Robin Hood's 

I left Ian after having breakfast with her. I was so keen on letting her see how nervous I was today. Hindi naman ako kinakabahan dahil kay James. Kinakabahan ako dahil kay Diego. The last time I checked tapos na ang deal namin. Noong huli kaming nag-usap ay naibigay ko na sa kanya ang gusto niya, so bakit gusto na naman niyang makipagkita ngayon? Huwag naman niyang sabihin na meron pa siyang kailangan dahil ang alam ko naibigay na niyang lahat sa akin ang pictures, vidoes at lahat ng negatives na may kinalaman sa "MIA" ni Ian sa Europe. Ano pang kailangan niya? Lalong kumukunot ang noo ko. I just couldn't figure out what Diego wants. Napabuntong hininga ako. I'll deal with Diego later ngayon kailangan ko munang kausapin si James -- that is kung kakausapin niya ako. 

I went to Revert Records that morning because Irish told me that James was there. He was having his morning routine with Anton. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng morning routine ang ginagawa nilang dalawa pero kung anuman iyon ay wala akong pakialam. I just need to talk to him. I went to his office thinking that he'd be there but the sercretary informed me that he's in the gym at the 7th floor of this building. Nagpunta ako doon. He's in the gym, it means that he's working out. That's okay... ibig sabihin malaki ang posibilidad na makausap ko nga siya... 

Narating ko ang gym, I saw James standing inside the boxing ring, he was taking off his boxing gloves. Napalunok ako. Hindi ko alam na nagbo-boxing pala siya. I stared at him ffor a while. I was thinking so hard if this was good timing or my unlucky day. 

"Robi, nandito ka pala." I almost jumped when I heard Anton. Hindi ko napansin na nakatayo pala siya sa gilid ng boxing ring na kinatatayuan naman ni James. Tumingin sa direksyon ko si James. He gave me a stare to die for. Napalunok ako. Sigurado ba akong ngayon ko siya kakausapin?

"Hey, uhm.. I need to talk to James." 

Halos magkasabay na kumunot ang noo ni James at ni Anton. They looked at me as if they misheard what I said. 

"Dude, alam mo naman na ayaw ni Rika na nagkakagulo kayo diba?" mahinahong wika ni Anton. 

"I'm not here to do that." I sighed. "I just really want to talk to James." Sinalubong ko ang mga tingin niya. He looked at me like he was ready to murder me. But I'm not scared. I'm not backing down now. I need to do this. For Ian. 

"What for?" finally, he spoke. "I don't have time for this, Robi." tumalikod siya. Napailing naman ako. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit ganoon na lang kalaki ang galit niya sa akin. Besides leaving Ian and hurting her, ano pa ba ang ginawa ko na ikinagalit ng husto ni James?

"I've asked Ian to marry me." wika ko bago siya tuluyang tumalikod. That stopped him. He turned to me. I swallowed hard. I have unleashed the dragon -- level 99. "She said yes." 

My eyes widened when he tossed me the red boxing gloves he took from the floor. Aligagang sinalo ko iyon. 

"One round, Robi. If you hit me, I'll let you marry, Ian. Pero kapag hindi, you know what's gonna happen."

Literal akong napanganga. He wanted me to fight him? What for? As far as I know, he's already married. He married my ex fiance tapos hanggang ngayon overprotective siya kay Ian? Why was he acting this way?

"James ano ba----" 

"Shut up, Anton. I know you're supposed to be the responsible one but this is between me and Robin Hood. If you haven't notice, we have issues that we need to settle." litanya pa ni James. I shook my head. This is the first time that he ever acknowledge the silent war between us. 

"What are you waiting for? Get up here and fight me!" sigaw pa ni James. I did what he said. But first I took of my shirt and I put on the gloves and then I joined him inside the ring. Sumunod din si Anton sa amin. I think he was about to recite the rules of boxing when James stopped him. 

"No rules, Dude." 

Is that even safe? I swallowed again. Bahala na si Batman. Alam ko namang hindi ako papatayin ni James. Kung sakali man na mapatay niya ako, at least I had the chance to be with my beloved Ian. 

