They are now inside the car. DJ will drive with Alyssa at the passenger seat and Den at the backseat. DJ suggested to go to any amusement park near New York to spend the day. Of course, Alyssa declined. She told him na it's a crazy idea kasi pambata yon and for sure they'll just get exhausted. But to her suprise, Den agreed without minding what Alyssa said.
"Paano ba yan, it seems like Dennise kn excited na oh." mayabang na sabi ng Kuya niya. "Ganito na lang, since ayaw mo naman sumama, we'll drop you and the groceries off at home and then Den and I will go na. Win-win situation, diba?"
-a moment of silence-
"Ah kuya, as much as I want to go, baka next time na lang po." sabi ni Den
"Huh? Bakit?" tanong bi DJ
Alyssa on the other hand notices the shift of Den's mood. She felt a little guilt on her side.
"Maybe—" Den started talking but Alyssa cut her off.
"No it's fine. I'll go. I mean, let's go to whatever park you want." sabi ni Alyssa at napangiti naman ang dalawa.
Tulad ng sinabi ni Alyssa, DJ continued driving to LEGOLAND New York. It will take them an hour and a half to reach their destination so he told them to take a nap while they are on their way. Nakatulog naman agad si Alyssa habang si Dennise naman ay nakatingin lang sa labas with her airpods on. After about 10 minutes of driving, DJ's phone suddenly rang. Ayaw niya itong sagutin kasi nga nagmamaneho siya kaya pinabayaan niya na lang muna but the ringing continues at nagising naman si Alyssa.
"Kuya ano ba yan? sagutin mo na nga." iritang sabi ni Alyssa. "Sino ba yan?"
"Can't you see I'm driving? baka maaksidente pa tayo oh." DJ said, "The phone is in my bag. Kunin mo."
Sumunod naman si Alyssa sa sinabi nito. Napakunot naman ng noo si Aly nang makita ang caller's ID.
"Who is it?" DJ asked.
"It's Mr. Evans." Alyssa answered, "Is this our neighbor Mr. Evans?"
"Yep..."
Medyo kinabahan si Alyssa. Di niya naman alam bakit. Basta na lang nag-iba yung nararamdaman niya. Pinahinto naman ni DJ ang sasakyan sa gilid ng kalsada at kinuha ang cellphone niya mula sa kapatid.
"Hello? Mr. Evans?" sabi ni DJ pagkasagot niya ng tawag.
"Oh yes, I'm on a 3 day leave... Currently in New York."
—
"What's with the sudden call, sir? Anything wrong?"
—
"What? There's a mail for me? If that's so... can you just keep it for me, I'll be there next week."
—
"He did??"
—
"Oh... o-okay... I'll go there. Thank you, Mr. Evans. See you!"
Binaba niya na ang phone at agad tumingin sa kapatid na nakaabang rin sa kanya ngayon.
"What was that?" agad na tanong ni Alyssa.
"Aly? Kuya? What's happening?"
"Ahm... Our neighbor in Boston called me... He told me na may mail daw na dumating sa bahay kani-kanina lang..." panimula nito. "Sinabi ko naman sa kanya na keep it na lang kasi uuwi din naman ako doon by next week pero he told me na sabi daw ng mailman na the mail is so important at dapat mabasa at makita ito ng recipients as soon as possible..."
"Recipients? ibig sabihin di lang isa?" kabadong tanong ni Alyssa.
"Apparently, yes..." DJ answered. "There are 2, actually. One for me and the other one is for... you."
"What? Galing daw ba saan?" tarantang tanong ni Alyssa.
"I forgot to ask that tho. Ganito na lang, we will postpone this adventure na lang muna and hatid ko na kayo sa bahay nyo then I'll take the train na lang. I need to go there to know what is it. Don't worry, I'll update you na lang whatever it is." DJ said. Di niya na tinanong si Alyssa kung gusto ba nitong sumama kasi alam naman niya hindi.
