“Hindi Kita Kayang Ipakita sa Mga Kaibigan Ko—Nakakahiya!”

Mainit ang hapon sa Eastwood Quadrangle nang magsimula ang kwento nila Riven Sarmiento at Alec Monteverde — isang kwentong dapat sana’y simple lang, kung hindi lang nilamon ng takot, insecurities, at mga taong hindi marunong kumilala ng halaga.

Nakasandal si Riven sa malaking poste sa gilid ng cafe, hawak ang isa niyang libro at isang kape na halos hindi niya nalalasing. Tahimik siyang tao — iyong tipo ng lalaking parang background sa lahat ng eksena. Hindi siya maingay, hindi naghahanap ng spotlight, at lalong hindi humahabol sa mga tao.

Pero sa loob-loob niya, months na siyang umiikot ang mundo sa iisang tao.

Alec Monteverde.

Business student.

Team captain ng debate club.

Heartthrob ng department.

At ang lalaking pinagsisigawan ng mga tao sa hallway tuwing dumadaan.

Alec was everything Riven wasn’t — loud, charismatic, social, magnetic. Parang may sariling gravity, at kung papalapit siya, lahat ay parang nahihila.

Pero hindi iyon ang dahilan kung bakit laging napapatingin si Riven.

It was the way Alec smiled.

Hindi yung tipong pang-entertainment.

Yung kind na tumatagos, na parang totoo.

At yun ang naging problema.

Because Alec’s true smile…

was always directed at him.

Kahit walang nakakaalam.

“Riven!” tawag ni Alec, papalapit mula sa kabilang lane, bitbit ang mga papeles at naka-casual polo.

Ngumiti siya nang makita si Riven, at private iyon — hindi yung ngiti niya para sa madla.

Napakurap si Riven, agad kong sumakay sa defensive awkward mode.

“Bakit?” tanong niya, tinatakpan ang mukha ng libro.

Alec rolled his eyes.

“You’re avoiding me again.”

“Hindi ah.”

“Yeah right,” sagot ng lalaki, tumayo mismo sa harap niya para wala siyang kawala.

“Tara. Lunch tayo.”

Riven raised an eyebrow.

“Gutom ka na naman?”

“No,” sagot ni Alec. “I just want to eat with you.”

At doon natulala si Riven.

Medyo humigpit ang hawak niya sa libro.

Bakit ganun? Ang dali-dali nitong magsalita ng ganito, parang wala lang?

Paano ba hindi mahuhulog dito?

Napabuntong-hininga si Riven.

“Sige, pero—”

And just like a curse, dumating ang tatlong taong pinakaayaw niya sa mundo.

Nolan,

Daryl,

at Sebastian — barkada ni Alec since high school; rich, flashy, walang pakialam sa ibang tao.

“Bro!” sigaw ni Nolan, lapit agad habang nag-high-five.

“Saan tayo?”

“Lunch,” sagot ni Alec. “With Riven.”

At doon nagsimula ang bagyo.

Sebastian ngumisi.

“Really? With him?”

Riven stiffened.

Daryl snorted.

“E bakit naman siya? Bro, serious ka? May mga tao bang kumakain sa tabi niya?”

Napatingin si Riven sa sahig.

Alec’s face hardened, about to speak, but Nolan cut him off.

“Alec, dude,” sabi nito, hawak sa balikat ni Alec.

“Kung gusto mong sumama sa amin, sumama ka. Pero… wag mo na isama ‘yan.”

Nilingon nito si Riven.

“Honestly bro, nakakahiya.”

Tumigil ang mundo ni Riven.

At doon sinabi ni Alec ang words na hindi niya malilimutan.

Words na parang tumarak sa likod.

Words na babasag sa kanya.

Alec took a breath — short, pressured, panicked — and said:

“Hindi… hindi kita kayang ipakita sa friends ko, Riven. Nakakahiya.”

And the world of Riven Sarmiento collapsed.

Hindi natuloy ang lunch.

Hindi makagalaw si Riven nang una.

Nakatayo lang siya, hawak ang libro, tahimik, hindi makapaniwala.

“Aiden—”

“Riven—”

“Wait, hindi ko—”

Pero wala siyang narinig.

Wala siyang naramdaman, maliban sa malamig na puwersang humahatak sa kanya palayo.

