---------------BOOK DETAILS----------------

[BOOK NAME] SDP2: Dating Alys Perez

[TOTALPARTS] 50
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[ BOOK DESCRIPTION ]
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SDP 2 (Finished: February 23, 2014)
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[1] SDP2: Dating Alys Perez
*******************************************
Dedicated kay Jam! Ang aking beloved cover maker!
Love! :>> Follow me on twitter and tweet me your f
ave line! :> @beeyotchWP

--

Prologue

(Alys' POV)

"These are your books, and this is your schedule,"

sabi sa akin nung blonde na babae sa office tapos
may inabot siyang papel. Naman, oh! Kakadating ko
lang sa NY, tapos schedule na agad ang bumungad s
a akin! Huhuhu. "And these are your keys," sabi ni
ya sa akin tapos nagstart na siyang maglakad palab
as sa office.

Nandito kasi ako ngayon sa dorm. Ewan ko ba kay Mo

mmy bakit dito ako dinala. Kasi naman, nasa Cali s
i Dane, nandito ako sa New York. So far away from
my baby bro!!
"Your parents specifically requested for you to be
rommates with the smartest kid in this building,"
sabi niya tas nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad. Ang
sama talaga ni Mommy!! Pero okay na din 'to, at le
ast may magtuturo sa akin pag mahirap ang assignme
nt ko. Advertising kasi yung degree program ko dit
o. Huhuhu. Mamamatay na ako. :(

Nagstop siya sa isang room. Okay naman sa building

na 'to, malinis tsaka comfty yung atmosphere.

"Oh, Kei's not around. Oh, well. Your things are a

lready inside. I'll leave you now," sabi niya tapo
s iniwan niya na ako.

Pumasok ako tapos nahiga ako sa kama. Dalawa lang

pala kami dito. Mabait kaya si Kei? Naman! Ayoko p
o ng masamang roommate, Papa God. Sana po good gir
l si Kei. Baka po kaugali niya si Kei sa SCA. Wag
po!!

Inayos ko muna yung mga gamit ko pero syempre nilab

as ko muna yung laptop ko!!

"Hi, Drake!!" sabi ko sa screen tapos nag wave ako

. Hehehe. Wala pang one week na wala ako sa Pilipi
nas, sobrang miss ko na si Drake!
Nag 'tss' na naman siya tapos uminom siya nung ban
ana milk niya. Ang adik dun ni Drake! Hmp! Ayaw ni
ya nga akong bigyan kahit na nung aalis na ako. :(
Ang meanie!

("Why are you calling at this time of the day? Sho

uldn't you supposed be sleeping or something?")

"Grabe ka, ha! Ikaw na nga namiss, ikaw pa galit!"

("I'm not mad. I'm just concerned about your welfa

re, Noob. It's ten in the evening there.")

=___=

Bakit pati timezone sa America alam niya?! Bakit a

ng genius niya?! Bakit lamang ng 40 points ang IQ
niya sa IQ ko?! Bakit hindi ako matalino para sa P
inas pa din ako?! Huhuhu!!

Medyo nagmove ako pa gilid tapos kumuha ako ng str

awberry milk mula sa ref. Huh! Akala niya! Sinabi
na yata ni Mommy lahat ng need ko sa room eh. Kump
leto na gamit ko, ako na lang talaga ang kulang. S
tuffed na din ng strawberry food ang ref. Love ko
talaga si Mommy!
Ininom ko din yung Milk ko habang nag eenjoy siya
sa Banana Milk niya. Kainis! Namimiss ko pa din si
Drake kahit na kaharap ko siya!

"Eeeee! Hindi ako mapakali dito, Drake. Wala akong

makausap. :((("

("Then talk to them. That's where you are good at,

talking to people.")

"Huh??"

("You annoy most people so they are being forced t

o talk to you. That's what you did to me the first
time I met you. You annoyed me.")

GRRRR!! Ang bad pa din ni Drake! Akala ko magiging

mabait na siya sa akin dahil sabi niya love niya
na ako, pero ang meanie pa din niya!

Inadjust ko yung monitor tapos dumapa ako sa kama.

Ang sarap! Ang lambot!!

("Noob.")

"Hmmm?"
("I can see your prematured boobs from here. You mi
ght wanna change position.")

>////////////<

Tumayo ako agad! Grabe naman ang pervy na ni Drake

!! Simula nung gabi na yun, naging super pervy na
siya!! Huhuhu! Naiilang pa din ako pag ganyan siya
. Di ako sanay, lalo na pag naaalala ko yung sinas
abi niya na hinihintay niya yung 20th birthday ko!
Feeling ko rerapin niya ako. Hehehe.

"Ang bastos mo!!"

("What could I do? You tempt me so much.")

Sabi ko sa inyo eh! Ang pervy na niya! Nahawa na si

ya kay Daddy! It's his fault!!

Tumakbo ako papunta sa closet at kumuha ng sweater

. Grrr! Kailangan kong i-protect ang aking body, a
ng pervy ni Drake, eh!

Bumalik na ako sa harap ng monitor with my beloved

shield, aka, sweater. Medyo malamig na dito pero
okay lang. Batang aircon ako, di ako aatras sa lam
ig! Hahaha!

("So, how are you coping up?")

Nagpout na ako. "Hindi ko gusto dito. Madaming blo

nde, ang tatangkad ng mga tao, at higit sa lahat,
puro sila English speaking!!"

Natawa si Drake sa akin. Omo! Ang cutie niya talaga

magsmile! Gusto ko siya i-kiss!!

"Sige, tawa pa. Ang meanie mo na simula nung umalis

ako. Di mo na ako mahal, no?"

Nagsmile siya sa akin. ("Stupid. I love you, of co

urse. I wear this,") sabi niya tapos pinakita niya
sa akin yung bigay ko sa kanya na ring. Good!! Pi
naghirapan ko yan sa timezone dati! ("Even though
it looks weird.")

=___=

"Hindi kaya! Ang cutie niya!"

("Whatever. Anyway, did you already meet your roomm

ate?")

Umiling ako. Wala pa eh, sino nga roommate ko? Kei

ba? Omg lang talaga kung sinumang Kei 'to! Wag sa
na b-itchy kagaya ni Kei Chui!

("Be nice, Noob. She'll be with you for quite some

time. Even if you're stupid in English, try to sp
eak. Anyways, they won't notice your grammar since
they're using wrong grammar, as well.")

"Talaga??"

Nagnod siya. ("Good night. I have to help my Dad to

morrow.")

"Bakit magssleep ka na ba?? Umaga jan, di ba??"

("Yes. Can't I sleep during daylight? Tss.")

"Wag muna!!"

("Miss me that much, Noob? I'll call you later. Bye

.")
"I love you!!"

("Fine. I love you more.")

Tapos... nag heart sign ako bago patayin ni Drake

yung call! Hihihi. Kinikilig pa din ako pag nag I
love sa akin si Drake! Dati kasi puro Tss lang lum
alabas sa bibig niya, ngayon may variety na! May I
love you at I miss you na! O, di ba? Improving na
si boyfriend!

Inayos ko muna ang books ko at konting gamit and t

hen nagsleep na ako. Baka hindi na dadating si Kei
. Bukas na lang.

--

(Tripp's POV)

"Pa, bakit naman sinama mo si Tofer dito sa akin?

Labo naman, oh!" sabi ko kay Papa sa telepono. Pan
o ba naman, pumayag na nga akong pumunta dito sa N
YU, ang kaso lang, kasama ko naman 'tong magaling
kong pinsan.

Nahiga si Tofer sa kama. Si Papa may flat dito sa

New York, buti na lang walking distance lang sa NY
U kaya dito na kami. Labo lang talaga! Bakit kasam
a pa si Tofer, eh ang bwisit niyan sa buhay ko! Ku
ng bwisit na si Drake, mas doble kabwisitan nitong
kutong lupa na 'to sa'kin. Napaka bad influence k
aya nito. Psh.

"Oy, Tripp. Papanget ka agad niya. Chill lang, pin

san," sabi niya tapos kinuha niya yung bag niya at
naglabas ng mga kalat niya. Aish!

Binato ko sa kanya yung kalat niya. Kakadating lan

g namin dito, puro kalat na agad sa apartment. Pur
o balat ng chichirya. Gagawin pa yata akong alipin
ng bwisit na 'to eh.

"Aray naman, Tripp! Dati naman kay Drake ka lang g

anyan, bakit ngayon pati sa akin ang sama mo na?"

Akala ko pa naman matatahimik na yung buhay ko dit

o kasi wala ng mga asungot na pinsan, yun pala may
kasama pa ako. Ang pangit pa jan, eto pang Tofer
na 'to! Mas matitiis ko pa si Drake eh.

Kinuha ko yung susi dun sa lalagyan. "Kakain ako. S

ama ka ba?"

Dali dali naman siyang tumayo. "San ka ba kakain?"

"Daming tanong? Sa Diner jan sa labas. Ice na basta

pagkain. Tara na."
"Oo nga, oo na. Napaka PMS mo na din, para ka ng si
Drake."

"Isa pang sabi ng pangalan ni Drake, papatulugin ki

ta sa labas para mamatay ka na sa lamig."

=____=

Pagkatapos mag ayos ni Tofer, lumabas na kami. Bak

it ba nga kasi biglaan paglipat ko dito? Psh. Tas
pasukan na agad, eh sa Pinas bakasyon pa. Labo. Da
pat next sem na pala ko nagsimula. Hay.

--

(Aya's POV)

"Aish, ano na naman, Kent?!!"

Kainis na si Kent!! Ang clingy much niya. Psh. Hin

di ko alam anyareh dito eh. Simula talaga nung nag
ing classmates kami ni CB sa isang klase, naging s
uper duper clingy na ni Kent. Ugh! Medyo nakakasuk
a!
"Bee naman. Hehehe. Sige na, punta ka na sa dinner
sa bahay??"

Umiling ako. "Ayoko nga. Mamaya pakilala mo pa ko s

a parents mo eh!"

"Oo kaya nga kita inaaya, di ba?"

Umiling ako lalo. Di pa ako prepared sa meet the p

arents! Buti sana kung kagaya lang ni Mama na bali
w yung nanay ni Kent, eh di go, pero huhuhu di ko
alam baka masungit pala ang Mama niya! Miss ko na
si Besh! Ano kaya naramdaman niya nung pinakilala
siya ni Drake? Tsk. Ang cool din kasi ni Tito Stev
e kaya feeling ko easy lang kay Besh yun.

"Bee naman... Malapit na kaya tayong mag six months

..."

"Oh tapos?"

"Bee naman!! Sige na, pumayag ka na."

Aish.

"Kent, ayoko. Next time na lang, ha?"

Tumalikod na siya. Hala.

"Ewan ko sayo, Aya. Yung ibang babae, gustung gust

o ipakilala sila sa magulang ng boyfriend nila. Ik
aw naman, ayaw mo. Bahala ka jan. Dun ka na sa She
en mo."

Anyareh?!!!

--

(Drake's POV)

"Drake, say cheese!"

-____-

Psh. If not for the favor I'm asking, I wouldn't ha

ve agreed to this stupid set up.

Dad approached me. "Anak naman, family picture ang

sabi ko, di funeral picture! Smile ka naman jan!"
I tried my best to smile. I look weird when I smil
e so I don't smile often. Alys said she likes seei
ng me smile but I still think I look weird so I st
ill won't smile... unless she does something stupi
d. Stupidity is Alys' middle name. She's a noob.

Tita Katrina stood beside me and my Dad on the oth

er side. Her tummy's already bulging. I wonder if
my brother would like me. I think I'll make a real
ly cool brother. I'm waiting for Ethos already. I
want the baby. I want to have my own baby but I sh
ould wait.

We all tried to smile and it's awkward. My Dad is

the only person who likes this idea. I think even
Tita Katrina finds this set up weird. I find this
really weird.

After the photoshoot, I went out and tried to call

Alys. I want to go there, too, but my Dad won't a
llow me to. He said I should finish first my studi
es here. He's being unfair. I heard that Tripp is
there as well. It's not fair.

"Drake?"

My Dad said. He followed me outside.

"What?" I said and then I tried calling Alys again

. She's not picking up. Maybe she got into trouble
 again. She's a trouble maker, for all I care.

He took a deep sigh. "Alam ko naman na gusto mo tal

agang sumunod sa New York."

"Yes. Can I go now?"

He shook his head. This is unfair. I've been follo

wing him around. I agreed to the photoshoot, I eve
n agreed to going back to the house, I even signed
those d-amned papers saying that I won't get my i
nheritance if I take my studies for granted. I've
been practically licking his a-ss.

"I have a deal," he said.

"What?"

"Take an APE for your minor classes, pag napasa mo

yun, papayag akong magbakasyon ka. Bakasyon lang.
"

I nodded. "Easy. Prepare my tickets now."

"Ang yabang mo."

"I'm a genius, Dad. I thought you knew that alread
y? Anyway, bye. I'll be studying to be sure."

--

Author's Note:

Since I'm busy (I really am. It just so happened t

hat I'm a bum so I frequently neglect my studies h
ahaha), di ko mapagtutuunan ng pansin 'to. Kung ay
aw niyo, pwede niyo naman wag muna basahin or what
. Kung mag uupdate man ako, super bagal. Ang prior
ity ko ay ang A Little Too Late at That Uptight Ma
n.

Anyways, di pa din ako sure na ano mangyayari dito

. Let's just see where this would lead us all! <3

Ps, soon to be published ang FHADGK, at kung magig

ing successful yun, possibly, mapublish din ang SD
P under Summit! Let's pray! :>

xx

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[2] -1-
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-1-
(Alys' POV)

"What the heck is wrong with you?!"

Omg sabi na nga ba, masama ang pakiramdam ko dito

kay Kei eh! Kei Chui nga! Bakit siya nandito sa NY
U?! Akala ko ba sa Russia siya pupunta? Hello! Ang
layo naman ng Russia sa New York!

Medyo naglakad ako palayo sa kanya. Umagang umaga

kasi, nagagalit na agad siya sa akin. Wala pa nga
akong ginagawa eh... Kakagising ko lang tapos kuma
in lang naman ako... Tapos nagsisisigaw na siya. :(

Naglakad siya palapit sa akin habang ako naman, na

ka clutch yung kamay sa comforter. Natatakot ako k
ay Kei! Sobrang scary niya! Ano ba ang nagustuhan
ni Sheen dito? Gusto ba niya yung mga nakakatakot
na babae?

"Alys Zyril Perez," sabi niya na nakakatakot. Jusk

o, Alys! Breathe in, breathe out. Kaya mo yan!

Medyo mahina lang yung boses ko kasi scared pa din

ako kay Kei... "B-bakit?"
Nakataas yung kilay niya tapos tumingin siya sa pin
agkainan ko.

T^T

Kasi naman. Hindi ako marunong mag wash ng dishes!

! Hindi naman kasi ako naghuhugas sa bahay kasi na
ndun naman sila Manang! Tsaka nung nasa condo ako,
may dish washer naman. E dito, walang dish washer
! Ano naman gagawin ko? Huhuhu.

"Uhm... tatapon ko ba yung plato?"

Inirapan niya ako tapos naupo siya sa bed niya. "Yo

u're hopeless. Why are you even here?"

Sinuklay ni Kei yung kamay niya sa buhok niya tapo

s tinanggal niya yung boots niya. Grabe, ang prett
y pretty ni Kei! Swear! Pwede ko na siyang maging
girl crush. Yung buhok niya, naging blonde na, tap
os mas pumuti pa siya tsaka pumayat siya. Basta su
per pretty niya! May boyfriend na kaya siya? Kasi
ang alam ko, hinihintay siya ni Loves... Sana wala
pa. Alam ko kasi na mahal na mahal ni Loves si Ke
i kahit na mala monster siya.

Dahan dahan akong naupo sa kama ko. "Dito ako mag a

aral?"
Tinaas niya yung kilay niya. "Are you effin' kiddi
ng me? You? Alys Perez? The lowest in our batch?"

Grabe! Binabawi ko na yung sinabi ko! Kahit na ang

pretty niya, ang sama ng ugali niya! Sana nakamov
e on na si Loves sa kanya!! Grrr!

"Grabe ka naman, Kei. Mataas naman yung grades ko

last sem..." sabi ko. Totoo naman, mataas yung gra
des ko. Kaya lang naman ako lumipat dito kasi na d
in pakiusap ni Mommy. Ewan ko ba sa kanila ni Dad,
ayaw yata nila ng anak sa Pilipinas, e. Tignan mo
si Dane, nasa Cali. Ako, nasa New York. Gusto yat
a nila ng long distance relationship. Weird.

Natanggal na niya yung boots niya pati yung leathe

r jacket niya. Tignan mo, chicks na chicks na si K
ei! Gusto ko din maging ganyan. Puro sweater lang
ang dala ko eh. Sana makapag shopping ako dito. Hu
huhu. Gusto ko din magmukhang rockstar!!

"Whatever."

Lumapit ako dun sa plato tapos tinapon ko sa labas

. Tsk. Bibili na nga lang ako ng mga disposable. A
yoko talaga mag wash ng dishes. No.

Pagbalik ko, nakalatag na lahat ng books ni Kei, l

aptop, study lamp. Ayos! Ready na si Kei mag aral.
Tumabi ako sa kanya. Siguro naman hindi niya ako
kakagatin, di ba?

"Kei..." sabi ko. Ang cutie ni Kei. Nakasuot pa si

ya ng glasses! Bibili din ako niyan. Ano ba 'to? N
agiging idol ko na si Kei!

"Oh?"

"Ano'ng course mo?"

Tumingin siya sa akin. "First, Alys, the term cour

se refers to the 'subjects.' The proper question i
s, 'what is your degree program'."

Tumango ako. Grabe! Ngayon ko lang nalaman yun. He

hehe. Alam na kaya ni Drake yun? Gawin ko ngang tr
ivia sa kanya yun!

"So, ano ang degree program mo, Kei?" Tanong ko sa

kanya. Omo! Pareho pa pala kami ng degree program
, sabi niya. Hehehe. Alam na! Kaya lang nakakuha n
a yata ng advance subjects si Kei dito kasi dito n
a siya since last sem... Hahabol na lang ako.

Nagtuloy na magstudy si Kei. Umagang umaga, nagsst

udy na siya. Lumabas muna ako para mag jogging, an
g sarap kasi mag jog dito sa Central Park. Ang lam
ig lamig.

Kinuha ko yung earphone ko tapos nagpalit na ako n

g shorts, sweater, at running shoes. Nagtext ako k
ay Drake, hindi pa nagrereply, e. Siguro natutulog
pa 'yun. Mahilig na mag beauty sleep yun, e. Good
for the skin daw! Daming alam ni boyfriend!

-Singing radio head at the top of our lungs, with

the boombox blaring as we're falling in love. Got
a bottle of whatever but it's making us drunk, sin
ging here's to never growing up.-

Namimiss ko na sila Aya, Kent, Sheen, lahat ng fri

ends ko! Haaaay. Pero sabi naman nila sa akin, sus
ubukan daw nilang magbakasyon dito. Love na love k
o talaga sila! Sabi din sa akin ni Drake, magkakar
on din daw ako ng friend dito. Maghintay lang daw
ako tsaka magsalita daw ako minsan, baka daw kasi
mapagkamalan akong pipe.

Habang nagjjog ako, may sumabay sa akin na babae. H

mmm?

-Call up all our friends, go out this weekend. For

no d-amn reason, I don't think we'll ever change.
Meet you at the spot, half past ten o'clock. We d
on't ever stop and we'll never gonna change. Say,
won't you stay forever, stay if you stay forever.
Hey, we can stay forever young.-
Nagsmile siya sa akin kaya nagsmile na lang din ak
o. Huminto muna ako sandali. First time ko kasi ma
gjog. Ewan ko ba bakit ako nagjog dito, siguro dah
il ayoko sa room dahil hindi ako pinapansin ni Kei
. Pati wala din akong kilala dito kaya mas okay ma
gjog, hindi ako forced na makipag usap sa peoplets.

Kinuha ko yung phone sa side pocket. Uyyy. Nagtext

si Boyfriend!!

From: The Drake Palma Way

Call me.

OMG OMG! Wait!!

calling...

The Drake Palma Way

"Drakey!!"

("Tss. Missed me?")

"Oo kaya. Hehehe. Namiss mo ako?"

Grabe! Sobrang love na love ko si Drake. Iiyak tal
aga ako pag nagbreak kami. Kasi naman, bakit kaya
ganun? Sa totoo lang, wala talagang ginagawa si Dr
ake para magkaganito ako. Pero grabe, kahit simple
ng tingin niya lang sa akin, nagvvibrate talaga an
g puso ko!

("I don't know. I'm liking this set up, actually.")

"Ha?! Why naman?! Ayaw mo ba akong makita??"

Grabe. :(

("Yes. Because I'm tempted whenever I'm near you.")

O______O

"GRABE KA, DRAKE SEBASTIAN PALMA!! YUNG KATAWAN KO

LANG BA ANG HABOL MO?!"

Narinig kong tumawa siya mula sa kabilang linya. T

ignan mo 'to! Simula nung umalis ako, lagi na siya
ng natatawa. Nagiging comedian na talaga ako!
("I was kidding. I'm busy here. I was with Dad the
whole day. What's up with you?")

"Eto, nagjjog. Kakapagod pala 'to."

("Stupid. Of course. Did you meet your roommate alr

eady?")

Sheez. Si Kei nga pala. Sasabihin ko kaya kay Drak

e? Oo na lang! Para pwede din ako magreklamo sa mg
a nararamdaman kong pang aalipusta sa akin ni Kei!

"Si Kei Chui..."

Hindi nagsalita si Drake. Anyareh?! Na shock din ba

siya? Na shock din kasi ako!!

May bigla akong narinig magsalita sa background per

o hindi ko masyadong marinig. Sino ba yun?

"Drake? Still there?"

("Ah, yes. What were you saying?")

Sinabi ko ulit sa kanya yung about sa kay Kei nga.
Jusko, Lord, sana po magkasundo kami ni Kei. Gust
o ko naman po talaga siyang maging friend nung nas
a SCA pa lang kami kaya lang po hindi po talaga ak
o makalapit sa kanya dahil po sikat siya sa school
, ako po hindi po masyado pero cute naman po ako.
Sana po ngayon na roommate na kami, maging close n
a po kami.

("Kei seems good. You should befriend her.")

"Oo naman. Hehehe. Drake?"

("Hmm?")

"Pwede ka bang magbakasyon dito? Bakasyon naman, di

ba? Kahit one week lang?"

Napahinto siya ng ilang seconds. ("Why? I said I'l

l visit you on Thanksgiving. Can't wait?")

Hindi niya siguro ako namimiss. Kasi nanjan naman

si Shaira. Haaay. Pero sabi naman ni Shaira, ittry
niya daw na wag harutin si Drake pero kahit na! A
lam ko naman na deads na deads si Pugits sa boyfri
end ko. Delikado pa din!
"Kasi naman--- ano ba yan! Bakit namatay?! Tsk."

Binaba ko na yung phone kasi hindi na ako maka con

tact. Haay. Magwowork kaya kami ni Drake? I mean,
mahirap ang LDR, di ba?

--

(Tripp's POV)

"Tripp, tara na! Libot tayo sa NYU!"

Naman o! Binato ko nga ng unan. Umagang umaga, nan

gungulit na naman 'tong hampas lupang 'to. Sampid
na nga siya dito sa apartment, ang kulit kulit pa.
May bahay naman dito nanay niya, bakit nagsusumik
sik siya dito sa apartment ng tatay ko? Labo talag
a ng pamilya ng mga Palma. Hindi ko maintindihan m
insan.

Nagtalukbong ako ng kumot tas tumalikod sa kanya.

Centralized kasi yung bahay, ewan ko ba kung bakit
. Malamig na nga sa labas, dito din sa loob, malam
ig. Sira yung temperature adjustor kaya sa tingin
ko, malapit na kaming mamatay sa frost bite dito.

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Tofer. Umalis kang mag isa," sabi

ko. Ayoko nga umalis ngayon. Gusto ko lang matulog
ng matulog. Magsisimula na yung klase sa isang ar
aw at kinakabahan ako. Wala din kasi akong kilala
dito. Nagbabakasyon lang ako dito kaya wala din ak
o kaibigan. Pati matatalino mga tao sa NYU, kailan
gan ko mag aral ng mabuti para pagbalik ko sa Pina
s, mas magaling na ako kay Drake. Yun lang naman g
usto ko sa buhay kasi nasa kanya na si Zyril.

Kinuha ni Tofer yung susi niya tas nagsuot siya ng

running shoes. Problema nun? Tsk.

Pagkatapos ng ilang oras, bumangon na din ako. Nag

luto ako ng kakainin ko, buti na lang wala dito yu
ng asungot, nakakain ako ng maayos. Pero lumabas a
ko sandali dahil sa Starbucks. Leche naman kasi, b
akit di sila nagdedeliver? E di sana mas madali yu
ng buhay ko.

Nung madaan ako sa park, parang nakita ko si Zyril

? Tama ba? Tsk. Baka namamalik mata lang ako, nasa
Pinas kaya si Zy. Ano naman gagawin nun dito, e p
atay na patay yun sa pinsan ko. Hay labo ng buhay.
Sarap magbigti minsan.

Kumain na ako tapos pumunta ako sa library. May li

stahan na ako ng mga libro na kailangan pero wala
nung isa, e. Kahit online wala akong makita. Labo.
Ano yun, ancient na libro?

"Miss, I got this first," sabi ko dun sa blonde na

babae.
Humarap siya sa akin. Shet chicks 'to!

"Are you finished ogling at me?" Labo. Sungit din.

Ayoko na. "I need this book. I'll borrow it from
the lib," sabi niya.

"Kailangan ko din yan! Bwisit naman." Sabi ko. Hin

di naman maiintindihan nito, mukhang Amerikana eh.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Excuse me?"

"Wala. Sige, sa'yo na yan. Pasalamat ka maganda ka.

"

Ngumiti siya sa akin tapos kinuha niya yung libro m

ula sa kamay ko. "Thanks."

Ha? Naintindihan niya ako?! Akala ko ba Amerikana?

Ay shet ang labo ng buhay!

--

(Aya's POV)

"Kent naman..."
Hindi pa din ako pinapansin ni Kent. Grabe naman m
agtampo 'to! Para di lang ako nakasama sa dinner,
e... Valid naman yung reason ko, natatakot ako.

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa pag aadvance study niya ka

si magssummer class yata siya? Ewan, di ako sigura
do. E may balak na kaming dalawin si Besh sa New Y
ork tapos etong KL na 'to, nagbabalak naman mag su
mmer! Lakas tama!

Umupo ako sa tabi niya tapos sumandal ako sa balika

t niya. "Bee... Sorry na..."

Hehehe. Hindi siya nakatiis kasi humarap siya sa a

kin at sinarado yung mga libro niya. "Aya, alam mo
naman na ikaw lang talaga yung babae na ganito na
gtagal sa akin, diba?" sabi niya tapos tumango ako
. Ang tagal na namin ni KL, magsisix months na! Ak
alain mo, natagalan ko ng six months ang pagiging
ultra super duper mega clingy niya?! "Gusto lang n
aman kita ipakilala sa parents ko... Bakit ayaw mo?"

Humarap din ako sa kanya tapos hinawakan ko yung k

amay niya. Medyo improving na kami, dati nandidiri
ako pag hinahawakan ni Kent yung kamay ko, buti d
i na ganun ngayon. Mehehe.

"Kasi naman... sure kang ipapakilala mo ako? I mea

n, ako? Si Gabriella Pineda, seryoso ka, papakilal
a mo ko sa magulang mo?" sabi ko sa kanya. Seryoso
. Di ba siya natatakot na ma turn off magulang niy
a sa akin? Medyo wala akong manners, e. Hehehe. Hi
ndi lang talaga sanay.

Hinawakan niya din yung kamay ko tapos ngumiti siy

a. Nako nako! Ayan na naman yung ngiti niya! "Baki
t naman sila matatakot sa'yo? Dahil ba mukha kang
gangster? Dahil ba minsan para kang may topak? O b
aka naman dahil minsan bigla ka na lang nanununtok
? Di ba hindi naman sila dapat matakot sa'yo?"

=_____=

"Gusto mo bang di na tayo umabot sa pitong buwan? I

bbreak kita, right here, right now!!"

Nagpout naman si KL. Yuck. Kadiri lang di bagay!!

"Bee naman. Lagi mo na lang panakot sa akin yan."

"E kasi dun ka lang naman natatakot."

"Kasi nga mahal na mahal ni Kent si Aya. Di ba? Heh

ehe."

"Ewan ko sa'yo," sabi ko. "Magpapasched na ako ng f

light. Anyareh ba sa'yo?"
Napahinto naman siya sa pagyakap sa akin. "Tuloy n
a ba talaga?" Tumango ako. "Hindi ako makakasama,
Bee... Kailangan ko mag summer kasi hindi inooffer
yung subject ng first sem. Mahuhuli ako sa curric
ulum."

Hindi ko naman magawang sigawan si Kent, no! Kung

ako hindi medyo seryoso sa pag aaral, etong si Kut
ong Lupa, seryoso mag aral yan kaya hindi talaga a
ko sumasabay pag may exam yan. Parang yun kasi ang
bisyo nito, mag aral. Weird no? Weird din kasi si
ya.

"Pero, Bee, promise mo sa'kin hindi ka magkaka cru

sh kay Sheen pag pumunta kayong US, ha?"

Binatukan ko nga. Daming alam!

--

(Drake's POV)

"Kamusta exam?" Dad told me as I return to home fro

m the school.

"It was easy," I said while I went to the kitchen

to get my Banana milk. Alys was always drinking he
r Strawberry milk. I had to find my own drink so I
resort to making Banana milk my favorite drink.

Dad tailed me. He's like a stalker. He's annoying.

"Kailan daw malalaman resulta?"

I shook my head. I didn't know when but I'm sure I

aced it. The exams were easy, most of the questio
ns they asked, I have already read somewhere. That
's why I like reading.

Dad sat down on the chair in the dining room. The

maid prepared my dinner. Tita Katrina's missing, b
ut I like it. I don't like it when she's around. I
feel like I'm being unfaithful to Alys. I haven't
even told her I moved back here.

"Sabi sa akin ng Tito Tristan mo, dun daw sa flat n

iya nakatira si Tripp at Tofer?"

Tofer? That annoying guy. He's really loud and ann

oying. I think Tripp's being downright annoyed. Se
rves him right for being there while I'm here.

"Malapit pala sa dorm ni Alys yun. Teka, alam mo b

ang nagddorm si Alys?" I nodded. "Nako, buti na la
ng at mataas pala ang grades ni Alys last sem kaya
nakapasok sa NYU. Pati inayos mabuti nila Dana at
Andy yung essay at paper ni Alys."
I looked at him. "And so?"

He just smiled at me. "Wala, anak. Kahit na sobran

g talino mo, dito ka lang sa Pilipinas. Ayoko ngan
g malayo sa'yo."

"Clingy. You're disgusting."

After dinner, I went upstairs. I actually came fro

m Shaira's condo. She was avoiding me like I'm a p
lague. It's weird because she's my best friend. I
told her to stop acting like I'm dead. I don't car
e if she likes me, she will always be my friend. I
told her to stop liking me because it will do her
no good. She said she'll try but it will be hard
because I'm so handsome. This is why I hate my fac
e, but I like my face when Alys is drooling at me.

I opened my laptop and checked my mail.

From: toferpalma@gmail.com

Hi, Drake! Nakita ko si Alys kanina, ganda ng girl

friend mo, bro! Crush pala siya ni Tripp? Hehehe.
Mas love ko si Tripp sa'yo eh! Bleh!!

Tss. I really need to go to New York.

--

(Eydee's Note)

Follow me on twitter! @beeyotchWP and like the page

! Eydee's Stories for updates! xx

*******************************************
[3] -2-
*******************************************
Hi sa mga tiga UPIS! I'm a fan girl. Ang imba ng ut
ak niyo! <3

-2-

(Alys' POV)

"Hi, are you new here?" sabi sa akin nung babae na

kasabay ko magjog kanina. Huminto muna ako at umi
nom ng tubig dun sa may water fountain. Ang noob k
o naman kasi, nakalimutan kong magdala ng wallet!
Sigurado ako pagtatawanan ako ni Drake, ay joke la
ng, di naman tumatawa yun e. Titignan na naman ako
ng masama nun, sasabihin na 'why are you even my
girlfriend?' Sorry naman kasi na hindi ako matalino!!

Tinie ko muna yung shoe lace ko tapos tumingin ako

sa kanya. Buti naman hindi siya blonde! Jusko, Lo
rd! Tama na po sa blonde, puro na lang blonde naka
kausap ko. Una, si Miss na naglibot sa akin sa dor
m, tapos si Kei na ubod ng sungit. Wag na blonde,
please.
Nagsmile ako sa kanya. Naku, baka maging friend ko
pa siya! I'm in need of friend! Sino gustong magi
ng friend ko? Mabait po ako tsaka cute. Tsaka po p
ag madaming sobra sa allowance ko, nanlilibre ako
ng strawberry ice cream. Tig isang tub tayo. :)

Inextend niya yung kamay niya sa akin. Ang nice ng

watch niya! Nako, nako, kailangan ko na talagang
magshopping! "I'm Karen," sabi niya.

Nagsmile ako tapos nakipag handshake ako sa kanya.

"I'm Alys Perez." Hooo! Go, Alys! Kaya mo yan, is
ipin mo lahat ng tinuro ni Drake na English sa'yo!
Kembot kembot here and there!

"Nice to meet you, Alys," sabi niya tapos sumandal

din siya sa bench kagaya ko. Mukhang mabait si Ka
ren. Sana maging friend ko siya!

"Uhm, Karen?"

Nakapikit pa din siya pero sumagot naman siya sa t

anong ko. Ang pretty ni Karen, mukha siyang Latina
. Morena tapos sexy tsaka long brown hair. Gusto k
o siya maging ate!!

"What's your fb account? I'll add you so we could b

e friends!"
Bigla siyang natawa. :(((

Dinilat niya yung mata niya tapos pininch niya yung

cheeks ko. Ouch.

"You're so cute, Alys. Your like my little sister,

" sabi niya tapos pinat niya naman yung ulo ko kag
aya nung ginagawa ni Tripp sa akin noon. Haaay. Ka
musta na kaya si Tripp? Hindi man lang kasi ako na
kapagpaalam sa kanya... Kasi naman, hindi ko siya
mahagilap. Gusto ko pa naman magthank you kasi siy
a yung tinuturing kong third best friend. Syempre
una si Aya tapos next si Loves. "Anyways, search m
e up. The name's Karen Bermejo."

Nagsmile ako tapos tinandaan ko yung name. Karen B

ermejo. Jusko sana hindi ko maforget. Medyo short
term memory kasi ako. :(

"Bermejo? Are you a Filipino, by any chance?"

Jusko malapit na akong mag nosebleed!

Nagnod siya. "Born in the Philippines, raised all t

he way here in USA. How about you?"
"I was born in the Philippines, was raised there, a
nd I wanna go back now."

"Awww, you're such a cutie pie. Come here," sabi n

iya tapos lumapit naman ako tapos niyakap niya ako
. Ang sweet sweet ni Ate Karen. Para na akong may
big sister!!

Hinagod hagod niya yung likod ko. "You'll be fine

here, baby girl. Why are you here? Studies? Family
crap? Work?"

Sinabi ko sa kanya yung sa NYU. Ayun pa pala! Mygo

sh, anong gagawin ko?! Nakita ko yung textbook, oh
my holy strawberries, I can't understand a thing!
Ano'ng magic kaya ang ginawa ni Mommy para tangga
pin ako sa NYU? Inofferan niya kaya na bibigyan ng
pera yung Dean? Possible yun.

"Oh, that's nice. I'm studying there, too. Tho I'm

aleady on my masterals."

*O*

"Really, Ate? So you could teach me??"

Nagsmile siya sa akin tapos uminom siya ng Gatorad

e niya. I want. "Sure, baby girl. If I'm free, I'l
l teach you. You really resemble my little sister."

"Really? Then she must be cute like me??"

Nagnod siya and smile. "Yup, she's so fluffy I wann

a die. Come, let's eat. I'll treat you."

--

"Do you eat Thai food?"

Tumango na lang ako kahit di ako kumakain nun, per

o sabi naman ni Dane masarap daw. Sige na nga, mat
ry para hindi ako masabihan ng noob! Tinanong ako
ni Ate Karen kung ano ang order ko, sabi ko kagaya
na lang nung sa kanya. The Drake Palma Lesson 101
: Pag hindi ka familiar sa lugar, go with the flow
lang para hindi ka magmukhang noob!

Naupo kami sa chair, mukhang sikat pa 'tong napunta

han namin! Ang daming peoplets.

"Hey, could someone join your table? The place is

packed," sabi nung isang crew. Dahil mabait naman
si Ate Karen, sabi niya, "Sure, whatever."

After ilang minutes, dumating na yung food namin. A

moy peanut. :|

"The crew said I could seat here?" may lumapit sa

amin na lalaki. Bakit navvibes ko si Kent sa isang
ito?

Nagshrug lang si Ate Karen tapos si guy naman, nau

po sa chair kaharap ko, bale katabi siya ni Ate.

Si Ate Karen, lumabas sandali kasi may tumawag sa

phone niya, boyfriend niya yata, ay ewan. Basta ay
oko maging chismosa, bad daw yun.

"So, you are?"

Dahil nangangailangan ako ng friend, sinabi ko yun

g name ko kahit na sabi ni Daddy, "don't talk to s
trangers."

"I'm Christofer Ann Palma," sabi niya tapos itinaa

s niya yung kamay niya. "Don't laugh. Ann is from
my grandmother. I'm her only grandchild so yeah, w
hatever I'm Ann."

"Pffft! Hahaha. Ang pambabae naman ng name mo!!"

"Wait, Filipino ka?"

O___O

"FILIPINO KA DIN? OMG PWEDE NA AKONG MAG TAGALOG!!"

Natawa siya sa akin. Whatever pwede na akong mag T

agalog! Hindi naman ako pansin dito, puno din kasi
yung lugar at kanya kanyang business ang mga peop
lets!

"Sssh, ang ingay mo," sabi niya tapos medyo tinakp

an niya ng menu yung mukha niya. -____- "Ano nga p
angalan mo?"

"Alys Zyril Perez."

"Alys Perez?" sabi niya. Hindi ba siya makapaniwal

a sa name ko? Bakit, hindi naman weird yung name k
o kagaya nung sa kanya. Pffft! Hindi pa din ako ma
ka move on sa Ann! Kung ako siguro yun, malamang m
agiging sama ng loob ko yun hanggang sa kamatayan
ko. Pero si Ann, mukha okay lang sa kanya. "By any
chance, boyfriend mo ba si Drake?"

O______O
"Bakit mo kilala si Drake??"

Ngumiti siya tapos inextend niya yung kamay niya.

"For the second time around, ako si Christofer Ann
Palma."

Inabot ko yung hands niya, aba ang lambot! "Pwede b

a kitang tawagin na Ann?"

Ann: >.>

"Gusto mong halikan kita??"

"Bakit mo naman ako hahalikan?!!"

"E iniinis mo ko e. Nanghahalik ako pag naiinis."

"Grabe ka naman mainis!"

"Oo. Kaya wag mo akong inisin."

Grrrrrr!! Para siyang pinaghalong Aya at Kent! Mag

ulo, makulit, ang sarap ihagis sa outerspace!!

Tinignan ko siya. "Ikaw ha! Crush mo ko no?" sabi

ko sa kanya. Nako, nako, ang lakas talaga ng charm
s ko! Kakakita pa lang namin ni Christofer, crush
niya na agad ako!

"Yuck. Mandiri ka nga. Di kita type, type ko yung k

asama mo."

"Sino? Si Ate Karen??" Tumango siya tapos kinain n

iya yung kung anuman na nakakadiring bagay na yun.
Ugh. Di na talaga ako uulit sa Thai resto. "May b
oyfriend na yun tsaka ang bata mo pa kaya! Nagmmas
ters na si Ate Karen."

Nagshrug siya. Nako, ang harot ng isang 'to! Kent n

a Kent!

Ang tagal ni Ate Karen, anyareh dun sa labas?!

"Kung ikaw si Alys na girlfriend ni Drake, e di ik

aw din si Zyril na deads na deads si Tripp?"

=_____=
Wow ha.

"Alam mo ba na nandito si Tripp?"

--

(Tripp's POV)

Tsk. Ano ba naman 'to! San ako hahanap ng libro na

'yun? Bakit naman kasi chicks yung blonde na baba
e, nasuko ko tuloy yung libro. Ang tanga ko din e.

Naupo na lang ako sa sofa. Buti na lang wala si To

fer, kung hindi, baka mas lalo pa akong bad trip.
Pero ang labo talaga ng buhay!

"Tripp, nasan yung laptop ko??" sabi ni Tofer, pag

pasok na pagpasok niya sa pinto, tumakbo siya papu
nta sa kwarto niya. Pano ngang hindi niya makikita
ang laptop niya e parang bundok ng basura sa kwar
to niya? Psh.

Inabot ko yung remote tas nanood na lang ako ng NB

A. "Hanapin mo jan sa bunok ng basura mong kwarto.
"

Lumabas siya tapos humarang siya sa tv. Anak ng! A

ng bastos talaga ng lahi ng baklita na 'to! Kung h
indi lang ako pinagalitan ng nanay niya sa pagtawa
g ko sa kanya ng Ann, Ann talaga tatawag ko sa bwi
sit na 'to. Sino ba naman kasi matinong nanay ang
papangalanan ang anak ng Ann? -____- Buti na lang
si Papa kahit may sayad, matinong pangalan binigay
sa'kin. Mamamatay yata ako sa hiya pag Angela Tri
pp Palma ang naging pangalan ko.

"Ano ba?"

"Pahiram ng laptop mo."

"Ayoko."

"Tripp naman!"

Tignan mo 'to, parang bata! Nagdadabog pa sa harap

ko. Aish! Bakit ba kasi ako pumayag na isama sa a
kin 'tong isip bata na 'to?!

"Nasan ba kasi yung laptop mo?!"

Naupo siya sa sofa. "Hindi ko nga makita. Pahiram

muna, please. Mageemail lang ako. Promise yun lang
gagawin ko. Di ako magddownload ng p-orn."
"Aish oo na."

Pumasok ako sa kwarto tapos inabot ko na yung lapt

op sa kanya. Buti na lang naayos ko na laptop ko,
dati kasi si Zyril desktop background ko e. Ngayon
kulay black na lang.

Nakangiti pa habang nagttype ng email si g-ago. Ano

bang problema nito? Naabno na naman.

Binalik niya sa akin yung laptop ko. "Thanks, Tripp

. Ikaw talaga paboritong pinsan ko!"

"Ice yan. Ako at si Drake lang naman pinsan mo."

Ngumiti siya na parang abno tapos lumakad papuntan

g ref at kumuha ng frozen pizza at nilagay sa micr
owave oven. Akala ko ba kakain daw siya sa labas,
sabi niya sa text?

"Tripp, di ba crush mo yung girlfriend ni Drake?"

Binato ko siya ng unan. Nagmmove on yung tao tas ba

banggitin yung pangalan. Medyo bastos.

"Aray naman! Pero teka nga, crush mo, di ba?"

"Dami mong alam. Uwi ka na sa Pinas."

"Tripp naman. :("

Aish nakakabading kasama sa bahay 'tong isang to!

Tumayo ako tapos inabot yung yung coat ko. "Oo na,
oo na. Crush ko na leche dami mong alam."

"Oy san ka pupunta??" sabi niya tapos nakalagay na

sa plato niya yung pizza niya.

"Kahit saan na wala ka."

"Ang sama mo. Pero dahil favorite cousin kita, ilal

akad kita sa crush mo."

Tinaas ko na lang yung kamay ko. "Ge. Add mo sa fb

si Zyril tas lakad mo ako sa message box niya. Th
anks in advance."

Daming alam talaga ng Ann na yun. Sarap ilagay sa b

ox at ipaship sa Air21 e.
--

(Aya's POV)

Nakayakap sa akin si Kent.

"Bee, miss na agad kita."

=______=

Tinupi ko yung damit ko tapos pinasok ko sa maleta

. Isang bag at isang trolley lang dala ko. Ayoko n
ga maghatak ng gamit dun. Tsaka two weeks lang nam
an kami dun.

"Sumama ka na kasi," sabi ko. Ang boring din pag w

ala si KL. Parang clown kasi yan, daming alam na j
oke. Hindi ko nga alam kung san niya kinukuha yun
e. Pati mga pick up lines. Kaya lang nung minsan b
inanatan ako ng bastos na pick up line, sinapak ko
nga. Ngayon alam niya na. Sapat na yung black eye
para patunay na hindi ako madadaan sa kabastusan
niya sa buhay.

Umiling siya. "Kasi kailangan ko talaga yun."

"E di dito ka na lang. Two weeks lang naman."

Tinanggal niya yung yakap sa akin tapos naupo siya

sa kama. Hula ko magddrama na naman 'to.

"Bee, pano pag nainlove ka kay Sheen dun? Pano na

lang ako? Ako na lang ba yung 'the one that got aw
ay'?"

Binatukan ko nga siya. Bakit ba iniisip niya na ma

gkakagusto ako kay CB? Duh!! Mas malakas pa umiyak
sa akin yun e! Tsaka hindi ba hinihintay niya si
Kei? Tsk. Napaka paranoid forever talaga nitong Ku
tong Lupa na 'to!

Lumapit ako sa kanya. "Alam mo, Kent Justin Valdez

, best friend mo si Sheen, at nakakadiri mang isip
in, girlfriend mo ako. Wala tayo sa soap opera, ok
ay? Wag ka ngang praning jan. Di porke aalis kami
at pupunta sa ibang lugar, pagbalik namin, kami na
ni CB. Wag praning, mahal kita."

Ngumiti siya tapos niyakap niya ako. "Improving na

si Bee. Nasasabi mo na na mahal mo ako ng hindi l
umalaki butas ng ilong mo."

=_____=
"Alam na alam mo talaga kung pano ako inisin no?"

"Hehehe. Love you, Bee ng honey ko. Uwi mo sa akin

si Liberty ha?"

Tumango ako. "Ge titibagin ko Statue of Liberty par

a sumaya ka."

"Kaya love na love kita, Bee. Lakas ng tama mo! Sus

uportahan kita jan sa pagtibag mo."

--

(Drake's POV)

"Shaira, you're being pathetic."

I'm here at her house. Her Dad said she won't eat.
She's being crazy again. The last time, she tried
to cut herself, and now, she's on her hunger stri
ke. What's next? Her Dad will be calling me tellin
g me that his daughter purchased ropes?

"Go away, Drake," she said and then she rolled ove
r her bed. I sat down on the bean bag in her room.
I hate her room, it's all pink.
"Shaira, you're being your usual crazy self again."

She straighten herself and sat on her bed. "Because

I think I love you again."

"You said you don't love me yesterday."

She nodded. "Yes, but I woke up and then I realized

that I'm in love with you again."

I shook my head. She's a hopeless case. "You're nut

s."

She pouted and then messed her already messed up h

air. "I know. Ugh!! I made a promise to your girlf
riend that I won't flirt with you ever again but I
can't help it. I've been flirting with you for al
l my life that it's become a habit!"

I got my phone from my pocket and then dialled Aly

s' number. She's friends with Shaira now, and I ha
ve no idea how it happened. I guess being both cra
zy made them friends.

She's not answering. D-amn it. Then I suddenly rem

embered Tofer's email. That nutbag. I'll tell his
grandma that he's being an a-ss again. He's a gran
dma's boy. Good thing I'm not. I'm no one's boy, I
'm just Alys' man.

I returned my phone inside my pocket and then look

ed straight at Shaira. She looks like a real mess.

"Shaira, we'll never be more than friends. I sugges

t that you go and find someone else."

She shook her head and then pouted. "I don't think
I could."

"You're crazy. I'll be going, call me when you're b

ack to your usual self."

"But you said I'm usually crazy! I'm crazy now! I'm
usual!"

I got my things and then opened the door knob. "No

, you're usually just crazy; now, you're extra cra
zy."

--

I drove myself back to our house. Tita Katrina's a

pproaching the last trimester of her pregnancy. So
on, Ethos will arrive. I hope Alys will see Ethos
and she'll consider having a baby because she will
find him cute.

"Drake?"

My Dad was on the front lawn, waiting for me.

"Hmm?"

He showed me an envelope and then smiled at me. "C

ongrats, you passed the tests. Your flight schedul
e is tomorrow afternoon."

--

(Eydee's Note)

Comment naman, guys! Ang haba nito o! Hahaha. Ps,

tatalon tayo ng yearS dito! *winks like a drag que
en*

*******************************************
[4] -3-
*******************************************
-3-

"What's wrong with your face?"

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos sabihin sa akin ni Ann yu
ng tungkol kay Tripp, medyo nagblackout yung palig
id ko. Feeling ko nga medyo oa yung reaction ko. A
t saka isa pa, bigla na lang umalis yung Tofer na
yun! Parang eat and run lang ang drama! Tsk. Pero
buti na yun kasi biglang dumating yung boyfriend n
i Ate Karen, baka kung ano pa kasi gawin ni Tofer
kung nakita niya. Sabi niya kasi di ba crush niya
si Ate Karen?

Naupo ako sa edge ng bed ko tapos tinanggal ko yun

g rubber shoes ko at nagpalit ng slippers. Kumuha
din ako ng clam at ginawa kong bun yung hair ko. D
ahil nga kasi wala akong dalang pera, naglakad ako
pabalik. Nakakapagod talaga siya!

"Ah wala 'to, Kei," sabi ko sa kanya. Hindi pa nam

an kasi kami close ni Kei para magsabi ako sa kany
a ng problems ko, di ba?

Nagshrug siya. "Whatever you say. Hey, I'll be goin

g later. Wanna come?"

"Talaga??"

She nodded. "Since I think I'm going to be roommat

es with you, might as well be friends with you, ri
ght?"
Nagsmile ako ng malaki. Yes, yes! Magiging friends
na kami ni Kei!

--

"How about this?" sabi ko kay Kei tapos pinakita k

o sa kanya yung nakita kong leather boots na knee
high. Kasi ganito yung nakikita kong suot ng mga p
eoplets dito! Gusto ko din makijoin. :)

Umiling si Kei tapos kumuha siya ng ankle high boot

s. "This."

:(

"Gusto ko nun. Gusto ko maging rock star."

Ganito yung itsura ni Kei: -_______-

"Are you on drugs, Alys? What the heck? Rock star?

Really?"

Kinuha ko pabalik yung boots ko tapos tinry ko siy

a. Omg I feel like a rock star na! "Eh bakit ikaw
allowed magsuot ng rock star boots tapos ako hindi
? Ang unfair!"
Biglang natawa si Kei tapos kumuha siya ng kagaya
ng boots ko tapos sinuot niya din. Mukha kaming tw
in! Kaya lang mas pretty siya sa akin. Alam ko nam
an yun, basta cute ako.

"You know, Alys, you don't look like a rock star.

You look sweet. You can't pull off boots like this
one."

Hmmm. Sa tingin ko naman tama si Kei kaya hinubad

ko na yung rock star boots ko tapos kinuha ko na l
ang yung binigay niya sa akin. Bumili din ako ng p
umps, stilettos, flats, and many other things! Nak
o, bahala na sila Mommy sa Pinas pag nalaman nila
mga pinagbibili ko dito.

After namin bumili ng shoes, dumiretso naman kami

sa clothes store. Pinadeliver na lang namin sa Dor
m yung shoes. Haay, I'm starting to love New York
na! Sa Pinas kasi, konti lang yung place na pwede
kang magshopping freely. Sa mga SM kasi, super cro
wded. Dun lang sa certain places magkakaron ng fre
edom to shop.

Naka sit down lang ako tapos si Kei, inaabutan niy

a ako ng damit. Kahit nga hindi ko na isukat, e. S
uper idol ko kaya si Kei pagdating sa mga fashion
na yan. Nasilip ko kasi yung damitan niya, nakakai
nggit! Naka sort by color yung clothes niya. Hehehe.
"How's Sheen?" bigla niyang natanong.

Bigla naman din akong napasmile. Nako, nako! Sigur

o namimiss ni Kei ang Loves ko! Kasi naman bakit p
a siya umalis sa Pinas? Kung tama ang pagkakaalala
ko, okay na okay sila ni Loves bago siya umalis e
. Sobrang nalungkot si Loves nung umalis si Kei, p
ero I think okay na si Sheen ngayon. May third whe
el spiel pa nga siya, di ba?

Inabot ko yung coat na binigay niya sa akin at sin

ukat. "Okay naman si Sheen. Magbabakasyon sila dit
o..." sabi ko. Nagulat si Kei pero agad naman siya
ng naka recover.

"Really? That's good to hear. Excuse me first," sa

bi niya tapos lumabas muna siya ng shop. Okay? Sob
rang nagulat siya? Nako, pagdating dito ni Loves,
pagsasamahin ko agad sila ni Kei! Dapat maging sil
a na ulit para naman pwede ko ng irecruit sa best
friend's club ni Kei!

Pumunta na ako at binayaran yung nabili kong damit

. Hehehe. Sorry, Mommy. Ngayon lang naman ako nagi
ng magastos, e. Feeling ko mas magastos naman si D
ane. Hindi pa sapat 'tong $ 10, 000 na nagastos ko
. :>

Lumabas ako para hanapin si Kei pero bigla siyang

nawala. Naman o! Wala pa naman akong number niya!
Eto talaga madalas kong problem, number ng mga tao
. Nung kay Drake nga dati, halos malapit na kaming
 mag one year magkakilala bago ko nakuha number ni
ya e.

Chineck ko muna kung nasa vicinity ba si Kei pero

wala talaga. Iniwan niya kaya ako? Hindi naman sig
uro. :(

Naglakad na ako pabalik sa Dorm pero may nadaanan

ako na coffee shop na nagsserve ng strawberry shor
tcake kaya pumasok muna ako. Start na ng klase buk
as. Seryoso na ako bukas.

Umorder ako ng cake at coffee tapos nagsit down ak

o sa chair near sa window kasi natutuwa akong tign
an yung mga tao na dumadaan sa gilid ng shop. Ang
saya magtake ng pictures! Siguro eto din yung naff
eel ni Tripp. Hobby kasi niya magpicture picture.

Ano kaya ang gagawin ko pag nakasalubong ko siya b

igla dito? Sabi pa naman ni Talkative Tofer, sa NY
U din si Tripp! Si Tofer naman pala, sa ibang scho
ol, di daw kaya ng utak niya sa NYU. Tsk. Buti nam
an. Ang kulit kulit niya super!

Siguro pag nakita ko si Tripp, uhm, maghhi ako?

"H-hi, Tripp?"
Omg eto na nga. Nag Hi ako.

--

(Tripp's POV)

Bad trip talaga si Tofer. Kita na ngang ayoko pag

usapan si Zyril, siya pang pilit ng pilit. Tsk. Lu
mabas na lang ako para bumili ng groceries. Kahit
na mag one week pa lang kami dito, paubos na yung
stock namin dahil kay Tofer. Isang palaboy talaga
yung baklita na yun. Siya umuubos ng pagkain e.

Hindi pa ako kumakain, kaninang umaga pa huli kong

kain. Aish! Oo na, oo na. Kakain na lang ako ng s
trawberry kasi naaalala ko na naman si Alys.

"H-hi,Tripp?"

Shet. Si Alys.

Bakit-- Ano'ng ginagawa niya dito? Di ba nasa Pilip

inas siya?!

"Hi?" sagot ko. Ano bang gagawin ko? Shet shet! Na

upo na lang ako sa upuan sa harap niya. Bakit ba g
anito ako umarte? Magkaibigan pa din naman kami ni
Zyril kahit na ano... kahit na girlfriend siya ng
 pinsan ko, di ba?

Ay labo ng buhay!

Ngumiti si Zyril tapos kinain niya yung strawberry

cake niya. Di pa din 'to nagbabago, mahilig pa di
n sa strawberry. "Nandito ka pala..."

Tumango na lang ako. Nasan ba napunta yung dila ko?

Di ako makapagsalita.

"Ikaw din. Kasama mo si Drake?" tanong ko. Kasama

ba niya si Drake? Nagbakasyon? Bakit ba siya nandi
to? Ang labo! Nakatagal na nga akong two weeks siy
ang di nakikita tapos magpapakita na naman siya ng
ayon! Ano ako, back to square one na naman? Ice na
ice yan.

Umiling siya. "Hindi, a. Dito na ako mag aaral. Ika

w ba?"

Tumango din ako. Ano pa ba malapit na eskwelahan di

to?

"Sa NYU ako, ikaw?"

"NYU din."

Tumayo ako kasi naiilang ako. Ayoko muna makita si

Zyril kasi iba e. Nakapangako na ako kay Drake na
off limits, hands off ako sa girlfriend niya. Per
o pag ganito na alam kong nasa Pilipinas si Drake,
si Alys nandito lang sa harap ko, baka bigla kong
makalimutan na girlfriend ng pinsan ko 'tong maga
ndang babae sa harap ko.

Nginitian ko muna siya bago ako tumalikod at nagla

kad palabas. Bahala na. Mamaya na ako kakain, maka
bili muna ng groceries. Aish!

"Tripp!"

Binilisan kong maglakad. Ano bang problema ni Zyri

l? Alam naman niya na may gusto ako sa kanya, sina
bi niya naman sa akin na si Drake ang gusto niya.
Bakit ba niya ako hinahabol? Hindi pa ba niya naha
lata yun nung one week ko siyang iniwasan nung nas
a Pinas siya? Alam ko na kasi na pupunta ako sa Ne
w York nun kaya ayoko na siyang makita tsaka magpa
alam kasi... basta.

Dahil mas matangkad naman ako kay Zy, naunahan ko s

iya. Kaya lang...

"Aish." Napatigil ako. Nadapa kasi siya. Sino ba n

aman kasi nagsabi sa kanya na magsuot siya ng gany
an kataas na boots? Tama ba? Hindi naman siya nagg
aganyan dati.

Lumapit ako sa kanya tapos tinignan ko yung tuhod n

iya. "Kaya mo bang lumakad?"

Kinagat niya yung labi niya tapos umiling siya.

Tumingin ako sa paligid. Walang malapit na pharmacy

.

"Zy..."

"Hmmm?" sabi niya tapos tinitignan niya at hinihinp

an yung sugat niya.

Pano ko ba makakalimutan 'tong babae na 'to? Masya

do siyang mabait, ang ganda niya, nakakatuwa siya
kasama. Bakit ba kasi lahat na lang ng babae, mas
gusto si Drake? Bakit? Gwapo din naman ako, matali
no din naman, di nga lang kasing talino nung weird
o na yun. Gifted child yun, e. At isa pa, di ako m
asungit at hindi ako one liner kagaya nun. Mas oka
y naman ako pero lahat na lang sila, patay na pata
y dun. Labo ng buhay!

"Piggy back ride?"

Tumingin lang sa akin si Zy. Ayan na naman siya sa
tingin niya. Gusto ko siyang halikan pag tinitign
an niya ako ng ganyan.

"Pag binuhat mo ako, ibig sabihin balik best friend

s na tayo?"

Tumingin lang ako pabalik sa kanya. "Kailan ba tayo

naging best friends?"

"Best friends tayo, di ba? Ikaw si Batman ko?"

Napangiti ako sa kanya. Naalala pa pala niya yung

pinahiram ko siya ng shirt. Ang ganda nga niya nun
g suot niya yung shirt ko, mas lalo siyang gumanda
. Siguro, kung mas nauna ko siyang nakilala kay Dr
ake, baka ako yung mahal niya ngayon. Minsan, naii
nggit na lang talaga ako sa pinsan ko e.

Lahat ng gusto ko, nasa kanya. Lahat ng gusto ko,

pinapaiyak niya lang. Ang unfair ng buhay.

Pinat ko yung ulo niya. "Sige na, sige na. Ikaw si

Catwoman, ako si Batman. Sakay na," sabi ko tapos
tumalikod ako at binuhat ko siya. Katulad ng dati
, sinakal niya pa din ako pero sanay na ako.
Grabeng pagpipigil ginawa ko. Nakahawak ako sa leg
s ni Zyril. Umayos ka, Palma. Girlfriend ng pinsan
mo yan, 'best friend' mo yan.

"Ano'ng degree program mo, Tripp?"

Sabi ko sa kanya na ganun pa din. La e. Ganun pa d

in talaga. Si Papa naman namili nun, sumunod na la
ng ako kasi wala din naman akong magagawa. Photogr
aphy talaga gusto ko kaya lang wala daw akong mara
rating dun. Oo na lang.

"Magka college tayo?"

Hindi ko alam. Sana wag. Ayoko na.

--

(Aya's POV)

"Ikaw, Sheen, best friend kita. Alagaan mo girlfrie

nd ko, ha?"

=____=
Napaka oa talaga ni KL! Parang two weeks lang nama
n ako mawawala, kung magbilin kay CB, akala mo isa
ng taon ako mawawala! Siya din naman may kasalanan
, mas gusto niyang mag summer class kaysa magbakas
yon sa New York.

Ngumiti naman si CB as usual, eto si Mr. Friendly

e. Lahat na lang friend niya, promise! Tumakbo nga
ng freshmen rep yan tas landslide victory! Pano ba
naman lahat ng freshie, gusto siya. Lagi kasi siy
ang naka smile.

Kumaway ako kay Kent nung papasok na kami ng airpo

rt. No prob na kasi naka set na yung flight last w
eek tapos okay na din ang visa and passport.

Sa may coffee shop muna kami sa loob ng airport si

nce mamaya maya pa naman ang flight namin. Maaga l
ang kami kasi excited na akong makita si Besh!

"Kamusta kayo ni Kei?" sabi ko kay Sheen. Sabi kas

i ni Besh, roommates daw sila ni Kei! Akalain mo y
un! Sa dinami dami ng magiging roommate ni Alys, s
i Kei Chui pa! Pero sabagay, dapat thankful si Bes
h kay Kei kasi si Kei talaga ang dahilan kaya nagi
ng sila ni Drake. Dahil sa kabaliwan ni Kei kay Dr
ake dati. Weird talaga kasi type na type nila si D
rake e ubod ng sungit yun. Never ko kaya naging cr
ush si Drake!

Ngumiti, as usual, si Sheen. "Okay lang."

"Weh? Okay lang?"

Tumango siya. "Nag uusap naman kami minsan sa Skype

."

"So kayo pa din?"

Umiling siya. "Friends lang kami. Iba na yung gusto

ko e." Nakatingin siya sa akin.

Napalulok na lang ako ng mabilis sa kape ko. Ayan

na naman siya sa mga kilabot na binibigay niya sa
akin!

--

(Drake's POV)

"Drake," my Dad said after knocking.

"What?" I said as I was preparing my things. Appar

ently, my Dad already fixed the plane tickets the
day he offered me to take the exams. Good thing he
knew that I'll be acing those exams.
He walked in and sat on my bed. "Nandyan si Shaira,
" he said.

"Tell her I'll go down in a while."

"Ayaw mo bang papasukin ko na lang siya dito?"

I stared at him. "I have a girlfriend, Dad. Kindly

bear that in mind," I said and then I walked out
of the room and went downstairs.

"Drake..."

"What?"

She smiled at me. "I've decided to leave this count

ry."

I just stared at her. Maybe it's just one of her im

pulsive whims. It always happens.

"I talked to Alys last night and she's so nice. Ba

kit ba kasi ang bait ng girlfriend mo?!"
I don't know. She's too nice it's kinda irritating
. One day, I wish to see her being bad. I want to
see her in a whole new light.

"Because of that, I've decided to go to my Tita in

London na lang. I'll stop studying for a year and
see how life would go."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded and then she went near me and hugged me.
"Mamimiss kita, Hubby!!"

I smiled and pat her head. "Sure, Shaira. Call me."

She shook her head. "I won't call you until I'm sur
e I'm over you. Wag mo akong iforget, ha?"

"Of course, Silly. When's your flight?"

She'll be flying next week. I'll be flying this aft

ernoon. I'll miss her, for sure.

After a hell lot of goodbye, she left. I continued

 fixing my things. See you tomorrow, my girlfriend
. And Tripp. And Tofer.

*******************************************
[5] -4-
*******************************************
-4-

(Alys' POV)

"Are we clear now, Perez?"

Kanina pa ako binibrief ni Kei tungkol sa schedule

ko. Medyo naguguluhan pa kasi ako! Akala ko dati,
maliit lang ang NYU pero naman! Para palang isang
bayan 'tong university na 'to! Walang wala ang SC
A at Brent. Feeling ko bigla na lang akong malilig
aw dito. Hiwa hiwalay kasi ang buildings. Para ako
ng nasa subdivision na imbes na bahay, buildings a
t establishments ang nakalagay.

Tumango ako kay Kei kahit na ang totoo niyan, hind

i ko pa alam ang gagawin ko. Hehehe. Baka kasi sun
gitan niya ako kapag pinaulit ko na naman ang inst
ruction!

Nag ayos na kami at nagready para pumasok sa schoo

l. Dahil ahead na sa akin si Kei ng units, hindi k
ami classmates. Tsaka hindi naman per bloc dito, b
roken schedule. Bahala ka sa buhay mo, ganon.
Sinuot ko din yung binili naming boots! Hehehe. Ew
an ko lang kung bagay ba sa akin at sa weather. Me
dyo hindi naman malamig ngayon dahil April pa lang
pero bakit ba, gusto kong magsuot ng rock star bo
ots!

Dahil malapit lang naman ang school, nagwalk lang

kami ni Kei. Medyo nagugustuhan ko ng maglakad dit
o. Ang saya kasi maglakad dito sa NY dahil walang
masyadong dirty pollution tsaka pwede kang bumili
ng kung anu ano sa vendors habang naglalakad. Medy
o paborito ko na nga yung corndog, e!

"Tignan mo nga naman pag sinu swerte ka," may nari

nig akong bumulong. Tumalikod ako at nakita ko si
Tripp!

Tumakbo ako papunta sa kanya. Mabuti na lang at na

sasanay na ako sa heels kaya hindi na ako nadadapa
. "Tripp!"

Ngumiti siya sa akin at kumaway. Thanks po, Papa G

od! Alam ko naman na hindi niyo ako pababayaan. Bu
ti na lang at classmates kami ni Tripp.

"San ang class mo?" masaya kong sabi sa kanya. In

fairness, ang gwapo ni Tripp ngayon! Nakasuot siya
ng pants, white shirt at combat boots. Hehehe. Na
hilig na din yata si Marco sa boots!
Sabay kaming naglakad. Ewan ko kung saan kami papu
nta. Siguro naman hindi ako maliligaw dahil kasama
ko naman si Tripp. Matalino din si Tripp pero iba
si Drake. Gifted yun, e. Si Tripp, nasa normal le
vel ang talino.

Pareho pala kami ng papasukan! Pumunta na kami sa

room namin pero may nakalagay sa board na 'No Clas
ses Today. Next meeting, submit a paper about Adve
rtising Schemes. 12 TNR Double spaced. Minimum of
five pages.'