Nagumpisa nang magmaneho ulit si DJ pero this time papuntang bahay na. Hindi naman ito kalayuan mula sa kung saan sila ngayon. The whole ride was silent. Si Alyssa parang ang lalim ng iniisip. Si Den naman parang naguguluhan kung ano ang nangyayari pero hindi niya naman magawang magtanong sa dalawa.
They are now at the apartment. Alyssa helped Dennise in unpacking the groceries while DJ is fixing his things. After a while, DJ got out of the room with his bag and went straight to where Aly and Den are to bid goodbye.
"Alyssa, Den, I got to go na. Ingat kayong dalawa dito ah." DJ said. "Den, don't hesitate to tell me kung may kalokohan yang kapatid ko ah."
Natawa naman si Den sa sinabi sa kanya.
"Kuya..." Alyssa said seriously at nilapitan ang kapatid. "I'll go with you..." mahinang sabi nito but enough to be heard by his kuya.
"What? Iiwan mo si Den dito? No, it's fine. Sabi ko sayo I'll update you about it na lang." sabi ng Kuya niya.
"Den, are you do you have work tomorrow?" Alyssa asked all of a sudden.
"Yep pero 4pm pa naman." Den answered.
Napangiti ng bahagya si Alyssa. "Are you up for a roadtrip today?" tanong nito habang nakangiti.
"Where to?"
"Boston."
"Alyssa what are you doing? Cmon... Den it's okay, you two don't have to come. I'll deal with it." DJ said.
"I'm in." Den said.
"Alright! Let's go!" Alyssa said and throws her car key to his brother. "Magpapalit lang ako... You too, Den, go change. It's a bit colder there."
"Den are you sure? Hindi ba nakakaabala sayo?" DJ asked, "Parang gago talaga yun."
Ngumiti naman si Dennise. "I'm 100% sure, Kuya... and yes, I kinda agree with the last thing that you said."
At sabay silang natawa.
On the way to Boston, bahagyang tiningnan ni DJ ang katabi kung tulog ba ito but he couldn't really tell because Aly is wearing sunglasses. Tumingin din siya sa rear mirror to check if Den is asleep too. Tho she's also wearing sunglasses, DJ is pretty sure that she's not sleeping.
"Den, are you good back there?" DJ asked. "Few kilometers na lang we'll arrive na pero you can still take a nap if gusto mo, gigisingin ko na lang kayong dalawa."
"I'm totally fine po. Besides, we just had lunch so mahirap din matulog if you're full eh haha so yeah, will enjoy the view na lang muna." Den answered.
"Okay... ahm, do you mind if I ask you some random questions?" tanong ni DJ.
Medyo kinabahan naman si Dennise. She hates moments like this but she doesn't have a choice. Alangan naman humindi siya rito eh mas nakakahiya yon.
"Shoot it."
"I have a many friends na girls and almost all of them have this dream proposal... is that how important proposals? like what if hindi masunod yung gusto niyo? What will happen to the relationship?" DJ said. "As someone who never got into a relationship, I'm just really curious."
"What?? Really? You never had a girlfriend? Come on Kuya!" di makapaniwalang sabi ni Dennise.
"Unfortunately... Hey! Stop laughing at me!" DJ answered, "So? ano na?"
"Okay haha I'm just really surprised." natatawang sabi ni Den. "Going back to your question... hmm, I think, yes, proposals are that important kasi diba how will you get married if you won't propose? unless of course it's a surprise wedding which is not very ideal. On the second question naman, I think it's alright naman kahit di masunod yung dream proposal... personally, for me it's fine naman as long as hindi pilit or planned out of love then that's super fine."
"That's good to hear tho." DJ said while nodding his head, "Ikaw ba, do you have dreams like that too?"
Biglang napaisip naman si Den at napangiti.
