“LAYU-AN MO AKO! AYOKO SA KATULAD MONG KINAHIHIYA NG PAMILYA KO!”

Hindi makatingin si Aiden Veloria sa harap. Hindi dahil walang laman ang classroom — punô ito ng mga estudyanteng naghihintay sa final announcement ng kanilang professor — kundi dahil sa isang taong limang upuan lang ang layo sa kanya.

Callum Reyes.

Ang lalaking hindi niya dapat tinitingnan.

Ang lalaking hindi niya dapat nilalapitan.

Ang lalaking mahal niya nang tahimik.

Ang lalaking sinira niya kagabi.

Nang gabing hindi niya inaasahang magbabago ang lahat.

“Kalimutan mo na ako,” sabi niya kagabi.

“Layuan mo ako. Ayoko sa katulad mong… kinahihiya ng pamilya ko.”

At nang sinabi niya iyon, nakita niya sa mata ni Callum ang isang bagay na hindi niya malilimutan:

hindi galit.

hindi insulto.

hindi yabang.

Kundi pagkabagsak.

Parang may nabasag sa loob nito — at iyon ang basag na naririnig ni Aiden hanggang ngayon.

Pero bakit nga ba? Bakit niya nagawang saktan si Callum nang ganoon?

Simple.

Dahil tatlong oras bago iyon, nakuha niya ang mensahe mula sa pamilya niya:

“Ayaw namin sa Callum na ‘yan. Isa siyang walang direksyon, walang pangarap, at hindi ka dapat nakikitang kasama ang mga taong ganyan.”

Ang mensaheng iyon ang sumakal kay Aiden.

Ang mensaheng iyon ang nagpaalala ng pressure.

Ang mensaheng iyon ang nagpabukas sa lahat ng takot niya.

Kaya sa unang pagkakataon…

Sinaktan niya ang taong mahal niya.

“Mr. Veloria, are you okay?” tanong ng professor.

Aiden snapped back to reality.

“Yes, sir,” sagot niya, kahit hindi totoo.

Sa gilid ng mata niya, nakita niya si Callum — nakaupo, nakayuko, walang emosyon, walang paggalaw, parang nililipad ng isip.

Parang patay.

Mas masakit iyon kaysa sa galit.

Nang mag-dismiss ang klase, lahat ay lumabas agad.

Si Callum ang naunang tumayo.

Hindi man lang siya tiningnan.

Hindi man lang siya dinampian ng sulyap.

Aiden watched him leave.

Hinawakan niya ang mesa sa diin ng puso niya.

Kausapin mo siya.

Sabihin mong hindi mo sinasadya.

Sabihin mong natakot ka lang.

Sabihin mong mahal mo siya—

Pero wala siyang lakas.

Instead, he whispered…

“…I’m sorry.”

Pero narinig ba iyon ni Callum?

Hindi.

Kasi mabilis itong lumabas ng pinto.

At doon bumigay si Aiden.

Sa hallway, nakasandal si Callum sa locker.

Hindi dahil naghihintay siya — kundi dahil parang wala siyang lakas maglakad.

Hindi maalis ni Aiden ang tingin.

He looked destroyed.

A different version of Callum — the strong, confident, fearless Callum — had vanished.

Aiden took one slow step toward him.

“Callum…”

Callum didn’t look up.

“Please, just—just listen—”

Callum lifted his eyes.

Cold.

Empty.

“Para saan?” sagot nito, boses basag.

“Para marinig ko ulit na kinahihiya mo ako?”

Aiden froze.

Callum pushed away from the locker at tumingin sa kanya, matigas ang mukha pero nanginginig ang kamay.

“Hindi mo dapat sinabi ‘yon, Aiden. Hindi ko deserve ‘yon.”

Aiden’s throat tightened.

“I-I’m sorry—”

“No,” Callum said quietly.

“Sorry doesn’t fix anything.”

He stepped past Aiden.

And something inside Aiden cracked violently.

“Callum, wait—!”

