Pre Dinner Part 3

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by loomssee

by loomssee

"Hello?"

"Uy! Ali! Bro, tuloy tayo mamaya ha, pero mukhang tayong dalawa lang. Nagkaroon ng biglaang gig si Jessie, kailangan daw niya mag cover sa kasamahan niya sa comedy bar."

Ali decided to lay it out slowly, he knew Stephen is still projecting a bit about his feelings for Gab to him and Basti. "Uh, Bro, bale, may change of plans. I mean tuloy pa rin naman tayo mag hang out, pero change of venue lang."

"Ah talaga? Wala naman problema. May bagong restaurant nga akong gustong ma-try, sa BGC."

Cringing inward, he was glad Stephen can't see his face, "Why don't I cook na lang, dito sa Love Nest, para makabawi naman ako sa iyo sa pag refer sa amin sa baby shower ng friend mo."

"Sige ba, di ko pa pala natitikman ang full course meal ni Chef Ali Nicolas. Exciting." Ali could hear the excitement from Stephen's voice.

Then Ali decided to just drop the bomb, "Great! Kasama sila Iris and Basti, since tinulungan mo kami sa Love Team, ito ang thank you namin sa iyo."

Silence

"Bro?"

Still silence

"Bro? Andyan ka pa ba?"

Ali looked at this phone, yep, the call was still connected, signal was strong.

"Stephen?"

"Ah Ali, kasama si Basti and Iris?"

"Oo naman, naisip ko nga hindi pa pala tayo nakaka pag eat out with them, perfect time na magkakilala ang mga best friends ko." Ali stopped, did he just blurt that out. No harm, no foul, he and Stephen treat each as best friends anyway, don't they? All platonic. Right.

Ali continued, "Besides, part din ito sa pagtulong sa pagpapasaya kay Iris, keep her mind off of the baby, ibang kausap. You know."

Ali knew he was trying to convince himself too.

"Kasi..."

"Sige Bro, aasahan kita ha, 7pm? See you!" Ali tried to sound cheerful. Talking to Stephen almost everyday for the past months, keeps him attuned to what the other guy is thinking over the phone. He was hesitant.

He hang up the phone, without waiting for a confirmation from Stephen. Whether he shows up or not, he will deal with it.

Ali knew that Stephen's hesitation stems from his bias against Basti, that he was stringing him along, like how Gab was to him. But the difference was, Ali has long accepted that Basti and Iris were meant to be together. As far as Ali's feelings are concerned he has moved on, he did move on to Stephen. Only, they 'agreed' to be platonic best friends.