Den and Gretch are at the Old John's right now kasi nga nangungulit si Gretch dahil di siya sinama ni Den nung birthday nito kaya naman kinukulit niya ito na ilibre siya at para na rin makapag catch up sila kahit sandali lang kasi Gretch is a busy person din.
"Gretch, I need to tell you something..." Den said then took a sip of her iced coffee.
"Shoot it." sagot nito.
Nagsimulang magsalita si Den nang derederetso at napakabilis. She's obviously tensed. She's even sweating the hell out kahit ang lamig kaya hindi masyadong nakapagfocus si Gretch sa mga sinasabi niyadahil sa mga ito.
"Wait, wait!" sabi ni Gretch habang nakataas ang mga kamay para huminto si Den sa pagsasalita. "Den pwede ba kumalma ka? Di na kita naiintindihan. You can tell me everything pero hinay hinay okay?"
Hindi naman makapaniwala ang kaibigan sa mga naririnig mula sa kanya.
"So you mean, you want to stay here? for good?" di makapaniwalang sabi ni Gretch sa kaibigan. "How about Paris? Alam ba ito ng Tito at Tita mo?"
"No." mahinang sagot ni Den. "I'll just let them know when everything's okay na. I don't want them to worry about me."
After the death of Den's parents kasi, kinupkop na siya ng kapatid ng tatay niya. Mababait naman ang mga ito at malapit din si Den sa kanila at sa mga pinsan niya. Tinuri na nilang sariling anak si Den nang tumira ito doon sa kanila. Thankful naman siya sa kanila kahit di niya ito masyadong pinaakita. Hindi pa rin maalis ang pangungulila nito sa mga napayapang magulang. She suffered from depression and it lasted for almost 2 years. Noong medyo nagiging okay na siya, pinayagan na siyang gawin ang gusto niya as long as she won't harm herself. They just wanted her to be happy again and bring back the cheerful Dennise and somehow they did naman.
"Don't you think they deserve to know your plans? I mean, Den, they love you, they care about you, alam mo yan... Magaalala at magaalala ang mga yon sa iyo." seryosong sabi ni Gretch. "Just... Just don't be unfair to them anymore."
Medyo nalungkot naman si Den nang maalala niya ang mga ito. She loves them too, no doubt. Hindi niya man naipapakita sa mga ito, she knows in her heart na mahal niya nag mga ito.
"What's your plan?" tanong ni Gretch.
"I want to apply for a green card." Den answered. "Help me. PLEASE."
Gretch sighed. She can't believe that her friend is really serious about it.
"But Den, it's a long process and kinda complicated unless you have a close family here... or you're married to a citizen here." she looked at Den, "Come on, Den... Why? Why all of a sudden? Is there something else?"
"I just want to live here, nothing else." Den answered but Gretch doesn't seem to believe her. "I-I w-want to save myself, Gretch... I don't want it there anymore. Para akong pinapatay araw araw doon... akala ko okay na ako but damn, Gretch, masakit pa rin." pagpapaliwanag nito sa kaibigan at unti unti nang naiiyak.
Gretchen's expression softened because of what she heard and what she's seeing.
"Den, kailan mo ba tatanggapin at sasabihin diyan sa sarili mo that's it's not your fault? It was never your falut that they're gone?... Come on, Den, hindi sa minamadali kita, you have all the time in your life... but you have to start accepting things..." Halos maiyak na rin ito para sa kaibigan. "Den, stop crying, please? maiiyak na rin ako kapag di ka pa tumigil." pagpapatahan nito sa kaibigan and in an instant, natawa naman si Den sa sinabi nito. "But seriously, remember that I'm always here for you like how you were always there for me back in Paris, okay? I'll help you whatever this is. We'll figure this out together."
"Thank you kahit epal ka minsan." nakangiting sabi ni Den na nagpangiti rin kay Gretch. Kahit medyo pabiro, she's sure that Den's sincere about it.
"You're always welcome kahit ang sungit mo." Gretch said and Den rolled her eyes. "But seriously, Den, "You know I've always thought that you would be a good doctor, great even... kaya Den, it's not yet too late. You could always continue what you have started. Sabihin mo lang kung ready ka na ulit, andito lang naman kami to support you because we know what your capable of."
