Chasing The Summer Hearts

CHAPTER 1

"SO KAMUSTA ang art expo sa Menorca? I'm sure you had a lot more to do while staying there?" Roscoe was sitting comfortably against the soft mattressed seat that accomodated his buttocks to prompt comfort inside Yrozze's car. It had been 30 minutes since Yrozze picked Roscoe up on the airport from his art expo in Menorca that lasted a month.

Seeing Yrozze again was a blessing for Roscoe. Hindi niya aakalaing mas gu-guwapo pa ang kaibigan. He's handsome ever since then he left philippines but after a month, drastic changes began to flourish in his persona. His muscles were bigger than the usual and his chest were also flaunting. The way he dresses is also different from when they last seen each other.

Kung nung time na huli silang nagkita ay conservative but attractive clothing apparels ang sinusuot ng binata, ngayon ay iba na.

From his black collared polo with three buttons unbuckled plus his silky slacks that reached until semi foot and his attractive Vince Kaye Suede topsider black shoes.

He is so f*****g hot right now.

And Roscoe couldn't stop covering his crotch because of how hot he is that it prompted his 'friend' to bewitch in hardiness.

Roscoe was pouting at the moment.

"Hey babe, why're you pouting?" tawag ng binata sa kanya.

Never get him wrong because Yrozze used that word for endearment. And Yrozze liked it when he called Roscoe 'babe'.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit niya nagugustuhan ito. But its what his heart says and what is comfortable of him.

"Wala naman. M-May masaba ba kung mag pa-pout ako?" Tanong niya sa binata. Natawa nalang si Yrozze sa kanya at hindi na muling nagbukas pa ng kahit anong topic.

But Yrozze suddenly remembered it.

"By the way, kamusta nga pala ang art expo mo sa Menora? Ikalawang tanong ko na ito sayo?" Aniya sa kaibigan.

Roscoe chuckled.

"Mabuti naman. Many artists have showcased their talents. There are also collaborative artists who presented their magnificent work. Maraming mga tao ang pumunta sa expo. Halos napuno ng mga tao ang venue. Marami ring humingi ng copies ng artwork ko. Mabuti nalang ay may publisher ako. Published artworks would be disseminated next month of this year." Said Roscoe

Ngumiti ang binata dahil sa tinuran ng kaibigan.

Magkapareha na sila ng naabot. Their milestones are exactly the same but the only difference is the path of work taken.

Yrozze would publish his second book next month while Roscoe would publish his artworks next month also.

Patas na sa kanila.

"Ikaw, kamusta ka na nga pala?" Tanong ni Roscoe.

Yrozze chuckled and glanced at him. That glance made Roscoe blush. f**k he's handsome! kaibigan huminahon ka, please lang. .

"Ayos naman. Katatapos lang sa manuscript na ineedit ko. A while ago, my boss approved my work and next month, I would be publishing my second book next month. So I guess, patas na tayo? magkaparehas ng naabot pero magkaiba ang trabaho? Call that quits?" He said as he chuckled.

Roscoe's heartbeat heightens when he heard his chuckle.

Oh how much more if Yrozze would...—

Fuck. Umalis ka sa isipan ko, demonyo.

Roscoe pouted again.

And since Yrozze wasn't oblivious. He actually caught his attention. "Hey, why are you pouting? hindi ka na ba masaya na nakita ako? Pinagpalit mo na ba ako sa mas gwapo sa'kin? Nakakita ka na ba ng gwapo sa Menorca?" Ma-emosyong angil niya.

With nuisance, Roscoe looked at him.

"What the f**k? Baka ikaw nga yung may tinatagong babae diyan sa bahay mo eh, hindi mo sinasabi saakin. Gwapo gwapo mo nga, and its not hard for women to seduce you at the moment," aniya.

Yrozze chuckled.

"Why do you sound jealous? promise me, ikaw lang ang taong nasa puso ko." Nakangiti niyang saad.

Roscoe averted his face to the window of the car to avoid him from being caught by Yrozze. Baka kung makita niya na namumula ang kaibigan ay baka hindi niya ito tantanan.

"N-No..." Roscoe said.

Tumawa si Yrozze.

"Yeah, you're blushing baby." Aniya.

Hindi alam ni Roscoe kung kaibigan pa ba ang turing ni Yrozze sa kanya o iba na. And maybe, Yrozze just see him as his friend. Roscoe tried his best not to be convinced of the fact that hope isn't rational in this time where Yrozze might be liking him more than romantic, but he just couldn't.

He wanted to take risk but he didn't know if he'll pass or he'll end up being hurt.

Being hurt is the most greatest fear that Roscoe could ever have.

