Miss Dei, Sir Alden.

IV.

"Ano na,  teh?" Bungad ni Kaye kay Dei. "Lunes na Lunes e pa-Biyernes Santo ang peslak anes?"

Ngumiwi si Dei at tinignan si Kaye. Halos hindi na siya nakapag-ayos sa sobrang conscious niya dahil kasama niya si Alden sa condo.

"Don't tell me wala kang tulog dahil may bembangan sa Britanyang naganap?"

Muntik nang ibato ni Dei kay Kaye ang hawak niyang kape nang pumasok si Alden sa faculty room at binati isa-isa ang mga co-professors nila. Hindi nilingon ni Dei si Alden at sa gulat niya ay hindi siya pinansin nito at dumiretso sa upuan ni Ann.

"Friend, kanina Biyernes Santo ang mukha, ngayon Sabado de Gloria?" humalakhak si Kaye at iniwan na si Dei sa mesa.

Gustong-gusto ni Dei sapakin at kapunin si Alden. He wants her back but when he sees someone sexier, nagiging single ulit ang feeling ni Alden?!

Frustrated, Dei stood up and went to her next class kahit meron pa siyang 10 minutes. Hindi na niya nagawang magpaalam sa ibang teachers dahil sobra siyang naiinis kay Alden.

Tipid na ngumiti si Alden at tumayo na rin para sundan si Dei. Pinakiusapan niya ang Dean na may mag-proxy muna sa classes nila ni Dei para mapag-usapan nila ang issue nila dahil hindi naman siya pinapansin ni Dei sa condo and he's getting impatient. He needs to act now.

**

Dahil may 10 minutes pa naman si Dei ay tumambay muna siya sa secret garden ng kanilang school. Siya at si Alden lang ang nakakaalam kung saan ito dahil secluded ito at lumang -luma na. Dati itong greenhouse ngunit napabayaan na. Dei sighed and sat on a rusty bench while calming herself down.

She was about to take a walk nang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nito si Alden.

Irked, she ignored Alden and passed by him when he held her wrist and pulled her for a hug.

"Ano ka ba?!" she shouted as she attempted to free herself from him.

"Ingay. I want to shut you up. With my lips." Tumawa si Alden at hinalikan ang ulo ni Dei. How he missed her scent and her warmth.

"Tigilan mo ako, Faulkerson! Sasakalin talaga kita!" she threatened and started to hit his back  using her fist.

Hindi natinag si Alden, bagkus ay mas lalo pa niyang hinigpitan ang pagyakap niya sa dalaga. "Hindi tayo lalabas dito hangga't hindi tayo nag-uusap ng maayos, Dei."

"Wala na tayong dapat pag-usapan. 'Us' ended already!"

"It takes two in a relationship, Dei. And I don't remember ending us, Mendoza."

Natahimik si Dei. Surely, when she said she wanted it over ay nagdesisyon siya na mag-isa. Her thoughts were full of his cheating image that she did not let him explain after that.

"Okay," sagot ni Dei. "Makikinig ako. Pero hindi pa din tayo."

He sighed. Sapat na sigurong makinig si Dei sa explanation niya.

Umupo ulit sila sa bench and he started explaining what happened between him and his childhood friend Yana.

"Nung nag-anniversary tayo, I was planning to propose," Alden started. She blushed. Alden just smiled.

"A week before that, Daddy told me Yana and his dad went back to the Philippines to get her Mom's body from her grave and transfer it to the States. Nagsabi naman ako sa'yo na Mommy and Yana's Mom died together using Daddy's car. Until now, Dad felt guilty of what happened and blamed himself."

"Everything was fine. Until Yana told my Dad that she wants to marry me." He sighed as he gripped Dei's hand tight. "Feeling ng Daddy, he wants to make up for Yana and decided to tell me to break up with you and be with Yana. Of course I told him no."

"From then, everything got complicated to the point that Yana drugged me and took a picture of me half naked and send it to you. That was the photo you received from someone you don't know."

Dei listened quietly. After that, she probed.

"And?"

"My Dad got mad at me and kicked me out after. He even threatened to disown me if not for Riza." He laughed and continued.

"Akala ko papatayin mo talaga ako nung nakita mo yung picture. And yung halik..." he trailed off. "Totoo naman yun. Pero syempre I did not responded back. My kisses are only yours, Mahal." He winked causing her to elbow him.

"Kaya pala sabi mo totoo yung halik!" Dei groaned.

"Totoo naman talaga, hindi naman siya photoshopped. Kaya lang may problema ako."

"Ano?"

"Kailangan maikasal tayo kasi babalik si Yana para sa wedding preparations?"

===

Sorry late UD. Hehe, wala akong laptop ng ilang buwan. :D