Dennise is a BS Bio student kasi and she have always wanted to be a doctor. Her plan was to go to med school right after she finish her college degree but things did not go the way she planned.
"You think so?" Den asked.
"Oh I know so." nakangising sagot ni Gretch.
"How will I know I'm ready? How will I know I'm not gonna mess it up?" tanong niya ulit.
Gretch looked at her with a smile. "You won't, Den... It's a leap of faith."
After that, Gretch immediately changed the topic. She asked Den on what happened on her birthday kasi she saw Den's IG stories nga na nagpunta ito sa iba't ibang tourist spots dito sa NYC. Nagdalawang isip naman si Den kung ikukwento niya ba... pero bakit naman hindi, diba? Kinuwento niya rin ang pagsama ni Alyssa sa kanya noong araw na iyon na ikinagulaat ng kaibigan dahil hindi niya inaakala na gagawin ito ni Alyssa. Kahit nga mismo siya na bestfriend nito ay hindi pa masyadong pinaglalaanan ng oras at madalas ay hindi pa sumisipot pag iniimbita niya. Sa tingin niya tuloy, Aly is slowly coming back at hiling niya na sana tuloy tuloy na. Pati nga rin si Dennise ay kita niya rin na bumabalik na ang mga ngiti at tawa nito and she couldn't be more thankful for that.
"Wait, are your saying that Aly really was with you the whole day? then gave you a cake and greeted you a happy birthday?" di makapaniwalang tanong nito. "Den ah, baka ineechos mo lang ako."
"Oo nga, ang kulit!" Den answered saka binigay ang phone niya kay Gretch. "Here's our picture oh, ewan ko na lang kung gawa gawa ko pa rin ba yan... At bakit ba? Why does it seem to be such a big deal?"
Gretch viewed their pics and yes, "pics" kasi ang dami nga. She smiled when she saw the photos of her friends having geniune smiles on their faces. It has been so long when she last saw them. Mas lalo pa siyang napangiti when she noticed that the two look cute together. They look like a couple goofing around the city and just having the time of their lives. Den creases her forehead nang makita niyang nakangiting nakakaloko ang kaibigan habang tumitingin sa litrato nila.
"Anong ngini-ngiti mo diyan?" medyo masungit na tanong nito.
"Wala." Gretch answered then looked at her friend. "I'm just happy to see those smiles again..."
Mas lalo namang kumunot ang noo ni Den.
"Look, I don't know if this is right but I think you should know this just to be aware... Few years back, something happened to Aly, I can't tell you what but yeah that was really bad to the point na kinaya niya kaming talikuran pati parents niya. We let her be kasi alam namin na she needs it even if it takes her to be miles away from us, okay lang. She's also one of the reasons why I chose to work here, para mapalapit ako sa kanya. Di niya alam to but yeah I know all about her wherebouts para alam ko kung safe ba siya at para mabalitaan ko sina Tito at Tita kung ano na nangyayari sa anak nila...Parang kapatid ko na yan eh."
"So that explains the grumpy Alyssa?" Den asked then Gretch nods. "But that night when you introduced me to her, parang okay naman kayo ah."
"Well, she doesn't know that I've been here for quiet a while na. Parang a week before that night lang ata kami nagkita, nakita niya akong pumasok sa resto right across the cafe where she's currently working and yon, nagulat din ako nang malaman ko na she followed me just to make sure na ako talaga yon." paliwanag ni Gretch. "And please Den, pagpasensyahan mo sana yang kaibigan kong yan, ganyan lang yan pero she's super caring at medyo loko loko rin yan. trust me."
Napangiti naman si Den sa huling sinabi nito kasi she remembered that day when Aly prepared some breakfast for the two of them, yung mga times na may dala ito ng donuts and iced coffee or ice cream when she gets home from work, at yung mga oras na napipikon siya dahil sa kakulitan nito. It's been a week since her birthday at simula noon, madyo naging malapit na rin sila kay Aly.
After a few hours of catching up, Gretch received an emergency call from her office kasi and si Den naman pumunta na sa bakeshop kung saan siya nagtatrabaho.