"Well, you know Aurora Borealis, right? It has this strange yet magical feeling that I always feel whenever I see a photo of it. So the thought of being there with the love of my life proposing to me is just ughhh I dont know Kuya, baka magwala ako sa saya hahahaha." natatawang sabi ni Den. Parang nakalimutan niya na kapatid ni Alyssa ang kinakausap niya kaka-daydream niya. "And oh! before I forgot, i think pwede rin siguro sa Paris, alam mo yon, with the view of Eiffel Tower. Sounds cliché but who cares? It's still the City of Love and it's where I grew up."
"Grabe naman yon, parang nadamay rin ako sa imagination mo, Den." DJ said. "Sayang lang tulog si Alyssa, she missed some important details hahahah! I guess it's for her to find out."
With that, biglang bumalik sa katotohanan ang pagiisip ni Dennise. She knows it won't happen in this kind of set up that she have with Alyssa. She can only wish that someday, someone will come into her life and turn all of these dreams into reality.
Few minutes after, they are finally in front of the Velez's residence.
"We're here!" masayang sabi ni DJ. "Ly, wake up! Nandito na tayo. Den, tara na."
Hindi naman mahirap gisingin si Alyssa kaya nagising din ito agad. Naramdaman niya rin siguro na huminto na ang sasakyan nila. Unang bumaba si DJ at sumunod naman si Dennise. Umayos lang sandali si Alyssa at lumabas na rin pagkatapos.
"Welcome to Boston, Dennise." DJ said. "Wait lang muna kayo rito, I'll just go to Scott."
Tumango lang si Den bilang tugon.
Alyssa is now standing in front of their house and just staring at it. Kanina pa siya ganyan simula nung bumaba siya at napansin yon ni Den.
"You didn't mention na you have a house here pala ah... it's a pretty big house too. Rich kid ka pala eh!" Den said trying to lighten up the mood.
"Yep it's pretty big but no I'm not rich. My parents are rich." Alyssa said, "You wanna go inside? Tara! Ay wait, na kay Kuya pala yung susi hehe."
"Sige invite pa! Wala ka naman palang susi." natatawang sabi ni Den. "Oh ayan na pala si Kuya."
"So? Have you talked to him? Was that it?" Aly asked as soon as his Kuya came back.
"Daming mong tanong! Pwede pumasok muna tayo sa loob?" DJ said.
Sabay sabay naman silang pumasok sa loob ng bahay.
"Woahh... this is... Beauty." Den said as soon as she entered the house.
"Welcome to our humble home, Dennise!" DJ said and turned his attention to his younger sister, "And you... Welcome back home, Alyssa."
"Home sweet home." sabi ni Alyssa at napangiti naman ang dalawa rito lalo na si DJ.
"Alright. Ah Den? Okay lang ba if I'll talk to Aly muna in private? You can check the whole house if you want. Dito lang kami sa sala and umm, mabilis lang to." paalam ni DJ. "I think we have drinks inside the refrigerator and chips, take whatever you want."
"Oh, really? sige po, I'll go around na muna. Take your time." Den said.
Dennise went on her way na. Si Alyssa and DJ is now at the living rooming sitting across from each other. DJ is holding 2 identical yellow pouch. He handed the other 1 to his sister. Sabay nila itong binuksan and was surprised of what's inside. It's a wedding invitation. Medyo nakahinga naman ng maluwag si DJ dahil dito. "Atleast hindi problema" sabi niya sa isip niya. On the other hand, Alyssa is a bit nervous to open the invitation para malaman kung kaninong wedding ito. Although she has the idea, she's still hesitant to check it. DJ noticed that. He immediately opened the envelope.
"Lehmann-Pesummal" basa ni DJ pagkabukas niya ng wedding invitation.
"Yeah..." Alyssa said, "I somehow knew it tho."
"So ano? Yun lang ang sasabihin mo?" DJ said,
"What do you want me to do?" naguguluhang tanong ni Alyssa.
"Open that invitation for you to know the details, idiot!" frustrated na sabi ng kapatid. "Aren't you even happy for your bestfriends?"
