Enrique and I had our lunch here on the veranda. Ixora was in the crib while standing and looking at us. Little by little I look at her and smile at her.
“Someone is here,” Enrique said, making me turn around.
“Ervic!” I jumped off the chair and quickly ran to hug Ervic. I was so excited that I forgot that my husband and I were eating. I feel Ervic hug me back and his hug is tight as if he doesn’t want to let me go. “I miss you so much,” I said something that almost didn’t want to let go.
“I miss you, too.” He hugged me tighter than me when he said that. I feel that I can feel her missing me.
We heard someone clearing his throat, Ervic immediately let go of me and when I turned around, Enrique was behind us. ”
Brother.”
“Welcome back.”
“Thanks, brother.”
“It’s good that you thought of passing by here, I thought you had forgotten this mansion.”
“I’m sorry, brother. Just really busy and you know-”
“Until when are you planning to stay?” I frowned at Enrique’s question to his brother. The way he asked him is like him he is about to leave again.
“Why, are you leaving again?” I was also asked even though he has not yet answered his brother’s question.
“Yes, Daze, I just came to see my niece and to introduce my business partner. We are also leaving for Cebu tonight.”
“Are you with someone?” I wondered.
“Yeah. Wait I’ll call her.” He left so I looked at Enrique.
“Did he say her?” I ask.
“I heard it too.”
“So a girl?” I asked again.
“Let’s wait and see.”As if I had a choice. Although I’m curious about who is with him, I still don’t want to be too excited. Of course, I will still wait. But who is he with? It’s a woman. Maybe gay.
When Ervic returned he was with a woman. Beautiful, tall, sexy. The woman was also holding his arm. I looked at Enrique’s reaction to see if he would look at the girl but it didn’t seem like it. Or maybe he just simplified it.
“Oh brother, Daze. This is Amethyst, Thy, my brother, and his wife, Daze, who is my best friend.”
“Hi,” the woman greeted us and then extended her hand. She acted simply even though she was sexy. Modest and a little shy.
“Hi, nice meeting you.” Enrique also reached out for her hand but they immediately separated. The woman looked at me so I extended my hand to her.
“Hi, you’re Daze. Ervic often tells me about you.” I looked at the gay who was just smiling and then I looked back at the woman.
“What is he saying about me?” Then I looked at Ervic. “Make sure it’s good if not—-” I threatened Ervic and threatened him. I’m not going to continue talking when-what’s his name? Thy?
“Everything he says about you is beautiful-as beautiful as you are.”
“It should be.” I roll my eyes at them but I also smile.
“We’re having lunch, you guys wanna join us?” Enrique asked them.
“That’s right brother, I’m hungry too. But first, where is my niece?”
“There.” Enrique pointed out to Ixora where we had lunch so we went there together. “Let’s go.” Enrique and I went first and they followed us.
“Hey, young brat.” Ervic took Ixora and then charged. “You are undeniably Locsin. It’s like you’re a shrunk version of big brother and turned into a girl.” Enrique and I just laughed because of what he said.
“Right,” Enrique agreed.
“Undeniable brother.”
“Yeah.”
“She’s so cute,” Thy said. “You look like him too,” he said with a smile to Ervic.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Something similar maybe because it is your niece and your blood is strong.”
“You’re amazing baby.” He kissed Ixora who was just looking at her.
“You can have fun with your niece later, let’s eat first. You said earlier you were hungry.” Enrique offered so Ervic put Ixora down and we sat together.
While eating we talked a lot. It’s just them—and it’s all about business. I couldn’t fit in and I didn’t know what to say. Am I aware of that business? What do I care about this-me? pretending to be a hotdog on one side. It’s like a stump that doesn’t count so just eat it. So good to eat.
The only thing I understood was that after this gay ran away from our marriage agreement, he went straight to Korea. They have a family business there which is a resort run by their uncle, which they have a share of. Amethyst is one of the daughter’s investors and they met there, and now they will also go to Cebu together because an extension has been built there and is about to be opened. They are one of those who will sit on the committee to operate.
Much more was discussed until we finished. Now, the gay is comforting Ixora. He took the gifts he brought to my daughter. But nothing on me. As in zero because we’ve been here for a while but he hasn’t handed me anything yet. I’m really angry, even if there are panties with a hook, but nothing.
“Maybe you can stay longer, Ervic? You can at least enjoy your niece for a while,” Enrique said and Ervic looked at me.
“So you’re really leaving right away?” I ask.
“Yeah.” Then he looked at his brother. “I need to, brother.”
“But you just arrived. Celestine and I haven’t even bonded yet,” I complained, causing him to look at me again.
“I already called her. She and her family will go to Cebu and we will meet there.”
“Wow, just you? Am I neglected now?” I said a little smugly.
“I will come back here for Ixora’s b-day. Only then will the three of us bond.” I roll my eyes and look at Enrique. Why do I feel like I’m being avoided by this gay? It’s like he doesn’t want to be my friend anymore.
“Aren’t you going to stop him?” I Enrique.
“It’s his decision.”
“Ga-Vic, even to stay only for now. You can leave tomorrow. We have a lot more to talk about today. You still have many sins against me and must be explained. Maybe just for a moment? please.”
“Don’t worry, just collect all that and I will answer at the right time.”
