Fight
Avery's Point of View
As I walked past them, every step felt like carrying a thousand shards of glass inside my chest. My throat tightened, as if a thorn was lodged deep, making it hard to breathe. I kept repeating in my mind the one thing that had been keeping me from breaking apart. You need to do this, Avery. Para sa kanila. For their sake, not yours.
When I finally managed to get outside, I raised my hand to hail a taxi. The city buzzed with noise, horns, street chatter, the occasional bark of a stray dog but inside me, there was only silence. Cold, deafening silence. The cab stopped in front of me, the headlights washing over my shoes. I slipped in, gave my address, and pressed my forehead against the cool glass window. The driver hummed along with the radio, but I didn't hear the music. My ears were filled only with the echo of my own heartbeat.
"Diretso lang po," I murmured, though he already knew the route. My voice cracked slightly, betraying the storm I was trying to keep hidden. Keep it together, Avery. Naumpisahan mo na. You don't get to falter now.
The ride was a blur of streetlights. Each passing glow reminded me of moments I could no longer return to our late-night jokes, the laughter echoing in the dorm, the way Elliot would annoy me only to apologize with a grin, the way Edward always had my back, the way Tyron looked out for everyone, and... Tyler. My bestie.
When the taxi pulled up in front of my apartment, I paid quietly, muttering a polite thank you, and stepped out. The night air greeted me, cool and heavy. I was fumbling with my keys when I heard it... his voice.
"Sorry."
I froze. That voice, that familiar tone that had always been full of energy and lightness, now cracked with something raw.
Slowly, I turned.
It was Tyler. His head was bowed low, his shoulders tense. My heart squeezed painfully at the sight.
I inhaled sharply, trying to put on the mask I had worn all day. I needed to stay strong. "Sorry for what?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral even as my chest swirled with emotion.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. The hug was desperate, trembling, like he was holding onto something that was slipping away. I felt his weight press against me, not in strength, but in surrender.
"Sorry, Avery," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Sorry sa mga nasabi ko. Hindi ko sinasadya. Magiging good boy na ako, promise! Maghuhugas na ako ng pinggan. Bibilhan kita ng Yakult araw-araw. 'Di ba, gusto mo 'yon, ganda? Please... bumalik ka na."
My heart cracked open. The tears I had been forcing back all day welled up again, threatening to spill. His words were silly, exaggerated, exactly the kind of thing Tyler would say to make me laugh. But this time, they were drenched in sincerity, in regret. I could feel his tears seeping through my sleeve, and suddenly, I was the one trembling. Shet, Avery... bakit ba ang dali mong bumigay kay Tyler?
"Please, sorry na talaga..." His voice was almost childlike now, pleading.
My hands moved on their own, brushing his back, comforting him the way I always did when he was troubled. I wiped my own tears discreetly, willing myself not to lose control completely. "Shhh. Pinapatawad na kita. Tama na 'yan. Tahan na," I whispered, tapping his arm softly.
He pulled back slightly, and despite the redness of his eyes, he managed a small smile. "Para akong bata," he admitted, a weak chuckle escaping him.
I let out a laugh, though my chest still ached. "Kaya nga eh, ang panget mong umiyak," I teased, masking my pain with humor. The sound of our laughter filled the night, but deep down, I knew both of us were carrying wounds that laughter couldn't fully heal.
He studied my face then, and I saw it—the guilt in his eyes. It wasn't just guilt for his own words; it was guilt for everything that had unraveled between all of us. "Namiss ko 'yang tawa mo, ganda," he said softly. His smile was warm, but his eyes betrayed him. They were heavy, haunted. "Kanina kasi kala ko 'di ikaw 'yan."
That line hit me harder than I expected. For a second, I wanted to ask him what do you mean by that? Do I really look that different now? But instead, I forced a light response. "Siyempre eme lang," I said, brushing it off. But inside, I was shaken. Do I really seem like a stranger to the people I love the most?
He broke the silence again, his tone hopeful. "Tara na sa dorm?"
