YOU WON, DEN.
NGAYON, MAKAKAALIS KA NA!
Her words were strong it pierced, yet there was calmness in her tone. She looked so composed and relaxed that it frightened Den even more.
Para syang nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa kanyang narinig. No, it can't be!
Aly walked passed her.
Naramdaman nyang bumigat ang kanyang mga paa. Hindi sya makagalaw sa kanyang narinig.
She knew? Wait, last --- last night was just about the dare? N-NO!
Aly--- it was barely a whisper. She was choking on dry tears. The emotion was just too much for her. Mas matindi pa ang sakit na nararamdaman nya ngayon kesa kagabi.
Let me explain. – Den
No need. – Aly
Sa tono ng pananalita ni Aly, hindi na sya talaga interesado pang makinig sa anumang sasabihin ni Den. Ang taong sawa na sa magulo ay hindi na makikipagtalo.
Aly ... what about last night?
Nakatalikod pa din sila pareho. Nakabalot si Den ng kumot habang hubad pa din si Aly na nasa malapit na ng pintuan ng bathroom.
What about it? – Aly
May narinig syang tunog ng nagsarang pinto kasunod ang malakas na pagbuhos na tubig mula sa shower.
Dun nya totoong naramdaman ang bigat ng kinakaharap nyang problema. Pakiramdam nya ay para syang yelong iniwang matunaw sa ilalim ng araw.
Pano at kanino nalaman ni Aly ang pustahan ay hindi na mahalaga para sa kanya.
Naramdaman nya ang bigat ng kanyang mga balikat. She felt something sting in her eyes and when her tears fell, she gave in. She succumbed to the feeling of defeat. She hugged the sheet closer to her body as she lay there so helpless on the floor. Her sobs rocked her body uncontrollably.
She allowed this! She had her, but she chose to lose her.
Nang mejo mahimasmasan, she gathered her clothes. Kailangan na nyang umalis sa lugar na yon. After what Aly said to her, she can only feel two things – hurt and shame.
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Den made her feel that she just used her to get laid.
How she perceived everything that transpired between them were all just because of the dare, hurt her and the thought that she surrendered herself fully to her shamed her.
Nung makapag ayos si Den, sinunod nyang ayusin ang kama ni Aly. She cannot contain her joy of waking up in Aly's bed this morning, but now, she can only feel remorse. The sight of her bed gave her this cheapening feeling.
After she was able to fix the room, dahan-dahan syang lumabas ng kwarto. Kumuha sya ng tubig mula sa ref. Ininum ang isang baso ng malamig na tubig pagkatapos, she closed her eyes and commanded herself to take in big deep breaths.
Ganito si Den – her line of work allowed her to control her senses. She has learned the technique to breathe and relax in order for her to think better.
She has a long day ahead of her at dahil sa parang wala na silang pag-asa pang magusap pa muli ni Alyssa, she has to make herself super busy in order for her to divert her issues of stupidity with Aly dahil wala naman na syang magagawa para maayos pa ito.
Muli nilibot nya ang paningin sa loob ng condo. She remembered she baked pesto for her in this kitchen. She remembered they shared their first kiss on her couch. So many good memories happened between them in a span of just 10 days.
Bago pa muling bumuhos ang kanyang luha, she readied herself to leave. She approached the main door and reached for the doorknob, but before she could turn it, she saw the broken phone of Aly near the door. The phone was smashed and could never be put back again.
Pinulot nya ang telepono nang may bigla syang maalala ---
Minahal kita Den.
Minahal kita.
Ikaw lang minahal ko ng ganito.
Mahal na mahal. Pero ayoko na sa yo.
Bad ka. Bad ka Den.
She loves....!!!
Galit sya, but --- SHE LOVES ME!!!
Nabuhayan sya ng loob.
Instead of leaving, she decided to wait for Aly. She sat herself in the sofa and patiently waited. After almost 30 minutes ---
Oh, why are you still here?
Aly----
Gusto mo bang humirit? -Aly
Nangyari kagabi hindi dahil sa pusta, kundi dahil mahal kita. – Den
There was silence. Aly could see her trembling hands.
I'm sorry if the dare gave you the impression na ginamit kita, pero sana naramdaman mo kagabi na hinde. Before I leave, I only have two things Aly ---
"First, I heard everything." - at pinakita ang basag na telepono.
Hindi maikailang nagulat sya -" she heard me?"
Hindi naman sya totally wasted last night to forget everything that happened. Alam nya na tinatawagan sya kagabi at alam nya din na marami syang nasabi sa telepono na akala nya ay hindi nya nasagot.
"Second, and I want you to answer me please. What about last night?"
Last night? I decided to play your game, Den. Happy? – Aly
You said you love me. – Den
Whatever I had for you ---
She was obviously cramming for words.
--- naw-nawala at kinalimutan ko na kagabi. Even before you came here. – Aly
Aly, please, I'm begging you. Please magusap tayo ng hindi ganito. – Den
Ganito na lang --- since mahilig ka naman sa laro, why don’t we continue playing? I'm good with that, anyway, you are a good fuc---
PAK!!!!
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That was the last straw. Umalis sya sa condo na umiiyak. Wala na syang pakialam kung anong sabihin ng mga taong makakakita sa kanya. She was broken and what other people might think was the least of her concern.
Pagdating sa bahay, niyakap nya agad ang mga kaibigan. They were getting ready for work at mabuti na lang at naabutan nya pa sila.
Besh...
I hate her. Ayoko na syang makita. - Den
Would you like to talk about it? Gusto mo mag absent na lang tayo, bahala na si Batman. - Ela
We're here for you Besh. Alam mo yan. Shhh, tahan na. - Fille
Kelangan kong magwork today. Ayoko maiwan mag isa baka iba ang maisip ko. - Den
Is it that bad? Gagong yon, anong ginawa sa yo? - Ela
Tumango lamang si Den.