--
Maagang natapos ang trbaho ni Aly dahil maaga rin pumunta ang kapalitan niya. Before going home, dumaan muna siya sa isang pizza parlor to buy a to-go-pizza for her dinner. May nadaanan rin siyang 7/11 kaya she decided to buy some ice cream too. Naglalakd lang siya pauwi dahil di rin naman kalayuan ang workplace niya sa apartment and it's New York tho, mas maganda maglakad dito lalo na sa gabi. Nang makarating sa tapat ng apart, bigla namang may umakbay sa kanya, muntikan pa nga silang madapa.
"What the heck?" sabi ni Aly saka tumingin kung sino ang umakbay sa kanyaa "Why do you have to do that! I almost drop the pizza, idiot!"
"Sungit mo talaga kahit kailan." sagot naman ni Gretch of course, sino pa ba eh siya lang naman kaibigan nito dito. "Sa loob mo na ako pagalitan, I'm hungry na eh kainin na natin yang mga dala mo."
Aly shook her head saka pumasok na sa loob ng apartment niya. Hinayaan niya na lang ang kaibigan na sumunod sa kanya. It's Gretch's first time to be at Aly's place at gaya ni Den, she's also amazed by how things were perfectly placed at kung gaano ito kalinis. Nakita niya naman yung dala ni Aly na pizza kanina na nasa center table sa living room na ngayon. She also noticed the ashtray underneath the table which made her shook her heaad at tumungo na papuntang kitchen para kumuha ng maiinom sa ref. May nakita naman siyang juice kaso nakalabel yung pangalan ni Den. Halos matawa siya sa mga nakikita niya sa loob ng ref kasi lahat may label, kung hindi pangalan ni Den, pangalan naman ni Aly. Tubig lang yung wala kaya yun na laang ang kinuha niya. Bago niya maisarado yung ref, she got curious naman kung ano ang laman ng chiller kasi nakalabel ang pangalan ni Aly dito. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang makita kung ano ang laman. Beers lang naman. From what she remember, hindi na umiinom si Alyssa and she never tried to do so. She immediately closed it when she heard Alyssa calling her saka nagmadaling bumalik sa living room.
"Kumuha lang ako ng tubig baka mabulunan tayo eh." sabi niya kay Aly
Natawa naman si Alyssa sa sinabi ng kaibigan. She turned on the tv saka nilipat sa NBA TV.
"What's this? Di naman ako bumili nito ah." sabi ni Aly while checking out what's in the other paper bag.
"That's lasagna, idiot. I bought it before going here, nakakahiya naman kasi sayo." sagot ni Gretch at napangiti naman si Aly. "I know it's your favorite. You're welcome."
They started eating. PIzza for Gretch at Lasagna naman for Aly. Oh diba parang nagswitch lang sila ng dalang pagkain. LOL.
"Wait here, will just get something." paalam ni Aly.
Aly came back four cans of beer na ikinagulat naman ng kaibigan. Nilagay niya ito sa table without saying anything at nang makaupo ulit, she noticed that her friend is looking at her.
"What?" tanong niya rito.
"Since when did you started drinking and smoking again?" Gretch asked.
"Since I came here?" patanong niyang sagot. "Come on, Gretch, what's with that look?"
"Ly, have you forgotten? You promised us not to drink and smoke again... You promised HER." deretsong sagot ni Gretch.
"Promises are meant to be broken, my friend." sabi nito at ngumiti pero ramdam ni Gretch ang lungkot nito. "Please, let's not talk about it... about her. Let's just finish eating."
Ngayon, tanging tv na lang ang maingay. Both of them just continued eating without saying anything. Gretch knew bringing that topic up is really a bad idea and she mentally slap her face for still doing it.
"Anyways, why do you think my parents made that condition for me?" Aly asked out of nowhere that made her friend look at her. "You know, the marriage thing first before I will have my money back."
"Hmm... What's with the sudden question?" Gretch said while staring at Aly as if she's telling her to tell her the truth. "Come on, Ly."
"You know me so well noh?" Aly said which made Gretch smile. "Well, I wanna start a business... You know, I've always wanted a bakeshop, right? Kaso yun nga, I don't have enough money."
Gretch sighed after Alyssa talked. Yes, alam niya na gustong gusto nito maging baker but she has to go on a business school because that is what her Dad wanted. Ayaw naman niyang ma-disappiont ang mga ito sa kanya kaya sinunod niya na lamang ang gusto nito. His older brother kasi didn't want to be a business man, he went to a flying school at ngayon ay airline pilot na, so basically, si Alyssa na lang talaga mapupunta most of the shares, money and everything sa lahat ng company nila. Aly has always been on top of the Dean's List and everything kaya naman tuwang tuwa ang parents niya because they know that the company will be in good hands soon enough.