I stopped. My lungs tightened, my pulse quickened. This is it, Avery. Ito na 'yung part na kailangan mong maging matatag. I took a deep breath before I spoke. "About that..." I paused, staring at the pavement as if it could give me courage. "I think, 'di muna ako babalik."
The shift in his expression was immediate. His smile faltered, his brows knitted in confusion, his eyes dimmed. "Akala ko ba okay na tayo? Galit ka pa rin ba?" His voice trembled, filled with a kind of pain that made me want to take it all back.
I shook my head quickly, my hand brushing against his arm to reassure him. "No, Tyler. It's not about me and you. It's about them. Elliot. Tyron. Lahat tayo. Hindi ako babalik hangga't hindi sila okay." My voice steadied as I explained. This wasn't about personal grudges anymore; this was about healing a bigger wound.
So I told him everything about my plan, my decision to step away until things settled, until everyone found their place again. It felt good to finally voice it out, to let someone in on the weight I had been carrying alone.
And to my relief, he nodded, even smiled a little. "Tutulungan kita," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. In that moment, I realized that despite everything, Tyler would always choose to stand by me.
He scratched the back of his neck, chuckling nervously. "Patay ako sa tatlong 'yon pag nalaman nilang alam ko kung saan ka."
I couldn't help but laugh, and soon we were both laughing together and take note, real laughter this time, the kind that eased the heaviness in my chest. For the first time in days, I felt a flicker of lightness.
As we stood there under the dim glow of the streetlamp, I realized something. Maybe I didn't have to carry this burden completely alone. Tyler was still here, still willing to understand, still ready to back me up no matter how crazy my plans sounded.
And that gave me hope.
Please, let this plan work. Please, let us find a way back to each other. Sana... mabuo ulit kami.
Last night marked the real beginning of my plan. I had finally decided to do something, not just sit around in silence. If Elliot and Tyron wanted to drown themselves in pride, then fine but I was done watching from the sidelines. I wanted to step in, to fix what was broken, kahit gaano pa ito kahirap.
Tyler, of course, was my first ally. After our little heart-to-heart talk, I realized I couldn't handle everything alone. And naturally, Edward was the next choice. He was the most logical one to bring in, kasi si Edward, kahit chill at parang walang paki, is actually very observant. He always sees the little details that others miss. Tyler and I sat with him last night in my apartment. At first, Edward was hesitant, kasi alam niyang madali akong masaktan at baka ako mismo ang malugmok sa plano ko. But when Tyler started telling him about what he saw in Elliot, about how Tyron was also struggling to approach anyone, Edward finally agreed.
He even added his own twist. "Kung papansinin niyo," sabi niya habang nakasandal sa upuan, arms crossed casually, "hindi sila maglalapit kung walang spark. You need to create tension. Kailangan may mag-trigger para mapilitan silang mag-usap." He smirked at me knowingly, as if to say and guess who's the best person to do that?
Of course, ako na naman. Kaya ko raw. Ako ang may best role. Best actress daw. Honestly, it annoyed me at first. Pero inisip ko... maybe he's right. I've always been the bridge in our group, the one who laughs the loudest, the one who makes them move when they're stuck. Why not do it again, kahit na mas masakit this time?
But the hard part was the act itself. I needed to act colder, harsher than I actually felt. If people thought I was still soft, then I wouldn't get the results I wanted. I had to look like I was unbothered, kahit sa loob-loob ko, sumisigaw ako.
Originally, I wanted to distance myself forever, let them fix themselves without me. I already made my escape route which is my apartment, my so-called fresh start. Nagpahanap pa ako kay Dad ng lugar, nag-explain pa ako, nag-justify na kailangan ko ng sariling space. All that effort, all those nights convincing myself that I needed to break free. And yet here I am, planning how to crawl back, how to patch things up.
Arghhh, Avery, ang labo mo rin minsan. I kept telling myself I was doing it for them, that I was sacrificing my comfort, pero sa totoo lang, gusto ko ring bumalik. Gusto ko lang naman maramdaman ulit 'yung dati when everything was simple, when being with them felt like home. After everything I did to separate myself, bakit ganito? Bakit ako rin mismo ang naghahanap ng daan pabalik?