Nagsimula nang umikot-ikot si James. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I'm not really interested in boxing. I watch it but I don't know how to. Noong high school kami ni James madalas kaming makipagbasag - ulo pero boxing... pareho lang naman siguro iyon. Just like what he said earlier, there are no rules. 

Inundayan niya ako ng suntok. I was lucky enough to avoid it. 

"Why are you doing this?" I asked him. 

"Because I want to. I'm the overprotective best friend and my role is to give you a hard time." he answered back. 

"Doesn't it occur to you that you're also giving Ian a hard time?"

Muli niya akong sinuntok, muli kong naiwasan iyon. He grinned at me. 

"I'll take anybody for Ian's boyfriend, Robi but not you." he laughed evily. "To be honest, mas gusto ko si Mowhawk kaysa sa'yo. Too bad he's dating someone else now." 

Sinuntok niya ako. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay minalas na ako. He hit me right on my nose. 

"Fuck!" I exclaimed. "Seriously, James!" sigaw ko. Wala namang pinatutunguhan ang ginagawa namin but I knew that I have to fight him. 

"That's for making Ian cry the first week you decided to stop calling, emailing and texting her." 

"W-what?!" I could feel my blood gushing out of my nose. Again, James hit me. Natamaan naman niya sa may pisngi. 

"That's for not telling Ian about your engagement!" he yelled. He punched me again. "That one's for not telling Irish about Ian!" 

Susuntukin na sana niya ako muli nang bigla akong tumayo ng tuwid at saka pinigilan siya. 

"Wait..." humihingal na sabi ko. "You kidnapped Irish to convince her to break up with me." Bahagyang natigilan si James. Tinititigan niya lang ako. Ngayon naisip ko na hindi niya pala alam na sinabi ni Irish sa akin ang bagay na iyon. 

"You kidnapped Irish!" Anton exclaimed. 

"You didn't know about that?" Nilingon ko si Anton. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagtataka. 

"That's not the point!" sigaw ni James.

"Then what's the point Jaime?" balik tanong ko. "As far as I know this is Ian were talking about. I know you love her but dude, you're fucking married. You married Irish after kidnapping her. She's pregnant now and you're the father so what the hell is the point?!"

Hindi siya makasagot. I shook my head. 

"It's one thing to let you hit me thrice but if it's Ian were talking about then you have got to get the point out Jaime, because right now, nandoon na ako sa punto ng buhay ko kung saan hindi ko na siya pakakawalan at hindi ko hahayaang masira kami ng isang maliit na bagay tulad niyang tampo mo."

"Are you still in love with Adriane, James?" tanong ko sa kanya. I swear if he said yes, I'm going to kill him. 

"I'm not in love with her anymore. I love my wife. I'm perfectly happy with her. But just like what you said, this is Ian were taling about and you know how much she means to me." 

"Alam ko. Kaya nga nandito ako. I want to fix this for her." I sighed. "I want her to see that I'll beat all the odds just to make her happy."

"Nagpapapogi ka lang pala kay Ian eh." tila naiinis na sabi niya. 

"Tang ina, James! Hindi ko na kailangan gawin iyon dahil sa mga mata ni Ian pogi na talaga ako. I am doing this for myself too, because honestly speaking I'm tired of us trying to kill each other everytime we get into each others nerves. I want my friend back. That friend who taught me to cut class, to smoke, to drink, to pick up girls, iyong kaibigan kong kasama kong bumuo ng pangarap noon. I want him back. Not just because I'm going to marry the girl we once both loved but because I missed him. That's just it. I missed you..." 

Silence filled the room. James and I stood in front of each other, staring. No one even tried to break that silence. We just stood there. 

"Wow..." finally he spoke to me. A smile formed on his face. "That sounded so gay." nauwi sa halakhak ang ngiti niya. I shook my head. 

"That sounded better inside my head." napapailing na sabi ko. 

"I know!" he was still laughing. Maya-maya ay tumigil siya sa pagtawa. "You know, if you hurt Ian, I will hunt you down." 

"I know that... somehow.." napangiwi ako. "So does this mean were good?" 