But Callum didn’t.

That night, Aiden walked home with a heart so heavy it felt like a stone sinking deeper and deeper.

Pagdating niya sa bahay, naabutan niya ang ina niya sa living room, naka-cross arms, nakatingin sa kanya na parang may mali kahit wala pa siyang sinasabi.

“Good,” sabi ng mama niya. “Finally nakinig ka. Alam ko namang hindi ka masama, Aiden. Hindi bagay sa pamilya natin ang mga taong wala namang patutunguhan tulad ng Callum na ‘yan.”

Hindi kumibo si Aiden.

“Anak, gusto ko lang ang best para sa’yo,” dagdag ng mama niya.

“I want you to marry well. Be successful. Hindi ka dapat napapalibutan ng mga taong… dragging you down.”

Aiden felt something inside him curl up and die.

His mother continued.

“Hindi tayo nagtatrabaho para masayang ang reputation natin. Mag-isip ka naman.”

Aiden stared at her.

For the first time…

parang hindi niya kilala ang sariling pamilya.

Kinabukasan, Aiden tried to look for Callum.

Sa library.

Sa cafeteria.

Sa open field.

Sa gym.

Sa hallway.

Wala.

Lahat ng kilala niya nagsasabi:

“Oh, si Callum? Baka nag-cut.”

“Hindi ko siya nakita today.”

“Bro, hindi ba kayo usually magkasabay? Buti nga.”

Buti nga.

Buti nga daw.

God, kung alam lang nila.

Sa hapon, habang naglalakad si Aiden pauwi, nakita niya si Callum —

nakaupo sa bench sa ilalim ng puno, malayo ang tingin, walang backpack.

Parang iniwan niya ito kung saan-saan.

Parang hindi niya na kayang magdala ng kahit ano.

Naglakad si Aiden papalapit.

“Callum…”

Hindi lumingon ang lalaki.

Parang hangin si Aiden.

Tinabihan siya ni Aiden sa bench.

Callum exhaled sharply.

“What do you want?”

Aiden swallowed.

“To talk.”

“About what?”

Aiden whispered:

“About… us.”

Callum laughed — masakit, mapait.

“Us?”

He shook his head.

“Aiden, there is no us. Remember? You said it yourself: ayaw mo sa katulad kong ikinahihiya ng pamilya mo.”

“Hindi ko—”

“You did,” Callum cut him off sharply.

“And you meant it. Don’t pretend you didn’t.”

Aiden’s voice cracked.

“I didn’t mean it—”

“But you said it.”

Silence.

“You broke me, Aiden.”

Aiden felt a sting behind his eyes.

“I was scared,” bulong niya.

“My family—”

“You let them decide who you’re allowed to care about?”

Aiden closed his eyes.

Callum stood up.

“Stop chasing me,” Callum said softly.

“I don’t want to be your shame.”

And then he walked away.

Two days passed.

Aiden didn't eat well.

Hindi nakatulog nang maayos.

Hindi makapag-focus sa klase.

He wanted to fight for Callum.

He wanted to run after him.

He wanted to explain everything.

But Callum was nowhere to be found.

He wasn't attending classes.

He wasn’t submitting requirements.

He wasn’t even active online.

Parang nawala.

Aiden panicked.

On the third day, news spread across the university:

“The university’s main student café will undergo management transfer.”

Weird.

Pero wala namang nagtanong.

Lunch break came.

Aiden forced himself to eat kahit wala siyang gana.

Paupo pa lang siya nang may biglang pumasok na tatlong lalaki na naka-suit, may mga clipboard, at sumisilip sa café.

Students stopped eating.

“Who are they?” someone whispered.

“Ang yaman tingnan!”

“Bakit sila nandito?”

The café manager approached them.

“Sir, can I help you?”

One of the suited men handed her a folder.

“Effective today,” the man said calmly,

“this establishment has been purchased.”

“Purchased? By who—?”

And then the door opened again.

And a young man walked in.

Tall.

Sharp eyes.