O__________O

Grabe naman! Parang sa makalawa na yung next meeti

ng, a! Ano ba naman 'tong napasukan kong eskwelaha
n, pwede ng icompare sa purtagory!

Biglang natawa si Tripp sa itsura ko. "Hoy, okay ka

lang, Alys?"

Tulala pa din ako. Pano ko tatapusin yun?!!

"Tara, simulan na natin. Dala mo ba yung laptop mo?

"

Kahit wala pa din ako sa katinuan, sumagot ako ng

oo. Sabi kasi ni Kei, dapat daw lagi kong dala yun
kasi kailangan ko daw sa pag aaral yun. Buti na l
ang Macbook Air na yung laptop ko. Super keribells
bitbitin! Kakatakot nga lang kasi baka biglang ma
sira. Ang gaan kasi.

Si Tripp yung naglead ng way. Pumunta kami sa isan

g coffe shop. Tama nga. Coffee shop buddy talaga k
ami nitong si Tripp Marco Palma! Pansin ko, e. Lag
ing sa coffee shops kami nagkikita.

Umorder muna siya, sabi niya siya na daw oorder sa

akin dahil alam niya na daw yun. Kakatouch!

Binuksan ko na yung laptop ko. Dahil sensitive nam

an akong tao, pinalitan ko muna yung background. A
lam ko naman na crush ako ni Tripp, at pinsan niya
si Drake. Wala naman akong balak maging source of
away nila, no! Di ako kagaya ni Shaira!

Nagsearch search ako sa internet. Buti na lang may

online library na. Dun na lang ako kumuha ng eboo
ks about advertising. Lord, sabi ko nga naging mas
ama akong bata! Pero sobrang hirap po ng parusa ni
yo sa akin. Paper!! <///3

After ilang minuto, nakapagtype na ako ng pangalan

ko at student number ko. In fairness!!

Nag inat inat si Marco.

"Nakaka tatlong page na ko. Ikaw?"

O_________O

E nakaka 30 minutes pa lang kami, a! Ang daya!!!

Nung hindi ako sumagot, tumayo siya at tinignan yu

ng laptop ko. "Tsk, Alys. Sa tagal natin dito, yan
lang talaga na type mo?"

Tsk. Sorry naman hindi ako matalino. At saka it ta

kes time, no! Matagal magprocess ang utak ko!

Hinatak niya yung upuan niya at saka nagttype sa la

ptop ko.

Kinain ko lang yung strawberry salad ko. Yeps! Ang

cool cool dito. Puro strawberry sa bowl tapos may
syrup and cream. Pati yung milk shake ko. Hehehe.
Courtesy of Tripp yan! Di niya ako siningil, e.

Bigla naman tumingin sa akin si Palma. "Tsk. Pano k

a ba nakapasa dito?"
"Hoy ang meanie mo, ha!"

Patuloy pa din siya sa pagttype. "Paano ka papasa d

ito kung di ka magseseryoso, Alys?"

"Sorry na po, Itay. Kausap ko kasi si Drake madalas

kaya hindi ako nakapag advance review."

Umiling iling siya pero patuloy pa din siya sa pag

gawa ng paper ko.

After ilang minutes, natapos na siya sa draft. Mer

on siyang binigay sa akin na links, basahin ko daw
yung tsaka ako na ang magpolish ng paper ko. Nung
pagtingin ko, halos complete na nga yung paper! A
ng kulang na lang ay conclusion. Mas nauna pang na
tapos yung paper ko sa paper niya...

"Tripp?"

Tumingin siya sa akin. Nakasuot pa din yung nerdy

glasses niya na binigay ko sa kanya nung nag Timez
one kami.

"Thank you," sabi ko. Napangiti naman siya. Ang ta

nga tanga tanga to the infinity ni Shaira pugits!
Binasted niya lang 'tong poging nilalang na 'to?!
Grabe!

Hinintay kong matapos si Tripp tapos lumabas na ka

mi ng coffee shop. Siya din ang nagbitbit ng gamit
ko kasi ang sakit ng balikat ko. Naglakad lakad k
ami sa busy streets ng lugar na 'to. Inaya ko nga
si Tripp na sumakay ng subway, hindi pa kasi ako n
akakasakay dito! Pag pumupunta kasi kami nila Momm
y, palaging naka car o kaya naman pag sa ibang Sta
te, naka eroplano. Ang nadadalaw ko pa lang naman
na lugar dito ay Miami, pag pumupunta kami kila Au
nt Glorie at Andrei at Cutie Pie Allison at sa Cal
i, pag binibisita namin si Daney Baby at Nana at Dada.

Dahil naging mabait na bata si Tripp, nilibre ko si

ya ng street foods! Yehey!!

--

"Wag kang makipag chat muna kay Drake. Tapusin mo y

ung paper, ha?"

Nagroger sign ako. "Yess, boss!"

Napangiti na naman siya. Cute ko daw kasi pag tinat

awag ko siyang boss.

Tumalikod siya at naglakad palayo. Hinatid niya ka

si ako sa dorm, at saka hinahanap na daw siya ni T
ofer. Nako buti na lang hindi ko nakita si Tofer!
Isa siyang malaking nakakaiyak na nilalang!

"Where were you?"

"Ay jusko po!"

Nasa likod ko si Kei. Grabe, nakakagulat naman siya

!

"Ah, pumasok ako kanina?"

Nagshrug siya at nagsimulang maglakad papalabas. "S

omeone's waiting for you."

O-kay?

--

(Tripp's POV)

"Tripp!"

Aish! Christofer Ann Palma, ang bwisit ng buhay ko.

Tumakbo siya papunta sa akin. "O, ano na naman prob
lema mo?"

Nagpout pa siya. Tsk. Minsan talaga, nagdududa na

ako na bading 'tong si Tofer. Mahilig ngumuso, tap
os napaka chismoso. Minsan, sa kanya ko lang nalal
aman yung mga balita tungkol sa mga pinsan ko sa P
ilipinas. Na nagdivorce na daw si ganito, nabuntis
daw si ganyan. Daming alam nitong baklita na 'to.

Hinubad ko muna yung sapatos ko.

"Nandito na daw si Drake!"

Napatigil ako. Si Drake? Ah. Nandito na si Drake k

asi nandito si Alys. Oo nga naman, Tripp. Nagulat
ka pa e girlfriend ng pinsan mo yung babaeng gusto
mo. Tsk. Laking tanga mo minsan.

Sumunod sa akin si Tofer nung kumuha ako ng tubig s

a ref.

"Sabi ko kay Tito Steve, dito na lang magstay si D

rake, pero ayaw daw ni Drake. Maghohotel daw siya.
Ang sama talaga ni Drake. Ayaw niya ba sa atin?"
Potek. Hahaha! Hindi ko mapigilang matawa kay Tofe
r. Seryoso? Nagtataka ba siya kung bakit ayaw ni D
rake dito? Kung papipiliin nga ako, sa hotel na la
ng din ako kaysa dito, e.

"Alam mo ba kung bakit ayaw niya dito?" tanong ko.

Umiling siya. "Kasi nandito ka. Alam mo naman na al

lergic sa'yo yun."

Sumimangot na naman siya. Bading talaga. Nakakasir

a sa lahi ng Palma. "Ang sama ni Drake. Ang bait n
aman ni Alys pero ang sama ni Drake. Di sila bagay
. Mas bagay kayo ni Alys."

Nabulunan ako sa sinabi niya. Nababaliw na naman si

Tofer!

Bumalik ako sa sala at kinuha yung laptop ko. Nags

imula na akong magtype. Sigurado naman ako hindi m
atatapos ni Alys yun, tatapusin ko na ngayon yung
sa akin tas tutulungan ko na lang siya bukas sa ka
nya. Pano kaya makakagraduate si Alys kung palagin
g ganun siya? Buti sana kung lagi akong pwedeng tu
mulong sa kanya.

--

(Alys' POV)
"Hi, Girlfriend."

O_______O

O_______O

"D-Drake?"

Dahan dahan akong naglakad. Oh to the M to the Gee!

Si Drake ba 'to?!

Ngumiti siya at lumakad din papunta sa akin. "Stup

id. Won't you hug your boyfriend?" Dahil jan, tuma
kbo ako at niyakap ko siya. Gosh ang nostalgic! Pa
rang for two whole weeks, puro sa monitor ko lang
siya nakikita pero ngayon, nandito na siya sa hara
pan ko!

Yinakap ko siya sa loob ng isang buong minuto. Grab

e. Namiss ko ang Drake Sebastian Palma ko!

Naupo kami sa kama ko. Ang dami dami kong gustong i

tanong sa kanya!
"Bakit? Paano? BAKIT KA NANDITO?"

"Easy on the questions, Noob. Can you let me sleep

first? My head hurts," sabi niya saka nahiga sa k
ama ko at pumikit.

Habang natutulog siya, pinagmasdan ko lang siya. Y

ung mukha niya, yung ilong niyang ang tangos tango
s, yung mata niyang mas maliit pa sa mata ko, at y
ung lips niya. No, Alys. Iwas sa temptation! Sa 20
th birthday mo pa pwede, remember?!

Naupo lang ako sa tabi niya habang natutulog siya.

Inabot yung yung phone ko at kinuhanan ko siya ng
selfie. Hehehehehe.

"Ang pogi pogi mo talaga, Drake. Kaya ang dami kon

g kaagaw e," sabi ko habang kinukuhanan ko siya ng
pang apat niyang selfie. Me approves!

Ang tagal matulog ni Boyfriend. Kinuha ko muna ang

mahiwaga kong laptop at sinubukang basahin yung g
inawa ni Tripp. Grabe! Ang talino ni Marco, no won
der nakapasa siya dito. Nagdududa na talaga ako. S
iguro sinuhulan ng Mommy ko mga tao dito.

Sinubukan kong iedit yung gawa ni Tripp pero parang

lumala lang lalo.
"What are you doing?"

Napaigtad naman ako kay Drake. Gising na pala ang m

ahiwagang boyfriend ko!

Isinara ko yung laptop ko. Three hours na pala ang

nakalipas! Konti na lang, pagabi na. "Ah eh, wala
. Okay na yung ulo mo?"

Tumango siya tapos lumapit siya sa akin at inakbaya

n ako.

>//////////<

Kailan ba ako masasanay~~~

"I missed you, Noob. Let's eat outside?"

Nagnod ako. Hay, Alys Perez. Bagsak ka man sa acad

emics, pasadong pasado ka naman sa lovelife! Pwede
na din!

--
Umorder na kami. Sa medyo fancy resto kami kumain.
Ayaw kasi ni Drake sa diner, maingay daw tsaka ma
sikip. E di pagbigyan. Minsan lang pupunta ang Boy
friend ko dito. Dapat nga sa Thanksgiving pa, e! K
amusta naman. Kailan pa yun, e April pa lang ngayon!

"What's up with you? Since when did you start weari

ng boots and... make up?"

Nagsmile lang ako. Hehehe. Kasi naman, lahat ng pe

oplets dito, naka make up. Pati si Kei my girl cru
sh, naka make up. Ako na lang yata ang pinaka mapu
tlang nilalang dito kaya naki go with the flow na
ako!

Sinamahan ako ni Ate Karen na bumili ng make up ki

t pati tinuruan niya ako. Fave ko yung smokey eyes
! Lakas maka Kim K! :>

Dumating na yung food namin. Kumain muna kami pero

syempre nagkwentuhan muna kami.

"Drake, bakit nandito ka? I mean, ang saya ko pero

nakakagulat naman!"

Nagshrug lang siya. "My conscience tells me you're

missing me too much so here I am."
"Ay grabe! Pakisabi sa conscience mo, super thanks!
"

Umiling iling naman siya. E ganun talaga. Pero ang

totoo niyan, pinapanood ko lang siya kumain. Kaka
miss kasi! Namimiss ko yung buong week na sabay ka
ming magdinner kasi nga, 'secret lovers' daw kami!
Halos madaling araw na kami natutulog kasi pupunt
a siya sa unit ko ng 12mn tapos kakain kami at mag
uusap hanggang 3 am. Kaya kinabukasan, pareho kam
ing bangag ni Drake.

Umorder din kami ng desserts tapos lumabas na kami

para maglakad. Sa hotel pala nagsstay si Drake.

"Sa dorm ka na lang, Drake..."

Pinitik niya yung noo ko. "Are you suggesting pre-m

arital sex, Alys?"

O_________O

"Hindi! Grabe ka naman! Dun ka lang matulog kasi na

miss kita!"

Ngumiti siya tapos hinalikan niya yung noo ko. Fee

ling ko sobrang love ako ni Drake pag kinikiss niy
a ako sa forehead. Sabi kasi ni Mommy, mas special
 daw ang kiss sa forehead kasi alam mo na nireresp
ect ka ng guy. Sabi ko naman, e di hindi siya nire
respect ni Daddy kasi sa lips siya laging kinikiss
ni Daddy kong retarded?

Hinatid niya ako sa dorm ko tapos kiniss niya nama

n ako sa lips. Mehehe. Pero sandali lang.

"See you tomorrow, Girlfriend?"

Nagnod ako kahit na hindi ako sure. Full pack kasi

ang klase ko tomorrow. Ay bahala na si Batman!

--

(Tripp's POV)

"Perez, Alys."

Nasan ba si Alys? Classmates kami ngayon pero wala

siya.

Natapos na sa pagchecheck ng attendance yung profe

ssor pero wala pa din si Alys. Natapos na sa pagdi
discuss yung professor pero wala pa din si Alys. N
asan ka na ba, Alys?
Bago lumabas yung professor, nagsabi muna siya sa a
min.

"To those who are absent today, tell them to submi

t a five pages worth of essay about the reason for
their absence. Don't come in my class without tha
t."

Lumabas na siya. Hanep, Alys. Simula pa lang ng kla

se, nagbibilang ka na ng sakit ng ulo.

Uuwi muna ako sa apartment dahil maya maya pang ala

s tres yung susunod kong klase.

Kung suswertehin ka nga naman.

"Ice yan, Alys. Unahin mo yung boyfriend mo kaysa s

a klase mo."

--

(Alys' POV)

"Are you sure, Noob? I could wait."

Umiling ako kay Drake. Hindi naman siguro ako mama
matay sa isang absent lang, di ba? Tsaka three day
s lang pala siya dito! Pang second day niya na nga
yon. Bukas last day na. E ngayon, start ng class k
o mula 9 am hanggang 7 pm. Ano na gagawin ko after
7?!

Sabi naman ni Drake, maghihintay daw siyang matapo

s ang class ko. Ayan tuloy, napilitan akong magsab
i na nag announce na walang class today. Sorry po,
Mommy at Daddy. One time big time lang 'to, swear!

Pumunta kami ni Drake sa cinema house tapos nanood

kami ng old movie. Ang cool kasi blac and white s
iya!

"Alys?"

"Oh?" sabi ko sabay inom ng kool aide.

"I moved back to the house."

"Talaga? E di okay!" sabi ko. Namimiss na kasi siy

a ni Tito Steve kaya okay na okay yun, di ba?!

Nagnod siya. "And Katrina's there. And I am tellin

g you this because I don't want to keep things fro
m you. I hate secrets."
Nagsmile ako sa kanya. "Good, Boyfriend. Ayoko din
naman ng secret, e."

Tinapos na namin yung movie tapos lumabas kami. An

g dami naman kasing pwedeng gawin dito to the poin
t na hindi ko na alam ang gagawin!

Dahil madaming botique dito, ginawa na lang namin

ni Drake yung bagay na pareho makapagpapasaya sa a
min. Hehehe. Nagshopping kami. :>

Nakakapagod pero masaya. Grabe! Nagshopping kami f

or hours tapos nagtext yung professor ko. Hindi ko
alam kung san nakuha yung number ko! Baka sa form
? Ay ewan bahala na! Nagtext sabi pumasok daw dahi
l iddrop niya pag absent ngayon. Naman e!

"Drake, papasok ako. May class pala ako. Hehehe."

Umiling iling siya. "Tsk. Bad girlfriend. You lied

to me?"

"Sorry na! Gusto ko lang naman magbonding tayo ngay

on," paliwanag ko.
Naglalakad kami ngayon tapos bigla niyang hinawaka
n yung kamay ko. "Why do you always act like I'll
be gone? I'm not going anywhere, Alys. I'm here, b
eside you, holding your hand. I won't go anywhere."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya! Hindi pa din talaga kumukupas

ang TDPW!

"I love you, Drake," sabi ko sa kanya. First time

'to! Hindi ko pa siya nasasabihan ng I Love You. P
uro sa skype lang yun.

Nagstep forward siya tapos yumuko siya kasi medyo

mas matangkad siya sa akin. "My love for you is cr
azy, and I don't like crazy. Being in love with yo
u makes me do crazy things, makes me go to differe
nt heights, and to be honest, it's scaring the shi
t out of me. But I love being in love with you, Al
ys Perez. And so long as I live, I'll continue lov
ing you. To the moon and back, Alys. To the moon a
nd back."

After nun, niyakap niya ako. Parang ang weird nami

n na nagyayakapan dito sa gitna ng Madison Square
but who cares! Mahal daw ako ni Drake!

--

"Good morning, Sunshine!"

Pagkatapos ng cheesy confession ni Drake. Ahihihi.
Pumasok na ako sa school. Lychee buti na lang pum
asok ako! Nagpa quiz yung professor at nakasagot a
ko! Binasa ko kasi yung ginawa ni Tripp na paper k
o at halos nandun lahat ng tanong. Saviour ko tala
ga si Tripp!

Nagmamadali akong umalis sa classroom. Medyo basto

s ko nga kasi hindi na ako nakapagbye kay Tripp, m
amayang gabi na kasi ang alis ni Drake kaya last b
onding day na namin ngayon!

Muntik ng malaglag yung puso ko nung makita kong p

apasok si Drake ng taxi. San siya pupunta?

"Drake?" sabi ko habang naglalakad ako papunta sa

kanya. Dahan dahan lang kasi kinakabahan ako. Aali
s ba siya? Hindi naman siguro. Bakit naman niya ak
o iiwan, di ba? Kakasabi niya lang kagabi na mahal
niya ako. To the moon and back, Alys. Kumapit ka
sa sinabi niya.

May sinabi siya sa driver tapos pumasok yung drive

r sa loob pero hindi pa din umandar yung taxi.

"Aalis ka na?"

Tumango lang siya. Bakit ganun? Parang siya na nam

an si Drake na walang pakielam sa akin?
Nag ooverthink ka lang, Alys. Napaka paranoid mo ta
laga.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "San tayo pupunta?" sabi ko t

apos kumapit ako sa kanya.

Tinitigan niya lang ako at saka tinanggal yung kama

y ko sa braso niya. "I'm going home."

"Akala ko ba mamayang gabi pa? Kainis naman! Napaag

a ba yung flight mo??"

"Stop acting stupid, Alys. You know what I mean. I'

m heading home."

Unti unting napapaiyak na ako. Bakit na naman ba?

Ano na naman yung ginawa kong mali?! Pinilit kong
ngumiti kahit na mukha akong tanga kasi tumutulo n
a yung luha ko. Naman, Alys! Bakit ngayon mo pa na
piling umiyak?

"Bakit... Drake? May nagawa ba akong masama?"

Hindi niya ako sinagot. Nakatingin lang siya sa aki

n.
"I'm not good for you, Alys. I won't lie to you si
nce I hate lies. Stop thinking about me, stop wast
ing your time on me. You're here. Study. Make your
parents proud, make me proud."

"Mag aaral naman ako! Bakit mo kailangang makipagbr

eak sa akin?!"

Wala na akong pakielam kahit na pagtinginan ako ng

mga tao dito. Nakikipagbreak sa akin yung taong m
ahal na mahal ko!

"Lower down your voice, Alys."

Hindi ko siya pinakinggan. "Drake, mag aaral naman

ako, please, wag naman ganito, ha? Wag mo naman a
kong iwan..."

Aanhin ko pa ba yung pride? Minsan lang ako magmak

aawa sa buhay ko. Siguro, ngayon na yun. Kung si D
rake naman yung kapalit ng pride ko, sino pa ba ak
o para humindi?

"I have made up my mind, Alys. Let's call it quits.

"
Tinalikuran niya ako at nagsimulang maglakad papunt
a sa taxi.

"Subukan mong pumasok sa loob ng taxi, kakalimutan

na talaga kita, Drake Palma."

Napahinto siya at humarap sa akin. "You can't forg

et me, Alys. Deep down, you will always love me."

Mas lalo akong napaiyak. Alam naman pala niya pero

bakit niya sa akin to ginagawa? Dahil sa pag aara
l? Niloloko ba niya ako?! Dahil sa pag absent ko k
ahapon? Joke ba siya?!

"Kahit mahirap, kakalimutan kita, Drake. Iwan mo a

ko ngayon, pangako sa'yo, hinding hindi mo na ako
mababalikan."

Sunud sunod pa din yung tulo ng luha ko. Pinagtiti

nginan na kami ng mga tao, may ilan, nakuha pang k
umuha ng litrato pero wala akong pakielam.

Hinawakan niya yung mukha ko at iniangat. "I'll wa

it for you, Alys. Maybe we're not together but you
'll always be my Alys."

"Ang sama sama mo, Drake! Ang sama sama mo!"

Kahit na nakikipagbreak siya, ginaganito niya pa d
in ako! Paano ko siya makakalimutan niyan!

Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Study hard, Alys. Go back t

o the Philippines and make me regret letting you g
o. Show me. Show me the retard that I am for break
ing up with you."

Pagkatapos nun, pumasok na siya sa loob ng taxi. Pa

gsisisihan mo 'to, Drake.

*******************************************
[6] About Chapter 5
*******************************************
About Chapter 5, ipopost ko yun sa August 3, Satur
day. Ngayon, may pa game. Kung sino ang pinakamaga
ndang fan art na mapipili ko, siya ang mapapasama
sa main cast ng DAP. Di ba ang main cast ay si Tri
pp, Drake, at Alys? Madadagdag ka jan. Yun. Kahit
hindi ikaw ang gumawa basta ikaw ang magpapasa, le
t's say na pinagawa mo sa friend mo, okay lang. Ba
sta wag galing dito sa internet tapos niloloko mo
lang ako. Hahaha.

Dapat isang scene siya sa DAP or SDP. Tapos lagyan

niyo ng DAP sa lower right ng drawing para may wa
termark or whatever man tawag dun. Okay? :)

Send niyo sa beeyotchwattpad@yahoo.com wag po sa F

B ko kasi mawawala lang yan sa dami ng messages ko
. :) Wag din sa twitter kasi natatabunan po :)
Pag less than 10 sumali, walang choice. On hold mu
na po kasi kailangan ko talaga yung bagong charact
er bago ako makapag update. :)

Sige po. Good luck! Pati sa magu UPCAT sa weekends

! Baka makita niyo ako dun. LOL. Nasa Main Lib lan
g ako pakalat kalat.

Watch niyo rin tong vids! Promise parang totoo. Hi

hi. Thanks kay Gielsie Mae Cruztat! Nasa external
link at sa multimedia yung vids!

xx

*******************************************
[7] -5-
*******************************************
-5-

"Please remind me kung bakit ako pumayag na sumama

ka dito," sabi ko habang tinitignan ko si Tofer n
a naglalakad pabalik balik sa shop ko at ginagalaw
lahat ng gamit na nakikita niya. He's the most an
noying person I have ever met! Hindi ko alam kung
paano ko siya natagalan maging kaibigan for four y
ears! God, I must have been so desperate for a fri
end na pinatulan ko na si Tofer!

Binuksan niya yung cupboard sa kitchen at ginalaw

yung jars dun. "Because kailangan mo ng magbabanta
y sa'yo?"

I rolled my eyes at kinuha ko mula sa kamay niya y

ung jar. Kakauwi lang namin dito sa Pilipinas, ni
hindi pa nga ako nagpapakita sa pamilya ko, e. Dum
iretso na kasi kami agad dito sa shop ko. The reas
on why I came back? Simple. Ayoko na dun. I missed
Philippines. I missed the traffic, the pollution,
the people. God, I missed everything!

"I don't need a baby sitter, Tofer! I'm 22 and I l

ived alone for four years," I explained. He didn't
seem like listening because he was just pacing ba
ck and forth the kitchen and the counter. I think
may ADHD siya. He's so hyper! Feeling ko anak ko s
iya na kailangan kong bantayan palagi.

Umupo siya sa stool. Finally, about time!

"But Tripp thinks different. Kaya nga pinasama niy

a ako dito e," he said then gave me a smug smile.

Oh, yes. Tripp Marco Palma, my beloved boyfriend.

I signalled a hand at Tofer na lalabas muna ako. B

eing in a closed space with him is beyond suffocat
ing.
("Missed me?")

"Yeah, I missed you. The moment I see you, I'm gon

na strangle you to death," I said through seethed
teeth.

Narinig kong tumawa siya. God, I missed Tripp! It'

s been like a month mula nung huli ko siyang makit
a. After NYU, I went to Paris and I've been stayin
g there for quite some time. The time zone was dif
ferent from New York but we managed. Okay lang nam
an sa akin since sobrang busy ko nun sa Paris, I b
arely have time to sleep pero si Tripp, kahit na s
obrang hindi ko siya maasikaso whenever he's in to
wn, he still goes there once a month. He's really
sweet.

("Well, sorry, Zy. Iiwan mo ako dito mag isa, magdu

sa ka jan kasama si Tofer.")

"Thanks so much, Tripp. You're the best boyfriend

ever." I said, he should note the overflowing sarc
asm.

("Boyfriend. Ang sarap pa din pakinggan,") he said

dreamily.

I kept the giggle from being voiced out. "Shut up,

Marco. We've been together for two years. Hanggan
g ngayon kinikilig ka pa din sa akin?"
Truth be told, I feel the same. At first, nag hesi
tate ako na bigyan ng chance kami ni Tripp. I have
many reasons. One, pinsan siya ng ex ko. Two, I b
elieved he's be my rebound guy. And three, I don't
deserve him! He's practically perfect! He's kind
and nice and sweet and caring. He's every woman's
dream. And I managed to snag him!

Since sobrang nagdadalawang isip ko, I asked my be

st friend, Aya. Sabi niya, okay lang naman daw sin
ce sobrang tagal na naming break ni Drake. Ngayon,
we've been over for four years. Wow. Ang tagal na
pala talaga.

So there, after kong mag isip, I gave us a chance.

Actually, si Tofer talaga ang pumilit sa amin. Ay
aw namin parehas ni Tripp. We know it's gonna be a
wkward. Ako, he's my best friend. Siya, I was the
one who got away. But Tofer's really persistent. K
inulit niya kami ng sobra hanggang pumayag na kami
. And the rest was history.

("Ganda ng girlfriend ko, e.")

"Dahil jan, umuwi ka na dito. Please, please?"

There were times na iniisip ko kung minahal ko ba

talaga si Drake or was I just in loved with the id
ea of being in love? I mean, yes, I was happy when
 I was with him but this time, it's different. Sig
uro dahil immature pa ako nung kami ni Drake. Puro
kilig, mga ganon. But with Tripp? It's love in a
whole new level. It feels nice.

("After a week. Sabi ko naman kasi sa'yo sabay na t

ayo, e.")

The reason why naiwan siya sa New York ay dahil ma

y tatapusin pa siyang business deal. Ang galing, n
o? Sobrang bilis ng panahon. Parang kahapon lang,
nagsstruggle pa ako para makatapos ng college pero
ngayon, I'm so done with school! Aaminin ko, my c
ollege years were hell. After breaking up with Dra
ke, sobrang nagtry akong mag aral. I did well, but
I wasn't happy. I still think breaking up with me
to make me study hard is the lamest reason ever.

"Fine. Galingan mo na lang. Love you."

"Love you more. Sige na, magttrabaho pa ang boyfrie

nd mo."

"Baliw."

Then I hanged up. Oh, this is the life that I want.

--

"Mommy!"

I ran towards them like a mad woman. Si Mommy, muk

hang nagulat pa. Si Daddy naman, nakasmile lang sa
akin at si Dane, there he was, nagbabasa ng encyc
lopedia. I neevr thought na nerd ang kapatid ko.

Mom stood up at niyakap ako. "Alys, why are you he

re? I mean, I'm happy that you're here but why are
you here?" she asked while hugging me.

I was busy giving her a hug worth four years. Hind

i ako umuwi sa Pilipinas for four years. During th
e first two years, dahil ayokong makita si Drake (
which was totally true that time. I hated him). An
d for the next two years, because I was so busy. S
wear. Sobrang fast phased ng buhay sa ibang bansa.
Getting eight hours of sleep? Dream come true.

Naupo ako sa sofa. Nagbago na din yung bahay namin

, a. Siguro naisipan na naman ni Mommy na mamili n
g gamit. It's like her stress reliever. Balita ko
kasi, may bagong secretary si Daddy, and Dane said
she's hot.

"I'm staying here for good."

Dane smirked. Oh, such a cutie! "Nice accent, Alys.

Keep talking."

I rolled my eyes. Sorry naman. I stayed in Paris f

or too long na na adapt ko na yung accent nila. I
find it really sexy. Pag English lang naman ako na
gkaka accent, pag Tagalog, normal pa din.

"Here's for Mom, and for you, Dad. And of course f

or my baby boy," sabi ko habang inaabot ko yung pa
salubong ko sa kanila.

Of course pera din naman nila Daddy yung gamit ko

pambili nun but hey, it's the thought that counts,
right?

Nag lunch na kami after nun and I took a nap. Anot

her reason kung bakit ako umuwi dito, dahil may fi
rst project na ako sa Philippines.

Hiniram ko muna yung convertible ni Dane. I learne

d how to drive, nagpaturo ako kay Ate Karen, sabi
niya she'll visit me soon. I kinda miss her na din
, e. I learned when I was in Paris, sa NY kasi, us
eless din magka car. People there like to walk. An
d seriously, san ka magpapark dun?

I went to a resto in a hotel. Dun kasi imeet yung

client. Heard that it's a wedding and I'll be doin
g the cake! Seven layered cake for strawberry's sa
ke!
I ordered champagne while waiting. One thing that
I learned, I learned to drink and to gamble a bit.
College life.

My attention was diverted when I heard the bells c

hime. Lumingon ako and then I saw a pretty lady. S
iguro siya yung bride.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. "Hi, are you Miss S

tinson?"

Ngumiti siya. She reminds me of someone. Si Tita K

atrina, she's like an angel din kasi. Oh, goodness
. Si Ethos! Inaanak ko nga pala si Ethos, si Tito
Steve kasi, e. Sabi niya kahit break na daw kami n
i Drake, gusto niya pa din na maging ninang ako ni
Ethos. Kahit daw hindi na ako maka attend ng biny
ag, si Aya na lang pinaattend ko. Siguro dadaan ak
o sa kanila one of these days. Pero sana wala si D
rake, I'm not yet ready to face him. Ano ba ang da
pat maging reaction ko?

Binigyan niya ako ng smile. "Yes, I am. You? You're

Miss Perez?"

We exchanged pleasatries for a while. Medyo masaki

t pa din yung ulo ko dahil sa jetlag pero hindi ak
o nagpahalata. Ito ang una kong project, hindi ko
'to isasabotage dahil lang sa simpleng head ache,
no.

"So, where's the groom?"

Binigyan niya ako ng smile tapos pinakita niya yun

g phone niya. "He's on his way. Sorry, busy kasi t
alaga siya."

"It's fine. Papakita ko muna sa'yo yung list ng cak

e designs, okay?"

Tumayo ako para kunin yung book sa likod ng shop.

Iinom na din ako ng coffee kasi konti na lang, pip
ikit na naman yung mga mata ko sa sobrang antok. N
agtext na din ako kay Aya. Gusto ko na kasi siyang
makita! Ang dami kong gustong itanong, e. Kent an
d Aya broke up months ago, and guess what? Dahil k
ay Sheen! That bastard. Si Aya pala yung babaeng l
agi niyang dine describe pag nag uusap kami!

Tripp Palma

calling...

"What? Missed me agad? Tulog ka na jan!" I checked

my watch, oh yes! Marunong na akong magbasa. Ilan
g beses akong nabatukan ni Tripp para lang matuto
pero marunong na ako ngayon. Hahaha!
He yawned. ("Maya na. Ano'ng ginagawa mo jan?")

Sinilip ko muna si Miss Stinson, mukhang busy pa n

aman siya sa pagtetext kaya kinausap ko muna si Tr
ipp.

"Meeting with my client. Ikaw ba? Tripp, 11 na jan.

Tulog ka na."

("Kakain muna ako. Busy ka ba?")

Gusto ko sanang sabihin na oo kaya lang gusto ko p

ang kausap si Tripp kaya nagsinungaling muna ako.
Makakapaghintay naman siguro si Miss Stinson.

Nag usap kami and here it goes.

Me: Hindi naman. Nagmmeeting nga lang kami. Ikaw ba

? Patapos na project mo jan?

Tripp: Oo. Wala na kasi si Tofer, alam mo naman yun

lang pakielamero sa buhay ko.

Me: Ssh. Marinig ka ni Tofer, mag eemote na naman y

un. Hahaha!

Tripp: Oo nga, e. Kahapon pa nag eemail sa'kin yun

. Baka namimiss ko na daw siya. Sa tingin mo ba ma
y crush siya sa akin?
Me: So, aagawan niya pa ako ng boyfriend??

Tripp: Malay mo naman. Patay na patay yata sa akin

yun e.

Me: So, iiwan mo na ako?

Tripp: Siguro. Hindi mo na ako mahal, e.

Me: E kung sinasakal kaya kita?

Tripp: Joke lang naman. Ice ka talaga kausap, Zyril

. Brutal masyado.

Me: Uwi ka na kasi dito.

Tripp: Gusto ko na nga. Pero may inaayos pa kasi ak

o dito.

Me: Sige ka, si Tofer na lang idedate ko.

Tripp: Hahaha! Sige lang, Alys. Pag nagawa mong lal

aki si Tofer, papakasalan na kita.

Me: Sabi mo yan, ha! Sige na, bye. Magpplano na ako

sa date namin ng pinsan mo.

*silence*

Me: I mean, ni Tofer. Tsk. Ang dami mo naman kasin

g pinsan, e. Sige po, bye na po. Love you, Tripp.

Woo! Ang awkward nun! Nakalimutan ko na insecure n

ga pala si Tripp kay Drake. Kaya as much as possib
le, iniiwasan kong topic si Drake. Ayaw ko kasi na
naiinsecure ang boyfriend ko sa ex ko. Ang mali n
un sa feeling.
Kinuha ko muna yung book mula sa kitchen counter a
t inayos ko yung buhok ko. Mula kasi sa buhok ko d
ati na long, black, at may bangs, ngayon naka long
, wavy, at brunette na ako. Bagay naman sa akin, e
. Ang ganda ko na nga daw sabi ni Mommy.

"Eto na nga pala yung---"

Oh. No.

"Miss Perez, the groom, Drake. Babe, si Miss Perez,

yung gagawa ng wedding cake."

*awkward silence*

Fudge! Nawala lang ako ng four years, pagbalik ko,

ikakasal na siya?!

Napatingin ako kay Miss Stinson, or should I call

her Mrs. Palma na nakakapit sa braso ni Drake. Naw
ala na nga si Shaira, eto naman ang pumalit!

"H-Hi, Drake."

Nakatingin lang siya sa akin. God naman, Drake! Ma

gtititigan ba tayo dito?! Dito sa harap ng "fiance
" mo?!

Inoffer ko yung kamay ko at nilakihan ko yung mata

ko para isignal na tanggapin niya yung kamay ko.
After a few seconds, tinanggap niya na. Shems. Ang
lamig ng kamay niya.

"Hi."

O-kay. How to face your ex without looking awkward

? Dapat mag magsulat ng ganyang libro, e! Hindi na
man sa may feelings pa ako kay Drake pero ayoko pa
talaga siyang makita. Alam mo yun, ang last na na
kita ko siya, pinaiyak niya ako sa gitna ng New Yo
rk. Siguro naman may dahilan ako para magalit, di
ba??

"Tumatawag si Mama. Labas muna ako, Drake. Behave."

Lumabas ang fiance niya. Okay. Okay. Don't panic,

Alys! Matagal mo ng pinractice 'to, di ba? At isa
pa, nagpromise ka kay Tripp na pag nakita mo si Dr
ake, walang kilig and stuff. Pure friends na lang
kami.

Awkward akong naupo sa upuan dun. "So, long time no

see, huh?"
"You look different."

Inisip ko kung ano ba ang suot ko ngayon. Naka ank

le jeans ako, black pumps, at white sheer blouse.
Mukha naman akong normal, a. Hindi nga ako naka ma
ke up ngayon, e. Naka lipstick lang ako na red. An
ong different dun? Baka pag nakita ako nito na nag
paparty, isipin niya ibang tao na ako.

Binigyan ko siya ng awkward smile. "I'll take that

as a compliment."

Sheez nasan na ba yung fiance niya?!

"I have a question," sabi niya. Inabot ko yung cof

fee sa harap ko habang medyo nanginginig pa ang ka
may ko. Geez, Alys! "Is it really true that you're
dating my cousin?"

Bigla akong nabulunan sa tanong niya. What the?!

Inabutan niya ako ng tubig.

"Alys, are you dating my cousin?"

Kumuha ako ng tissue mula sa purse ko at pinunasan
ko yung bibig ko. "Oo. Ano naman sa'yo?"

He shrugged. "Nothing. I'm just checking the compet

ition."

"WHAT?!"

He gave me a smile. Dude, it looks like danger's a

pproaching. Nawala ako ng four years, pagbalik ko,
para akong nasa alternate universe! Hindi ko kila
la yung Drake na nasa harap ko!

"Someone told me that since I let you go, I should

be the one taking you back."

I swear my jaw just fell! Ano'ng nangyayari?!

"Drake, boyfriend ko si Tripp. Ano'ng problema mo?"

Hinawakan niya yung kamay ko na nakapatong sa lame

sa pero pilit kong kinukuha. "But where is he? He'
s in New York, I'm here."
"AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET MARRIED!"

God! Masisiraan na ako ng bait dito!

"The marriage is not until next, next month."

"AND SO? ANO BA ANG GUSTO MONG IPARATING?"

Tumayo siya at hinalikan niya ako. FUDGE!

"I'm returning the favor, Alys. Tripp betrayed me,

I'm just doing the same. See you around."

-----

Hinahanap ko pa kung sino ang gumawa nung fan art!

Please papost sa MB ko kung ikaw yan and ikaw ang
gagamitin ko. Paki indicate ang gusto mong name!
Ang ganda ng gawa mo!! Loves!

xx

*******************************************
[8] -6-
*******************************************
-6-
"Right, right?!"

Kanina pa ako pabalik balik dito sa condo ni Aya.

That's right, she got herself a condo. Aya's now o
ne of the promising designers in the field of fash
ion. Nag intern pa siya sa Mommy ko noon and now s
he's working for her!

"Stop right there, Alys. Nahihilo ako," she said a

nd then motioned me to sit on the bean bag next to
her. "So, you're telling me that Drake's hit on y
ou?"

I nodded. D-amn that man! Ikakasal na siya pero na

kuha niya pa akong halikan? What a jerk! Kawawa na
man si Miss Stinson.

Umayos ng upo si Aya tapos nagpatuloy siya sa pagl

alagay ng French tip sa nails niya. "Maybe he's st
ill into you."

"But he was the one who left me, remember?"

God, Aya is the sole person on earth na nakakaalam

ng lahat ng pinagdaanan ko nung iniwan ako ni Dra
ke. I would bug her every single day para tanungin
kung ano meron kay Drake, kamusta kay Drake. But
I guess time really does heal everything. I went o
n like that for three freaking months! On the four
th month, I guess I just started accepting the fac
t that he gave up on me. And it says a lot.

"Maybe seeing you again brought back the old flame?

"

I rolled my eyes. "Old flame my a-ss, Aya. I'm with

Tripp, and I'm happy with him."

She raised her hands in protest. "Hey, not saying

anything, Besh. Ang sakin lang naman, maybe he sti
ll thinks na you're his. You know? What you guys h
ad was pretty great."

I gave her a smile for that. What we had sure was

pretty great. Pag naaalala ko, napapangiti na lang
ako, but pag naaalala ko yung pang iiwan niya sa
akin, I cringe. But as it really is, what we had w
as a thing of the past. Move on, look forward.

"Yeah, it was pretty great. But hey, kamusta kayo n

i Kent? Still not talking, huh?"

Kumuha ako ng beer sa fridge ni Aya. No, she still

does not drink. All college life niya, si Kent an
g kasama niya and I tell you, Kent is like the ide
al son-in-law to every mother! He does not drink,
he studies hard, and once he commits, he commits.
Ang resulta? Isang matinong Aya. I cannot even beg
her to go to a club. She's all too Miss Goody-Two
-Shoe.

She shook her head. "Come on, Besh. Three months p

a lang kaming break ni Kent. It's too soon to talk
."

I shrugged. "Nothing's too soon, Aya. The longer y

ou don't talk to a person, mas lalaki yung chance
na makalimutan mo how it feels to be with them. An
d seriously, once you forgot what it feels like, t
he moving on process is just a piece of cake."

She wiggled her eyebrow. "Real talk na ba, Besh?"

"What? No! Stop with your segue na. What I've been
meaning to tell you, kung mahal mo pa si Kent, wh
ich you still obviously do, go talk to him. Don't
wait for some random s-kank to snag him away from
you."

Biglang tumawa ng tumawa si Aya. Did I say somethin

g wrong?

"Why are you laughing?"

Umiling iling pa siya habang tumatawa. "Wala, Besh

. Hindi lang ako sanay na may accent ka. Para lang
akong nanonood ng Harry Potter ngayon."
I rolled my eyes again. Seriously, big deal masyad
o? Pati si Mommy at Daddy, kinukulit ako sa accent
ko. Sorry naman!

I jumped on her couch and made myself comfortable.

"So, ano na nga? You would go talk to him na?"

She gave me a half smile. "Maybe. I'll think about

it. Masyado pa ding fresh sa utak ko yung pinag a
wayan namin, e."

Shrugging my shoulders, I got my phone from my poc

ket. Nagtext pala si Miss Stinson, and it turned o
ut, she's Cristine Stinson, and her father is Tito
Steve's business partner.

As I was saying, pagdating ko, nagsimula siyang ma

gspill ng details about kay Cristine and stuff. Hi
ndi ako nagtanong or what, basta na lang siyang na
gsalita! Ang weird niya.

I read her text and turns out, gusto niyang makipag

meet. Kakakita lang namin kahapon, a?

Hindi ko muna siya nireplyan. I'm still pissed wit

h Drake. Hindi ko pa nga nasasabi kay Tripp yung p
aghalik niya sa akin, e. I know he would freak out
! And I definitely don't need him freaking out. He
needs all the concentration he could get dahil sa
final presentation niya dun.

After bugging Aya, umalis na ako sa condo niya. Go

od thing nasa taas lang ng unit ko yung unit niya.
20th floor siya. Bumalik na kaya ako sa condo ko?
Well, check ko muna kung nandun pa si Drake sa un
it niya because if he's there, no way in hell na b
abalik ako.

-Four years ago-

"Yuck, ha, Alys. Pumunta ka talaga dito sa apartmen

t para umiyak?"

Huhuhu. Kainis naman si Tofer! Wala na nga akong a

ssignment sa core course, binreak na ako ni Drake,
tapos ngayon iniinis naman ako ni Tofer! Bakit ba
nagkakaganito ang buhay ko?!

Binatukan siya ni Tripp. "Aish. Tigilan mo nga si

Zyril, Tofer." Inabutan niya ako ng isang tub ng s
trawberry ice cream. "Ayos ka lang ba? Namamaga yu
ng mata mo. Tsk. Matulog ka naman kasi."

Tumango ako habang binubuksan ko yung lid nung ice

cream tub. Pati ba naman lid, ayaw makisama sa ak
in?!!
Kinuha ni Tripp yung tub at binuksan niya. Tumayo
din siya at kumuha ng spoon mula sa kitchen. "T-th
anks."

Pinat niya yung ulo ko. Three weeks na simula nung

iniwan ako ni Drake. Ugh!! Sinubukan ko naman siy
ang iblock sa facebook pero hindi ko magawa! Ayoko
din siyang iunfriend kasi madami siya palaging fr
iend request, paano pag nagbago na yung isip niya
at balikan ako? Pano kami magiging friends at paan
o ako magsesend ng relationship request?!!

"May ticket ako para sa movie. Upper east side tayo

mamaya?"

Tumango ako at kumain ng ice cream. Nakakahiya nga

kay Tripp, e. Lagi siya yung binubwisit ko pag na
iisip ko si Drake. Wala naman kasi akong ibang fri
end dito sa New York. Si Ate Karen, busy sa PhD ni
ya, si Kei, busy sa buhay niya. Speaking of Kei, i
naaya niya akong magbar pero ayoko. Makakasira daw
yung sa studies ko sabi ni Drake. Ayan, si Drake
na naman naiisip ko!!

After kong mag eat, hinatid muna ako ni Tripp sa do

rm para magbihis.

"Where are you heading at?"

Nakita ko si Kei na nagbabasa ng book sa kama niya
. In fairness, hindi siya nakaayos ngayon. Nalaman
ko na nagka crush pala sa kanya si Tripp. Well, h
indi ko naman masisisi si Tripp, ang pretty ni Kei
! Pero hindi kasi siya type ni Kei. Si Sheen pa di
n ang gusto niya. Hay ang gulo. Yung gusto mo, aya
w sa'yo. Yung ayaw mo, may gusto sa'yo.

Kumuha ako ng coat mula sa closet. Ang lamig ngayo

ng gabi. Baka hindi lang ako heart broken, ma brai
n freeze din ako. =____=

"Movies. Sama ka?" aya ko sa kanya. Inaaya niya na

man kasi ako pag aalis siya. At isa pa, crush nga
siya ni Tripp! Baka eto na yung chance na makabawi
ako sa help ni Tripp. Ilalakad ko na lang siya ka
y Kei!

Umiling siya. "Pass. Have a great time, tho. You ne

ed it."

Nagsmile ako. "Thanks, Kei."

Bigla siyang nag Indian sit sa kama niya at ibinab

a niya yung book niya. "I don't want to be nosy bu
t what's with you and Drake?"

Natigilan ako. Hindi ko kasi naikwento sa kanya. W

ala pa kami sa level na ganito. Siguro nagtataka s
iya kung bakit mukha akong walking dead ngayon. Pu
ro eye bags na si Alys Zyril Perez. Hindi na ako p
retty. :(

"Ah... Ano kasi... Break na kami. Hehe."

Tinap niya yung space sa kama niya kaya nagpunta a

ko dun at naupo. "Everything will be fine. He's a
jackass for letting you go. You'll be fine, promis
e." And after that, I had been fine. De joke lang.
Sabi kasi ni Aya (di ko alam bakit sa kanya ako n
agtanong) moving on is a process daw. Sa ngayon, n
asa acceptance stage pa din ako. Para daw yung Den
ial, Acceptance, Bargaining, ay nakalimutan ko na
yung dalawa. Pero ganun nga daw, makaka move on da
w ako. Time heals everything daw. Tsk.

Nag ayos ako sandali tapos lumabas na kami ni Trip

p. Nanood kami ng film, actually, animated film si
ya. Funny pero hindi ako natatawa. Hay, Drake. Ins
tead of making me inspired, you made me miserable.

"Hindi ka man lang natawa? Ang cute kaya nung peng

uin!" sabi ni Tripp nung naglalakad kami palabas n
g movie house.

Nirub ko yung dalawa kong kamay kasi nilalamig ako

. "Tumawa kaya ako! Brrr." Bakit ba ang lamig ngay
on? Wala pa namang winter season!
Kinuha ni Tripp yung kamay ko tapos nilagay niya s
a pocket ng coat niya. Medyo nagulat pa ako kaya b
inawi ko yung kamay ko.

"Ice yan, Zyril. Walang malisya. Bilis na, lalamigi

n ka."

Medyo nanginginig pa yung kamay ko nung kinuha niy

a yung kamay ko at nilagay niya sa loob ng pocket
niya. Naka stop lang kami sa gitna ng daan. Nakapa
tong din yung kamay niya sa hands ko. Ang warm ng
kamay niya, yung kay Drake kasi, malamig. Aish!! S
top comparing na nga!

"Okay na?" tanong niya habang hawak pa din yung kam

ay ko.

Shems naiilang ako. NO!

"A-ah. Oo. T-thanks, Tripp."

"Sus, wala yun. Ikaw pa. Sushi tayo?"

-Present-

I just can't help but smile whenever I remember ho

w I found Tripp. I mean, not literally. Took us al
most three years before we had the guts to admit t
hat we want to be together. Sure, Mom asked me at
first kung seryoso ba talaga ako kay Tripp. She sa
id baka daw rebound ko lang si Tripp. Seriously, w
hat's with rebound? Can't a girl just fall out of
love from a guy who broke her heart and fall in lo
ve with the guy who's been there for her? Is it re
ally so impossible?

I arrived at the VIP room. Bakit ba kasi dito pa ma

gmmeet?

"Good noon. Lunch?"

I swear my jaw fell. Drake again?!

My eyes roamed the room. No sign for Miss Cristine

Ann Stinson. Nasan na ba siya? Akala ko emergency
meeting 'to? Why is Drake here? Siya ba ang may d
ibs sa cake?

"Where's Miss Stinson?" I asked, still not sitting

down.

He shrugged. Oh, God. Wag mong sabihin na isa na n

aman 'to sa 'Get-You-Back" agenda niya? It's getti
ng way out of line!
"Lunch, Alys?"

It gave me chills, how he said my name. Parang may

galit or something. Siya pa ang may karapatang ma
galit? Tsk. Really, really complicated man.

I waved my phone. "I'm calling her. If she'll not

be here, I'm leaving." I dialled her number and mu
ch to my surprise, nagring yung phone sa table. "W
hy is her phone with you?"

He gave me 'that' smile. It's a 'I-Know-What-I'm-A

bout-To-Do-Is-Bad-But-You'll-Like-It-Anyway' kind
of smile. It's annoying and creeps me out!

"Left it with me. Because that's how relationship

works, Alys. You need to trust your partner."

Sinabi niya yan ng nakatingin sa akin. Two can play

this game, Mr. Palma.

I sat down on the chair and placed my order sa wait

er na kanina pa nanonood sa amin ni Drake.

"Sure. Let's talk about trust, gusto mo?"

He shook his head. "We'll have time for that. For n
ow, what's with your slutty clothes?"

"Pardon me?"

He pointed out what I was wearing. "Really short s

horts- check. Extra thin top- check, I can see you
r lace bra, by the way. Black wedge- check. And re
ally distracting red lipstick. Slutty attire," he
said and then had a spoonful of whatever he's eati
ng.

I took a deep breath. And smiled.

"For your information, this is called trend."

"Sure. Does Tripp like it that way?"

"He likes me in anyway."

He grabbed his glass of wine and sipped it. "Good f

or him."

"Tha--" I was about to say thanks when he cut me of

f.
"I don't like you that way. Change your clothes. I'
m dating you today."

--

100 tweets tonight why you love DAP, update again

tomorrow. Wala lang bored ako. Hahaha! Tweet meeee
e @beeyotchWP

xx

*******************************************
[9] -7-
*******************************************
-7-

Kanina ko pa pinupukpok yung ulo ko. Bakit ba kasi

hindi ako matalino?!

"Aaah!! Nakakainis!!"

Pilit kong sinasabunutan yung ulo ko ng biglang ma

y humawak sa kamay ko. Hindi ko na kailangan tumin
gin dahil alam ko na naman kung sino yun. Isa lang
naman ang kakilala ko na ganito humawak, si Tripp
Marco Palma. Pag hinahawakan niya yung kamay ko,
iba yung pakiramdam talaga. Para bang safe ako pal
agi? Ganun yung feeling pag kasama ko si Tripp per
o pag si Drake, may adventure. Alin ba ang mas mag
anda? Yung safe ka, or may risk kang palaging itat
ake?

"Tama na nga yan," sabi niya tapos inalis niya yun

g kamay ko sa ulo ko. Naupo siya sa tabi ko, tinig
nan ako ng maigi, at saka bumuntong hininga. "Inaa
buso mo na yung sarili mo, Alys. Nagbreak lang kay
o ni Drake, hindi siya namatay."

Medyo nanginginig pa yung labi ko habang tinitigna

n ko si Tripp. Alam ko naman na tama siya e. Hindi
naman namatay si Drake pero kung makaiyak ako, ak
ala mo forever bye bye na. Pero mas masakit kaya.
Yung alam mo na nandyan lang siya somewhere pero h
indi ka niya pinupuntahan kahit alam niya na nasas
aktan ka na?

"Mahal ko pa din siya, e..." bulong ko.

Nagsquat siya sa harap ko tapos hinawakan niya yun

g dalawang kamay ko na nasa lap ko. "Alam ko. Pero
hindi tumitigil ang ikot ng mundo, Alys. Siguro m
ay rason si Drake para iwan ka, pero sa ngayon, wa
g mong sirain yung buhay mo dahil sa kanya. Bata k
a pa, madami ka pang makikilala."

"Pero ayoko sa iba. Si Drake lang ang gusto ko."

Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Alam ko din. Ano ba ang sabi

sa'yo ni Drake bago siya umalis?"
Pilit kong inalala yung sinabi ni Drake. Make me p
roud? Sana kasi kaya ko! Sana kasi totoo yung sina
sabi sa mga movies na once na nasaktan ang babae,
automatic na nagiging matalino siya, maganda, pala
ban. Pero hindi kasi ganon sa totoong buhay. Pag i
niwan ka, it's either siguro magiging panget ka ka
gaya ko, o magiimprove ka. Pero either way, choice
mo naman yan. Ikaw pa din naman ang mag eeffort p
ara maganap yan...

"Make him proud daw..."

Tumayo siya at pinat niya ang ulo ko. "Make him pro
ud pala, e. Kamusta naman?"

Yumuko ako sa lamesa. "Hindi naman kasi madali. An

g hirap kayang mag aral!!" reklamo ko. Totoo naman
! Hindi naman ako magically tutubuan ng brain cell
s dahil nakipag break siya sa akin! Medyo weird ta
laga ng reason ni Drake. :(

Natawa na naman si Tripp. Ayan na naman yung dimple

s niya, kakainis!!

"Tara, pasyal muna tayo, gusto mo?"

Nagpunta kami ni Tripp sa central park. Wala lang,

 naglakad lakad lang kami at kumain ng bagel at co
rndogs sa street vendors. Ang sarap huhuhu. Hindi
na kasi ako masyadong kumakain, e. Nawawalan ako n
g gana. Pati sa strawberry nawalan ako ng time. :(

"Gusto ko pa. T^T"

"Wala na yung nagtitinda," sabi ni Tripp.

Naupo ako sa sahig. "Gusto ko pa ng bagel."

"Aish. Wala na nga."

"Gusto ko ng bagel."

"Ano gusto mong gawin ko?"

"Iluto mo ako ng bagel."

Kahit labag sa loob ni Tripp, niluto niya ako ng b

agel. Ahehehe. Buti na lang wala si Tofer sa apart
ment. Palagi niya na lang akong binubully. :( Nung
isang araw kasi sinabihan ko siya ng bakla, hinal
ikan ba naman ako sa cheeks!! Nakakainis talaga yu
ng panget na yun!! Grrr!
"First time kong magluto. Wag kang magrereklamo pag
hindi 'to masarap."

=____=

Gutom ako. Kahit ano kakainin ko.

Kinuha ko muna yung cellphone ni Tripp at pinakail

amanan ko. Aha! Isang stalker!! Bakit ako may pict
ure dito!! Habang busy siyang magluto (ang cutie p
ie niya kasi naka apron siya. Hehehe), pinakailama
n ko yung phone niya.

Wala namang kakaiba bukod sa stolen pictures ko at

mga texts ko na hindi binubura. Lakas talaga ng c
rush sa akin ni Marco!

Nakita ko yung number ni Drake. Pilit kong pinigil

an yung sarili ko na wag siyang itext. Wag, Alys.
nakailangan text ka na sa kanya dati, di ba? Hindi
siya nagreply. Tama na, please.

Nagscroll down ako.

Scroll down lang ng scroll down.

Aish! Sino bang niloloko ko?!

To: Drake

Hindi mo ba tatanungin si Alys?

There. Sent.

"Malapit na kong matapos," sabi ni Tripp. Medyo ki

nabahan pa akong binura yung message baka kasi mab
asa niya.

"Ah. Eh. Hehe. Sige, gutom na ako," sabi ko na lang

.

Lumipas ang 5 minutes, 10 minutes... Walang Drake

na nagrereply. Hindi na talaga niya siguro ako mah
al, no?

Naiiyak na naman ako nung sinerve ni Tripp yung bag

el.

"Oh, bakit umiiyak ka na naman?"

Pinunasan ko yung luha ko. "Wala. Gutom na kasi ta
laga ako," sabi ko tapos inabot ko yung pagkain ka
hit alam kong mainit pa. "Awww." Ang sakit! Napaso
pa ako!

Dali daling kumuha si Tripp ng toothpaste.

O____O

"Tutoothbrush-an mo ako?!" sabi ko kahit medyo ouch

pa yung labi ko. Aray ha!!

Pinitik niya yung noo ko. "Baliw. San ba masakit?"

sabi niya habang titig na titig sa labi ko.

*Gulp*

NOOOOO!!

"Dito ba?" sabi niya sabay turo sa gilid na part ng

lips ko.

"H-hindi," sabi ko. Medyo naiilang na kasi ako. Tin

uro ko yung sa medyo gitna. "D-dito."
Dahan dahang kumuha ng toothpaste si Tripp at pina
hiran niya yung lips ko. Grabe! Parang may karera
ng kabayo sa dibdib ko ngayon!!

"Ayan. Mamaya mawawala na yan," sabi niya ng nakasm

ile.

Ayoko po 'tong tanungin pero curious talaga ako!

"Ah, ano... Walang malisya 'to, ha?" Tumango siya.

"May ano... uhm, first kiss ka na ba?"

Napatulala si Tripp sa akin.

"Ay wag mo na ngang sagutin!" sabi ko tapos tumayo

ako at nagstart maglakad palayo sa kanya. Brrr. M
alamig na nga, may chills pa akong nararamdaman mu
la sa pagtitig effect niya kanina!

Nagstart na akong maglakad ng bigla niyang hatakin

yung braso ko tapos niyakap niya ako mula sa liko
d.

Nakapatong yung ulo niya sa balikat ko. Shet. No.

"First kiss? Wala pa, e. Hinihintay ko kasi yung b
abae na magpapatibok ng puso ko. Ang corny pero ga
nun talaga. Yung babaeng hinihintay ko kasi, may m
ahal pang iba. Kaya sana pag nakalimutan niya na y
ung g-ago kong pinsan, mapansin niya naman ako. Na
meron palang isang Tripp Marco Palma na nagmamaha
l sa kanya."

Gusto ko sanang humarap para magpasalamat sa kanya

pero....

"Bakit kayo magkayakap? PORN!!! SUSUMBONG KO KAYO K

ILA TITO!!"

=_____=

Tofer.

--

Follow me on twittahhhh @beeyotchWP and ano, nasa

page ang character chart! Yehey! Susubukan ko pong
magupdate palagi, pwera na lang pag tambak ako ng
school works. ~(-.-)~

Happy reading, guysh! xx

*******************************************
[10] -8-
*******************************************
Dedicated to Jane! Happy Birthday, baby girl! :>

-8-

I raised my hand up in the air. "Are you nuts? Ser

iously, Drake, what is wrong with you?" I asked, s
incerely.

He smiled at me and cut a portion of his steak. "No

thing is wrong with me."

"Then why are you being like this?" I asked him. T

apos na kami, four years and counting pero heto na
naman siya, nanggugulo. I thought he made himself
clear, he did not want me, and I was expecting th
at he does not want me. I have waited for two year
s! Alam mo yun, two years akong naghintay, e. Hind
i naman ako yung tipo na break na kami tapos move
on na agad ako. Naghintay ako ng two years... Kahi
t na alam na alam ko na noon na gusto ako ni Tripp
at gusto ko din siya, hindi ako nag give in. Baki
t? Kasi deep down, I was expecting he would come b
ack for me and get me back. But that did not happen.

"Why am I being what?"

"You're playing with me. Damn, Drake! Ayoko na, ok

ay? Can't you please spare me from your emotional
torture?!" I seethed. Kinuha ko yung wine glass sa
table at ininom ko. God, I'm losing my cool! Nasa
n na ba kasi si Tripp?! Don't worry, Zyril. Three
days na lang dadating na ang boyfriend mo. Hold on.
He shook his head. "There's no emotional torture h
ere, Alys. I'm just going to date you today. What'
s so wrong with that?"

That's it. Tumayo ako at naglakad palabas.

Bastos na kung bastos pero may choice pa ba ako? H

e's playing me again! Back then, I was naive and g
ullible, pero ngayon, I'm a whole lot better and I
won't give him the liberty to toy with me again.
Not now that I'm contented with my life. I love my
life right now.

I was strutting towards the door when he caught me

by my arm. "Where do you think you are going?"

I sighed. "Home, Drake. Pagod ako, okay? Hindi pa

ako natutulog, and I'm going to lose my sanity. Wa
g ka ng dumagdag."

Unti unti kong tinanggal yung kamay niya sa braso k

o at humarap sa kanya.

"Drake, seriously, I don't want you back. Please st

op bothering me."
--

"Alys?"

Lumingon ako. Today's a new day. I was pretty exha

usted yesterday with Drake's drama. Good thing nak
ausap ko si Tripp kagabi and I didn't tell him abo
ut that 'talk.' May good news din siya! Mapapaaga
ang uwi niya, thank God! Mababaliw na yata ako pag
wala pa din siya.

"Tito Steve called you. Punta ka daw sa bahay niya

," Dane said. Wala si Mommy and Daddy kaya kami la
ng ni Dane ang nandito sa bahay palagi. Dahil kaka
labas lang sa rehab ni Dane, not that may drug rel
ated problem and kapatid ko. It's just that, he's
emotionally vulnerable as of the moment.

I flipped the cover of the glossy magazine that I w

as reading. "Bakit daw?"

"Ewan. Punta ka daw dun."

I sighed and punched Tito's number on the landline.

"Can I talk to Tito Steve?"

("Why?")

Aww. There. Kahit sa landline ayaw akong tigilan ni

Drake.

"Tatanong ko lang kung bakit gusto niya akong papu

ntahin jan," I said. I figured dapat siguro magkar
oon na kami ng talk ni Drake, no? Para ma clear na
yung black clouds sa pagitan namin. Syempre, mero
n pa din naman akong galit sa kanya. He broke my h
eart. Pero ngayon, since pinsan sila ni Tripp and
it's inevitable na magkita kami, sana siguro magin
g kahit civil kami sa isa't isa. I wanna cut the c
hase and just be friends. After all, the damage ha
s been done. The best thing we could do is to be f
riends, or acquaintance, at least.

I heard some crying on the background.

("It's Ethos' birthday.")

OMG! Bakit hindi ko alam?! I'm such a bad ninang!

"Shit," I uttered.

("Since when did you start cursing?") he asked whi

lst Ethos was crying on the background. Aww! Even
his sobs are so cute! I've seen baby pictures of h
im and he's nothing like Drake! Kung si Drake, muk
hang snob, si Ethos ay more like Tripp. He's like
an angel. Nagmana sa Mama niya, and he's white lik
e milk!

I erased the thought of comparing the two Palmas o

f my life. "Since I don't know. Tell Tito Steve th
at I'll swing by later," I said then hanged up on
him. Hah! Feels good!

Umakyat ako sa kwarto at nagpalit ng damit. Pupunt

a muna ako sa mall. Si Ethos ang first na inaanak
ko kaya syempre kailangan special ang first gift k
o sa kanya! Nung baptism niya kasi, si Aya na lang
ang pinabili ko ng gift. I'm such a bad godmother.

"Baby, pakisabi kila Mommy na punta lang ako kila T

ito Steve, okay?"

--

Kanina pa ako ikot ng ikot sa Mall. Sana pala sina

ma ko si Aya! Nakasalubong ko kasi si Kent kanina,
e di sana nagkachance na magkausap yung dalawa! H
ay naman kasi, obvious naman na gusto nilang magba
likan pero nag iinarte.

"Which one's better?" I asked the sales lady kung

ano ang bibilin ko between the minion stuffed toy
na super cute or yung baril barilan with helicopte
r and stuff. Baka kasi maging violent si Ethos kun
g yung baril ang iregalo ko. God! Ganito pala kahi
rap maging ninang. Pera na lang kaya ibigay ko? Ts
k.

After awhile, I settled down with a miniature trai

n na toy. Okay na siguro to kasi hindi siya violen
t! Kumain din muna ako before pumunta. I'll just s
wing by kasi talaga, wala akong balak magtagal kas
i may lakad din kami ni Tofer today. I made a prom
ise na sasamahan ko siya sa store niya. Nagventure
kasi siya sa food business kasi matakaw talaga ya
ng si Tofer, ang payatot lang talaga.

"Sup, Panget?" I said while munching my glazed donu

t. Nasa Krispy Kreme kasi ako ngayon.

("Malapit na akong matapos sa proposal. Nandyan na

ako by the day after tomorrow.")

My eyes twinkled. "Really?!" sabi ko, muntik na ak

ong mabulunan sa kinakain ko kaya uminom muna ako
ng coffee.

Nagchuckle siya sa kabilang line. ("Dahan dahan la

ng, mabulunan ka, baka mawalan ako ng panget na gi
rlfriend.")

Mas lalo naman akong nabulunan sa sinabi niya! "Gra

be,Tripp Marco, ha!"
("Joke lang naman. Miss na miss na kita, Panget ko.
..")

Nagblush naman ako. Nakakahiya naman, baka may mak

akita sa akin dito, mas red pa ako sa strawberry!
Nagtakip ako ng tray ng coffee dito. "Sabi mo, e.
Uwi ka na dito. Wala kang mahahanap na magandang b
abae na magpapauto sa'yo jan sa New York," I said.
Hahaha! This is what I like about him, we could j
ust talk and have a good laugh. Sometimes, people
don't want a complicated relationship. In my case,
I like things like this. Simple, comfortable, wal
ang chaos. Just pure rainbow and butterflies, no s
tormy days.

("Ang gwapo ko kaya. --Palma, get your butt here.

They're looking for you!-- Aish. Bye na, Panget. T
inatawag na nila ako.")

I sighed. "Okay... Bye, Panget. I love you."

"I love you din. See you soon!"

Binaba ko na yung phone at tinapos ko muna yung ki

nakain ko then dumiretso ako kila Tito Steve. Wala
namang nagbago sa bahay nila, still the same. The
garden looks amazing, nandun pa din yung roses! M
ay green thumb talaga si Tita Katrina. Now, medyo
nagffade na yung paedophile na image niya sa utak
ko. Time really does change everything.
"Tito Steve!" I ran towards him and hugged him. Gra
be, namiss ko si Tito Steve!

Niyakap niya din ako. "Alys! Buti naman nakapunta k

a!"

He looks good! Grabe. Years have passed nga! Mas n

agmature si Tito Steve pero ganun pa din, playful.
Namiss ko 'to...