Lumakad siya.

Dumiretso.

Hindi na lumingon.

At nakatayo si Alec Monteverde, parang biglang nabulag, na-realize ang bigat ng sariling bibig — pero huli na.

That night, Riven sat on the rooftop ng dorm.

Hindi siya umiiyak, pero parang may humuhugot ng hininga niya.

Kung tutuusin, hindi naman sila.

Wala namang label.

Walang “kami.”

Pero months na silang lumalapit.

Months na silang magkasama tuwing break.

Months na silang nagsasama sa study sessions.

Months na siyang kinakausap tuwing madaling araw si Alec kapag hindi makatulog.

At sa lahat ng iyon—

never sumagi sa isip niya na ikakahiyala siya ni Alec.

Hindi dahil feeling niya worthy siya.

Hindi dahil confident siya.

Kundi dahil naniniwala siyang totoo ang ngiti ni Alec kapag siya ang kaharap.

Pero baka mali siya.

Baka umasa lang siya.

Baka siya lang ang nagbigay ng meaning sa lahat.

At iyon ang masakit.

Pinikit niya ang mata.

Hindi ako sapat para ipakita sa kanya.

Iyon ang tumatak sa dibdib niya.

The next day, hindi pumasok si Riven sa klase.

Hindi rin pumasok kinabukasan.

O kinabukasan pa.

Three days of silence.

Three days of ignoring Alec’s messages.

Three days of burying feelings habang pinipilit maging okay.

At natigil lang ang lahat nang pumunta si Alec sa dorm niya, kumakatok, halos sirain ang pinto.

“Riven, please—!”

“Pag-usapan natin!”

“I didn’t mean it!”

“Hindi ako… hindi ako nakakaisip noon!”

Pero walang sagot.

Walang tunog.

Walang pagbukas.

Inside the room, Riven was sitting on the edge of his bed, shoulders curled, staring at his phone.

May dozens of messages.

Alec:

Riv, I’m sorry.

I didn’t mean it.

Pin-pressure nila ako.

I was stupid.

Please talk to me. Kahit sagot lang na “ayoko”. Kahit ano—just please let me know you’re okay.

Mahalaga ka sa’kin. Kahit hindi mo muna paniwalaan. Just… please.

Riven shut off the phone.

Hindi dahil ayaw niyang marinig si Alec…

kundi dahil ayaw niyang umasa ulit.

Ang sakit na nga.

On the fifth day, something happened that none of them expected.

Sa middle ng Business Leadership class nila, isang dean ang pumasok, kasama ang legal team ng unibersidad.

Lahat ng studyante natahimik.

The dean cleared his throat.

“We have an important announcement.

About the new major stakeholder and incoming interim CEO of Monteverde Holdings.”

Alec froze.

WAIT.

His family company?

The dean gestured toward the door.

“Please welcome the new appointee.”

The door opened.

And Riven Sarmiento walked in.

In a black suit.

Calm.

Sharp.

Confident.

A version of himself na hindi pa nakikita ng kahit sino.

Gasps erupted.

“What—?!”

“Si Riven?!”

“New CEO?!”

“Him?!”

Alec stood abruptly.

“Riven?”

But Riven didn’t look at him.

He faced the dean calmly.

“Good morning po. I’m here to finalize the integration between the board and my inheritance.”

The room exploded with noise.

INHERITANCE?!

The dean continued.

“The previous CEO — Mr. Leonardo Sarmiento — passed away two weeks ago.

Before his passing, he transferred his entire conglomerate to his grandson, Mr. Sarmiento here.”

“And upon review,” the dean added,

“Monteverde Holdings’ debt and legal complications put it at risk of acquisition.”

Everyone stared.

Riven added simply:

“And I am acquiring it.”

BUZZ.

Panic.

Shock.

At si Alec?

Parang sinakal.

“Riven…” Alec whispered.

“…my family’s company…?”

Riven finally looked at him.

But the warmth from before?

Wala na.

Only quiet, distant recognition.

“Yes,” sagot ni Riven.

“In a few weeks, I’ll be your parents’ new CEO.”

Alec’s throat tightened painfully.

“Riven… please—”

Riven’s expression didn’t break.

Not pain.

Not anger.

Not revenge.

Just truth.