James nodded. I smiled. I didn't realized that it would be this easy. Fixing my friendship with James only cost me a broken nose and broken cheek -- but it doesn't matter -- as long as we're friends again.

"Group hug!!" biglang sumigaw si Anton. He entered the ring and hugged us. We were at the middle of that cheesy group hug when I heard Ali's voice. 

"What the hell?" nagtatakang tanong niya. Sabay-sabay kaming tumingin sa kinaroroonan niya. Kasama pala ni si Trey. 

"What happened to your nose?'' it was Trey. 

"Don't ask. Group hug!!!" this time, Trey and Ali joined us in our little chessy group hug. I was on the verge of crying but I controlled myself. I am happy. Happy because finally I got my friends back. Finally after seven long years, I am home. 

I just got to deal with one more thing before I reach my happy ending. Si Diego na lang. 

---------------------------------------

Super Ian's

"Hi Ian." 

Nag-angat ako ng ulo nang marinig ko ang pangalan ko.I was on the waiting louge odf Revert Records that afternoon, waiting for Robi's call. I saw Audrina moving closer to me. Ngiting-ngiti siya. As usual she was wearing a classy dress, her hair pulled up and she just looked so beautiful. I smirked. I wish I could look like her one day --- preferably at my wedding day. Napalitan ng ngiti ang reaksyon ko. Everytime I think about my wedding day, nagkakaroon ng butterflies sa tiyan ko. Hindi kasi talaga ako makapaniwala na nagpropose si Robi sa akin kagabi. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ilang hakbang na lang ang lalakarin ko at makukuha ko na ang happily ever after ko. 

"Hi Drins..." bati ko sa kanya. Umupo siya sa tabi ko. "Ikaw lang?"

"Nope, nandyan si Zach kasama niya si Baby Zach, nag-aaway pa kasi sila sa susi ng kotse kaya nauna na ako." nakangiting pahayag niya habang nakatingin sa akin. I stared at her, nagra-radiate ang happiness sa mukha niya. Parang ang saya-saya talaga niya. Hindi naman malabong mangyari iyon dahil masaya talaga sila ni Zach. They have been married for four years now pero hanggang ngayon ay mahal na mahal pa rin nila ang isa't-isa. 

"You look happy." puna niya sa akin. "May nangyari bang dapat kong malaman?" she asked. I opened my mouth to answer her pero muli ko iyong sinara. Instead I looked at my Blackeberry again to see if there were any messages from Robi. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin kay Audrina ang nangyari hangga't hindi pa okay si Robi at si James. Napabuntong hininga ako. Kaninang umaga pa kami nagkahiwalay ni Robi, pero wala pa rin tawag o text mula sa kanya. Hapon na pero hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong nangyari sa kanya at kay James. 

"Mama." agad na napatayo si Audrina upang salubungin si Baby Zach na mabuway pang naglalakad papunta sa kanya. 

"Baby..." agad niyang kinarga ang bata at tumingin sa akin. Zach -- the grown up one -- greeted me. I stood up. 

"Do you have any idea where the hell is James or Robi?" agad na tanong ko sa kanya. Zach stepped back.

"Whoa! Kakarating ko lang! Easy, Adriane!" 

"May problema ba?" Audrina asked. 

"I'm just fucking worried!" inis na sigaw ko. Napasinghap si Zach, tumingin ako sa kanya. "What the fuck?"

"Hey! My kid can hear you!" 

I bit my lower lip. 

"Sorry..."

"Talk about outbursts." natatawang wika ni Audrina. "Doon muna kami kay Ninang Rika okay?"

"I'll miss you, honey..." nakangiting sabi ni Zach. Audrina looked back at him. 

"I'll miss you too. Love you." 

"Baduy lang?" biro ko kay Zach.

"Kapag in love ka, baduy ka." nakangiting sabi niya. "Ikaw nga diyan, mas baduy ka. Naghintay ka ng seven years." 

"Oo, ako na. Ako na." bigla ay napayakap ako sa aking sarili. "Zach, could you please call James. Tinatawagan ko kasi siya hanggang ngayon wala."