Inabot ko yung gift ko. "Gift ko for Ethos. Where'

s my inaanak, Tito?" I asked, looking for my inaan
ak.

"Nako, na kay Drake. Ikaw na ang mag abot niyan sa

kanya."

Nagpaalam si Tito Steve sa akin. Nakita ko si Tito

Tristan kaya nagtago muna ako. Hindi pa kasi ako
pinapakilala formally ni Tripp. Ilang beses ng nag
try si Tripp na ipakilala ako pero lagi akong naka
kalusot. Hindi pa ako kasi ready. Ang alam ng buon
g Palma clan, girlfriend ako ni Drake. Grabe naman
kung after a few years, si Tripp naman.

I went straight to the back of their maneur. Hinah

anap ko yung pool na dati naming pinuntahan ni Tri
pp. Yung first time na hinalikan niya ako sa cheek
s.

"Napaka cute ni Baby Ethos. Di ba, baby Ethos? Napa

ka cute!"

I was taken aback by what I saw. Nandun si Drake,

Cristine, at baby Ethos. They looked like... a hap
py family. For one second, I really thought that t
hey're a family.

Habang hawak ni Drake si Ethos, nilalaro ni Miss S

tinson si Ethos. Wala sa itsura niya na ganito siy
a ka playful. Tuwi kasing nakikita ko si Miss Stin
son, para siyang suplada. Never niya akong nginiti
an na as in sincere. Parang out of responsibility
lang palagi, or at least that's what it feels like
to me.

Nilayo ni Drake si Ethos. "Stop your baby talk. You

're annoying."

Nagpout naman si Miss Stinson.

"Hindi kaya! I'm cute and you know it! Di ba, baby
Ethos? Napaka sungit talaga ng kuya mo, naku!"

Kulang na lang popcorn, para akong nanonood ng mov

ie. Para nga akong nasa throwback Thursady. Ganyan
din kasi ako dati, yata? Naaalala ko yung sarili
ko kay Miss Stinson. Hopelessly in love sa isang D
rake Sebastian Palma.

Come to think of it, kung titignan sa ibang point

of view, siguro ako naman ang kontrabida. Maybe in
someone else's mind, si Miss Stinson yung babaeng
para kay Drake pero ang dahilan kaya hindi maging
picture perfect ang lahat ay dahil sa isang babae
ng nagngangalang Alys Perez. Siguro ganyan nga. Af
ter all, a story has different sides. It's just ho
w you will choose to look at it. And at this point
, in my point of view, hindi ako kontrabida becaus
e first of all, I have no thoughts of intruding. I
am happy and I want Drake to be happy.

Miss Cristine was still playing with Ethos, now, s

he tickling him. "Bagay ba kami ni Kuya mo?"

Ethose enthusiastically nodded. "Yes po."

Awww! Ang cutie pie niya!

"Masungit ba si Kuya mo?"

Ethos shook his head. "Ethos loves Kuya. Kuya not b

ad."
And they burst into laughter. And that's my cue, I
stepped back and left my gift on the table. I gue
ss we both got what we want. We got our happiness.

--

Follow me on twiterrrrrrr @beeyotchWP :))) More upd

ates soon! Sana po magcomment kayo! xx

*******************************************
[11] -9-
*******************************************
-9-

"Okay ba 'to?" sabi ni Tofer tapos pinakita niya s

a akin yung plate na kinuha niya mula dun sa kitch
en. In all fairness, maganda 'tong restobar ni Tof
er! Hindi ko nga lang makuha kung bakit nagpakahir
ap siya ng four years sa NY sa degree niya na Adve
rstising din kung sa food industry siya magvventur
e. Sometimes, ang hirap talaga intindihin ng logic
sa utak nitong si Cristofer, e.

Tinikman ko yung crepe and it tastes good. Pwede na

din.

I gave him a thumbs up. May mga crew na din dito s

a restobar, actually puro sila babae. Weird. Wala
man lang lalaki dito.

"Uhh, Tofer, why is that all your employees are gir

l?"

Nagsigh si Tofer then he pulled the chair in front

of me. Nagpout din siya at nagcross arms. See? He
's such an annoying cutie pie! "Si Dad kasi, e. Sa
bi niya pag nakakita daw siya ng lalaki dito, itat
akwil daw niya ako."

"Hahahaha! Di nga?!"

He nodded. "Mukha ba talaga akong bading?"

I tried to suppress my smile but I just could not.

Super adorbs ni Tofer ngayon! Para siyang problem
adong problemado! Minsan lang mangyari 'to. If I w
ere to say, sa four years na kilala ko 'tong si To
fer, one time ko pa lang 'to nakita na genuine na
malungkot. He's all flowers and rainbows. Palagi l
ang good vibes. Medyo nakakapanibago pag ganitong
seryoso siya.

I patted his head. "Kulang ka lang sa masculinity b

ut you'll live."

"Alys!!"

I gave him my sweetest smile. "Why, Baby Tofer?"

"Ugh!! Kainis naman, e! Porke ba mahilig akong mag
dress up at mag lip balm, bading na agad? Judgmen
tal!!" then umalis na siya pero bumalik siya. "Wal
a kang crepe!" at kinuha niya yung crepe ko... Bin
ayaran ko yun, e... Bakit niya kinuha? Tsk. Ilalag
ay ko sa blacklist ko 'tong restobar niya, e!

Hinabol ko siya papunta sa kitchen.

"Oh, no. You just didn't do that!" I exclaimed. Ti

napon niya ang crepe ko sa trash can! This jerk!

Nagmarch siya papunta sa labas at naupo sa stool sa

bar.

"Tofer, really, what's the problem?"

He gave me a sigh. "Wala lang 'to. Nakakapressure

kasi maging pinsan sila Drake at Tripp. Ang taas n
g expectation sa akin." he explained. I placed my
arms around his shoulder and gave him a half-hug.
"Kasi naman, alam mo..." he said and then the tell
tale continued. Here he was, telling me tales I h
ave never heard before. I did not need to ask. Wit
h Tofer, the scoop would pour out eventually.

Apparently, bata pa lang pala si Tripp at Drake, m

ay competition na sa kanilang dalawa. It started w
ay back sa time palang ng parents nila. It was bet
ween Tito Steve and Tito Tristan pala, and then it
continued up to date? No, hindi siguro. As far as
I am concerned, walang communication si Drake at
Tripp ngayon.

Since si Drake ay gifted, si Tripp ay may above th

e average na IQ, si Tofer pala ang left behind. Aw
w. I feel for him. I know how it feels kasi. Si Da
ne kasi, sobrang talino din but that did not stop
me from loving him. We still share the same blood
and I love my brother to bits. Anyhow, my point is
, hindi naman siguro ako lang talaga ang reason ng
pag aaway nila. Maybe.

"...tapos ngayon, si Drake, mas ayaw niya na akong

pansinin..."

I raised a brow. "And so? Akala ko ba si Tripp and

favorite cousin mo?"

"Oo naman! Kaya lang... ay basta, wag mo ng intindi

hin yun."

"Ikaw bahala. Sige, alis na ako, okay? Call me."

--

"Where's Mommy?" I asked the woman on the front des

k. She gave me a smile. "And you are?"
I gave her a smile. My professors said that you sh
ould establish boundaries between you and other pe
ople so that they would know where to stand. Not t
hat I've grown an extra head pero I have learned i
t the hard way, sometimes, you just gotta use your
connections. After all, what's the use of money?

I leaned it. "She's my mom," I repeated. Mukhang n

arelaize niya na yung sinabi ko kaya pinapasok niy
a ako agad.

Wala pala si Mommy doon, may pinuntahan sandali ka

ya naman naghintay muna ako sa waiting room. I was
reading some wedding magazine when suddenly, Cris
tine appeared out of nowhere. No, she emerged from
the fitting room, wearing a majestic wedding dress.

Wow.

Hindi niya yata ako napansin kasi busy siya sa pag

tingin sa sarili niya sa salamin. She really looks
... great. No wonder Drake will marry her. She loo
ks awesome and she's good with kids. Naalala ko na
naman yung nakita ko sila ni Drake the other day.
They really look like a family.

"It's kinda loose here," she said then tinuro niya

yung sa waist part. Nag usap sila sandali nung ba
bae then, nakita niya ako. "You're here," she said
as if ayaw niya akong makita.

Is it really just me or parang ayaw niya talaga sa

akin?

"Well, yes. Good to see you."

"Good to see you, as well," she said, with some spi

te. Am I just paranoid?!

Bakit nung nakita ko sila ni Drake, she seems so b

ubbly and stuff pero ngayon na kaharap ko siya, so
brang stiff and snob ng aura niya sa akin. Does sh
e hate me?

"So, how's the wedding preparation?"

She turned around and gave me a smile. Mukhang nag

bago ang mood niya kasi bigla siyang naging mabait
. "Medyo stressfull but it's pushing through. Good
thing Drake's really hands on with all these stuf
f."

All I managed to give was an 'oh.'

"Good thing na hands on si Mr. Palma, right?"

She nodded. "Yes. Even though he has so many thing
s on his plate, he still finds time to help me wit
h all the arrangements. One in a million, that he
is. Good thing I found him."

Suddenly, I grew interested with the conversation.

I put down the magazine and pushed her to go thro
ugh with the conversation. "So, how did you two me
et?"

I patiently listened to her story. Medyo nakakagul

at lang kasi their anniversary is the same with ou
r anniversary! So, nung time na sinagot ko si Trip
p ay time din na naging si Cristine at Drake? Wow.

They met through a common friend dahil nasa iisang

organization sila. She told me stories I have nev
er heard before. Nagkaroon pala ng madaming kaibig
an si Drake, good for him. Wala kasi talaga akong
balita sa kanya. I don't know any college stories
about him because I totally cut him off from my li
fe. It worked. The longer I don't hear anything ab
out him, the easier it was to move on.

Best friends din pala sila, and she's Ethos' favor

ite playmate. Kaya naman pala, she's always in the
ir house.

I could not help but compare. What's with her that

 Drake dropped on his knee na wala sa akin na naka
yanan niya akong iwan dati?

And, does she know that I dated Drake for almost a

year?

Does she know about Tita Katrina?

Does she know anything about him prior to the time

she met him?

"So, cutting the story short, Drake and I are real

ly meant for one another. Don't you think so, too?
"

I just nodded. "You'll make a great couple."

"We'll surely do, Alys Perez. We'll surely do."

--

The next couple of days, I was busy as hell. Grand

opening na kasi ng Cupcakes by Alys and it was ep
ic!

I slumped back on the couch. Man, I was exhausted!

"What time is it, Dane?"

"3 pm."

I stood up and prepped up. Pupunta ako kila Tito S

teve ngayon. Since naging masama akong ninang, pla
no kong makipag bonding kay Ethos. I checked Drake
's sched na din through Tofer (seriously, he knows
everything!) and he said Drake's gonna be in his
office for the whole day so I'm safe.

"Tita Katrina?"

She gave me a warm smile and hugged me. Aging seem

s to be doing a good job with Tita Katrina. She lo
oks really good!

"Oh, Alys! Nabisita ka. May kailangan ka ba?"

She motioned me to sit down so I did. Nakita ko si

Ethos na nagpplay sa gilid. He looks really adora
ble!

"Just visiting Ethos," I answered. We both looked

at Ethos. There's no way in hell na anak siya ni D
rake. He looks like Tito Steve.

Nagpakuha siya ng snacks then we chat for awhile h

anggang nakarating kami sa most dreaded topic ko.
"So, did Drake invite you to his wedding?"

Suddenly, my mouth went dry. "A-ano po?"

Tita Katrina held my hand. "Alys, I know I have no

right to say this to you pero, Drake has patientl
y waited for you. He waited for you, Alys. And now
that he's happy with Cristine, please don't ruin
this for him."

"Wait, what? Ako pa yung nanggugulo?" I can't help

but ask! Ako pa ang nanggugulo?! Ako pa?!

She held my other hand and nodded at me. "You're m

essing with his head again, Alys. You always does.
"

*******************************************
[12] -10-
*******************************************
Dedicated to Faye Vidad for the awesome covers of m
y story! Pati kay baby Jam! Love love!

-10-
I was about to ask Tita Katrina about her statemen
t na I am always messing with Drake's head ng duma
ting si Tito Steve.

"Alys! Nabisita ka!"

I immediately discarded my thought to interrogate

Tita Katrina even more at lumapit na lang ako kay
Tito Steve at niyakap siya. Bakit kasi sobrang bai
t ni Tito Steve to the point na kahit tapos na kam
i ng anak niya, hindi ko siya kayang ilagay sa pas
t ko? Sobrang nakakaguilty kung kakalimutan ko sil
a...

Tinignan ko si Ethos na masayang naglalaro ng trai

n at ngumiti ako. "Binigyan ko lang po ng regalo s
i Ethos."

Nagsmile din si Tito Steve sa akin. "Parehong pareh

o kayo ni Drake, iniispoil niyo si Ethos."

"He's worthy to be spoiled," I commented.

Pinabayaan muna naming maglaro si Ethos ng toys ni

ya habang si Tita Katrina naman ay naghanda ng mak
akain namin. Tumigil na pala sa pagtuturo si Tita
Katrina. Good thing. Baka lang kasi mag history re
peats itself na naman siya sa isa niyang estudyant
e. Better be cautious, di ba?
Naupo kami ni Tito Steve sa garden nila. Good times
.

"So, kamusta naman, Alys? Hindi tayo nakapag usap

nung birthday ni Ethos," Tito Steve said.

I nodded. "Oo nga po, e. Ang dami kasing tao."

Nag usap muna kami about Ethos for a few minutes.

Nag aaral na pala siya sa kindergarten. Ang cute n
iya siguro pag naka school uniform! Bale si Tita K
at na din yung tutor niya. Mabuti na din na hands
on mom siya.

I was hesitant to ask about Drake and Cristine but

since nagtanong na din naman si Tita Kat, hindi k
o na kayang icontain yung curiosity ko! "Tito, tel
l me about Drake and Cristine."

Brave thing to do, you may say. But then, it takes

a brave man to ask brave questions, di ba? Worse
naman yata kung gagawin ko na lang dreaded topic s
i Drake at Cristine. I need to face facts. Besides
, mukhang okay naman si Drake at Cristine. Who am
I not to be happy for them e in the first place, m
asayang masaya ako kay Tripp.
"Drake and Cristine?" he said and then paused. "Ik
aw talaga yung gusto ko sa anak ko, Alys, pero wag
kang madidisappoint, ha? Mabait na bata din kasi
si Cristine at hindi niya iniwan si Drake. Wag mo
sanang masamain dahil masaya ako para sa kanila, h
a?"

Binigyan ko ng ngiti si Tito Steve.

"Of course, Tito. We're over. If they're happy, I a

m happy."

Nginitian din ako pabalik ni Tito Steve. "Mabuti n

aman, Alys. Iyan kasing si Cristine, best friend n
i Drake. Pero hindi naman sila agad naging mag bes
t friend, mga siguro ilang buwan pagkatapos niyong
maghiwalay ni Drake."

"After po naming mag break?"

Tumango si Tito Steve. "Ah, oo. Kasi, classmates t

alaga niyan si Drake at Cristine. Madalas sila dit
o sa bahay dahil ewan ko ba, gusto nila dito gumaw
a ng project ng mga group mates nila. Pero nung mg
a sumunod na araw, si Cristine na lang ang pumupun
ta. Tapos ang maganda pa nun, napasali ni Cristine
si Drake sa isang organization. Good influence sa
kanya si Cristine kaya magaan ang loob ko dun, e."

Natahimik na lang ako. Parang medyo masakit. Hindi

ba ako good influence kay Drake?

Ano ba ang ginawa namin ni Drake dati? Wala naman

akong matandaan na ginawa namin paa maisip ni Tito
Steve na bad influence ako kay Drake. Hindi ko na
man siya tinuruang mag inom, mag sigarilyo, o kaya
naman mag drugs. Hindi lang ako nag eexcel academ
ically pero hindi naman ibig sabihin nun bad influ
ence ako!

"Uhm, kailan po naging sila?" I said after beating

around the bush.

Umiling si Tito Steve. "Hindi ko din alam, e. Nagu

lat na nga lang ako ikakasal na daw sila," he said
then he shrugged. "Pero pumayag na ako, bagay nam
an sila. Parehong matalino tsaka ewan, magkasundo
talaga yung dalawa na yun."

Dumating si Tita Katrina dala ang isang tray na ma

y pitcher ng juice at dalawang slice ng cake. Napa
tingin ako sa kanya pero nag iwas siya ng tingin.

"Ikaw naman, Alys. Kamusta? Four years kang nawala!

"

Ngumiti naman ako kay Tito at nagsimulang nagkwent

o ng masasaya kong memory sa Paris at New York. Hi
ndi ko na sinabi yung malulungkot kong ala-ala. Ay
okong isipin nila na miserable ako habang si Drake
 dito, masaya kasama si Cristine.

--

"Alis na si Ate Alys..." sabi ko tapos kinuha ko y

ung gamit ko. Kanina pa kasi ako nakikipaglaro kay
Ethos dito sa playroom niya. "Bye, baby Ethos," s
abi ko sabay kiss sa cheek niya.

"Bye, Alys."

"Aww. Call me Ate Alys, will you?"

Umiling siya. "Don't like."

"Why naman, baby Ethos?"

Hindi niya ako tinignan tapos nagplay lang siya sa

robot niya. "Alys mean. You're the reason why kuy
a used to cry. Alys bad."

I bit my lip to prevent myself from shedding a tea

r. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit ako naiiyak. D-amn
!

I tried to compose a smile and then patted Ethos'

head. "Ate Alys is not bad, okay? I'll explain it
to baby Ethos next time."

Tumayo na ako at naglakad.

"I don't want to see you, Alys. You will make my ku

ya cry again. I don't like that."

And there. A tear fell. D-amn, Drake! Ako na yung

nasaktan mo dati pero ako pa yung masama ngayon?!

--

"Oh, bakit ka nagpatawag ng SOS?"

Nandito kami ngayon sa isang bar. I don't know whe

re basta somewhere high end. Ugh!! Naffrustrate pa
din ako sa pag uusap namin ni Ethos kanina! Paano
ba akong nagawang frustrated ng four years old na
bata?!

Umorder ako ng isa pang round ng cosmo.

"I need someone to get me home later," sabi ko kay

Tofer. SOS means duh, emergency. Nung nasa Paris
ako, pag may night out ako, si Tofer ang tiga sund
o ko. Si Tripp kasi, nasa New York. At saka hindi
naman ako pinapayagan nun magbar. Lolo yun, e.
He snickered. "Back to b-itchessa ka na naman, Zyri
l?"

I rolled my eyes. Nung nasa Paris kasi kami, I mad

e my friends there call me Zyril. And by being Zyr
il, I was kinda bad assed. Yeah. I know, mahirap i
imagine but please do. My life when I was in New Y
ork was pretty messy. I tried to be excellent with
my courses but I just could not! What the eff' wa
s Drake's reason ba naman kasi?! Did he think na p
oof magiging matalino ako just because he asked me
to?! After two sems, I transferred to a culinary
school in Paris. I knew no one there so I took the
oportunity to re-invent myself. Gone was the swee
t and naive Alys. I tried to be different. You wou
ldn't want to know what I became while I was there
. Even Tripp was mad at me when he saw me after mo
nths. I was... worse than ever.

It took him months of begging and bugging bago niy

a ako napahinto. I took a break from all the party
ing and the drinking... when he's around. When he'
s not around, it's just an endless pit of darkness
. After school, diretso bar. What could I say? Tha
t's the only consolation I got for myself. I pitie
d myself so much.

Once, Tripp caught me crying inside a stall holdin

g Drake's picture. Those months were horrible. Ayo
ko nang balikan.
Once was enough.

Twice will be a mistake. A big, big mistake.

I turned to look at him and gave him my loopsided

smile. "Am I back? Yes, Tofer. Meet Zyril, my dopp
elganger."

--

Please like the Dating Alys Perez Page sa FB! Nasa

external link o kaya eto po! https://www.facebook
.com/DatingAlysPerezOfficialPage

Follow me din on twitter @beeyotchWP and check the

Eydee's Stories na page kasi may announcement dun
. Kung di niyo ichcheck, kayo din. Bwahaha!

xx

*******************************************
[13] -11-
*******************************************
-11-

"Alys, wake up."

I pulled the sheets over my head and rolled on the

 bed. I looked at my imaginary clock. 7 am pa lang
naman! Why is Dane waking me up?!

He kept on calling my name and so I gave up.

I sat down on my bed and glared at him. "You just

woke me up in such an ungodly hour, Dane. Ano'ng m
eron?" I said with lace of annoyance. I brushed my
hair with my hand and watched my brother shook hi
s head. "What?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "Nothing. You look weird yesternight,

by the way. Good thing Mom didn't see you. You lo
ok stupid drunk."

Aish! Oo nga pala. We partied 'til dawn ni Tofer.

God, nakita pa ako ni Dane umuwi ng ganoon ang its
ura ko! Ano'ng klase akong kapatid? Sobrang bad in
fluence ko sa kapatid kong walang ibang ginawa kun
g hindi ang mag aral. Tsk.

"Sorry..." I whispered.

"It's nothing. Anyway, Mom said take care because w

e'll be gone for awhile."

"Huh?"
Dane stood up and picked a strawberry from my nigh
t stand. Pinapalagyan ko kasi ng frozen strawberry
yung table tuwing umaga. Bakit ba, ganyan ako mag
breakfast. "We'll go to a resort in Alegria, I don
't know. Yun. Pinapasabi lang nila Mom kasi hindi
na sila makakauwi dito."

I pouted. "Iiwanan mo ako, Baby Dane?"

He nodded. "You don't need me, anyway. You need Dra

ke. You look stupid, Alys."

And there, he walked out on me.

I need Drake? Huh! I survived for years without hi

m. What difference does it make ngayon na wala siy
a? And besides, alin ba ang hindi makuha ng mga ta
o? Ikakasal na siya, for Christ's sake! Mahirap ba
ng intindihin yun?!

I decided to take a nap since Dane disturbed my slu

mber.

--

"This is what you call beer, okay?"

Tumango na lang ako at kinuha ko yung beer na inaa
bot sa akin ni Jane. Grabe! Kahit mas bata sa akin
si Jane, ang dami niyang alam. Isa kasi siya sa m
ga nauna kong naging friends dito sa Paris at pina
kilala niya ako dito sa tinatawag niyang night life.

Inabot ko yung beer at sinubukang inumin. "Ugh!" n

aisuka ko yung beer. Yuck! Ano ba naman ang lasa n
ito! Kadiri.

Narinig kong tumatawa si Jane at Faye sa akin. "Ha

haha! Such a baby, Zyril. Can't handle a beer?" in
is nila sa akin.

Tsk. Mga babaeng 'to!

"I don't like the taste of this one. Give me anothe

r drink."

Nagshrug si Faye tapos sumigaw siya. Ang ingay nam

an kasi dito sa club! Wala na akong marinig. Puro
sumasayaw yung mga tao, actually, hindi na nga sil
a sumasayaw, e. Dry humping na ang ginagawa nila.
Hmmm. Hindi na ako naninibago. Dito naman kasi, ka
hit saan ako lumingon, may nagkikiss. Wala lang, n
asanay na ako.

"Three rounds of tequila on my tab!" sigaw niya sa

bartender. After a minute, may dumating na tray n
g tequila ba yun sa table namin.

Binigyan kami ni Faye ng tig iisang shot ng tequila

at lemon. "To girls!"

O_______O

Ang sakit sa lalamunan!

Tinignan ko sina Faye at Jane na kinuha muna yung

lemon tapos ininom yung tequila tapos yung salt. B
-itch talaga 'tong dalawa na 'to! Hindi man lang a
ko sinabihan na ganun pala dapat!

"Another round?" sabi ni Faye tapos itinaas niya an

g kilay niya.

Kumuha naman si Jane ng shot at itinaas. "To boys,

may they be forever damned!"

Another shot.

Another shot.
"Where are we? Hahaha."

I tried to stand up but I just can't. My vision is

so blurry.

"Hey, b-itch. Where are you going?" sabi sa akin n

i Faye number 1. Bakit naging tatlo yung ulo ni Fa
ye?

Sumagot ako ng yes sa isang ulo ni Faye. Hindi ko

alam kung sino bang ulo yung nagtanong sa akin. Ba
hala na silang mga ulo kung sino ba ang nakarinig
sa sagot ko.

Parang naging zigzag yung daan ko pero napunta ako

sa gitna ng dance floor. I don't know hahaha! Gus
to kong sumayaw ngayon...

"Hoy babae!!"

"Ugh! Ano ba natutulog yung tao!"

Gumulong ako sa kama tapos nagtry ulit na matulog.

After a few seconds, may narinig naman ako na kal
ampag ng kaldero. WHAT THE?! Saan nanggaling yung
kaldero?!
"Gising na, Alys! Gising na, Alys!"

Bumangon ako at nakita ko si Tofer na parang baliw

na nagmamartsa palibot sa kwarto ko habang may ha
wak na kaldero at sandok. Nababaliw na naman siya!

Tumayo ako at kinuha ko sa kamay niya yung sandok.

"What the heck is your problem?!"

Nakikipag agawan siya sa sandok sa akin. Aba! "Wha

t the heck is my problem?! Hoy, babae! Ginising mo
ako ng alas tres ng madaling araw para magpasundo
sa bar! Nasira ang beauty rest ko!"

Shems. Nasa bar nga pala ako kagabi! Nasan na si F

aye at Jane? Sila ang kasama ko kagabi, di ba??

"Nasan na yung kasama ko?" tanong ko kay Tofer.

"Kasama?" sabi niya tapos nagsalita ulit siya. "Yo

u mean, yung dalawang blonde na lasinggera?" Tuman
go ako. Ganun nga si Jane at Faye. "Ah, naiwan kah
apon sa bar. Nagwawala ka na kasi kaya pinauwi ka
na nila. Ganun ang friends mo, Alys. Iiwan ka pag
wala ka ng silbi."
Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nagpunta ako sa
kusina para kumuha ng tubig. Nauuhaw na kasi ako.
Kung nagtataka kayo kung bakit ko kasama si Tofer,
nasa iisang apartment kasi kami. Ewan ko ba kung
bakit sumama sa akin dito yan e mukha okay naman n
a siya sa NY. Pero okay na din kasi at least may i
sa akong kakilala.

May iniabot siya sa akin na tubig. "Iinom inom kasi

, hindi naman sanay."

Kinuha ko na lang at saka ininom. "Kaya nga umiinom

para masanay, di ba?"

Ganun lang ang takbo ng buhay ko dito. Siguro sa l

oob ng isang linggo, apat na beses akong sinusundo
ni Tofer sa bar kaya naman naisipan niya na lang
na sumama sa akin. Hindi naman umiinom 'to, wala l
ang, gusto niya lang makichismis sa mga tao dito.
Bakla yata talaga 'to.

Pumasok muna ako sa class ko tapos nakipag meeting

ako sa groupmates ko. Nagsisigarilyo sila pero hi
ndi ko talaga kayang gawin yun kaya lumabas muna a
ko. Sakto naman na tumawag si Tripp.

"Why?"

("Woah. Mainit yata ulo natin, a?")

Nagbuntong hininga ako. Hindi ko naman gustong sun
gitan si Tripp. Siya na nga lang yung nandyan para
sa akin, susungitan ko pa ba? "Hindi po, sorry. M
edyo masama lang pakiramdam ko," I reasoned.

("Masama? Pa check up ka kaya?")

"Nah. I'm just feeling under the weather. How about

you? How's life alone?"

Naupo ako sa pathway. Wala namang dumadaan sa curv

e na 'to so feeling ko okay lang ako. ("Ganun pa d
in. Ikaw? Naka adjust ka na ba?")

Gusto ko sanang sabihin na sobrang naka adjust na

ako. Nakukuha ko na ngang mag bar at umuwi ng mada
ling araw, e. Pero syempre hindi ko sasabihin kay
Tripp yan. Masyado na akong nakaabala sa kanya dat
i, ayoko na hanggang ngayon.

"Okay na ako dito. Sige, may gagawin pa ako," sabi

ko. Ang totoo lang naman niyan, ayoko siyang maka
usap dahil puro kasinungalingan lang naman yung lu
malabas sa bibig ko. He deserves better and I am n
ot better, I am worse. He doesn't deserve the end
of a shmick stick.
I went inside and tried one of those sticks. It's a
wful. Not my thing.

--

I woke up feeling still light headed. Nevertheless

, I stood up and prepped myself up. Wala sila Mom
for days and I have the house all to myself! Papay
ag kaya sila Aya kung magssleep over kami dito? We
haven't done that in ages!

Some lipstick and mascara and I'm ready to go! I g

ot my keys then went to the garage. Aalis na sana
ako ng maabutan ko si Drake. He was standing on th
e path way.

I pressed the honk loud enough.

I rolled down the mirror because he wouldn't move.

"Ano na naman, Drake?!" I shouted. Not today, Dra
ke. Gusto ko ng perfect day. Don't ruin this for m
e.

He moved towards the car and then bigla niyang bin

uksan yung side door. Son of a jerk! Nakalimutan k
ong isara!

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"Where are we going your arse! Bakit ka ba nandito
? Close tayo?" I asked, finally unleashing my inne
r sarcasm.

He gave me a smile. "We were pretty close. You're

my ex, remember? We used to hug, to cuddle, to---"

"Ugh!" hininto ko yung break ng sasakyan at hinarap

ko siya. "What the hell, Drake?!"

Sumandal pa siya sa upuan at nilagay yung kamay ni

ya sa likod ng ulo niya. The nerve! Nakuha niya pa
ng magrelax?! "Chill, Alys. You'll grow wrinkles i
f you keep on frowning."

"Ano naman kung magka wrinkles ko? What do you care

?!"

He gave me one of those annoying smiles of his. Ug

h! "Tripp doesn't like ugly girls. Anyway, go driv
e."

Inhale, exhale.

Kalma lang, Alys. Kalma.

Ugh! I can't!

I stepped on the gas. Good thing nasa medyo liblib

na daan kami kasi baka may masagasaan ako sa bili
s ng takbo ko. Si Drake? Ayun, walang pakielam. Na
san na ba yung fiance nito?!

Binagalan ko yung takbo ng sasakyan then inabot ko

yung phone ko and I dialled Cristine's number and
sinuot ko yung bluetooth earplugs. "Hello, where
are you?" I asked.

("Uhh, I'm here in my office. Why?")

"Nothing. Thanks!"

Tinignan ko si Drake na tahimik na nakaupo dun sa

sasakyan. Nagdrive ako papunta sa office ng fiance
niya. Bakit ba ako napunta dito? Ako pa ngayon yu
ng nagdadala sa kanya sa fiance niya! I must have
left my brain somewhere!

"Baba."

He turned and looked at me. "Are we here yet?" he

asked then he yawned. "Oh, why are we here?" sabay
niyang tanong ng makita niya yung building na pin
agttrabahuhan ng fiance niya.

"Go meet your fiance. Drake, please stop bothering

me. Tapos na tayo. Remember? Four years ago? In f
ront of the hotel you were staying at? Remember, m
e, Alys Perez, the girl you destroyed?" I pointed
myself. "Look at me now, Drake. I'm better, and I'
m doing good without you. I worked for this for ye
ars. Don't pull me back to the pit you've created
for me."

He sighed then unbuckled his seatbelt.

"See you tonight."

UGH!

--

Most sabaw update ever. Lol. May pagame po ang @Wa

ttpadPinoy at @WattpadUniv sa Tuesday, August 20!
Sali kayo! Maganda ang prize!

Anyhow, check out the preview for Ethos' story! ht

tp://fb.me/20120pBMv Or nasa external link din siy
a!

*******************************************
[14] -12-
*******************************************
Chapter 12

I shut the door close. Sobrang hangin mo talaga, D

rake! Years have passed but you're still the same
arrogant person that I knew.

Nakahawak ako sa steering wheel while blowing my b

angs off of my face. Wala pang one month akong nak
abalik ng Philippines pero sobrang stressed na ang
inaabot ko kay Drake! What does he want? We're ob
viously done. Tapos na kami and I have no intentio
n to get back to where we left off.

I'm being redundant now. I was hurt, very badly. A

t ngayon? I don't want to experience the same thin
g all over again. I like myself better now. Sure,
the Alys he knew was good but I'm better. Siguro n
aman he knows that I'm not bound to be immature fo
rever. At some point, I will grow up. I'll mature.
And here am I.

"Tsk," I uttered as I unbuckled my seatbelt. Lumab

as ako ng sasakyan at sinundan si Drake. I should
stop this madness right now. Babalik na si Tripp a
fter two days, ayokong bumalik siya na ganito ang
sitwasyon namin ni Drake. I love Tripp so badly, h
indi ko kakayanin pag nagkaaway kami dahil kay Dra
ke.

I showed my ID to the lady in the front desk.

"Miss Alys Perez?"

I nodded. Bakit parang suprised na surprised naman

siya? "Why?"

She gave me a timid smile and then handed my my vi

sitor's pass. Tinanong ko din sa kanya kung saan a
ng floor ni Drake and she told me na 31st floor da
w.

Pumasok ako sa elevator and then nung pinindot ko

yung 31st, kailangan pa ng passcode. Really, Drake
? Sobrang pa special ka lang?

I breathe hard. Kalma, Alys. I thought of calling

him but it's no use since wala naman akong number
niya. Ayoko ding tawagan si Cristine, no! We're no
t in that kind of relationship na tatawagan ko siy
a out of the blue. I think that Cristine's nice, w
ell, according to what Tito Steve had told me. Per
o bakit ganon? Whenever she sees me, she's nice pe
ro alam mo yun... something is obviously off and I
can't pin point. It's frustrating!

Nagtry ako ng code since 3 tries lang naman.

Think, Alys.
1131?

Nah. Bakit naman gagawing passcode ni Drake yun? H

indi nakamove on ang peg? E may fiance na nga siya
!

Nilagay ko yung anniversary namin ni Tripp since s

abay naman yata, which really weirds me out. Talag
ang sabay kami sa September 13? Too much of a coin
cidence pero I'll give them the benefit of the dou
bt. Malay ko naman kung nagkataon lang talaga, di
ba?

0913

Incorrect code.

Aish! Pag nakatatlong mali ako, hindi na ako makak

aakyat. Sayang ang effort! Buti na lang walang mas
yadong sumasakay dito sa elevator... dahil ba pang
executive lang 'to? Weird! Parang napaka special
naman ni Drake! May sariling elevator, may code pa
ang floor!

Medyo nanginginig pa yung kamay ko pero sige na...

1131.

There. Screw it, Drake. 1131?!

--

Cristine's POV

"Hey, Palma," I said to Drake. Kanina pa siya tahi

mik, which is normal. Simula naman kasi nung colle
ge kami, tahimik na talaga siya.

He gestured that he's listening kaya nagsalita ako

. "Until when are we gonna play this game?" I aske
d him.

Tumigil siya sa sinusulat niya and he looked at me.

"Why? Are you tired?" he asked me.

I shook my head. I'm not tired, I'm just... confus

ed. As you can see, Drake and I, we're not togethe
r. He's my best friend but we were never romantica
lly involved. And I don't think we will ever be. I
like to be with him because he's smart. Sobrang t
alino niya kaya fascinated ako pag magkasama kami
kasi madami akong natututunan. And ako, I don't kn
ow. He said he likes being with me din naman. Ewan
. We just click together.
"We're not playing, Cristine," he said.

I shrugged. Wala naman akong magagawa, he's Drake a

nd he rarely wants something.

He is like the most generous person I know. Nung c

ollege, para siyang naging tutor ng buong bloc. Hi
ndi naman siya nagrereklamo, nagtuturo lang siya.
Pero hanggang dun lang, turo. No personal interact
ion whatsoever. Ang dami ding girls na umaaligid s
a kanya but he wouldn't even spare them a glance b
ecause may girlfriend siya.

He's so dedicated and cute!

Pero all went south nung magstart ang second semes

ter. I don't even want to remember it because as D
rake's friend, it hurts. Alam mo yun? You see him
struggling to keep their relationship alive but th
en one day, babalik siya dito sa Pilipinas looking
like nawala sa kanya lahat ng mahalaga sa buhay n
iya?

It was... heart breaking. Really, really heartbreak

ing.

Ganun kasi yun, di ba? When someone who is strong

gets hurt, the pain intensifies kasi alam mo na ka
hit strong sila, nakuha pa din nilang masaktan. Th
e pain must have been too much for them to succumb
. And Drake is so strong. Alys must have really hu
rt him.

"So, paano yung kasal? Don't tell me papakasalan m

o ako. Bloody hell, I won't!" I said. Base kay Dra
ke, kung hindi lang din si Alys, malamang sa malam
ang pakasalan niya ako. No. I like him but I don't
like him that much para ialay ko ang lifetime ko
sa kanya!

He smirked at me. How arrogant of him sa taong pum

ayag maging pretend fiance niya! "You know who my
bride is."

I smiled at him and exited his office.

Yes, I know. For Drake, it has always been Alys...

and it will always be Alys.

--

Alys' POV

Okay, kalma lang, Alys.

Nakapikit pa ako nung bumukas yung elevator.

O-kay? Weird. Buong floor pero walang laman! Ano 't
o, bodega?!

Nung makita kong wala namang tao, bumalik na ako sa

elevator. Sayang oras, sayang effort!

Nakababa na ako sa ground floor nung magring ang ph

one ko.

"Panget!!" I said in glee. Hindi kasi siya tumawag

kahapon, namiss ko 'tong panget na 'to!

("Tingin ka sa likod,") sabi niya.

Dali dali akong tumingin sa likod ko, expecting na

makikita ko si Tripp. "Niloloko mo ba ako?!"

Bigla siyang tumawa sa kabilang linya. Sasagot pa

sana ako ng biglang may yumakap sa akin mula sa li
kod. "Tripp!" sabi ko. "Nakauwi ka---- Drake?!"

Nagulat ako. Nakayakap siya sa akin. Nagsasalita p

a din si Tripp sa phone pero para akong yelo na na
ninigas. Sht.
("Hello, Zyril? Hello?")

Tinakpan ko yung phone ko at nagsalita ng mahina.

"What the hell, Drake?!" then I glared at him. He
looked at me and then kissed my neck.

This a-hole!!

"What the melon?!!" hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapa

sigaw. He kissed me! He freaking kissed my neck!!

("Perez, uy? Nanjan ka pa ba?")

Keep your cool, Alys. "Busy right now, Panget. Call

you later, okay?"

("Pero---") I didn't let him finish what he was say

ing kasi pinatay ko na yung phone.

I pushed him away from me.

"Drake, ano bang problema mo, ha?!" I said, trying

to contain my anger. Sobrang naiinis ako ngayon!
TAPOS NA KAMI, INIWANAN NIYA AKO! Hindi ba maliwan
ag pa sa sikat ng araw yun?!
He shrugged. He freaking shrugged!

I pointed my finger at him. "Wag mo ng uulitin yun.

" I said, meaning every word.

"I can't promise you that one," sabi niya. "We mis
sed your 20th birthday. Don't you remember?"

THIS FREAKING A-HOLE!!

-- AN--

Bukas (Saturday, August 31) may trending game sa t

witter! Paramihan ng tweet na may hashtag na #Dati
ngAlysPerezWattpad dapat and isa pa na pagandahan
naman ng tweet! Bukas. 8 pm. And yes, may update
ulit bukas para masaya! Sana lang magcomment kayo,
hane? :>

Twitter ko: @beeyotchWP

Prizes: Books with my signature. Kakahiya!! Lol.

xx

*******************************************
[15] -13-
*******************************************
Chapter 13

*slap*

I slapped him hard, with my hands still trembling

because of the rage that I feel for him. I heard h
im cuss as he held his now reddish face.

"A-hole," I uttered.

"Why did you slap me?" he asked as he continued to

caress his face.

Nanginginig pa din ako sa inis. "It was well deser

ved, Drake! How dare you mention my 20th birthday
like you didn't break my heart when I was 18?!" I
screamed and assaulted him with my bag.

Hindi niya ako pinigilan, pinabayaan niya lang ako

na hampasin siya ng bag ko.

"Freaking, freaking jerk..." I said as my energy w

ent down the drain. That moment, he caught me and
held me.
Hindi na ako nakagalaw.

"Sssh, Alys. You still love me, don't you?" he soft

ly whispered in my ears.

I shook my head firmly. "Hindi na kita mahal."

He released me and then kissed my forehead. "Then

we'll have to do something about that, Noob," he s
aid and then smiled at me.

Ipinikit ko ang mata ko at saka nagbilang at humin

ga ng malalim. No, Alys. Don't let him trigger you
r anger. It's just a simple pet name, okay? Walang
dahilan para magreact ka ng ganyan.

"Drake, paulit ulit na lang ba tayo? Ayoko na, di

ba?" I said sincerely as he tugged me forward.

"Alys, do I really need to make myself freaking ob

vious? I won't stop until you're mine again," he s
eethed.

Itinaas ko yung isa kong kamay at inilagay sa kama

y niya na nakahatak sa akin. "You're nuts, Drake.
Puro kabaliwan na yang nasa utak mo."
He stopped on his tracks and faced me. "My mind is
a beautiful place, my love. It's full of thoughts
about you."

--

(2 years ago)

"Congrats, Zyril tabachoy!!"

=_______=

Bastos talaga nitong si Tofer, e!

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa pa

gngiti. Niyakap naman ako ni Tripp kaya niyakap ko
siya pabalik. "Congrats, Panget," sabi niya sa ak
in habang nakayakap siya.

Kinidatan ko siya. "Ako pa. Wala kayong tiwala sa

akin, e," I reasoned out. He patted my head and th
en kumuha siya ng isang champagne glass at inabot
sa akin.

"Congrats talaga, Panget. We're so proud of you," s

abi niya sa akin.
Tinanggap ko yung glass at uminom. Nasa loob kami
ng limousine dahil umarkila pa si Tofer, baliw tal
aga 'to! Umuwi kasi ako dito sa New York dahil gus
to kong personal na ibalita sa kanila yung formal
admission ko sa culinary school na gusto ko. One y
ear na kasi akong nag aapply pero ngayon lang na p
rocess yung application ko. Hindi ako humingi ng t
ulong sa parents ko this time kasi gusto kong magk
aroon ng pangalan because of my skills, not becaus
e of my family's influence.

"Where are we heading?" sabi ko kay Tofer. Kanina

pa kasi kami nandito sa loob ng sasakyan. Kakaland
ko lang dito, straight from airport, pinuntahan n
amin agad ni Tofer si Tripp.

We owe him this much. Siya 'tong ginagawang Manila

-QC ang New York at Paris, e. Ngayon nga lang ako
mageeffort na bisitahin siya sa NY.

Nakasandal si Tofer sa upuan niya. "Las Vegas," sab

i niya.

"What?" sabi ko. Vegas?

"Las Vegas, Tabachoy. Bingi much?"

Sinaway naman ni Tripp si Tofer. "Umayos ka nga To

fer," warning niya kay Tofer. Nagbelat naman ako k
ay Tofer.

"Kainis! Tignan niyo kayong dalawa, ang harot haro

t niyo pero pag tinanong kayo, sagot niyo, 'friend
s lang kami.' Nakakabaliw kayo!"

Natawa na lang kami bigla ni Tripp. Bakit ba kasi

sobrang big deal sa kanila kung ano kami ni Tripp?
Por que ba magkasama kami madalas, magkausap mada
las, kailangan na naming bigyang ng romantic label
yung relationship? Can't a boy and a girl hangout
and just be friends?

Lumipat ako sa upuan ni Tofer at naglean sa balika

t niya. "Awww. Tampo ka pa ba, baby Tofer?" sabi k
o sa kanya. Para talagang baby 'tong batang 'to.

"Ayan pa! Ayan pa! Ginagawa niyo akong baby ni Tri

pp. Ano tayo? Happy family? Ikaw nanay, siya ang t
atay? Friends pa lang ba kayo niyan?!" sabi niya.

Tinaas ni Tripp yung dalawa niyang kamay. "Chill, T

ofer. Ano bang problema niyo ngayon?"

May sinabi siyang mahina pero hindi ko naintindihan

kahit na katabi niya lang ako.
Huminga siya ng malalim bago nagsalita. "Ako na ka
si yung napapagod para sa inyo, Tripp. Ano ba kayo
ni Alys?"

Natigilan ako sa tanong niya. Ano nga ba kasi tala

ga kami ni Tripp? Friends? More than friends na na
gpapanggap na friends lang? Ayokong ijeopardize an
g relationship namin ni Tripp. What we have is too
precious for me. I learned enough. After the roma
ntic feelings die, the chance of being friends aga
in is almost impossible. At kay Tripp? Hindi ko ya
ta kaya. He's the most precious thing I have right
now.

"We're... friends," sagot ni Tripp. He looked at me

and smiled.

Huminga na naman ng malalim si Tofer. "Fudge fudge

! Isang tanong, isang sagot: Tripp, mahal mo si Al
ys, di ba?"

Napatingin ako kay Tripp and bit my lips.

"Sobra," sagot niya.

Natigilan ako. Sht, Alys. Kahit na ilang taon na y

ung lumipas, kahit na ilang beses ko siyang irejec
t, kahit na anong iyak ang gawin ko sa kanya, kahi
t na gaano ko sabihin sa kanya na nasasaktan ako d
ahil sa pinsan niya... mahal niya pa din ako?
Tinignan ko siya at binigyan niya ako ng ngiti. Yu
ng ngiti na nagsasabi ng 'sorry, Alys. Mahal lang
talaga kita... hindi ko kayang pigilan.'

"Umamin din!" sigaw ni Tofer. Humarap naman siya s

a akin ngayon. "Ikaw, babae. Isang tanong, isang s
agot: ano ba si Tripp?"

(present)

Thoughts of Tripp and me came flashing back to my

mind. No, Drake. I won't destroy what Tripp and I
have just for you. You're just... not worth it. Yo
u're not worth our beautiful memories.

I raised my hand. "Stop thinking about me, Drake. B

ecause me? I stopped eons ago."

He raised his head and smiled at me. "That thought

never crossed my mind. The thought of forgetting
you is too much for me. You've stolen my heart, No
ob. It's yours and I have no intention of getting
it back. You could either choose to make me or bre
ak me, Alys. My faith relies on you, Love."

I smirked at him. Hindi na ako magpapadala sa iyo,

Drake. The Drake Palma Way of making me fall? Bul
ls-hit. You're just gonna make me fall just to pou
nd me into pieces once again.

I took a step back. "I choose to break you, Drake.

That's my choice."

"You can break me but I'll never stop loving you,

Alys. Five years ago, you appeard in front of me o
ut of nowhere and delared me as your boyfriend. I
have no intention of falling this deep for someone
but you made me fall this hard! Damn, Alys! I am
Drake Palma. I don't fall this hard, I just can't
let myself be into someone as much as I am into yo
u... but for you I let my guard down. I fell so de
ep, so hard, and still... you still choose to brea
k me. You're breaking me over and over again. And
it f-ucking hurts."

I stood there. Listening to him. No, Alys. You can'

t cry right now.

--AN

Start na ng game. Hehehe nag enjoy ba kayo? Kakaiya

k si Drake. :(((

@beeyotchWP

*******************************************
[16] -14-
*******************************************
-14-

"Alys," Dane called out my name. Hindi ko siya pin

ansin and I slammed myself on the sofa. God, Drake
! You're exhausting me too much!

Resting my head while closing my eyes, I asked Dane

. "Why?"

I suddenly felt someone kiss my cheek. Binuksan ko

yung mata ko. "Hi, Panget," he uttered with that
familiar boyish grin that I missed.

"Tripp!" I said in glee and hugged him. "Bakit nan

dito ka na!" and I continued to wrestle him and pi
n him down.

Tumatawa siya habang pinupukpok ko siya sa dibdib

niya. "Chill, Perez. Wala bang kiss muna?"

"Bwisit. Kainis!" sabi ko tapos hinalikan ko siya s

a cheek niya.

I heard someone cough then I looked at Dane who lo

oked utterly disgusted with me and Tripp. Oh, my b
aby brother. "You're both disgusting." And then he
stormed off.
Umiling iling na lang si Tripp habang inaayos yung
buhok niya na nagulo ko kanina nung niyakap at pi
nukpok ko siya. "Ayan, natakot tuloy si Dane sa'yo
. Grabe naman kasi, Zy. Mahal na mahal mo lang ako
. Tsk. Nakaka pressure, ha."

Kinagat ko yung labi ko para pigilan kong matawa p

ero hindi ko talaga kayang pigilan! Sobrang nakaka
tawa yung sinabi ni Tripp. Para bang nappressure s
iya sa 'sobrang pagmamahal ko sa kanya.'

"So, tinatawanan mo na ako ngayon?" sabi niya sa a

kin nung hindi ko na mapigilan yung tawa ko.

"Hahaha! Kasi naman, Panget, arte much? Akala mo n

aman hindi mo ako mahal! Sobra pa nga, di ba?" I s
aid and then winked at him.

Kinuha niya yung kamay ko then hinalikan niya. "Oo

naman, Zyril. Sobra pa sa sobra."

And then, I just can't help but smile. Ito na yun,

e. This is the kind of love I wanna have, and thi
s is not the kind of love that you can have overni
ght. This love... takes time. But it's constant. A
nd I love consistency.
I pulled him back into a hug and kissed his cheek.
"Gutom ka na ba?" I asked him, mukhang kakadating
niya lang kasi. Amoy airport pa 'tong lalaking 't
o! Kulang na lang airport tag, papasa ng bagahe!

"Luto ka naman, Panget. Miss ko na, e."

Nagsmile ako sa kanya then sabay kaming pumunta sa

kusina para magluto. Buti na lang wala si Mommy a
nd Daddy, solo ko 'tong lalaking 'to. One month ka
ming hindi nagkita, e! Miss na miss na miss ko na
si Marco.

Tinignan ko yung laman ng cupboard at ref, well st

ocked naman. "Anong gusto mong kainin?" I asked hi
m kahit na hindi naman siya particular sa kinakain
niya.

He shrugged habang nakaupo sa stool dun sa island.

"Pinoy food, Panget. Sawang sawa na ako sa pagkai
n dun," reklamo niya.

Natawa naman ako sa itsura niya. Siguro puro pizza

at Chinese takeout ang kinakain nito dun! Kakawa
naman. Tsk. Busy kasi masyado sa trabaho, e. Pati
mag isa lang siya sa apartment kasi pinasama niya
si Tofer sa akin sa Paris.

Kumuha ako ng ingredients for adobo and soup. "Hind

i ka kumakain dun, no? Tsk."
"Kumakain ako," sabi niya.

"Liar. You look thin," I stated. Pumayat siya, e.

Ang payat ng face niya. Hindi talaga dapat to pina
pabayaan mag isa, e. Tinatamad kumain. Bad, bad Ma
rco.

Busy ako sa paghiwa ng potato ng yakapin niya ako

from behind. "Ano na naman?" I asked him kasi naka
sandal yung ulo niya sa balikat ko. Ang bigat pa n
aman ng ulo niya!

"Inaantok ako. Patulog muna," sabi niya.

"Ano! Nagluluto ako! Tsk."

"Sssh. Halos one day akong bumyahe. Tutulog muna a

ko, Panget," he said as he nuzzle the crook of my
neck.

I 'tsked' and then continued with what I'm doing.

Hindi naman siya natutulog, e! Nung sinubukan kong
lumakad, lumakad din siya. Tignan mo nga naman yu
ng tama ng lalaki na 'to!
"Di tayo matatapos dito, e," I said. At this rate,
baka gabi na, hindi pa din ako tapos magluto.

He chuckled and then lifted his head off of my sho

ulder. "Isang kiss pa," sabi niya and then umalis
na siya papunta sa receiving area, I think. Matutu
log muna yata. Pinabayaan ko na since inaantok pa
talaga siya.

--

"Marco, Marco," I called out his name and lightly

tapped his cheek. "Mahal ko, kakain na po tayo," s
abi ko sa kanya.

He quitely stirred and then opened his eyes. "Hmm?"

"Kakain na tayo," I said.

He stared at me for blank seconds and then he grin

ned tapos tumayo na siya. Problema ng isang 'to? "
Tara na, Panget," sabi niya then he offered his ha
nds. Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa dining room.

Matagal din akong nagluto kasi gusto kong matulog

muna siya. Gumawa pa ako ng foam cake and nag sque
eze pa ako ng orange juice. Ang dami ko yatang nil
uto, ang payat naman kasi nitong lalaking 'to! Gin
ugutom yata yung sarili niya dun sa New York.
"Salamat," sabi niya sa akin.

Nagsmile lang ako. Eto ba? Wala pa 'to sa lahat ng

ginawa para sa akin ni Tripp. Sa mga gabi na luma
bas siya kahit nagssnow para lang puntahan ako sa
dorm, sa pagtulong niya sa akin sa projects ko nun
g halos mamatay na ako sa sobrang dami at sabay sa
bay, sa pag una niya sa akin kahit na may iba siya
ng ginagawa, and mostly, for not giving up on me w
hen I was at my worst. He picked me up when I was
at my lowest and helped me pick up the pieces.

Pinagmasdan ko lang siyang kumain while I contented

myself with a glass of orange juice.

"Why are you here, Marco? I thought you'll arive th

e day after tomorrow?" I asked.

"I missed you, Panget. Not reasonable enough?" he a

sked.

Nagsmile ako sa kanya then rolled my eyes.

Pinabayaan ko siyang kumain and then I felt my phon

e vibrate.
From: Cristine Stinson

Can we meet tomorrow?

I quickly composed an sms telling her that I can't

. After what happened earlier today? I just can't
face her, and Drake.

"Anything interesting?" Tripp asked.

(Earlier that day...)

"That's preposterous, Drake," I said. "You're ploy

ing again. Tama na, okay?!" I exclaimed and then p
ushed him away from me.

He captured my hand and pulled me towards him. His

face is just an inch from mine. S-hit, Drake. Ano
ba!

"I love you, Alys. Can't you f-ucking feel it? Bec
ause me, I feel it too much and it's killing me,"
he said through his teeth. His eyes were tired but
intense.

I stared at him with equal intensity and mocked hi

m. "Oh, please, Drake. Fine, mahal mo ako. Do I ne
ed to love you back? Ganun na ba ngayon? Just beca
use you love me, I'm supposed to love you back? Be
cause if that's the case, it's still a no. I won't
love you. Not now, not someday. I loved you befor
e, Drake. I loved you way too much, way better tha
n I love myself pero ano yung ginawa mo? You broke
me into tiny, little pieces. You devastate me bey
ond repair. You crushed every hope I had inside my
body, Drake. Ngayon, please, ibalato mo na sa'kin
'to. I don't want you now. I don't want to want y
ou. Loving you is toxic, Drake. It's exhausting ev
ery good thing I have in my life."

Then I saw pain in his eyes. I don't want to hurt

him even though he pained me so cruelly before but
I need to do this. I need to show him that we? We
can never happen. Not now, not someday. Ayoko na.

When girls fall in love, they fall hard. They give

way too much, care way too much, invest way too m
uch. But when they get hurt and move on, you just
can't appear out of nowhere and take them back. No
, not after they withstand every pain and agony. T
hat's just not how it is. Once you left a person w
ho loved you a great deal, getting her back is a s
uicide mission.

"Please, Drake. Move on, okay? Maybe you loved me

before, but you need to move on. Live in the prese
nt, Drake. Maybe we're just not meant to be..."

Binitawan niya yung kamay ko and took a step backwa

rd.
He shook his head. "This is the present Drake, Aly
s, and he's very much in love with you. The future
Drake will be in love with you... not just like t
his but way more in love. You started this ploy, A
lys. You played seducing Drake Palma when you were
in high school. Now, face the repercussions becau
se I'm here to stay."

(present...)

I shook my head and gave him a smile. "Nothing. Af

ter mo jan, uwi ka na, ha? Matulog ka na," I said.

"Pinapauwi mo na ako?" he asked, faking a hurt.

"Baliw. You'll see me tomorrow. You'll be seeing a

lot of me, Marco. For now, matulog ka muna. You l
ook freaking tired," I stated.

You will need all the energy you can get, Marco. Dr
ake won't leave us alone.

--

Thanks sa kahapon! Nagtrend ang #DatingAlysPerezWa

ttpad No.1 Nationwide (nasa photo sa gilid hehehe)
! Ahehez. Nikikilig ako! Now, for the winner, for
the pinakamaraming tweets, si Miss @DianeAnthonell
e papalag pa ba kayo sa 300 tweets niya?! Hahaha!
Sa pinakanakakatuwa, si @alliahmalditaaa Ang cute
cute ng batang ito! <3 Salamat din sa tumulong na
watty accounts. @WattpadPinoy @Wattpad_Quotes @wat
tpad_user @WTPDcharacters na nagpush talaga! Love
love

Ayun! Thanks! Mahaba pa tong story. Kapit kapit din

pag may time!

-Eydee

*******************************************
[17] -15-
*******************************************
-15-

I have never worked so hard in my entire life.

"Baka naman ma overworked ka niyan?" Aya asked me

while she was comfortably lying on my couch. Tsk.
Pasalamat siya rest day niya ngayon. If I hadn't k
nown better, iisipin kong buhay reyna si Aya. But
since she works for my mother, I'm sure her work's
hell, as well. Duh. She work's for my Mom. Do I n
eed to expound?

Tahimik lang ako sa ginagawa kong pagmmeasure. Nan

dito ako sa old condo unit ko. It's mine to use na
man. Regalo ni Dad sa akin 'to, e. I've checked wi
th the management and I found out na hindi na pala
nakatira si Drake dito so... safe zone here!

I glanced at the list pinned on my cupboard. Ang ha

ba, a!

"Saw Kent yesterday," panimula ko kay Aya. They lo

ok silly naman kasi! Obvious na obvious na sila ta
laga dapat pero nagpapaka immature at ayaw mag usa
p! Nakakabaliw sila!

She shrugged. "Tapos?"

I sighed an exasperated sigh. "Come on, Aya. Ano n

ga? He told me he's been pursuing you again pero y
ou always turn him down. Nasa witchy stage ka na n
aman ba?"

Because of my 'witchy' comment, I received a glare

from her. "Naman, Alys! Don't you know better? Di
ba nga kaya kayo nagbreak ni Drake ay dahil sa...
well, hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit pero di nam
an kita kinukulit, di ba? Extend the same courtesy
to me?" she said then batted her eyelash. Pasalam
at ka ang cute mo, Aya!

"Fine, no more intruding. But please talk to him?

He likes you big time. And he's good for you..." I
said.
Kent's the best guy for Aya, I'll bet my life on i
t. Sure, Sheen's great as well pero hindi naman ka
si yung greatness ng isang tao ang measurement kun
g compatible ba sila sa'yo, di ba? You should be w
ith someone not because he's good but because you
become good when you're with him.

We continued talk while I was baking. Ayoko kasi s

a shop magbake kasi may chance na puntahan ako ni
Drake dun, and I won't risk it. Besides, kumppleto
naman sa gamit dito, e. And namiss kong kausap yu
ng best friend ko!

"I saw Tripp yesterday!" sabi bigla ni Aya. Nagula

t naman ako dun! "Grabe, Alys. I knew he looked go
od but damn, ang gwapo ni Tripp ngayon lalo!"

And there... natawa na ako talaga! Never ko pang n

akitang mag express ng admiration 'tong babaeng 't
o. She works in the field of fashion, di ba? Sure
as hell madaming nakakatrabahong model 'to (one of
the reasons bakit lagi silang nag aaway ni Kent d
ati) pero not once siyang nagsqueal na parang teen
ager! Hahaha. Ang gwapo talaga ng Marco ko.

"So, crush mo na ngayon?" I said and then wiggled

my eyebrow. "Come on, Aya. I won't bite. Sanay na
akong madaming admirer yung panget na yun."

I remember dati kahit sa New York pa lang, ang dam

ing nagpapapansin dun. Niloloko nga namin siya ni
Tofer dati, United Nations ang fans club niya. May
European, may American, pero mostly Asian. Iba e.
.. Ibang level kagwapuhan ni panget! Di ko kaya mi
nsan.

Aya laughed. "Fine, fine, he's my crush. Kaya bang

pigilan? That boy looks freakishly good!"

We continued to gossip about Tripp. Ang sama kong

girlfriend, chinichismis ko si Tripp. Lol. Fun tim
es with Besh. Namiss ko talaga 'to!

Siguro mga three hours kaming nag uusap while I ba

ke some goodies. Nagtext kasi si Cristine, and she
told me to meet her sa resto somewhere. She recom
mended me sa Mom niyang may party na ioorganize a
nd kailangan kong magdala ng taste test somewhat.
Pumayag naman ako since ayokong maging bum, no. Be
sides, work naman 'to.

Hinatid ako ni Aya sa destination ko. Papasundo na

lang ako kay Tripp mamaya kasi di ko dala yung ca
r ko.

Pumasok ako sa loob and tinulungan naman ako nung

bell boy na dalin yung mga dala ko. Nagpareserve n
aman ng VIP room si Cristine and nauna ako dun. Sh
e sent me a text saying na she'll be late pero san
dali lang naman.
While I was waiting, tinawagan ko muna si Marco.

("Tatawag sana ako, e. San ka nga, panget?")

I told him na nasa resto nga ako and other stuff.

Hindi ko pa din naoopen yung topic kay Drake kasi.
.. wala lang, ayoko. Soon siguro, but definitely n
ot now.

("Panget...") he said and his voice trailled off.

"Hmm?"

("...may reunion kami this weekend. But if you don'

t want to come, okay lang naman.")

Natigilan ako. Sheez. The last time na nakita ako

ng Palma clan, si Drake ang boyfriend ko. Now, aft
er four years, pupunta naman ako as Tripp's girlfr
iend. Really, Alys? Playgirl much?

But I have to harden my resolve: I'm Tripp's.

I smiled lovingly at the thought. "No, pupunta ako

. Bakit ayaw mo akong papuntahin? Nahihiya ka ba s
a akin??" I faked a gasp.
Tripp laughed. Heaven talaga ang tawa nito! When h
e chuckles, he looks super adorable! Lalo na pag l
umalabas yung dimples niya pati ewan ko, when he s
ticks his tongue out, it's super cute!

("Baliw. Di ah. Mahal na mahal kaya kita. Sobra pa

nga, di ba? Sige na nga, magttrabaho na ako, Pang
et. Sunduin kita mamaya, ha?")

"Sige, Marco. Bye. I love you, too."

We ended the call then naghintay naman ako kay Cri

stine. Wonder what's taking her so long? Buti na l
ang at madami akong free time kundi baka umalis na
din ako after 15 mins. I'm not the waiting type o
f person na kasi. Ang daming pwedeng gawin kaysa m
aghintay, di ba? So why waste time?

"I'm sorry," Cristine said after niyang pumasok. S

he was holding her bag and breathing heavily. Saan
ba nanggaling 'to? She looks... disarrayed? "I ha
d to attend a last minute announced meeting. Sorry
talaga, Alys," she said. I nodded since mukhang s
incere naman siya.

She plopped down on the chair. I gave her time to b

reathe.
"Well, anyways, did you bring the goodies?" she as
ked, I nodded. "Can I like you know, drive you the
re na lang? My Mom can't make it, e."

I smiled and stood up. "Sure," I said.

She helped me with the basket. Nandun kami sa fron

t ng hotel, waiting for her car na kinuha nung val
et attendant. "By the way, Alys. If you're to be m
arried, how do you want your gown to look like?"

"Ha?"

Ngumiti siya sa akin. She really looks good. "How

do you envision your gown?" she asked with that pr
etty smile. If Drake has this kind of fiancee, bak
it ba niya ako hinahabol pa? I mean, look at Crist
ine! She's beautiful, she isn't a b-itch, she's no
t whiny like Shaira, and she's nice! Plus point pa
yung botong boto sa kanya si Tito Steve and Ethos!

I described my dream wedding gown. It's every girl

's dream to get married naman so describing my dre
am gown is so easy... it has to be beautiful. Yung
may long trail... I don't know, I fell in love wi
th Bella Swan's wedding gown. That kind of gown. I
t's so pretty!

She shook her head as if tinatandaan niya yung sin

abi ko. Weird, ha. May wedding gown na siya, di ba
? I saw her at my mother's last time and she was n
othing but breath-taking!

"E where do you wanna get married?"

I shrugged. "Anywhere would do as long as I'm with

the person I love pero sana beach wedding."

She squealed! She looks cute! "Di ba?! I kept on t

elling Drake about beach wedding, e! Sabi niya rou
gh daw ang sand sa paa and all other sort of excus
e. Ang daming arte nung lalaking yun!" she admonis
hed.

Natawa naman ako. She looks like a kid na naagawan

ng candy!

"A wedding is a bride's affair. If you want a beac

h wedding, have a beach wedding," sabi ko kay Cris
tine.

She smiled at me. "So, beach wedding?"

I nodded.
Just then, dumating na yung car niya. Pumasok na k
ami sa loob. Her car smells like vanilla.

"Hello?" she said nung sinagot niya yung phone niy

a. "Yeah, she's with me," she said. Sino ba ang ka
usap niya?

"Huh? Pupunta ka sa bahay namin? Why! No! Ano ba, D

rake!"

Sht. You really can't leave me alone, huh?

Cristine was having a misfit then tumigil siya. "Y

ou'll take Ethos with you? Fine. Thank Ethos! Tsk.
Abnormal autistic guy!" then she ended the line.

She faced me and smiled. "Drake's gonna be there,

as well. It's okay naman, di ba? I mean, he said t
hat you were high school classmates?"

I gave her a nod. Yeah. High school classmates... a

nd many other things.

--

"Hi, Mommy!" Cristine said.

Binaba ng Mom niya yung magazine and scolded her.
"Stop running, young lady!" Huminto naman si Crist
ine and she pouted. "Is she Alys?"

Nagnod si Cristine and introduced me. Her Mom looke

d at me in a very... degrading manner.

"Alys Perez, Madam," I said.

She nodded and motioned me to sit down. She interv

iewed me and asked for my credentials. Job intervi
ew ba 'to? Hindi ba titikman niya yung dala ko and
then we'll sign the deal?

"Impressive," she commented. "My daughter finished

her undergrad at St. Claire's and her MBA at Harv
ard," sabi niya. Okay?

Nginitian ko na lang siya as respect. I'm not comp

eting with Cristine but why do I think that she's
competing with me? I mean, yung Mom ni Cristine. W
eird weird.

After a few minutes, the inevitable happened. Dumat

ing si Drake.

Tumayo si Mrs. Stinson and welcomed Drake with open

arms. She's really fond of him, e?

"Drake!" she said and hugged him.

Cristine leaned in and whispered. "May crush yata

si Mommy kay Drake. I think she hates me for marry
ing him," she said. Natawa naman ako! She's so fun
ny! No wonder papakasalan siya ni Drake, ngayon ko
lang nakikita.

Napatingin sa amin si Drake. Nagsmile ako sa kanya,

trying to be civil and everything.

"Cristine!!" Ethos said and then she hugged Cristin

e.

"Hi, baby boy! Missed Cristine?" sabi niya. Nagnod

naman si Ethos and kissed her on the cheek. "How
about your Ninang Alys? Kiss her, baby," she nudge
d Ethos.