He is afraid to get hurt because of the fact that he already witnessed people in the past who got hurt so much they ended up being in a mental hospital to heal their broken minds.

Just by looking at their condition, Roscoe felt how painful they undergo the bitter pain of a heartbreak from the persons who either left them or cheated on them. Roscoe felt the hardest inflictions of relational breakdown.

But Roscoe felt a seem of comfort on Yrozze.

Even though Yrozze didn't do anything, he felt the presence of loyalty, comittment and faith. That when Yrozze enter into a relationship, might display a sense of positivity and true and real love to the person that he loves.

And when it happens, Roscoe felt a surge of jealousy.

He would wish that it was him to was receiving Yrozze's love. Roscoe would fervently pray that Yrozze was the person who's destined for his love and the love that won't last.

That Yrozze will love him until his very last breath.

Roscoe clutched his chest as he felt an ethereal but peaceful nostalgia that enveloped his body. His breath started to hitch as tears surrounded his eyes.

He immediately clutched down the gear lever, but he didn't move it. He just clutched it very hard that he felt his veins constrict.

Yrozze rose his brow in confusion.

Then he looked at him and saw his emotion.

Just by looking at his teary eye like he felt pain stirred Yrozze's heart. It became heavy and its pounding painfully. His body is shaking and without warning, his lips started to shake.

Yrozze bit his lip.

Roscoe was breathing raggedly. And from Yrozze's observation, Roscoe was preventing himself so hard to avoid crying.

Just from how his clutch his hand through the lever and the hitching of breathing, it was obvious that he's trying his best to force himself to prevent his tears from falling down.

But Yrozze was confused aboit one thing.

Why is he tearing up? Why is he on the verge of crying? Is there something wrong?

Yrozze immediately parked the car on the side of the highway. It was free and spacious that's why Yrozze was able to park comfortably without any facing stressful thoughts about parking the car.

Roscoe was confused about the sudden stop of the car along the highway.

The cars were moving maneuveringly on the highway—both north and south—without any problem to which Yrozze—thought that it was the best decision to take the diversion road towards the destination.

Yrozze faced him, his body tilting to fully look at him.

Roscoe looked at Yrozze.

Both of them are looking each other.

Eyes to eyes.

Since the radio is turned on, a song suddenly played. It was a peaceful sound of a guitar. It was as if the sound was coming from heaven.

The sound was ethereal and heartwarming. It is better for night-sky jamming. It was a beautiful slumber. The melody of the music matches the peaceful night.

And when it halted, a voice of a woman could be heared. It was angelic and beautiful. As if the singer is singing directly to the singer.

'Pa'no ba iibsan,

puso ko'y tumitibok

Pa'no ba mababawi

Ang lahat ng mga nasabi?

Di naman inakalang

Ikaw ay dadating na walang babala '

Roscoe bit his lip as he felt how light the song is that prompted his tears to fall down. The song is very beautiful that series of sobbing activities threatened to escape his throat.

The song is as if a loving melody intended for couples who are currently loving each other at the moment.

Hindi niya maintindihan pero nakaramdam siya ng lungkot sa mga panahong iyon dahil baka ang kanta sa radyo ang gagamitini ni Yrozze sa kasal ng taong papakasalan niya.

Ang taong ihaharap niya sa altar.

Ang taong magsisilbing kahati niya habang-buhay.

Ang taong panghabang-buhay niyang mamahalin.

Ang taong magiging sandalan niya sa lahat ng mga problemang mararanasan niya.

Ang taong mamahalin niya pagpasawalang hanggan.

Roscoe couldn't stop thinking about this. And he didn't know, he was already crying at the moment. Yrozze immediately pulled him on his chest and hugged him.

"Shh, what's wrong? why are you crying?" Yrozze asked in a smooth and gentle way. And it made him wretch in sob. Wailing painfully while gripping his shoulder.

Hindi sumagot si Roscoe sa tanong ng binata. Ginamit niya ang oras para yakapin ang binata, dahil alam niyang sooner or later, makakahanap na si Yrozze ng jowa—the person he would hug from time to time.

Hindi naman siya inggitero pero gusto niyang mainggit.

But he couldn't do anything. Its Yrozze and Yrozze alone. He is the subject to decision and he is the subject to emotion.

He will decide.

At alam ni Roscoe na straight si Yrozze at kahit anong gagawin niya ay hindi siya mamahalin ng binata dahil sa isang masakit na katotohanan—boys are meant for girls and girls are meant for boys. Pretty girls are meant for handsome boys and handsome boys are meant for pretty girls.

It makes his heart shatter.

Yrozze hugged him tighter.

Seeing him in pain makes his heart in pain.