"Of course I am! Ano ba yang pinagsasabi mo?" Alyssa argued. Finally binuksan na na rin ang envelope at binasa ito. "What? It's in two weeks from now?!"
"And will be happening in the Philippines..." dugtong ni DJ which made Aly dropped the invitation to the table.
So ayun na nga, Alyssa and Laura are super best friends. Well, they are actually 7 in their circle. Alyssa, Laura, Gretchen, Vic, Kim, and Ysay. In their 11th grade, a boy named Von courted Laura and they eventually became a couple after a few months. So from then on, naging tropa na rin nila si Von.
Sumandal si Alyssa sa inuupuan nito at napahilamos. She wants to attend her bestfriends' wedding but at the same time she don't and it's all because of the venue. Ang gulo bigla. Ang daming katanungan ang naglipana sa isipan niya. Is she ready to go home? Handa na ba siyang magpakita sa kanilang lahat... most importantly, to her parents? But what about Dennise? What about their plan?
"I know what you're thinking." DJ said, "If you're not yet ready, just tell me. Ako na ang bahala sa kanila."
kru kru
"Anyways! How about swimming? I think the pool misses you too." DJ said breaking the awkwardness between them at tumayo na rin. "Go find Dennise, I'll wait na lang sa likod."
Alyssa took a deep breath and finally stood up. She went straight to her room upstairs. Nagtaka pa nga siya bakit medyo nakabukas yung pinto kaya sumilip na muna siya bago pumasok. Nasa loob pala si Dennise. She stopped at the doorstep and stared at the woman for a while. Pumasok siya ng dahan dahan at umupo sa dulo ng kama.
"Ehem." Alyssa clears her throat.
Halata namang nagulat si Dennise kaya napalingon ito agad. Dahil dito, natawa naman si Alyssa.
"What the! Are planning to kill me?!" Dennise said while trying to calm herself down.
"Calm down, woman!" natatawang sabi ni Alyssa, "Ang seryoso mo kasi habang nakatitig diyan. What is it ba?"
"Ah wala... It's just that... The place here kinda look familiar. Yun lang." Den said at kinuha yung picture frame saka pinakita kay Alyssa. She also sat beside the latter too.
"Oh this, sabi ni Kuya, sa likod lang daw to ng bahay namin sa probinsya." sabi ni Alyssa, "Somewhere in Legazpi ata. I'm not sure tho."
"You're not sure?" takang tanong ni Den. "I mean, sorry for the words but you sounded like you don't know anything."
"No offense taken. Alam mo, you're right. I really don't know anything about it. Wala akong maalala anything about that place eh. The last thing I could remember was I woke up in this room and everything seems to be fine. You know, just normal days. Mom was cooking at the kitchen, Dad was watering the garden at the backyard while Kuya was messing around." storya ni Alyssa. "So yeah... Ano? Tara na sa baba? Kuya is waiting at the back."
Alyssa went out first leaving Dennise confused. The latter was obviously caught off guard. She doesn't know how to react and what to say.
"There you are. Ang tagal nyo ha!" DJ said when he saw his sister, "Wait, where's Den?"
"Ahm—"
"I'm here!" masayang tugon ni Den. "You guys have an amazing home. Ang ganda at ang laki pa."
"Den, you already said that kanina." sabi ni Alyssa.
"I know! Bakit ba?" Den said.
"Sungit." pabulong na sabi ni Alyssa.
"Hey! I heard that!"
"Tumigil nga kayong dalawa! Para kayong mga bata ah." saway ni DJ sa kanila. "Anyways, don't you guys want to stay for the night?"
Napatingin naman agad ang dalawa kay DJ. Kung si Alyssa lang naman ang tatanungin, okay lang sa kanya pero nahihiya siya kay Dennise. Ang unang plano nila kasi ay babalik din sila ng New York later afternoon kasi may trabaho pa sila kinabukasan.
"I'm good as long as Alyssa would agree." sabi ni Den.
"Really? But you have work tomorrow." Alyssa said.