With those thoughts still lingering in my head, I pushed open the classroom door the next day.
All eyes turned toward me. Parang pelikula na biglang nag-pause at ako lang ang gumalaw. Whispers followed, curious stares that pierced my skin. Some were judging, others were just intrigued. But I knew what they were really thinking. That the girl who left has returned.
I straightened my back and held my chin high. Dedma mode. Poker face. No one needed to see the turmoil underneath. This was part of the role, after all.
I walked to my seat casually, each step calculated. My bag slid onto the desk with a soft thud, and I sat down like nothing happened, like the past two weeks were nothing but a blur.
But then... I felt a shadow looming over me.
I turned, and there they were. Tyron and Elliot.
Both of them looked uneasy, like they had rehearsed this moment but still weren't ready. In Tyron's hands was a bouquet of flowers that is fresh, vibrant, slightly trembling as if they weren't sure if they belonged to me. In Elliot's hands was a teddy bear, soft and warm-looking, completely out of place in his usually sharp, composed demeanor.
For a moment, I just stared at them. My heart raced, my throat tightened again. I wanted to smile, to cry, to run, all at once. But I forced myself to stay still, to keep my mask intact. This is it, Avery. This is the start of your game. Act well, or it all falls apart.
And so, with every emotion swirling inside me, I raised an eyebrow and asked, in the most controlled voice I could manage, "So... what's this supposed to mean?"
Edward's Point of View
Putek. Eto na yata ang highlight ng linggo.
I watched as Tyron and Elliot both stood up like actors auditioning for the same role. Tyron carried a bouquet of flowers, Elliot clutched a teddy bear, and both were dead set on presenting them to Avery like she was some sort of prize. "For you," sabay pa talaga. The way their voices overlapped almost made me choke on my own breath. Seriously, were they this obvious?
I glanced at Avery. Her face turned crimson, her eyes darting like she couldn't decide whether to accept the gifts or run straight out the door. She tried her best to keep a straight expression, but I knew her too well because she was panicking inside. Avery, kalma. Acting lang 'yan. You said you'd handle this, remember?
Tyron broke the silence first. "Ako ang nauna," he said firmly, glaring at Elliot.
Avery blinked, lips parting slightly like her system was glitching. Tangina, mukhang natataranta na siya. I almost wanted to laugh but I forced myself to keep my poker face.
"Excuse me," Elliot snapped, rolling his eyes. "Ako kaya ang unang nag-effort." He slammed the teddy bear on Avery's desk like he was marking territory. That wasn't just competitive energy, that was pure ego.
Avery froze. Her hands stayed folded on her lap as if touching either gift would ignite a war. She looked at the flowers, then the teddy bear, then back at the two idiots fighting in front of her. Nice going, boys. She's supposed to be the love of your lives, pero ginagawan niyo siya ng circus show sa harap ng buong class.
Tyron leaned forward, placing the bouquet right on top of Elliot's teddy bear. "Ito, Avery. 'Yung favorite mong bulaklak na nasa wallpaper ng phone mo."
Elliot scoffed, irritation dripping from every word. "Tsk. Mas love niya 'yang teddy bear. Kaya nga 'yun ang dinala ko."
"Wala akong pake! Flowers ang gusto niya!" Tyron's voice rose.
"Just because it's on her phone doesn't mean it's her favorite, you idiot!" Elliot barked back.
Nagkaharap na sila, eyes locked like wild animals ready to bite. Tyler and I instinctively leaned forward, alert mode on. Avery, though, sat straighter, her stare sharpening like daggers. Uh oh. She was losing patience.
"Oh, really?" Tyron snapped, his calm facade cracking. "You think you know her best? Just because you're loud doesn't mean you're right, genius."
"And just because you think you're calm doesn't make you smart, dude. Let me tell you something... at least ako ang first kiss niya."
Boom.
That one sentence dropped like a grenade. The entire room went silent. My eyes widened before I could stop myself. Did he seriously just throw that out like it was a casual fact?