Ethos only half willingly kiss me. He really dislik

es me.

I got a cookie from the basket and gave Ethos. "You

want?"
He shook his head. "No."

Okay, Alys. He's just a kid, okay? Wag personalin.

Pinsan ni Tripp yan.

Umalis yung Mom ni Cristine for a while since may

conference call bigla sa study. Naiwan kaming apat
dito.

"Drake, I told you. Beach wedding. Alys said she l

ikes beach wedding din!" she said. Ako pa ginawa n
iyang reason, ha!

"Okay," sabi ni Drake. Yun na yun? Wala nang rough

sa paa ang sand?

Cristine clapped her hands. "Yehey! And about the

wedding dress, Palma, I'll change it, ha?" she sai
d and then winked at him.

Drake nodded. Ang lakas naman ni Cristine dito. She

asks and Drake gives in.

Cristine hummed and then picked Ethos up. "I have

many lollipops in my room. Wanna come, baby?" And
Ethos... he ran towards her room. Nakakainggit nam
an si Cristine. I wanna be close to Ethos.
Okay. Kaming dalawa na lang dito!

"I'm done. Alis na ako," I said. Iiwan ko na lang

yung goodies dito. Drake held my arms bago ako mak
aalis. "What?" I tried not to glare at him.

"Are you going to the reunion?"

I nodded. "Tripp invited me."

"Don't go," sabi niya. "Alys, please don't go."

Huminga ako ng malalim. "Bakit na naman, Drake? Giv

e me one good reason."

Binitiwan niya yung braso ko and looked at the me.

"Because... because I want to introduce you as my
wife... someday. Please don't confuse my family b
y being Tripp's girlfriend and my future wife. Do
them a favor, Alys."

--

Update again whenever! =)) Thanks sa nakasama ko k

ahapon sa Aklatan! Sa 14 ulit sa SMX! =))) xx @bee
yotchWP

*******************************************
[18] -16-
*******************************************
-16-

"Panget, why the long face?"

Napaangat ako ng tingin. Sobrang pagod na ako, hin

di ko man lang namalayan na nandito na pala si Tri
pp! God!

Kaagad akong tumayo at niyakap siya. "Sorry, Pange

t. Kasi naman si Cristine!" I said then vented out
my frustrations.

As far as I am concerned, hindi ako wedding planne

r. But why the hell ako ang nagpplano ng wedding n
ila ni Drake?! I was caught off guard! Bigla niya
akong tinanong kanina kung payag ba akong maging w
edding planner since biglang nagresign yung weddin
g planner nila (which is weird! Kung ano yun, I wo
uld sue whoever that woman is! You don't cancel ju
st weeks away from my wedding!) then she asked me
kung pwede ako. It took me blank minutes to think
and before I could even say a word, she hugged me!
And the rest was history.

Tripp made himself comfortable on the couch inside

my office. Nandito pa din kasi ako sa shop ko. Ma
buti na lang din at nakakuha na ako ng staff, than
kfully because of Tofer. Remember pinaalis ng Papa
niya lahat ng guy staff sa resto bar niya? I glad
ly offered those dudes a job. They accepted it nam
an so I'm okay na.

"You could cancel," sabi niya. Mabuti naman at hin

di siya nagfreak out... oh, well. I left the part
where I should have mentioned that Drake's the gro
om. Bakit hindi niya alam? Palma siya, after all.
Ikakasal ang pinsan niya, hello??

Umiling ako. I can't say no to Cristine, super nic

e niya. Ang her Mom got me a job! Magseserve ako n
g pastry sa isa sa event niya sa re-opening ng art
gallery. How could I say no when her Mom just off
ered me my biggest break here in the Phil? Her Mom
's art gallery is one of the finest!

Hinintay pa ako ni Tripp since I promised him a di

nner, kasama din namin si Tofer kasi namimiss niya
din daw si Tripp. Kapal talaga ng mukha! Girlfrie
nd lang?

Tinapos ko muna yung run down ng wedding invites.

In fairness, kakilala ko lahat ng invited! Pati ng
a family ko, invited. Oh, well. Siguro family frie
nd sila Cristine nila Mom. After all, the elite wo
rld is just too small.

"I'm done," sabi ko. Lumapit ako kay Tripp and off
ered him my hand. Before he could stand up, hinata
k niya ako pababa kaya napaupo ako sa tabi niya. H
e embraced me and rested his head on my shoulder.
"Mushy much?" matawa tawa kong sabi.

"Ang busy mo naman kasi, Perez. Wala ka ng oras sa

akin," he said.

I kissed his cheek and patted his head. "Kaya nga

magdidinner tayo ngayon, di ba?" I reminded him. O
o nga naman kasi, I've been real busy. Gig here an
d there makes Alys timeless for her boyfriend. And
besides, busy din naman siya sa work niya. Busy k
aming lahat, actually. Syempre hindi na kami high
school students, mayroon na kaming kanya kanyang w
ork.

"Pero kasama si Tofer," reklamo niya. I chuckled a

t his annoyed expression. "Bakit ba kasi kasama si
Tofer?"

I explained to him na miss na miss na nga siya ng

pinsan niya. Aba! Take responsibility, Marco. Ikaw
kaya ang favorite cousin ni Tofer. Play nice. Hah
aha!

Dinaanan namin si Tofer sa restobar niya. Ang damin

g tao sa bar ni Tofer, in fairness!

Diretso kaming pumasok sa loob but Tofer's nowhere

in sight. Nasan na kaya 'yun?
"Where's Tofer?" I asked one of the bartenders. He
said na nasa office daw si Tofer and so I went th
ere. I knocked but no one's answering kaya pumasok
na ako agad.

There he was, talking to someone over the phone. "

What? No! Don't send them a notice, I'll arrange f
or it, okay? You hear me? Good."

I stood by the door. Mukhang naiinis si Cristofer

Ann, a. Minsan minsan ko lang kasi siyang marinig
sumigaw. It feels odd pa din.

Nagulat naman siya nung nakita niya akong nakatayo

sa pinto to the point na napahawak pa siya sa dib
dib niya. Seriously?

Pumasok ako sa office niya. "You should control yo

ur caffeine intake," I uttered. Hindi naman pala g
irly 'tong office niya. I was expecting a room tha
t looks like Hello Kitty puked all over it that ev
erything is... pink.

He nodded and he arranged his things. "Kanina ka pa

ba?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Just long enough to hear your su

pposed assault over the line. Sino kausap mo?" I a
sked him. He doesn't fume naman kasi, ngayon lang
kaya naman curious ako! Sino kaya ang may kakayaha
ng magpagalit kay Tofer? Grabe, ha! Idol!

Umiling siya. "Stalker. Kadiri talaga! Hindi ko nam

an siya type, ew."

Matawa tawa ako habang sinusundan ko si Tofer pala

bas ng office niya. Kwento naman siya ngayon ng kw
ento tungkol sa babaeng stalker niya na apparently
, naka blind date niya! Grabe naman yung father ni
Tofer, bading ba talaga tingin niya kay Tofer to
the point na pinapa blind date niya?

"Tripp!"

And... there goes the reunion of two star crossed l

overs.

"Ano ba, Tofer!" sabi ni Tripp habang pilit kinaka

las si Tofer mula sa pagkakayakap sa kanya. Me? Na
kaupo ako habang pinapanood yung magpinsan mag PDA
. They look freaking cute! Sobrang crush ni Tofer
si Tripp, ha! Dapat na ba akong kabahan? Lol. That
would be incest!

While Tofer was busy annoying the hell out of Trip

p, nagvibrate naman ang phone ko. Cristine's calli
ng! Ugh. Can't I have one peaceful night with my g
uy and my best boy friend?
"Hello?" I said, finally answering the call after d
ebating inside.

("Alys, sorry to bother you with this, ha? Pero I'

ll be going to Paris for a convention. I won't be
back until the day of my marriage. Please coordina
te with Drake na lang?")

"WHAT?!"

("I'm sorry, really but this one's really important

, e.")

Is she mental? Aalis siya and dadating on the day o

f the wedding itself?!

"Can't we just you know, push the wedding back?" I

suggested. Ang impossible naman kasi ng iniisip n
iya! Ano ang feeling niya, dadating siya bigla the
n poof, kakasal sila ni Drake? Ugh! She's making m
e crazy!

("No, no. The date will be the same. Aalis lang na

man ako, Alys. You can call me, still. It's just t
hat, wala na yung physical presence ko. Nanjan pa
din naman si Drake, e. Okay? Bye. Nanjan na yung f
light ko! Thanks a lot, Alys! Break a leg!")
WTF Major WTF!

Just when I was busy cursing all the gods inside m

y head, I received the most blood boiling text eve
r!

From: unknown number

Cristine's gone. It's you and me... again. Hello,

pseudo bride. Make your groom happy, you read?

--AN--

Thanks sa lahat ng nakasama kahapon sa Wattpad Mee

tup! Super fun, di ba?? Next year sana ulit! Hi di
n sa Yellow Team oink oink! =))

*******************************************
[19] -17-
*******************************************
Dedicated to Ctrix of Wattpad_Quotes dahil sobrang
helpful niya and approachable! <3

-17-

Sa sobrang frustration ko kay Drake, hindi ko napi

gilang mag vent-out kay Tofer ng inis! Kasi naman,
sino ang hindi maiinis sa kanya, ha?! Ginawa niya
akong pseudo-bride! To hell with him!
Kakatapos lang ng dinner namin nila Tripp and hina
tid nila ako sa bahay... but then, I sent a text t
o Tofer na nagsasabing SOS Club West.

Yep, that's our secret code, kung hindi pa masyado

ng given 'yun, no. After akong ihatid ni Tripp, na
gbihis muna ako ng damit kasi kanina ko pa suot 't
o. I wore comfy clothes, hindi naman kasi ako magp
aparty, kailangan ko lang talagang maglabas ng ini
s! Baka kasi masakal ko si Drake bukas pag nagkita
kami.

Few minutes later, dumating na si Tofer.

"Ano ka? Pupuntang palengke?" sabi niya nang makit

a niya ang suot ko. Napatingin naman ako sa suot k
o. Ano bang mali dito? Naka shorts at cropped top
naman ako, a! Ganito na ba ang attire ng mga namam
alengke?!

I rolled my eyes at him at pumasok sa sasakyan niy

a. Gosh, I love it here talaga! Strawberry scented
yung air freshener niya!! Kung i-blackmail ko kay
a si Tofer na isusumbong ko siya sa Dad niya na ga
y siya kung hindi siya papayag sa sunduin niya ako
? Ayoko din kasing nagddrive, nakakatamad kaya!

Nakapikit pa ako and nakasandal sa front seat ng b

igla niya akong batuhin ng mini pillow niya. Ang m
eanie talaga nito!

"Papikit pikit ka pa jan. Ew, ha!"

"Ano'ng ew sa pagpikit ko?!" I asked, nawweirduhan

ko kasi. What's wrong sa pagpikit ko?

"Para kang... nirerape. Really, Alys, disturbing im

age!"

Hay, Alys. Don't complain, ha? You've managed to t

olerate him for years, ano pa ba naman kung itoler
ate mo siya for this night?

He drove us to Club West. Actually, hindi naman 't

o club na as in maingay na maingay, tama lang. May
part kasi na para sa mga teenagers na wild (yung
mga kung uminom at magparty akala mo wala ng bukas
) and sa isang part para sa mga corporate na tao.

Nagorder ako ng cosmo for us and we settled our se

lf in one of the booths. Haay, finally nakapagrela
x din ako! Puro stress ang inabot ko kay Cristine
these past few days!

"So, what's up?" Tofer asked nung dumating na yung

drinks namin. Kinuha ko yung drinks ko and kinain
ko muna yung inorder kong finger foods. Haaay, ku
ng hindi lang talaga against si Tripp sa pag-inom-
inom ko e di sana kasama namin siya! Pero hindi di
n pala pwede dahin si Drake ang magiging agenda na
min for this night. No Drake related topics for Tr
ipp. Di ba rule na yun? Don't you dare mention you
r ex in front of your present. That's just a no no.

"Di ba ikakasal na si Drake and Cristine?" I said

as a conversation starter. He raised a brow. "What
? Don't tell me hindi mo alam?" I asked, confused.
Bakit hindi niya din alam? Hindi din alam ni Trip
p, e! Kasi for sure if he knows na si Drake ang gr
oom ni Cristine, he'll beg me to drop the job.

I can't see why Tripp is so insecure. I mean, why?

He's handsome and nice and lovable and every girl
would die to be his girl but still... I feel that
he's very insecure of our relationship. Hindi nam
an ako nagbibigay ng motive para mainsecure siya.
I never mention Drake in front of him simula nung
naging kami and ginagawa ko naman lahat para ma-fe
el niyang love ko siya.

He shook his head. "Kasal? Really?!"

It's my time to show him my confused face. "Yeah,

like he's gonna tie the knot in less than a month.
"

Biglang nawalan ng color yung face ni Tofer, paran

g nagulat siya sa narinig niya. Okay? I mean, may
karapatan naman siyang magulat kasi hello? Pinsan
niya ikakasal tapos hindi man lang siya informed!
Pero parang extreme naman na yata ang expression n
g face niya!

"Kanino?"

"Cristine Ann Stinson? Ring a bell?"

He shook his head. Hindi niya alam na si Cristine

ang bride and hindi niya alam kung sino si Cristin
e. Well, feasible pa rin naman since nagstay din s
iya sa States at Paris kagaya ko. Hello, hindi ko
rin kilala si Cristine! Nagulat lang din ako na ma
y Cristine palang nag-eexist, but that does not me
an na hate ko si Cristine. She's really adorable!
Feel ko magkakasundo sila ni Tofer kasi pareho sil
a ng gusto sa buhay.

So ayun, kinwento ko kay Tofer lahat ng alam ko ka

y Cristine. If I'm not mistaken, best friend ni Dr
ake si Cristine nung college days since si Shaira
ay nagmigrate. Tito Steve said na good influence s
i Cristine and stuff.

"...they all like Cristine, you know? Everybody lik

es her for Drake."

"So, you like her for Drake?"

I gave him a smile. "Of course. Drake and I? We're
not meant to be. Siguro sila talaga ni Cristine,"
I said with utmost sincerity.

He gave me a scrutinizing stare na para bang pinag

-aaralan niya kung tama ba or mali ang sagot ko. "
Really, Alys?"

I gave him a double nod. I'm sure. Drake and I? We

tried but we gave up before things could go deepe
r. That's where it went wrong because I'm pretty s
ure if he had not let go of me, if only he asked m
e to wait for him? Things would be different. Ako?
Ako si Alys Perez, e. Kung sinabi niya sa akin nu
ng 18 years old ako na hintayin ko siya? I'll frea
king wait for him. Martyr na kung martyr pero I kn
ow how much I loved Drake. I loved him a great dea
l. I would have given up everything for him in a b
link of an eye. Pero ano ang ginawa niya? He threw
that away. It hurts having the person whom you tr
usted with your everything ruin you for nothing. I
t feels regal... regal betrayal.

"I'm 22, Tofer. Maybe dati masaya na ako sa pakili

g kilig pero things are now different. I want assu
rance, I want constant love. Are you getting me? S
ure, Drake used to make me feel like my heart's go
nna pop out of my chest with his simple gestures.
That was the 18 year old me... He let go of me whe
n I was 18, he should expect that he could get me
now that I'm 22. It's just not how things are like
. I'm 22 and wiser... and 22 and in love with his
cousin."
With my answer, napangiti si Tofer. He drank anothe
r shot of his drink.

"Dapat ni-record ko yun! Pang beauty pageant lang y

ung sagot mo! Pinag-isipan mong mabuti?"

Binato ko nga siya ng chips. Ang kapal, ha! Masama

na bang maging profound?

Tumawa siya sa ginawa ko tapos binato niya din ako

! Ang meanie nito! Wala man lang gentleman bone sa
katawan kahit konti!

"Kidding aside, Perez. Mahal na mahal ka ni Tripp,

naiintindihan mo ba ako?"

I nodded. Mahal na mahal ako ni Tripp, alam na alam

ko... ramdam na ramdam ko.

"You'll break him once na iwan mo siya. You'll dest

roy him once na iwanan mo siya for Drake."

--

My head really hurts!! Bwisit na Tofer yan! After

niya akong pangaralan about kay Tripp, pinainom na
man ako ng pinainom. Hah! Nasa tab niya lahat yun,
 magdusa siyang bayaran lahat ng ininom ko. Kainis!

Halos gumapang ako papunta sa cr dahil may meeting

kami ni Drake ngayon para sa gown ni Cristine. Ap
parently, ako nga ang temporary bride niya! Ako an
g magsusukat ng gown! Magka size ba kami ni Cristi
ne e mas payat naman sa'kin yun! And mas matangkad
ako sa kanya kaya.

Nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung maliligo ako. Shoul

d I call in sick? Ang sakit talaga ng ulo ko, e.

Haaaaaaay.

Call rejected.

Drake's been calling me since forever! Nakaka ilan

g missed call na siya (or should I say rejected)?
Nagtext naman ako na on the way na ako! Impatient
much?!

Dumating ako sa boutique ni Mom since dun pala nagp

agawa si Cristine. Good choice!

"Good morning, Miss Alys," bati ng receptionist sa

akin. Palagi kasi akong nandito kasi bukod sa dit
o nagwwork si Mommy, pati si Aya nandito rin so...
hello, tambayan ni Alys!
Dumiretso kaming dalawa sa fitting area.

"Is this necessary?" I asked him. He nodded.

"Why?" he asked.

"Hindi naman kami magkasize ni Cristine!" I fumed.

Anong silbi naman kasi nito kung hindi naman kami
magkasize ng bride niya, di ba?

Naupo siya sa couch dun at nagcross legs. "So are y

ou saying that you're fat?"

O_______O

"WHAT?!"

He smirked at me and kumuha ng wedding magazine at

hindi na ako pinansin.

HOW DARE HE CALL ME FAT?! HINDI BA NIYA ALAM NA WOR

ST INSULT YUN NA MAKUKUHA NG ISANG BABAE?!
Pumasok ako sa fitting room at kinuha yung gown ni
Cristine. Mataba pala ha! Pag ako nagkasya sa gow
n na 'to, sinasabi ko sa'yo!

"Miss, baka masira yung gown..." sabi sa akin nung

nag-aassist.

"Shut up, please," sabi ko dahil pressured akong ma

gkasya dito. "Zip it up."

Okay, Alys. Stop breathing for a while!

I closed my eyes and held my breath. "Okay na ba?"

I asked her.

"Opo..."

Yes! I looked at the mirror and... I really am Dana

Ferrer and Cyriel Perez's daughter.

Lumabas ako sa fitting room looking all smug. Fat,

huh?

Naglalakad na ako para makita nitong si Drake yung

 sinasabi niyang mataba ng may marinig akong kinak
ausap niya. May nakaharang kasi na divider ko hind
i ko pa siya matanaw.

"Sir, bawal po makita ang bride. Hindi po ba kayo

naniniwala sa premonition?" I heard one of the sta
ff said.

There was a long pause... and the feeling is freaki

ng familiar.

"The girl in that gown is Alys Perez so what makes

you think I'll let anything, let alone anyone, st
op our wedding?"

--AN--

So, news for those na hindi pa alam! Magseself pub

lish po ako ng book ko na Hindi Ko Inakala! If int
erested, patignan po sa page ko (Eydee's Stories)
ang info! Thanks! Love love

*******************************************
[20] -18-
*******************************************
-18-

"Uhm..." I shifted my weight from my left foot to

the other. Sheez, why am I fidgeting? Kung kailan
naman kami nagbreak ni Drake at saka ako kinabahan
sa kanya! Before, yeah, looking at him makes my k
nees go weak pero never akong nakaramdam ng takot.
I'm scared. Freaking scared for myself.

He looked at me, his scrutinizing stare never leavi

ng my face.

"Same old Alys," he whispered but I heard him, sti

ll. "Let's go to our next destination?" he said.

I stared at him with disbelief evident on my face.

Yun na yun?! I mean, halos hindi na ako huminga p
ara magkasya sa gown ni Cristine tapos SAME OLD AL
YS?!

Tumingin ako sa babaeng nag assist sa akin and I po

litely asked her to leave.

"Drake, what are we doing?" I asked him with utmos

t sincerity. I know deep down na I'm cheating on T
ripp. I'm not naive. Alam ko sa bawat pag-alis ko
na hindi ko sinasabi sa kanya na si Drake ang kasa
ma ko, I'm breaking his trust. I'm slowly but deli
berately breaking the trust he has given me.

He took a step closer and leaned in. He kissed my f

orehead.

"What are we doing, Alys?"

Hindi ko alam pero bigla na lang tumulo yung luha
ko. Why the hell is everything so confusing?! I'm
perfectly fine with my life. I love my life as it
is. Call me a coward but I loathe every complicati
on, every freaking mishap that has happened in my
life. I like my life simple and predictable. That'
s just who I am. I don't do complications but sinc
e I met Drake? Complication has taken its place as
my middle name. And it sucks. And I hate it.

His hands found its way on my face. He was caressi

ng my face the same way he did years ago. Years ag
o, Alys. Years ago.

I slapped his hands. "F-uck off, Drake."

He was taken aback by the hostility I have shown h

im. "Yes, Drake. This is who I am. Hindi na ako yu
ng Alys na kilala mo dati. I curse, I drink, hell,
I gamble when I want! I grew up, Palma! You left
me to freaking grow up, hindi ba? Now, look at me!
I grew up and I don't want you anymore. Please, p
lease. Tigilan mo na ako... Please don't start whe
re we left off because I don't want to start over.
I want to continue my life as it is."

What he did? He stood there. He stood there and lo

oked at me. He placed his hands inside his pocket
and smiled at me.
"I'll take whatever you are, Alys. Don't belittle
what I feel for you. Childish or not, you're still
Alys Zyril Ferrer-Perez."

I took a step forward and slapped him. And slapped

him.

"Ayoko na sa'yo! What the hell is wrong with you?!

Are you obsessed with me?!"

I tried to slap him for the third time but he caug

ht my hand and placed it just above his heart.

"Feel that, Alys? That's the heartbeat of the man

who's obsessed with you. You made me your dog! Thr
ow me a bone and I'll catch it for you. You made m
e yours, Alys. Deal with it."

I punched him in the gut. Screw you, Drake! Going

back to the Philippines is the worst thing I did i
n my life! I just wanna crawl back to Paris and sn
ag my quiet life back.

Right now? I feel all those complications coming b

ack... and I don't quite like it. Tonight I'm comi
ng clean. Ayoko na mag-away kami ni Tripp. I can't
lose him... hell, I don't wanna lose him.
I glared at him. "Binabalik ko na yung puso mo, Dr
ake! Fall for anyone but me. Please lang. Wala kan
g mapapala sa akin."

"You make me happy so I'll stay."

Another tear fell from my eye. No, it's not pain.

It's tear of annoyance. "You disgust me, Drake."

There. I left him while I went out to hail a cab.

The hell I care kung naka wedding gown ako. I'm pi
ssed!

--

"Whoa." Napatingin sa akin si Tripp with his eyes

wide open. "Magpapakasal ba tayo ngayon, Panget?"
he asked with disbelief.

"Ha-ha-ha."

He grinned and pulled a chair for me. "Bakit nga?

Run away bride? Sabi naman sa'yo wag kang manood n
g movies, e."

Umupo ako at kinuha ko 'yung unopened bottle of wa

ter sa lamesa niya. Nandito ako sa bahay nila ngay
on. Hindi ko kasi alam kung saan ako pupunta. I ca
n't go home, nandun si Dane and I hate explaining
complicated things to my brother. Wala si Aya, wal
a si Tofer.

"Tripp..."

"Hmm?" he asked while still staring at me.

I was gonna come clean and tell him about everythi

ng but I decided na mamaya ko na sabihin. "I'm wea
ring a gown and you... well, you look decent enoug
h. Where's my ring?" I asked while my eyebrow is a
rching up.

Slowly, a chinky grin appeared. "Nagpopropose ka ba

sa akin, Perez?"

"Duh?"

Lumapit siya sa akin and kissed me softly. "Kakaus

apin ko muna si Tito Cyriel. Wag kang atat."

"Atat. Big word coming from you!" I said then laug

hed. Siya nga 'tong palaging nagpopropose, e. Not
serious, tho. He was being playful all the time wh
enever he visited me. Nagpropose na yata siya in e
very place imaginable. Whenever he feels like it,
he's gonna drop on his knee. Seriously, the first
time he did that, muntik na akong maniwala!

He then enveloped me in a hug. "Magpoproppose nama

n ako, hindi lang ngayon. Chill ka lang, Perez."

I decided to let it go. I know he won't propose an

ytime soon kasi napag-usapan na namin 'to. He's st
ill working and I'm still building my name.

"So, bakit ka nga naka wedding dress?"

"Preview lang para sa'yo. Ang ganda ko, no?"

He frowned. I slapped his arms.

"Oo na, ang ganda mo."

"Napipilitan ka lang niyan?" I asked while my eyes

are doing this 'matakot-ka' thing. Sabi kasi ni T
ofer I look scary when I stare. Sabi naman ni Trip
p, hindi raw. Tripp and Tofer? Mababaliw ka pag ka
sama mo sila, swear!

He chuckled and kissed me again. "Hindi. Ang ganda

mo. Sobra pa sa sobra."
And there... who ever said that life with Tripp is
boring?

Nagbihis ako ng damit ni Tripp (he likes it when I

wear his shirt) na pinahiram niya sa akin. It sti
ll fits me! Yung Batman shirt na pinahiram niya sa
akin once? Nung nasa NY pa kami, minsan iyon ang
pantulog ko. Madalas kasi akong mag overnight sa k
anila. Wala kaming ginagawang masama, no! Movie ni
ghts and such. Busy kasi lagi si Kei so si Tofer a
nd Tripp madalas kasama ko.

I also wore his boxer shorts. And it feels... weir

d. Weird in a good way, tho. Ang igsi sa akin! Par
a akong naka microshorts. Mabuti na lang mahaba yu
ng shirt niya.

Napangiti si Tripp ng makita niya ako. See? When y

ou want to cheer him up, all you gotta do is wear
his shirt. Ang dali niyang pasiyahin.

"Alam mo..." he said as I snuggled close to him. "

Pag nakita tayo ni Dad dito, iba ang iisipin niya.
"

I chuckled. "Yeah, right. As if, Tripp."

We cuddled for a couple of minutes and then naglut

o kami ng sabay. First time lang yata namin matahi
mik ng ganito, palagi kasing nandyan si Tofer to r
uin our peaceful day.

"Bakit ka nga naka wedding gown?"

Sheez, I almost forgot about that.

"Uhm, Marco?" I said, hesitating for a moment. Ayo

kong mag-away kami pero mas mabuti na na sa akin m
anggaling kaysa sa iba, di ba? "Drake... hmmm."

I seem to caught his attention ng sabihin ko yung D

rake.

"I'm sorry, Marco, pero si Drake yung groom ni Cri

stine. Promise, I didn't intend to spare you from
the details pero ayoko kasi na mag-away tayo. Plea
se don't be mad?" I said without even hitching a b
reath.

He was silent for a second.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment and took a de

ep breath. "I trust you."
"Talaga?"

He held my hand and enclosed it with his. "I trust

you so much, Alys. I don't trust Drake."

I smiled at him pero ang totoo, I'm sad. They're a

re cousins pero hindi sila nag-uusap. I'm not sayi
ng na mababaw ang pinag-awayan nila pero... they'r
e cousins! Kahit pa sabihin na ako yung dahilan, I
can't fathom na forever silang magkakaroon ng gap
because of me! It feels like a heavy burden.

"Hindi na ba talaga kayo mag-uusap ni Drake?" I as

ked him, even nudging him to give it a shot.

He shrugged. "Two years, Alys. Niligawan ba kita s

a loob ng two years? Hindi, di ba? Naghintay ako n
g two years bago kita niligawan tapos pagbibintang
an niya ako na inagaw kita? No. Hindi kami mag-uus
ap."

--

follow me on twitter!! :DD @beeyotchWP and fb (Eyde

e's Stories)

*******************************************
[21] Special Chapter!
*******************************************
**Special Chapter to, ha! Hindi to connected sa st
ory! Bored lang ako. Hahaha! Anyhow, happy reading
! twitter: @beeyotchWP
--

Special Chapter :">

"Sandali naman!"

Kainis, ha! Sabi ko naman kasi sa kanya, 10 am na

lang! Siya tong nagpilit na 7 am kami umalis, e!

"Slow poke. Noob," sabi niya sa akin.

=_______=

Kailan ba madidigest ng stomach ko na isang DRAKE

SEBASTIAN JIMENEZ-PALMA ang boyfriend ko?! E hari
ng kasungitan yan, e!! Siguro kung nakaka stroke a
ng pagiging masungit, baby pa lang si Drake, na co
matose na yan! Sabi kaya ni Tito Steve sinusukuan
ng mga yaya niya si Drake nung baby pa siya. Heheh
e. Ang cutie siguro ng baby Drake!! *O*

Binilisan ko na yung pagboblower ko ng buhok. Syem

pre dapat pretty ako, no! Hindi na nga ako masyado
ng 'great' brain, e! Nakita ko yung mga fangirls n
i Drake, ang gaganda nila. >.< Dapat magpaganda ri
n ako! It's a must!!

"Slow," ulit na naman ni Drake.

"Eto na nga!" sabi ko sabay takbo palapit sa kanya.

"Bakit ba kasi ang aga??"

Inirapan niya lang ako at nagsimula na siyang magl

akad palabas. Tignan mo 'to! Kinakausap ng maayos,
e! GRRRRRR

Sumabay akong maglakad sa kanya, pero syempre medyo

tumatakbo ako. Hehehe.

"Drake Palma~~~"

Hindi niya pa rin ako pinapansin. T~T Bakit hindi

ako pinapansin ng sarili kong boyfriend???

"Drake! Drake! Drake!!"

Bigla siyang huminto sa paglalakad niya. "Stop it.

You're annoying."
"E kasi naman... 7 am pa lang. Kain muna tayo?" sa
bi ko sa kanya sabay pout. Hindi pa kami kumakain!
Kasi naman, 6 am pa lang nasa unit ko na siya. Ta
pos hindi ako makakain kasi tinulak niya ako papas
ok sa CR tapos hinagisan niya ako ng damit sa loob
! TDPW of good morning!!

Tinitigan niya ako sandali tapos may kinuha siya sa

back pack niya.

"Ano 'to?"

=_____=

Sabi ko gutom ako, mukha bang mabubusog ako rito sa

bigay niya??

"Banana milk. Are you really that stupid?"

"Hindi naman 'to nakakabusog, e!"

"Brat." Tapos bigla niyang inagaw yung Banana milk

at ininom niya. TIGNAN MO ANG BASTOS TALAGA KAUSA
P NITO!!!
Nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad hanggang makarati
ng kami sa baba. "Nasan na yung sasakyan mo?"

Nagshrug lang siya tapos pumara ng taxi. Pumasok n

a siya sa loob. Hindi talaga siya gentleman, malol
oka na ako!!

"Faster," sabi niya.

"Isa na lang, Palma, tatamaan ka na sa akin," bulon

g ko sa kanya.

Napalingon naman siya sa akin. TAPOS NGUMITI SIYA!

Weird niya! "Really?" parang amazed pa siya sa si
nabi ko!

"Really really really much!!"

Bigla siyang natawa--- for 1 second! Tapos nagnodn

od pa yung head niya. "We'll see," sabi niya tapos
si Manong driver naman yung kinausap niya. "Batan
gas," sabi niya.

"Po?" sabi ni Manong driver.

Binulungan ko si Drake. Di ba bawal yun? Ang layo
kaya ng Batangas! Nababaliw na si Drake. Alam ko n
aman baliw siya pero extra yung pagiging baliw niy
a ngayon... dagdagan pa ng kasungitan niyang tagla
y!

"Really?" sabi niya. After 1 second, hinila niya ak

o palabas sa taxi. "Change of plan."

Sabay pa rin kaming naglalakad pero magka holding

hands na kami!! :">>> Hindi niya na kasi binitiwan
yung kamay ko nung hinila niya ako palabas sa tax
i. OMG eto na naman yung wild palpitations!

Hindi na ako nag ingay kasi baka sungitan niya na

naman ako. Nagpaanod ako sa agos ng buhay. Heheheh
e

"Drake, saan tayo pupunta?"

"Mom."

O___________O

"Di ba patay na ang mommy mo?"

Tumango siya.

"B-bakit tayo pupunta sa kanya??"

Bigla siyang huminto tapos humarap sa akin. "I'll

introduce you. Why? Don't wanna?" sunud-sunod na t
anong niya sa akin. "Why not? Are you ashamed of m
e?"

"H-ha?"

Lumapit siya sa akin unti unti. Shets napapakanta n

a naman ako!!

🎶 Inch by inch Drake's moving closer

Feels like a fairytale 🎶

O-OMO

Bumulong siya sa akin. "Do you wish Tripp's your bo

yfriend?"

"H-ha?"
SHEMS BAKIT HA LANG ANG NASASABI KO?!!!

Yumuko siya para magkalevel kami tapos bumulong si

ya sa akin. As in magkadikit na yung left cheek ko
at right cheek niya at tempted na ako na ikiss si
ya!!! >/////////////<

"Even if you want, I won't let you. You're my noob.

Mine."

I'm gonna die!! Huhuhu! Kung nakakamatay ang sobra

ng kilig, matagal na akong nakabulagta sa kalsada!
!!

After nun, hindi niya man lang ako kiniss. :((((

--

"Wala pa ba tayo?"

Pagod na ako. Hindi ako pinansin ni Drake at binuk

san niya yung gate ng isang parang mausoleum.

"Alys," tawag sa akin ni Drake, "Pay your respect."

"H-ha?"

Umiling iling na lang si Drake. Aba't parang disapp

ointed pa siya sa akin!

"Mom, remember the stupid girl? She's here," sabi n

iya sabay turo sa akin.

=_________=

Lumapit ako sa puntod ng mommy niya at nag bow. "H

ello po. Ako po si Alys, at hindi po ako stupid *i
nsert glare kay Drake here* Ang bait ko po, promis
e!!"

"Look at her, Mom, she's exactly how I described he

r."

*insert super glare here!!!*

"Paano po ba ako dinescribe ni Drake?" tanong ko s

a Mommy niya. Huhu tatakbo ako palabas dito pag su
magot ng yung Mommy ni Drake, promise!! Lumingon a
ko kay Drake. "Ano ba sinabi mo sa Mommy mo? Baka
naman siniraan mo ako, ha!"
Bigla siyang nag chuckle. AND IT'S RARE GOSH!

"That you're stupid and a noob and clumsy and klut

z and messy and idiot and barbaric and that I love
you."

Okay.... Hinga, Alys. Kalma lang. Kalma lang. Boyf

riend mo na si Drake, dapat sanay ka na sa mga The
Drake Palma Way niya.

OMG I CANNOT! SHET KA, DRAKE! WHY ARE YOU DOING THI
S TO ME!!

Nung napansin niya na nagbblush ako, inirapan niya

ako tapos umiling iling pa siya!

"Bye, Mom."

Hinatak niya na naman ako pero ano ba, okay lang!

Kung maghoholding hands naman kami tuwing hahataki
n niya ako, WHY NOT CHOCONUT!

"San tayo pupunta?"

Hindi na naman siya sumagot. Sabi ko nga, pipe tal

aga siya! Bakit ba nag eeffort pa akong makipag us
ap minsan?

After 10 minutes, nakasakay na naman kami sa taxi.

Bakit kasi di na lang siya magdrive! Ang tamad ta
laga!

"Drake, Drake!" sabi ko sa kanya. Traffic kasi dit

o kaya bored na bored na ako. Huhu. Ang saya saya
naman nung driver, naku! Ang taas na ng babayaran
ni Drake. :DDD

Nakasandal siya sa upuan, bored na rin siguro siya.

"What?"

"Si Tripp ka ba?"

Tinitigan niya ako bigla ng masama!!

"Bilis na! Pick up line 'to! Sabihin mo 'bakit'."

Hindi niya ako pinansin, tinitigan niya lang ako ng

masama!

"Oh, kunyari sabi mo bakit... Ehem ehem... kasi TRI

PP na TRIPP kita, e! Gets mo???"
Mas lalo niya akong tinignan ng masama! Grabe! Di
man lang ba niya na appreciate yung pickup line ko
?!

"Ikaw ba si Alys?" sabi niya bigla.

*O*

SHET

Nag. Tagalog. Si. Drake.

"B-bakit?" sabi ko, natatakot ako. Shet.

Nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin ng masama. "Gusto ki

tang pa-ALYS-sin dito sa taxi. Isang Tripp pa, itu
tulak kita palabas."

SHET ABNORMAL BA AKO? BAKIT AKO KINILIG NUNG SINABI

NIYANG ITUTULAK NIYA AKO?!

"A-a---" Hindi ako makapagsalita. Shems. Shems. She

ms.
Tinitigan niya ulit ako, mas masama sa kanina! "St
upid," bulong niya. "It's our monthsary and you da
red mention Tripp. Stupid noob."

OMG MONTHSARY NAMIN?!

*******************************************
[22] -19-
*******************************************
-19-

"Okay," sabi ko kay Tripp. "Wag ka ng serious jan,

" I continued and then winked at him. Bigla naman
siyang tumawa, salamat naman! Sobrang serious niya
na kasi kanina, kinabahan ako bigla. The last tim
e we had a row, sobrang naiyak ako. Drake is his d
eal breaker. Ewan ko ba kung bakit! Given na naman
na... Oh, well. I keep on going back to that road
. Now, kailangan ko ng tumigil sa pag-iisip about
dun. Taboo na siya, Alys. You hear? Good.

Tumayo siya and then hinatak niya ako sa entertain

ment room nila. We sat down while he went to out g
et our popcorn. Kinuha ko naman yung controller an
d then I scanned their movies. Hmmm. Di pa showing
yung iba dito, a! Pirata talaga 'tong si Tripp!

While I was busy choosing a movie, biglang nagvibr

ate yung phone ko. And then I saw on the caller ID
Cristine's phone. I don't know pero nafeel ko na
si Drake yung nasa kabilang line kaya pinatay ko y
ung phone ko.

Tonight is about me and Tripp.

Nilagay ko sa table yung phone ko tapos nagpatuloy

na ako sa pamimili ng movie. Sige na nga cartoon
na lang! Dun din pala kami mauuwi. Ayoko na kasi n
g stressful na movie. Gusto ko lang ng good laugh
for tonight. I've had enough drama, time for laugh
ter.

"Ano'ng papanoorin?" asked Tripp.

I pointed using my lips.

Tumaas naman yung kilay niya. "Hotel Transylvania?

" I nodded and then he sighed. He blew his bangs o
ff his forehead. "Minsan nakakalimutan ko na in lo
ve nga pala ako sa isip bata."

Hinampas ko nga siya! "Kapal mo!"

Tumawa na naman siya tapos sumandal siya sa balika

t ko. Tahimik kaming nanonood sa movie pero 'tong
si Tripp, nakuha pang mag multi-tasking! He braide
d my hair tapos pinaglalaruan yung daliri ko! Kani
na pa niya binibilang. As if naman bigla na lang m
agbabago yung bilang nun, no! 10 pa rin yun!
"Stop it." He was tracing circles on my palm. Nakak
akiliti kaya! "Tripp!"

He pursed his lips, trying to hide his smile. "Ano?

" he said innocently.

I narrowed my eyes and scowled at him. "Nagcoconcen

trate ako sa movie, ano ba."

"E di magconcentrate ka," sabi niya. Ang pilosopo r

in nito!

Hinatak ko yung kamay ko pabalik tapos kinuha ko y

ung isa niyang kamay tapos pinatong ko sa isa niya
ng kamay. "There. Play with your hand, okay?" He k
issed my cheek tapos sumandal ulit sa balikat ko.

"Pagod na pagod na pagod na pagod na pagod ako kan

ina, Zy. Patulog muna, ha?" sabi niya. I adjusted
and let him doze off. Kawawa naman 'tong batang, '
to. Araw araw na lang siyang pagod, napapansin ko
lang. Ano bang ginagawa niya sa trabaho? Nagbubuha
t ba ng hollowblocks 'to?

--

Tuna sandwich or pasta?

I bit my lip while deciding. It's past nine o'cloc
k at gutom na naman ako. Ano bang lulutuin ko? Mid
night snack ba 'to? I'm pigging out! Sobrang takaw
ko feeling ko buntis ako. Well, impossible naman
'yun unless ako si Virgin Mary.

I was busy circling their kitchen ng mapansin ko n

a may invitation na nakapatong sa microwave oven n
ila. Bakit naman nandito 'yun?

Hastily, I opened the envelope and it said na tungk

ol sa annual reunion ng mga Palma.

Oh.

I was busy reading the entire text when someone po

ked me from behind. "Huy," he said. I turned aroun
d and saw Tripp looking dazed. "Anong ginagawa mo
dito?"

I tried to hide the envelope pero nakita niya. He t

ook it from my hand and stared at it.

He puffed a breath and stared at me.

"Will you go with me?" he asked.

"H-ha?"

Slowly, he said, "Sabi ko... pwede bang maging date

kita sa reunion namin?"

I bit my lip again and asked him, "Akala ko ba ayaw

mo?"

He gave me a half shrug and leaned on the marble c

ounter. "Nagkita na naman na kayo ulit ni Drake ka
ya... wala na rin."

"Pero akala ko ba ayaw mong makausap si Drake?" I

asked him. Sobrang bothered ako sa kanila. Sana ma
gkabati na sila. Not for me pero para sa mga saril
i nila. Magpinsan sila, e.

He nodded. "Ayoko nga, pero magkikita at magkikita

kami. Magpinsan kami," he stated.

Although I knew it was not the perfect time, I smi

led at him and diverted the topic. "So... pasta or
sandwich?"
I proceeded to making both of us something to eat
while si Tripp, gumawa ng fresh orange juice. Nata
wa pa nga ako kasi mali yung gamit niya sa juicer,
natalsikan tuloy siya! Medyo tanga rin pala 'to!
Hahaha!

"Tawa pa," sabi niya habang nagpupunas ng mukha.

I stuck out my tongue. "Moron."

He tsk-ed at me and then umalis siya para magbihis.

As I have said, medyo tanga.

After eating, hinatid niya ako sa bahay namin. Goo

d thing the lights are all out. Ayoko ngang magpal
iwanag kay Mom and Dad kung bakit nakadamit ako ng
lalaki, more so naka boxers ako!

"Good night, Marco."

"Good night, Zy. Tulog ka na," he reminded.

I roger-ed at him and ran towards our house.

The following day, I woke up with a heavy head. Ah,

I think I'm gonna be sick!
I literally rolled out of bed and picked up the ph
one. My eyes were swirling and I felt really dizzy
.

With my eyes half closed, I composed a text saying,

"I'm sick. Can't come. Sleep."

I half heartedly scrolled down and when I saw some

thing like Palma on the name, I hit select and sen
d. Oh, screw this headache!

After sending my apologies to Tripp, I crawled bac

k to bed. Inabot ko rin yung remote control nung A
C and turned it off. I'm really gonna get frost bi
te sa sobrang lamig!

I reached for the comforter and rolled and rolled

until I feel like suffocating. Seriously! Bakit sa
lahat ng araw na pwede akong magkasakit, ngayon p
a?!

I feel like a suman. Nakabilot sa akin yung comfort

er. Aaaaah, so comfty!

Smiling, I tried to bring myself back to sleep. Ye

s, Alys. When you wake up, you're gonna feel bette
r, okay?
--

"D-drake?"

My lids were half closed. Who was this guy?

He didn't answer my question, he just kept on check

ing my temperature.

I badly wanted to stand up and shoo his hand away

from my face but my body felt so limp. I can't eve
n lift a finger. Ah, seriously so annoying.

He stared at me, not saying anything. Or so I thoug

ht.

He breathed in and began speaking. "You're sick,"

he stated. "Alys Perez, the thing I hate the most
is making myself pathetic. Do you know that? Of co
urse not. You hardly know anything about me becaus
e you refuse to. Why am I even talking?" he paused
. "Ah. Because right now is the only time I have w
here you will listen to me. Every time I try to sm
ack some sense in to you, you shut me out. You're
so stubborn.

"Why do you hate me so much? Was that because of wh

at I did four years ago?" he asked.

I really, really wanted to say yes. Why did he lea

ve me? Why? But... there's this part inside me tha
t said no. Don't listen, Alys. You're happy now. W
ag mo na siyang pakinggan. He'll ruin everything..
. like what he did to you before.

"Do you want to know?" he asked, again.

He stared at me and caressed my face. He stood up

and got his keys from my nightstand. "Ask me, Alys
. You never really did ask so don't hate me for no
t telling."

And then, I saw his back walking away from me.

Did I just pull his last straw?

*******************************************
[23] -20-
*******************************************
Twitter moi! @beeyotchWP

Meetup on Oct26, MOA with @jonaxx (author of Mapap

ansin Kaya, Baka Sakali, etc!) See you there? x

Chapter 20
"Problema mo?" asked Dane.

Kanina pa nakaalis si Drake and here I am, inuunto

g ang sarili sa pader. Why do I feel freaking guil
ty?! Wala naman akong ginawa, in the first place!

I shook my head and waited for him to place my foo

d on the coffee table. "Porridge?" I asked him. Gu
tom na gutom na ako! Can't he give me something mo
re substancial? As if naman mabubusog ako sa lugaw!

He snickered and shoved the spoon on my hands. "Da

ming arte. Mukha ba akong marunong magluto kasi?"

"E kasi nandyan naman si Manang! Sinabi ko bang ika

w ang magluto?"

Ah, seriously! Anak talaga si Daddy tong si Dane! S

ooooobrang pilosopo!

He stuck his tongue out and smugly walked out the

door. Tignan mo 'tong batang 'to! Akala mo di ako
matanda sa kanya ng four years, a!

I reached for the spoon and started eating. I want

ed to go to the reunion but sadly, hindi ako makap
unta. I feel really sick, idagdag mo pa yung stres
s sa pagpunta ni Drake dito.

"Ah, seriously!"

Do I need to ask him? But why? I'm happy with my l

ife, do I need to complicate things again? Ugh!

"Hey!"

"Hey..."

Aya walked towards me and jumped on my bed. Ang sak

it tuloy lalo ng ulo ko! "Stop jumping!"

She shrugged and rolled on my bed. "Sabi ni Tita D

ana may sakit ka raw," she said. I nodded and cont
inued on eating this thing. Seriously, Dane! Wag n
a wag ka ng tatapak sa kusina.

"Body ache."

"Oooh. So dito ka lang sa bahay?"

I nodded. Instead of going with Tripp, nandito lang
ako sa bahay maghapon. Nice.

Aya beamed and then nilabas niya yung HD niya. "Mov

ie marathon?" I shook my head. "Please?"

I sighed. "Kakanood ko lang kagabi, e. Iba na lang

?" I tried to persuade her. if I would be asked, m
as gusto ko na lang matulog maghapon tapos energiz
ed na ulit bukas! Almost one week na lang bago ang
kasal! Ah, freak!

She pouted and rolled over once again. Isip bata pa

rin! "Boring mo naman, e."

"Sorry naman na may sakit ako."

She stuck her tongue out. What's with people today

? Lahat na lang sila ginagawa nila 'yun, ha.

"Kwentuhan mo na lang ako about Drake! Bilis!"

"Aya!" I reprimanded. Anong feeling niya sa amin n

ila Drake, soap opera? Sinusubaybayan ang bawat pa
ngyayari? Alam ko naman na mahilig sa chismis si A
ya pero... oh, well. Hindi naman ako exception sa
kanya!
"Why?" she said with a puppy look on her face. "Si
ge na, Besh! Nacucurious kasi ako! If ever na matu
tuloy ang kasal nila next week, so... game over na
talaga sa Dralys?"

I frowned at her. Dralys? Really? Wala talagang ma

gawang maganda sa buhay si Aya! Susunod pipilitin
ko na siya na makipag-ayos kay Kent! Masyado na si
yang lalong naging baliw since nagbreak sila, e!

"Ang damot naman nito!" she whined.

Naupo ako sa tabi niya, indian sit and pinitik ko y

ung noo niya. "Ang chismosa mo," I said.

"Can you blame me? Ang interesting kaya ng story n

iyo! Popcorn na lang kulang, pwede ng movie!" sabi
niya with that freaking glow in her eyes.

Grabe, ha, Aya! Di mo talaga ako best friend, e! I

sa lang akong random na babae sa gilid na nagkatao
ng interesado ka sa love life.

"Heh. Shut up."

Umusod ako sa tabi at kinuha ko yung pillow ko at
niyakap ko iyon. Sumiksik naman siya sa tabi ko. A
nnoying Aya!

"Besh... pero seriously, end game na talaga pag ki

nasal sila... unless may peg kang maging mistress?
Susupport pa rin kita! Dralys 'til the end of tim
e!"

Kinuha ko yung unan at saka ko pinukpok sa ulo niy

a. "Aish. Ikaw talaga! Nung isang araw gwapong gwa
po ka kay Tripp, ngayon may pa Dralys forever ka p
a dyan! Undecisive much, Gabriella Pineda?"

Because I said her complete name, natahimik siya.

I only use her name kasi pag seryoso na ako.

She sighed. "Serious na, Alys. Paano na nga?"

I paused. Why do everyone keeps on asking me kung

paano na? It's not as if bigla akong tatakbo para
pigilan si Drake magpakasal! It's not only me... N
andyan na si Tripp, si Cristine. Hindi lang naman
ako yung apektado rito. Everyone will be hurt once
I make a mistake.

"He broke up with me."

"And there has to be a reason," she said.

I smiled at her and tapped the pillow I was holdin

g. Here we go again... that damned reason! Para si
yang box na gusto kong buksan pero natatakot ako s
a makikita ko once na buksan ko siya. There's two
possibilities: either I'll go running back to him
or I'll hate him even more and continue with my li
fe. Both choices has its risks.

"Yeah, there's a reason..."

"Alam mo na ba?" she asked, urgency evident in her

voice.

I shook my head and closed my eyes. "Don't wanna."

"Alys!" she shouted. "Tanungin mo siya!"

"Ayoko," I said without any energy. I'm sick and ti

red and exhausted.

She held my hand and made me look at her. "Ask her

, Alys Zyril Ferrer-Perez. Ask him at kapag ayaw m
o pa rin sa kanya, I'll shut up for life."
"Aya..." my voice trailed off. "Tripp is a good ma
n. Bakit ba hindi pwede na siya na lang, na kami n
a lang?" I asked her.

Everybody wants me with Drake. Drake, Drake, Drake

. Bakit walang nagtatanong kung ano ang gusto ko?
Kung saan ako sasaya? Eh ano naman kung gusto ako
ni Drake? Dapat ba magustuhan ko na rin siya? Wala
na ba akong choice? E di ba buhay ko naman 'to?

She raised both her hands and cupped my face. "Mak

inig ka. You and Tripp= good together. You and Dra
ke= epic together."

I smiled at her. Yeah. We're epic when we're togeth

er. We had our time.

"Now, kakausapin mo na ba siya?" she asked, one mor

e time.

I nodded. "Yes."

Maybe I am finally ready.

She clapped her hands and jumped on the bed, again.

"Yehey! Wait, I'll call him, ha?"
"H-ha?"

She smiled and gave me a 'peace sign.' "He's just

outside! nakasalubong ko kanina nung papasok ako.
Sabi niya you won't talk to him kaya ayan, pinilit
kita. Hehe."

"You traitor!" sabi ko at hinabol ko siya. Tawa na

man siya ng tawa. Really, bakit baliw ang best fri
end ko?

She was panting when we stopped. She raised her ha

nd and motioned me to stop. "Wait, Alys... Akala k
o may sakit ka! Wala naman yata!"

"Traitor!!"

"Heh! Shut up! Tatawagan ko na si other half ng Dra

lys!"

Tumalikod ako at pumasok sa CR. I got a pill from

the bottle and swallowed it. Okay, Perez. Kalma la
ng. After nito, matatahimik ka na... finally.

I stayed for another 2 minutes inside the CR. Wala

na si Aya, I'm sure. If she's still there, sigura
do akong pinasok niya na ako dito sa CR at hinatak
 palabas.

Natatakot akong lumabas... ano ang sasabihin ko pa

g nakita ko si Drake? Hi? Hello? Sorry sa kanina?
Bakit mo ako iniwan?

Too many things left unsaid.

Slowly, I opened the door. Okay, Alys. Everything w

ill be alright.

And he's there, standing by the door frame.

"Drake," I uttered.

He was staring at me, like he's waiting for me to a

sk the damn question.

Why the hell did you leave me before? Ang dali lan
g sabihin pero once na nasabi ko na, there's no tu
rning back. This question will open a hell-hole of
what ifs.

"Talk."
He sighed and took a step forward. "You were too in
-love with me, Alys. That's why."

*******************************************
[24] -21-
*******************************************
Thanks for all the greetings! Love you to the moon
and back! (Drake's ver) Loving you all to the moo
n and back is never enough! (Tripp's ver)

**

Chapter 21

I was there, standing with my mouth hanging open.

Too in loved with him?

"W-what?" That was everything I managed to say.

Shit, Alys. Pull yourself together.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. Hindi ka i

iyak, okay? Kahit isang luha, please, 'wag. Bwisit
ka, Drake! I have tortured myself into thinking n
a kung anumang reason ang meron ka kaya mo ako ini
wan noon, it was all worth it.
Worth every pain, every tears, every slap on the f
ace whenever I think that I'm one lacking woman ka
ya mo ako iniwan.

...and then this. You gave me a crap of a reason. G

ee, thanks!

He wasn't giving away anything. I looked at his fa

ce. He's still Drake. That freaking Drake that alw
ays drives me insane whenever. Hindi ko malaman ku
ng ano ang nasa isip niya, kung ano ang nararamdam
an niya.

He's like a freaking puzzle na hindi ko kayang i-f

igure out! I've tried everything, alam ko! One yea
r. We almost lasted for a year and I swear I've be
en nothing but good to him.

'Alys, okay lang yan. Tahimik talaga si Drake, e.'

Wag mo ng masyadong dibdibin kapag hindi ka niya k
inakausap.'

For years, I've convinced myself na ganyan ka lang

talaga, na kahit sobrang sama mo in your exterior
, inside, you care for me. Pero ano? You're a frea
king downer! Sayang, e! Sayang yung isang taon na
pinaghintay ko sa'yo... Sorry pero pwedeng magmura
? Tangina... sayang.
"Iyon lang 'yun?" I stuttered.

He nodded and continued, "You can't handle being i

n love with me and actually living your life, Alys
."

"Ha... ha... ha."

Mukha na akong tanga, natatawa ako. You did it aga

in, Drake! For two years, nakumbinsi ko yung saril
i ko na hindi na ako mabibigla in case na malaman
ko kung ano nga talaga. Naisip ko na lang ng possi
bility! Na baka dahil kay Tripp kasi ayaw mo na ma
g-away kayo, or baka naman bumalik si Shaira o bak
a naman dahil nga kay Cristine! Matatanggap ko nam
an kung ang dahilan ay dahil sa'yo kasi alam mo, D
rake? Selfish ka.

"Yun na yun?"

He looked at me and nodded, once again.

"Walang complicated shit? Walang masakit sa ulo na

reason? Walang nakakapang dudang excuse? Yun lang
? Just plain 'I can't handle being in love and liv
ing a life' crap? Yun lang?"

Hindi siya lumapit sa akin. He kept his distance.

Those eyes... F-uck there he goes again.

"It's not just that, Alys. I broke up because you'

re like a ticking bomb. Can't you see, you're thro
wing your life for me." His voice was raising a bi
t.

Not once. Not once ko pang nakitang magalit si Dra

ke. He's always calm, always composed, always ahea
d of me. I can't read him, I can't understand him.

I pursed my lips. "You don't get to decide what's g

ood for me."

"At that time, I could. I was your boyfriend when

I decided that I wasn't worth all the shit your pu
lling," he said, still freaking calm!

"I wasn't pulling shits, damn you! Ano na naman ba

'to? Tungkol na naman sa pag-aaral ko?! Hindi ako
matalino, Mr. Genius! Akala mo ba tatalino ako ov
er night dahil iniwan mo ako? Hindi! I dropped out
! Alam mo yun, Drake? Alam mo kung ano yung ginawa
mo sa akin?" I stopped and took a deep breath.

Eto na naman, Alys.

"Boyfriend kita... Ikaw sana yung dapat na nageenc
ourage sa akin na mag-aral. Nasa ibang bansa ako,
I barely knew anyone. Shit I've never felt so alon
e, dun lang. Kahit saan ako lumingon, wala akong k
akilala, wala akong makausap. I felt so lonely, Dr
ake... ang hirap hirap...

"Naalala mo bago ako umalis? Alam mo na sobrang na

ghihintay ako na pigilan mo ako? Isang, 'Alys, don
't go.' Iyan lang naman yung gusto kong marinig sa
'yo... Yan lang, Drake. Three words, 10 letters pe
ro pinagdamot mo pa sa akin... Alam 'yun, Drake? I
was so in loved with you to the point that I'll b
eg my parents na wag akong paalisin. Alam mo 'yun?
Syempre hindi na naman! Ano bang alam mo sa feeli
ngs ko, di ba? E ako lang naman si Alys na nagpumi
lit maging girlfriend mo!"

Shit I can't breathe. All these raw feelings comin

g out, kulang pa lahat ng iyak ko. Kulang pa.

"Now that I've mentioned it, I feel so cheap," i s

aid and then wiped my face with the back of my han
d. "Siguro ganun yung tingin mo sa akin, no? Para
pala akong aso... following you around, barking at
whatever you say, waiting for your command.

"Kaya ba sobra mo na lang ako kung i take for gran

ted, Drake? Kasi alam mo na kahit anong gawin mo,
ay mali pa, na kahit wala kang gawin, nandito lang
ako palagi? Ha? Ganun ba yun?"
Bakit ba ako umiiyak? Ayoko ng umiyak! Ayoko na! T
wo years na yung nawala sa akin, e... Two years ak
ong malungkot, two years yun... Ngayon na akong na
gsisimulang makalimot, to finally let go of the pa
st, to look forward to my future... pero bakit pal
agi na lang may humihila sa akin pabalik? It's lik
e I'm bound to be back to this wrecked relationship!

"Mahal kita."

And then everything froze. Palagi naman. Tuwing ga

nito siya, nawawala ako sa sarili ko... pero ayoko
na, please. Tama na...

He took a step forward, just one. "Are you done, Al

ys?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I'll never be done, Drake. You'll

never hear the end of it."

He gave me a small smile and said, "Good, because

I don't care whatever you say about me as long as
you're talking to me."

Naglakad siya papunta sa akin and he fished for so

mething from his pocket. Nilabas niya yung panyo n
iya and offered it to me. "Stop crying."
Hindi ko tinanggap yung bigay niya and instead, I
pushed him away. Ayoko. This is too close for frea
king comfort.

I walked towards my bed and sat on the edge. "Talk.

"

"I won't talk if you're going to cry everytime I s

ay things. That's not how it's supposed to be, Aly
s. You talk, I listen. I talk, you f-ucking cry. H
ow am I supposed to talk, Alys? I hate making you
cry, damn it!"

There. Sige lang, Drake. Galit ka na ba? Galit din

kasi ako.

He went in front of me and gave me his handkerchief

again.

"Talk," I said again.

"Stop crying."

I looked up and saw his jaw clenched. "You don't g

et to decide for me now, Drake. Hindi na kita boyf
riend."
He nodded. "But I love you just the same as when I
was yours. And Alys, I'm still yours, you just re
fuse to acknowledge. I'm yours, you just hate to a
dmit it."

"Stop," I whispered. "Stop saying you love me, Drak

e. Mahal ko si Tripp."

He sat near me but not beside me.

"You want to know what I feel, right? Hear this: I

'm still f-ucking in love with you, Alys. Always a
m, always will."

I clenched my fists and took heavy breaths while br

acing myself of what's to come.

"Why I didn't ask for you to stay? Because I don't

want you to stay," he said. "You always say how s
elfish I am, alright. I am selfish if wanting what
's best for you is called being selfish. I talked
to your parents. I asked them to let you stay, I t
old them I'll help you. Did you see me that day? A
lys, I never begged for anything in my life. Never
. Not once. But I was there, almost begging for so
mething I know I can't have. I even asked my Dad,
alright. I wanted to follow you around, to be your
dog but I can't. You're my life and he's my fathe
r. I've been a bad son and back then was the time
he needs me most. Little time was all I'm asking for.

"And then I realized why... you've always devoted

your time to me. Am I selfish for wanting you to h
ave a time for yourself?" he turned and looked at
me. "I can do the devotion, Alys. I can give you o
ne hundred percent of my time and attention while
living my life. But you can't. You can't. Alys."

Tears were streaming down my cheeks and I hastily

wiped them with his handkerchief. "Kaya ko..." I w
hispered.

He shook his head. "No, Alys. You just don't know

but I always see whatever you're doing. You just d
on't know it but I'm always watching out for you.
Do you know how you screwed with my brain while I
was watching you throw away your life just for wha
t? Just to follow me around?"

My hand automatically raised and slapped his left

cheek. "F-uck you, Drake! I wasn't following you a
round, I was loving you!"

A hand mark was on his face. It hurt.

"You don't see it the way I see it, Perez. In my ey

es, you're destroying your life."
"You're a destruction, anyway, Drake. You wreck thi
ngs."

He said, "Not you, Alys. Did I wreck you? No. I set

things straight."

"You broke me. That's what you did."

This was the truth. They said that the truth will
set you free pero bakit iba yung nangyari sa akin?
Bakit parang mas nakulong pa ako sa nakaraan ko d
ahil sa nalaman ko?

He caught my hand and held it real tight. "I want

you to love me without the expense of throwing you
r life. I'll do the loving, the following around,
the worshipping, the efforts, everything, Alys."

I closed my eyes and thought of Tripp. "No."

"I'll wait for you, Alys. Just say yes."

He stood up and kissed my forehead.

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad but I asked him, "Wil

l you do it again, Drake? Set things straight? Lea
ve me even if seeing you do that breaks me in half
?"

He turned to face me and said, "I'll do the worshi

pping and devoting, Alys. I'll live the double lif
e. I'll love you while you live your life. I'll do
all the loving. Say yes."

*******************************************
[25] -22-
*******************************************
Chapter 22

"Hey!"

"Ano ba!" I said then hinampas ko si Tofer. Bigla n

aman kasing nanggugulat!

Nagpout pa siya tapos sumandal sa sit niya. Kanina

pa kami dito sa restobar niya at kanina pa rin ak
o nagbubuntong hininga. It's been three days simul
a nung tinanong ako ni Drake... and I haven't slep
t, normally that is. And I feel like a hypocrite k
asi iniiwasan ko rin si Tripp. S-hit I feel so gui
lty!

Para akong nakikipaglaro sa kanilang dalawa... but

I know I shouldn't. Nung sinagot ko si Tripp, sin
igurado ko sa sarili ko na kami na. Walang in betw
eens, walang reason to doubt. I gave myself fully,
committed fully.
"Ano ba kasing problem mo?" asked Tofer.

Oh, Tofie. How I wish I could tell you...

I shook my head and smiled at him instead. "Wala,

stressed lang ako sa kasal ni Drake at Cristine,"
I said. And truthfully, pagod ako dun.

I spent every waking moment planning and arranging

their wedding.

Somewhere inside my head, umaasa ako na sana umuwi

na si Cristine. Please, Cristine, ayusin mo yung
fiance mo. He's making me insane!

"Kapos ka na ba sa pera, Alys?" he asked.

"What?"

He stared at me. "Ang alam ko kasi mayaman ka... b

akit ka pumayag na maging wedding planner ng saril
i mong ex? Kapos sa pera? Or masochist lang talaga
?"
I huffed. Siguro nga masochist ako. Kasi deep insi
de my head, I imagine Drake and Cristine getting m
arried. I imagine na once na makita ko with my two
eyes na kasal na sila, I'd be finally free from t
he shackles of my past. Call me desperate and path
etic but that's just how I am. Seeing him settle d
own with someone will really put an end to all thi
s madness.

Siguro kung ibang babae, I'd feel doubtful. Drake

is a great person, I know. It's just that we had o
ur moment at the wrong time. He loved me a great d
eal. And Cristine? She has all my blessings. She's
wonderful...

"I have my reasons, Tofer. Don't butt in."

Nagpout na naman siya. What a girl!

"Di ba wedding planner ka?" he asked again, I nodde

d. "Pwedeng humingi ng invitation?"

My brow shoot up. "Wala kang invite?"

He shook his head. "Alam mo namang Bonnie and Clyd

e kami ni Drake, e. Hehehe. Isingit mo naman ako s
a guest list!"
Grabe! Now, I'm really getting curiouser than ever
! Ano ba ang ginawa ni Tofer kay Drake para kainis
an siya ni Drake ng ganito?

"Ano muna ang dahilan bakit inis na inis si Drake

sa'yo?" I asked him, fishing for information.

Sobrang tagal ko na kayang gustong malaman yung re

ason! Nasa States pa lang kami, gusto ko ng malama
n but neither Tofer nor Tripp would tell me! Stupi
d bro code!

Bigla namang umiling si Tofer. "Hah. Asa ka pa, Zyr

il."

"Kasi naman! Ano nga?"

Umiling ulit siya.

Tsk. Fine, whatever.

"Fine. No invites for you. Mag gate crash ka na la

ng," I said, nanghihinayang sa information sana!

He shrugged and sipped his milk shake. "Whatever,

Alys. Sure ka bang totoong kasal yan? 'Di kaya sca
m lang yan?"

"Ano?"

Nababaliw na ba siya? Ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng

scam wedding! Ano namang meron sa ganun? And... b
akit magkakaron ng scam wedding si Cristine and Dr
ake if ever na nageexist nga ang scam wedding? Ah,
thoughts!

"To tell you honestly, wala sa pamilya namin ang ma

y alam na ikakasal si Drake..." he said.

"What? Ano? Paliwanag mo naman ng maayos!"

God, ano na naman 'to?! Three days before the wedd

ing tapos parang mababaliw na naman ako!

Tinaas niya ang kamay niya and motioned me to chil

l. "Chill. Kasi po, Miss Perez, I asked my mom and
my dad pati na sila Nana, walang may alam sa kasa
l. Akala nga nila nagjojoke ako e! At alam mo..."
he said, nambitin pa!

"Ano ba ituloy mo! Hilig mambitin!"

Natawa siya ng kaunti sa reaction ko. Gah! Swear, s
asakalin ko na 'tong half half na 'to!

"Sabi ni Nana nung tinanong ko kung ikakasal na ba

si Drake, 'Si Drake? Hindi ko alam, hijo. Ang ala
m ko lang e sabi ni Steve e hinihintay yung girlfr
iend niyang nag-aaral sa ibang bansa.' Di ba! Di b
a! Naku! Buti talaga wala si Tripp nung nagtanong
ako kay Nana, kung hindi magkaka world war 2 na na
man sa Palma family!"