"4pm pa naman yon eh." Den answered, "My only problem as of now is my clothes. Wala akong dalang extra."
"You can use mine. I think we have unused undergarments sa guest room din so you'll be fine." Alyssa said.
"Alright! It's settled then." DJ said.
"Okay ka naman siguro sa oversize fit ano? I think my clothes are extra big for your size eh." pangungulit ni Aly.
"Hoy ang bully mo! Stop insulting my height! Kuya oh." sumbong ni Den kay DJ.
"Hay nako, parang mga bata talaga." sabi ni DJ habang napapailing. "Alam niyo, iligo niyo na lang yan sa pool! GO!"
So ayon na nga, nagswimming na sila. At first, ayaw pa ni Den pero wala, napilit pa rin siya ng dalawa. Hindi pala ito marunong lumangoy kaya siya tumanggi. Buti na lang di siya kinulit ng magkapatid. Alyssa finds it cute tho. Tinuruan pa nga niya ito kung paano eh. In short, nakapag moment sila without knowing so. They didn't even noticed that DJ was filming and taking some photos of them. Nakangiti lang si DJ habang ginagawa ito kasi aside from kinikilig siya, ngayon niya lang din ulit nakitang masaya ang kapatid. Sana lang ay magtuloy tuloy na.
"Hey lovebirds! If tapos na kayo sa swimming lesson niyo na yan, better get changed na. Mr. Evans invited us for dinner. Bawal tumanggi kasi naka oo na ako sa tao, okay? Bye, see u later!" DJ said at umalis na.
"Ang spontaneous talaga ni Kuya minsan, nakakainis." Alyssa said.
"Ikaw rin naman eh." Den said, "Tara na nga! Nilalamig na rin ako."
Kakalabas lang ni Den ng bathroom at agad niya namang napansin ang mga damit na nakalagay sa itaas ng kama. It's a pair of pajamas at mayroon ding plain white button down longsleeves. Sa totoo lang, medyo kinikilig si Den. Di rin niya alama kung bakit (LOL).
Few minutes later, may kumatok na sa pintuan ng kwarto niya.
"Come in." sabi ni Den.
"Are you ready to go?" Alyssa asked as soon as she walk inside the room, "Wow! it looks perfectly fine on you." Di naman masyadong halata na namangha ito pagkakita niya kay Dennise.
Dennise felt her cheeks turned red. She couldn't even talk back to Alyssa right away. Ngumiti na lang siya ang tumalikod sandali saka humarap ulit.
"Hey, are you alright?" Alyssa asked. "Bakit parang namumula ka?"
"Ahm... It's nothing. Medyo kinakabahan lang siguro." Den answered.
Half true naman yung kinakabahan siya kasi first time niya lang dito sa lugar nina Alyssa tapos biglang may pa dinner agad ang kapitbahay. She couldn't stop worrying of what's gonna happen later. Well, typical Dennise. An over-thinker.
"Relax. It's just a dinner. On top of that, Boston isn't called the City of Kind Hearts for nothing, right? You'll be fine." Alyssa assured her, "Kasama mo naman kami ni Kuya eh."
"Okay okay! I'm all set." Den said. "Where's Kuya na ba?"
"Just arrived. He's waiting outside na rin." Alyssa answered. "Let's go?"
Sabay na sila bumaba at deretso na ring lumabas kasi nagrereklamo na rin si DJ dahil sa tagal nilang dalawa. Mr. Evans' house is just across their house kaya mabilis lang sila nakarating. Alyssa and Dennise isa a bit surprised nang makita nila na hindi lang pala sila ang imbitado. May mga ibang guests din from their neighborhood. DJ, on the other hand, is already shaking hands with these people. It looks like they are really close. Parang hindi na bago para sa kanya ang ganitong okasyon.
"DJ! You're here at last!" Mr. Evans said when he saw DJ. "Where is your sister?"
"Sorry we're late!" sabi DJ sa lalaki at kinamayan ito. "There she is."
