The Playboy's Obsession

4

Lavin came to a complete halt in front of our school. West, get out first, as soon as possible, and completely alert. I tried to get out to the car, but I got the impression that the driver didn't want to go to school because he dropped us off outside.

"Can you tell me where you're going?"

I asked now out of curiosity.

"I have to go the hotel first, you can leave now."

He said while trying to start the engine.

"You still have class."

I said matter of fact, he just stared at me boringly with bright gleam on his eyes.

" I swear I'll be in class earlier than our teacher. Our class will begin at 9 a. m so I'll arrive around 7 a. m or 8 am."

I nodded.

" I'm not concern of you, I was just asking because I feel like we also dragged your name down. "

In aid before he could ask or put meaning about it.

" No pressure. I will always save you."

My face crumpled to what he said and I closed the door hardly and it even create a loud noise.

Dumb!

I found out why West got out of the car so quickly: Kiara is standing beside the gate with a grumpy expression.

We are doomed.

" Where have the two of you been? And why did you go together when your ways and Franco's are so far opposite. "

She's now starting to nagged us. We remained silent. The more you talk the more you'll be be caught so it's better to stay quite.

She glared on us and even we didn't tell her about it but I know that she knew already about it.

" You always beat my ex when something is wrong. What if I am a cheater? Nevermind... Don't worry anymore, you won't be able to beat up someone any longer because I'm single, now."

Kiara left us and went first to the school. West is now smirking, as if he's making his move.

" I'm glad you're not a cheater, ofcourse we don't hurt you and we will just try to cut your horns"

West is now chasing Kiara and I looked back to find someone but I couldn't. So I just leave that thoughts here outside the campus and followed my two bestfriend inside the school.

After Kara's being single again, West is the most happiest person, as if he could pursue Kiara. I saw Lavin sometimes going with us. Dragging and tagging along with West.

He came very close to me at one point. I couldn't bring myself to talk to him or smile at him like West did all the time.

"I'd want to borrow your ballpen," he says.

I stared at him as he spoke quietly. strangely. His ballpen is in the pocket of his uniform, exactly next to his heart.

"You already have one in your pocket,"

I said while I'm pointing his pen on his shirt.

I gave him a sluggish response and returned my focus to my book. I'm spending my free time in the library, reading books.

I recall this scenario as well, from back when he told me he liked me. You can't really love someone you've only met once, in my opinion. It should have profound significance, deep reasoning, and deep memories shared, and this is how love blossoms and love takes place.

And according to everyone I know, Lavin Bayno, the certified playboy, has no idea what love is or what it means. If he ever says that to me, I'll laugh at him.

"I'm not here for the book, and I'm not here for the ballpen. I'm here to say that I like you."

He confessed solemnly, and I couldn't help but laugh at him. But his eyes are filled with more intense emotion, and it's not like, but love. He only said "like" since he couldn't say "love" because he already knew what I was thinking.

"Are you all right? Are you certain? That's for Franco Flores Estacio, isn't it?"

"Don't make fun of me. Do you believe this is impossible and insane?"

He's angry now because he thinks I mocked him; I was trying to convey something and I was trying to say what it is.

"Yes, because it's crazy. You can't love or like someone you just met, especially to someone like me...like you."

Because this is ridiculous. He can't even live without a woman in just one day and him, here, confessing his love, is just like a nightmare. The fact the I'm straight and I don't want him to get near close to me and do the impossible thing.

" What's wrong with man and man to fall inlove? This is what love means for me, I don't care about the time, the preference, the age, the gender."

"But it does to me. I am the daylight, and you are the sun. You're the stars and I am the night. We appear the same way. What you feel is just a brotherhood. What you feel is not really what you feel. I don't believe in such. Love takes time, to bond with each other, create memories together, and mold that feelings together until it grows deeper, deeper until it got deserved to be called love. Your eyes tells different"

"Because if I said love you won't believe me."

He said and trying to control me with his stares.

"This is not brotherhood. I had West, so I don't need one, what I need is someone I love, someone I like. I need him to be with me t-that's why I'm here."

he added with admiration and request for patience.

"You're ridiculous. Have you noticed how I stare? That is my response. Please don't approach me

and leave me alone."

I gave him a stern warning look.

I left him there, and he has no intention of pursuing me; perhaps he has understood that what he feels is absurd and unattainable.

When August 1st rolled around, he stopped turning up. I used to be able to see him from everywhere

on campus, but now I can't even see him, and I'm

not sure if it was a good thing or not.

The school ended. The summer began. It was always a same boring cycle. Sometimes we go out together with West and Kiara, and always I'm just inside our house playing games. My Uncle doesn't want me to go to his Salon.