“You didn’t want to be seen with me, Alec,” Riven said softly.

“Pero ngayon…

you’ll have no choice but to face me.”

Alec stepped forward desperately.

“I didn’t mean what I said—!”

Riven cut him off.

“No. You meant it when it mattered.”

Silence.

Suffocating silence.

“I’m not here to ruin your life,” Riven said.

“But I won’t pretend nothing happened.”

Alec’s voice cracked.

“Riven… please… don’t shut me out.”

Riven looked at him for a long moment.

Then turned away.

“I’m here for business.

Not for you.”

Alec felt something inside him collapse.

Because for the first time—

siya ang iniwan.

siya ang hindi pinili.

siya ang hindi pinaglaban.

And Riven…

walked out of the classroom

as the new power

in the life of the man who once said:

“Hindi kita kayang ipakita sa mga kaibigan ko—nakakahiya.”

Alec Monteverde had never felt this kind of fear — the kind that doesn’t feel like being chased, but like watching everything you built crumble right in front of you with your own hands.

For the last five days, Riven disappeared from his life.

And today, he came back…

As the new CEO of the company that fed, raised, and shaped Alec’s entire family.

At first, Alec thought he was dreaming.

But the way Riven ignored him?

The way Riven looked through him?

The way Riven walked past him without even hesitating?

That was real.

Too real.

After the announcement, halos hindi makahinga si Alec. Ang buong katawan niya nanginginig, hindi niya alam kung saan siya pupunta, ano ang sasabihin, o paano niya hahabulin ang taong iniwasan niya — at ngayon ay hindi na siya kayang tingnan.

Nananatili siyang nakatayo sa labas ng classroom nang mahagilap niya ang dalawang pangalang kinasusuklaman niya ngayon:

Nolan

Daryl

Sebastian

Laughing.

Whispering.

Shock sa mukha nila, pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang dating yabang.

“Dude, si Riven talaga? CEO?”

“Bro, kung alam ko lang, sana niligawan ko na—”

“Grabe, bagsak na Monteverde Holdings, ah.”

Alec snapped.

He slammed his fist against the locker beside them.

Lahat sila napatalon.

“Shut. The hell. Up.”

Nolan laughed nervously.

“Bro, relax—”

“Relax?!” Alec’s voice cracked.

“He’s—he’s the heir of Sarmiento Holdings! And you—you treated him like sh*t!”

Sebastian scoffed.

“Kami? Ikaw kaya nagsabi—”

And that was the knife.

Alec grabbed Sebastian by the collar and shoved him against the lockers.

“You think I don’t know that?!”

Students stared.

Phones recorded.

Pero wala nang pakialam si Alec.

“Bago pa kayo dumating,” Alec continued, voice breaking,

“kilala ko na si Riven. Mas matagal. Mas malalim.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

“So bakit mo siya tinawag na nakakahiya?”

Alec froze.

Because that was the truth he couldn’t run from.

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“…Because I was scared.”

“Of what?” Daryl crossed his arms.

“Na matawag kang cheap? Na makita nilang may pinapahalagahan kang hindi sosyal?”

Alec shook his head.

“No. I was scared na makita nila kung gaano ko siya gusto.”

Silence.

Cold, sharp, painful silence.

Sebastian pushed him away.

“So he meant that much to you?”

Alec lowered his head.

“He means everything to me.”

Meanwhile…

Riven was in the boardroom of the Business Integration Office, reviewing documents, talking with lawyers, presenting acquisition terms. Calm. Sharp. Detached.

Pero sa likod ng lahat ng iyon—

his heart was shaking.

Hindi dahil sa power na hawak niya ngayon.

Hindi dahil sa wealth.

Hindi dahil sa title.

Kundi dahil narinig niya…

nakita niya…

na-break niya ang sarili niya noong araw na sinabi ni Alec:

“Hindi kita kayang ipakita sa friends ko—nakakahiya.”

At kahit ilang suits o boardroom ang punuin niya, hindi niya iyon makakalimutan.

Not easily.

Not yet.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

“Sir,” sabi ng secretary. “May guest po na gustong kumausap sa inyo.”

“Who?”

The secretary hesitated.

“…Alec Monteverde.”

Riven froze.

The air around him tightened.

He inhaled slowly.