Okay, wait.

No, Alys. Hindi lang ikaw ang nag-aral sa ibang ban

sa. Don't assume.

But damn! Wag ka na ngang stupid, Alys! Halata nam

an na ikaw yung tinutukoy ni Drake! Ugh! Drake and
his crooked world!

"I'll really kill him!"

Tofer tsk-ed at me. "Akala ko talaga si Shaira na

yung pinaka pag-aawayan nila. Ikaw pala! Grabe, Al
ys! Penge naman ng kagandahan!"

Napatigil ako. "What? Kagandahan?"

Oh, no, Tofer. Please wag ka ng dumagdag. Isantabi
muna natin yung pagiging curious ko sa totoo mong
sexual orientation.

--

After talking to Tofer, lumabas ako agad at pumunt

a sa hotel room na pinareserve ko para sa mga gami
t ni Cristine. Medyo malayo 'to since sabi ni Cris
tine sa akin, gusto raw niya ng beach wedding. I d
rove for hours. I opted to drive para mablanko yun
g isip ko. Puro na lang si Drake at si Tripp ang n
aiisip ko. It's really getting out of hand.

Pagkadating ko sa hotel room sa Batangas, pumasok

ako sa comfort room and stayed there for a while.
I don't know why but I find staying inside the com
fort room very comforting. I just sat down and thi
nk.

My phone kept on ringing. Tumatawag si Tripp.

You're such a bad girl, Alys. Pano mo nagagawang l

okohin si Tripp? You had the audacity to lie at hi
s face over and over again. Yet nakukuha mo pang s
abihin na mahal mo siya. Just... you're a freaking
coward.

With trembing hands, I picked up the phone.

"Tripp..."

("Zy?")

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." I sobbed.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako umiiyak. I feel so te

rrible. Ayokong saktan si Tripp, ayoko. Pero...

"Tripp, I'm so sorry... Mahal kita, okay?"

("Ano? Hindi---")

I ended the line before I could pour my soul. Ayok

ong pag-usapan yung mga ganitong bagay sa telepono
. I'd rather face him and tell him about my lies.
He's Tripp. He's my Tripp. I'd rather look like a
terrible person and tell him everything than to fe
ed him with my lies. He doesn't deserve any of thi
s. Sobrang bait ni Tripp. I'd rather break Drake's
heart than Tripp's. I just... I just can't afford.

And I hate explaining and thinking and hurting. I

hate everything that's happening right now. Hindi
ba pwedeng magrewind na lang nung wala pa akong pr
oblema?

I was about to come out of my comfort zone ng makar

inig ako ng boses.

"Gah! I missed Philippines! Di kita namiss, Drake!

Panget mo pa rin!"

Napahinto ako sa pagbubukas ng pinto. Si Cristine.

At si Drake.

I carefully closed the knob and stayed near the doo

r, listening to every word they say.

"Stupid."

"Heh! Stupid ka jan! Ikaw na nga 'tong ginawan ko

ng favor, e! Alam mo bang ayokong nagpupunta sa Ca
nada but for you!! Kainis ka!"

My heart was beating fast twice than its normal ra

te. Bakit ba ako nagtatago dito? Pwede naman akong
lumabas.

"Then you should've gone to other place. Stupid."

"Hmp! Ikaw na nga ginawan ng favor! Ingrate!"

"Tattletale."

"Bastard."

"Flirt."

"Hindi a!"

"Shut up."

"Weh! Oo nga pala may nakilala ako dun, si Fier. H

ihi ang ganda niya! I invited her nga na magvacay
sa Philippines. Gusto mo rin siya ifriend para dal
awa na kaming friend mo?"

"No. Shut up, that would be better."

"Meh. Sungit! Oh, eto na ba yung gown? Ang pretty

niya! For sure malalaglag mata mo kay Alys nito!"
Wait what?

"She's always beautiful."

"Nuxx! Improving! Di ka na stoic, medyo na lang!" T

hen I heard her laugh.

Please, please. Ano ba ang nangyayari? I wanted to

crawl out and ask them but I can't... Natatakot a
ko sa pwede kong marinig. All these things... Damn
it all makes sense.

The gown...

The place...

Na hindi alam na ikakasal siya kay Cristine...

Na akala nila ako pa rin ang girlfriend...

All the chasing and the screaming...

Damn.
"Hay, Drake. I just wish na hindi mag backfire yun
g plano mo. I've done my part and you did your beg
ging. Now, it's up to Alys. If she'll say yes. And
I do hope she'll say yes."

*******************************************
[26] -23-
*******************************************
Tweet me your reaction! Panigurado wild yan! Hahah
a! @beeyotchWP :DDD Sana 500 comments or more! Mag
uupdate ako bukas por syor pag ganun :D

-23-

I can't believe it.

"Kailan ang proposal?" Cristine asked him.

May gana pa silang mag-usap habang ako rito, hindi

ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Pano nila sa'kin 'to n
agawa? All along akala ko okay na, akala ko kaibig
an ko si Cristine... akala ko alam ko na yung laha
t... Puro lang pala ako akala.

Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang hinihintay kong su

magot si Drake. Damn this life! Mahigit isang buwa
n pa lang simula ng bumalik ako pero puro na agad
problema ang dinadanas ko rito! Sana pala hindi na
lang ako bumalik!

"The day before the wedding..." said Drake.

I was frantically sobbing with everything. Ayoko na

, please...

"Hmm, okay. What if hindi siya pumayag?"

"She will."

"Nuxx the confidence, ha! Go, Drake!"

"Tss."

Hinintay ko silang umalis. Ako? Mind-f-ucked. Hind

i ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko... Magpopropose
siya sa akin! My god! Ano ang gagawin ko?!

Breathing in and out, I calmed myself.

"Think, Alys." I washed myself and then stared at t

he mirror. "End this madness, Alys."

Pagkatapos kong kalmahin ang sarili ko at maghanap

ng mabibilhan ng tubig, umalis na ako. Mabuti na
lang pala na dala ko yung sunglasses ko kasi baka
pagtinginan ako ng mga tao rito. My eyes looked fr
eaking bloodshot! Mukha akong umiyak ng umiyak. Pa
ti yung ilong ko ay namumula.

The drive was long and winding, mabuti na lang tal

aga at narerelax ako kapag nagddrive ako kung hind
i baka binunggo ko na lang 'tong sasakyan ko sa pu
no at humiling sa Diyos na magka amnesia sana ako!
God, I'd give anything para makalimutan ko lahat
ng alam ko ngayon!

Pagbalik ko sa Manila, dumiretso agad ako kay Trip

p. Ayoko ng magsinungaling. Ayoko na. Pakiramdam k
o anytime sasabog na ako!

"Tripp..." I said. Nandito ako ngayon sa office ni

ya. Mabuti na lang at lunch break ng secretary niy
a, ayokong marinig niya pa ang pag-uusapan namin.
I know this will go down dirty.

He looked at me, shocked.

"Bakit ka umiiyak?!" he said and then lumapit siya

sa akin, wiping the tears. "Umupo ka nga," sabi n
iya tapos dinala niya ako sa swivel chair niya.
"Tripp..."

That was all I can say. Puro Tripp, puro sobs. Hin
di ko alam kung san ako magsisimula. Natatakot ako
na baka pagkatapos nito, talikuran niya ako. Ayok
o ng secrets. God knows how much I despise secrets
! Alam ko na 'yun ang dahilan kaya nasisira ang re
lationships... Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit kami na
sira ni Drake. Ayokong mangyari rin sa amin ni Tri
pp iyon... We're better than that.

Umalis siya at iniwan ako.

God! Ngayon pa lang naiimagine ko na na ganun yung

gagawin niya once na malaman niya yung mga nangya
yari! Paano pa kaya kapag nangyayari na talaga? Ka
pag nasa harap ko na mismo siya, na nagagalit sa a
kin kasi all along nagsinungaling ako sa kanya?

Bumalik siya na may dalang bottled water at inabot

niya sa akin.

"Uminom ka muna," sabi niya tapos binuksan niya yu

ng cap ng tubig at pinainom ako. He was caressing
my back while watching me drink. God, I'm so stupi
d! Ito ba yung relationship na gusto ni Drake na b
aliwalain ko para lang sa kanya?!
After drinking the water, he cupped my face and loo
ked at me worriedly. "Okay ka na ba?"

I was still sobbing but nothing beyond control. I

nodded and another tear fell from my stupid eye.

"Y-yeah..."

He nodded and then hinawakan niya yung kamay ko. "

Okay. Bakit ka umiiyak, Zyril?" he asked, still wo
rried.

Mas hinawakan ko yung kamay niya and stared at him

with my most pained expression. "I'm sorry..."

His eyes trembled with fear sa narinig niya sa akin

. I guess he'd seen this coming, too.

"Kanina ka pa nagsosorry." He sighed. "Tell me, may

problema ba tayo?"

I'd trade anything para sabihin na 'no, wala tayon

g problema.' But who am I trying to kid? May probl
ema kami! And the longer I prolong this, the messi
er this will be.
"Wag kang magagalit, okay?" I cooed him.

He took a deep breathe and closed his eyes briefly.

"Tungkol na naman kay Drake?"

I nodded. God, this is hurting already!

"Please, makinig ka muna, ha?" I said softly. "I..

. I heard na magpopropose siya sa akin..."

"ANO?!" sabi niya tapos napatayo siya. "Ano'ng sabi

mo?"

And then as if on cue, naiyak na naman ako...

"K-kasi... n-naalala mo y-yung wedding nila n-ni C

ristine? Sa... para sa amin pala yun... Sorry, Tri
pp! Hindi ko talaga alam!"

He was pacing back and forth while massaging his t

emple. And then nagulat ako ng bigla niyang ihagis
yung phone sa lamesa niya.

"I'll kill him! Shit talaga siya!"

Tumayo ako agad at niyakap siya mula sa likod.

"Wag ka ng magalit, please..."

"What the fuck, Alys?! Hindi pa ba ako dapat magal

it sa lagay na 'to?! Magpopropose siya sa girlfrie
nd ko! Sa girlfriend ko! Alin ba sa sentence na yu
n ang hindi malinaw?!"

Mas lalo kong hinigpitan ang yakap ko sa kanya. Na

tatakot ako... ngayon ko lang nakita si Tripp na g
anito... Nanginginig siya sa sobrang galit. Nakita
ko rin na dumudugo yung labi niya.

"Hindi naman ako papayag, e! Alam mo naman na ikaw

ang mahal ko..."

Unti unti niyang tinanggal yung kamay ko na nakayak

ap sa kanya.

Humarap siya at hinawakan yung mukha ko.

"Alam kong mahal mo ako, Alys. Pero tatanungin kita

... ako lang ba ang mahal mo?"
Tumango ako agad. "Ikaw lang ang mahal ko. Ano ba n
amang tanong yan!"

Bigla niyang tinanggal yung kamay sa mukha ko at t

inalikuran ako. "Shit. Bakit ganun, Alys? Kahit il
ang beses ko na marinig na ako lang yung mahal mo,
iniisip ko pa rin na ako lang yung panakip butas
kasi wala si Drake... na ngayon na nandyan na nama
n siya, bigla mo na lang akong iiwan?"

"Tripp naman..."

"Bakit kasi ganito ako? Alam ko naman, Alys. Kumpa

ra sa meron sa inyo ni Drake, walang wala ako. Hin
di naman ako yung pinagkabaliwan mo. Parang pilit
lang naman tayo, di ba? Hinabol kita sa loob ng da
lawang taon. It was all hardwork, walang free fall
ing. Siguro kahit kailan hindi natin mapapantayan
yung kung ano yung meron kayo ni Drake, no?"

I slapped him. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Naiinis ak

o sa lahat ng sinasabi niya.

"Ano ba naman, Tripp! Nandito ako, okay? Pilit kon

g inaayos pero ikaw ganyan ang iniisip mo?!"

Hinawakan niya yung pisngi niya na sinampal ko. "D

amn, masakit yung sampal mo pero mas masakit pa ri
n yung nararamdaman ko, Alys." Hinawakan niya yung
 dibdib niya at tumingin sa akin. "Ang sakit pala.
.. Yung kahit anong habol ang gawin mo, kahit anon
g sabi niya ng mahal ka niya, alam mo na hindi pa
rin... kasi nandyan yung nauna."

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinampas siya. "Bwisit ka!

Ano pa ba, ha?! Umiiyak na ako, oh! Kung wala ako
ng pakielam sa'yo, sa atin, e di sana nagpakasal n
a lang ako kay Drake! Ano pa ba, Marco! Ha?! Ano p
a ba?!"

Tumingin siya sa akin.

"Pakasalan mo ako, Alys. Pakasalan mo ako para mata

himik na ako."

*******************************************
[27] -24-
*******************************************
Tweet niyo with #DAP24 hashtag para makita ko! Kahi
t wag niyo na ako itag :)) @beeyotchWP

Enjoy reading!

Chapter 24

"A-ano?"

Isang minuto akong hindi nakapagsalita.

Marry him?

He looked at me, bit his already bleeding lip and

nodded. "Oo, Alys. Pakasalan mo ako. Mahal mo ako,
di ba?"

"Tripp..." I trailed off. God! Hindi ko alam kung

ano ang sasabihin ko. Oo, mahal ko siya pero hindi
ba masyado siyang nagpapadalos dalos sa sinasabi
niya? Bakit ba niya ako gustung pakasalan? Kasi th
reatened siya kay Drake? What kind of a pompous re
ason was that?!

He smirked at tinalikuran ako. Inilagay niya yung

mga kamay niya sa batok niya. "So dito rin pala ta
yo babagsak, Alys. Drake pa rin."

"Stop it!" sigaw ko sa kanya. "Bakit ba puro ka Dr

ake?! Nandito na nga ako, di ba?! Nagpapaliwanag n
a ako and yet you're being an ass!"

Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. God, what's happening?!

Nasan na yung Tripp na kilala ko? Yung Tripp na ta
himik lang?

"Ass, Alys? Siguro naman may karapatan akong magin

g ass, di ba? Shit, Alys. 2 years. 2 years akong n
aghabol sa'yo. Tapos nung sa wakas nahabol kita, 2
 years naman akong nanghula kung ako na ba talaga.
Shit, Alys. 4 years na akong nababaliw! Siguro na
man may karapatan akong maging gago kahit minsan!"

Hinablot ko yung tubig na iniinom ko kanina at ini

nom. Ano ba! Kasalanan 'tong lahat ni Drake!

"Ako? Hindi mo ba naisip kung gano ako nag effort

na ipakita sa'yo na ikaw na, ha?! Palibasa puro in
securities mo ang nakikita mo! Pano naman ako?!"

Tumalikod siya sa akin pero nararamdaman ko na umi

iyak siya. God, he's shaking. Damn, Alys! You're h
urting him!

I wanted to come near him and console him... but I

can't. Not now. Sobrang gulo naming dalawa. Sigur
o dahil na rin ngayon lang lumalabas lahat ng issu
e namin. Akala ko talaga perfect kami sa isa't isa
kasi alam mo yun? Hindi kami nag-aaway. We're alw
ays together, always agreeing on the same things.
Pero yun pala, pareho lang kaming in denial. Gusto
namin ng perfect relationship kaya pilit naming i
niiwasan yung issue... si Drake.

And guess what? Hindi niya kami tinigilan.

"Alys, iwan mo muna ako," he said after a few secon

ds.
"Ayoko."

"Please."

Lumapit ako sa kanya at ipinatong ko sa balikat niy

a yung kamay ko. "Tripp naman..."

Nagulat ako ng hawiin niya yung kamay ko. Damn. Ma

sakit pala talagang itulak ka palayo ng taong gust
o mong lapitan. Nakakabaliw pala talaga.

"Umalis ka muna, Alys. Mag-aaway lang tayo kung hin

di mo ako iiwan."

Huminga ako ng malalim bago tumango.

"Okay," I said. "Pero babalik ako, Tripp. Hindi pa

tayo tapos mag-usap."

Lumabas ako sa opisina niya at nakita ko ang secre

tary niya na nakatingin sa akin. Siguro narinig ni
ya ang sigawan namin, siguro nagulat siya na sumis
igaw si Tripp. Kahit naman ako nagulat din. Ngayon
lang... ngayon ko lang siya nakita na ganyan kaga
lit, na sa sobrang galit niya, naiyak na siya.
Bakit ayaw niyang makita ko siyang umiiyak? Mas ma
sakit, e. Sana naman ipakita niya sa akin na nasas
aktan siya kasi ako nasasaktan din ako. Sana naman
alam niya yun. Hindi lang naman siya yung nahihir
apan, ako rin naman. Hindi lang naman siya yung na
gmamahal, ako rin naman.

Pumasok ako sa sasakyan ko at umiyak.

Gusto ko na lang matapos lahat ng 'to. Ayoko na. G

usto ko lang naman ng simpleng buhay, ayoko ng gan
ito. Parang araw araw na lang may nangyayari. Mins
an natatakot na akong gumising kasi tuwi na lang g
igising ako, may masamang nangyayari.

Pero ako rin naman ang dapat sisihin. Sinimulan ko

'to. Gaga ka rin kasi, Alys. Ginusto mong maging
boyfriend si Drake Palma, sana inalam mo lahat ng
kasunod.

From: +639161905***

Let's talk.

Ipinikit ko ang mata ko at huminga ng malalim.

"Ssh, Alys. Kalma," sabi ko sa sarili ko habang pi

lit kong iniaalis ang panginginig sa kamay ko.
To: +639161905***

Let's end this madness.

Pagkatapos kong i-send sa kanya 'yun, nagdrive na

ako papunta sa kung san nagsimula ang lahat.

--

"Drake, just... just stop this."

Iyan agad ang una kong sinabi sa kanya pagkakitang

pagkakita ko sa kanya.

Nakatingin siya sa akin na para bang alam na niya

kung ano ang mangyayari. Sa bagay, alam niya naman
siguro. Sumugal siya sa akin. Gusto niyang magpro
pose kahit alam niya na kami ng pinsan niya. Akala
niya, sigurado akong taya. Pero nagkakamali ka, D
rake. Tapos na tayo. 'Nung sinabi ko sa'yo dati na
sa oras na sumakay ka sa taxi na 'yun ay tapos na
tayo, hindi ako nagsisinungaling.

Ayoko na.

Puro ka pahirap.
"What?" That was all he said.

"This. The chasing and the begging and the hurting

. Please, ayoko na. Seryoso, Drake, tama na..." I
said, almost begging.

I never begged... just once. Sa kanya. Tapos ngayo

n, sa kanya ulit. Wow. Ito pala ang napapala sa pa
gmamahal sa kanya, puro pagmamakaawa.

He shook his head. "I won't stop."

"Ayoko na nga e!"

"I don't believe you."

Umiyak na ako sa harapan niya. Frustration. Inis.

Galit. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ba ang dapat kong
maramdaman. Hindi na siya yung Drake na kilala ko
. Yung Drake na kilala ko, hindi ako papahirapan n
g ganito...

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinawakan yung kamay niya.

"Drake, kung mahal mo talaga ako, please, tama na
..."
Hinawakan niya rin ang kamay ko at tumingin sa mga
mata ko. "I wish I can... but I can't... and I do
n't want to."

Unti unti na akong nawawalan ng pag-asa. Hindi niy

a ako titigilan at hindi rin naman ako papayag na
ganito na lang kami ng ganito. Pagod na ako. Pagod
na pagod.

Iniangat ko ang kamay ko at sinampal ko siya.

"Stop begging, Drake! Kahit na magmakaawa ka, kahi

t na lumuhod ka sa harapan ko, wala akong maibibig
ay sa'yo. Wala na, narinig mo? Binigay ko na lahat
kay Tripp!"

Nakahawak siya sa mukha niya na sinampal ko at hin

di pa rin siya nakaharap sa akin. Unti unti siyang
humarap at nakita ko ang galit sa mga mata niya.

"You think I like begging, Alys? You think I like

making a fool out of myself?" Umiling siya. "No, A
lys. I don't like. Ayoko. You're tired? Damn, I'm
more tired than you are! You're always saying how
I broke you but did you ever think about me? About
what I feel? Damn, Alys. You have no fucking idea
what happened to me.
"I left you, yes. Tangina, Alys, alam na alam ko.
Every fucking night I remember the look on your fa
ce when I left you. Shit, I always picture you bre
aking down and begging me not to go. Do you have a
ny idea, Alys? Every. Fucking. Night. Your face ha
unts me every night. Tangina hindi mo alam kung ga
no ko gustong pumunta sa New York at magsorry sa'y
o. Shit, Alys.

"But of course you don't have any idea. Who am I a

nyway? I'm just Drake. The guy you loved, the guy
who could do without you. I'm just that, right? Bu
t do you fucking know that I'm also the guy who cr
ied when he knew you're with his cousin? Damn it,
Alys. My Dad hated you for what you did to me. You
never saw me, Perez. You never did.

"It's always about you. The way I hurt you, the wa

y you suffered. But what about me? I had no friend
s, Alys. I had no one. You have Tripp and Tofer. I
didn't have anyone. You think that's fair? Tangin
a, hindi. Ang daya mo. You were living your life h
ating me while I was here living mine while wishin
g you'd come back to me.

"And now you're saying that I'm pathetic? Then yes

I am! I'd spent the last four years being patheti
c over you, Alys. Four years. What more if I'll be
pathetic for the next two days?"

I was sobbing so hard. Hindi ko na alam. Ang gulo g

ulo na... Ayaw ko na... Please, tama na...
He put out a box and handed it to me. "Come and ma
rry me or lose me forever. I'll be pathetic for th
e last time."

And then he left me, with my heart and mind broken.

*******************************************
[28] -25
*******************************************
PLAY THE SONG ON THE SIDE! Para mas mafeel niyo :)
And #DAP25 okay? Congrats dahil nagtrend kahapon
ang #DAP24! :) Love lots!

Enjoy reading!

--

Chapter 25

Ayoko na.

I was left there with my mind bleeding. Lose him f

orever? Hindi pa ba yun ang nangyari nung iwan niy
a ako dati? Ano ba yung dati? Lose him temporarily
and then have him once again the moment I got my
life back? Ano ako? Laruan lang na kukunin once na
maayos na? Hindi ba ako tao? Wala ba akong feelin
gs na nasasaktan?

Umupo ako sa harap ng sasakyan ko at tahimik na um

iyak. Damn. Ganito na lang ba palagi? Iiyak na lan
g ng iiyak?

Hinihintay kong umalis si Drake pero nandyan pa ri

n siya. Hanggang pag-iyak ba naman hindi niya ako
titigilan?!

I walked up to him and knocked on his window. "Leav

e me alone."

"Go in your car. It's dark already."

"Wag mo nga akong pakielaman! Hindi mo ako girlfri

end, okay?! Wala kang responsibility sa akin!"

He nodded and then ignited his car. "Fine, Alys. Pu

sh me away until I really give up."

And then really, he left me. And damn, I think it's

for good.

Napaupo na lang ako at umiyak ng umiyak. All those

people staring at me like I'm crazy. Yes, I think
I'm going crazy. I freaking received two proposal
s in a day! And I don't think kaya kong sumagot sa
kanilang dalawa! Damn they wanna marry me for all
the wrong reasons. Ano ba ako sa kanilang dalawa?
Prize sa laro nila na pataasan ng pride?
"Damn this life," I said habang naglalakad pabalik
sa sasakyan ko.

Dumiretso ako sa bahay at hindi ko kinausap kahit

sino. It's been a long day. Gusto ko na lang matul
og at kalimutan lahat. Sobrang sakit na ng nararam
daman ko...

Hindi ko naman ginusto ang lahat ng 'to. God knows

I just want to be happy. I want me to be happy, I
want Tripp to be happy, and I certainly want Drak
e to be happy... pero bakit parang ang hirap hirap
naman abutin ng gusto ko? Is it that impossible t
o be happy without the expense of hurting anyone?
Sobrang far fetched na ba ng pangarap ko?

I stared at the ceiling, wondering why my life has

been like this. Has been... this wrecked.

Maybe because I've been damn too selfish. Tama nam

an si Drake, puro ako na lang yung iniisip ko. Per
o masisisi niya ba ako? He hurt me too much! Too d
amn much that I can't even bear thinking about his
pain because my own pain was too much for me to h
andle. 'Yung sakit na binigay niya sa akin sobra p
a sa sobra... hindi ko na yata kakayanin kung iisi
pin ko pa yung nararamdaman niya.

And Tripp... God, Tripp! I've given you my time an

d devotion. Kulang pa ba yung dalawang taon? I've
been nursing this relationship pero ikaw, hindi ka
pa rin kuntento. Can't you see how much I've give
n? Two years, Tripp. Two years 'yun hindi lang dal
awang araw.

I was in the middle of crying when my Mom entered m

y room.

"Alys!" she said the moment she saw my tear-staine

d face. She came near me and enveloped me in a hug
. I cried in her arms. Ayoko na, Mommy... Ang hira
p hirap na... Sobrang sakit na... "Oh, my baby..."
she said as she cooed me.

"Mom... ang sakit sakit na..."

"Ssh, baby. Everything will be fine, all right?"

How I wish, mommy. Sana in a snap of a finger, mag

ing okay na ang lahat. Sana maging okay na kami ka
si damn, sobrang hirap ng ganito. Para kaming nagl
alaro kahit na alam namin na sa huli, may isa pa r
in na matatalo. We're staking our all, our everyth
ing.

She hugged me and whispered comforting words. I wi

sh I could just stay here and be with my mom. I do
n't want to go outside and face the world. Call me
coward but it just hurt damn too much. I care for
 them both... and seeing them do this to me hurts
me way more.

"What happened, Alys?" she asked me.

"Mom..." I trailed off. I didn't even know where I

'd start. I didn't even know how to tell it. In an
y way, alam kong may magmumukhang masama, may magm
umukhang selfish. Bakit ba kasi ganito magmahal? P
alagi na lang may nasasaktan.

She caressed my hair and told me, "Is this about th

e cousins?"

I nodded.

"Oh, baby. Just follow your heart. It's love, it's

gamble. May masasaktan at may masasaktan, Alys. Y
ou have to make your choice, place your bet becaus
e if not, you're gonna lose them both and hurt the
m both..."

Tears came down running. Was it too much for wantin

g not to hurt anyone?

"I can't. I just can't."

She smiled down at me and cupped my face. "It's a
big world you're living in, honey. Be brave or los
e it all."

Mom kissed my forehead and tucked me into bed. I d

idn't choose... The stake was just too high.

The night passed by a blur. I woke up with my hear

t feeling crushed and pounded. Pictures of Tripp b
eing mad and Drake shouting and cussing embraced m
y morning.

"Morning," my brother greeted me. "Nandyan si Tripp

tsaka si Drake."

"A-ano?"

He pointed to the receiving room. "Kanina pa sila d

un."

I went to the sink and grabbed a glass and filled

it with water. Here it was, again. Will I cry agai
n? Ngayon na naman? Hindi ba pwedeng time-out muna
? Pahinga muna? Sobrang sakit na ng puso ko.

Kulang na lang gumapang ako papunta sa sala. Ayoko

ng humarap sa kanila. The pain yesterday was alrea
dy destroying everything I've got. Ano pa ba ang g
usto nila? Did they really think I'll choose?

"Alys..." they both said.

I took a deep breath and then raised my hand. "You

two... just stop. Bigyan niyo naman ako ng pahing
a."

And then I caught a glimpse of Tripp's face. He ha

d a cut on his lip and a fresh bruise on his face.
"Tripp!" I immediately went near him and nursed h
is face. "Ano'ng nangyari sa'yo?" I asked him worr
iedly. I caught him looking at Drake and smirking
at him. Damn. Competition ba talaga ako sa kanilan
g dalawa?

He placed his hand on top of mine and held it. "Pi

noprotektahan ko lang kung ano ang akin," he said
while looking at Drake.

I looked at Drake who was staring at me with inten

sity. Drake... you're just too stubborn for your o
wn good. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?"

He was staring at me like... like he's emotionless

. Those pair of cold eyes piercing into my very so
ul. Shit, Drake. Why do I feel like I'm killing yo
u right now?
"I just wonder how it would feel like... you atten
ding to him when I'm just as equally hurt," he sai
d and then continued looking stoic. "I thought it
would hurt like hell. But Alys, I feel nothing. Yo
u made me numb."

I felt like a glass shattering. It felt surreal...

the pain felt surreal. It's too much.

Tripp's hold tightened, na para bang pinipigilan n

iya ako sa kung anuman yung posible kong maramdama
n. Bakit, Tripp? He's your cousin and we're destro
ying everything that's left of him! Hindi ba pwede
ng ceasefire muna? Can't we just please, just this
once, understand that more than us, he's hurting.

"Wag, Alys..." he whispered. I was about to go to

Drake but he trapped me in his arms. "Dito ka lang
sa'kin, please."

I looked at him, begging na kahit ngayon lang paya

gan niya naman ako. All these years siya lang ang
inalala ko. Feelings niya, siya... God, he's been
always my top priority. Ngayon lang, Tripp. Seeing
him slowly breaking was killing me.

"Tripp naman..." I said with my voice breaking.

He shook his head. "Kahit naman ngayon ipakita mo
sa kanya na ako na 'yung priority, Alys. Buong buh
ay ko palagi na lang akong pangalawa. Ngayon lang,
oh. Kahit ngayon lang sana mauna naman ako. Sana
yung nararamdaman ko naman yung mauna."

I bit my lip to prevent the sob from escaping my l

ips. What have become of my life? I'm really torn.
I didn't wish for any of this... sobrang hirap na
alam mo na kahit ano ang piliin mo, may isa sa ka
nila na masasaktan. Their bet was on me... and the
y've risk everything and yet here am I, still on t
he verge on just turning my back and walking away,
regret on the plate.

Drake was still staring without any hint of emotio

n. He's like a broken toy. We've broken him. I kne
w we did but now? Now... he's like beyond repair.

"Tripp, palagi ka namang una sa akin, di ba?" I he

ld his hand. "Ngayon lang, oh. Please, kakausapin
ko lang si Drake..." I pleaded and pleaded.

His grip tightened and his jaw clenched.

"Alys alam kong mahal mo ako," he said and then cl

osed his eyes. A tear escaped and fell. Damn, Trip
p. "Shit alam ko rin naman na mahal mo pa si Drake
..." His voice broke and he's crying really hard.
"Pero Alys sana naman ipakita mo na mas mahal mo a
ko. Okay na sa akin na dalawa kaming mahal mo, e..
. Pero please naman sana lamang ako. Kahit konti l
ang. Kahit kaunti lang talaga."

I was there, literally watching two men cry becaus

e of me. It wasn't anything fairytale like. Damn t
his was torture.

"Alys..." Tripp said and then enclosed my hands ins

ide his. "Please, ako naman."

Drake finally snapped out of his reverie. He looke

d at me and then smiled. "I can't do this anymore,
Alys. I give up."

And then he turned his back on us... for good.

*******************************************
[29] -26-
*******************************************
This chapter is dedicated to Lynne, Ruan, Ate Roch
elle, Ate Les, Cha, Karen, and Ailah... (sila lang
nakita ko mianhe sa nakalimutan ko) and to my loy
al readers/friends for defending my honor (LMAO BI
G WORD!) against frogs :D Thanks, girlfriends!

Here's the chapter! xx #DAP26

Chapter 26
Cristine's POV

Haaaay, I'm so darn tired! Kainis naman kasi si mo

mmy, alam niya naman na fake lang yung wedding nam
in ni Drake pero kung mag-act siya akala mo naman
totoo na 'yun! She even bought a dress for the wed
ding! Seriously, mom, you're making me go insane!

I sat down on the couch and rested my head. "Ayoko

na," I said and then pouted.

Just when I was already beginning to relax and fin

ally feel the comfort of my own house, my phone ra
ng.

"Hello?" I said.

("Cristine!")

I pulled the phone away from my ears and tinignan

ko yung caller ID. Hmmm it's not registered naman
sa phone ko. Sino kaya 'to?

My brows were curling as I asked her the question..

. "Uhm, who's this?"
("Fier, you biatch!")

OMG OMG! Si Fier!

Tumayo ako and jumped around the house! Buti na la

ng wala si mommy because I'm sure she'll shout at
me na naman! Ayaw niya kasi na tumatalon ako, so u
nlady like raw!

"OMG! You're here in the Philippines na?" I asked

even though obvious naman na nandito na nga siya.
Nagkakilala kasi kami ni Fier way back pa when she
was studying here in the Philippines. She's half
Filipino, half Spanish kaya sobrang pretty niya!

She laughed at me. Huhu palagi na lang! She always

calls me stupid. Bad Fier!

("Obviously, honey. Anyway, I'll go to your house

tomorrow, okay? My brothers ditched me!") she prot
ested. Hay nako! Hindi pa rin nagbabago ang twins!
Pasaway as ever pa rin!

I was about to say yes kaya lang naalala ko na wed

ding na nga pala bukas! Syempre as Drake's only fr
iend dapat nandun ako! Speaking of which, di ko pa
nacocontact si Drake! Ano kayang nangyari sa snob
na yun?
"Oh, no, Fier... may pupuntahan kasi ako tomorrow.
Can we like resched or something?"

("Hmmm where? I'll come with you na lang. I'm so b

ored! Walang tao sa bahay kung hindi maids, tapos
si Chance at River nambababae! Grabe talaga!")

I chuckled at her. Nako, Fier Sandoval, ang cute n

iya pa rin! Omg ipapakilala ko nga pala siya kay D
rake! I know naman na Drake will snob her (lahat n
aman ng ipinakilala ko sa kanya ni hindi siya nags
mile e) pero for the heck of it, I'll introduce Fi
er na rin.

Sighing, I agreed. "Fine, but wedding yung pupunta

han natin. No pasaway business!" I reminded her. O
nce kasi nagpunta siya sa wedding ng long time cru
sh niya wearing black dress! Omg talaga yun feelin
g ko mamamatay ako sa kahihiyan e cousin ko pa nam
an yung guy! Di ko naman akalain na ganun ang gaga
win ni Fier! By invite lang kasi yung wedding and
I added her as my plus one then... huhuhu hindi na
ako nakaharap nun kay Kuya Luke simula nun.

She laughed. Nako, pasaway talaga! ("Alright, honey

. Sige, I'll sleep na! Good night.")

After talking to her, I ate my dinner na. Wala pa

rin si mommy, mabuti naman. I'd hate for her to ma
ke sermon na naman about Drake and me! Kasi naman
di ba niya magets na 'US' is almost impossible? Li
ke dang, Drake's head over heels kay Alys! Kaya ng
a walang kwenta efforts ko na palawakin ang social
circle ni Drake. Nako puro Alys Alys Alys. Feel k
o tuloy kilala ko na si Alys kasi pag si Alys lang
ang topic tsaka sisipagin magsalita si Mr. Palma.
Naku!

"Miss Cristine, may naghahanap po sa inyo..." Manan

g said while I was reading a mag.

"Sino raw po?"

"Si Sir Steve po."

Hmmm ano kaya ang ginagawa ni Tito Steve?

I went out and saw him standing, he looked worried.

"Tito?" I asked.

He looked up and I saw him really worried. Oh... "C

ristine, nandyan ba si Drake?"

I shook my head. The last time I talked to the sno

b was yesterday pa! And the wedding is tomorrow na
.... Naku baka naman nag stag party na si Drake! H
ahaha! Omg what an idea! Baka itulak palayo ni Dra
ke yung mga girls na lalapit sa kanya.

"Why po, Tito? Wala ba siya sa inyo?"

Umiling siya. "Hindi pa siya umuuwi simula kahapon,

e..."

"Hala. Nasan kaya si Drake?"

"Hindi ko rin alam, e. Sige, Cristine, kung alam m

o pakisabi naman sa akin," he said. I nodded at hi
m and then hinatid ko siya sa gate. Hala, Drake! S
an ka nagsususuot? Bukas na kaya ang wedding! Omg
nako baka nagpropose na kay Alys yun! Baka naman n
agcecelebrate!

Okay fine, matutulog na ako para pretty naman ako b

ukas!

--

"Good morning, brat," my mom greeted me.

"Ano na naman, mom?" I asked while stretching. Mor

ning na morning iniinis niya na naman ako! Hay nak
o, mommy!
She sat down on my bed and then crossed her arms.
"If you just followed what I said, e di sana son-i
n-law ko na si Drake ngayon!" she whined.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. "Mom, if you w

ant Drake that badly, ask him to marry you instead
."

She gasped. Buti nga! Kulit kasi!

Pumasok na ako sa CR and performed my daily ritual

s. I looked at the mirror. Not bad! Ang pretty ko
pa rin! Pero bakit kaya wala akong boyfriend pa ri
n? Kainis! Gusto ko na kaya ng boyfriend! I'll be
very good naman as long as love niya ako. Gusto ko
yung kagaya ng love ni Drake kay Alys... yung epi
c love.

After dolling myself up, lumabas na ako and sinuot

ko na yung dress ko. Truth be told, wala namang m
asyadong invited sa wedding! As in intimate weddin
g lang... ewan ko ba kay Drake. Nako.

"Cristine," my mother called me. "Fier's here! Ang

gandang bata. Naku, bakit ba hindi ka ganun kagan
da," she complained.
"Kasi mana lang ako sa'yo, no!"

Mommy talaga napaka negative!

Lumabas ako ng room na nandun na si Fier, looking.

.. duh. Fierce as usual. Naka all red from head to
toe! Kulang na lang magbleed yung lips niya sa pa
gkapula!

"Ang pretty ko, right?" she said with that familiar

flirty laugh. Naku!

"Whatever, Fier. Let's go."

Lumabas na kami and ang kapal ng mukha, ha! Ako pa

ang magddrive! Kainis! Pero wala rin naman akong
nagawa sa dulo... nagdrive rin ako.

"So..." she said. "Sino ba ang ikakasal?"

I concentrated on the road. "Si Drake."

"Drake who?"
"Drake Palma."

"Sounds yummy!" sabi niya then she giggled.

"Fier!" saway ko sa kanya. "Ikakasal na yung tao! A

void dirty thoughts naman!" sabi ko.

She made face at me. Kainis, ha! Ako na nga nagvol

unteer na magdrive tapos... ugh! "Hah. If I know y
ou like him tapos malungkot ka cos' magpapakasal n
a siya sa iba no?" she teased.

Yuck. Can I puke right now? Kadiri na, ha! Hindi n

ga kami ni Drake! Like in my nightmares pwede pa!

Kinulit niya ako ng kinulit hanggang makarating ka

mi sa venue. Pagdating namin sa venue, walang tao.
.. Oh, my god.

Tumakbo ako papasok sa venue and... damn. There he

was.

Hindi ko na inintindi si Fier at naglakad ako papu

nta kay Drake. He was at the altar, sitting alone.

Hindi ko alam pero my feet are shaking while I was

 walking. I may not love Drake but I surely care a
bout him. Kahit na I think absurd na yung faith ni
ya kay Alys, I supported him because I know she'll
make him happy. Pero the last days, hindi na happ
iness yung nakikita ko. I hate Alys. Of course kay
Drake ako kakampi! He's my friend! Alys may be go
od but the way I see it, she's destruction for him.

"Drake..." I called out his name.

He looked up to me and I saw him smiling. "Cristine

," he said.

He looked perfectly fine. Naka ordinary day attire

lang siya pero yung mukha niya naka... oh, God! S
he turned him down!

"Drake naman!"

Nakatingin na naman siya sa floor ng simbahan. He

was playing with his hands. "Stop shouting," he wh
ispered. "I've had enough shouting to last my week
."

Biting my lip, niyakap ko si Drake. He needs me! I

hate you, Alys! Bakit mo palaging ginaganito ang
best friend ko?!
"Alis na tayo dito..." I murmured.

He did not even move a bit. Nandito lang kami, nak

aupo. He wasn't even crying! Ano ba, Drake! Cry if
you want! Mas natatakot ako na ganyan ka e...

"Drake, please alis na tayo dito?"

I was busy asking him na umalis na kami ng magsalit

a si Fier.

"Look, Mister, your bride ditched you. Move on!" sa

bi niya while chewing a gum

"Fier!" sigaw ko. How dare she?! Dapat talaga hind

i ko na sinama ang babaeng to e! She's trouble!

She raised her brow. "What? I'm just saying the tr

uth here, Cristine. She left him. Move on, dude. H
indi titigil ang mundo dahil iniwan ka niya."

"You don't know them, Fier. Please stop bitching,"

I said. Please naman wag ngayon. Drake's broken.

She shook her head. "Hay naku. Look, Mister, I don

't know you so outsider's opinion lang naman ang b
inibigay ko. From how I see it, she doesn't care.
I hate it when people beg for something they can't
have. If you want it bad enough, make it happen.
Begging will only make you look pathetic."

And oh my god! Drake looked at her! For a second,

natigilan si Fier. Kanina pa kasi nakayuko si Drak
e habang kinakausap niya.

"Shut up."

And then he walked out, dala niya yung ring sana ni

Alys.

Tapos si Fier sa tabi ko. "Shit. She's so gonna re

gret letting him down. Pahingi ng number nung masu
ngit na yun!" she said to me while watching Drake
walk away.

*******************************************
[30] -27-
*******************************************
I wish to finish this before the end of 2013. Sorr
y kakatapos lang ng climax, medyo floating pa. For
eshadow muna tayo! Context clues everywhere. x 23
chapters to go! #DAP27

Chapter 27
"Tito Tristan, si Tripp po?"

It's been days simula ng iwasan ako ni Tripp. Hind

i ko maintindihan kung bakit niya ako iniiwasan. S
iya naman 'yung nasunod, di ba? Hindi ako pumunta
kay Drake kahit na gusto ko. Siya yung pinili ko p
ero bakit ginaganito niya ako?

Pumunta ako sa bahay nila to check on him. Wala si

ya sa office niya, wala siya kila Tofer. Hindi ko
alam kung san ko siya hahanapin, ni hindi siya sum
asagot sa phone.

Tito Tristan looked at me na parang naguguluhan siy

a. "Si Tripp?" he asked.

I nodded at him. "Opo. Where's he?"

He cocked his head and then sipped his coffee. Uma

ga pa lang kasi, mas inuna ko pa ngang pumunta dit
o kaysa sa trabaho ko, e. I've been really sleeple
ss these past few days. Hindi ko na alam kung ano
ba ang gagawin ko, parang wala akong choice. Hindi
ko makausap yung pinili ko, hindi ko maiharap yun
g mukha ko sa iniwan ko. It's like I'm bound to be
doomed.

"He's in New York, Alys. Last Tuesday pa siya nandu

n. Akala ko naman nasabi niya sa'yo."
My world felt like falling apart. He left?

"A-ano po?" My voice was shaking. All these raw fe

elings rushing back to me. Tripp left... pagkatapo
s niya akong papiliin, iiwan niya rin ako? And he
didn't even give me the courtesy of goodbye. Wala
lang ba yung almost five years na pinagsamahan nam
in? It will all be put into waste?

He nodded and gave me a small smile. I could see p

ity in his eyes. Siguro naaawa siya sa akin kasi i
niwan ako ng wala man lang pasabi. Oo nga, nakakaa
wa nga naman talaga ako. "Sorry, Alys. I thought h
e informed you. Biglaan kasi 'yung project. Hindi
ko naman ineexpect na kukunin ni Tripp kasi good f
or one month 'yung project."

Just when I thought I've had it all coming, mas la

lo pang tumindi. One month? E yung few days nga na
hindi kami nag-uusap halos mabaliw na ako sa sama
ng loob at guilt! Pano pa yung one month?!

"One month?" I asked, disbelief evident in my voice

.

"One month, Alys. I'm sorry. Kung gusto mo ibibiga

y ko sa'yo yung number ng hotel na tinutuluyan ni
Tripp?"
I bit my lips to prevent myself from crying. I can
't cry in front of his Dad. Damn, ayoko ng umiyak!
Sawang sawa na akong umiyak!

"'Wag na po, Tito... Sige po, aalis na ako."

I turned my back on him and started crying.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ko pa kinukuha lahat ng lu

ha na lumalabas sa mata ko. Akala ko ubos na, akal
a ko naubos na ni Drake at ni Tripp pero akalain m
o capable pa pala akong umiyak.

I hastily opened my car and sat on the driver's se

at. Mabuti na lang at heavily tinted 'yung sasakya
n ko. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko pa ba pati k
ahihiyan. Lahat na naramdaman ko.

I got my phone and dialed Tripp's number but to no

avail. Ganyan ka ba kagalit sa akin, ha? Akala ko
ba mahal mo ako? Bakit mo ako ginaganito?!

Instead of calling him, I composed an email. Sana m

abasa niya.

'Tripp, please wag na tayong mag-away. Wala si Dra

ke, nakita mo naman, di ba? Tinigilan niya na tayo
... pero bakit ka naman ganyan? Was I your trophy?
Kasi gusto ako ni Drake kaya gusto mo rin ako? Ng
ayon na hindi niya na ako gusto, iiwan mo na lang
ako? Wag naman, Tripp...'

Sana kung ganito lang ang gusto mo sa akin, sana s

inabi mo. Tripp, you made me fall for you! Minahal
kita tapos gaganituhin mo ako?! You'll drop me li
ke a hot potato now that the competition is done?
Wala ba akong halaga sa'yo?

Monday rolled in fast. Akala ko hindi na matatapos

yung weekend ng buhay ko. It's been a week since
Tripp walked out and left and I still feel the sam
e crushing feeling I've had when I learned what he
did.

Everything seemed to hurt. I can't think. I don't k

now what I'm supposed to think.

"Alys!" Tofer stormed into my room without even giv

ing me the courtesy of knocking.

I looked at him using my tired eyes. See? Even loo

king at someone tires me. My life has turned from
wonderful to train wreck.
"What?" I said, using all my will to even utter a s
ingle word.

He sat on the edge of my bed and then bit his lip.

Hinawakan niya yung kamay ko and then asked me. "
Hey, okay ka lang ba? Nag-aalala ako kahit hindi h
alata!"

I tried to smile but I think it turned into a grima

ce.

"What do you want?"

He pouted at me. Buti pa si Tofer nag-aalala sa ak

in. Si Tripp kaya naaalala ako? Ni isang text o ta
wag wala man lang akong natanggap. Sana kahit isan
g text lang o kahit 5 seconds call lang magiging m
asaya na naman ako, e. Wag naman 'yung ganito... P
akiramdam ko kinalimutan niya na ako, lahat ng pin
agsamahan namin.

"Sabi ni Tito Tristan wala raw si Tripp e so ikaw m

una ang guguluhin ko!"

My face fell into a frown. Akala ko immuned na ako

. Masakit pa rin pala pag naririnig ko na iniwan n
iya ako without even a sentence of goodbye or expl
anation.
I adjusted myself on the bed to occupy him. Inabot
ko rin yung water ko sa table and drank. Feeling
ko konting konti na lang maddehydrate na ako.

"Then sundan mo siya sa New York," I suggested with

my voice sounding really cold.

"Alys naman... wag mo naman akong idamay sa away n

iyo ni Marco! Best friends forever kaya!" he said
and then enveloped me in a hug.

I smiled at his gesture. He's right. Wala dapat ma

damay sa nangyayari sa amin ni Tripp. If I'm reall
y losing him, hindi ko na afford na may mawala pa
sa akin. I can't afford to lose Tofer. I can't liv
e without my family and friends. Kung sila rin iiw
an ko, I'll lose my sanity.

"Sorry for being moody. Let's eat outside?" I offe

red. Maghapon na akong nakakulong dito sa bahay, I
need to go out. Mababaliw na talaga ako ng tuluya
n.

Tofer clapped his hands and tinulak niya ako sa lo

ob ng cr. Mukha daw akong depressed, ang pangit pa
ngit ko na daw kaya maligo na raw ako. Tss!

Since I'm still not feeling well, nagsuot lang ako

ng white shorts, cropped top, and nude pumps. Las
t time na lumabas kasi kami ni Tofer na naka Keds
lang ako, sinabihan niya ako na mukha akong maggro
cery kaya conscious na ako sa sinusuot ko.

"San tayo?" I asked him nung sumakay ako sa shotgu

n seat ng car niya. Buti naman! I mean, I don't ha
ve the energy and the heart to drive. Baka mabangg
a lang kami.

He was driving when he shrugged. "Where do you wan

t? Early dinner then night out tayo, please?"

I sighed, giving in. "Fine."

We went to some resto and then diretso na sa The F

ort. Hindi ko alam dito kay Tofer kung bakit dito
pa e ang daming tao dito! And besides, I hate drin
king since I went back to the Philippines. The rea
son why I drink when I was in Paris was because I
want to forget. And now, wala naman akong gustong
kalimutan... or not. No, kahit ganito kami ni Trip
p, ayoko siyang kalimutan na lang. We need to talk
and straighten things out.

"VIP lounge tayo!" Tofer shouted at my ears.

Tignan mo! Kaya ayoko sa bars, e! Sobrang ingay! Pa

rang bibigay yung tenga ko any second.
I shook my head and tried to come up with an explan
ation.

"May kukunin lang ako sa car! I'll find you later!

" sigaw ko sa kanya. Mukhang gets niya naman kaya
nag thumbs up siya sa akin and pumasok na siya sa
bar.

I went out and sat on the hood of his car. Damn. M

iss na miss na kita, Tripp. Kung nandito ka lang e
di sana nag-eenjoy tayo ngayon at tinakasan natin
na sabay si Tofer.

My head was hanging low when I heard familiar voic

es. The night was at its peak and sobrang madilim
sa paligid. I'm not worried kasi safe naman dito.

"Sorry talaga, Drake!" I heard someone said. My bo

dy automatically froze upon hearing his name. "Fie
r naman, stop clinging onto him like a bitch!"

I can't make a decent face of the girl who's cling

ing onto Drake. All I could see was figures.

"Shut up, Cristine. Hindi naman nagrereklamo si Dr

ake pero ikaw ang ingay ingay!" an unfamiliar voic
e said.
"Anong hindi! Tignan mo nga halos magdikit na yung
kilay ni Drake sa inis sa'yo."

"Heh shut up! Go home na nga kung magnanag ka lang

buong gabi. I'll manage Drake na lang."

"In your dreams, Fier. Takot ko lang na bigla mong

rapin si Drake, no."

It was like time has froze. I was there but I felt

like I wasn't there.

I saw Drake but he didn't see me. No, I knew he saw

me but it was like he didn't.

"Uy, Drake, why did you stop walking?" the girl sai
d. Drake stopped and so did Cristine.

Drake didn't utter a single word... It was Cristin

e who broke the deafening silence. "Alys..." she s
aid as if she's guilty.

I forced a smile and stood up. "H-hello."

My eyes were glued on the woman in front of me. Sh

e was staring at me with her brows rising. "Why ar
e you staring at me?" sabi niya sa akin.

Hinampas naman siya ni Cristine. "Fier! Wag mong si

gawan si Alys!"

Shocked registered on her face. It seemed like rec

ognition. Kilala niya ba ako? Kasi ako, hindi ko s
iya kilala.

"Oh! Ikaw si Alys!" she said. "Oh, well. I think I

should say thanks."

"H-ha?"

She smiled at me and rested her head on Drake's sh

oulder. "Thanks for breaking this man's heart. I'm
here to collect the pieces."

She went near me and patted my shoulder.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang dapat kong reaksyon.

She's so cocky! Sino ba siya?!

"Sino ka ba?" I couldn't help but ask.

She smiled at me and then clung onto Drake like he
's her life saver. "Marie Fier Sandoval, darling."

Cristine butted in and she looked at me with pity.

My life had really crashed from almost perfect to
wrecked. "Alys, sorry, ha? She's like that lang t
alaga. Please don't be offended."

May karapatan ba akong ma-offend? Wala naman.

I smiled at her, at them. "Non taken. Sige, baka ma

y pupuntahan pa kayo..."

Cristine looked at me keenly. "Okay..." she looked

at Drake and Fier. "Let's go na!"

And then that was it. No hi, no hello. It looked l

ike he really meant it when he said give up.

*******************************************
[31] -28-
*******************************************
Sa mga oorder ng HKI book for batch 2, nagsisimula
na akong magtext brigade sa inyo. Napupudpod na y
ung daliri ko! Hahaha (Payment until Dec. 1 dun!)
:D Pls do send me a message if di ko kayo natext :
09326515958
Chapter 28

Right after they left, pumasok na rin ako sa loob.

Wala rin naman akong mapapala sa labas. I'll just
look really pathetic standing alone outside while
the people I know were having the time of their l
ives.

It took me ten minutes before I spotted Tofer. He

was talking to some girl at mukhang naiinis siya.
His forehead creased and the girl was too close. I
knew when a girl flirts and she's definitely gett
ing it on with Tofer. Tss too bad he doesn't like
her. I mean, he's never really liked anybody!

"Tofer!" I tried to shout but to no avail. The clu

b was really packed and kahit anong sigaw ko, I do
ubt na maririnig ako ni Tofer kaya I just used all
my might para pumasok sa club. God I felt so filt
hy! All those gyrating bodies!

He smiled once he saw me emerging from the crowd.

"Alys, san ka nagpunta?!" he shouted at my ears.

I explained to him na lumabas nga ako minus the fa

ct na nakita ko si Drake... at Fier. I mean, did I
need to elaborate on that?
He pulled me into one of the booths after naming u
makyat sa VIP lounge. Salamat naman! Akala ko mapi
pipi na talaga ako sa dance floor.

"Drinks?" he asked.

I shook my head. Okay na yung sakit ng ulo ko ngayo

n, I did not need another hangover to add.

He shrugged at my response. Tahimik lang siyang um

inom habang kinakain yung order niya. Bahala ka, T
ofer. Hangover's a bitch. Bahala ka sa sakit ng ul
o bukas.

I let my eyes roam around the club. Typical scene.

Nakakasawa. Tumayo ako hanggang sa makarating ako
sa iron rail ng VIP lounge and there, I saw Drake
and Fier dancing.

--

Fier's POV

God, such a kill joy!

Kanina pa kami nakaupo sa booth and seriously, I'm

almost considering stabbing myself sa sobrang bor
ing!

"Really? Mauupo lang tayo buong gabi?" I asked wit

h with my face na konti na lang mamumula na sa ini
s.

Cristine nodded and Drake? Well, he's Drake. What w

ould I expect?

"And we're not just sitting naman, Fier. We're dri

nking din! Hehe. Di ba, Drake?" she asked her real
ly, really grumpy best friend. Buti na lang hot si
Drake kung hindi nag walkout na ako sa kanya! I m
ean, ilang beses ko na siyang kinausap pero di pa
rin kami friends. Ang tipid naman kasi magsalita!

I rolled my eyes at them. Hay nako!

The music blasted. OMG! Favorite song!

I immediately pulled Drake from his seat. "Sayaw ta

yo, please?"

He looked at me na parang nababaliw na ako.

"PLEASE?"
He shook his head.

Nilakihan ko yung eyes ko.

"Ayaw mo? Hahalikan kita dito mismo pag hindi ka p

umayag!" I told him. Hindi man lang siya gumalaw!
Hindi ba siya naniniwala sa sinabi ko?! "Hindi ka
naniniwala?" I asked with disbelief.

He didn't even flinch! Nakatayo lang siya dun! God

what the hell was wrong with him?! Ano ba kasi an
g exact na ginawa dito nung Alys na yun para mas m
aging mas malamig pa sa yelo tong ex boyfriend niy
a?!

I did what he did not expect me to do. I grabbed hi

s head and kissed him.

"Oh, my god, Fier!" Cristine shrieked. Nabitiwan n

iya pa yung baso niya sa sobrang pagkabigla sa gin
awa ko. Sorry pero I really do what I said I'll do.

I pulled out from the kiss. Ano bang inaarte ni Cr

istine? It's not like I raped Drake! It was just a
peck! Kung makaarte akala mo I violated his best
friend.
Tignan mo, reaction-less pa rin si Drake. I guess
I should have kissed him harder. Hmm next time!

Tumayo si Cristine and pulled Drake away from me. G

rabe! Protective? Mother hen lang?

"Cristine!" she said again. Palagi niya na lang si

nasabi ang pangalan ko ha! Napapansin ko na!

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my glass of tonic. "Wh

at?"

"Why did you do that?!"

I shrugged. He challenged me, duh. "Wala lang. Bak

it ka ba nagagalit? It's not like I raped him or a
nything. Chill, honey!" I said and then inabot ko
sa kanya yung drinks niya. "Come on, Cristine. He'
s old enough and he's hot and single! Let the man
have a life," I said and then wiggled my eyebrows.

She shook her head at my response. Sobrang uptight

din kasi nitong si Cristine kaya hanggang ngayon,
zero lovelife. I mean, she's really pretty pero a
lam mo yun? KJ. Boo. Boring!
Ayoko namang magmukhang tangang sumasayaw mag isa
sa dance floor kaya lumapit ako sa reaction-less p
a rin na si Drake at hinatak siya. Finally bumigay
din siya!

"Let's dance!" sigaw ko sa kanya. Yeah you need to

shout at times like this. Sobrang lakas ng music
and I love it!

Since ayoko naman ma maging sardines kami nito sa

gitna ng dance floor, pinilit kong makaakyat kami
sa stage para maluwag. Yeah maluwag since kami lan
g naman sa taas nun!

Nung nakaakyat na ako sa taas ng stage, nagsigawan

yung mga tao. I know, right? I frequented this ba
r bago ako umalis for Canada and all the faces her
e are familiar! Oh, it's so good to be back!

"Stop it," he mouthed. Oh, shy boy! Mukhang nahihiy

a siya sa gagawin namin!

I just chuckled at him and winked. "Loosen up, Dra

ke! Come on, tara na sa stage!" I urged him pero h
indi pa rin siya gumalaw. This man was really test
ing my patience, huh! Pero hindi kita titigilan, D
rake. I'll never give up hanggang hindi ko nakikit
ang nag eenjoy ka. I'll make it my personal missio
n na alisin ka jan sa malungkot mong mundo.
The people were cheering for Drake na pumunta sa s
tage. After seconds of silently wishing na umakyat
nga siya, finally!

I live for the night I live for the lights I live

for the high til I'm free fallin' I live for the
night I live for the lights I live for the high ti
l I'm free fallin' Til I'm free fallin I live for
the nights

"I thought ipapahiya mo ako sa crowd," bulong ko s

a kanya. Baka kasi hindi niya ako marinig sa sobra
ng lakas ng music kaya lumapit na ako sa mismong e
ars niya. And damn, this guy smells so freaking go
od!

He did not respond, typical of him. Basta ako, mas

aya na ako na napaakyat ko siya sa stage! Way to g
o, Fier!

I held his hands at inaya ko siya sa mismong gitna

ng stage. People were dancing wildy and I love it
! God this was exactly what I missed about clubbin
g! The dancing and feeling free!

"Come on, Drake, dance!" I taunted him.

I winked at him and started dancing.

I am tryna holla got that ink up on my colla' Drin
kin til it's nada, isn't whiskey I don't bother My
b-itches ain't no dimes they be mothaf-uckin' dol
lars

I turned my back on him and started grinding mysel

f against his statue-like body. I meant statue as
in hindi siya gumagalaw! Pero pwede rin na statue
as in his body was like really ripped! Sheez talag
a, Drake! Why so hot?

Nung hindi siya gumalaw, humarap ako sa kanya and k

issed his cheek.

"Dance with me, Drake. I swear I'll volunteer you

sa body shot kapag hindi ka pa rin gumalaw!" I sai
d, really meaning it. God, naiimagine ko na nga ku
ng saan saang part ng katawan ng statue na to pwed
eng mag body shot e!

"You're a pervert," sabi niya.

OMG, Fier! Nagsalita na siya!

I winked at him. "It's fun, try mo minsan."

He shook his head and then smiled a little. Ooooh,

that sexy smile! Nagpakita ka rin!

So we stack our drinks up high, skyscrappin' til w

e taller Ring ring hit that up show that universal
love If you bleed that red blood dance until you
get enough

And then we danced... Well I danced and he kinda d

id dance. But that's not the point, he's enjoying
himself and that's my goal!

--

Alys' POV

Drake's dancing. He never danced with me before.

Hindi ko na kayang makita yung napapanood ko. Buma

lik ako sa table kasama si Tofer at ininom ko agad
yung shot na para sa kanya dapat.

"Oh, dahan dahan, Alys! Here, lemon," he said then

inabot sa akin yung lemon and yung lalagyan ng sa
lt.

Damn tequila! Masama pa rin ang lasa mo!

After drowning myself, inabot ko naman yung black
label na katabi niya. Seriously bakit ang daming a
lak sa booth namin?!

"Geez, Perez. Do you want to drink yourself to the

hospital? Baka ma alcohol poisoning ka niyan!" he
worriedly said after kong magsalin ng ice and pou
red JD sa baso ko.

I clanked my glass with his and took the drink in

one gulp. Sheez! Alcohol really was a b-itch.

"Relax, Tofer. Titigil ako kapag gusto ko ng tumigi

l."

I smiled at him and poured myself another drink. Da

mn you, dalawang Palma!

--

Sa mga oorder ng HKI book for batch 2, nagsisimula

na akong magtext brigade sa inyo. Napupudpod na y
ung daliri ko! Hahaha (Payment until Dec. 1 dun!)
:D Pls do send me a message if di ko kayo natext :
09326515958

*******************************************
[32] -29-
*******************************************
Published na pala ang book ko under PopFiction ent
itled For Hire: A Damn Good Kisser! Story siya ng
parents ni Alys! Check it out! :)))

Thanks for the long wait. Eto na siya!

--

Chapter 29

"Alys! Alys!"

What again? Ang aga aga pa, e.

"Why?" I asked Tofer. Nandito ako ngayon sa shop k

o, trying to keep myself busy. Ilang araw na akong
walang ginagawang productive.

Tumakbo siya papasok sa office ko at sinara 'yung p

intuan. What's with him?

"Alam mo na ba? Alam mo na ba?" he shouted.

Tinakpan ko yung tenga ko. Ang lakas niyang sumiga
w! "Hindi ako bingi, goodness! Isang beses mo lang
sabihin, maririnig ko!" sabi ko sa kanya.

Ano ba kasi ang meron at parang sobrang excited si

ya? Don't tell me magcoconcert ulit si Riri sa Phi
lippines? Yun lang naman ang nagpapa excite dito e!

He beamed at me at nilagay niya yung mga kamay niya

sa table ko. "Umuwi na si Tripp!"

What?

He snapped his fingers in front of me. "Earth to A

lys? Umuwi na si Tripp! Aba galaw galaw din!"

Wait... umuwi na si Tripp?!

Napatayo ako bigla at hinawakan ko siya sa magkabi

lang balikat niya. "What? When? How? WHERE?! Nasan
siya ngayon?" I asked him.

Hinawakan niya yung kamay ko na nakahawak sa kanya

at tinignan ako ng mabuti. "Kalma, Alys. Breathe
in, breathe out..." he said then guided my breathi
ng. "Ayan, okay ka na?" he asked and I nodded. "No
w, si Tripp, nasa bahay nila. Galing kasi ako dun
kanina tapos bigla siyang dumating. Puntahan mo na
siya dali! Ang gwapo lalo ni Tripp!"

Psh. May hidden desire pa rin siya.

I wanted to see him pero natatakot ako. Ano yung s

asabihin ko pag nagkita kami? Hi? Hello? Kamusta a
ng New York? Damn. Ngayon lang ako naubusan ng sas
abihin kay Tripp. Dati rati, hindi kami nawawalan
ng pag-uusapan. Time really did change us.

"Hindi ka ba pupunta sa kanya?" tanong ni Tofer sa

akin nung umupo ulit ako.

I shook my head. "Baka bukas na lang, Tofer."

"But why? Ang tagal mo siyang hinintay! Nandito na,

oh!"

Smiling at him, I said, "Hindi dapat minamadali yu

ng mga ganitong bagay, Tof. Mag-uusap din kami, ok
ay? Let me do things when I want to do my things."

He sighed and then shrugged. "Fine, sabi mo, e." H

e sat on the couch then crossed his legs. "Anyway,
san ka ba napunta nung isang gabi? Bigla ka na la
ng nawala nun, a!"
Ah, that night. Kung pwede lang sanang ibaon sa li
mot lahat ng nangyari, sana ginawa ko na. Pero sab
i nga nila, there are things you could never undo.
Kumbaga, once na nagawa mo, permanently etched na
siya. The only thing you could do is to think tha
t soon, things will get better.

I slumped back on my chair and closed my eyes. "Not

hing, Tofer. Nothing."

Hard as I try to deny it, masakit pa rin, e. Hindi

ko nga alam kung bakit ako nasasaktan. I feel lik
e a slut. Sinasabi ko na mahal ko si Tripp pero ba
kit nung nakita kong nakangiti si Drake kasama si
Fier, biglang sumakit yung dibdib ko? What has bec
ame of me?

I remember asking him nung mag-isa lang siya sa bo

oth niya. He looked really drunk but he wasn't. He
's still Drake. He always knows his way with words
.

"Drake," I called out his name. Kahit na malakas a

ng tugtog, alam kong narinig niya ako. He looked a
t me and then closed his eyes. Ayaw niya ba akong
makita?

I tried smiling even though I was hurting.

Ganun pala yung feeling? I wonder how he felt seei
ng me with Tripp? Did he feel the same way? Ako ka
si, I felt like my insides were crushing. Ang saki
t pala sa feeling na makita mo yung tao na gusto m
o na masaya kasama ng iba. Yung tipong mapapaisip
ka kung bakit sa iba, kaya nilang maging masaya. Y
ung ano ba yung wala ka para maghanap pa sila ng i
ba para sumaya?

So many questions left unanswered.

I was staring at him... and he was ignoring me. Pa

kiramdam ko, bumalik kami sa high school. Pero ang
kaibahan ngayon, he was ignoring me because I mad
e him do it. I made him hate me. And I hate myself
even more because of that.

Everything felt unreal. Ang gulo gulo na. Hindi ko

na alam kung paano kami umabot sa ganito.

"S-Sino si Fier?"

He chuckled at my question.

"B-Bakit ka tumawa?" I asked. Hindi ko alam pero na

tatakot ako sa isasagot niya.
He shook his head. "Why are you here, Alys?" he as
ked me while looking right at my eye. Hindi ko mab
asa yung mata niya. Dati, kapag tumitingin ako sa
mata niya, alam ko yung nararamdaman niya. Alamko
kapag galit siya, kapag naiinis siya, kapag masaya
siya. Pero ngayon? Hindi ko na alam. We've really
broken up. The connection was long gone.

I tried to smile but I could not.

"I asked you first..." I whispered.

He sighed at my response. "Goodbye, Alys," he said

and then he stood up. Bago pa siya makalayo, hina
wakan ko yung braso niya.

"Drake naman..." I said and my voice broke. It sou

nded like a plea... and I guess it was indeed a pl
ea. I looked so helpless. I used to have everythin
g but now I felt like I have nothing. Everything w
as gone.

Tumingin siya sa kamay ko na nakahawak sa kanya and

then at my face. "Let go."

His words pierced through my heart.