Pinakiramdamam ng binata ang katawan ng kayakap. He was warm and comfortable. Napangiti nalang si Yrozze dahil komportable siya sa yakap nilang dalawa. Parang gugustihin nalang ni Yrozze na yakap yakap si Roscoe kesa sa ibang tao.

When he was away, Yrozze never cheated on him even though the temptation is great. He never exchanged him with any woman or befriending another man.

And yes it was true,

Yrozze loved Roscoe from the start.

Roscoe was worth the risk.

Yrozze would try his best to protect Roscoe in all cost—even if he defies the world. Because that's how Yrozze love Roscoe. Roscoe would always be his Superman—his bestfriend.

If fate permits both of them to love each other forever, then Yrozze would do his best to fill up his joy and happiness.

Yrozze would do everything to love him.

At the moment,

Yrozze caressed his back as he cried against the fabric of his polo. He kept shushing him gently. Then multiple lights that came from vehicles who passed by them showed up.

And both of them are oblivious to it.

"I-It hurts..." Roscoe said.

Yrozze stilled.

"Why are you crying, darling?" He asked him. Roscoe bit his lip at his endearment.

He wanted to answer Yrozze but there could be a tendency that Yrozze might look at him with disgust and suddenlg throw him out of the car and leave him with coldness in his eyes and will not communicate to him ever again.

Baka malaman nalang niya na may bago na siyang mga kaibigan at ang masakit pa—magpapakasal siya sa isang babae.

Roscoe could think that Yrozze and a girl would have s*x with each other and it feared him when Yrozze has gotten a like to women when he try s*x with them.

Akala ni Roscoe tapos na siya sa pag-iyak pero hindi pa pala. Mas lumalala pa pala ang nararamdaman niya ngayon.

Hindi inexpect ni Roscoe na ganito na pala ang magiging unang tagpo nila. Nung nandoon kasi si Roscoe sa Menorca habang nagaganap ang art expo nila at ang mga oras na nagp-painting siya ng mga lugar ay naiisip niya si Yrozze.

Si Yrozze lang ang tanging nasa iisip niya sa mga oras na yun. Mula paggising sa umaga hanggang sa pagtulog sa gabi. Siya parin.

He can't live without him.

Roscoe noticed that without Yrozze, Roscoe was drained. He couldn't do anything productive without Yrozze by his side.

And with that, Roscoe therefore conclude that Yrozze was the charger to his battery. He was the person who could ever heightened him to perfection.

Ni hindi nga niya magawang magkaibigan ng iba para lang maibsan ang lungkot na nadarama niya. Si Yrozze lang talaga ang tanging nasa puso't isipan ng binata.

Roscoe was stilled when Yrozze suddenly pulled him and level his face on him.

"Why are you crying?" Yrozze was full of affection, worries and love while looking at him. "Say it from your deepest heart, the feelings that is bothering you. Diba sinabi ko naman sa'yo dati na wag kang matakot na sabihin saakin ang mga nararamdaman mo dahil hindi naman ako nangangain ng tao. Mahal kita because you are you," Yrozze said.

Roscoe bit his lip.

"Tell me what's wrong," Yrozze caressed his cheeks.

Roscoe closed his eyes as he feels the soft and tender skin that touches against his.

It was peaceful.

"I-I...I'm scared..."

"Why?"

"Because when you say you love me, it hits different to me. Aasa ako na hindi lang pala kaibigan ang magiging trato mo sa'kin. I don't want to be jealous because you're a man but f**k, I'm jealous because I'm not a girl. I'm not a woman. And I'm so f*****g jealous." He bit his lip.

Hearing this, made Yrozze smile.

Hindi lang pala siya ang nahihirapan.

"Did you honestly think that I was going to befriend another or to seduce a woman? f**k you're jealousy is killing me! you're too f*****g cute to be jealous." He said.

Roscoe was confused about by this.

Then without warning, nilapit ni Yrozze ang mukha niya sa kaharap. "I love you even as before. Tandaan mo yan, babe" Aniya.

As the music on the radio ends, they both felt each other's hearts. They are surrounded by different emotions and slowly, their lips connected.

When they already touched each other's lips,

Roscoe and Yrozze felt something.

Like they wanted to do it.

Like they always wanted to do it.

"I love you, Roscoe." Aniya.

And there it was, Roscoe was shocked. Because he was about to confess his feelings, but Yrozze confessed first. And it feels fantastical because Yrozze kissed him, he confessed to him. Hindi alam ni Roscoe kung totoo ba ito o hindi. He vividly remembered that while staying in Menorca, he undergo intense conscience study and courage making just to have the audacity to confess everything to him, but all of it was destroyed in just a snap. Because of the kiss, Roscoe felt that Yrozze was committed to what he confessed just a while ago. I hope he really is.