Clean-cut hair.

Black long-sleeves.

Business casual but intimidating.

Everyone stared.

“Who’s that?!”

“Wait—hindi ba ‘yan si—?”

“No way…”

Aiden froze.

Because the person who entered was—

Callum.

Pero hindi ito yung Callum na kilala niya.

This Callum was different.

Cold.

Composed.

Powerful.

Like he walked in not as a student…

…pero bilang may-ari.

He looked straight at Aiden.

And Aiden felt his pulse jump painfully.

The suited men stepped aside as if clearing the path for him.

The café manager stuttered.

“Sir—sino po kayo—?”

Callum smiled slightly.

“Callum Reyes.”

“A-And you are…?”

“The new owner.”

Gasps erupted everywhere.

“Ano—?!”

“Owner?!”

“No way—”

“Impossible—!”

“HE bought the café?!”

Hindi makapagsalita si Aiden.

Callum turned toward him.

Not angry.

Not soft.

Not broken.

Just… unbothered.

“You were looking for me, right?” Callum said calmly.

Aiden swallowed.

“I—I wanted to talk—”

“We will,” Callum said.

“At least… now you can’t run from me.”

Aiden blinked.

“What do you mean—?”

Callum stepped closer.

“I couldn’t sleep for days,” Callum said quietly.

“Hindi ako makapasok sa klase… hindi ako makagalaw… kasi iniisip ko yung sinabi mo.”

Aiden’s chest tightened.

“I’m sorry—”

Callum raised a finger.

“Huwag muna.”

He exhaled shakily.

“I realized something.”

“What?”

“That I don’t want you running back and forth between me and your family.”

Aiden looked crushed.

Callum continued:

“So I decided to change my life.”

“How?” Aiden whispered.

Callum handed him a paper.

A business certificate.

A transfer of ownership.

Signed.

“This café?” Callum said calmly.

“Pinundohan ko. Inilabas ko ang savings ko. Kinuha ko yung side-business ng parents ko. Kinuha ko ang chance na ibigay sa akin.”

Aiden stared at him.

“You—”

“Yes,” Callum said.

“I bought it.”

Aiden couldn’t breathe.

“But why? Para saan—?”

“Para sa akin,” Callum said.

“Para hindi na ako tinatawag ng mga tao na walang pangarap. Para hindi na ako tinatapakan ng pamilya mo. Para alam kong may ipinaglalaban ako.”

Aiden’s eyes filled with tears.

“And for you,” Callum added quietly.

Aiden froze.

“For me…?”

Callum looked him in the eyes for the first time in days.

“I wanted to be someone you’re not ashamed of.”

Aiden’s breath hitched.

“But you were never someone I was ashamed of—”

“You made me feel like I was.”

Aiden’s tears fell.

Callum inhaled deeply.

“Kaya ngayon…”

He took a step closer.

“So I ask you…

now that I changed my future…

gusto mo pa ba ako

or gusto mo lang yung version na okay sa pamilya mo?”

Aiden’s chest shattered.

He opened his mouth—

but Callum raised a hand.

“And whatever answer you give…”

Callum whispered, voice trembling—

“will decide what happens next…

sa ating dalawa.”

For a moment, the entire café went silent.

Aiden stood there holding the papers Callum handed him — hands trembling, throat tight, eyes stinging.

Sa harap niya, nakatayo si Callum tulad ng hindi niya pa nakikita noon:

confident, calm, collected…

pero sa ilalim ng lahat ng iyon, may bakas ng isang sugat na hindi pa rin naghihilom.

Ang sugat na siya ang may gawa.

“Aiden,” Callum said, voice deep, steady.

“I’m not asking for forgiveness. Hindi ako umaasa ng second chance. I’m only asking you to be honest.”

Aiden looked up, completely broken.

“Honest?”

His voice cracked.

“Callum… I was never honest with myself.”

Callum didn’t move.

Aiden took a step closer — then another — until halos magkadikit na sila.

“It’s not you I was ashamed of,” Aiden whispered.