"You are really want to stay here for, don't you?" Gretch put down her pizza and faced her. "Kasi they feel like you don't want to get married anymore kaya ginawa nila yon para mapilitan kang humanap ng makakasama mo... You're parents are not getting younger anymore, Ly, and so are we, alam natin yon. They want to make sure na kahit wala na sila sa mundong ito oh kahit saan ka man, you have someone who will take care of you and just be with you through thick and thin because they know you deserve it...In short, they want you to find love again."
"But I can manage alone! When will they realize that love isn't for me anymore? When will they realize that this..." pointed her heart. "this thing died too the moment she was gone."
"Then why don't you go home and tell them about it?" Gretch said. "If you want to stay here for good then tell them. You don't want to handle those companies? Tell them! You don't want get married anymore? Say it right in front of them!... Hindi yung pinapahirapan mo yung sarili mo dito kahit alam naman natin na napakadali ng mga bagay bagay... Just tell them what they need to know! Maiintindihan ka naman nila eh. Ikaw yung kumulong at patuloy na kumukulong sa sarili mo, Ly."
"Easy for you to say-" napahilamos naman si Aly pagkatapos niyang magsalita. "Fuck it." she added then kick the center table slightly.
"Hey! WORDS!" Gretch said with authority. "CALM DOWN, WILL YOU?" she added,
Bigla namang naman naging parang maamong tupa si Aly. Gretch is a very funny person, maagan siya kasama and everything pero Aly can't deny the fact na natatakot din talaga siya minsan dito pag nagiging sobrang seryoso ito tulad na lang ngayon.
"Ly, hindi lang ikaw ang nahihirapan dito... After that accident? Everything change. Naging mahirap din yon para sa amin. You know why? kasi hindi lang siya ang nawala, pati ikaw nawala rin saamin and it's more painful for us... Your parents? they're breaking every single day knowing that their daughter is miles away from them and living alone pero wala silang magawa kasi it's not their decision to make anymore and they respect every damn decisions you make, Ly." Gretch paused then took a deep sigh. "Stop running away, Ly... Stop holding it all back and start being true to yourself." para namang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Aly sa sinabi ng kaibigan.
"I'm sorry." Aly said.
"It's fine..." sabi ni Gretch at nginitian ang kaibigan. "Hay nako! Quota na ako sa dramahan today. Kanina si Den, ngayon ikaw naman! Buti na lang mga kaibigan ko kayo."
Natawa naman si Aly sa sinabi nito. In an instant, nawala yung tension kanina between them. Gretch really knows how to make the atmosphere light.
"You were with Den?" tanong ni Aly.
"Yep. Kaninang lunch, post birthday treat niya sa akin, why?" Gretch answered, Aly just shrugged. Gusto sanang mangulit ni Gretch tungkol sa pagsama ni Aly kay Den on that day kaso baka palayasin siya nito eh ayaw niya pang umuwi. LOL.
"Anyways, why is Dennise working pala? I mean, she's just a tourist right? Di naman siya magtatagal dito pero bakit parang doble kayod siya?" takang tanong ni Aly. "at mabuti na lang may tumanggap sa kanya."
"She's technically a tourist pero kakilala ko naman yung owner ng pinagtatrabahuhan niya kaya madaling napakiusapan... Well, kanina she told me she wanted to stay here, you know, just like you, kaso ang kaibahan lang is she's not a U.S. citizen like you tapos wala pa siyang Green Card kaya mukhang malabo yung gusto niya eh wala rin siyang kamag anak dito, buti na lang medyo matagal tagal pa bago magexpire yung visa niya baka magawan pa ng paraan."
Napa "Ohh" na lang si Alyssa matapos sagutin ng kaibigan ang tanong niya. She wanted to ask Dennise about this kaso nahihiya siya.
Halos maibuga ni Gretch ang iniinom niya na ikinagulat naman ni Aly.
"Hoy dahan dahan naman sa paginom, madumihan pa couch ko oh!" reklamo ni Aly.
"Shut up!" Gretch composed herself. "I think I finally found the solution sa problema niyong dalawa! OHMYGOD."
