"Keith," someone called from behind in a deep, low voice, making them freeze in terror and step back. He made one last eye contact with me, released his grip on my collar, and shoved me aside.
He acts all mighty and tough, but now he's scared just because his name was called. What a coward.
"Captain," they said in unison, almost trembling, clearly caught off guard for ganging up on one guy.
"Hindi ba kayo nahihiya na pinagtutulungan niyo ang isang tao? At ikaw pang nagsimula nang suntok. Kung hindi lang ako tinawagan ni Tonyo, baka naghahamon na kayo nang rambolan at buti lang malapit lang ako dito," his voice grew louder as he stepped forward, forcing the boys in front of me to avert their eyes.
Is this the captain that Imelda was talking about? What kind of face could make Imelda remember him like this? When he finally stood past me, I was too shocked to speak. It was Chavez.
So he's their captain. Imelda knows him. I had never seen him up close before, though I knew from her descriptions that he was good looking. But seeing him now, with a Ducati leather jacket and loose pants, his aura was extreme.
"Perez? You're here," he said as soon as he saw Imelda sitting unflinching in her seat while the girls held her arms.
Imelda just nodded at him. I had never seen Chavez this close. I already knew he was attractive from afar, but seeing him up close, his presence, his stance, I could barely look away.
"I told you to control your temper. You scared the girls away, and you even got physical, punching someone out who was just protecting them," he said, locking eyes with me, then shifting his gaze to the corner of my lips where a faint trace of blood lingered.
"Do I really have to tell you that every time you go out?" he asked as he walked to their side. He reached for the curly-haired boy, making him bow on us.
"Say sorry to them for the inconveniences you've caused. You spoiled the fun here, Keith," he said coolly, almost making me idolize him.
Keith bowed his head, but Chavez's hands remained on his head.
"Hindi ko yun narinig. Ulitin mo," he said, that made others to look away, embarrassed to meet my eyes.
"Sorry," Keith muttered in a shaky voice. I couldn't help but grin.
I might have received the punch, but he got the humiliation. Even though it stung, I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
"Pasensiya ulit at hindi ko nabantayan nang maigi tong mga bata ko. I'll take responsibility for it," he said, bowing his head to the girls and then to me.
Looks like Zether Garrett Hudson better step up. Chavez is no joke, he's a tough opponent. If he doesn't want anyone taking the person he cares about, he'll make it clear now.
"It's okay, he handled them pretty well," Imelda said to him as he pointed at me, and Chavez smiled.
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed by what Imelda said. If she said another word like that, I might actually grow a bigger ego.
"Uwi na kayo," he demanded, and they started walking away. "Na-cancel ang date ko dahil sa inyo."
I looked at Keith, now glaring as he walked past me. The way he looked at me made me scoff, as if like the glare matched his face perfectly.
Date? Is he talking about Angeles? I'll tell Zeth this after I get home. This is code red.
"I'm really sorry about it. Let me make it up to you. Ako na magbayad sa ininom niyo," he said, taking out his wallet, but I stopped him.
"Hindi na yan kailangan, dude. Besides, we already paid for it," I said, and he froze, staring at my hand on his.
I quickly retrieved it, afraid he might break it.
"Talaga? Pasensiya na at natagalan ako sa pagpunta ko rito at nasuntok ka pa," he said, patting my shoulder.
"Natalo kasi kami sa game kanina, kaya mainit ang ulo ko, but that's no excuse to disturb you. Pasensya na talaga, at pagsasabihan ko yun," he added.
"It's not your fault. Why are you saying sorry to us? His sorry maybe not enough, but you don't have to pat it out for him," Imelda said, making him nod and smile.
"Holy cow, ang cool ni Chavez," Sofia said after Chavez left.
He excused himself after someone called through his phone. He keeps saying sorry about it. No wonder he's the Captain, ang compose at ang kalmado niya.
“Mga siraulong ’yon, wala silang ginawa kundi pahiyain ako. Napa-sabak pa ako nang english buti na lang hindi ako nabulol. Tangina talaga.” He muttered as he walked, making me stifle a smile. He’s not bad.
"Buti na lang at dumating 'yun, kung hindi baka makabawi pa nang suntok si Yuri," Jade said in sighed.
"Thank you pala Yuri for stepping out. That really means a lot to me." Sofia said as she cried and then stood up and walked toward where I was seated. "May pasa na yung mukha mo ayaw mo pa naman na may mangyari na masama sa mukha mo"
"That's not important right now" I patted her back.
That's not something she should be thankful for someone defending her sexuality. Because ideally, that shouldn't even be a thing. There wouldn't need to be anyone stepping in if there weren't homophobic people lurking around, ready to make her feel small or ashamed for simply existing as herself.
Why should it matter what anyone thinks? Her love, her choices, her identity, they're not a crime. Yet the world always finds a way to make them one. And suddenly, when someone dares to stand up for her, it's framed as a favor, a kindness as if she's helpless without it.
But she's not helpless. She doesn't need anyone to guard her truth, to validate her right to live it. She's not weak for being herself, society is weak for treating that as a vulnerability. And the gratitude she feels it's misplaced, like thanking someone for turning off a fire that shouldn't have been started in the first place.
It makes me angry, but more than that, it makes me sad. Because every time this happens, every time someone has to step in, it's a reminder that the world still doesn't accept people as they are. That the fight is still ongoing. And she shouldn't have to fight it alone or feel grateful for someone fighting it for her.
Her existence should be enough. Full stop. No one should ever have to rely on the kindness of others to exist. And yet, here we are.