“It was me.”

Callum’s brows furrowed slightly.

“My family taught me to be afraid,” Aiden continued.

“To be perfect. To be obedient. To be the kind of son they could show off. And when they said your name like you were… trash… parang lahat ng takot ko sa loob, pumutok.”

His voice shook.

“But I never believed them.

Never.

Not for one second.”

Callum inhaled slowly, chest rising and falling.

Aiden’s voice softened into a plea.

“You were never the one I wanted to push away.”

“Then why did you?” Callum whispered.

Aiden’s eyes filled again.

“Because I thought I had to choose between you… and the family I’ve been trying so hard to please my whole life.”

Callum’s jaw tensed.

“And now?”

Aiden stepped even closer.

Barely inches between them.

“Now…” he whispered,

“I choose the person who stayed even after I hurt him.

The person who changed his life

not to impress anyone

but to prove something to himself.”

He placed a shaking hand on Callum’s arm.

“I choose you.

If you’ll still have me.”

The café held its breath.

The suited men looked away.

The baristas pretended to check stock.

The students watching from afar froze in place.

And Callum…

Callum closed his eyes for a long, painful moment.

When he opened them—

there was no hatred.

No coldness.

No emptiness.

Just exhaustion…

relief…

and the raw ache of someone who fought alone for too long.

“Aiden,” Callum said softly.

“You broke me.”

Aiden swallowed.

“I’ll spend every day fixing what I broke.”

Callum looked away, trying to stay composed — but a tear slipped down the side of his face.

Aiden’s heart cracked again.

Callum’s voice was hoarse.

“I didn’t buy this café to show off.”

He breathed deeply.

“I bought it because I needed to prove to myself na hindi ako walang kwenta. Na hindi ako burden. Na hindi ako yung lalaki na dapat ikahiya ng kahit sino.”

Aiden reached for his hand.

“You were never that person in my eyes.”

Callum hesitated.

Aiden squeezed his fingers gently.

“And I promise…

kung papayagan mo ako…

pipiliin kita kahit kanino.

Kahit kailan.

Kahit harap-harapan sa pamilya ko.”

Silence.

A storm of emotions flickered across Callum’s face.

Pain.

Hope.

Fear.

Longing.

Then finally—

“Show me,” Callum whispered.

Aiden blinked.

“W-What?”

Callum stepped slightly back, giving Aiden space — but his voice stayed steady.

“Show me you’re done hiding.”

His gaze softened.

“Show me you’re choosing me. Not them.”

Aiden understood immediately.

He inhaled.

His hands trembled.

But he nodded.

He turned around.

And in front of the entire café — students, staff, strangers — Aiden lifted his chin and said, clearly, firmly:

“Callum Reyes is the person I choose.”

Everyone froze.

A few gasped.

Someone dropped a fork.

The café manager nearly fainted.

Aiden looked back at Callum, eyes shimmering.

“I’m done living in fear.”

Then — with full courage —

he stepped forward, cupped Callum’s jaw gently…

And kissed him.

Slow.

Soft.

Shaking.

But real.

Callum’s breath caught — then melted into the kiss, a small sound escaping his throat as if every broken piece inside him finally loosened.

Warmth replaced the cold.

Hope replaced the fear.

Love — the kind they both ran from — wrapped around them like gravity.

When they pulled away, Aiden whispered:

“Hindi na kita itataboy.”

His thumb brushed Callum’s cheek.

“Kahit kailan.”

Callum looked into his eyes — and something inside him surrendered.

“I’ve waited for that for too long,” he said softly.

Aiden smiled — genuinely, for the first time in days.

“Then let me spend the rest of my life making sure you never have to wait again.”

Callum exhaled, shaky but hopeful.

“Okay,” he whispered.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Aiden nodded.

And with that—

two boys stood in the middle of a café, surrounded by shock and whispers, but wrapped in a small world of their own.

Not perfect.

Not painless.

Not easy.

But finally, honestly, bravely—

together.

END.