I turned to Avery immediately. Her jaw tightened, her hands clenched slightly on her lap, but her face stayed unreadable. The acting mask was back, but I could feel the storm behind it.
Tyron's veins popped near his temple, his chest heaving. And before I could even blink, he shoved Tyler aside and lunged at Elliot.
Suntok agad. No warning. Chairs toppled, classmates gasped, and chaos erupted.
"Damn it!" I cursed, grabbing Tyron's shoulder while Tyler tried to restrain Elliot. Both of them were strong, fueled by pride and God knows what else. My arms ached from holding them back, and I was seconds away from giving up when—
"Enough!"
That voice.
We all froze. Even the air stilled.
Avery stood there, cold, commanding, her eyes sharp as glass. In that moment, she wasn't the Avery who laughed too loud or teased us relentlessly. She was a queen delivering judgment.
"Tapos na? Seryoso ba 'to? Nagpapaka-isip bata kayo para lang sa maliit na bagay. Don't you hear yourselves? You sounded pathetic."
Her words sliced through the room, buti na lang wala pang prof. Tyron and Elliot immediately dropped their gazes, shrinking like schoolboys caught red-handed by their strictest teacher. If this weren't such a mess, I'd be laughing my head off. Nice one, boys. Humble pie served fresh by the one girl you're fighting for.
"You two. Ayusin niyo 'to. Kung hindi, I swear, I won't just stop talking to you both—I'll leave. I'll transfer to a different university."
Even I stiffened at that. She said it with such conviction that for a second, I believed it wasn't acting anymore.
Elliot scoffed bitterly, "I don't think magkakasundo pa kami."
Avery's reply came swift, cold. "Then start pretending that I don't exist."
Damn. Savage. Even I felt that one in my gut.
Elliot groaned, raising his hands. "Jeez, okay! Chill!"
Tyron muttered, "We'll try," though his tone was still heavy with resentment. Tyler and I exchanged a look, both shaking our heads. This was going to take more than a scolding to fix.
But Avery wasn't done. She crossed her arms, steady gaze piercing both of them. "Before I accept these gifts, you'll shake hands first."
Classic Avery. Always making the impossible seem mandatory.
"Bilisan niyo, oh," I added teasingly, smirking at the two. "Avery's waiting." Of course, they shot me a glare sharp enough to cut steel, but I didn't care.
Finally, with visible reluctance, Tyron and Elliot clasped hands. Their grip was so tight, their knuckles turned white. You could almost hear the unspoken threats between their palms.
"Jusq po, tigilan niyo na 'yan!" Avery burst out, her frustration slipping.
Both immediately loosened their grips, suddenly obedient like scolded puppies. Avery allowed herself a small smile.
And damn, that smile. Even in the middle of a battlefield, it lit up the entire room.
"If handshake lang pala ang kailangan para ngumiti ka ulit," Tyron muttered softly, his eyes betraying a glimpse of vulnerability, "gagawin ko 'to araw-araw."
Avery rolled her eyes, smirking as she shifted her gaze to Elliot.
"What?" Elliot asked, clueless as ever, his tone caught between annoyance and confusion.
We all returned to our seats eventually, pretending like nothing happened. Chairs scraped back into place, murmurs died down, and the tension settled but it was still there, lurking. If Ma'am had been present, we would've been dead meat, suspended for sure.
Avery leaned back in her chair like a queen on her throne and commanded, "Okay. Quiet na. Sit down and don't bother me."
And just like that, silence ruled. She owned the room, undeniably.
Looking at Elliot and Tyron, I knew this was far from over. Their pride wouldn't just vanish with one handshake. This was only the first step, and there was still a long road ahead. But watching Avery take control with that kind of poise and conviction, I couldn't help but admire her.
She's brilliant. Honestly, iba siya.
Kung ako lang, siguro sumuko na ako sa gulo ng dalawang 'to. Pero si Avery? She stood there, fearless, and reminded everyone what really mattered. I was thankful, grateful even because I knew how much she wanted all of us to be okay again. And the truth is, gusto ko rin 'yon.
If there's anyone who could actually fix this mess, it's her.
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