“Let him wait.”

Alec stood in the reception area, restless, palms sweating, pacing.

Every second felt like punishment.

Every footstep on the marble floor reminded him of how small he felt.

But he didn’t leave.

He stayed.

For nearly an hour.

Until finally, the door to the office opened.

And Riven stepped out.

Wearing a tailored black suit.

Hair slicked back.

Expression unreadable.

Cold.

Steady.

Untouchable.

But Alec saw it — the tiny crack in his eyes.

Pain he caused.

“Alec,” Riven said, voice leveled. “You asked for me.”

Alec swallowed thickly.

“Riven… please. Please hear me out.”

Riven didn’t move.

“It will not change anything.”

Alec took a step closer.

“Then let me suffer through this. Let me say what you deserve to hear.”

Riven’s jaw tightened.

“Speak.”

Alec choked on his breath.

“I am sorry.”

He took another step.

“I am so… fucking… sorry.”

Riven looked away.

“You already said that.”

“No,” Alec insisted, voice trembling.

“Not like this.”

He closed the distance between them.

“You didn’t deserve what I said.

You never have.

I was stupid. Weak. Cowardly.

Takot ako na malaman nila kung sino ka sa buhay ko…

kasi kapag nalaman nila, hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipapaliwanag sa sarili ko kung bakit ikaw ang gusto ko.”

Riven flinched.

Alec breathed shakily.

“But the truth is…

I like you.

I’ve always liked you.

Hindi dahil sa itsura mo.

Hindi dahil sa tahimik ka.

Hindi dahil iba ka.”

He clenched his fists.

“I like you because you make me better.

Because you make me want to be honest.

Because you make me feel seen in a way na hindi nagagawa ng lahat ng ‘friends’ ko.”

Alec’s voice cracked.

“And I hurt you. The one person I swore I’d protect.”

Riven stayed quiet.

But the trembling in his fingers gave him away.

Alec exhaled shakily.

“I didn’t know you were an heir.

I didn’t know you were a CEO.

And none of that matters.”

He took one last step —

so close, that air barely existed between them.

“I want you,” Alec whispered.

“Not the CEO.

Not the Sarmiento name.

Not the power.”

A pause.

“I just want the boy who smiles when he reads.

The boy who talks softly.

The boy who I was too scared to choose.”

Riven finally spoke.

“Why now? Why only now?”

Alec broke.

“Because losing you…”

His voice cracked into a whisper,

“…feels worse than anything I’ve ever been afraid of.”

Riven felt his chest cave.

“Do you think this is easy for me?” he whispered.

“Alec… I waited for you.

I gave you everything I could give.

And you threw me away the second someone watched.”

Alec’s eyes burned.

“I know.”

“And I can’t just forget that,” Riven said softly.

“I’m not asking you to forget,” Alec whispered.

“I’m asking you to let me prove it.

Let me earn you.

Let me fight for you.

Let me show you to the world…

the way I should have from the start.”

Riven looked into his eyes — and something inside him softened, just a fraction.

“Alec… this is not a movie. Hindi dahil sinabi mo ‘yan, okay na agad.”

“I know,” Alec whispered.

“And I’m not leaving.

Not unless you tell me to walk away.”

Riven stared at him.

Long.

Quiet.

Heavy.

Then finally…

“You hurt me.”

Riven’s voice trembled.

“You broke something in me.”

Alec nodded.

“Then I’ll stay… until I help you rebuild it.”

The room went still.

Riven’s breath hitched.

And for the first time in days…

he looked at Alec

not with anger

not with coldness

but with something fragile

something alive

something still aching

but willing.

Willing to try.

He whispered:

“Don’t make me regret this.”

Alec’s answer was immediate —

full of breath, full of emotion:

“Never again.”

Alec reached out, hand trembling.

Riven hesitated…

…then placed his hand in Alec’s.

A fragile touch.

A cautious start.

A dangerous hope.

But a beginning nonetheless.

And Alec pulled him into a quiet, shaking embrace —

forehead resting against Riven’s shoulder,

voice breaking with relief:

“Thank you… God, thank you…”

And Riven closed his eyes —

letting himself breathe again,

letting the storm inside him settle,

letting Alec hold him

for the first time

as someone who wasn’t hiding anymore.

END.