CHAPTER 6

Oh shit! Van thought. Of all the songs in the world, this is what Cris chose.

“I gotta say what’s on my mind” Laarni began to sing.

Van looked towards Sen’s direction. Sen was just looking straight ahead at Laarni. How could he not feel something special for this song? He thought to himself. His chest felt uneasy. The emotions he bottled for seven years seemed to have reached their limit. He felt himself, choking.

“I’ve gotta leave but I’ll miss you.” Laarni sang, ever so soulfully.

“Excuse me, I need to go to the washroom.” Van said, standing up.

“It’s at the den. First door to the left.” Cris called out.

* * *
Inside the bathroom, Van just stood there. He did not really have to go to the bathroom. He just wanted to get away.

Is this Cris’ idea of a joke? He thought. All these years, he tried to control his emotions. The reason he avoided all those reunions, he was afraid of bumping into Sen. Not that he was afraid of Sen, but more of himself. He might not be able to control himself if the time comes.

After seven years, he felt he was ready. Only to be shot down by a single song, he shrugged to himself. He turned on the faucet and put his hands in the running water. He scooped up some of it and splashed it onto his face. He wiped his face on the towel then took a deep breath.

He opened the bathroom door and stepped into the den. From the way the room was arranged, it was obviously Sen’s space. A huge Flatscreen Bravia hung on one side of the room. Underneath it is a mahogany buffet table occupied by a DVD Player and a radio component. Beside it is a shelf full of DVDs , both English and Tagalog. Van recognized some of them as his movies and soaps. Sen’s been collecting my stuff, he grinned.

As he moved towards the door leading to the living room, he accidentally bumped another table. A black box accidentally fell on the floor. Van tried to catch the box, but his efforts were futile. The box fell on the carpeted floor, cushioning the fall. Van picked up the box and put it back on the table. A piece of paper jutting out of the box captured his attention. He picked it up and turned it over.

It was a picture of him and Sen.