Nakauwi na ako sa bahay. Inuna na akong ihatid ni Imelda dahil gusto ko talagang magpahinga. She even insisted on staying with me, pero pinauwi ko na rin siya dahil late na. Kaya naman nag cold compress na lang ako sa mukha ko, pilit na binabawasan ang pamamaga.
Hindi pa rin ako makatulog dala na rin ng insomnia ko at ng sakit ng panga ko dahil sa suntok. Now I've kind of started regretting that I didn't throw a punch back to that guy.
I decided to scroll through social media to distract myself. The group chat was still alive kanina, busy making plans about what they'd wear to the grad ball. I kept scrolling until a TikTok notification popped up. Keillia went live. Napangiti ako. Ang late na, nagli-live selling pa rin siya. So I clicked it.
She was selling the clothes that she modeled for a brand. Marami ang nanonood at ang daming nagco-comment, kaya napatawa ako. May pakinabang din talaga ang malaki niyang boses dahil mukha siyang nasa palengke ngayon, umaakit ng mga mamimili.
"Pa-mine niyo na lang, it's a strawberry colored Henley top. The size is small, medium, and large," she said habang ipinapakita ang suot niyang halter top.
Natatawa ako sa comments section punong puno ng pang-aasar. I assumed lahat yun mga kaibigan niya dahil hindi man lang niya pinapansin.
"It's very stretchable, and it hugs your body to show off your shape. This even has some cute lace designs. It's 199 pesos lang. Check out niyo na 'to, mga bakla," sabi niya habang isa-isang dini-describe ang mga detalye ng halter top.
Kaya nagdesisyon akong mag-comment din.
: may hollow blocks kayo?
Saktong pagkasend ko, lumakad siya palapit at tumingin sa comments section.
"May hollow blocks ba kayo? tanong ng isang citizen na nagngangalang Yuri Damian," inis niyang sabi, kaya natawa ako.
Na-shoutout pa nga ako. Napatingin ang mga alaga ko sa akin, nagtataka kung bakit bigla akong tawa nang tawa.
"Wait lang ha," she said, pointing at the camera. Alam kong ako ang tinutukoy niya.
At umalis na siya, iniwan ang halos seven thousand people na nanonood ng live niya. Nagkagulo ang comments section, nagtataka kung saan siya pumunta. May nag-comment pa na baka tumae o umihi ang babae. May isa rin nagsabi na baka kumuha ng shots.
Ang tagal niya. Nasaan kaya 'yon? Baka natulog na. Para kasi siyang lasing magsalita.
Napahalakhak na lang at nahulog nang tuluyan sa couch dahil sa kakatawa nang bigla siyang bumalik, may dalang hollow blocks. Sineryoso niya talaga ang comment ko.
"Hollow blocks? Sino nag-comment doon? Hollow blocks daw sabi ni Yuri Damian, 'di ba? Oh, ito hollow blocks. 10k ang isa nito. Hindi ito magigiba kahit may lindol, kahit 6.9 pa 'yan. I-mine mo na 'to, Yuri, ha? Send mo na lang sa GCash ko ang bayad, at next week darating na itong parcel mo," ratrat niyang sabi.
Kahit masakit na ang panga ko sa kakatawa, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. I miss her already. If I had time, pupunta talaga ako sa kanila.
: mine yung hollow blocks
I continued watching her live when suddenly nag-ring ang doorbell sa gate. May nakalimutan ba si Imelda at bumalik siya? Kaya sumilip ako sa bintana and I was shocked to see who it was. It was Trevor.
Bakit siya punta nang punta dito? Ang mahal pa naman ng presyo ng gas ngayon. Noong nakaraan lang nandito siya, ngayon na naman?
: send me your GCash number
I messaged Kei on Instagram, then walked toward the gate where Trevor was. Baka pagsabihan pa akong ang tagal kong kumilos.
Nakatayo siya sa may gate, suot ang red Ohtani jersey at baggy jeans, may black baseball cap pa rin. He looked so effortlessly good, especially with his eyeglasses on.
"Are you here to get the Tupperwares?" tanong ko habang binubuksan ang gate.
Nakalimutan ko kasing ibalik 'yon sa kaniya, at baka nakalimutan na rin niya dahil wala siyang binanggit. Baka hinahanap na rin ni Tita.
"Huh? Tupperwares?" tanong niya, halatang naguguluhan.
"Oo, yung Tupperware na binalutan mo ng pagkain. Nakalimutan mo yatang dalhin," sabi ko, na ikinatawa niya nang mahina.
"Is that so?" He raised his brows, dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ko.
"What happened to this?" He reached for my chin and checked the cut on my lips, making me hold my breath.
"Who did this to you?" sabi niya habang he clenched his jaw, diretso ang tingin sa akin kaya napalunok ako.
Masyado siyang malapit. Kita ko nang malinaw ang perpektong kapal ng kilay niya, and his thin almond eyes and his gray irises that look like storm clouds kissed by silver light. Matagal ko nang hindi napapansin ang mga detalyeng 'yon dahil sa eyeglasses niya. His Greek nose, and the way his glasses sat perfectly on it, he was breathtaking, so much that I actually lost my breath.
What the hell? You can't just grab someone's face and stare at their lips for that long. Kaya tinanggal ko ang kamay niya sa mukha ko.
"You hate that I touch your face, but you let anyone punch you," he said in a low voice while maintaining an eye contact with me and it's enough to make my heart skip a beat. "You're the worst, Yuri Damian."