"Good evening, Mr. Evans!" nakangiting bati ni Alyssa.
"Oh my God! Alyssa, I can't believe you're here! I thought I'd never see you again." sabi ni Mr. Evans sabay yakap kay Alyssa. Napansin niya naman na may kasama pa ang dalawa, "And who is this pretty young lady?"
"Oh sorry, my bad... This is my girlfriend, Dennis. Dennise, this is Mr. Scott Evans, the most friendly neighbor in town." pakilala ni Alyssa.
"Hello, Mr. Evans. Nice to meet you." bati ni Den habang nakangiti.
"I knew it! You guys look lovely together."sabi naman ni Mr. Evans, "Anyways, party's at the back, let's go!"
They just finished eating and everyone is just hanging around and catching up. Yung iba naman ay sumasabay sa tugtog ng musika. Naipakilala na rin ni Alyssa si Den sa mga ito bilang girlfriend niya.
Well, di naman gaano karami ang mga imbitado, yung mga kapitbahay lang. In fact, di na pala bago sa kanila ag ganitong salo-salo dahil ginagawa nila ito once in a month for 2 years kaya halos magkakasundo na talaga ang nga tao rito.
All of a sudden, a slow love song starts playing. Couples started to dance too.
"Young lady, what are you doing?" Scott asked Alyssa out of nowhere.
"What do you mean?" Alyssa asked.
"Can you not hear that lovely music?"
"What do you—"
"Then stop talking and go ask your girl for dance! Oh Good Lord!" Scott said.
Nagets naman agad ni Aly kung ano ang tinutukoy ni Mr. Evans kaya napatingin siya agad kay Den na ngayon ay masayang nakikipag kwentuhan sa ibang mga kapitbahay nila.
"Oh... Y-yeah! G-good idea!" Alyssa said trying to sound convincing.
Huminga ng malalim si Aly at pinuntahan na si Den. Wala naman siyang magagawa eh, baka mabuko pa silang dalawa kung tumanggi siya.
"Oh Aly, anything wrong?" Den asked pagkalapit ni Alyssa.
"Hey guys! May I excuse Dennise for a while?" mahinahon na paalam ni Alyssa sa mga kasama ni Den ngayon.
"Yeah of course"
"Sure"
"Thanks." Alyssa said at tumingin kay Dennise na medyo nakakunot na ang noo ngayon.
Alyssa took a few steps away at humarap ulit kay Dennise.
This time, "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" song starts playing.
🎶🎶🎶
"May I have a dance with you?" Alyssa said charmingly.
Put your head on my shoulder
Hold me in your arms, baby
Dennise was again caught off guard. Her heart starts beating fast again and again.
Squeeze me oh so tight
Show me that you love me too
"O-of course. You may." Den said.
Alyssa took Den's left hand and placed it on her shoulder while she held her right hand and waist.
Put your lips next to mine, dear
Won't you kiss me once, baby
They started dancing slowly to the music
Just a kiss goodnight, maybe
You and I will fall in love
(You and I will fall in love)
Dennise felt relaxed. She then lean her head on Alyssa's chest. (she's small kaya yun lang talaga abot niya. lol)
People say that love's a game
A game you just can't win
This time, si Alyssa naman ang nabigla but at the same time felt a bit happy kasi sa tingin niya, Den is comfortable dito sa ginawa niyang ito.
If there's a way
I'll find it someday
And then this fool will rush in
She also leaned on Den's head and continues to dance.
Put your head on my shoulder
Whisper in my ear, baby
For the first time in a while, she was thinking about nothing else at that time except for the music and Dennise.
Words I want to hear
Tell me, tell me that you love me too
(Tell me that you love me too)
The only thing Dennise wishes right now is for Alyssa to not be able to feel the intensity of her heartbeat now that they are in this position.
Put your head on my shoulder
Whisper in my ear, baby
Words I want to hear, baby
Put your head on my shoulder
🎶🎶🎶
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