The school year had come to an end. The summer season had begun. It was always the same tedious routine. We go out with West and Kiara on occasion, but most of the time I stay at home and play video games. My Uncle forbids me from visiting his salon.

Every day, we video chat.

West's room is dark black, Kiara's is brilliantly colored, and my room is light black. West's room used to be light and airy, but now he claims to despise black, despite the fact that he uses it.

Kiara had left the group for dinner, and although I hadn't eaten yet, I wasn't hungry, so I continued to play crossfire.

I stopped for while when I received message notification from my our group chat.

Westthegreat.

Franco, eat your dinner first before playing crossfire.

Franco Estacio

What are you? Are you inlove with me? kidding, I'm still full. Wanna play?

I sent my chat.. Why he's not talking on the phone anyway. What he's doing right now?

Westthegreat

I don't know how to play.

Franco Estacio

Having Alzheimer's eh? Let's go, you are the only challenging opponent here.

Kairathequeen is typing..

Kiarathequeen

What are you talking about? Anyway, I have to leave first, I have to go with my mamu but I'll leave my laptop here and the call. Don't end it. let's have watch movie together, when I get back.

I thought West is getting weird everytime we do video chats. He's not even talking, he's just listening to us or sometimes personally off his room light.

I don't have thing to do every summer. Summer is the high peak of my Uncle's Salon so it's understandable that he's not here everyday or we we are not having vacation.

Kiara went to Siargao in the middle of May. While West? I don't know his plans, we haven't talked it about in our video chats, only Kaira talk her plans of vacation. I think Siargao is the fifth destination of her summer.

And it's been a month also that West is having a weird room.

I was dozing when I received a video chat request from West. I'm half-naked, wearing pants, yet I'm still hot despite the air conditioning.

"Franco..."

I heard him speak, and I was startled awake by the sound of someone's voice. Maybe it's only a hallucination, but Franco, that's not Lavin!

You wanted him gone and out of your sight then when he did, and now you're looking for him. What a foolish!

" West? Yes? Is that you?"

I asked while still looking to his screen.

Westthegreat is typing...

Yes, my voice kinda so drunk too. I still feel my hangover, it sucks.

"You shouldn't stop drinking too much, and stop drinking with too much together with L-Lavin. You both always went to bar just stay in your room."

I also heard the other screen sound, which sounded like someone getting out of bed. Why is his camera and room so dark? Everything seems gloomy and ominous.

Westthegreat is typing...

" Lavin didn't drink too much though. He won't even had a single sip. He's also good boy, too. "

I ceased my eyebrows.

"You try to cover up him because you two were closed."

I said while trying to fix my bed and now fully awake.

My Uncle came inside after knocking on my door.

"Franco.."

He called.. He's dressed casually for a trip to

the salon.

"I hope you remember the date today? Your Tito Pinky wanted you to remind today."

He said and his attention went to my laptop.

"That's West Uncle. He's drunk and still hangover that's why his room is so dark. And Just tell Tito Pinky that I'll be there alone. He doesn't need to accompany me."

I said to him. I overheard too, that Tito Pinky has an important meeting to do today and I don't want to meddle his conflict schedule.

"I'm going to work now. If you're hungry, just go downstairs. I prepared meals."

"All right, take care"

I said as he closed the door.

Westthegreat is typing...

"Where are you going?"

I read his chats.

"My summer is so boring. For time being I've decided to be a model for the meantime so I can earn money instead of locking myself her-"

I heard the door open so fastly and the light was now dim.

It was too late to hide.. it was too late to end the call.

Now the room is dim and everyone in the room revealed and even the one who's facing the camera is looking so shock, that he got caught by his own.

"Tsada! Lavin Bro! Bring back damned my f*******:! You really hacked it. You motherf*cker! I still have to watch that damn po-

And West was unable to finish what he was saying.

I noticed Lavin seated at the table and West touching the switch, and the room is now fully lit with the lights turned on.

The three of us were really taken aback.

All I long why his room was so dark because he's not West. It was Lavin all along. West has a phobia of staying too long too darkly in one room, alone.

I recall our video chat nights, and it makes sense why he hasn't been talking but only chatting because we could recognize so easily if he talks.

It was as though we were playing a squid game. We didn't make a sound and simply stared at each other. West was looking at Lavin, and Lavin was looking at him, while I was looking at this man in front of the laptop, who was staring at West with penetrating eyes.

He's doomed and busted!

He faced the laptop, and I knew he was completely aware of my reaction till I couldn't see him longer. After that, the call was terminated.