Who Is Meant? AlyDen? BangLy?

UD 18. January 21st.

Aly's

January 19.

I am here at food chain at SM Manila with Bang and Amanda.

"What do you like guys?", Amanda ask.

"Just ceasar salad and red velvet cake for me", I said.

"You're not like a volleyball player, you should eat more, Pots.", 

"Right, Bang. You order her food, damihan mo, isama mo na rin 'yun saken, Spaghetti with chicken parmigiana, supreme spin wheel and raspberry iced tea. Uupo na kame ha..."

And Amanda had entwined our arms, pulling me to find vacant seats.

We were just few steps away from the counter when Bang complains, "Wala man lang akong katulong?", 

"Kaya mo na yan, pards."

"Konti na lang talaga I'll start to think that you like my girlfriend. "

"Napaka selosa mo, I'll just borrow her while you order. Sigurado naman may tutulong sayo, gandang yan?!", I stopped from walking which also made her stop.

Mands looked at me and laughed, "Grabe kayong dalawa ha, tara na.", she pulled me again, quite forcefully this time.

"Oh siya, what is it?", I asked Mands as we settled down on our seats at the window, far from the counter.

"Huh"?

"Do you wanna tell me something that's why you pulled me, right? "

"Galing ah.. Pero oo, itatanong ko lang kasi if you already have plans for Bang's birthday, it's 3 days from now."

"I made a gift for her. And we're just probably eat out?"

"made?"

"It's just a drawing.."

"ow, ok, pero gusto mo ba isabay na lang dun sa plan namin? we're thinking about pool party? Sa pansol"

"pool party? ang lamig ngayon Mands."

"hot spring kaya sa Pansol, girl!"

"ahh. ok. anyway, no big deal for me. But what time ba niyo plan pumunta dun? Birthday din kasi ni Den 'yun so I am planning of having breakfast muna with her, then we'll celebrate Bang's."

"Ok sige meet tayo ng 3 so, we'll be there by 5. Overnight naman 'yun since Saturday naman kinabukasan e."

"okay. sounds like a plan"

———————————————————

Den's

I opened my eyes and smiled. January 21.

I spread my arms on my bed and stared at ceiling, still smiling.

I wonder what would be happening today. I am excited...sana naalala niya. This past months, simula ng maging sila, I always see her, and we're always together, pero she's always talking to Bang on her phone. Tapos she's always rushing kasi need niya pa pumunta ng Manila. It's like, we're together pero hindi. Hayyy. I miss her.

Then the door creaked open and I saw Aly's face, smiling. She's wearing a party hat and carrying a food tray..I sat up and crossed my legs.

"Hey, pretty lady. Good morning!! ",

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday , happy birthday, Denden.", she sang and sat on my bed putting the tray in between us.

"Happy birthday, Den.", she said showing her adorable smile and handed me a red rose.

"Aww..Aly. Thank you."

"And...I also cooked a special breakfast for you. Ta-da!"

"Wow, did you prepare all this?"

"Yup."

"You don't have to do this. We could have just eat outside. "

"Didnt you like it?"

"Huh? No. Of course, I LOVE it. It's just that, you had probably didn't have enough sleep because you woke up early to prepare this."

"It's nothing. Besides, Wala naman practice today, kaya okay lang,  mahaba pa rin tulog ko."

"Ang sweet mo a"

"Syempre, best friend kita e!" that hurts, but I just ignored it. Kakaumpisa pa lang ng araw ko, ayoko mag emote.

...

"Later, let's watch movie, there's this movie na na cucurious ako e. And then, of course, dun tayo kakain sa favorite ko. Around 11pm tayo umuwi ah. I really want to enjoy this day. Opportunity to..haha. No training, no class today and tomorrow ", I said with matching raising of my hands, but I saw her face. It is sad and sorry expression, I don't know why but she's just biting her lips.

"Den..", she finally spoke.

"Oh? Nakakatakot naman yan expression mo e."

"I can't accompany you today...pupunta kasi kami ng Pansol mamaya -",

"Pansol?"

"birthday din kasi ni Pots today...",

"Aah...",

That was like a bullet fired straight to my heart. Parang gusto ko na talaga umiyak. But, of course, as usual, I CAN'T.

Pati ba naman birthday? Isang araw ko na nga lang siya hihiramin, hindi parin pwede.

"Den, sorry...bukas pag -",

"Ano ka ba, okay lang. Si Ella na lang  hihilahin ko.", I tried to smile, but it only lasted for a second. That's how long my heart can handle to fake a smile.

"Kainin na lang natin to...ang sarap kaya ng luto mo...",

"I'm sorry Den, ha.", I lifted my head to see that she's handing me gift.

"Happy Birthday", she smiled lightly.

"Oy, ano to?", I said with so much happiness and excitement that I could fake.

She doesn't have any responsibility on me, she doesn't have to feel guilty. But I can't avoid to feel disappointed and hurt.

I took the gift and unwrapped it. She took the tray to the table para makatabi siya sakin.

It's a photo album. I smiled when I turned the cover. Wacky face kasi naman namin ang bumungad. It's our picture na nakadila siya tapos ako sobrang lamukot ang muka. Next page, pictures pa rin naming dalawa, some are selfies namin, un iba stolen na nagkukulitan lang kami. I am aware that I am smiling while turning the pages, these are our pictures and she had made an effort na lagyan ng mga callouts. Nakakatawa na nga, nilagyan niya pa ng mga nakakatawang callouts and captions. This time I am really smiling, a genuine smile.

I miss these moments.

Yun next, stolen picture namin sa loob ng library na I was covering what I am writing and Aly is taking off my hands, nilagyan niya ng balloon na ang nakasulat, "pakopya naman!!!" .

Next, picture namin sa isang  UAAP game. Anlaki ng mata ko sa picture na parang shocked, tapos si Aly nakatingin sakin na parang shocked din. Ang nakalagay na caption, "OMG, Den...napautot ka!".

I pinched her. Tinapik niya lang yun kamay ko.

I am now staring at her while  she is smiling and looking at the photo album.

"At the first part, syempre puro tayong dalawa, sakin galing e. Pero sa middle till last part, sinama ko na yun team,", I hugged her.

I can't hold the emotions I'm feeling right now. Seeing these pictures bring all the memories na nasa tabi ko pa siya lagi, na feeling ko kami sa sobrang sweetness.

Kung noon pa kaya ako nagsabi, tulad pa rin kaya ng mga litratong ito ang ngayon?