Warm rays of the sun came peeping through the car’s open window, touching Mix's eyelids. It was a sign for him to wake up especially when the person beside him shouted, “Welcome back to Warm Fuzzies, Mixnee babe!”
Mix rolled his eyes at his friend. Not that he kept calling him 'Mixnee babe', nor because of his loud, annoying voice. Warm fuzzies. It was the term they used to address their hometown, which meant the feelings of happiness and affection, contentment or sentimentality. There was actually nothing wrong with it. But considering the person who first used it, Mix was sure that his friend was teasing him.
“F*ck you,” he mouthed before unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the car. He wandered his eyes around the entrance of the sanctuary and suddenly remembered how they used to come back there whenever they won a place in the division level. The place held a lot of memories; all of which he decided to bury.
“Grabe, wala kang pinagkaiba kay Yu. Bakit ba laging mainit ulo n’yo sa 'kin? Wala naman akong ibang ginagawa kung hindi maging pogi,” Book said after getting off of his car and even uttered tsk as a sign of deprecation.
Mix shook his head which signified contempt. “Dapat pala talaga ay kay Yu na lang ako nagpahatid,” he said and took all his things inside the car. Pagharap niya sa kaibigan ay may hawak na itong kulay itim na shirt, nakatatak ang mga salitang ‘our JOURNey'. Mix’s eyebrows wrinkled. “Ano ‘yan?”
“T-shirt?” Book jokingly said and laughed when Mix glared at him. “Teenagers nowadays you know.. had enormous heights. Aira suggested that it’d be better if we have the same shirts, kahit ngayong araw lang para makilala tayo ng mga bata. Baka kasi mapagkamalang tayo ‘yong delegates tapos sila ang trainers.” He handed the shirt to his friend whose expression showed cringe.
“Seriously, kasama ba talaga ako sa training na ‘to? Bakit hindi ko alam?”
“We all knew you’d disagree if we let you know, duh.” Mix and Book glanced at their backs after hearing that familiar voice.
“Rain!” Mix exclaimed after seeing his friend who looked gorgeous more than before. She only was wearing the same shirt paired with fitted jeans but her posture and beauty made her seem like a model. And if only Mix weren’t into men before, he might have dated her though he, himself, didn’t want to regret what happened in the past.
“Mixiee!” Rain exclaimed back, with the name she used to call him before. She hugged him, saying, “I super missed you! Pero syempre, nagtatampo ako ha! You never contacted us for years, plus the fact na umalis ka nang walang pasabi. Tapos sa tawag ni Yu ka lang sumasagot. Unfair!”
“Totoo! Muntik ko pang isipin na may something sa inyong mag-best friend.”
Mix raised his middle finger at Book. “If Yuriel was here, hindi lang ito ang aabutin mo, Villanueva.”
“Just as I remembered,” Rain interrupted. Her face looked serious that the two men became all-ears. “Nasa loob na si Yu, bad mood.” Now, the three of them stared at each other. In a few seconds, they picked their things and with straight faces, went inside the hall. They all knew how things may end up, considering the fact that they’ve known each other for years. Nevertheless, their friend still wouldn’t be easy to handle.
The place screamed nostalgia as Mix walked inside. It’s not like there were no changes in the hall because there certainly are. The walls were repainted white and a small, shortly elevated stage on the floor stood up front. Ten large ceiling fans hung from above, and a kitchen sink was stationed at the back. The building that they’ve known before was completely different now. In spite of that, nothing could change the truth that it’s still the same room where they developed their skills, and improve, for obviously, the better.
Mix walked to the stage when he saw Yuriel, wearing a gray long sleeve, with black pants and black shoes, standing in front, holding a manual positioned below his chest, reading it with knitted eyebrows. “You okay?” he asked.
“I got fired from my job. Long story,” Yuriel briefly answered and sighed. “Sorry for the mood. How are you, anyway? Pumunta ka na ba sa inyo?”
“Mamaya pa lang kaya hindi ako matutulog dito ngayong gabi. I’d have to leave everything for you guys, for now,” Mix said as his friend nodded. He then went upstairs to place his things in the room. Because the rooms for boys and girls are separated, he had to follow Book instead of Rain. It was quite a long walk for the second floor are reserved for the female students and trainers and the place for all males are at the third floor.
When they finally reached their room, Book was the one who knocked on the door. It opened in a second and Mix met his friend’s cold eyes. “Word,” he uttered. As Book went inside the room, Word walked passed through Mix. “Word, sandali!”
The man glanced at him and spoke, “What?”
“Are you still mad at me?” Mix asked. It was a weird question as one could say that maybe, he was somewhat considering his friend an immature person if he’d ever answer yes. But that was a wrong thought. Mix just wanted to know if he still is. And if he does, he wouldn’t mind because he had all the rights to.
“No. But I don’t trust you anymore.”
Beat. It felt like his heart skipped one that all he could do was gulp. “If it’s still because of your cousin, I’m sorry—”
Word chuckled. The smile on his face looked annoying but at the same time, it felt satisfying. “You were the one who left him, Mix. Of all people, you should be the first one to get over it. Don’t tell me you still haven’t moved on? Come on, it’s been four years, napag-iiwanan ka na,” he said before walking away, leaving Mix frozen on the floor.