Do you want to talk about it? - Fille
May nangyari ba? - Ela
Isang tango lang ang sinagot ni Den.
Sinaktan ka ba nya? - May pag aalala sa tono ng boses ni Fille.
Nung umpisa, she was rough. - nahihiyang pag amin ni Den
Gago sya. Kasuhan natin. - Ela
But she became very gentle nung --- nung nasasaktan na ako. - Den
GAGO!!! Sinaktan ka pa rin nya? - Fille
Please wag nyo ng iparating kina Gretch and A. Kaibigan nila si Aly at -- at ---
What? - Ela and Fille
At first, it felt weird. I realized this morning, siguro she was punishing me. Alam na nya. - Den
Teka, ano??? Punishing you? Anong alam nya? - Ela
At first? Eh anong nangyari sa mga sumunod? - Fille
Bumawi sya. Bigla syang naging --- she became suddenly so gentle and loving. - Den
Awww, Besh. (may halong kilig). Pero SINAKTAN KA PA RIN NYA!
Teka, anong alam nya? Hindi ko gets. - Ela
Yong dare Ela, ano ka ba? - Fille
Oh! Sorry Besh, napahamak ka pa dahil dun. - Ela
Not your fault, pumayag din naman ako. It's my fault. SIguro hangang dito lang talaga kami. Masakit mang tanggapin, I have to. - Den
Wag syang magmalinis, gagong yon. May pustahan din naman silang magkakaibigan ah. - Ela
Shhhh- pilit mang pigilan ni Fille si ELa ay huli na ang lahat.
A-anong pustahan? - Den
You have to talk to A and Gretch about this. Walang nagplano dito, it was just coincidence. Naisipan lang nila A na ipakilala ka sa kanya dahil safe ka sa kanya dahil sa pustahan nila. - Fille
Hindi sya pwedeng lumandi sa loob ng 12 days, Besh. - Ela
And I have to give up my ------- in 12 days! My gosh! - Den
Ayaw ka lang nilang mapahamak. Hindi nila alam na hahantong sa ganito. Besh, galit ka? - Fille
Napailing lamang si Den. - Bakit pa? Kaya pala panay ang iwas nya... Kaya pala galit na galit sya. Siguro iniisip nya, pano kung hindi sya yong napili ko? Shit, sirang sira ako sa kanya.
The realization hit her. Sa lahat ng nalaman nya, mas lalo syang nanliit sa sarili nya. She was just trying to protect her kaya ganon na lang ang kanyang pag-iwas sa kanyang mga advances. When she wore turtleneck kahit na mainit, prayer rally ---
Besh, there's one more thing you need to know.
Nag back out sya sa pustahan even before this happened. Ayaw nyang maging problema sana to pag nalaman mo. - Fille
--- kaya pala panay ang tanong nya kung ready na ba ako when we spent the weekend in Batangas. Now, everything is making sense.
Yong sinabi mong pag iwas nya sa yo, hindi dahil ayaw nyang matalo. She respected you Besh. She likes you. Ginawa nya yon dahil - mahal ka na nya. - Fille
Mas napaiyak sya sa kanyang nalaman. Nahiya sya lalo sa sarili nya dahil sa ipinagtapat ng kanyang kaibigan. How can she undo everything? Bakit hindi sya naging open sa nararamdaman nya pra kay Alyssa?
I guess, pareho kaming natalo sa laro, Besh. Wala na suko na ako! Hiyang hiya na ako sa kanya. - Den
Besh, naisuko mo man ang Bataan, hindi pa huli para sa inyong dalawa. Kung kailangan mong manligaw, gawin mo. We compromised your relationship dahil sa isang katuwaan, kasama mo kaming manunuyo kung kinakailangan. - Ela
We have to plan this Besh. Kelan mo gustong mag umpisa? - Fille
I don't know. Sobra na akong napahiya sa kanya. - Den
Nasaktan lang sya. Hindi ka masasaktan kung hindi ka nagmamahal. If you love her as much, laban pa! - Fille
Tonight? Can we start tonight agad agad? ---- Let's start tonight! - Den
That's the spirit!!! YES!!! - Beshies
Beep!!!
Ooopppsss, I'm sorry i have to cut our mini celebration mga Besh, but check your phones. We need to rush. - Ela
Kaya mo ba talagang pumasok? - Fille
We need to plan di ba? Please don't leave me here alone. Masisiraan ako ng bait. I'd rather work than be here. Basta promise me, you'll help me mga Besh. - Den
You need not ask. We love you Besh. - Ela
Nagyakapan silang magkakaibigan. Slowly, Den felt she was starting to gather up her confidence. Kahit anong pahiya, tatanggapin nya. The important thing is, she needs to win Aly back.
-------
Earlier this morning, after Den left Aly's condo...
Ang hindi alam n Den, pag alis nya ng condo ay dun na bumigay si Aly. Kanina pa sya nagpipigil ng kanyang totoong emosyon at lahat ng masakit na salitang binitawan nya ay mas dumurog sa kanya. She wanted to just forget about what she learned last night, but the thought that she was just played was stronger.
She cannot afford to hurt her, but she did and it killed her all the more.
She almost gave in last night - almost! She gave in to what she wanted. Yes, she asked her to make love to her, but that was what she really wanted to happen. And so they did.
She allowed herself to fall for someone na mas player pa sa kanya. Kung sya ay tanging init lang ng katawan ang kanyang habol sa iba, sa nangyari sa kanya, pati feelings pinaglaruan pa.
Despite my hurt, I still love you, Den, and I hate it that I still do.
Habulin mo ko! Maybe, just maybe I'll change my mind about forgeting you.
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