"Ano bang nangyayari, Ian?" 

Napabuntong hininga ako. Kailangan kong sabihin kay Zach para matulungan niya ako. 

"Robi asked me to marry him. I said yes."

"That's inevitable. Why are you worried?" he asked.

"Cause he said that he'll talk to James pero hanggang ngayon wala akong balita sa kanya. I'm worried that he might have scared Robi off." 

"Robi is not scared of James." 

Magsasalita na sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang elevator sa aking kaliwa at iniluwa niyon si Rika, Irish at Audrina. 

"Papa." tawag ni Baby Zach kay Zach. Lumapit si Audrina kay Zach at saka ibinigay ang bata.

"Hey Ian, good to see you." Irish greeted me.

"Where is James?" walang kaabog-abog na tanong ko. Mukha tulad ni Zach ay nagulat rin siya.

"He's with Anton. Why? is there something wrong?" si Rika ang sumagot sa akin. 

"Anton's with him?" kahit paano ay nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Kasama nila si Anton ibig sabihin safe si Robi. 

"Anong nangyayari?" tanong ni Rika. I bit my lower lip. Paano ko ba sisimulan? Hindi ko alam. Bahala na. Magpapaliwanag na sana ako nang biglang muling bumukas ang elevator sa aking kaliwa. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita ko si Anton, he stepped out of the elevator. Pagkatapos noon ay sunud-sunod nang iniluwa niyon sina Ali, Trey, James at si Robi. 

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed when I noticed Robi's broken nose. Agad akong lumapit kay Robi. 

"I'm okay... Don't worry." he whispered. 

"Que barbaridad!" that was Irish's reaction.

"Anton!" that was Rika's reaction. 

Iba't-iba man kami ng reaksyon iisang tanong lang ang lumabas sa aming bibig. 

"What the hell happen?!"

"Who did that?!" Rika shouted. 

"Baby, I can explain..." Anton said in a low voice. 

"I did that." James said. 

"Jaime Maxcardo! ¿Qué demonios? Te dije que dejar de asustar Robi descuento! ¿Cuándo vas a escuchar a mí? Eres tan terco!" it was Irish's turn to shout.

"Hey, don't blame him. Que fue mi culpa. James sólo hizo lo que tenía que hacer.." napatingin ako kay Robi nang sabihin niya ang mga salitang iyon. 

"Por que, Robi?!" 

"Irish, it's okay." Robi looked at me. "We're okay." he smiled. I thought of what he said, then it sank in. I looked at James who was looking at me, just like Robi, he smiled at me.

"We're okay." sabi rin niya. 

"Really?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. They both nodded. 

"Can someone tell me what happened? I'm the manager and I demand to know!" Rika shouted again. Naramdaman kong biglang itinaas ni Robi ang kaliwang kamay ko.

"We're engage!" sigaw niya. Everybody looked at us. 

"Really?!" halos magkasabay na sigaw ni Irish, Rika at ni Audrina.

After that, the hugs and the congratulations came in next. Niyakap nila kamk ni Robi. 

"We should celebrate! Finally after seven years!" kinikilig na wika ni Rika. 

"Let's eat out. Si Robi ang taya kasi nasapak siya ni James!" natatawang wika ni Ali. 

"I'll pick up Jenny. Call me kung saan tayo magkikita." paalam ni Trey. 

"Ako din pala, susunduin ko si Rapah. Kita na lang din tayo mamaya!" sumunod si Ali kay Trey. Naiwan kami nila Zach doon sa waiting lounge. Masaya akong nakikipagkwentuhan sa kanila nang mapansin kong biglang nawala si Robi sa tabi ko. I looked for him and I found him at a corner , talking to his phone. Parang seryoso ang pinag-uusapan nila -- kung sinuman ang nasa kabilang linya. Nilapitan ko siya. 

"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow." inis na inis ang reaksyon ng mukha niya. 

"Robi, Is everything okay?" 

Agad na lumambot ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya ng tumingin siya sa akin. 

"Yeah.. That was nothing." he took my head then he kissed my lips. "I love you, Ian. No matter what happens, do not forget that."