Let go.
Two words but I felt like I've been stabbed a mill
ion times. Bakit ganun? Di ba sobrang ironic naman
ng kasabihan na 'you'll only know the value of so
meone when it's gone?' Bakit ganun? Bakit kailanga
ng mawala muna bago mo malaman yung halaga? Hindi
ba parang ang sama naman nun? Ano pa ang silbi na
malaman mo yung halaga kung hindi naman babalik sa
'yo? Wasn't it all bullshit? Para maramdaman mo la
ng yung sakit at hinayang sa pinakawalan mo? Ang u
nfair. Sobrang unfair.

"Drake..."

That was all I could do. Call out his name.

He muttered, "Tripp." Napatingin ako sa kanya. "Tr

ipp. You gave me up for him, Alys. Go to him. Stop
bothering me."

He ruthlessly freed himself from my grasp and walk

ed away. Was I being a masochist? Bakit ko siya hi
nahabol? Bakit ko siya sinusundan kahit na sinabi
niya mismo sa akin na ayaw niya na?

"Drake!" I shouted.

Lumapit ako sa kanya nung huminto siyang maglakad.

"What's your deal?"

He looked at me. "What's my deal?" he asked me back

.

I nodded at him, tears falling from my eyes. Hindi

ko alam kung bakit ako umiyak. Maybe because I ha
ve been acting tough but inside I was already hurt
ing. Ngayon lang ako nagpakita na nasasaktan ako.
And damn, I was hurt so bad.

"Sino ba si Fier? Siya ba yung pinalit mo sa akin?!

"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako sumisigaw. Was it the

alcohol talking? Hindi ko alam. Basta ang alam ko
, ang sakit sakit na.

"You're drunk."

Tinalikuran niya ako at nagsimulang maglakad.

Damn it, Palma!

Hinubad ko yung sapatos ko at binato ko sa kanya.

Kahit na lasing ako, natamaan ko pa rin yung balik
at niya. Ugh! Yung balikat niya na kinapitan ni Fi
er kanina!

Napahinto siya sa paglalakad at pinulot niya yung

sapatos ko na ibinato ko sa kanya. Humarap siya sa
akin at huminto sa harapan ko.

"Stop it, Alys."

Lumuhod siya sa harap ko at sinuot sa akin yung sa

patos ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako umiiyak.

"Drake..." I called out his name. "Drake..."

Natapos niya ng isuot yung sapatos ko sa akin pero

hindi pa rin siya tumatayo. Nakaluhod siya sa har
ap ko pero hindi siya nagsasalita. He was quiet. H
e was being... Drake.

Nagulat ako nung tumingala siya sa akin, smiling.

"Alys?"

"Hmm?"
He was still smiling. "Don't be jealous. I think y
ou know I still love you, right? When I said I lov
e you to the moon and back, I actually meant I thi
nk I won't be able to love anyone after you. I lov
e so a great deal, noob. You drained all my love."

He stopped for a beat.

"But that was it, Alys. We had our time. I'll alwa
ys love you but please let me live a life. Don't w
orry about Fier, she's nothing compared to you," h
e said. He stood up and cupped my face. "You let m
e go. I let you go. We let each other go, Alys." H
e kissed my cheek and smiled at me. "Take care of
my cousin..." he said.

His touch lingered, like I was supposed to savor ev

ery moment. Na para bang hindi na mauulit.

"Best wishes."

I snapped out of my reverie and saw Tofer drinking

a cup of tea.

"Hey! Kanina pa kita kinakausap, a! Okay ka lang ba

talaga?" Tofer asked.
Nodding and smiling, I said yes. Tama si Drake. We
had our closure. Siguro it was just my ego talkin
g. Hindi lang ako sanay sa idea na may ibang babae
na nagpapangiti sa kanya. We let each other go. S
iguro dapat tanggapin ko na na wala na talaga kami.

He's right.

We had our time... And it was done.

"Let's go to Tripp!" sabi ko bigla kay Tofer. Bigl

a naman niyang binitawan yung cup niya at ngumiti
siya sa akin.

Mas excited pa yata siya. Siguro may crush talaga s

iya kay Tripp.

He clapped and beamed. "I'll drive! Tara!"

Before we went to Tripp's, namili muna kami ng dad

alhin na cake and champagne. After all, sort of we
lcome back party ni Tripp 'to!

Today was the start of something new. Finally, nag

karoon na ako ng closure kay Drake. Dapat magfocus
na ako sa kung ano ang meron ako ngayon kaysa sa
manghinayang ako sa kung ano ang dapat meron ako.
Dumating kami sa kanila after 30 minutes of driving
.

"Si Tripp po?"

Tinuro ni Manang yung garden. Nauna na ako since n

agpark pa si Tofer. Ang arte kasi, ayaw na lang iw
an sa driveway. As if naman may mangcacarnap sa ka
nya sa kalagitnaan ng araw sa loob ng posh village.

I was counting my footsteps when I heard some laugh

ter.

"Shut up! I look good blonde!"

I heard his voice saying, "No. Who said that? Nilo

loko ka lang nun. Naniwala ka naman sa bola."

And then I heard some more laughter. The voices wer

e familiar.

Lumakad pa ako and then I finally saw them. The gi

rl who was laughing with my boyfriend stood up and
hugged me.
"Alys!" she said.

I hugged her back. "Kei..."

*******************************************
[33] -30-
*******************************************
Again, pls do buy For Hire: A Damn Good Kisser in
bookstores nationwide!!! :D Story of Alys's paren
ts! Anyhoo, please vote if you must! Votes are kin
da needed nowadays. Lol

AND! Drake Palma book: the announcement about this

will be posted on my fb page!! Pls be posted ;)

--

Chapter 30

She pulled me with her and asked me to sit. "Hey, a

re you alright?" she asked.

Napatingin na lang ako sa kanya... at kay Tripp. B

akit sila magkasama? I thought hindi sila magkasun
do? Dati kasi nung nasa New York kami, hindi sila
nag uusap dahil masyadong nasusungitan si Tripp ka
y Kei, and the same as Kei, hindi niya gustong kas
ama si Tripp. What happened? Nagkaroon ba ng apoca
lypse at hindi ako informed?

"Here, water," sabi ni Kei sa akin sabay abot ng g

lass and poured water in it. Napainom ako. Hindi k
o alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan. I mean, I shoul
dn't be, right? Kei's almost my sister. Alam niya
lahat ng pinagdaanan ko nung nasa New York ako. Al
l those sleepless nights, all those inconsolable c
rying... She wouldn't betray me now that I was fig
hting for my only shot at happiness.

Si Tripp? He was avoiding my stare. Bakit, Tripp? G

uilty?

After drinking, I turned to her. "B-Bakit ka nandit

o?"

She beamed at me. She still looked as good as ever.

She's still blonde. She's still Kei.

"I just finished my internship and MBA!" she said.

"I just want to visit the Philippines, you know.
I've been far from home since high school."

"What did Auntie say?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Bayaan mo sila, I'm a

n adult so hindi na nila ako kayang i-stop if I wa
nt to spend my life here," she said and then winke
d at me. And then she stood up and clapped her han
ds. "Speaking of Mom, she asked me to give somethi
ng to you. Wait up! I'll get it from my car lang,
ha." She sped away and left us here.

The silence was eating us. No one wanted to talk.

"So..." I said, breaking of the numbing silence. "Y

ou're back."

I didn't understand how it could possibly feel so

awkward talking to someone you love. We've been th
rough a lot... So much. Pero ngayon? It felt like
I was talking to a stranger. Someone I barely knew.

He tried to smile. "Oo nga, e."

"Kasama mo si Kei." It was meant to be a statement

but it sounded like it was an accusation. Well, m
aybe it was. I just can't seem to understand why t
hey were together when in fact, they couldn't be a
t each other's back.

He shrugged. "Oo nga, e."

I was getting pissed off. He's avoiding me.

"Tripp, ano ba."

He looked at me now. "Ano'ng ano ba?"

"Iniiwasan mo ako."

"Iniisip mo lang yan, Alys."

And then it stung. Alys. He called my Alys.

"Galit ka pa rin sakin, e..." I said, my voice bre

aking. I couldn't help but cry. Ang tagal kong tin
ago ng mga nararamdaman ko. Yung mga gusto kong sa
bihin sa kanya, ngayon ko lang nasasabi. He was av
oiding me for what it felt like an eternity.

He crossed his arms and slumped back. "You're overt

hinking."

Hindi ko napigilan pero I slammed my fists. "Talk

to me, then! Hindi yung iniiwasan mo ako!"

Tripp's jaw clenched and then closed his eyes. He

muttered something inaudible. Tripp, bakit mo ba a
ko ginaganito? Hindi mo ba ako mahal? Akala ko ba
ayaw mo ng umiiyak ako?

"Go home, Alys. Mag aaway lang tayo."

"Then let's fight pero please let's talk!"

He stood up like he didn't even hear what I said.

"Go home." He started walking away from me but I t
ugged on his arm. "Alys..."

"Tripp naman... Wag mo naman akong ganituhin..."

Before I even knew it, I was crying again. Damn th

ese tears. Kailan ka ba mauubos? Parang sa sobrang
dami ng mga pinagdaanan ko, hindi ka nauubos. Sa
lahat ng naramdaman ko, nandiyan ka lang palagi.

"Wala akong ginagawa," he uttered.

I hugged him from behind. Wala akong pakielam kung

may ibang makakita sa amin. Wala na akong pakiela
m kung magmukha akong naghahabol dito. This was my
last shot. It felt like everything's gonna break
apart. I need to salvage what I can salvage.
"Please do something, anything. Wag yung ganito, Tr
ipp. Mas masakit, e..."

I felt him taking in deep breaths. He held my hand

and his hand felt the same. His warm hands agains
t mine. His familiar touch lingering...

He turned around and looked at me. His gaze didn't

feel the same. It was like I was staring at anoth
er person. How could he possibly change in a short
period of time? Bakit sobrang nag iba na siya?

"Give me space to breathe, Alys. Mag uusap tayo pag

okay na ako."

"Pano naman ako, Tripp? Pano kung hindi ako okay?

Naisip mo man lang ba yung nararamdaman ko?" I ask
ed him. I sounded so desperate but I was more than
willing to be. I have already lost everything, it
wouldn't hurt to fight for this last one even if
it meant lowering myself.

He smiled a little. "Pano naman ako, Alys? Naisip m

o rin ba yung nararamdaman ko?"

"Ikaw nga yung pinili ko, di ba?! I chose you! Why

are you being an ass?!"
He just stared at me during my utburst. "You didn'
t choose me, Alys. I was the option. Iniwan ka ni
Drake, so ako na lang. Ganun 'yun, di ba? Si Tripp
na lang yung nandyan, e. Sige siya na lang. Akala
mo ba masaya sa pakiramdam yun?" he shook his hea
d. "Nakakagago, Alys. Sobrang nakakagago." He turn
ed his back on me. "Umuwi ka muna, please. Mag usa
p tayo pag pareho na tayong okay."

And then he started walking away and for a moment,

I felt my hopes were crushing.

"Hey?" Kei returned just in time to see me crying.

She was with Tofer who was as clueless as she was
. "Why the hell are you crying?!"

I couldn't even utter a word. It felt like if I sai

d a thing out loud, I'd breakdown again.

"Is it Drake again? I swear, that ass!" Kei cursed.

Si Tofer, umupo sa tabi ko and hugged me. "Okay lan

g yan, Alys. Inaway ka ba ni Tripp?"

"Wait what, Tripp? Di ba he's your boyfriend? Why t

he hell would he make you cry?"
I just shook my head and looked at them. "Look, I
really don't want to talk. Could you just please t
ake me home?"

--

Days after my talk with Tripp, nothing happened. H

e didn't make any effort to talk to me again, much
less to even see my face. Were we really breaking
up?

"Honey, come on."

My Mom dragged me to one of the company's party. A

pparently, it was obligatory for the family to att
end.

"Coming!" I shouted. Well, at least my family's oka

y even if everything was broken.

The drive was long and winding but finally, we arr

ived just in time. Dad and Mom disappeared from ou
r vision, probably talking to the business partner
s. Dane? He left me to eat alone. My brother's suc
h a lonely guy. When he returned from the States,
he was really, really weird.

I was walking mindlessly when I bumped into someone

.
"I'm so--" I was about to utter my apologies when
I noticed that it was Drake... tending to a very d
runk Fier.

He wasn't shocked to see me shocked.

"Alys!" Fier said, her words were slurry. "You lit

tle bitch!" she said. All the people near us looke
d at us.

Drake whispered something in her ears which made h

er giggle like a kid. "Come on," he said. He looke
d at me for a beat. "Sorry, she's just really drun
k."

I smiled at him. Looking at her, I can't find it i

n me not to compare. Drake said she doesn't even c
ompare. But how come I feel a wee jealous everytim
e I see her so close to him? And it felt really in
appropriate feeling this...

Drake dragged her from me but she just kept on mum

bling things. "Alys... I hate you, you know!" she
shouts while she was being dragged. "You broke up
with him but I still can't get him from you! You'r
e a horrible person!"
That was the last thing she said before her voice d
isappeared from my hearing.

*******************************************
[34] -31-
*******************************************
Sa mga di nakakaalam, magkakaroon ng self publishe
d book ang Drake Palma! Nasa external link for mor
e details! :)

Chapter dedicated to Ate Aeya! Pagaling ka po! <3

Chapter 31

How come when you want something so badly, it neve

r felt like the universe will help you get it? Was
n't that supposed to be the other way around? For
me, it felt like everything, everyone conspired fo
r me to be miserable.

"Tama na 'yan, okay?"

I was at the dining room. Hindi ako pumupunta sa s

hop ko because lately, everything felt so tiring.
Parang wala na akong ganang mabuhay.
My Mom suddenly snapped out and looked at me. "Tha
t's it. You're going with us later," she said.

I arched my brow. "Where?" sabi ko sabay abot sa co

ffee ko.

"Fund raiser."

"Mom!"

She shook her head. "No, Alys. I've had enough of y

our sighs and silence. You're going."

I looked at her with pleading eyes. Ayoko talagang

pumunta sa fund raisers. Sure, maganda yung goal
nila pero... I hate being sold! The last time I we
nt there was when I was 14 and I was sold for half
a million tapos I was forced to spend my time dan
cing with that jerk face Caleb Sandoval!

"Nope. Not working. Pick out a nice dress. I'll hav

e manong drive you later."

"Pushover," I commented.

"Still not working, Alys. I'll go, okay? See you la

ter, honey."

And so I was left with no choice. Pupunta ako sa f

und raising ball even though I hate it... no, I lo
athe it.

Time passed by and I didn't even notice it. All da

y, I was staring at my phone, even so blindly hopi
ng that maybe, just maybe, Tripp will have the dec
ency to send me a message. I mean, we're not over,
right? We're taking a break, all right, but we're
not done. We're not done.

I even passed by his facebook account and I saw th

at he's posting pictures. Photography has always b
een his thing. Nung nasa New York kami, he'd bug m
e to be his model pero ngayon, wala na. Sayang lah
at kung mawawala na lang bigla.

A picture grabbed my attention while I was browsing

through his albums.

"Kei..." that was all that had left my mouth.

In the picture, she was walking at the airport whi

le looking at her hand phone. The picture looked s
o innocent yet there's something... there's someth
ing that hurt my heart.
Hindi naman pwede, di ba? She'd never betray me. N
ot like this. Alam na alam niya kung ano ang pinag
daanan namin ni Tripp. Hell she's been there while
we're struggling to be together. Ni hindi ko nais
ip na kahit minsan, she'll betray me. She's the cl
osest thing I have for a sister next to Aya.

My hands were shaking while scanning the album. Th

ere were snapshots of her, all stolen. And when ev
erything was all too heavy, I closed my laptop and
gave it a rest.

No, she'll never hurt me.

Tumayo ako at naghanda. Mom was right; I've been w

allowing in self pity I actually forgot how to liv
e. There's more to life than this mess I'm in. I n
eed a breather. I need to see that my life was act
ually still worth living, that the people around m
e were still worth trusting.

I picked out a black dress and a nice shoes to go

with it. True to my mother's words, manong fetch m
e about quarter to seven.

"Nandun na po ba sila mommy?" I asked him.

Manong nodded and concentrated on driving.

While I was busy watching the busy streetlights of
Makati streets, my phone beeped. It was a text fr
om Kei that said, "Where you at? Fund raising even
t. Are you gonna be there?"

I closed and even deleted her message. This was ba

d. Wala namang ginagawang masama sa akin si Kei ye
t somewhere within me, I was starting to hate her.
Ang hirap sa pakiramdam na yung mismong taong iti
nuturing mo na best friend, pinagdududahan mo na r
in. Where's the sense of living kung yung mismong
mga taong dapat pinagkakatiwalaan mo ay pinagdudud
ahan mo?

I need a resolve. Hindi pwede na ganito na lang ng

ganito. I'd die early kung puro ganito na lang an
g mangyayari sa buhay ko.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at nagtext kay Kei.

'Yup. See you!'

See you, Kei. And talk to you, as well. I can't ke

ep living like this. All these paranoia will be th
e death of me.

--
"Mr. Montreal, my daughter, Alys," my Dad said, in
troducing me to one of his business partners, I th
ink. Ganito na lang palagi tuwing may business fun
ctions kaya ayoko na nagpupunta sa ganito. Ang dam
ing tao and they can't seriously expect me to reme
mber every single one of them, right?

The old man smiled at me and introduced me to his

daughter. "This is my daughter Natalia." The littl
e girl smiled at me. She's like a cherub.

"Hi," I said. She hid behind his father and then l

ooked at me. I smiled at her and then waved goodby
e as I went to grab a drink.

I was busy sipping my wine when a hand rested on m

y shoulder. "Thank goodness a familiar soul!"

I turned around and saw Kei breathing heavily. She

looked stunning, as per usual. "Hey," I said.

She grabbed a drink and drank it all at once. "Hey

!" she said after finishing her glass. "Glad you'r
e here! Goodness, bigla lang akong pinapunta ni mo
m saying she was supposed to be here but she can't
so apparently I'm filling in for her. Ikaw? You'r
e with your family?"

I timidly nodded. "May kasama ka ba?" I asked, sil

ently wishing na hindi siya kasama ni Tripp.
She shook her head. "Nope. Last minute decision. Bu
t I'm ecstatic you're here!"

I smiled at her. How did I ever doubt her? She'll n

ever hurt me... intentionally at that.

The event started a bit later after the dinner was

served. Each of us were given numbers. Dad said I
could spend only a million for tonight. As if nam
an may bibilin ako sa human bidding.

"N-nakita mo ba si Tripp?"

Kei looked at me and arched her brow. "Are you two

fighting?"

Hard as I try to deny it, hindi ko kaya. It was so

damn obvious. Hindi na kami magkasama ngayon. Bac
k then, we were inseperable by any human means.

She shook her head. "I saw him last time. You two
should talk, you know. Walang sense ang pag iwas s
a problem because admit it or not, hindi naman naw
awala yun. The problem's still there. You're just
prolonging the agony."
Sana nga kasi ganun lang kadali yun. That confront
ing the demons of your life is easy... but it's no
t. Problems were there to keep our feet on the gro
und, to remind us that no matter how perfect our l
ife may seem, somewhere along the way, something w
ill mess up and will burst our pretty, little bubb
le of perfect life.

"Sana nga..."

She hit my shoulder. "Stop the pity party, Perez!

Come on. We both know na parang aso si Tripp dati
kung humabol sa'yo. Don't let him turn the situati
on upside down! You're a wonderful person, okay? D
on't let someone let you forget that."

I smiled at her. "I really missed you."

She winked at me. "Same here, same here."

The event formally started.

"For the first auction... it came from the generou

s family of Sandoval! A 90 year old wine from one
of the best wine maker of France. The bidding amou
nt starts from 100 thousand."
And... the playtime of the rich and successful bega
n.

Kei and I were talking about the things we used to

do when we were in New York when suddenly, she ex
cused herself. "My mom's calling."

She left abruptly after that and I was left alone,

trying to make sense of how come people waste mon
ey with these shenanigans?

"Old hag."

"Ethos?"

He rolled his eyes at me. This kid! "Di ba halata?

" sabi niya sa akin. God, he really did take after
his brother!

I looked around, trying to spot either his mom or

dad. "Sino ang kasama mo?" I said, looking at him.
He was wearing a tuxedo and his hair was really w
ell done. He looked really dashing!

He sighed and sat on Kei's spot. "Si Mom at Dad. Ik

aw, sino ang kasama mo old hag?"
"Old hag?"

He nodded. "Yes, old hag. Pwede mong igoogle kung h

indi mo maintindihan."

Oh, God. I was wrong. He's worst than Drake!

"Call me Alys."

"I don't want."

"Ethos!"

"What?"

"Call me Alys."

He stuck his tongue out. "You can't make me."

"I'm telling your dad about your stinky attitude,"

I warned him.
He cocked his head and smirked at me. He smirked at
me, oh my god!

"Okay. Punta ka sa bahay namin."

I shook my head. "No, ngayon ako pupunta. You're a

bad kid. Ilang taon ka na ba?"

He raised his hand and showed me his five fingers.

"I'm four. And it's been four years since you bro
ke up with kuya. You're a mean, old hag."

Halos mabulunan ako sa sinabi niya. How could a kid

like him say so many things?!

After grabbing my share of froyo, he stood up. "Go

to our house, okay? I hate you but I hate that ot
her old hag more." And then he left me. What's wit
h that kid? Geez.

Minutes passed and wala pa rin si Kei so I decided

to follow her. Baka naman naligaw na yun. This ho
tel was big and she's new in town... kind of.

I excused myself from my parents and walked out. T

he night wind was crisp and chilly and everybody s
eemed preoccupied. No one noticed me walking out t
he door apart from the one who was responsible for
opening the door.

Carefully, I searched the parameter but no one was

around. I finished roaming around the lobby and t
he whole of the first floor but Kei wasn't anywher
e in sight. Where could she have been? She won't a
nswer her phone.

As I was passing by the corner, I heard faint murmu

rs.

"It feels like I'm talking to a dumb person here!"

"Hindi mo sinasagot 'yung tawag ko. What do you exp

ect me to do?"

And that was the exact moment I clutched my hands t

o my chest.

"Oh god, Tripp! You and me? Not happening! Are you
dumb or crazy? Oh, wait, you're both!" cried Kei.

There was an abrupt pause and with that my heart f

ollowed as well. The silence was torturing me. All
my nightmares felt like being real.
I heard someone kcoking over something. "Kei," he s
aid, his voice strong and firm.

Kei shouted. "Tripp, umayos ka nga! You're with Al

ys, my best friend! Need I spell it out for you? G
od, pinapasakit mo ang ulo ko!"

"We're on the rocks."

"I don't care, Tripp Marco Palma. I don't go after

my friend's ex. Ikaw at ako? Not now, not ever. S
o please, get your head out of your ass and start
fixing things with Alys. I'm nowhere as good as Al
ys. Don't be a jerk and straight things out with h
er. She's a catch and you're an ass. Be thankful s
he's putting up with all of your shit because if t
hat was me? You'll see yourself in the dumpster."

After that, I heard footsteps and I hid myself fro

m her. She stayed after walking for a few meters a
nd then I received at text from her.

'I'm going home. Sorry for ditching. Rain check?'

At that moment, I did not know whether to smile or

to cry. My boyfriend was going after my best frie
nd.
I was silently sobbing when somebody spoke behind m
e.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

It was him. His voice was nothing like before. He'

s now cold and ruthless. Was this the real him? Wa
s I just being pathetic believing that he was my v
ersion of perfect prince charming?

Wiping my tear-stained cheek and controlling my br

eathing, I looked at him with the faintest ray of
pride. "Napadaan lang ako."

He shrugged.

God, can I be more pathetic than I already am?

I tugged on his arm. "Tripp..." I called out.

He stopped and I felt him taking a deep breath. "A

lys, I know you heard us talking. Masokista ka ba?
"

I had to bit my lip to prevent a sob from escaping

 my lips. Damn I thought it would be painful but I
never imagined it would be twice as painful as th
is. This was beyond torture.

"Tripp, akala ko ba pahinga lang? Hindi naman tayo

naghiwalay..."

He sighed and held me by my shoulders. I was shaki

ng from all the controlled sobs. It was pretty dam
n hard not to cry in front of your boyfriend while
watching him slip away.

"Alys, let's break up."

"Ayoko!" I shouted before I even knew it. "Ayoko, T

ripp!"

He closed his eyes and bit his lower lip. "Alys, wa

la na. Tapos na talaga."

"Sinasabi mo lang yan. You're not even trying!"

He grabbed me and shook me. "Naririnig mo ba yung

sarili mo, Alys? You're being selfish. Pabayaan mo
na ako. I want a life without you."
And that put a permanent scar on my heart. How cou
ld he want to have a life without me? Did he loath
e me that much?

I put my head down and felt my dress getting soake

d up with all the tears. My chest was tigheting an
d I can't breathe. It was hard breathing... Ayoko
na...

My voice was faint... and I was losing faith.

"D-don't you love me anymore?"

It was more of a rhetorical question. He didn't lo

ve me. Not anymore. Did he even love me in the fir
st place?

"I did, and I still do."

"Pero bakit mo ako sinasaktan?"

He lifted my chin and smiled at me. "Because you c

an't love me the way I want you to, Perez. Buong b
uhay ko palagi kong kahati si Drake. Ayoko na pati
sa babae, magkahati kami."
"Buti I chose you!"

He shook his head. "No, Perez. You chose him. I was

your safety blanket."

"Tripp..."

He kissed my cheek. "Subukan mo muna siyang habuli

n, Zy. Pangako kapag hindi mo siya nahabol, ako an
g hahabol sa'yo."

I smiled at his response. "And why were you being a

dick?"

He patted my head. "Because if I wasn't, I'd just

see myself crawling back to you. I'm pathetic with
out you, Perez.

I held his hand. "Then let's be pathetic together.

Tripp, masaya naman ako na ikaw ang kasama ko..."

He shook his head. "Let's try being apart for real

, Zyril. I promise you my name. Papakasalan kita k
apag hindi ka binalikan ni Drake. Come on, Perez.
Mahirap 'to para sa akin."
I held his head and planted a soft kiss on his lips
. "You really are my soulmate."

He smiled. "Pero hindi lahat ng soulmate nagkakatul

uyan."

"I know."

He offered his hand. "Friends?"

I shook my head. "You'll marry me someday."

*******************************************
[35] -32-
*******************************************
Merry Christmas, guys! :) External link: link ng i
nfo about the Drake Palma book! Ang daming humihin
gi ng palugit so imomove ko na siya hanggang secon
d week ng January okay? :D

Chapter 32

My head was still aching from all the thinking and

pondering I did last night. Susundin ko ba yung s
inabi ni Tripp? Will I chase Drake? And if I did,
wouldn't it be tiring and exhausting? Alam naman n
amin parehas na mapapagod lang kami. It was like o
urs was doomed.

I got up and did my morning rituals. There's no us

e studying for years kung magiging tambay lang nam
an pala ako sa bahay namin.

"Good morning," I greeted my mom. I went near her

and kissed her cheeks. Looked like wala na sila da
ddy at Dane. "Nasan sila dad?"

My mom motioned me to sit down with her and placed

a decent amount of bread and spread on my plate.

She said after finishing, "Andy's at work and your

brother is studying. You? Ano ang gagawin mo toda
y?"

I was torn between saying na babalik na ako sa sho

p and lying about it. Seriously speaking, I want a
break. Gusto kong umalis at magbakasyon. Maybe to
take things off my mind. Siguro kailangan ko 'to.
Lately, my mind had been doing rash things to me.
There were nights kung saan hindi ako makatulog.
It felt like torture; just lying there and not bei
ng able to sleep at all.

"I'm going on a vacation," I said.

My mom beamed at me. "Finally!" she said with glee.
"Where are you headed to?"

I shrugged. Wala pa talaga akong plano. I just wan

ted an escape from the harsh reality. Somewhere wh
ere I could be who I was. To be just Alys... 'yung
walang hangups, walang insecurities, walang probl
ema. I just wanted to become a kid again.

"I don't know yet. Somewhere South, maybe?"

Mom nodded. "Alright. Call me if you need anything,

okay?"

"Okay."

After the delightful breakfast, mom went to work.

Ako? I went up to prepare my things. Ilang araw ka
ya ako mawawala? I think one week would suffice. S
iguro naman after that, my mind would be fresh eno
ugh not to screw things up. Susubukan ko 'yung sin
abi ni Tripp. Maybe I'll try to fix things up with
Drake. No, not chase him. I just want to have thi
ngs back to normal.

Maybe tama nga si Tripp, I still love Drake. I thi

nk I never stopped loving him. He was my epic love
. Pero I don't want that kind of love. Gusto ko la
ng ng tahimik na buhay. Complications would never
be my thing.

I finished packing my things after an hour and a h

alf. I went down and got my car key. Pumunta rin m
una ako sa kitchen to get some food. This will be
a long drive.

"Hello?" I said after picking up the phone. I saw A

ya's name on the caller ID.

There was a noise on the other line pero hindi ko

na pinansin. I was busy checking my things; baka k
asi may nakalimutan ako. ("Alys!") she said with u
ncertainty.

"Yeah?"

("Nasan ka? Sabi ni Tita magbabakasyon ka raw?")

I ignited the engine. Hay, Alys. Brace yourself for

the long drive.

I typed the destination I was headed to. Mabuti na

lang my Nana loved me enough to buy me a European
car. How I loved this car.
Sinabi ko kay Aya yung resort na tutuluyan ko. Why
was she now interested in my plans? Dati naman ka
hit iyakan ko na siya, hindi siya sumasama sa akin
. Oh how she hated travelling.

("Oh, okay, thanks!") she said and then ended the l

ine. Weird.

The drive to nowhere started. I played songs to li

ghten up the rather sappy mood. After passing by M
anila, I opened the window of my car. The wind was
so refreshing. It was like I wasn't in the Philip
pines.

The monitor said I was on half an hour away from m

y destination. Good! I can'tt wait to put my sunbl
ock on and to toast myself under the sun!

While I was busy driving, my phone kept on vibrati

ng. It was all from Kei. Why was she calling? Mayb
e she felt guilty? Pero bakit naman? It wasn't lik
e... nevermind.

I pulled up on the sideway and composed a quick mes

sage.

'On a vacation. Look after Tripp for me, okay? Bye!

Thanks, Kei! x'
Just because I agreed to Tripp's stupid plan of me
chasing Drake did not mean that I'll let him chas
e after Kei. I just can't fathom the idea. It was.
.. it was unimagineable.

Dumating na ako sa resort just few minutes after.

The place was breathtaking! Ngayon na lang ulit ak
o nakakita ng coconut tree, swear! Ang ganda dito!

I dragged my suitcase and the attendees welcomed me

. It was like I was in Hawaii.

"Mabuhay!" they said in unison.

I smiled at them and let them carry my things for m

e. Inabutan din nila ako ng drinks.

After that, pumunta na ako sa frontdesk. I reserve

d a room earlier using my Mom's credit line. Mine
was a wreck. Dad had it cut kasi I reached my limi
t three times already.

"Hi. I had a room reserved. Alys Perez," I said.

The woman checked on her computer and then smiled

at me. "Here's your keycard. You made a change ear
lier, right?"
My brows furrowed. "Change?"

She nodded at me. "Someone called and upgraded your

room to a suite."

"Ha?"

"You used the same card."

I smiled at her at tumalikod ako. Shit. Bakit nandi

to si Drake?!

He didn't see me first kaya nagmadali akong maglak

ad papasok sa looby nila. Nagtago ako sa likod ng
isang halaman and quickly dialled mom's number.

("Hi!")

"Aya?" Bakit hawak niya ang phone ng mom ko?

("Hi, Besh! Hehehe. Ayaw kang kausapin ng mommy mo,

e.")
I massaged my temple. Eto na naman si Aya sa thril
l niya sa buhay! Dapat talaga isinasali siya sa Su
rvivor or sa Amazing Race e! Gustung gusto niya ng
ganitong thrill!

"Bakit naging suite yung room ko? At bakit nandito

si Drake?" I tried my best not to shout pero hala
ta na sa akin na naiinis na ako. God, Aya! Ano ba
ang nasa isip mo!

("Hashtag team Dralys nga kasi ako! Kaya niyo yan!

Make love not war!")

"WHAT THE HELL, AYA?!"

("Basta jan ka lang. 'Wag kang KJ!")

"You're crazy."

("I'm not crazy; I'm your best friend, okay? Sit b

ack and relax. Kung wala talaga sa one week na mag
kasama kayo, I shall never talk again about Drake.
Promise kahit masakit sa puso magiging hashtag Te
am Tripzy na ako.")

"Crazy witch!"
("Love you, Besh! Mwa!")

Ugh! Kainis! Babaan daw ba ako ng phone?!

I put my phone back on my pocket and took three de

ep breaths. Sabi ng instructor ko sa yoga, three d
eep breaths dapat para kumalma ako. But hell kahit
yata sampu hindi ako kakalma, e!

I hastily dragged my feet toward Drake.

"Hi," I said.

He looked at me. "Hi?"

Seemed like wala rin siyang alam. Si Aya talaga!

I smiled at him. "Bakit ka nandito?"

He shrugged. "Dad."
So... balik na naman siya sa one word utterances ni
ya? So Drake Palma.

I nodded at his minimal response. Tumingin ako sa

receptionist and ask kung pwedeng ibang room na la
ng ako. The suite was too big and I'd like a small
room, thank you very much.

"All rooms are occupied," sabi niya. Tumingin ako

sa paligid at kami lang naman ni Drake ang tao. Si
no ba naman kasi ang magbabakasyon sa gitna ng Sep
tember?

"Are you serious?" I asked her.

She nodded. "All rooms are under Dana Guzman's name

."

Shit. Aya!

"But she's not even here!" sabi ko sa receptionist.

She shook her head. "The rooms have been paid. How
ever, the suite room is still available for the tw
o of you."
I looked at Drake. He was passive.

"You can take the room," he said. "I'll go."

And then he turned his back at me. Bakit palagi na

lang ganito yung sitwasyon namin? Palagi niya na
lang akong tinatalikuran.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin at then I saw him kicki

ng his car's wheel. Out of sheer curiosity, lumapi
t ako. Damn. His tires were all flat! Aya!

Lumapit ako lalo and goodness! Pati yung sasakyan k

o flat din yung gulong!

I grabbed my phone and dialled either my Mom's or

Aya's but my phone was cut as well! Ugh! Conspirac
y!

Tinignan ko yung mga crew ng resort and all of the

m looked away. Siguro binayaran sila ng magaling k
ong nanay! Ugh! Isusumbong ko sila kay Dad!

I dragged myself back to the receptionist. "Fine, a

kin na yung card."
Inabot na sa akin yung card and all of a freaking
sudden, nasa likod ko na rin si Drake. "My phone i
s useless. My car is useless," sabi niya.

Kulang na lang tumango ako sa kanya at sabihin na '

I feel you, brother.'

I smiled and inhaled. "Share a room?"

He shrugged.

I signalled for the bell boy to follow us. Ang mag

aling kong nanay, pinili pa talaga yung suite na m
alayo sa ibang suite, yung ang kaharap namin ay yu
ng beach. Great, Mom. Ano ba ang plano mo para sa
nag iisa mong anak na babae?

"Thanks," I uttered and gave the bell boy a handsom

e tip.

My eyes roamed around the room. The place was epic

! But there was a problem... isa lang yung kama.

Drake placed his things on the floor and said, "Tak

e the bed."
"We can share?" sabi ko. I mean, I knew him. Hindi
siya sanay mahiga sa sahig or sa couch man lang.
This man was practically a prince! Ni hindi nga pi
napagod yan ni Tito Steve tapos papahigain ko sa c
ouch?

He looked at me with those scary pair of orbs. "No.

"

"Pero--"

"I'm a man and I'm in love with you. Don't challeng

e me, Alys."

And that apparently shut me up.

--

We arranged our things. I'll take the bed and he'l

l stay on the couch. Binuksan ko rin yung plasma a
nd wtf was my mom thinking?! Bakit adult channel l
ang yung available?!

Kulang na lang ihagis ko yung controller sa screen

para mabasag siya! Good thing nasa cr si Drake at
naliligo kung hindi baka nahagis ko talaga out of
shock!
Naligo na rin ako and I wore a Sunday dress. The w
ind was fine and I'd like to take a walk at the sh
ore later. Siguro pwede naman since private proper
ty naman 'to.

"Uhm..." I said, trailing off. Hindi ko alam kung

pano magsimula. How did we end up like this? We us
ed to be comfortable around each other to the poin
t na pinapayagan niya akong gamitin yung shirts ni
ya pero ngayon ni hindi man lang ako makatingin sa
mata niya. Funny how things work.

He closed his laptop. "Alys?"

Suddenly, my heart was beating fast. "H-ha?"

"Just..." he said, hesitating to continue his sent

ence. "Just treat me the way you did before. You a
cting strange sucks."

I smiled at him. He really did love me. Sana makah

anap siya ng mamahalin niya. Not me but someone wh
o's worthy of him. Drake is a fine man. Any girl w
ould be lucky to have him.

"Sure," I said and smiled.

He stood up and placed both his hands inside his p
ocket. He was wearing a striped shorts and a black
shirt and a beanie.

"Wanna take a walk?"

I gladly agreed.

Pumunta kami sa labas and I was half running kasi

naunang maglakad sa akin si Drake and plus sobrang
mahangin kaya hinahangin yung damit ko.

"Ouch!" sabi ko kasi nadapa ako. Ano ba naman 'to!

Before I even noticed that my scraped knee was ble

eding, Drake was already kneeling in front of me a
nd attending to me. "Tss."

"O-ouch!" I said when he touched the injured part.

"Drake naman!"

Out of the blue, he chuckled. Ha?

"Anong nakakatawa?" I asked him.

He was still looking at my knee and then he spoke.
"This. Us. It was like high school all over again
."

At what he said, I couldn't help but to smile agai

n. Tama nga siya. This was us. Drake and Alys. Nag
lalakad lang tapos siya tutulungan ako tuwing nada
dapa ako. That was me when I first fell in love wi
th him.

"Nakakamiss din pala," I uttered.

He sighed at my statement and then fished for his

handkerchief. He wrapped it around my knee not bef
ore blowing on it softly.

"There," he said.

"Thanks..."

He brushed off the sand on his shorts and helped me

get up. "Alys?"

"Hmm?"
"Can we be like we were in high school again?"

"Ha?"

He looked down and smiled at himself. "High school

was my fondest memory because when I was in high
school, I had you."

*******************************************
[36] -33-
*******************************************
Merry Christmas! Had a good one? Me I had a blast!
<3 Enjoy reading!

External link: Drake Palma book payment/order form!

:)

Chapter 33

My eyes blinked three times. I had no reaction but

I was flushed... internally at that. The fact tha
t the afternoon wind was blowing against me added
to the blissful effect.

"H-ha?" I just had to repeat what he said. Pakiramd

am ko, nabingi ako for a moment.
Nakatingin pa rin siya sa baba at nakalagay pa rin
sa loob ng bulsa niya ang parehong kamay niya. I
noticed that he lost weight. Sobrang stressed na b
a siya sa akin? No, ang assuming ko naman kung iis
ipin ko 'yun. Maybe it was Fier's doing. Last time
, nakita ko na siya ang kasama ni Drake. Siguro ng
a siya ang dahilan kaya stressed out si Drake.

He looked at me then. This was the Drake I knew, y

ung walang insecurities, walang second thoughts. W
hat you see is what you get. Kapag mahal ka niya,
sasabihin niya. Kaya nga dati it took us months ba
go ko narinig na sabihin niya na mahal niya ako. P
ero hindi ba mas okay yun? Love should take time,
hindi yung biglaan na lang. Love built on foundati
on is meant to pass through storm.

"Can we?" he asked again.

Before I even knew that the words escaped my mouth,

I said, "Sige."

And then, he offered his hand to me and we walked h

and in hand.

Tahimik lang kami, no one even bothered talking. S

iguro kasi matagal kaming hindi nagkasama. It's be
en years, right? Kung tutuusin, Drake's just some
fond high school memory. Ilang taon lang ba kaming
nagkasama? 2 years? Ilang taon kaming hindi nag u
sap? 4 years. The hate was longer than the fun. Pe
ro ganun yata talaga. There are people who are exc
eption to the rules. Walang time, walang pinagsama
han. Once they made their mark on your life, they
will be permanently etched. Magkasakitan man, may
magawa man na masama, still, kapag bumalik sila, t
atanggapin mo pa rin, e.

"So..." sabi ko. The silence was suffocating. Hind

i ko na kaya. I'd rather suffer in awkward convers
ation than to live in deafening silence. "How was
life?"

"Boring."

"Ha? Bakit naman?"

He looked at me and smiled a little. "Wala ka kasi.

"

Siguro kung may iniinom ako, nabulunan na ako. God

, Drake Palma! Wala man lang warning warning?!

"A-ano?"

He, then, chuckled. Damn you, Palma!

"Nothing," sabi niya tapos naglakad na ulit siya.
Dahil nga hawak niya yung kamay ko, nahila niya ak
o. Muntik na akong madapa na naman pero dahil naka
hawak ako sa kanya, napasubsob lang ako sa braso n
iya. Damn, nagwoworkout siguro siya.

Bakit ba ganito ang iniisip ko? Tss!

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" I asked him.

He shrugged. Hindi na naman siya nagsalita. Ang tah

imik niya pa rin talaga.

"Nagugutom na ako..." I uttered. Hindi pa ako kuma

kain simula nung umalis ako sa bahay namin. Malapi
t ng magdilim. Siguro dapat mag dinner na kami. Ma
y makakainan ba dito or what?

He stopped and looked at me. "Let's go on a date."

"HA?"

And that was it. Hindi ko na mapigilan mapasigaw.

He really knew how to surprise me! Akala ko after
all these years, mawawala na yang TDPW na yan! Nan
dyan pa rin pala!
He smiled, just a little. "I wasn't able to ask yo
u formally before so... yeah. Will you go on a dat
e with me?"

Pano ba 'to? Before going here, I made it my resol

ve na si Tripp ang pipiliin ko. But being with Dra
ke like this? Hindi ko alam kung paano tumanggi. I
t was because there's something about Drake na hin
di ko kayang iwasan. He's like a magnet. And I was
damn attracted.

"Pero--" I tried reasoning.

"Tonight and the next days will be me living my dr

eam, Alys. After that, you can go back to your rea
lity."

"How about your reality?"

He smiled again. "My reality sucks."

"Bakit naman? Nandyan naman si Cristine..." At si F

ier.

He cocked his head sideway. Nagpalagay pala siya n

g piercing. Bakit kaya? Dati naman sabi niya masam
a daw yung mga ganun. Time could really change peo
ple and their beliefs.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean--- wala! Nevermind."

Nagsimula na akong maglakad pero bigla niyang hina

wakan yung braso ko. "Don't make me say this."

"Ha?"

Ano ba naman! Puro na lang 'ha' ang nasasabi ko! N

asan na napunta yung iba kong vocabulary?!

He sighed and closed his eyes. After a few second

and after my heart stopped beating momentarily, he
looked at me. "My reality sucks because I can't h
ave you. So will you shut up and let me indulge my
self just for this week?"

Hindi ko alam pero bigla na lang nagsalita ako. "Si

Tripp."

Two words pero it could change everything. I reall

y did care about Tripp. Unlike what he believed in
, he was my priority. Iniisip ko siya bago ako gum
awa ng decisions, most of the time.

"Just one week."

"Wouldn't it be selfish?" I asked.

He took a deep breath and looked at the orange sky

. "I've been selfless most on my life. Now, I'd li
ke to be selfish," he said and then turned his gaz
e at me. "Let's go?"

Wala na akong nasabi. This was Drake talking to me

. And he was practically begging. Sino ba naman ak
o para hindi sumunod sa hinihiling niya?

"Drake! Drake!" I tried to sound as perky as possi

ble. Ganito ba ako ka high pitched nung high schoo
l?

Drake arched his eyebrow. Nainis yata siya sa taas

ng boses ko. Nainis din kaya ako!

"What?"

I smiled at him and held his hand. "I'll be your f

airy godmother." Tumayo ako and stratigically wave
d my hand up and down. "Babalik tayo sa year 2013.
Boom! Nasa high school na tayo!" I said and then
closed my eyes for a bit and then opened it. Upon
seeing him, I smiled. "Drakey baby!"

He smiled. God, he smiled! Hindi maliit at tipid na

ngiti. He freaking smiled!

"Noob."

I bit my lip and smiled at him. "Meanie."

He messed my hair and intertwined our hand. "Date?"

I nodded, a little too enthusiastically at that. "L

ibre mo ha!"

A few steps later, we found ourselves lost. Sino b

a naman kasi ang nagsabi sa amin na maglakad lang
ng maglakad sa kawalan?

"Hala! Nawawala na tayo!"

The matured me would have panicked by now pero dah

il ako si Alys before, I put my whole trust in Dra
ke. Hindi naman niya ako papabayan.

"Shit."

Narinig kong magcuss si Drake. Hala! Ano ang nangya

ri dun?

Dali akong pumunta sa kanya and saw a broken twig

on his feet, medyo nagdudugo pa yung toe niya.

"Anong nangyari?"

"Stupid twig."

May dugo! Ang daming dugo! Ugh nasusuka ako!

Tumakbo ako palayo sa sugat niya at nasuka. Sheez!

Ayoko talaga ng nakakakita ng dugo. Dati kasi sa
Paris, nahiwa ako ng knife yung partner ko tapos e
wan ko ba ang lakas niya yata maghiwa kaya halos m
atanggal na talaga yung finger niya. After that, n
ahihilo at nasusuka ako kapag nakakakita ng dugo.
Disgusting. Nakakadiri. Ugh.

After pacifying myself, bumalik na ako. Si Drake? A

ng seryoso na naman niya.
"Okay ka na ba?" I asked him, avoiding the blood.

He nodded. Tumayo siya and started walking away.

"Huy!" I said, then hinabol ko siya. Medyo iika ik

a pa siyang maglakad pero ang bilis niya. Halos ng
a tumakbo na siya. Ano ang problema niya? "Drake!"
I shouted.

He didn't hear me, or rather he didn't stop even af

ter hearing me.

I stopped on my tracks.

"Drake."

My voice was cold. Ayoko ng ganito. Bakit niya na

naman ako iniiwasan? Akala ko ba truce? Ceasefire?

He stopped pero hindi siya humarap sa akin.

"What the hell is your problem again? Kanina lang

okay tayo a!" I couldn't help but shout. He's madd
ening and frustrating! Hindi pa rin siya nagsalita
kaya kumuha ako ng buhangin at binato ko sa kanya
. "Ano ba! Hindi ka ba sasagot?!"

Before my very eyes, he was already in front of me

and he grabbed me by the shoulders.

"Are you pregnant?"

"What?!"

His stare was icy and scary. After asking me that

dumbing question, tinalikuran niya ako. What the h
ell?! Tatanungin niya ako ng ganong tanong tapos t
atalikuran niya ako?! Nababaliw na ba siya?!

"Drake Sebastian Jimenez Palma!"

"What?" He answered, tired.

"Ano naman kung buntis ako?"

"Don't ask me question you're not prepared for the

answer."
It was like I was challenging the devil. The thril
l was enveloping my very soul. It was like playing
with fire. Alam mong delikado pero gusto mo pa ri
n.

I cocked my head. "Ano ba ang sagot mo?"

He went near me and pulled me. "I don't care about

the baby's father as long as you're the mother. D
amn it Alys I don't care about anything else. Just
you. I just want you and everything else is just
fucking bonus."

*******************************************
[37] -34-
*******************************************

Shoutout to Ate Jonah Torres! Hihi ingat ka jan sa

Italy! Hintayin mo yung books ha! <3

External link and details about the Drake Palma boo

k! :D

Put #DAP34 sa tweets niyo okay? :D

Chapter 34

"Drake..."
My voice sounded more like a plea and not a refusa
l. It was like a choice between heaven and hell. P
ero I promised him I'll make his dream come true..
. But what if his dream would be my reality? All w
as complicated. Ang hirap na pala talaga.

He clenched his jaw but clasped my hand inside his.

"Are you?" he reiterated his question.

I shook my head. "Hindi."

Living in abroad for almost five years, sleeping a

round has always been a freaking option. Most of m
y classmates did that pero ako? No way in hell. Fe
w years back, I promised him myself. Stupid promis
e. Nagbreak na kami at lahat, nakatatak pa rin sa
isip ko lahat ng sinabi niya sa akin, lahat ng pan
gako niya. It was like his memories would forever
haunt me.

He nodded and then hugged me. "Thank you."

"H-ha?"
I felt him kissing the side of my head. His breath
ing was heavy and his familiar musk intoxicated me
. Mabuti na lang at yakap niya ako kung hindi, sig
urado ako kanina pa ako napaupo sa sahig. Damn it'
s been freaking years yet the effect was still the
same... intensified even. How could he do that to
me?

"You... This... Everything," he said.

I smiled. "Grabe ka naman!" I said, trying to light

en up the mood. "Ang sappy mo, Drake!"

He shook his head and then smiled at me. He breath

ed out one last time and then we started walking s
ide by side.

The September wind was blowing so softly against u

s. Ang sarap sa feeling maglakad sa gabi sa ganito
ng panahon. The atmosphere was so serene and with
Drake here, the silence wasn't so bad. It had alwa
ys been like this. His silence, his stares, his wo
rds; it has always felt like home.

"Hindi pa ba tayo kakain?" I inquired. Sobrang guto

m na ako.

"There's no food around."

I shook my head. "Tss. Grabe gugutumin mo lang pala
ako."

He stayed silent as we continued to walk on. After

half an hour, finally, nakarating na kami pabalik
sa suite. Wala ring magawa! The cable was freakin
g useless, yung wifi may password at ayaw ibigay a
ng password! Nakakainis na talaga! Wala talaga ako
ng choice kung hindi kausapin si Drake, matulog, o
mabore.

"Haaay!" I said as I laid my body down. My feet we

re freaking sore from all the walking and my eyes
felt so heavy. Nakakapagod mag adventure kasama si
Drake!

I was on the verge of sleeping when he suddenly pok

ed me.

"Noob."

"Oh?" I said, half asleep. Pagod na talaga ako. I n

eed sleep.

Gumulong ako sa kama palayo sa kanya kasi kanina n

iya pa ako niyuyugyog. The bed was spacious kaya h
indi ako takot mahulog.
"Noob."

"Ano baaaa..." I said in prolonged tone. Drake, so

rry pero mas matimbang ang antok ko sa'yo.

I felt him moving towards me. In just a split seco

nd, he flipped me over so I was staring at him loo
king at me.

"Ano ba!" I said, blushing. He was wearing a black

sando? But that wasn't the point! Ugh! Ano ba nam
ang view yan, Drake?! Ano ba ang ginawa mo habang
wala ako? Tumira sa gym?!

His face was unreadable. Naaamaze ba siya? Naiirita

? Hindi ako makapag concentrate!

"Eat."

"Huh?"

He pointed the table using his hand and... oh, my g

od! May fiesta ba?!
"Ano yan?"

"Food," he simply said.

"Alam kong food yan, Drake! I mean, bakit ganyan k

adami?!" I asked, my eyes still feasting from all
the foods! Mas naramdaman ko yung gutom ko sa dami
ng pagkain. Oh, gosh! Was it crispy pata?! Namiss
ko yun!

He shrugged. "I'd never let you go hungry. There.

Make yourself happy," sabi niya tapos hinatak niya
ako patayo.

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o ano! Why did

he do this?! I was just kidding around!

Namamangha pa rin yung mata ko sa dami ng pagkain

nung hinatak ni Drake yung upuan para sa akin. Mer
on pang sparkling white wine! Oh, Drake. You reall
y did overthink. May downside din pala ang pagigin
g genius mo!

"What do you want?" he asked.

The choices was vast. Ano ba ang kakainin ko?

"Surprise me," I said.

He put a portion of everything on my plate. Kanina

, sabi niya magdate kami pero in the end, naligaw
kami parehas. Ngayon, this felt more like a date.
Mas masaya yung mga ganito kaysa sa kung pupunta p
a kami in some high end place. Masyadong maraming
tao. Here, it was just us. It felt more like a date.

"Ang dami naman!" I said.

"Fatten up."

"Ayoko nga!"

"Why?"

"Pinaghirapan ko kaya yung figure ko!" I defended.

It was jog, jog, and jog! Pwede naman akong kumai
n ng kahit anong gusto ko but I had to jog every o
ther day... and yoga.

He pursed his lips and continued putting something

on my plate. Beef jerky! Gosh, Drake! Ano bang fo
od choices, ang random!
"You honestly look like a stick."

"What?!"

"I could draw you using stick figures."

"Ang sama ng ugali mo!"

He shrugged. "Come on, eat."

Kinuha ko yung chicken leg and chewed it while sho

oting daggers at Drake. This mean man! Bumalik na
naman siya sa pag iinsulto sa akin!

Napatingin naman ako sa braso ko. Okay naman, a! H

e shouldn've seen VS models! Yun ang mga stick fig
ures! Obese pa nga ako kung itatabi sa kanila. Tss!

"Drink," he said then inabutan ako ng four seasons

drink.

"Tss," sabi ko pagkaabot ko.

Kumain lang ako ng kumain habang tinitignan niya ak
ong kumain. Spell awkward!

"Stop looking at me."

He just shrugged.

"Seriously, Sebastian, hindi ako tatakbo. Eat," I

said and motioned for him to eat. "Eat!" I said ka
si hindi pa rin siya gumagalaw.

He shook his head. "Just shut up and eat, Alys. I'm

fine."

"Hindi ako makakain ng nakatingin ka!"

"Then close your eyes and eat."

"What?!"

"Shut up and eat."

"Ugh! Mean!"
He smiled irritatingly. Nakakainis! "Thank you."

Kumuha naman ako ng shrimp puffs at dinip sa mayo.

Ang sarap ng food! Kung ganito ng ganito, mataba
na ako pagdating ko pabalik sa Manila. For sure pa
pagalitan ako ni mommy.

"Drake," I said in between bites. "I won't run. Chi

ll. Kain ka rin."

He shook his head. "You always say you won't run b

ut I always find myself chasing after you because
you always know how to break your words."

I sighed and then put down the shrimp. "Drake," I

said, looking at him. "I won't run. Not now, not t
omorrow. I'm all yours for this week."

"And then what?"

I was torn to lie and to say to him about me givin

g him a chance. I promised myself na si Tripp na p
ero I also did promise Tripp na susubukan kong big
yan kami ng Drake ng chance. Siguro whatever will
happen shall happen na lang. I'll give us this wee
k. If after this week I'd find myself in love--no,
I'd always been in love with this guy--be able to
trust him not to lie to me again, then maybe it's
the sign for us to start over again. It was all I
was asking for: trust. I'm a big girl; I'm sure I
could handle the truth.

It was what destroyed us: him lying to me. Makakay

a ko naman if only he told me the truth. Siguro by
now we would have been married. When we were toge
ther, Drake has always made me feel like he'll be
my future. Ewan ko but he has that effect. Siguro
kaya rin ang dami kong kaagaw siya kanya before an
d today. Girls and women are all attracted to this
damn, young man.

"Stop thinking and let it happen," I said. "Just e

njoy the chase and then accept the result. Drake,
happy endings aren't always the best part of the s
tory. The chase, the memories, the fun... Those ar
e the things that make endings happy."

He started talking. "I'd rather suffer during the

chase as long as the end game includes you barefoo
t and naked inside my kitchen."

"Drake!" I said, my face flushed scarlet red!

He chuckled. "If we didn't break up, Noob, I'd have

you pregnant by now."

Muntik na akong mabulunan sa iniinom ko.

He continued assaulting my innocent mind. "I know
I promised 27 but it was just damn too long. I pla
n to have you pregnant and then let your dad beat
the hell out of me. That was the dream."

"Drake!" I said, again. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang

irereact ko sa mga naririnig ko sa kanya! Had the
years apart made him perverted?! No, I knew he's
a perv but now he's a super perv!

"Alys," he said, seriously. "Did you ever consider

marrying me?"

I stayed silent. Yes, Drake. It was the thought th

at used to make me stay up all night. Marrying you
was the best dream... until you lied to me. That
was the game changer, you know.

But I chose not to lie. "Yes, that was an option."

"Was?"

"Fine, is."

He nodded. "Did Tripp ever propose to you?"

I shot it right away. "Hindi. He didn't ask me." S
ure he did pero lahat naman yun ay biro lang para
sa kanya. Did he even consider marrying me? We've
been together for years already. Siguro naman... k
ahit minsan, di ba?

"He's an ass for not asking."

I smiled at his comment. "Yes, he is."

"But I should thank him. Marrying you is my plan,

my dream, my obligation, my reason for living," he
said and then looked at me. "Alys, I can't let yo
u return to your reality. Give me this week and I'
ll make you remember why you loved me so madly whe
n we were young."

*******************************************
[38] -35-
*******************************************
One batch lang ang Drake Palma book! Order order na
! Hihi :) Link sa external link!

May OP confession nga pala sa fb ko! Wala lang shar

e! Nakakatawa kasi talaga!

Dedicated to: Mira! Eto na oh! Hahaha

Hashtag #DAP35 sa violent reactions niyo ha!!!!

Chapter 35

"Ha-ha-ha! Ikaw talaga nagjojoke ka!" I held his h

and and stuffed my mouth with food. "Kain na!" I s
aid while eating whatever my hand could hold.

He shook his head and then sti back comfortably. H

ow could he?! Ako nga super awkward dito tapos siy
a naman akala mo walang nangyari!

I glared at him while finishing my food. Drake Pal

ma talaga! Bakit ba sobrang confident niya sa sari
li niya? Not in an absurd way, actually. It's just
that... he never felt insecure, for me. He knew w
hat he had and he's just damn confident about it.
Seriously, nakakaloko!

Natapos na akong kumain and nakatitig pa rin siya s

a akin.

"Stop staring."

"Can't help it."

I rolled my eyes inwardly. Ano na namang banat 'to

, Drake? Give it to me, prepared na ako!
He seemed to have studied my face. "You're really t
hin."

Ugh! Ayaw niya pa ring tigilan yung topic na 'yun!

Bakit ba mas concerned pa siya sa weight ko kaysa
sa akin?

"Bakit ba mas concerned ka pa sa akin?"

"I'm concerned about everything about you. Your we

ight, your height, your dreams, your aspirations.
Everything."

I stood up and walked away but he was still in my

earshot. "You need not stress yourself, Drake. Mal
aki na ako and I could handle my own mess."

He was there still sitting and looking at me. I wa

s comfortable with him looking at me. Para bang sa
nay na ako. Nung nasa high school pa kami, ganun n
aman na talaga siya. I used to call his stares sca
ry kasi nakakatakot naman talaga siyang tumingin;
para bang gusto mo na lang mapaupo sa sahig sa lak
as ng intensity. Pero ngayon? It was like home. Dr
ake staring at me was part of my normality.

"I'm sure you could but I still want to. It's part
of loving, Alys. When you love someone, you'd wan
t to help her in every way possible, to make thing
s easier for her. That's what loving is. Seeing wh
at you could give and not looking for what you cou
ld receive."

And that was so profound, I just got to smile. The

years did him good. Drake had always been mature
but he was much better now.

"Fine, suit yourself," sabi ko and then iniwan ko s

iya at pumasok sa cr.

As I was bathing myself, I couldn't help but wonde

r if he'd do as he said. Will he really take me ba
ck after all these mess? I still love him, that's
for sure, pero hindi ko alam kung deserving ako sa
lahat ng nakukuha kong pagmamahal at attention ka
y Drake. It was like it was all not meant for me.
Sa lahat ng ginawa ko sa kanya, I didn't deserve a
ny of his love, much more his devotion.

Pero who was I kidding? He's Drake. Pag gusto niya

, gusto niya. And when he wants something so bad,
he'll get it. Walang exception to the rule. Lahat
nakukuha niya. He was just like that. It was like
everything he wants were bound to be his.

Paglabas ko ng kwarto, everything was cleared. Si

Drake? He was comfortably sleeping on the sofa. Se
ryoso nga siya na dun siya matutulog.
I smiled at the image of him sleeping and then tipt
oed my way to him.

"Good night, Drake," I said as I kissed him good ni

ght.

--

"Good morning."

My eyes were still blinded from all the sleep kaya

it took me seconds to adjust from the light.

"Morning," I mumbled as I stretched my body. "Ano

yan?" I said as I saw a tray spread in front of me
.

He handled me the utensils and poured orange juice

on the glass. "Breakfast in bed."

I smiled at the gesture. "Parang bagong kasal lang,

ah," I commented.

"Take this as practice."

"Huh. Confident!" I said while enjoying my breakfa
st! Kahit alam ko na inorder niya lang naman 'to,
natutuwa pa rin ako. Gestures like these would nev
er fail to make a girl smile. A timiless act, in f
act.

He nodded. "You fell for me, and you'll fall for me

. It's inevitable."

I shook my head while smiling. "Ewan ko sa'yo, Palm

a."

I tried to concentrate on my food when Drake sudde

nly got up and then put a small box in front of me
.

"Ano yan?" I said with my brow arching up. The box

was small and looked antique. Mukha siyang jewerl
y box, actually.

He opened it in front of me and I was in awe with t

he beauty of the jewelries!

"Oh, my god!" Nasabi ko na lang.

Drake smirked at my reaction. He crossed his arms

and then shook his head. "Girls and their jewelrie
s."

I pouted at him. "Boys and their toys."

He shrugged. "These are all yours," he said and th

en nilapit niya sa akin yung box. Napanganga na la
ng ako. Was he for real?!

"Niloloko mo ba ako?!" I said, my face bewildered

and excited at the same freaking time! Kung nilolo
ko niya lang ako, babatukan ko talaga siya!

He shook his head. "I never kid," he said and then

sinuot niya sa akin yung ring. He was smiling fro
m ear to ear while he was doing that. Since when d
id little things start to please him?

"What's so funny?" I asked.

Staring at my finger, he said, "It feels nice hold

ing your hand and talking to you. You feel like ho
me."

I was blushing too hard at his compliment. He was

never this vocal about his feelings for me. Nakaka
panibago lang but it felt freaking good! Having hi
m made me thankful for breathing and waking up eve
ryday.
"Thank you," I said. It was a due gratitude. "Pero
para saan ba 'to?" I said, pointing at the jewelr
y box.

"These," he said, holding the box wide open, "were

my gifts. Birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, mont
hsary gifts, sorry gifts, I love you gifts, thank
you gifts. I don't know; just gifts because I'm so
damn happy you're in my life."

The statement was...

Fudge. I grabbed him and kissed him.

"Damn you, Palma."

He smiled at me. "Yeah, damn me."

--

The days passed and before we knew it, patapos na

yung week namin dito. I didn't want this week to e
nd. It was like this was our escape from reality.
The feeling was soothing and having him here made
me believe that I did the right decision.
Tripp was right. I still love Drake. I always did.
I will always do.

Tama nga sila. No matter what happened, when you l

ove a person, wala, e. Dun at dun din lang ang bag
sak mo. It was like your destination was long deci
ded. And in my case, Drake's my end game. Alam ko
naman na hindi pa ito yung katapusan. We'll pass t
hrough many storms, we'll argue and fight, pero I
trust us enough to make things work. I know we'll
handle it well enough because we trust and love ea
ch other.

Kinuha niya yung gamit ko. I called my Mom and dem

anded na maayos na yung cars namin. True enough, p
agkagising namin, okay na yung sasakyan. Good. Nad
adaan naman pala siya sa pakiusap.

"Tara na?"

He nodded and we left the suite. Damn all these mem

ories inside this very room.

We drove using different cars since dala namin par

eho. Inside the car, tinawagan ko muna si Tripp, a
sking him to meet me. Sasabihin ko na sa kanya na
kami na ni Drake. He asked for it. And I'm decent
enough to inform him. That's what matured people d
o, confronting reality rather than running from it.
("Kailan?") he asked.

I looked at the time. I could still make it. "This

afternoon?"

("Sige.")

"Thank you, Tripp."

I heard him sighing on the other line. ("Alys?")

"What?"

("Panindigan mo na 'yang desisyon mo. People are h

urting already. Tama na. Last na 'to,") he said wi
th such sadness.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, Tripp."

("Magsorry ka in person, Perez. Tingin ko naman des

erve ko 'yun.")

"Yeah. See you later, Tripp..." and then I ended th

e line.

Tripp was a part of my life. Sabi ko nga, best fri

end ko siya, soulmate even. Pero we can't be frien
ds anymore. I just knew we can't.

While we were driving, biglang nagiba ng way si Dr

ake. Akala ko sabay kaming pupunta sa bahay namin?
He was the one who insisted na ipakilala ko siya
sa parents ko!

I decided to follow him from a distance. I don't k

now but something felt odd... and I don't like odd
.

After a while, nakarating kami sa isang hospital.

He was walking really fast and his mind was somewh
ere far away kaya ni hindi niya napansin na sinusu
ndan ko siya. I wonder what was he thinking?

He was at the nurse station and he was looking rea

lly derranged. Matapos niyang magtanong, umalis si
ya agad agad. Sobrang nagmamadali siya.

"Sinong hinahanap niya?" I asked the nurse.

"Marie Fier Sandoval."

Si Fier?

"Anong meron sa kanya?" I asked out of curiosity.

May sakit ba siya kaya siya pinuntahan ni Drake?

"Kaano ano kayo ng pasyente?"

Ugh kahit magsinungaling na friends kami ni Fier,

hindi ko magagawa. The thought was impossible.

I smiled at the nurse and followed Drake instead.

He was walking fast, really fast, para bang mamama
tay na si Fier at siya yung huling hinahanap nito.
The thought was silly but... what the hell. I cou
ld dream.

Huminto siya sa tapat ng isang room. There, Cristi

ne was crying and punching Drake's body.

"Drake..." she was repeating and repeating. "Drake,

I'm sorry..." she said, now crying.

Hindi ko alam pero natatakot ako sa sasabihin niya

. I just got my happiness back... it was too early
to ruin it.
I turned back and started to walk away. Wala akong
pakielam kung sabihin na duwag ako. I just can't
handle the truth now. Pwede bang magbulag bulagan
muna ako? Pwede bang masaya muna ako kahit sandali
lang?

But it was impossible to be happy. I know that aft

er happiness comes sadness. And this was it.

"Si... buntis si Fier, Drake. Hindi na kayo pwede n

i Alys... I'm so sorry, Drake..."

*******************************************
[39] -36-
*******************************************
Hahahaha ang funny ng chapter na 'to or ako lang ba
ang natawa. Lol. Enjoy reading! <3

#HappyBirthdayDrakePalma and #DAP36

Chapter 36

I was running really fast. I didn't want to look b

ack because I knew that if I did, I'd be devasted
more than I ever was.

My breath was hitching and suddenly, I couldn't br

eathe. I clutched my hand to my chest and then as
if it was the cue, the words said by Cristine echo
ed in my mind.

"Si... buntis si Fier, Drake. Hindi na kayo pwede n

i Alys... I'm so sorry, Drake..."

It can't be Drake's right? Hindi naman niya magaga

wa sa akin yun... He loves me! At least that was w
hat he said...

My phone was vibrating and so were my hands. It was

Tripp.

I needed someone to talk to... I needed my best fri

end.

