mean to say those things. Lemme make it up with you’

“You’ve been ignoring me” “Are you upset to me?”

“What--- No!”

“Then, are you jealous at Reka?”

“Psh”…” What made you think I’m upset to you? More so, jealous?”

“Come on, Val. I’ve known you since forever… I know when you’re upset or like…” it was followed by
incoherent words “, nevermind.”

There was a deafening silence arising. He gently touches my hands, followed by just holding my tiniest
finger. He played with it as he glances over me using his soulful eyes.

“Why did you run away after seeing Reca and I earlier?”

“Trust me,you don’t wanna hear my answer. You will not gonna like it” tumayo ako upang lumayo sa
kanya.

“What do you even know about what I wanna hear and not?”

“you’ve changed! A lot. And it’s just a matter of time. It’s like… it’s like you’re not my friend anymore!”

I snapped after I heard what he just said “Exactly, Red! Exactly!”

Sumandal ako sa bintana at tinitigan siya sa mata “We can’t be friends no more, okay? I cannot be your
friend anymore because I will always see you as something else. And its unfair because I also know that I
will never have the chance to be with you because I’m just your friend and it Rebecca whom you like”

“I don’t like, Rebeca.” He whispers “I like you”

“Shut up. You’re drunk”

“Ayoko

“See ur drunk”…”I bet whatever you just said to me tonight will all be forgotten tomorrow”

“Let’s see”

I then felt his left hand slowly crawling onto mine, intertwining it with his. Sinalubong ko ang kanyang
mata na nasisinagan ng kislap na nagmumula sa liwanag ng bwan sa bintana. I don’t think I have even
been this close to him before.

“I wish we could stay like this forever”

“What are we to each other now?”

Hindi ako nakaimik sa tanong niya. Even I myself promptly asked that question at the back of my mind.
Ano na nga ba kami? Friends pa rin? Bestfriends? Super besfriends?

But he kissed my last night! It may not be directly on lips but I felt his on my forehead. It was just a quick
damp on it pero ramdam ko iyon.

Nagkibit balikat na lang ako “I don’t know. You tell me”