Kumunot naman yung noo ni Aly. Magsasalita na sana siya kaso biglang bumukas yung main door nila and she knew it was Dennise kasi ganitong oras ito lagi umuuwi at wala namang may ibang spare ng susi maliban kay Den.
"Oh, Hi! Andito pala kayo." bati ni Den sa dalawa pagkapasok niya.
"Oh sakto, andito na rin si Den!" sabi ni Gretch, halatang nagtaka naman si Den. "Don't give me that look, Dennise, just come and join us."
Tatanggi na sana ito kaso alam niyang wala namam siyang takas dito kaya sinunod niya na lang ito at umupo sa tabi nito. Gretch stood up at sinundan naman nila ito ng tingin.
"Ano ba to?" tanong ni Den sa dalawa at nakita niya namang nagkibit balikat lang si Aly kaya tumingin siya kay Gretch who is now walking back and forth in front of them. "Hoy singkit, will you please stop? Nakakahilo ka. Just tell us whatever it is, antok na ako."
"Wait lang kasi, i'm still figuring things out." sabi ni Gretch at pagkatapos ng ilang segundo, huminto rin siya at hinarap ang dalawa. "Den, diba kasi you told me kanina about your plan of staying kaso your problem is that you are not a citizen here at ikaw naman Alyssa, you wanted to start a business but you don't have enough savings for it not unless your parents will give your money back pero mukhang impossible because of their condition, right?"
Tumango naman ang dalawa bilang tugon.
"SOOO?" sabi ni Den as if she's telling her to get straight to the point.
"So, I think... ahm..." tumingin siya kay Den saka naman kay Aly. "What if... magpakasal kayong dalawa sa isa't isa?"
"WHAT?!" sabay sabi ng dalawa, halatang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig mula sa kaibigan nila.
"Are you crazy?!" sabi ni Den
"TELL ME YOU'RE JUST KIDDING." sabi naman ni Aly.
"I'm definitely not." sagot ni Gretch. "Come on, this is literally the only fastest way to get what you both want! If you marry Alyssa, madali ka nang makakakuha ng green card or even a U.S. citizenship." sabi niya habang nakatingin kay Den, nilipat niya naman ang tingin niya kay Aly, "At ikaw naman, if you marry Dennise, makukuha mo na ulit yung pera mo, you can have whatever you want here in the states..."
"Are you high or something? We are not even in love or in a relationship, tapos papakasal? We even barely know each other!" reklamo ni Aly. "At ayoko ikasal, diba I told you about this na?!"
"But you don't have to be inlove or in a relationship. You can just pretend. Ang importante, yung contract. Yun lang naman ang kailangang maging totoo, the rest can be a pure act or whatever." paliwanag pa ni Gretch. "Besides, pwede naman kayo magdivorce after you get what you both need, then you can both start anew after that. Can't you see? It's a win-win for the both of you."
"I get it, you just wanna help us kaso hindi lang talaga siguro ito yung tamang solution for our problems." mahinahon na sabi ni Den.
Gretch sighed saka nilapitang ang dalawa, "I know this is crzay but think about this, okay?"
Nagkatinginan silang tatalo. The two are still having a hard time processing their friend's proposal. They obviously did not saw it coming.
"Sige na, I'll go ahead na rin so you two can rest." paalam niya sa dalawa at tumango rin ang mga ito at halatang gulat pa rin, "Think about it, okay?" dagdag niya pa saka naglakad palabas.
The two remained silent, malamang sa malamang awkward na naman sila dahil sa nangyari. Alyssa stood up saka mabilis na tumakbo palabas.
"GRETCH!" sigaw nito nang makalabas, hindi pa naman masyadong nakakalayo ang kaibigan kaya agad naman siyang nilingon nito, "Hoy sandali!"
"Oh ano? May nakalimutan ba ako?" takang tanong nito nang makalapit si Aly.
"Wala... I-i just want to ask something..." nahihiyang sabi ni Alyssa, Gretch just stared at her waiting for her to continue, "You really think this would work?"
"I don't know, dude... It's a leap of faith." seryosong sagot ni Gretch, she then taps her friends left shoulder by her right hand. "That's all it is, Ly... A leap of faith."
Gretch walked away right after leaving Alyssa speechless and standing alone in front of her apartment.
-
🥴