("Nasan ka na? Akala ko ba magkikita tayo?") he ask

ed.

They said the hardest time to control your sobbing

was when you're acting tough but really, all you
just want to do is to breakdown. It was a tiring c
ycle, and damning.

I ended the call before I could even cry. Tripp ha

d already been through hell because of me. Ayoko n
a hanggang ngayon isama ko pa rin siya sa problema
ko. Tama naman siya, people are already hurting.
Masyado ng madaming nasasaktan. Kung si Drake ang
pinili ko, kailangan ko 'tong panindigan. May baby
o wala, papanindigan ko 'to.

I sent him a text message instead.

'Feeling bad. Bukas na lang?'

And then I walked back to my car while crying my h

eart out because of the possibility that my boyfri
end cheated on me and got someone pregnant. Damn i
f this thought didn't kill me.

As I was walking, it started drizzling. Bakit para

ng nakikisama pa 'yung panahon? It was like the ea
rth was helping me wallow in my self pity. Imbes n
a dumiretso ako sa sasakyan ko at umuwi at umiyak,
dumiretso ako sa swing na dati kong pinupuntahan.
Dito yun, e. Dito ako umiiyak tuwing sinasaktan a
ko ni Drake dati. Nandito lahat ng masasakit na al
aala namin.

Ilang beses na ba niya akong sinaktan at pinaiyak?

Hindi ko na nga mabilang, e. Alam ko hindi ko nam
an dapat bilangin kung ilan kasi ako rin naman yun
g may gusto nito. I chose to love him, threfore, I
chose to be hurt by him. Ganun naman talaga yun.
Pag mahal mo, asahan mo na masasaktan ka. What is
love without little pain?
Sa lahat ng dahilan ng pag-iyak ko sa kanya, ito n
a yung masasabi ko na hindi ko alam kung paano ko
isasaksak sa isip ko kung paano ko tatanggapin. Da
mn gusto kong tanggapin pero hindi ko alam kung sa
an ako magsisimula.

As I was swinging myself along with my loneliness,

someone tapped my back.

"Alys?"

I turned around and saw Sheen looking weirdly at me

.

"Umiiyak ka ba?" he asked and then he brought out

his handkerchief and offered it to me. "Oh," he sa
id and when I was to hurt to accept it, he wiped m
y tears for me. "Bakit ka ba umiiyak? Panget ang u
miiyak na babae. Dapat nakangiti ka lang palagi."

I missed him. Namiss ko yung pagiging palagi niyan

g positive. Siya lang yung taong kilala ko na posi
tibo sa lahat ng bagay. He always knew how to see
the best in someone. Kahit na masama ang trato mo
sa kanya, he'll let it pass and instead find somet
hing in you na magugustuhan niya. He was always ju
st like that. He's close to being an angel...

Instead of replying, I hugged him.

He chuckled and then patted my head. "After all the
se years, bata ka pa rin, Alys."

I bit my lip and smiled at the familiarity of this

scenario. Para akong bumalik sa high school with
Sheen here consoling me. He's still that person wh
o waits until I stopped crying. Kaya nga ako nagka
gusto sa kanya kasi alam niya kung paano ako pangi
tiin at patigilin umiyak. It was enough for me to
like him.

"Hindi naman..." I whispered. "Bakit ka nga pala n

andito?" I asked him, knowing na hindi naman siya
tiga village. Kinuha ko yung panyo sa kanya at ako
na yung nagpunas ng luha ko. The handkerchief was
enough to stop my crying, at least. Siguro kung w
ala si Sheen, nandito lang ako magdamag, asking wh
y the heavens wanted me hurting all the time.

He smiled and then sat on the adjacent swing. "May

hinahanap lang ako. Ikaw?"

"Umiiyak, obviously," I said.

"Ikaw talaga," sabi niya tapos ginulo niya yung buh

ok ko. "Bakit ka umiiyak?"

With Sheen, I felt comfortable spilling all the de

mons of my life. Para kasing sobrang trustworthy n
iya. Alam ko na hindi niya ako huhusgahan, na nand
yan lang siya para makinig, para magbigay ng advic
e kung gusto mo. He was just a good listener and t
he best friend anyone could have.

I adjusted myself not to look directly at him. It

felt a little bit silly na magsumbong sa kanya. Wa
s I being a tattletale? I didn't think so. I just
wanted someone to talk to. Yun lang naman...

"It's about Drake..." panimula ko. He stayed silen

t and waited for me to go on and so I did. "We bro
ke up and then now, kami na ulit. All was hell and
then all was supposed to be finally hell but some
thing big happened..." I said, trying so hard for
my voice to not break. "I-I think he got someone p
regnant."

I thought after I finished my sentence, I'd cry. P

ero hindi, e. I was just there, absorbing everythi
ng. My problem wasn't silly. It was serious. How c
ould I handle this? I love Drake. I loved him for
years already pero hindi ko alam kung kaya ko siya
ng agawin kung totoo man na may anak na siya. It w
as just cruel for the innocent kid...

"Siya ba mismo ang nagsabi?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Confirmation wasn't necessary, Sh

een."
"Alys, never assume unless directly stated. Rule of
accountancy. Rule of life."

I smiled and shook my head. "How can I? Hindi ko y

ata kayang itanong pa, baka bigla na lang akong ma
iyak..."

"Ano ba ang gusto mo kasi? Dalawa lang yan, Alys.

Una, wag mong tanungin at macurious ka habang buha
y. O pangalawa, tanungin mo at masaktan ka pero ma
hahanapan naman ng solusyon."

Pwede bang wala na lang choice? Pwedeng back to sq

uare one? Sa Math naman pwede yun, di ba? Bakit da
ti feeling ko sobrang komplikado ng Math, pero nga
yon? Sana pala puro Math na lang kasi sa Math, pwe
de akong magstart from the beginning. E sa mga nan
gyayari sa buhay ko? Wala, e. Iyan na 'yun. Live w
ith it or run from it.

I took a deep breath. "Pwedeng null pareho? Anak n

a yung pinag uusapan, Sheen. Paano kung tanungin k
o siya at ako pa rin pero naman... paano ko maaati
m na makipag-agawan sa anak?"

"You underestimate Drake, Alys. Kilala ko si Drake

simula elementary. Kahit ilan pa ang mabuntis niy
an, ikaw at ikaw lang ang uuwian niyan. He's in lo
ve with you. Di mo pa ba alam yun?"
"But the kid..."

He stood up and pulled me with him. "Hindi naman y

ung bata ang papakasalan ni Drake, Alys. Ang papak
asalan niya, yung babaeng mahal niya. At ikaw yun."

I smiled and hugged him again. "Thanks, Sheen."

"Wala yun, ikaw pa. Tara, samahan na kita sa inyo."

We walked home and left my car. ipapakuha ko na lan

g siguro.

While walking home, I couldn't help but still feel

anxious. Would I ask to confirm? Pero bakit iniis
ip ko pa lang, nahihirapan na ako ng sobra. It was
hard thinking about it but a lot harder actually
doing it.

Nung dumating na kami sa bahay, he said he'll visi

t me again soon. Sana nga. Kailangan ko ng katulad
niya. Unbiased and just positive.

"Alys."
His voice. It was Drake talking to me. Nakatayo si
ya sa harap ng pintuan ng bahay namin, just probab
ly waiting for me.

"Bakit?" I asked him, trying to sound normal. Hind

i naman niya alam na alam ko na. Sasabihin niya ba
sa akin o magsisinungaling lang siya? Both hurt s
o much.

He took a step forward and caressed my face. "Were

you crying?" he asked in the most gentle manner.

I tried to smile and said, "Hindi."

I removed his hand from my face and walked in. The

house was empty, hindi ko alam kung nasaan ba sil
a pero mas maayos na siguro 'to. Hindi ko gusto na
makita nila ako na ganito, na nasasaktan. Palagi
na lang kasi, nakakasawa na.

He followed me inside, just silently tailing me aro

und.

"May kailangan ka ba?" I asked.

Umiling siya at naupo lang sa stool sa kitchen hab

ang kumukuha ako ng tubig. All the crying was dehy
drating me.

"Alys..." he said.

"Ano?"

He smiled. "I love you."

My heart stopped beating. Ito na ba yun? Sasabihin

niya na ba sa akin na 'I love you but I can't mar
ry you.' Dapat na ba akong maghanda?

Nanginginig ang kamay ko, hindi ko alam kung paano

hintayin ang kasunod na sasabihin niya.

"Drake, may sasabihin ka ba sa akin?" I asked.

He stared deep into me and then sighed. "You hate l

ies. I hate lies."

I nodded. Lies are destructive. Lies will kill your

relationship.
"I hate lies. I loathe them," I said back. The mom
ent was intense, anytime sasabog na yung kanina ko
pang nararamdaman. Sabihin mo na, Drake! End this
misery!

"Fier's pregnant," he said. There, finally.

I bit my lips to stop myself from crying but damn t

his one tear that left my eye.

"Ikaw ang ama?"

He nodded.

I turned my back and cried. Naibato ko yung hawak

ko na baso. Hindi ko na alam. Sabi ni Sheen mas ok
ay na malaman ko... Pero bakit ang sakit sakit? Ba
kit pakiramdam ko mamamatay na ako sa sobrang hira
p?

Sumisikip yung dibdib ko. Hindi ko alam kung ano an

g dapat kong gawin.

"Alys..." he said.

"Drake, umalis ka. Iwan mo ako, please!"

"Listen---"

Humarap ako sa kanya. Wala na akong pakielam kung

makita niyang umiiyak ako. Nasasaktan na ako. Ayok
ong makita niya akong ganito. Ang sakit e.

"Umalis ka nga, di ba?! Hindi ka ba makaintindi?!"

"Listen to me first!" bigla siyang nagtaas ng boses

. "I want you, Alys. I don't want Fier."

Hinagis ko sa kanya yung prutas sa bowl. Bwisit ka

, Drake! Palagi mo na lang akong ginaganito!

"Sana naisip mo yan bago mo siya anakan!"

He went near me and restrained me. "It's done, Aly

s. I can't do anything about it but be responsible
and man enough to claim the child. And I'm man en
ough to still ask you to be with me. Alys, ikaw la
ng. Ikaw lang naman palagi, e..."

His words were beautiful but still weren't enough

to heal all these scars. Magkakaanak siya sa ibang
babae. Sa ibang babae, hindi sa akin. Saang parte
ng utak ko ba dapat isiksik yun?

"You impregnated her, Drake. Wag mo naman iexpect n

a papalagpasin ko 'yun."

He nodded. "I don't expect you to but I expect you

not to leave me, Alys. Please don't."

I bit my lip and put my hand on my head. "You had

her pregnant. Damn, she was your first! Gusto mo b
ang mabaliw ako?!"

"Are you marrying my virginity or me?" he asked.

Damn you, Palma! Ako pa ang may issue sa virginity

mo ngayon!

"To hell with virginity! Drake, nabuntis mo si Fier

! Ineexpect mo ba na matutuwa ako?"

He stared at me. "I'll get you pregnant tonight if

you want."

"Seryoso ako! Wag mo nga akong gaguhin!"

He took another step and held me by the arm. "Alys
, you're the only one I want to be pregnant with m
y child. Fier was a mistake but you will always be
my choice."

*******************************************
[40] -37-
*******************************************
Happy new year, kiddos and mas matanda sa akin na p
eople! Ingat sa paputok! <3

Drake Palma book details sa external link! Sorry m

akulit, wala na kasing batch two and ayoko na kuli
tin ako in the future para sa batch two kasi wala
na nga :D

#DAP37

Chapter 37

Hindi ko alam kung nagbibiro ba si Drake o seryoso

siya sa sinasabi niya. How could he take things l
ike this one lightly?!

"Palma, umayos ka. Konting konti na lang tatamaan

ka sa akin," I said while glaring at him. Sumasaki
t pa rin ang ulo ko sa katotohanan na magkakaanak
siya sa ibang babae tapos siya, nakukuha niya pang
loko-lokohin ako. "Bakit ba nakukuha mo pang magj
oke?!"
He shook his head as if he was an innocent child.
Damn if he was innocent. For all I knew, he spent
a freaking night in Fier's bed!

"I wasn't joking. I long wanted a child from you."

"Ugh!" I said then binato ko siya ng iba pang prut

as. "Bakit ba ang kalmado mo?! Hindi ka ba pwedeng
magpanic kahit konti?! Damn, magkakaanak ka na!"

Drake took a deep breath and then looked at me. "I

'm calm because you still isn't running away. Try
to run, Alys. You'll see me panicking."

I closed my eyes and prayed. God, paano ko ba 'to

gagawin? I love Drake, I really do. Kaya ko siyang
tanggapin kahit na may anak siya sa iba, oo, pero
hindi ko alam kung kaya ba ng konsensya ko na man
akit ng bata. Paano na lang kung magtanong siya sa
hinaharap kung bakit wala siyang daddy? Hindi ko
yata kaya na ako yung idadahilan. 'Ah, wala kang p
apa kasi kasama siya nung malanding si Alys.' Baka
habulin ako ng bangungot na 'yan.

"Drake," I said, now relatively calm. "How...paano

mo 'to nagagawa? You're having a baby with Fier.
Shouldn't you be with her?"
Umiling siya. "Alys, you can't make me marry her.
I have a clear mind. I don't marry someone because
she's having my kid. I marry the person I love."

Ang saya sana pakinggan. 'Yung tipong against all

the odds' pero hindi ko talaga kaya. I need to set
tle the issues with Fier, with everyone. Ayokong m
aging selfish. Oo, gusto ko si Drake, pero gusto k
o rin yung mga tao sa paligid ko. I don't want to
have just him, I want to have everything about him.

I tried to smiled at his explanation. "Mahal din k

ita, Drake. Pero gusto kong kausapin si Fier, kung
pwede."

"Alys, I already told---"

"Drake, please lang. Mababaliw ako kapag hindi ko s

iya nakausap."

"You'll be crazed by her. You shouldn't talk to her

."

I stood by my stand. "Let me talk to her, Drake."

Huminga siya ng malalim. "Alright, tomorrow."

I smiled and then pressed his hand against me. We
still have each other despite everything. Alam kon
g malalagpasan namin 'to. This is just but a littl
e wave in our boat; it won't sink our ship down.

He stayed for a little while, refusing to leave un

til he made sure I was fine. He fed me and waited
for my parents to arrived.

"Drake?" my Mom said with a familiar grin. Oh, how

she wished for this. Lumapit siya kay Drake and t
hen nagbeso sila. "What are you doing here?"

My dad was shaking his head. Natatawa pa siya kay M

om. Tss. How she loved playing cupid.

Drake smiled at them. Comfortable na kasi siya. La

hat na yata ng kahihiyan with Drake nakita na ng p
arents ko. Looking back, oo nga nakakahiya kaming
dalawa. Naaalala ko pa yung second base talk na ya
n. Lately ko lang narealize na bata pa lang kami,
manyak na si Drake.

"Feeding your daughter," he said.

Daddy looked at me. "Diet ka ba? Oo nga, pansin ko

ang laki ng pisngi mo ngayon..."
I rolled my eyes at him. Corny niya pa rin kahit k
ailan! Ano ba nagustuhan ni mommy dito? Tss. Daddy
talaga, oh!

Mom clapped her hands. "Would you stay for dinner?"

Drake nodded but I shook my head. "Aalis na siya,

mom. Next time na lang," I said then hinila ko si
Drake palayo.

My parents were looking at me weirdly. Mas okay na

'to. I didn't know how to react kapag napag usapa
n yung issue with Fier. I did not appreciate an ou
tsider's point of view as of the moment. My own op
inions were too much to handle already.

Nung makarating na kami sa labas, I took a deep br

eathe. "Uwi ka na. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"

He nodded. He was obedient for the first time.

"Okay."

I turned around, didn't stay to watch him leave. N

ung makapasok ako sa bahay namin, my phone vibrate
d. I fished for it inside my pocket and read a tex
t message from him.

'You can only make me marry you. 1131. Always.'

I smiled at the phone. Drake Palma, you really knew

your way with words.

The moment I went back, my mom bombarded me with q

uestion. Seriously, she's one nagging woman.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Mom, I'm tired. Bukas ko na lang ipapaliwanag."

"Okay," she said, giving up.

Umakyat ako sa kwarto. I cleaned myself but while

I was at it, hindi ko magawang magrelax. Puno pa r
in ng tanong ang utak ko. Sana talaga maging okay
ang lahat. For Drake, I'd be willing to compromise
. Pero sana naman magcompromise din si Fier. It ta
kes two to tango. She can't make me give Drake up.
We should meet halfway.

After bathing myself, I rolled in my bed. This wee

k has been exhausting. I wish the next months woul
d be more relaxing. Ayoko na ng stress. It would b
e damning and excruciating to live in constant wor
ry and fear that something might ruin your happine
ss.

The night passed by and the morning rolled in fast

. I took time to dress myself up. Pupunta kami kay
Fier ngayon. I postponed my meeting with Tripp. H
indi ko rin kasi kaya na irisk na kausapin siya wh
ile my mind was practically at the eye of the stor
m. Parang sinabi ko na rin na tatakbo ako pabalik
sa kanya.

I didn't even eat breakfast because I couldn't bri

ng myself to. I just wanted to finish talking to h
er to calm myself.

'Meet me at the hospital,' I texted Drake.

A few minutes of driving and drinking water, nakar

ating na rin ako sa hospital. I was pacing back an
d forth, kinakabahan ako. Gusto kong lumaban pero
kapag ginamitan ako ni Fier ng baby niya, baka hin
di pa siya tapos magsalita, sumuko na ako.

She's having a baby with Drake. Ano ba ang laban ko

dun?

Dumating si Drake after a while. He was actually r

eally calm! Bakit ba kung umarte siya parang norma
l lang?

I seized him through gaze.

"Palma," I said.

"Hmm?"

I tried to be really serious. Damn, I was serious.

"Fier is really pregnant with your child. Kapag n
alaman ko na niloloko mo lang ako, God knows what
I'll do with you," I said. If this was one of his
messed up tricks, God, I'll kill him!

He nodded. "I wouldn't even try anything to jeopard

ize our relationship."

Pumasok na kami pagkatapos kong kalmahin ang saril

i ko. This was freaking harder in actuality! Akala
ko kagabi, pupunta lang kami and then settle thin
gs. This was much, much more complicated.

Nakarating kami sa harap ng kwarto ni Fier in no ti

me. This was it.

He held my hand. "Do you really want to talk to her

?"

I nodded. "I need to talk to her. For my sanity."

Huminga siya ng malalim and then kissed me. "After

talking to her, ask me again and I'll still say y
ou're the one I'm gonna marry."

I smiled at the sweetness of his assurance. Drake P

alma ka nga talaga.

Pumasok kami sa loob. Fier was not alone.

"Sino kayo?" the tall guy asked.

Fier interjected. "Don't be so nosy, Caleb. Iwan ni

yo nga kami."

The two guys left her room. Sino ba sila? Baka nam
an sila yung tatay ng anak ni Fier? What was I thi
nking? Lahat na lang talaga gagawin ko basta lang
hindi maging si Drake ang tatay.

"What do you need?" sabi niya sa amin.

I took a really deep breath to make me calm. I nee
d all the calmness I could muster. "Can we talk?"

She rolled her eyes. Kumuha siya ng apple sa gilid

ng mesa niya and ate it. She looked really pretty
kahit na may mga dextrose at naka hospital gown s
iya. No wonder she got Drake to sleep with her.

"What else do you want?"

"Are you really pregnant with his child?" I asked.

Gusto ko lang ng assurance. Para kasing ayaw ko p
a ring maniwala. Hindi naman ako masisisi. Somehow
I was still hoping. Hindi naman kasi virginity ni
Drake ang issue. Ang issue ko, may anak siya sa i
ba. Sa iba. Hindi sa akin. Ang layo talaga.

Fier let out a hearty laugh.

"It's my body, Alys. Surely alam ko naman siguro k

ung sino ang ama ng anak ko, di ba?" she said whil
e giving me a smile. She then looked at Drake. "An
d you, fucker, anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Drake sighed. "Don't call me that."

"Ano ang gusto mo? Asshole? Jerk? Douche? No, I st

ill prefer f-ucker. Bagay sayo yun. You freaking b
anged me then sasabihin mo na ayaw mo akong panagu
tan?! The hell with you, Palma! I'm not a freaking
w-hore! Pinag-aral ako ng magulang ko hindi para
lang anakan mo at takbuhan!" she said. She's actua
lly crying while shouting at Drake.

I was lost at the situation. It felt like they were

the only ones talking.

"I didn't run."

"Walking out wasn't considered running?! You freak

ing moron!" she said and then she threw something
at his face. Drake didn't even bother moving. Tahi
mik niyang sinalo lahat ng binabato sa kanya ni Fi
er. "Drake, I'm not some slut unlike what others m
ight actually think. I'm educated. You don't get t
o treat me like a trash," she said while tears wer
e streaming down her eyes.

Ito na yung iniisip ko. I was afraid this would ha

ppen. I'm also a woman. Alam ko kung gaano kahirap
ang pinagdadaanan ni Fier. I couldn't even begin
to imagine kung paano ang gagawin ko if I was in h
er place. Begging someone to marry you wasn't exac
tly something anyone would want to do. It was path
etic and degrading.

"Fier..." Drake started talking. "Don't do this aga

in."
"I only beg once and you rejected me. Sino ka ba p
ara magmakaawa ako? You're just some guy I slept w
ith and unluckily, nabigyan ako ng souvenir."

"A-aalis muna ako," I said. Hindi ko na kaya yung

mga naririnig ko sa kanila. It was too much to hea
r, much more to handle.

Fier said, "No. Listen, Alys. I'm gonna have this

child and you're gonna have to suck it up. I was D
rake's first and I am the mother of his child. Mar
ry him, get his name pero hindi mo maalis sa akin
kung ano ang meron ako. You'll never outwin me, Pe
rez."

*******************************************
[41] -38-
*******************************************
Last day ng payment for the Drake Palma book tomor
row! Expect your books by the end of January <3 :)

#DAP38

Chapter 38

I went home and my spirits were more than crushed.

Kanina pa sinasabi ni Drake na dapat hindi ako ma
gpaapekto but the truth was, I just can't. Every w
ord, every stare, they all got into me. Kahit na a
nong sabi ni Drake na wag akong makinig, hindi, e.
Maybe because I knew that inside, she's telling t
he truth. She had something I'll never had.
"Stop thinking about that," he said and then held
my hand. "I told you talking to her isn't a good i
dea."

Ano ba yung mas okay? Yung marinig ko na lahat ng

dapat ko marinig ngayon o magbingibingihan lang ak
o palagi kagaya ng gusto mangyari ni Drake? But I
seriously can't. Siguro kung hindi ko nakausap si
Fier, habang buhay na akong makukonsensya.

I sit back and looked at him. "Then what's the bett

er idea?"

"I don't know..." he said, "But it definitely does

n't include you stressing yourself over this."

How can I not stress myself? My boyfriend was havi

ng a baby with someone else and that someone else
wanted him with her. Wasn't that preblematic enoug
h because if it wasn't, I had no idea what a real
problem could be.

"Hindi ko kaya, Drake. At the back of my head, nai

isip ko yun palagi..." I told him honestly. Ayoko
na magsinungaling kasi alam ko na pag nadagdagan p
a 'tong problema namin, it would be impossible to
resolve. There were just too much involved.
He held onto my hand tighter. "Just don't."

"Paano?"

He pulled me into a hug and whispered in to my ear

s, "I love you enough to make it through this mess
, Alys." I smiled at his affection. He hugged me t
ighter and kissed the temple of my head. "Just don
't run from me."

I hugged him tighter as I could and then looked in

to his eyes. "Drake, hindi ako tatakbo. Bakit ba p
alagi mo na lang yang iniisip?"

He took a breath and placed both of his hands on t

he steering wheel. He looked a lot like my Drake P
alma when he's like this. I missed him. Yung pagig
ing tahimik niya, walang pakielam, minsan nakakasa
kit siya, oo, pero kapag inisip mo, he was just te
lling you the truth. He didn't do sugarcoating. Wh
en he tells you something, he means well. It's jus
t that people so often misunderstood him because h
e has his way with words.

"Maybe because I'm paranoid," he said.

"But why?"
He didn't look at me this time. He kept his eye in
front of him. "Because I think I love you way too
much, Alys. And I don't think this love is health
y anymore but I can't do something about it becaus
e I don't want to do something about it. I love yo
u so much that the thought of you gone again will
really kill me."

"Drake," I called out his name. He still wasn't lo

oking at me. I moved towards him and made him face
me. "Look at me," I said and then caught his eyes
. His eyes were sad and it's making me sad. I lean
ed in and kissed him softly. What have I done to t
his man that the mere thought of me being gone was
making him like this? "I'm not running away. Don'
t be scared."

"I wish I could."

I held his face. "Drake, will you marry me?"

I knew this plan was the worst plan of them all pe

ro I didn't know. Words just came pouring out of m
y mouth. I have always knew I wanted to marry this
guy... and now was nowhere near perfect but my he
art just kept on telling me to marry him to end al
l his doubts, and mine as well.

He stiffened at my question.
"Drake Sebastian Jimenez-Palma, I knew I rejected
you so many times already that I lost track of it.
Alam kong mali 'tong gagawin natin considering th
e fact na magkakaanak ka na... and I know this isn
't fair for the baby nor for Fier. But I love you
so much. I know myself, Drake, deep inside, I know
that one day, when all these are too much to bear
, I'm gonna give you up. And the thought scares me
. I don't wanna give you up... Ayoko na. I gave yo
u up so many times already. Tama na yun. Ayoko na.

"Can I be selfish just this once? Can you marry thi

s selfish girl, Drake?"

I looked at him, hopeful. Of all the days and nigh

ts I spent in my dire life, ngayon lang ako naging
ganito ka impulsive. But I knew I won't regret th
is decision. Marrying him was my long time dream.
Siguro nga I was doing this for all the wrong reas
on but who cares? I'm doing it for the right perso
n so screw all the wrong reasons. I love this guy.
So much.

He was still speechless.

"Drake..." I said.

He wasn't moving nor talking. It was like his tong

ue got tied and it was scaring me. Ayaw niya ba ak
ong pakasalan? Was marrying me repulsing him? Was
he planning on marrying Fier for the sake of the b
aby?

I didn't know that I was crying until Drake wiped t

he tears for me.

"Ayaw mo ba akong pakasalan?" My voice was shaking

because of the fear that maybe he didn't want me
anymore...

He chuckled and then pulled me and kissed me. "Are

you crazy?" he said. "I'd marry you in a heartbea
t, Alys. Anywhere, any time."

"E bakit ayaw mong sumagot agad?" I said, punching

his chest. "Gusto mo ba akong patayin sa kaba?"

He smiled at me and he was smiling. Just smiling.

"Damn, Perez, I love you so much," he said and the
n pulled me and kissed me long enough that I knew
he just took my breath away.

--

We were walking hand in hand on our way inside our

house. The smile on our faces can't be denied. We
're just meant to be together.

"Where were you?" Mom asked me the moment na makita

niya kami.

There was this worry inside me. I didn't like the

feeling. My mom and dad were there, as if they wer
e waiting for us to arrive.

"Somewhere else..." I said. "Why?"

My mom motioned for us to sit. I didn't like this s

etup. My heart was racing.

"Mom, may sasabihin ako," I began. Better end this

agony of waiting. "We're getting married."

The look on my mom's face was unreadable, it was l

ike she was happy and sad at the same time. She cl
osed her eyes and said, "Sorry, Alys, you can't."

Right then, the description that my world stopped

spinning was very apt. How come my life was this s
crewed up? I just fixed things with Drake and then
now, my parents were making things difficult for
me.

My breathing was being rugged and my head was spinn

ing. Everything was just so messed up.
"Bakit?" I said, looking at her and my dad.

"Alys..." My dad said.

"Tell me why, Dad! Give me a reason!" I said.

"Don't shout at your dad, Alys!" My mom said.

I laughed at our situation. Can my life get anymor

e fucked up? I think not. Sobra na sa sobra lahat
ng nararanasan ko. Siguro pwede ng ipasa as movie
'tong buhay ko. Yung tipong drama.

"Paano akong hindi sisigaw?" I said. I was about t

o continue explaining myself when Drake held my ha
nd. "What?!" I glared at him.

"Calm down," he said.

"I can't calm down!" sigaw ko. Naiinis na ako. Sa

buhay ko, sa sitwasyon ko, sa lahat! Everything wa
s tangled up and it's making me crazy! "Why can't
we get married?" I asked my mom.

"Because Drake's having a baby with someone, Alys!

 What in that sentence can't you understand?!" my
mom shouted at me.

I was stunned. The sentence kept on echoing inside

my head. He's having a baby. And we can't get mar
ried.

Napaupo na lang ako. My whole being couldn't take

it anymore. All the stress and the madness were br
inging me down. It was exhausting.

"Tita," Drake started but he was cut off by my mom.

"Drake, you just can't."

"Mom!" I interjected. "How could you say that? Kun

g si Daddy nga tinanggap ka kahit na may anak ka s
a iba, why can't you do the same?!"

Before I even knew it, I was slapped by my own mot

her. No amount of words can explain what I was fee
ling. I was hurt and humiliated.

"Alys, I'm sorry," she said.

I stood up and walked upstairs. I didn't know what
I was doing. Kinuha ko yung bag ko and packed my
things. I love my mom but I just can't do this rig
ht now.

"Alys, baby, don't leave," my mom said nung sinund

an niya ako at nakita niyang kinukuha ko yung mga
gamit ko. "Alys naman, anak, iiwan mo ba ang mommy
mo?"

My mind was closed. Ayoko na. Sumasakit na lahat s

a akin, yung ulo ko, puso ko, isip ko. Things were
just too hard to handle. I didn't want to breakdo
wn but things were pushing me to.

I was running away.

"Drake?" I called out his name. "Let's run away."

*******************************************
[42] -39-
*******************************************
Chapter 39

I was pacing back and forth, throwing anything my

eyes could see. I have been disappointed plenty of
times already pero this one's different. I wasn't
only devastated, I was also hurt and broken.

"Alys..." he stuttered.

I was there, offering him my hand, asking him to ru

n away.

He was standing there, as if what I was asking him

was the most outrageous thing he has ever heard.
He wasn't moving but he was breathing raggedly, li
ke he was measuring the decision he was about to m
ake.

"Drake?" I said, my hope was slowly fading. He was

n't gonna say yes. A tear fell off my eye as reali
zation hit me. "You aren't coming with me," I stat
ed.

Itinaas ko ang ka"may ko at pinunasan yung luha mul

a sa mata ko. Screw my life.

"Alys," he said and then he took a step forward. "R

unning away isn't the solution."

I knew he was trying to be reasonable but I wasn't

. Ayoko na sa logical explanations, sa reasons. Wa
la naman akong napapala sa pagiging reasonable kun
g hindi ang masaktan! Why would I bother thinking
about other people kung sa huli, sa akin din bumab
alik yung sakit. It comes back three times worse..
. and it freaking hurts.

"Kung hindi ka naman pala sasama, just leave me alo

ne, Drake."

"Alys..."

"JUST FUCKING LEAVE ME ALONE!"

He was startled. It was the first time I shouted a

t him. He can't blame me. Everything was just so s
crewed up. I can't think straight, my mind was a p
ool of mess.

I took a deep breath and looked at him. "Umalis ka

na," I said to him. My Mom was watching us, like
she was scared. It was the first time she saw my o
utburst. I was her jolly child, ngayon niya lang a
kong nakitang magalit. It was all a surprise. "Mom
, leave me alone, too."

They did as I ask. They left me alone.

Kanina pa ako umiiyak, hindi ko na alam. Palagay k

o nga naubusan na din ako ng luha. Sobrang sakit n
a. Ang sakit sakit na...

Habang nakaupo ako sa gilid ng kama ko, tumunog yun

g cellphone ko.

It was Tripp.

I reached for the phone hurriedly and answered his

call. "H-hello?" My voice was shaky from all the
crying and I didn't do anything to hide it. I was
at my lowest state and I need him the most now. He
's my best friend. I just need some consoling and
assurance that everything will be better.

("Hi?") he said. ("Umiiyak ka. Nasan ka?")

I asked for his location instead. Hindi ko na kaya

ng magtagal pa dito. It felt like my sanity would
fly out the window if I stay for a little bit long
er.

Everything was blurry. Mabilis akong lumabas sa ba

hay, not minding my Mom's longing gaze. It was lik
e I was there but I wasn't. I can't feel myself. M
y mind was somewhere else. And that place was horr
ible.

Thirty minutes and I was there. Tripp was leaning

against his car. He still looked the same, mas pum
ayat nga lang siya.

The moment he saw me, lumapit siya and inabutan niy

a ako ng panyo.

"Nawala lang ako sandali, umiiyak ka na naman," he

said while helping me wipe my tears. I forced a s
mile. "Bakit ka umiiyak?"

Napahikbi ako. My sobs were getting uncontrollable.

"Siya pa rin..."

He placed both of his hands on my shoulder. "Di ba

mahal mo?" he asked and I nodded. "Pag mahal mo,
wala lang yung iyak, Alys. Mahal din kita kaya ala
m ko. Pero mahal mo si Drake kaya please lang wag
kang sumuko. Wag mo naman sayangin yung pagsuko ko
. Mahirap sumuko, Alys... lalo na at alam ko na ku
ng lumaban ako, alam ko sakin ka mapupunta."

I nodded at him. "Pero ang sakit sakit na talaga...

"

He smiled at me, hinatak niya ako at niyakap. I fe

el so serene whenever I'm with him. I love Tripp,
surely I do. He's my soulmate, magkasundo kami sa
halos lahat ng bagay. Too bad he wasn't my epic lo
ve. Siguro masaya at tahimik kami ngayon kung siya
yung mahal ko ng sobra. I knew he wouldn't hurt m
e...

"Zyril, hindi ko alam kung paano papagaanin 'yung l

oob mo."

"But it really hurts..."

I felt him kissing the top of my head. "Mawawala di

n 'yan."

"Alam ko naman na mawawala 'to... But the memory o

f hurting would forever haunt me. The stigma will
be there. Alam mo ba naiisip ko na na palagi akong
masasaktan. It's crazy but that's how I feel..."

His hug tightened. I could feel his heart beating k

asabay ng pagdaan ng hangin.

"He would hurt you and it would be worth it. When

you love someone, everything is worth it."

I smiled at him. He matured in such a short period

of time.

"Are you really giving up on me?" I asked him. He

said he's waiting but I don't want him to wait. Tr
ipp's very special. I love him kaya ayoko siyang m
aghintay. He should chase someone who's worth the
chase.

He shook his head. "Hindi pero gusto kitang sumaya

," he said and then he stopped. "Shit ang corny ko
na."

And then we shared a good laugh.

"Nagugutom ka na ba?" he asked me. Just then, I re

membered I haven't eaten anything yet. Kakagaling
lang namin sa hospital. Kamusta na kaya si Fier? I
hope she's fine... Galit man ako, ayokong may mas
amang mangyari sa kanya o sa baby niya. Wishing so
meone harm is just so low. Hindi ako ganun, ayokon
g maging ganun.

Umalis siya sandali papunta sa sasakyan niya. Pagba

lik niya, mayroon siyang dalang paper bag.

"Kain ka na. Ikaw talaga ganyan ka pa rin. Kailan

ka ba matututong kumain ng walang nagpapaalala sa'
yo? Tsk," he said while opening the container for
me. Tripp's the sweetest. Sana talaga makahanap si
ya ng babae. But I don't want Kei for him. I don't
know. I'm being selfish.

We ate for a while. Kumain kami, actually pinilit

niya akong kumain. Wala ako sa mood kumain. Masaki
t pa rin sa akin na hindi pumayag si Drake. My ego
was bruised.

After eating, I looked at Tripp. "Tripp?"

"Hmm?"

"If I ask you to run away, sasama ka ba?"

He smiled at me. "Secret. When these are all too m

uch to bear, ako ang bahala sa'yo. Wag ka ng mag-a
lala. Prinsesa kita, 'wag mong kalimutan yan."

That was the last thing he said bago kami naghiwal

ay. He assured me na magiging okay ang lahat. Sana
nga.

The morning came and I was still tired. Wala akong

ibang ginawa magdamag kung hindi mag isip. Ang hi
rap magisip lalo na kung masasakit na bagay yung i
niisip mo.

Bumaba ako matapos kong magayos sa sarili ko. Wala

akong plano ngayong araw. Ayoko na lang mag-isip.
Bahala na. Gusto kong umalis at mag unwind.
"Alys," he said. He was here.

I looked at him. He looked dead tired. "Bakit?"

Hindi ako galit kay Drake, nasasaktan lang ako dah

il hindi niya ako pinaglaban. Gusto ko lang naman
umalis. Running away wasn't the solution but it wo
uld ease the pain.

"I'm sorry."

I walked past him and went straight to the fridge.

"Okay."

"Are you angry?"

"Hindi."

I heard him sigh. Sorry, Drake. Hindi ako galit pe

ro sobrang disappointed ako. Pabayaan mo muna ako.
..

"Where were you last night?"

"Kasama ko si Tripp."

Napahinto siya. Tumingin ako sa kanya. Hindi ko al

am kung bakit ko 'to sinabi, maybe because I was h
urt and I wanted him to feel the same.

"I almost asked him to run with me, Drake."

"But you didn't," he said. His eyes were hopeful.

I nodded at him. "Because I promised you I wouldn'

t run. Drake, just marry me. Malapit na akong maba
liw."

Faster than a blink of an eye, he said yes. "I'll m

arry you."

I smiled and then hugged him. "Thank you..."

After hugging me, he looked at me. "Your parents w

ould hate me for this... but yes, let's get marrie
d."

And then he pulled me and we drove away. Was this

the start of our happily ever after? I hope so.
*******************************************
[43] -40-
*******************************************
Sabay sabay tayong magtweet sa Saturday (Jan25,201
4), 8pm? #SeducingDrakePalmaTHEMOVIE help us make
this dream come true! :>

--

Chapter 40

I smiled at him. We just got married, for heaven's

sake!

"Are you happy?" he asked me. Ngumiti lang ako sa

kanya. Words can't suffice what I was feeling at t
hat moment. I held his hand tighter and intertwine
d our fingers.

Sabay kaming naglalakad pabalik sa sasakyan. Kahit

pa sabihin nila na civil wedding lang ang mayroon
kami, kasal pa rin kami. Iyon lang naman ang impo
rtante sa akin, e.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" I asked him. Patuloy lang siy

a sa pagddrive, I didn't push it. Ang mahalaga sa
akin, kami na ang magkasama habang buhay. 'Yun lan
g naman ang importante, 'di ba?
Minutes after driving around, nakarating kami sa b
ahay nila. Sobrang nostalgic ng pakiramdam. Parang
biglang bumalik lahat ng high school memories ko
ngayon. Dati kasi nung pumupunta ako dito, puro ma
sasakit na alaala lang 'yung natatandaan ko... Sig
uro nga tama sila all along, nagkukunwari lang ako
ng okay pero ang totoo, miss na miss ko na si Drake.

He stopped the car momentarily.

"Bakit tayo nandito?" I asked him. Instead of answ

ering my question, he just smiled at me and kissed
my cheek.

Sabay kaming lumabas ng sasakyan. Kahit kailan hin

di ko pa naranasan mapagbuksan ng pinto ng sasakya
n ni Drake. I don't know, it's just not his cup of
tea. He's a gentleman but not to that extent. I r
emember dati lagi kong kinukumpara si Drake kay Tr
ipp. When I was with Tripp, I was a princess. All
things were prepared before me. Kumbaga, wala na a
kong kailangang gawin. Nandyan na lahat, e. Pero k
ay Drake? I have to work hard. I used to hate that
about him, pakiramdam ko kasi wala siyang pakiela
m sa akin...

But then I asked him why. Napapangiti na lang ako k

apag naaalala ko.

"Why would I? You're not invalid, Alys. You're ind

ependent. I trust you enough to let you do things
on your own. You may think that I don't give a dam
n but really, I do. You just don't see it but I am
always watching over you. It's fucking corny but
I always do."

And when he said that, I felt good about myself. M

aaring nasayang yung years na hindi kami magkasama
but in reality, being apart did us good. Mas nagi
ng independent ako, mas nakilala ko yung sarili ko
. Isa sa mga kinatatakutan ko na nangyari sana ay
yung nawala yung tunay na Alys dahil sa na in love
siya kay Drake. Ayoko nun. I want to be myself wh
ile being in love with him.

What would love bring us if along the process, we

would lose ourselves? Wasn't that deception? Makin
g yourself believe that you're just in love when i
n reality, yes you are but where's the sense? You'
re not yourself anymore... And it's painful. Nagma
hal ka nga, nagbago ka naman... I just can't see t
he sense.

"Bakit tayo nandito?" I asked him habang naglalakad

kami.

"I'll introduce you," he simply said. I could feel

his hand getting colder every second. Kinakabahan
siya... Kinakabahan din ako pero alam kong kaya n
amin 'to. We've been through the worst, I'm sure w
e could handle this.

Nakapasok na kami sa bahay nila at naabutan namin

si Ethos na naglalayo kasama yung mga kaibigan niy
a.

"Where's dad?" asked Drake. Tinuro lang ni Ethos y

ung receiving area nila. Drake nodded at him. He w
as about to start walking when Ethos tugged on his
pants. "Why?" he asked him, looking down.

"The old hag is also here."

Old hag? Was he referring to me?

Natigilan si Drake. He looked at me and motioned me

to sit.

"Stay and wait for me," he said and then abruptly

walked away. Nakatingin ako habang naglalakad siya
palayo. Why do I feel bad about this?

I was on my reverie when Ethos nudged me.

"Hoy," sabi niya sa akin.

Nasaan ang manners ng batang 'to? The last time I

saw him, marunong pa siyang mag-po. Habang tumatag
al ba mas nawawalan siya ng manners? Paurong ang p
agtanda?

"Bakit?" I asked him.

Kumakain pa siya ng lollipop. Ang sama yata talaga

ng ugali ni Ethos? Si Dane naman hindi ganito nun
g bata... Bakit kaya ganito 'tong kapatid ni Drake?

Napatingin ako sa mga kasama niyang bata. Mukhang

mabait naman sila, ah. Bakit kaya napagtitiisan ni
la yung ugali ni Ethos?

"Hi, what's your name?" tanong ko dun sa batang map

uti at maliit.

He smiled at me and offered me his hand. "Julian Le

e."

"Hi, Julian!" I said. Ngumiti lang siya sa akin at

pinaglaruan yung ipad niya. Tumingin naman ako du
n sa isang bata na ginugulo si Julian. Parang ang
kulit niya.

"Ano'ng name mo?"

"Chrischen po," sabi niya.

Oh, my gosh ang cute nilang dalawa! Bakit kaya hin
di ganito si Ethos? I mean, wala naman sigurong ma
wawala sa kanya kung magiging cute siya paminsan m
insan, di ba?

Nakipag usap ako kila Chrischen and Julian ng maka

rinig ako ng parang may bumagsak sa bandang receiv
ing area nila.

"Ano yun?" I asked myself.

Ethos looked at me. "Dito ka na lang..."

"Ha?"

For the first time since forever, he smiled at me.

"Wag mong iiwan ang kuya ko. Kahit ayoko dahil pi
naiyak mo siya dati, wag mo siyang iwan."

I smiled back at him and kissed his cheek. "Of cou

rse," I said. I pat his head and then tumayo ako.
"Sandali, ha. Puntahan ko lang kuya mo..."

Sinubukan niya pa akong pigilan. Weird.

Naglakad ako papunta sa receiving area nila ng mak
arinig ako ng malakas na sampal. Napatigil ako.

Hindi ko alam pero parang kumakabog 'yung puso ko.

"How dare you!"

My heart was beating faster than ever. My hands wer

e shaking. Nahihirapan akong huminga.

"What do you mean you don't want to marry my daught

er?!" a voice said.

Dahan dahan akong naglakad papunta sa pinanggaling

an ng mga boses. Pakiramdam ko kahit anong oras bi
gla na lang akong aatakihin sa puso... Palagi na l
ang ganito...

"Sir..." I heard Drake's voice.

Just then, I heard Fier crying. "Dad naman! I told

you his name hindi para saktan mo siya! Akala ko
ba makikipag usap ka lang!"
"Shut up, Fier! I didn't raise you to be pregnant a
nd unwed!"

"But Dad!"

"I said shut up!" the voice said. "And you, Palma,
marry my daughter! You won't like it when I'm mad
!" he said and then I heard another voice.

"Pwede bang mag-usap na lang tayo ng mahinahon?" sa

id Tito Steve.

Hindi ko alam kung paano maging mahinahon sa panah

on na 'to. Alam ko kanina pa nila sinasaktan si Dr
ake... Nasasaktan ako na sinampal niya si Drake...

I heard them moving. Ako? Hindi ako makagalaw... Hi

ndi ako makahinga...

"Ano ba ang gusto mong mangyari, Mr. Sandoval?" I h

eard Tito Steve ask.

There was a beat of silence. "I need for your son t

o marry my daughter."
"Drake?" Tito Steve broke the silence.

He answered faster than anything and it was a firm,

"No. I won't."

"Aba't!" I heard the man shouted.

"Dad! Stop hurting him!" Fier shouted at his father

.

Gusto kong tumakbo at tulungan si Drake pero hindi

ko kaya... Natatakot ako...

"Drake, hindi ba talaga?" Tito Steve asked him, pa

ra bang frustrated na siya sa mga nangyayari.

I heard Drake sigh. "No, Dad. I won't. Not now, not

ever."

"Dad, wag mong ipilit, please. He doesn't love me

and I don't wanna push myself. Please, umuwi na ta
yo..."

I heard another voice. "She's right, Dad. Don't pus

h it."
"Shut up, Lourd, hindi kita kinakausap! Magpapakas
al ka, Fier, and you'll follow me. Kung ayaw kang
pakasalan, wag kang uuwi sa bahay. I'll cut all yo
ur resources. Dito ka tumira hanggang hindi ka pin
apakasalan."

"WHAT?!"

"Let's go, Lourd and Chance. I hope our next meetin

g would be a pleasant one, Mr. Palma."

I heard footsteps approaching kaya nagtago ako. Na

kita kong lumabas ang isang matandang lalaki at da
lawang lalaki na halos ka edad ko lang din.

"Dad, seryoso ka bang iiwan mo si Fier dun?"

"Yes. Hindi ko kasalanan na nabuntis siya. Kayong

dalawa, kung ayaw niyong makitang galit ako, umayo
s kayo."

The guy with blonde streaks laughed. "I'm always pr

otected."

"Asshole."
"Tumigil nga kayo. Tara na," the old man said and t
hen walked away.

Ako? Naiwan ako dun. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ga

gawin ko. Dapat bang puntahan ko si Drake? Hindi k
o alam... Akala ko nadaanan ko na yung pinakamalal
a... Hindi ko akalain na may ilalala pa pala ang s
itwasyon namin...

"Drake," I heard Fier say. "You can't push me away.

I'm pregnant. Ayokong tumira sa kalsada."

Drake drew a deep breath. "Fine."

"Thank you."

"But I still won't marry you."

"Alam ko. But don't plan for the ending yet, Drake
. Titira tayo sa iisang bahay. You have no idea wh
at will happen."

Drake smirked. I saw him smirk.

"I'm already married, Fier. I married Alys earlier
. I thought it was an impulsive decision but seein
g how your Dad's practically threatening me to mar
ry you, that may have been the best decision I hav
e ever made."

*******************************************
[44] -41-
*******************************************
Chapter 41

"Alys, alam ko minsan baliw ka but this?!"

Kanina pa ako sinesermunan ni Aya. Three days na d

in simula ng tumira kami ni Fier sa iisang bahay.
The idea was crazy... but I was way more crazy. Ne
ver once in my life did I consider doing something
like this. This idea was sorcery. It was unimagin
able yet somehow I still did it.

I sat down and tried to calm myself. Fier wasn't t

rying to help either, she was being bitchy and all
to me...

"Tama na, okay?" I said to her. I took a deep brea

th and closed my eyes. Hindi na rin ako makatulog
sa gabi. Nights were stressful the most. Kailangan
ko na yatang pumunta sa OB. Normal ba yung inaart
e ni Fier? She was acting like a lunatic... Alam k
o naman na buntis siya but how she's acting was ju
st too much. She's pregnant and not psychtic.
Aya sat down and placed her hands on her chin.

"Okay, mag usap tayo ng matino, ha?" she said and

I nodded. "Alys, why the hell?! Oo kasal kayo ni D
rake pero paano mo nagagawang pumayag tumira sa ii
sang bahay kasama ang-- forgive my term-- kabit?!"

I sighed. Ayoko talagang naririnig na kabit si Fie

r... Nasasaktan ako para sa kanya, para sa akin. S
he's just a victim like anyone else. Kahit kasi an
ong pilit ko sa sarili kong magalit sa kanya, naaa
lala ko pa rin yung fact na buntis siya sa anak ni
Drake. Ang that fact alone's enough to pacify my
heart.

Masakit masabihan ng kabit. It wasn't her fault th

at Drake's not going to marry her. It wasn't Drake
's fault, as well. It was no one's fault. Siguro b
iktima lang kami ng tadhana. Our timing was screwe
d up.

"Wag ka namang magalit kay Drake, Aya. He offered

na dun na lang kami sa unit niya but I declined,"
I answered truthfully.

She knocked the glass down sa pagkabigla. "Yun nam

an pala e! Goodness gracious, Alys Zyril! Bakit ba
pinagsisiksikan mo yung sarili mo sa bahay na yun
e may choice ka naman pala?!"
Hindi ako makapagsalita kasi guilty ako. Bakit nga
ba ako sumisiksik? Hindi ko alam... Siguro dahil
ayoko din mahirapan si Drake. Ayokong dumating sa
point na papipiliin ko siya. I love him enough to
spare him from that pain. Alam ko na ilang beses k
o ng nasaktan si Drake. Even though he never talke
d about it, alam ko na sobra ko siyang nasaktan. T
he years apart broke him. Ayoko ng maulit yun. Tam
a na yung four years na naghirap kami.

Kahit ano pa ang sabihin nila, anak ni Drake 'yun.

Mahal ko yung bata dahil anak siya ni Drake.

"Please, wag na nating pag usapan, okay? Nagpunta

ako dito para magrelax, di para pagalitan mo," I s
aid to her.

Walang nagawa si Aya kung hindi ang magbuntong hin

inga. Kumain lang kami sandali tapos kailangan niy
a na ding bumalik sa shop. Hindi pa rin sila okay
ni Kent. Hindi ko maintindihan si Aya, obvious nam
an na mahal niya pa pero ayaw niya patawarin. Kung
magulo kami, mas magulo sila.

Bumili muna ako ng prutas para kay Fier. Minsan in

iisip ko kung bakit ako ganito. Siguro kung ibang
babae ako, nagwala na ako at pinagsasampal ko si D
rake.

Pagdating ko sa bahay, wala pa si Drake. Siguro na

sa trabaho pa siya? Kami lang ni Fier ang tao dito
. Si Tito Steve nasa trabaho din, si Ethos naman n
ag aaral pa.

"Kumain ka na?" I asked her.

She nodded and returned her attention to the glossy

mag she was reading.

Naupo ako sa tabi niya. "May dala akong fruits..."

Dahan dahan niyang ibinaba yung magazine at tuming

in sa akin. She gave out a heavy sigh. "What game
are we playing, Alys?"

"Ha?"

Umayos siya ng upo at humarap sa akin. "Quit this

being nice act, okay? Alam kong galit ka sa akin.
Be bitchy or whatever, I don't care. Just quit act
ing like you care."

Bakit ba siya ganito? Oo hindi ko siya gusto pero

hindi naman ako ganung klase ng tao na aawayin siy
a. She's pregnant. She should be taken care of.
"Fier--"

"Drop it, Alys. You don't care. Deep inside, gusto

mo mawala na lang kami ng anak ko, di ba?"

"Fier naman."

Tumayo siya at humarap sa akin. The bump on her tu

mmy was becoming more visible. She's really pregna
nt...

Naiinggit ako. Gusto ko ding maranasan na maging i

na. Siguro masaya yun kasi masarap magkaron ng ana
k. But not now. Masyado pang magulo yung buhay nam
in. Gusto kong bumuo kami ng pamilya kapag maayos
na yung lahat. Kapag ang tangi na lang naming prob
lema ay kung ano ang ipapangalan namin sa anak nam
in...

"Stop it, Alys. We both know how this is going to

end," she paused for a while. "One of us has to go
." She stared at me. "You're married to him and w
e're having a child. Can't you see how crazy our s
ituation is?" she said and then forced a laugh. "T
his baby," sabi niya at saka niya itinuro yung tya
n niya. "This baby will be labeled a bastard, Alys
. A bastard."

She was speaking when suddenly, she clutched her ha

nd on her tummy. "A-aray."
"Fier!" sabi ko sabay punta sa tabi niya. "Oh, my g
od, anong nararamdaman mo?"

Oh, no, kumalma ka, Alys. Hindi ka pwedeng magpanic

.

"Ugh bitiwan mo ako!" sabi niya sa akin sabay alis

ng kamay. Nagulat ako. Ganito ba siya kagalit sa
akin na kahit nahihirapan na siya, ayaw niya pa ri
ng tanggapin yung tulong ko?

Napahawak siya sa upuan at saka huminga ng malalim

. Gusto ko siyang tulungan pero tinutulak niya nam
an ako palayo.

"What's happening?"

Sabay kami ni Fier napatingin sa nagsalita. It was

Drake. He was looking at us and asking what the h
ell was happening. I had no idea. I was willing to
help but she was pushing me all too willingly.

Hindi naman ako nakikipagkumpitensya sa kanya... S

he's pregnant. I would give way kung makikiusap la
ng siya ng maayos.
Lumapit sa akin si Drake and asked me. "What's happ
ening?"

"I-I don't know."

"Please, Drake, pakisabihan mo nga yang asawa mo n

a hindi ako nandito para maging best friend niya.
Stop trying to be my friend. Di ko kailangan," she
said with spite.

She was limping because of pain habang naglalakad

siya pataas. Ako? I was there standing, hindi alam
ang gagawin.

I faced Drake with a torn apart face.

"Drake... I'm sorry... Hindi ko naman alam na maka

kasama yung pagkausap ko sa kanya," I said. Kung a
lam ko lang na makakasama sa baby yun, sana hindi
ko na lang siya kinausap. I meant good. Hindi ko a
lam na masama pala yung ginagawa ko.

Drake sighed and held me by the shoulders. "It was

n't your fault," he said and then kissed my forehe
ad. "Did you eat already?"

I nodded.
"Alright," he said. "I'll just talk to Fier. Wait
for me here," he continued and then left me there.

While waiting, iniisip ko kung tama ba si Aya. Mal

ing desisyon ba na tumira ako dito? Siguro nga tam
a siya, mas masama kaysa mabuti na tumira ako dito
.

"Oh, Alys," Tito Steve said nung dumating siya. Ka

sama niya din si Ethos pero hindi man lang ako pin
ansin ni Ethos at dumiretso siya sa taas. Kasama n
iya din ang mommy niya.

"Hi po," I said. Hindi pa din ako comfortable na t

awagin siyang Daddy. Siguro saka na kapag okay na
ang lahat.

"Bakit ka nandito? Wala pa ba si Drake?" he asked h

abang naupo siya sa upuan sa harap ko.

I smiled at him. "Nasa taas po, kausap si Fier."

Napatango na lang siya. Alam niya na siguro. Alam

kong weird din para kay Tito Steve ang setup namin
. Aaminin ko, muntik ng atakihin sa puso ang mommy
ko nung malaman niyang ganito ang nangyayari. It
took me all my will power para pigilan siyang kaus
apin si Fier. Knowing Fier, alam ko magkakasagutan
lang sila.

"Alys," Tito Steve said. "Ako kasi ang nahihirapan

sa inyong tatlo."

"Nahihirapan din ako, Tito."

Napapikit sandali si Tito Steve.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko," he said

. "Gusto kita para kay Drake, at kasal ka na naman
na sa kanya kaya wala na akong magagawa. Pero si
Fier... Hindi ko naman pwedeng paalisin yun dahil
dinadala niya yung apo ko," he continued.

"Tito Steve..."

He looked at me and smiled. "Wala to, Alys. Nagugu

luhan lang talaga ako. Sige, aakyat na ako."

Just then, it hit me. Siguro nga dapat na akong uma

lis.

Minutes later, bumaba si Drake. His right cheek was

red. She slapped him. Again.
Sa ilang linggong pagtira ko dito, ilang beses ko
ng nakitang sampalin ni Fier si Drake. Apat? Lima?
Hindi ko na maalala. Nasasaktan ako para kay Drak
e pero hindi ko makuhang sigawan o saktan si Fier.
She's pregnant, yan ang lagi kong pinapaalala sa
sarili ko.

"Drake?" I called out his name. He looked at me an

d then I touched his swollen cheek. Lumapit ako an
d I kissed his cheek. "Does it hurt?"

He shook his head. Liar.

I smiled at him. "I have a solution, Drake."

He looked at me. "Please don't tell me you're leavi

ng again."

"I'm not leaving, Drake. Makikita mo pa rin naman a

ko. Hindi nga lang ako dito titira."

"You're leaving, then," he said.

"Dummy, I'm married to you. How far do you think I

would go?"
He held my hand and placed it on top of his heart.

"One inch is already far enough for me to miss you

. If I could, I'd carry you around with me. You be
witched me to the point that I'd go crazy if you d
ump me once again," he said.

Napangiti ako. Pero seryoso, minsan dadalhin ko si

Drake sa psychiatrist. Masyado yata siyang naapek
tuhan sa breakup namin dati.

"Drake, my decision is final, aalis muna ako. No,

hindi kita tatakbuhan, okay? Nahihirapan lang ako
na ikaw yung napagbubuntungan ng galit ni Fier dah
il sa akin. I will always be a call away," I said,
trying to make him understand.

I smiled at him one last time at saka tumalikod. A

alis na sana ako ng hawakan niya yung kamay ko.

"You're not running away?"

I shook my head.

"Never, Drake. To the moon and back, remember?"

He smiled.

"Yeah. To the moon and back." Nagsimula na akong m

aglakad when he called out my name. "Alys?" he sai
d. I looked at him. "I love you."

*******************************************
[45] -42-
*******************************************
Hi, please don't comment kung ang ilalagay niyo la
ng ay kapareho lang to ng ending ng GGGB. I don't
recycle endings. Wag na lang magcomment kaysa maii
nis ako kasi paulit ulit na tayo. Thank you po. xx

Chapter 42

I looked around the condo unit. Pareho pa din ng d

ati, walang nagbago. Ako lang naman yata yung nagb
ago dito, e.

Kakaalis lang ni mommy mula dito. Pinipilit niya d

in ako na sa bahay na lang umuwi but I said no. Ma
laki na ako. Kailangan ko ng matutong mag-isa. I d
on't want to live under their shadow for the rest
of my life. I knew they meant well but I just need
this for myself.
Drake had checked on me as well. Ayaw ko talaga na
nagguilty siya. Mas nahihirapan ako. Di bale, les
s than a year lang naman 'to. Pagkatapos manganak
ni Fier, magiging maayos din ang lahat. Sana.

Lumabas ako para kumain since nakakawalang gana di

n naman na kumain mag-isa sa loob ng unit. Parang
ang lungkot lungkot ko naman kapag ganun ang ginaw
a ko.

I grabbed my purse and a cardigan and went straight

to the lift.

"Alys!"

Napahinto ako ng biglang lumabas si Shaira kasama s

i Tripp mula sa elevator.

"Shaira?"

Bigla niya akong hinampas sa braso.

"Wag mo ngang hampasin, Shaira," saway ni Tripp sa

kanya. Hindi man lang nakinig si Shaira at hinamp
as na naman ako sa braso.
She was shaking me nung nagsalita siya. "You! Kung
hindi pa ako makikiskype dito kay Tripp hindi ko
pa malalaman how wrecked your life is!" she said.

Napatingin ako kay Tripp and he gave me a half smi

le. Ang ingay naman, oh. I was trying to keep the
situation a secret. Ayokong masira si Drake sa iba
ng tao. We live in a moral country. And what we're
doing is considered immoral, I know. Pero ano ba
ang magagawa ko? Nandito na 'to. Ang I would defin
itely not leave Drake.

Bigla akong hinatak ni Shaira papasok sa elevator n

ung magsasara na sana 'to.

"Come on, talk!" she said. "I travelled for hours

para sayo so give me everything!" she continued.

Napailing na lang kami ni Tripp. We thought na kah

it konti magmamature si Shaira. Hindi pala. She's
still a brat.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng elevator dahil wala na din

naman akong magagawa. Imbes na hampasin ako ng ha
mpasin ni Shaira, sasama na lang ako. At mas okay
na 'to kaysa kumain ako mag-isa, di ba?

"So, who's Fier?" panimula niya sa akin nung matap

os kaming umorder ng pagkain sa Lim Chinese Restau
rant.

"Shaira, bayaan mo ngang kumain muna si Zy," sabi n

i Tripp.

Shaira glared at him. Hindi pa rin nagbabago. Isip

bata pa rin. "Time is important, noh! Besides wal
a pa naman yung food!" she said. "So, spill everyt
hing na! I'm all ears!"

Bumuntong hininga na lang ako at sinimulang magkwe

nto. Si Shaira, absorbed na absorbed sa lahat ng s
inasabi ko. Si Tripp naman, napapailing na lang. A
lam kong nahihirapan si Tripp sa sitwasyon ko pero
gaya ng napagkasunduan namin, kakayanin ko to. Pa
gsubok lang naman 'to, e...

"Si Fier kasi, buntis kaya iniintindi ko na lang. H

ormones siguro?" sabi ko.

Shaira rolled her eyes. "Hormones my arse! I have

a cousin na pregnant but she's not like that noh!
Sabihin mo she's crazy as hell!"

Natawa na lang ako.

"Anong tinatawa tawa mo jan? OMG, Alys! I knew you

're stupid but not to this extent, please lang!"

Si Tripp, kumain na lang. Sanay na kami nito kay S

haira. College days pa lang, alam na naman kung ga
ano siya ka pushy. She destroyed my debut, remembe
r? When she wants something, she'll sure as hell g
et it.

I smiled at her, to stop her relentless nagging. "

Anyhow, done's done, Shaira. I moved out of the ho
use. No biggie."

"SAY WHAT?!"

I nodded. "Umalis na ako. I did mention na sinasam

pal ni Fier si Drake, right? Ayoko nun. Mas matata
nggap ko pang umalis kaysa ganun ang nangyayari."

She took a deep breath and stood up. "That's it. U

bos na ang pasensya ko. I'll smack some sense in t
hat woman!" she said and then stormed out of the r
estaurant.

Narinig namin ni Tripp na tinawag niya yung valet.

Iiwan niya kami? Dala niya yung sasakyan niya. Sh
aira talaga, oh.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Tripp afterwards.

"Okay ka pa?"

I nodded and forced a smile. "Oo, kaya pa."

Kaya ko pa. Ano ba naman to sa lahat ng iniyak ko

dati? Ngayon pa na alam kong mahal na mahal ako ni
Drake. Alam kong may kakapitan ako. Kung nung dat
ing high school pa kami nagawa kong magtiwala sa k
anya kahit na hindi siya vocal sa nararamdaman niy
a, ngayon pa kaya na nagagawa niya na akong sabiha
n ng I love you?

"Nandito lang ako, okay?"

"Oo naman, alam ko."

Sumandal siya sa upuan niya. "Alam mo, minsan naii

sip ko na bakit si Drake pa? Mas gwapo naman ako,
di ba?"

"Seryoso ka sa sinasabi mo?"

Tumango siya.
"Oo wag ka ng kumontra. Yan na lang ang pampalubag
loob ko. Mas gwapo ako kay Drake," sabi niya saka
tinawag yung waiter para sa bill. Binayaran niya
na yun at saka tumayo. "Tara, sundan natin si Shai
ra, baka mabaliw na naman 'yun at kung ano ang gaw
in kay Fier."

Tumayo na din ako at nagsimula kaming maglakad. Ba

go siya makalabas, hinawakan ko yung braso niya.

"Tripp?"

"Hmm?"

"Wag mo akong iwan, ha? Wag muna ngayon. Hindi ko p

a kaya."

Ngumiti siya. "Hindi pa. Hindi ko pa rin kaya."

Sabay kaming sumakay sa cab na dumating. It took u

s almost 30 minutes para makadating sa bahay nila
Drake. And what I heard made me weak on the knees.

"Shit," Tripp cursed.

Dali kaming tumakbo sa loob. Naabutan namin na nags
isigawan si Shaira at Fier.

"You bitch! Sino ka ba?!"

Shaira crossed her arms. "Best friend ako ng lalak

ing pinagpabuntisan mo! Don't call me bitch!"

Hindi ako makagalaw. Nagulat ako sa nakita ko. Nak

atayo silang dalawa at nagsisigawan. Pati yung mga
maids nila Drake ay hindi din alam ang gagawin.

"Would you rather I call you palengkera?! You went

here para sigawan ako?! Are you crazy?!"

Itinuro ni Shaira si Fier. "OMG ano ba ang nakain

ni Drake to decide na mabuntis ka? Let alone kiss
you! You're a horrible person!"

Fier looked like hihimatayin siya sa inis anytime s

oon. Goodness, Shaira!

"Shaira, stop it!" I exclaimed.

Itinuro naman ako ni Shaira. "No, you stop it! Hon

estly, Alys, hindi ko alam why are you accepting a
ll of these crap! You're married to him yet in you
r pretty, little mind, you don't seem to understan
d. YOU ARE HIS WIFE. Bakit ikaw ang umalis sa baha
y?!"

"Oh fuck it," sabi ni Fier at saka tumalikod at nag

simulang umakyat sa hagdan.

"I'm not done with you, Miss Home-wrecker!"

Tumigil si Fier sa paglalakad at humarap kay Shair

a. "Miss whoever you are, watch your words. Wala k
ang alam."

"I know enough, okay? Kung hindi magrereklamo si Al

ys, I sure as hell will!"

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Bahala ka sa buhay mo," sabi ni Fie

r at saka nagpatuloy sa paglalakad palayo.

Si Shaira? Kanina pa nagpapapadyak sa sobrang inis

. Siguro kung nasa bahay nila kami, pinagbabato ni
ya na yung mga gamit na nakikita niya. She has pan
ic episodes. Since college school alam na namin ya
n kaya pinagpapasensyahan na lang namin.

"Alis na tayo," sabi ni Tripp.

"What?! No! Hihintayin ko si Drake! Nababaliw na b
a siya? OMG oo nababaliw na siya!" she said and th
en she started pacing back and forth.

Pinabayaan na lang namin siya ni Tripp and instead

pumunta na lang kami sa likod ng bahay nila Drake
.

Kagaya ng ginawa namin dati, naupo kami sa edge ng

pool at inilubog yung paa namin sa pool. Nostalgi
c ng feeling.

"May itatanong ako," sabi bigla ni Tripp. "Bakit k

almado ka lang? Ang ibig kong sabihin, siguro kung
ibang babae yan, malamang basag na ang lahat ng b
agay sa bahay nila Tito Steve."