“Tss.” It seems I can’t really force him anymore. I wanted to approach him and hug him to kiss him like before, in case Enrique might get jealous. He still doesn’t know that his brother is gay. So even if I’m in a bad mood, I’m just kept quiet.
“My niece is cute, isn’t she?” he asked Thy while carrying my daughter.
“Hmp, you’re so cute.” Thy answered him and then held his shoulder.
“I know.” And both of them laugh. One of my eyebrows raised due to their closeness. I’m not jealous but that’s how it is. I am his best friend but I notice that he is no longer by my side. Though, he talks to me but not like before. He pays more attention to that girl than to me. I feel neglected and betrayed.
“Gotta go to the bathroom.” Ervic stood up so we were the only ones left here. He handed Ixora to Thy who was now on the woman’s lap.
“So what’s the real score between you and my brother?” I looked at Enrique because of his question. I want to reprimand him because I remember that he doesn’t know that his brother is gay.
“We’re good friends,” Thy answered him. “We’re good.”
“Just be patient, soon, you’ll get that too.” But Thy smile at him. “I guess you know what I mean?”
“Yeah, he told me.”I looked at Enrique who was also looking at me. I’m clueless in their conversation because there seems to be something I don’t know. But he kissed me that Thy didn’t see because he was playing with Ixora so the doubt disappeared from my mind.
My mind changed. It ended up that Thy didn’t know Ervic was gay. Maybe he just hoped, or maybe he knew and maybe he was just riding Enrique.
I saw Ervic approaching so I stood up to meet him. I will talk to him and we will talk away from these two. I’m annoyed and jealous of my best friend. We just met now and he hasn’t talked to me yet and doesn’t pay much attention to me.
“Excuse me.” I didn’t wait for Enrique to answer and I removed his hand from my waist.
“Ervic.”
“Oh, Daze, why?” he asked then looked behind me. I also looked at the two who were looking at us. “Something wrong, Daze?”
“I’m asking you, something wrong? what If I kick you in your balls?” But he just laughed at me. “Don’t laugh at me. Answer my question. Are you avoiding me?” Then I calmed down and seemed to sulk.
I didn’t even see him surprised by my question. Obviously, he expected me to ask him.
“Huh, what do you mean?” It was obvious that he was pretending to be surprised or that he didn’t know what I was saying.
“Are you avoiding me?”
“Why would I do that? What makes you think that I avoided you?”
“I have noticed for a while that you are not talking to me. Then you don’t seem excited to see me. You are not excited to talk to me. The long time you’ve been gone, it’s like you don’t have a story to tell me, then you’ll leave immediately.”
“Daze.”
“I can’t feel your presence even though you’re here. It seems you are not the Ervic I know.”
“No, not like, Daze.” Then he comes closer to me.
“You do not love me anymore,” I said angrily like a child. “I thought we were best friends. You said that I am your favorite than Celestine, then I will know that you talked about meeting in Cebu without me being involved.”
“Daze, no—”
“I feel bad. I’m not important to you anymore.” I slightly punched him when he took my hand.
“Sorry.” But I didn’t answer and just kept pouting. “I’m sorry if that’s what you’re thinking, that you’re not important to me anymore. Sorry if you feel that way. But I want you to know that you are important to me, Daze. You are always important to me. If you feel like I’m avoiding you, maybe it’s because there are things happening or events that I can’t tell you yet.”
“What do you mean?” I wondered.
“I can’t say it yet, I can’t face it yet. I can’t do it yet, Daze.”
“Is it because of Thy?” I ask. “Did you change me and make her to be your best friend?” But he just shook his head.
“No.” And he cupped my face. “Brother, I will explain it to you.”
“He knows?”
“From the beginning.” And then he held my hand again. “Daze, I want you to know that you are important. You are the first woman that I love and will always be my love. I can’t find another girl—-I mean, another girl best friend because I only want you. But of course, your situation is different, like Celestine’s because you both have families so they are more important to you and I can’t bond with you too much. And you, I know you are happy with my brother. It’s so much happiness that you just want to be by his side all the time because that’s what you always wanted, right?”
“Are you mad at me? Because we won’t be together like before?” He shook his head at me and smiled. “Are you avoiding me because you feel that I will move away now that I am married?”
“No, I have never been angry with you and I cannot be angry with you. I love you so much, Daze to the point that I can be even more angry with myself because I didn’t grab all the chances when we were still together. I love you so much and no matter how hard I try to find a way to get mad at you, I can’t do it.”
“Sorry, Ervic, I’m sorry if I can’t be with you like before so you looked for a replacement. Sorry if I don’t have time for you anymore. I’m sorry if I’m not the one when you need me, while you always support me.”
“Nah, don’t say sorry for it, Daze. It’s not your fault. Time will come, we will go back to the way we were before.”
“I love you, Ervs. You know that. And I’m thankful because you became my friend and now my brother-in-law.”
“I love you too, Daze. Give me a hug.” And he hugged me tight. “Only you, Daze, I don’t know how long but only you and still you until now.” I raised my head because of what he said.
“Which?” He smiled at me and kissed my forehead.
“My super-duper girl best friend. The only one I love.”
“You’re cheesy.” And we both smile when he kisses me again on my forehead.