Chapter 5:

Bret caught James in the comfort room. James was looking down at the sink and was breathing heavily and didn’t even notice that Bret was coming.

Bret: Dude, are you alright?

James looked up and his eyes were red. Bret knew that his friend was trying to control his tears from falling and his friend surely failed 100%.

Bret: Dude…

James: Why can’t we be ourselves? I can’t take this anymore.

Bret: Hey calm down. Just go with the flow. Have you talked to your manager already? I thought you’re gonna discuss with him on what you want?

James: Damn! I tried! But he said it’s not yet the right time. Especially now! My gawd! I felt so suffocated already. It’s not fair to Ann. I simply cannot reciprocate what she’s giving me.

Bret: Dude calm down. Please be logical. It’s not just you who will be affected by all these but so as Devon .

James: Sh**, I thought that 2 months vacation will stop this all but damn it didn’t.

Bret: Sige na, calm yourself na. We need to go back there and finish this all. Who knows, remember we are all going back to the house. Maybe this is your chance.

James can only sigh. He calmed himself and the best buds went back to the meeting room.

Before going back to the room, James stopped Bret.

James: Thank a lot Dude. (Sabay tapik sa balikat ni Bret)

Bret: Anytime bro.

Both went back to their seats. Devon could sense that something went wrong but had to stopd herself from asking for it will just worsen the situation. She composed herself and sat back straight but still managed to get simple glimpses to James.

Ann again was worried of James.

Ann: James, are you ok? I saw your ears turned red again. You want me to take you to the doctor?

James: I’m ok. Don’t worry about me.

Ann: But your ears are red and your eyes too. Maybe you’re having allergies. Let’s go to the hospital now. Please. (Ann is really trying so hard to convince James to see a doctor.)

James: I said I’m fine. Stop it! (Tinabig ang kamay ni Ann at tumaas na ang boses ni James. Nabigla si Ann at natigilan.)

This is the first time that James raised his voice. She’s accustomed to his mood swings but this is way beyond the usual. She noticed that things are different after his vacation to Australia . She knew something was wrong… something went wrong.