Napaisip din ako. Bakit nga ba ganito ako? Sinasab

i ng isip ko na magalit ako. Pero pilit kong inuun
awa si Fier. Narinig ko naman mula mismo sa kanya
na hindi niya naman ginusto na dito tumira. Biktim
a lang siya ng desisyon ng tatay niya. Siguro nga
unfair to sa sitwasyon ko... Pero naisip din ba ng
ibang tao yung nararamdaman ni Fier? Masakit masa
bihan ng kabit, masakit magkaroon ng anak na tataw
agin ng iba na bastardo. Ang hirap ng sitwasyon ni
Fier. Yung pang unawa ko na lang ang tanging maib
ibigay ko sa kanya.

"Kasi babae din ako."

"Pero nahihirapan ako sa'yo."

I smiled at him. "Sabi mo nga, normal lang na umiy

ak. Sabi ko naman, normal lang na masaktan."

He suddenly stretched out his hands. "Ang komplikad

o ng buhay natin."

I nodded at him. "But all the complications make th

e ending much sweeter, don't you agree?"

He shook his head. "Iba ka talaga," he said and th

en offered me his hands. "Nandyan na yata si Drake
, tara na bago pa siya saktan ni Shaira."

Tumayo na kami ni Tripp at tama nga siya, nandun n

a si Drake. Kasalukuyang nagsesermon si Shaira ng
dumating kami.

"...sinigawan ako! Goodness, Drake! Saang market mo

ba napulot yung babaeng yun?! Ugh!"

She was walking back and forth.

"Paano na lang yung magiging inaanak ko? Oh, my! B
aka walang breeding yun! Akala ko pa naman ikaw an
g pinakamatinong kilala ko, hindi din pala! Kung g
usto mo ng anak, anjan naman si Alys, or kung sino
man sa mga ex mo! Bakit yung babaeng yun pa?!"

Dumiretso si Drake sa upuan at naupo. "Shaira, I'm

tired."

"Tired? Si Alys sa tingin mo hindi pagod? Alam ko

mabait si Alys pero alam ko din hindi niya gusto y
ung nangyayari," sabi niya then humarap siya sa ak
in. "Tama ba ako, Alys?"

Hindi ako nakasagot. Tama nga ba siya?

"Shaira, wag mo na silang pakielaman," Tripp said.

She arched her brow. "No. I'm Alys' friend and I h

ate what's happening. It's unfair in so many level
s. You married her, Drake. Take responsibility."

"What do you want me to do?" Drake said. I felt ch

ills. Natakot ako sa sinabi niya. Ngayon lang siya
nagsalit tungkol dito. Tahimik lang siya palagi.

"Be with Alys, for Christ's sake! Ibalik mo si Fie

r sa pamilya niya! Goodness, Drake! Ang taas taas
ng IQ mo pero ang baba ng EQ mo! Sa tingin mo ba p
apabayaan ng magulang niya na mamulubi sa kalye yu
ng nag iisa nilang anak na babae?! Oh, goodness! M
as matalino na ba ako sa iyo ngayon?!"

Drake looked at me. "Nahihirapan ka na ba?" he aske

d me.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. It was the first time he a

sked me how I feel.

I tried to smile but it was damn hard when you know

that everything's just really hard.

He stood up and then walked up. Natahimik lang kam

i nila Shaira na tinignan si Drake na umakyat.

Tripp then clapped his hands. "Show's over. Shaira

, tara iuuwi na kita." Tinulak niya si Shaira ng m
ahina palabas. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Aalis na ka
mi. Mag-usap kayo, okay?"

I nodded at him. He smiled at me and then walked aw

ay.

Kinakabahan ako habang naglalakad ako papunta sa k

warto ni Fier. Natatakot ako sa kung ano ang marir
inig ko.

Dahan dahan akong naglakad. Hindi ko magawang kuma

tok. Sumandal lang ako sa gilid ng pintuan ni Fier
, umaasa sa nakaawang na butas sa pinto.

And then I heard a slap.

"Ganyan mo ba siya kamahal, ha?!"

Napapikit ako. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko ban

g tumingin. Marinig ko pa lang na sinasampal niya
si Drake, nasasaktan na ako.

"Sumagot ka nga!"

Nilakasan ko ang loob ko at tumingin sa loob ng kw

arto ni Fier. Napatakip ako sa bibig ko para pigil
an ang pagiyak ko.

Drake...

"Tumayo ka nga, Drake! Sa tingin mo madadaan mo ako

sa luhod mo?!"
Nakayuko lang si Drake. Hindi na siya nagsasalita.
Parang pagod na pagod na siya...

"Ano ba, Drake! Kung nahihirapan ka, nahihirapan d

in ako! Kasalanan ko ba na ganito, ha?! Hindi nama
n! Bakit ba nila ako sinasabihan na malandi? Inaga
w ba kita? May girlfriend ka ba nung magkasama tay
o dati? Wala naman! Palagi na lang ako yung masama
... Hindi ba nila naisip na nasasaktan din ako? Wa
la namang babae na ginustong maging kabit. Ayoko.
Hindi ko pinangarap. Pero ano? Nandito na. Ano pa
ang magagawa ko? Pinakasalan mo si Alys kahit alam
mong nandito ako, magiging ina ng anak mo. Narini
g mo bang sinumbatan kita? Hindi, di ba? I fucking
accepted it all! Kasi alam ko na wala. Si Alys ta
laga. Drake, kahit ngayon lang isipin mo naman din
ako. Nasasaktan din ako."

Drake stood up.

"Fier..." Drake said.

Hindi ko na mapigilan. Naiiyak na ako, naawa na ako

sa lahat ng nangyayari. Ayoko na.

"I'll be a good father but I can never be your husb

and."

And then there was silence.

*******************************************
[46] -43-
*******************************************
Follow me on twitter! :) @BeeyotchWP

Chapter 43

They said that if you really love the person, you

got to set them free. But isn't that a bit hypocri
te? If you really do love someone, you should figh
t for them... But when everything is just too much
to handle, you should take a breather and think t
hings over. Maybe there's something wrong, maybe y
ou should change something for the benefit of the
both of you.

The silence after the storm was numbing. Hindi ako

makagalaw. Hinihintay ko kung ano ang susunod na
sasabihin ni Fier. It was as if anytime, I would d
ie from heart attack.

"So, that's it?" her voice was cold as ice.

I didn't hear anything but my own heart beating.

I heard footsteps pacing back and forth. It was Fie

r walking.
"Well," she said, "Okay. You know what, Drake? You
're an asshole. I don't know why people think you'
re perfect. Hindi, e. You got me pregnant yet some
how, gustung gusto mo akong mawala sa buhay mo. Ye
s, I threw myself at you pero it fucking takes two
to tango! Ginusto mo din to."

Ang sakit pala talagang marinig na yung taong maha

l mo, may nakasamang iba. Kahit sabihin mo kasi na
nangyari yun nung wala kayo, nung may away kayo,
ang sakit pa rin, di ba? Kasi kung mahal ka niya,
hindi naman siya susuko. Iyon yung ideal. Pero wal
a naman kami sa ideal world, nasa totoong mundo ka
mi. At dito sa mundo na ginagalawan namin, nakakag
awa kami ng kasalanan.

"I'm sorry..." Drake mumbled.

"Ano'ng magagawa ng sorry mo? Magiging tatay ba ya

n ng anak ko? Hindi, di ba?" she said and then pau
sed. "Know what, Drake? You're so selfish. Dahil s
elfish ka naman, siguro naman okay lang din na mag
paka selfish ako, no?"

My heart was racing so fast. Kinakabahan ako sa sa

sabihin ni Fier. Ayokong marinig. Natatakot ako at
nasasaktan ngayon pa lang.

"I'll give you the freedom you're so fucking despe

rate to have. Wala ka ng responsibilidad sa akin,
o sa anak mo. Pero wag ka na ding umasa na makikit
a mo yung anak mo. Did you hear me? Wag kang umasa
, Drake. Simula ngayon, wala ka ng anak. Akin lang
'to. Ako lang ang magulang niya."

Shit. No. Hindi pwede.

"Fier."

"Oh, fuck! Don't look at me like that! Ito yung gu

sto mo, di ba? Well, eto na! Binibigay ko na sa'yo
! Don't expect me to come on your terms, Drake. I
wasn't born to be a saint. Tao ako, masama ang uga
li ko. This is the best I could give you."

And then there were noises. Hindi ko alam pero nap

aupo na lang ako. Ang hirap hirap na. Kahit na par
a sa iba dapat matuwa ako, hindi ko alam kung saan
g parte ng nangyayari ngayon ang dapat ikatuwa ko.

"Goodbye, Drake," she said.

Bigla akong nagtago sa gilid. Hindi ko alam kung p

aano ko haharapin si Fier kaya mas minabuti ko na
lang na magtago.

Tears were falling down my cheek while I was watch

ing her go away. Dapat ba masaya na ako? Eto na, o
h. Siya na mismo yung nagpasya na umalis sa buhay
namin ni Drake.

It took me minutes to calm myself down. Gusto kong

ayusin muna yung sarili ko bago ako humarap kay D
rake.

I stood up and wiped my tear-stained cheek. I need

to look brave. Hindi ako dapat mahina. Kung mangh
ihina ang loob ko, mas panghihinaan ng loob si Dra
ke.

"Drake," I called out his name.

Nandun siya sa dulo ng kama ni Fier, nakaupo at na

kalagay yung kamay niya sa ulo niya. Parang hirap
na hirap na siya. 22 pa lang siya pero pakiramdam
ko ang tanda tanda na namin sa lahat ng nangyayari
sa buhay namin.

Dahan dahan akong naglakad. He wasn't crying but hi

s face gave it all. He was hurting.

When he saw me, he smiled.

Naupo ako at niyakap ko siya. He hugged me back; he

hugged me tight.
I was caressing his hair and told him, "Okay lang u
miyak..."

He didn't move a bit and so I just listened to his

ragged breathing. I took this opportunity to paci
fy him, even tho I, myself, haven't even digested
everything that had happened. Masyadong mabilis an
g mga pangyayari. Ni hindi ako makasunod. Para ban
g bigla na lang nangyari yung lahat.

Who would have thought that three weeks could chang

e everything? Drastically, even.

"Are you alright?"

He didn't answer.

"Drake, kakausapin ko si Fier, okay. I'll tell her

na okay lang sa akin na dito muna siya. Please wa
g kang malungkot, mas nasasaktan ako kapag ganyan
ka..."

He held my hand. I could feel him hurting kahit sa

simpleng yakap lang. Ganito ba talaga ang epekto
ng epic love? Parang kapag nasasaktan yung mahal m
o, mas nasasaktan ka... Triple pa nga kung minsan.
For the first time, he looked at me.

"Why are you like that?"

"H-ha?"

He smiled. "Why did I fall in love with such a self

less girl?"

"Sa'yo lang naman ako ganito, Drake. Sa iba? Sigur

o mas uunahin ko yung sarili ko. Sabi nga nila, su
rvival of the fittest. Pero kapag ikaw na yung usa
pan? You're my priority. Ganun din naman ang gagaw
in mo para sa akin, di ba?" I asked him. But it wa
sn't necessarily a question. Kapag nagbigay ka, da
pat wala kang hinihinging kapalit. That's when you
'll know that what you feel is real. Give but don'
t ask.

That night, we ended up cuddling together. Kahit n

a sinabi sa akin ni Drake na wag ko ng kausapin si
Fier, I have decided to do things on my own. Ayok
o siyang makitang magsisi dahil mas pinili niyang
unahin ako kaysa sa anak niya. Ayokong pagsisihan
niya yun pagdating ng araw.

Kinabukasan, nagising ako na wala na si Drake sa ta

bi ko pero may pagkain sa bedside table.
Walang note. Ewan ko ba, kahit minsan daig pa ni D
rake yung yelo sa pagiging cold, sanay na din ako.
Kasi siya yan e. Ganyan na siya nung nakilala ko.
Bonus na lang na minsan sweet siya. Ayoko ngang p
ilitin siyang magbago para sa akin. Ganyan siya, t
anggap ko siya.

Umalis ako sa bahay namin papunta kina Cristine. Wa

la akong clue kung saan nakatira si Fier.

Dumating ako sa bahay nila, pinapasok naman ako ka

agad ng guards, siguro dahil nakapunta na din nama
n ako dito dati nung 'pinaplano' ko pa yung kasal
nila ni Drake. Siguro kung pumayag ako dati na pak
asalan siya, wala ng ganito.

Pero ano nga ba ang sense ng what ifs?

"Si Cristine po?" I asked one of their maids. Itinu

ro niya ako doon sa likod, sa may garden.

Naglakad ako at nakita ko sila na nag uusap ni Fier

habang nakatalikod sa akin.

Hindi ko gustong makinig sa pinag uusapan nila pero

narinig ko ang pangalan ni Drake.
"Are you sure about that?" Cristine asked her.

Fier was holding a glass of water. Kahit nakatalik

od, ramdam mo yung lakas ng dating ni Fier. Minsan
naiinggit ako sa kanya. Ang lakas ng loob niya. K
apag gusto niya, sasabihin niya. Ako kasi, minsan
iniisip ko muna yung sasabihin ng iba, yung marara
mdaman nila. Masaya sa loob pero minsan, nakakasak
al din. Hindi mo magawa yung kung ano yung gusto m
o talaga.

She nodded.

"I talked to the twins already, sila na ang bahala

sa papers ko and everything, I'll stay here hangg
ang sa dumating ang ticket."

"But you really wouldn't tell me what country?"

"No, Cristine. I'm leaving Drake and everything, a

nd you being his friend puts me in jeopardy. Mas m
abuti na na wala kang alam."

"But I'm your best friend din naman..."

"We could skype."

"That's not fair! Paano ako magiging ninang ng bab
y kung wala man lang akong clue kung saan ko ipapa
dala ang gifts ko?"

Fier chuckled. "Oh, you're such a child sometimes,

Cristine. You'll see my baby, okay? We'll videoch
at as frequent as possible. Siguro after years, ka
pag okay and settled na, I'll let you know kung na
saan kami."

I didn't know she was this serious. Akala ko hindi

niya lang kakausapin si Drake, yung nadala lang s
iya ng galit niya...

But this?

This was too much.

Aalisan niya ng karapatan si Drake sa anak nila.

"When will you leave?"

"I don't know yet, Cristine. Maybe tonight, tomorr

ow, or next week. Basta as soon as possible."
I was lost for words.

Dahan dahan akong umalis sa bahay nila at pumasok

sa loob ng sasakyan ko. Ano ba ang dapat kong sabi
hin kay Fier para magbago ang desisyon niya?

Papaandarin ko na sana ang sasakyan ng makita ko y

ung mga kapatid ni Fier. Sila yung kambal kung hin
di ako nagkakamali.

I hastily opened the door of my car and approached

them.

"H-Hi," I said.

Napatingin sila sa akin. They didn't recognize me.

Nagtago kasi ako nung una kaming nagkita.

Yung isang lalaki, tinaasan ako ng kilay.

"Why?" he asked.

"Kapatid ba kayo ni Fier?"

"Yes, bakit? Do you know her?"

I took a really deep breath and nodded. "Yes, I'm A

lys--"

"Whoa, whoa. You're the Alys Perez?" the other guy

with blonde hair asked me.

I nodded.

"Ano'ng kailangan mo sa amin?" sabi nung mukhang ma

sungit na lalaki.

I closed my eyes for a moment and then spoke the un

speakable.

"Please wag niyong tulungan umalis sa bansa si Fier

."

*******************************************
[47] -44-
*******************************************
Tweet your feels! With #DAP44 para makita ko! :) A
nd if you feel like it, follow me on twitter! @bee
yotchWP :)
Enjoy reading!

Chapter 44

All of a sudden, biglang tumawa 'yung isang kapati

d ni Fier. It was a mocking laugh, I was certain o
f that. Kahit nasaktan ako, pinilit kong wag na la
ng pansinin. Ano pa ba ang silbi ng pride sa ganit
ong panahon? Right now, my priority was to keep Fi
er in the country so screw pride.

Sometimes, people choose pride over what's really

essential. That's just a foolish decision pretendi
ng to be something wise. So yeah, right now you wo
uld feel good because you satiated whatever your e
go tells you what's good but give it some time, yo
u'd feel something hollow within you. You just let
go of something important. And once you let go of
that one special thing, there's no assurance that
you can chase it back. Because there's this possi
blity that someone has seen its importance and boy
, there's just no turning back in real life.

"Are you crazy?" tanong niya sa akin. His eyes wer

e scrutinizing and mocking me at the same time. It
was degrading, really, but I've got to swallow ev
ery goddamn pride I had inside my body.

I took a calming breath and shook my head. "Seryos

o ako. Hindi pwedeng umalis si Fier. Please."
I may seem hopeless and pathetic but should I care
about that? It was a tug of war between love and
obscurity. And honestly, it was insane. Hindi ko d
in alam kung bakit ko 'to ginagawa but I just had
to... It felt like I would lose all my senses kung
hindi ako gagawa ng paraan.

The other brother looked at me and shook his head.

"Chance, una na ako sa loob," he said and then sta

rted walking. But then, he stopped for a bit when
he passed by me. "Masasayang lang ang effort mo, A
lys. Mas matigas pa sa bato 'yan," he whispered in
my ears and then walked away. His voice sent shiv
ers down my spine. It was frightening enough and h
im adding on to that made everything just worse. T
hank you, Lourd.

Seemed like what I was doing was close to a suicid

e mission but what the hell. This needed to be don
e and I'd do it.

"Ano ba ang dapat kong gawin para pumayag ka?" I a

sked, half minding that I was actually making a de
al with the devil right at this very moment.

He shrugged and then leaned back on his shiny car.

His eyes spelled dangerous but it was a game I wa
s willing to play. Anything for Drake right at thi
s very moment.

"Will you be willing to let go of Drake?"

My jaw fell.

"What? No!" I exclaimed. I would do everything but

that! God knows how much I had suffered para lang
makarating kami ni Drake sa puntong 'to. Gagawin
ko na lahat ng katangahan pero hindi 'yung iwan si
ya. Ang nagagawa lang naman ng paghihiwalay sa ami
n ay ang gawin kaming parehong malungkot at desper
ado. I should know because I have lived the experi
ence.

He, then, shrugged. "Then shut up. Alam mo para ka

ng tanga. Aalis na yung kapatid ko para mag-give w
ay pero ikaw pa 'tong humaharang."

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad pero ako na naman 'to

ng parang tanga gaya ng sabi niya, hinabol siya.

"Hindi naman sa ganun. Paano na lang yung anak nil

a kung hindi niya makikilala si Drake?" I tried to
sound as reasonable as I could be. It was a usele
ss attempt. This guy looked like he's used to havi
ng things his way. Pero not this one. Not at the e
xpense of me and Drake being apart. Hindi ko na ka
ya. Those four years were torture enough.
Hindi siya huminto sa paglalakad. Talking to this m
an was exhilarating.

"21st century na, Miss. Mabubuhay yung pamangkin k

o kahit hindi magpakita 'yang asawa mo," sabi niya
at saka iniwan ako ng tuluyan.

I watched him walk away, unable to do anything at

all. Siguro nga tama siya na makakaya naman ni Fie
r kahit wala si Drake. Pero paano si Drake? Hindi
ko alam kung maibabalik ko pa siya sa dati. He's t
oo broken now. God, I just hope he wasn't too brok
en to be fixed... My heart would be devastated.

Mas lalong sumakit ang ulo ko sa narinig ko mula s

a kanya. Mukhang desidido na siya na tulungan si F
ier na umalis sa bansa.

Looking at him and how the Sandovals bring themsel

ves, alam kong mahihirapan akong hanapin si Fier o
nce na magdesisyon siyang hindi magpakita.

My life was such a pool of mess.

Tumalikod ako at nagsimulang maglakad pabalik sa s

asakyan ko. This won't do. Kailangan kong gumawa n
g paraan.
I drove back to Drake's office since I figured na
wala siya sa bahay nila ngayon. It's been weird si
nce Fier had decided to take away his rights as th
e father of the child. Mas inuubos niya 'yung oras
niya sa pagtatrabaho. Minsan nakakalimutan niyang
kumain. Could they blame me if I was exerting thi
s much effort? Nasasaktan ako sa nakikita ko kay D
rake kahit pa hindi siya magsalita.

I knew he loved the child.

Kahit hindi niya sabihin, I could feel it.

Stepping on the grounds of his office, I searched

for his presence. I was crossing my fingers, hopin
g na nandyan siya, tahimik na nakaupo at nagbabasa
ng kung ano man ang dapat niyang basahin. It's be
tter than seeing him mope. No. Drake didn't do mop
ing. But I knew him enough to feel him suffering i
nside.

"Is Drake around?" I asked his secretary. She said

yes kaya naman pumasok na ako sa loob.

I looked around his placed. It looked messy and tr

ashed. He has been spending his nights here. Again
.
"Drake?" I called out his name but to no avail. Wa
lang sumasagot. I decided to wait on his couch ins
tead. Minutes later, I was so bored that I decided
to invade his privacy. We're husband and wife, af
ter all.

My heart was torn into pieces nung nakita ko kung a

no 'yung nasa laptop ni Drake.

Pictures of kids. Brochure of nursery school. How t

o be a good father books.

Drake...

Tears unconsciouslly rolled down my eyes. My heart

was hurting and I couldn't stop it. Drake's devas
tated and it was scaring me.

Ilang beses ko ng nakitang nasaktan si Drake but t

his was the worst blow. Ngayon lang siya nagkakaga
nito. Dati, tahimik lang siya at parang walang nan
gyari pero ngayon? It's as if you could see him sl
owly crumbling down. It was just too much to bear.

How much of a torture it is to see the man you lov

e slowly fade away? Right in front of you?

I closed his laptop and slowly digested everything

 in. Kailangan kong mapigilan si Fier. I just need
ed to. Hindi siya pwedeng umalis.

With trembling hands, I dialed her number.

I've waited and waited for her to pickup my call b

ut she just didn't. Maybe she blocked me in every
way possible. Damn it, Fier! Just this once, pwede
makinig ka?! Hindi lang naman ikaw yung naapektuh
an.

Instead, I called her best friend. This was my last

straw.

"H-hello? Cristine?" I said, my voice slowly on the

verge of breaking.

("Alys! Oh, my god! Are you crying?") she asked.

I shook my head in attempt to convince myself as w

ell na hindi ako umiiyak. It was a stupid move, re
ally. My face was giving it all. I was crying and
I didn't have enough to hide it. It was so damn co
nspicuous.

("Where are you? Puntahan kita jan!") she said in a

worried tone.
I stifled my sobs and controlled my breathing. The
re's no way she should see me like this. Seeing me
at my weakest state would only make things worse.

"No, just talk to me here..." I said. "K-kamusta si

Fier?" I asked her.

There was a deep breath and then silence. Ayaw niy

a sigurong sabihin. And I couldn't blame her exact
ly. She's her best friend.

("Alys...")

"Cristine, do something, please."

("As much as I want to, hindi ko kaya, Alys. It's h

er life. And she's hurt, too.")

"But how about Drake?"

The silence was long. Wala sa amin ang gustong mag

salita. It was like taboo. Paano na nga si Drake?
We could survive, sure, but the memory of him losi
ng his child would forever haunt us. Hindi ko nama
n hinihiling kay Fier na magstay siya. Ang ayaw ko
, yung umalis siya without the promise of returnin
g back, much more to have Drake know his own blood.

("I don't know, Alys... I care about Drake like yo

u. I talked to Fier, I swear! But she's made up he
r mind. She was really hurt nung mas pinili ni Dra
ke na umalis siya despite the face na magkaka anak
na sila... It was too much for her...")

I sobbed and sobbed. There was no stopping her.

I bid my goodbye and then sat on the couch.

Dahan dahan kong inayos ang gamit niya. I tried to

paint a smile on my face but it was just so damn
impossible at this moment. Masyadong magulo. Mas l
alo siyang madedepress kapag ganito ang nakapaligi
d sa kanya.

Nagbilin ako sa secretary niya na wag payagang mag

trabaho si Drake habang hindi pa siya nakakakain.
That man's just too stubborn for his own good.

Habang palabas ako ng office niya, nakasalubong ko

si Tripp.

"Zy?" he asked me, medyo nagtataka kung bakit ako n

andun.
Out of the blue, I hugged him. Wala na akong pakie
lam kung pag-usapan pa ako ng mga empleyado nila T
ito Steve. Damn, I just needed that hug.

"Ayos ka lang?" His voice was full or urgency and

worry. I nodded but he just pursed his lips. "Jan
ka lang," he said and then led me to the couch on
the lobby.

I watched him as he gave the file to the secretary

. May mga iba pa siyang sinabi pero hindi ko na ma
rinig. Right now, ayoko na lang mag-isip. Ang saki
t sakit na talaga ng ulo ko.

After a while, natapos na din siya sa pakikipag us

ap sa secretary. Pinuntahan niya ako. His face was
a painting of heartbreak and hope. God knows how
much I want to let go of Tripp pero hindi ko pa ta
laga kaya. Was I being selfish tagging him along?
I have been honest with him. It's Drake whom I lov
e but still, hindi ko pa kayang iwan si Tripp. We
have been through so much.

He was gone for a second and returned with a bottle

of water in his hands.

"Uminom ka," he ordered. I gladly obliged. Wala na

rin kasi akong lakas makipagtalo.
"Anong problema, Alys?" he asked.

Tumingin ako sa kanya ang tried to stifle my sobs.

Ayokong umiyak dito. Masyadong masakit. Ayokong m
akita nila akong ganito.

He took a really deep breath and put his arms arou

nd me and led me to the elevator. The silence was
enveloping us while we were going down. I was sile
ntly sobbing while he was looking away, biting his
lips out of sheer frustration.

Wasn't my case just a hopeless one?

Nakarating kami sa ground floor. Everything was dar

k.

"Pwede ka ng umiyak," he said when we got inside hi

s car.

The moment he said that, I let out all my controll

ed sobs. Sa harap lang ni Tripp talaga ako nakakai
yak ng ganito. Hindi ko alam pero sa harap ni Drak
e, hindi ko kayang umiyak ng ganito. Alam ko kasi
na hindi siya sanay na makita akong ganito. Ayokon
g makita niya ako na sobrang bagsak. I was like th
is when he left me: a wreck. Tripp saw it all. Wag
si Drake. Ayoko.
"Alys, ayoko sanang makielam pero ano ba? Wala ka
ng ibang ginawa kung hindi umiyak ah," he said.

I didn't respond because I can't. I was sobbing so

hard that I couldn't even compose a coherent sent
ence.

"It wasn't Drake's fault..." I reasoned out.

He sighed. He was frustrated. Minsan, sinabi sa ak

in ni Tripp na ang isang bagay na nakakapagpasakit
ng ulo niya ay ang nakikita akong umiiyak. It doe
sn't matter if it was a cry out of happiness or wh
at. Just shed one tear, it will drive Tripp mad. T
hat's just how concerned he's for me.

"Pakielam ko. Ang point ko, umiiyak ka. Naman, Aly

s! Iyak na lang palagi? Walang katapusan? Alam ko
sinabi ko na kapag nagmahal ka, okay lang na umiya
k, na masaktan. Pero hindi rin naman tama na magpa
katanga. Sorry, pero nagpapakatanga ka na," he sai
d, looking straight at my eyes.

My voice was so weak. I was struggling to explain

but all the came out was, "Tripp naman..."

Hinampas niya yung manibela out of sheer frustratio

n.
"Ewan ko sa'yo, Alys. I get it, mahal mo si Drake.
Pero hanggang saan? Mahal ka niya, oo. Pero palag
i na lang kayong ganito. I've been observing you b
oth, Alys. You do love each other but that love is
n't healthy. It's killing both of you."

I tried to smile.

"Mahal ko talaga siya..."

It was logical enough for me. Mahal ko si Drake. So

bra.

"At kasal kami, Tripp..."

He laughed. A mocking one.

"Wag mo akong lokohin. Sila Tito Steve malamang nal

oko niyo ni Drake pero hindi ako, Alys."

I was looking at him, curioused.

"H-ha?" I said, amidst all the crying and sobbing.

He took a deep breath and didn't look at me. Instea
d, he focused his vision upfront.

"Hindi kayo kasal, Alys. We both know that. Hindi

kayo registered legally. Getting married is a proc
ess. Fuck alam ko yan because I've been preparing
to marry you long before all these mess started. T
apos kayong dalawa biglang kasal na agad? Niloloko
niyo ba ako?"

He looked at me and all it did is to make me break

down, crying so hard. "I'll be asking you once ag
ain, ito ba yung buhay na gusto mo? Kasama si Drak
e pero palaging umiiyak?"

And that was the biggest question I was about to a

nswer. Was I happy? How can happiness be measured?

--

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*******************************************
[48] -45-
*******************************************
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Listen to the song on the side: Byul

Chapter 45

I went back home with a wrecked heart. In my entir

e life, today was the day that I just had to quest
ion why was I still living if all that I'd be feel
ing was pain and suffering?

The feeling of your happiness being questioned was

the worse of them all.

Bakit, Tripp?

I was holding on to that piece of happiness. Na ka

pag sobrang hirap na ng lahat, maalala ko lang na
nandyan si Drake, sumasaya na ako. Pero bakit kail
angan mo pang ipagkait sa akin yun?

"Alys?" my Mom called out my name. She was looking

at me with pity and I couldn't blame her. Kahit a
ko, naaawa na ako sa sarili ko. Sobrang nahihirapa
n na ako. Kung laro nga lang to ng basketball, mal
amang nagtime out na ako.
I approached her with heavy feet. For the sake of
her sanity, I tried to smile. Alam ko na kung nahi
hirapan ako, mas nahihirapan siya. She's my mother
.

"Kamusta?" she asked me.

"It's hard..."

It's damn hard. Mahirap. Masakit. Pero despite all

the hardships, kumakapit ako kay Drake. Siya lang
yung nagbibigay sa akin ng pag-asa na makakaya ko
ang lahat ng 'to. Na kahit na ang hirap hirap na
ngayon, magtiwala ako kasi meron pang bukas.

She hugged me tight and assured me that everything

's gonna be alright. Sana nga. Sana maging okay na
'yung lahat kasi sobrang nahihirapan na ako sa mg
a nangyayari. It felt like I'd explod anytime soon
. Just... just anytime I'd crash and burn.

I had a good crying inside the arms of my Mom. She

caressed me and then hugged me to sleep. It was v
ery sweet of hers. Despite everything I did, she s
till loved me and would do everything to help me.
I was just thankful for having my family beside me
while all these madness consume my being.
That night, I had the longest sleep in weeks. No d
ramas, no crying. I just slept it all. I needed it
. My body felt so worn out.

Morning rolled in fast and the first thing that I

did is to check up on Drake. The day was gloomy an
d it looked like it was going to rain hard anytime
soon. The sky was giving a hint of what was about
to come: a heavy pouring. I smiled bitterly. Mayb
e the heavens and I shared the same feeling. We bo
th needed a good crying. A damn good one at that.

I stood up and went to the bathroom while holding

the telephone in my hands. My hands were fumbling
and my heart was beating fast. I hadn't had the ch
ance to contact Ddrake last night. My mind was hea
vy with everything. There was just too much to dig
est.

While I was laying in my bed last night, bumabalik

lahat ng sinabi sa akin ni Tripp. Tama nga siya..
. How can happiness be measured? Can it be measure
d by the number of smiles you made? The laughters
you shared? Ano nga ba ang basehan ng pagiging mas
aya?

Alam ko sa sarili ko na masaya ako kay Drake... Or

at least I was happy. The memories we shared were
the ones I cherished the most. Bawat ngiti, bawat
paghawak niya sa kamay ko dati, hindi ko magawang
kalimutan. Kahit na gaano niya ako sinaktan nood,
it was just too hard for me to forget him.
It was like forgetting him was forgetting who I wa
s. He's a part of who I am. And if given the chanc
e, I'd like for him to be a part of who I would be.

With Drake, everything seemed hopeful. My future,

my everything, since I met him, I've been looking
forward to tomorrow because I know it'd be worth i
t.

"Drake?" I said when he finally picked up the phon

e. I was in the middle of washing my face when he
spoke. My breathing hitched up. Marinig ko lang an
g boses niya, sobra na ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

I could hear his heavy breathing.

("Yeah?")

"Kumain ka na ba?" I asked him, unable to do anyth

ing but to worry. Ayoko siyang tanungin ng ibang b
agay. He's been through too much.

There was a beat and then he answered me with, ("No

t yet. Let's eat together?")

I smiled at his question. Mabuti naman naalala niy

a pa ako. Akala ko palagi na lang siyang malungkot
, e.

"Sure. I'll go there in a while, okay?"

("I'll pick you up.")

"No, pupunta na lang ako jan. Okay?"

("Alright.")

I was about to end the call when I remembered... "

I love you, Drake. Always. Forever. To the moon an
d back."

It was the truth. No matter what may happen, my lo

ve for him will never cease. Sure, mapapagod ako b
ut at the end of the day, mahal ko pa rin. Ganun y
ata talaga pag epic love. Masaktan at masaktan ka
man, mapagod ka man ng sobra, sa dulo, babalik at
babalik ka pa rin. Bakit? Mahal mo, e.

Minsan, iniisip ko na parang pinaglalaruan lang ak

o ng nag isip ng kahulugan ng love. Bakit pag may
love may hurting? Hindi ba pwedeng love na lang? P
ero sa lahat ng nangyari, naisip ko na mas okay ng
a na minsan nasasaktan... Para mas naaappreciate m
o yung mga masasayang pangyayari.
I finished dressing up momentarily. Today, I'd do
anything just to make everything seem normal. Just
for today, gusto kong maramdaman na normal na tao
lang kami. Kahit sabihin nila na masamang takbuha
n ang problema, ngayon? Gusto ko lang na tumakas.
Kahit isang araw lang. Hindi naman siguro masaya y
un, di ba?

Just in time before I wore my shoes, Mom entered my

room.

"Bakit po?"

"You're going somewhere?" she asked when she saw m

y things scattered on my bed. Kanina pa kasi ako n
aghahanap ng pwedeng isuot. I wasn't dolling up fo
r Drake. I was looking for something that would ma
ke him feel at home. Yung normal lang?

I nodded and then strapped the lace.

"Uhm, okay. But Tripp's downstairs."

"Ha?"

"Tripp's downstairs waiting for you," she said aga

in. She looked at me, para bang nagpipigil siya ng
gusto niyang sabihin sa akin. I waited for her to
gather the guts... And when she finally did... "A
lys, baby, you know I love you and I'm just always
behind you in every decision that you make... But
please, just please, unahin mo muna yung sarili m
o above anyone else. Just because you love the per
son doesn't give you the license to hurt yourself
over and over again. If that's the case, it isn't
love anymore. It's just responsibility. Love is bl
iss, not ignorance."

I smiled at her. I knew she meant well but I'd rat

her be ignorant with Drake than to be smart and al
one.

"Thanks, Mom," I said and then looked at myself one

last time at the mirror.

She gave in a deep sigh and then kissed me on the

cheek. "I love you, baby. Always remember that, ok
ay?"

"Of course, Mom."

Bumaba na ako while my Mom went to her room. She k

new better than to spy on me. It wasn't a good ide
a to spy on someone yet I always ended up spying u
p on Fier. What an irony.
While I was going down, my heart kept on beating a
bnormally. Seeing Tripp was just too much for me.
Last night, when he leaned in and kissed me... Jus
t. Damn it.

"What?" I asked him. Hindi ako makatingin ng maayo

s. That kiss... No, Alys. Si Drake ang mahal ko. T
ripp's just messing with my head.

I pushed him. And then slapped him.

"What the hell?!" I said and then wiped my lips wit

h my hand. "Anong problema mo?!"

My face was red with anger. Naiinis ako. Nasasakta

n ako. Hindi pa ba sapat lahat ng pinagdaanan ko n
ung mga nakaraang araw na kailangan niya pang dagd
agan?!

He was staring at me intently, those dark orbs maki

ng my heart skip a beat.

"Wala akong problema. Shit. Kahit na saktan mo ako

ng paulit ulit, ikaw pa rin e. Tangina nakakagago
!" he said and then slammed his head on his hand.
"Alys, alam ko sabi ko sa'yo hindi kita iiwan pero
... tama na. Please. Konti na lang... fuck, Alys,
konti na lang luluhod na ako sa harap mo balikan m
o lang ako e."
I was staring at him. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.

"Tripp..."

"Alys, hindi mo ba alam kung gaano kita kamahal? H

indi mo alam? Heto, makinig ka. Mahal na mahal kit
a kahit na alam ko na mas mahal mo si Drake. Kahit
na best friend na lang ako, nandito pa rin ako, d
i ba? Kahit na umiiyak ka at para akong gago na na
giging human handkerchief mo, ayos lang. May narin
ig kang reklamo? Wala. Pero ngayon, sorry, Alys. H
indi ako perpekto. Nasasaktan ako. Nasagad mo na ako.

"Five years. Five years na kitang mahal, Alys. Ang

tagal na, no? Pero parang sandali lang yung lahat
kasi yung mga panahon na kasama kita, sandali lan
g naman talaga. Puro nga patago, puro pahiram lang
. Pero kahit ganun hindi naman ako nagsisisi. Yung
panahon na tayong dalawa, sobrang saya ko kahit n
a alam ko na matatapos naman yung lahat.

"Alys, mahal kita pero hindi ako tanga. Alam ko na

si Drake lang talaga. Pwede naman na pinakasalan
na lang kita dati agad, alam ko naman na papayag k
a pero hindi ko ginawa. Parang ang gago ko naman k
asi kung ganun, di ba? Gusto ko kung papakasalan m
o ako, yung ako na talaga.

"Sanay ako ng kahati ko si Drake buong buhay ko. S

anay na sanay na ako pero pagdating sayo, ayoko. S
orry kung sobrang seloso ako dati... Tangina hindi
mo kasi alam kung gaano kita kamahal. Maisip ko p
a lang na hindi ako yung nagiisa jan sa puso mo, a
ng sakit na. Pero ayos lang. Ganun talaga, e.

"Alam mo ba kung gaano ako natakot nung bumalik ka

sa Pilipinas? Hindi mo alam, noh? Wag mo ng alami
n... Baka maawa ka pa sakin.

"Pero ngayon, Alys? Iyak na lang ng iyak, tangina!

Kung pwede lang talaga itatakas na kita kay Drake
pero hindi ko kaya kasi alam kong hindi mo naman
ako mahal kagaya ng kay Drake. Epic love mo nga, d
i ba? Tangina ano ba ako? Best friend. Shoulder to
cry on. Nakakagagong role sa buhay.

"Kaya ngayon, Alys, please aalis na ako. Tama na t

alaga. Konting konti na lang pipitik na ako. Sobra
ng sakit na. Hindi na maganda 'to.

Nakatingin ako sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung paano s

umagot. Masakit. Ang sakit sakit.

"Tripp--" I said as I was trying to hold his face.

Iniwasan niya ako. "Tama na, Alys. Bigyan mo na la

ng ako ng closure. Gusto ko na talagang mag move o
n. Nakakagago na yung paulit ulit na nasasaktan. H
indi pala 'to masaya."
"Bakit ka nandito?" I asked him again.

There was a distance between us. Hindi ko alam kun

g paano lumapit. He asked me to let him go. Ang sa
kit sakit.

Hindi niya alam kung gaano kasakit yung sinabi niy

a sa akin. I was crying so hard that even breathin
g was difficult.

Gaano kasakit na magmakaawa sayo yung best friend

mo na iwan mo siya? Sobrang sakit. Dinaig pa yung
breakup namin ni Drake. Hindi ko alam kung paano i
describe. Yung bawat patak ng luha niya, bawat pag
sabi niya ng, 'Alys, iwan mo na ako.' Sobrang saki
t. Kulang na lang saksakin niya ako.

Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin.

"Pwede ba tayong mag usap?" he said.

"Akala ko ba lalayuan na kita?"

He sighed. "Alys..."
Itinaas ko ang kamay ko nung nagtangka siyang luma
pit sa akin. Tama na, please. Sinusubukan ko naman
na mag let go. Pero proseso yun. Sana makicoopera
te siya. Mahirap bumitaw kung yung taong gusto mon
g iwan, nandyan lang sa harap mo.

"Tripp, gusto mong layuan kita. Makicooperate ka na

man."

He was looking at me. Just looking at me.

"Alys, last na 'to. Aalis na ako pagkatapos nito...

" he said.

I was tempted to cry. Aalis siya? Bakit ang sakit?

Oo alam kong lalayuan ko siya pero aalis? Hindi b
a sobra naman yun?

Best friend ko siya... kahit ganito ang nangyayari

best friend ko si Tripp... Pwede paunti unti nama
n ang pagiwan sa akin?

"S-saan ka pupunta?"

He smiled. "Basta. Yung malayo. Yung walang Alys.

Gusto kong magbagong buhay. Yung babae na mamahali
n ako. Yung to the moon and back din."

Hindi ko napigilan, naiyak na ako.

"Sorry... Tripp, I'm so sorry..."

He bit his lips and smiled. Kahit ang sakit sakit n

a, nagagawa niya pa ding ngumiti.

"Wag kang magsorry, ako 'tong na in love sa'yo," h

e said. He reached for my hand. "Tara, tutulungan
na kita sa problema mo bago ako tuluyang mawala."

Mawala? Ang... fuck ang sakit pakinggan. How can y

ou let go of someone who's been there with you thr
ough thick and thin? Parang masyadong mahirap. Nak
akagago yung concept.

Before I knew it, nakasakay na kami sa sasakyan niy

a.

He was explaining to me na aalis na si Fier. It wa

s a quarter to 10 and her flight was this afternoo
n. Kailangan namin siyang mapuntahan. Damn it, Cri
stine! Hindi man lang nagsabi.
My hands were trembling but I still managed to sen
d a text to Drake. It was concise and... hurtful e
nough.

To: Drake Palma

Fier's leaving. Go to her.

Five words but the impact's just too much.

The drive was long and winding. Masakit sa puso. M

y hands felt cold. My heart was beating abnormally
. It felt like everything's bound to mess up.

Nakarating kami sa bahay nila Cristine and my whol

e being was just fucking emotional. Konti na lang
talaga magbbreakdown na ako.

"Hindi ko kayang pumasok..." I said.

Tripp smiled at me and motioned me to go on.

"Sige na, Zyril. Kaya mo yan. Mawawala na ako pagk

atapos nito. And please, wag kang matakot na umiya
k sa harap ni Drake. Mahal ka nun. Maiintindihan k
a niya, umiyak man o tumawa ka."
I hugged him tight. Magiging okay din ang lahat pa
ra sa kanya, para sa akin, para sa amin.

Dahan dahan akong pumasok sa loob kahit na ang biga

t bigat ng puso ko.

Nakasalubong ko si Cristine, nagulat siya pero wal

a na akong panahon para magpaliwanag sa kanya.

"Si Fier?" I asked her.

Mukhang naguguluhan siya.

"She's upstairs... and she's with Drake. What's hap

pening?"

I took a calming breath. "She's leaving this aftern

oon, Cristine."

"What?!"

"I'll explain it to you later, okay?" sabi ko sa ka

nya bago ako umakyat.
Every step, kinakabahan ako. I had this feeling in
side me that this was going to be messy. Every end
ing's messy but this one was just... it was just t
oo much for me.

I followed the instruction Cristine gave me. Nandu

n nga sila and Fier was pacing back and forth, nag
aayos ng gamit niya. Drake was like a puppy follo
wing her.

"Stop following me! Aalis na ako, lumuhod ka man ja

n o umiyak."

"Fier... Don't do this to me."

"Your chance is over, Drake. Ayoko na sayo. Sure,

at some point, naisip ko na baka nga in love ako s
ayo. Pero hindi. You hurt me. And pag sinaktan ako
ng isang tao, wala na. Game over na. Sorry but th
at's how I roll. Ayoko ng nasasaktan, Drake. I'm s
ensitive. And you pushed me over the edge."

It was nostalgic. Ang sakit sakit tuwing nakikinig

ako sa usapan nila. Pero minsan, naiisip ko na ma
s okay to... Nag uusap silang dalawa na sila lang.
Minsan kasi naiisip ko na nagdedesisyon si Drake
dahil sa akin. Gusto kong magdesisyon siya sa sari
li niya... At kung ako ang mapili niya, I'd be so
damn lucky.
"Where are you going? Fier naman. Sabihin mo naman
sakin."

"Wala kang karapatan, Drake, okay! Wag ka ngang fee

ling responsableng ama!"

And out of the blue, he pulled her, hugged her and

then slowly kneeled in front of her.

Sumakit yung puso ko. Why, Drake?

"Fier... please don't do this..."

Tumalikod ako at tumakbo palabas. Hindi ko na kaya

yung mga susunod na mangyayari. My heart will soo
n explode, I could feel it.

I ran to Tripp.

"Alys!" he said. "Anong nangyari?"

I was sobbing so hard. I can't emphasize how hard

I was sobbing. Hindi ako makahinga. My vision was
cloudy. Ang sakit ng puso ko.
"Give me the keys," I said.

"Alys..."

"I SAID GIVE ME THE FUCKING KEYS!"

Inabot niya sa akin yung susi and I entered his ca

r. I ignited the engine at once. Aalis na sana ako
when Tripp entered, as well.

"I want to be alone."

"Wag kang magdrive ng umiiyak, Alys."

"I SAID I WANT TO BE ALONE! MAHIRAP BANG INTINDIHIN

?!"

I can't be logical. Ayoko. Naiisip ko na nagmamaka

awa si Drake kay Fier. Masyadong... fuck masyadong
masakit. Ayoko. Ayokong isipin.

He sighed. "Then drive. Dito lang ako."

Hindi ko siya pinansin and then I drove away. Whil
e driving, I was sobbing. Ang sakit isipin na-- fu
ck why am I being like this? Ang sakit. Kahit na s
abihin ko na okay lang, para naman sa anak niya yu
n, wala e. Masakit pa din.

"Alys, dahan dahan lang..." he reminded me.

I didn't listen to him and stepped on the gas even

harder. I rolled down the window and the air was
blowing nicely against my skin, drying my tears.

And then everything went black.

--

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[49] Epilogue (1st Part)
*******************************************
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Play the song on the side: The Scientist (Glee cove

r)
Epilogue (1st Part)

There was blood. And there was...

"Tripp?"

No, Alys. No, please don't cry. Fuck no.

"Tripp? Tripp?"

Oh, Jesus... Why were there blood everywhere?

I tapped his blood covered face. He was hugging me

and his eyes were closed. Tripp naman e...

"Tripp? Tripp naman walang ganyanan..."

I bit my lips hard and then suppressed my tears. T

ripp naman... Wag mo naman akong iwan ngayon. Ayok
o pa. Sige umalis ka na pero wag naman yung ganito
. Wag naman yung ganito, please.
Tumingin ako sa paligid ko. No one was around. Kami
lang. Walang tutulong sa amin...

"T-tulungan niyo kami..."

I tried to shout but I just couldn't. Tears were s

trimming down my face. I closed my eyes. No. I jus
t can't look at his face. Tripp, hindi mo ako pwed
eng iwan. You fucking moron. Ni wala ka man lang g
oodbye? Hindi. You can't die. Fuck you hindi pa pw
ede.

Slowly, I succumed to the pain. The look on his fa

ce was just too much to endure. Sana hindi na lang
niya ako pinrotektahan... Sana pinabayaan niya na
lang akong mamatay.

I looked at him before closing my eyes. Hindi ko a

lam kung ano but I swear I saw him look at me and
smile.

He smiled at me while the blood on his head was flo

wing.

"Maging masaya ka, okay..." it was a whisper loud e

nough to make me want to die. Ako na lang.
--

My body was hurting everywhere. My head was throbb

ing in pain. It was hard breathing. The moment I o
pened my eyes, I saw my parents looking at me worr
iedly.

"Alys!" my Mom exclaimed when she saw me open my e

yes. Lumapit siya sa akin but she didn't come near
me, para bang natatakot siyang lapitan ako dahil
masasaktan ako. "A-are you fine? Does it hurt? Tel
l me, okay? Mom will take care of you," she said a
nd then she started bursting in tears.

Right at that moment, my head was spinning. Hindi

ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko. My throat felt
dry, my body was hurting, I cannot move my legs, t
here was a cast on my arms. Every breath I take wa
s torture.

I tried to open my mouth but I can't say a thing.

My Mom placed her hand on her mouth to prevent anot

her sob from escaping her lips.
"Alys, baby, don't talk for the m-mean time, okay?
" she said and then carefully, she went near me an
d kissed my forehead. "You're injured. Magpagaling
ka muna, please. We will tell you everything once
na umayos na 'yung pakiramdam mo so please cooper
ate... Please, baby?"

Hindi ko alam but I just found myself nodding. My

tears were flowing freely. I cannot speak... and I
was thankful. Hindi pa yata ako handang magtanong
.

Was Tripp okay?

Was he... was he alive?

Hindi ko kayang magtanong. Hindi ko kasi kayang mar

inig yung sagot.

Memories of us inside a wrecked car came flooding

my mind. He was there, enveloping me in a hug whie
all was being blurry. There was a speeding car an
d it was too late to step on the brake. There was
a flashing lights. And then I remembered Tripp hug
ging me.

And then there was blood everywhere.

And then...

No, Alys. Stop thinking radically. Sa teleserye la

ng nangyayari yung ganun. Wag kang magisip masyado
. Baka naman kasi nabalian lang ng buto si Tripp.
Tapos magpapakita siya sa akin sasabihin niya, 'OA
mo naman, Zy. Ice na ice lang ako.'

Ganyan naman si Tripp. Ayaw niyang nag-aalala sa ka

nya yung mga tao.

I tried to stand up. Gusto kong makita si Tripp.

"M-om..." I said kahit na ang hirap hirap magsalita

. "T-Tripp..."

Bigla bigla na lang siyang umiyak.

"Alys, wag muna ngayon, ha?"

"T-Tripp..."

Please naman, mom. Gusto ko lang naman makita si T

ripp. Promise magiging mabait na anak na ako ipaki
ta niyo lang si Tripp sa akin. Kahit one second la
ng. Kahit talaga sandali lang...

She was crying and Dad was consoling her. Gusto ko

ng tumayo. Gusto kong puntahan si Tripp but my bod
y won't allow me.

I was crying so bad when the doctors came in.

S-si Tripp lang naman yung gusto ko... Promise hin

di na ako iiyak ipakita niyo lang si Tripp sa akin
.

"D-Doc, p-pwede bang patulugin niyo muna si Alys?"

my Dad asked the doctor.

My Dad rarely cries. Ngayon lang. Bakit siya umiiya

k? Hindi naman patay si Tripp, di ba?

I looked around the room. They were all looking at

me with pity. Fuck it hindi ako nakakaawa! I just
needed to see Tripp, okay?

My heart was beating so fast habang papalapit sa ak

in yung doctor.

"Ssh, Ms. Perez. Sleep now..."

And that was the last thing I heard before I closed
my eyes yet again.

--

The days passed by and it was only getting worse a

nd worse. Gusto kong makita si Tripp! Wala akong p
akielam sa bulaklak, sa pagkain, stuffed toys! Kun
g pwede ko lang silang sigawan isa isa, ginawa ko
na.

My Mom was just telling me random stuff. I hate it.

My Dad was telling me everything will be okay. He's

a liar.

And Drake?

I didn't wanna see him.

"Baby, nandyan si Drake, iwan muna namin kayo, oka
y?" my Mom said. She looked at me and smiled. Hina
likan niya ako sa noo bago niya ako iwan kasama si
Drake.

I looked at him. I couldn't feel anything at all.

Posible pala 'yun? Yung wala ka ng maramdaman dahi
l sa sobrang sakit. Sinubukan kong magalit sa kany
a pero wala na talaga akong maramdaman. Hindi ko k
ayang magalit. Hindi ko kayang masaktan. Gusto ko
na lang magpahinga...

"Alys..." he said.

I opened my mouth to speak. Kaya ko ng magsalita.

It's been more than a week, being here in the hosp
ital. Tahimik lang ako, ayokong magsalita. Sometim
es, I would pretend to be dead. Para kasing mas ok
ay yun. Nakakapagod na mabuhay. Ni minsan hindi ko
inakala na aabot ako sa ganitong punto. Suicidal
thoughts? Minsan naiisip ko na 'yan. But I couldn'
t die just yet... Kailangan ko munang makita si Tr
ipp. Si Tripp na ipinagdadamot nila sa akin.

"Ano?" I said, not looking at him.

"You wanna eat?" he said and then showed me the pap

er bag he was holding.

I looked at him one more time. Wala na talaga. All

 I gave was love but he gave me heartaches in retu
rn.

Enough is enough. Masakit na. Tama na.

"Dalhin mo ako kay Tripp," I said.

"Alys..." he said.

"DALHIN MO AKO KAY TRIPP. BINGI KA BA O ANO?!"

I didn't mean to shout at him but I was so despera

te... Gusto ko lang naman makita si Tripp, maassur
e na ayos lang siya. He couldn't die. Tutulungan n
iya pa ako, di ba?

Sabi niya soulmate niya ako... Di ba pag soulmate d

apat walang iwanan?

Lumapit siya sa akin and sat on the chair beside m

y bed. He was looking at me, dark circles surround
ing his eyes. Hindi naman ako tanga. Alam kong bin
abantayan niya ako habang nandito ako sa ospital.
Pero wala na talaga akong pakielam. Sometimes, lov
e will destroy every good thing you have in you. M
insan, puro masama na lang 'yung matitira.
They say that being in love is a splendid thing bu
t I say otherwise. Being in love means gambling ev
erything you have. Sometimes you will win, sometim
es you will lose. And when you lose, every damn th
ing will hurt. And when worse comes to worst, your
reason for living will slowly fade... until the o
nly thing that will keep your heart beating will b
e hurt. And pain. And more hurting.

"Drake, please naman. Kahit 10 seconds lang. Gusto

ko lang makita si Tripp..."

"Alys, I wish I can but--"

"You wish you can but you can't?! Just for once ma
gkaroon ka naman ng paninindigan, Drake! Drake, yo
u're a grown-up man. Man up, please! Nabuntis mo s
i Fier, take goddamn responsibility! Alam mo bang
hirap na hirap akong sundan siya para sayo? Bakit?
Kasi alam ko you've been through too much.

"Sige, Alys, kaya mo yan. Ikaw na lang yung lumulo

n ng pride mo para kay Drake... Fuck. Yan na yata
yung mantra ko para sayo. Okay lang. No, Drake, hi
ndi kita sinusumbatan. Nilalabas ko lang yung sama
ng loob ko. Ang sakit sakit na kasi..."

I was clutching to my chest. My heart hurts from t

oo much pain. My eyes were tired from too much cry
ing.
He was silent. He couldn't even look at me.

Tahimik akong humikbi. Tama na, Alys. Wala din nama

ng saysay.

"Dalhin mo ako kay Tripp. Please lang, Drake. Maaw

a ka. Mababaliw na ako kapag hindi ko pa nakita si
Tripp."

He slowly nodded and then went outside to get a wh

eelchair for me. With every distance spent, lumala
kas yung kabog ng dibdib ko. Please wag naman sa m
orgue. Please naman. Hindi ko alam kung paano pa a
ko mabubuhay kapag wala na si Tripp...

Huminto kami sa tapat ng ICU.

"Alys..." he said.

"Please, Drake. I need to see him."

Lumapit siya sa harap ko and kneeled. Hinawakan ni

ya yung kamay ko and kissed my knuckles. "Alys, y-
you can't see Tripp."
As I watch Tripp breathing through the apparatuses
attached to his body, my heart was slowly sinking
. He was there, lying mindlessly. Mindless of the
people worrying over him.

"B-bakit?" I asked him while looking at Tripp's sle

eping face.

Before he could even answer, may biglang lumabas na

babae.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?" her voice was cold and

she was staring at me with such vengeance. She, th
en, looked at Drake. "Get her away. Before I start
making a scene."

Drake stood up and then looked at the woman in whi

te. "Alright, auntie." Tumingin siya sa akin. "Aly
s, let's go."

Sinimulan niyang itulak yung wheelchair but I was

adamnant. No! Kailangan kong makausap si Tripp...
Kahit makita man lang...

"Wait, Drake! I need to see him!" I shouted. I was

shouting uncontrollably. He was trying to console
me but I was unconsolable. Not anymore. My heart
felt cold.
Huminto siya and faced me.

"Listen, Alys, that was Tripp's mom. Please, don't

try to visit him... She... she hates you."

My heart broke. If it was even possible because my

heart was already broken to begin with. Ang sakit
palang marinig na kinamumuhian ka ng taong pinaha
halagahan mo. Hindi ko naman ginusto na mangyari s
a amin 'yun... Sana ako na lang. Sana hindi na si
Tripp... He didn't deserve that...

"B-But... H-Hindi ko naman ginusto na mangyari 'yun

..."

He nodded and then kissed my hands. "I know. We kno

w."

Tears again streamed down my cheeks. Damn these tea

rs. Kailan ba kayo mauubos?

"S-sabihin mo I'm sorry... Sorry talaga."

I was sobbing so damn hard when I felt a stinging s

ensation on my cheeks.
"Ang kapal ng mukha mo! I left my son alive and th
en I returned and saw him in the state of comatose
with multiple internal injuries. Ang kapal mo!" s
he said while trying to push me.

Drake was shielding me from her assaults but I was

there, silently accepting them all. Kasalanan ko
naman talaga... If only I listened to him that nig
ht... Hindi naman 'to mangyayari...

"Sorry..." I said over and over again. "S-sorry po.

.. Hindi ko naman--"

And there was another slap.

"You don't deserve to see my son."

Kulang na lang lumuhod ako. Kung kaya ko, gagawin

ko. Wala na akong dignidad. Gusto ko lang makita a
t magsorry kay Tripp.

"A-alam ko naman po... P-pero kahit sandali lang?"

She shook her head. "You almost killed him. And yo

u killed your own baby! Ano'ng klase kang ina?"
That was the last of it. And I lost it all.

"M-my baby?"

She looked at Drake and I saw the color slowly lea

ving Drake's face. Soon enough, iniwan niya kaming
dalawa. Sabi niya, kailangan naming mag-usap.

Ayoko ng makipag usap. Mababaliw na ako. Konti na l

ang.

My lips were trembling as I asked him about the bab

y.

He took a really deep breath and then closed his e

yes. "Alys... you were... you were three weeks pre
gnant and you had a miscarriage."

My knees were weak but I managed to stand up and sl

apped him.

"I hate you."

And then I called for the nurses while shouting hys

terically.

This was the sign. I need to let go. Too much pain
was killing me slowly. Ayoko na. Tama na.

--

Tweet #DAPepilogue for your reactions! :) Twitter @

beeyotchWP

The second part of the epilogue will be posted pri

vately! Kailangan niyo ng wattpad account and then
follow me. Thanks! Will post it in a short while.

Link of 2nd part: http://www.wattpad.com/39816191-

sdp2-dating-alys-perez-epilogue-2nd-part

*******************************************
[50] Epilogue (2nd part)
*******************************************
Epilogue (Part 2)

They say everything is bound to reach its ending.

Minsan magulo, minsan hindi pero ang maganda dun,
merong closure.

"Your time's up. Go, go," the nurse instructed me p

ara lumabas sa kwarto.
I looked at him one last time and then kissed his
forehead. Ang haba na ng buhok niya, may stubbles
na rin sa mukha niya. Pero gwapo pa din. I smiled
at the thought. Ang unfair. Ako tumanda na ng thre
e years pero si Tripp, ganun pa rin yung mukha. An
g daya.

"I'll return, okay?" I said one last time before I

walked out the door.

What happened for the past three years? It was cra

zy. Naaalala ko pa nung itinago ng mom niya si Tri
pp sa akin. She still hates me up to date. It was
maddening how I searched for Tripp.

After having him in a stable condition, pinaayos n

a ng mom niya yung papers to transfer him to the S
tates. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. I wa
s nursing a broken sould, I was crying for my unbo
rn child, tapos ilalayo pa nila sa akin si Tripp.

Looking back, I can say that I'm proud of myself.

Hindi biro lahat ng pinagdaanan ko. Kung sa ibang
tao siguro nangyari yun, baka nabaliw na sila.

Dahan dahan akong umalis, baka kasi makita ako ng

mommy ni Tripp. The last time she saw me sneaking
around the room of his sleeping son, she pulled my
hair so hard I bled. Okay lang. Para kay Tripp na
man.
I fled away from the Philippines. Ayoko na dun. Pu
ro naman kasi masasakit na alaala yung naiisip ko.

While waiting outside, my phone vibrated. I looked

at it.

Another email from Drake.

I opened it habang nakasakay ako sa loob ng taxi.

Since the accident, hindi ko na kayang magdrive. K
ahit humawak sa manibela, hindi ko kaya. All I cou
ld see is red. Nakakatakot. Hindi ako makahinga.

From: Drake Palma

Hi, Alys. How are you there? We're doing good here
. Your mom's doing okay. Your brother is still mad
at me but it's fine. Do you know that Kent propos
ed to your best friend? It was crazy, I'm telling
you. He kneeled in front of everybody and then he
got a slap from your crazy friend. You wouldn't ha
ve laughed if you were here...

I wish you were here, you know?

I love you. I still do. I will always.

Anyway, I visited Marco's grave. Why did you have
to name him Marco, anyway? Tripp's not yet dead, y
ou know. But I won't question you since you're Mar
co's mother. I had the grave cleaned since I know
you'd hate me if I would let his tomb get dirtied.

It's been three years, 765 emails, 0 reply.

They say give up, Drake. She's moved on. But hell
I won't. You won't forget about me, right? You sai
d you love me. You said you just needed a break.

You said you love me. Love.

I'm still holding onto that, Alys. I'd rather die a

lone than to replace you.

Call me an asshole but if ever you happen to fall

in love with another guy, please don't invite me t
o your wedding.

Always,

Drake

I smiled at his email.

Hindi naman ako galit. I just needed space to rebu
ild my life. Ayoko ng magmahal ng sobra. Minsan ka
si pag sobra, wala ng natitira sa sarili mo. Paano
pag iniwan ka niya? E di kawawa ka naman.

Minsan, nakita ko si Fier sa grocery store. She wa

s with someone... and that someone was a little gu
y. He looked a lot like his father.

Alam kaya ni Drake na nandito din si Fier?

I didn't want to be involved. Tahimik na ako.

I promised myself na babalik lang ako ng Pilipinas

kapag gumising na si Tripp. Siguro ito na din yun
g bayad ko. I stole 3 years of his life. Ano ba na
man yung maghintay ako para gumising siya bago ko
ituloy yung buhay ko?

Sabi ng mga doctor, okay na daw si Tripp. It's jus

t a matter of time bago siya gumising. Naniniwala
ako sa kanila... Si Tripp yan e. Hindi niya ako ii
wan.

Months passed and my routine continued. I was work

ing as a waitress in a cafe. In this country, I wa
s a nobody. Pero surprisingly, it felt good. Walan
g pressure, walang stress.
I juggled works simula ng umayos yung kalusugan ko
. I was a train-wreck back then. Kulang na lang ma
glaslas ako. My Mom even entered me in a rehab bec
ause I was so close to killing myself.

Three months in rehab.

Three months of solitude.

And then I ran away. One day, I decided to run awa

y. I begged for Tito Tristan para sabihin sa akin
kung nasaan si Tripp and when I discovered that he
was somewhere in California, I immediately booked
a flight. It was hard escaping from the reality b
ut I did everything I could to escape my reality.

The first time I saw Tripp's face upclose, I broke

down. He looked so serene but I almost killed him
. Different scenarios kept on playing inside my he
ad.

Will he hate me?

Will he forgive me for almost killing him?

Will he want to see me again?

Pero bahala na. Basta magising lang siya kahit ano

pang repercussions yan, magiging okay ako.

It's okay for him to be alive and hating me than f

or him to be dead and liking me. It was a bet I wa
s willing to gamble.

One day, while I was busy serving coffee, I heard a

familiar voice. My heart stopped beating.

"Ang bagal naman."

Shit.

He winked at me.

Fuck.

"Ice ba, Alys?"

Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko. S-Si Tripp.

He showed me that familiar grin at saka niya ginul
o 'yung buhok niya. His hair was kinda long but it
fit him.

"Kape nga, oh. Three years na ang lumipas, ang baga

l mo pa ring kumilos."

My hands were trembling. Gusto kong hawakan yung mu

kha niya.

"T-Tripp?"

He chuckled. "Ano ba, Alys? Ice na ice lang ako. B

alikan mo na si Drake. Wag mo na kasi akong hintay
in."

"P-pero..."

He sighed and then smiled at me.

"Wala kang kasalanan. Hindi kita sinisi, sinisisi,

sisisihin. Ano ba 'yung huling sinabi ko sa'yo? M
aging masaya ka. Natatandaan mo ba?"
I nodded.

"Good. Ngayon, wag ka ng makulit. Balikan mo na si

Drake."

I nodded. Again.

Okay lang Tripp kahit magsalita ka lang ng magsali

ta. Kahit na nakatayo lang ako dito maghapon, magd
amag, wala akong pakielam. Gusto ko lang makita ka
ng nagsasalita, humihinga, ngumiti. Basta meron ak
ong pruweba na buhay ka, ayos na ako dun.

I was about to reach for his face when I woke up.

Panaginip lang pala ang lahat.

I reached for my phone and dialed Drake's number. S

ana hindi pa din siya nag iiba ng phone.

It was like he was waiting for my call kasi isang r

ing pa lang, sinagot niya na.

("Hello?")
"Drake?"

There was silence. I've waited for years. Si Tripp

na ang nagsabi... hindi ko na kailangang hintayin
na gumising siya. Pero alam ko na gigising siya..
. Pangako niya sa akin hindi niya ako iiwan, e...

"I'm going home..."

There was another silence.

"Turn around. Look outside."

My heart skipped a beat. I could hear his familiar

breathing. Dahan dahan akong lumingon and there,
I saw him leaning on the lamp post.

He was smiling at me. Those smiles I missed... Nai

iyak ako. Damn. I miss you so much, Drake.

My knees were jelly. Tumakbo ako pababa ng hagdan.

Nawala na sa isip ko na baka mahulog ako. Basta g
usto ko lang yakapin si Drake.
I was biting my lips from the smile I was trying to
hide.

I fucking missed this guy.

He was still smiling. For me. After all the years.

"Please hug me."

I shook my head and then pulled him and kissed him.

"I fucking love you, Drake Sebastian Palma. Akala

ko mawawala 'to kasi ang sakit sakit na pero hindi
pala... Habang mas lumalayo ako, mas namimiss kit
a... I fucking love you."

He was wiping the tears while smiling from ears to

ears.

"Stop cursing, Alys."

I shook my head.
"I fucking love you. Fucking, fucking love you."

He nodded. "Alright, Alys. Alright."

"Don't you fucking love me, too?"

He pulled me close and then kissed my neck and whi

spered in my ears. "I love you to the moon and bac
k... And please marry me. I'll be in a tux and you
'll be the one walking down the aisle."

************************************************
STORY END
*******************************************
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