Den's POV
Its been a week since nung nagusap kami. Im at my class ngayon at katabi ko si Luis. Medyo nagiging kaclose ko na rin naman siya, mabait naman siya na tao e.
"Psst. Huy." Tawag sakin ni Luis, Im trying to concentrate pero ngayon he's poking me na sa braso. "Whut?!"I silently shouted. "Date tayo?" he asked. Ano raw? Date kami? Nahihibang na ba siya? Nadismiss na ang klase at pagkalabas ko ng room si Ly agad sumalubong sakin.
"Hi babe!" he greeted. Nakakagulat lang na simula nung last na usap namin tungkol sa isa't isa, natatawag niya na akong babe sa public. "Hey!" I replied then I was going to hug him but he pulled me for him to kiss my temple. "Ly? Baka makita tayo ng fans mo." I whispered. "Let them." he said I look at him at nakasmirk siya.
"You're weird babe." sabi ko at hinampas ko dibdib niya.
"Aw. So date tayo." bigla niyang sabi.
"Huh? Wala ka bang gagawin?" natanong ko e kasi naman sanay ako na busy to.
"Wala. So ano? Date tayo ha babe." sabi niya pa.
"Eh kung ayaw ko?" tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Ahhhhhh!!! Ly!!!! Ibaba moko!" sigaw ko at pinaghahampas ko ang likod niya. "Ayoko nga. Idedate pa kita." sabi niya. Pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao sa palagid at bulungan ng bulungan, yung iba naman vinivideohan kami. "Lyyyy! Ibaba moko! Pag-hindi moko ibinaba, hindi ako makikipagdate sayo!" I shouted bigla naman niya ako ibinaba at hinawakan kamay ko. "Date tayo. Sabi mo yan." he said then pulled me.
"Den!" rinig kong sigaw ni Luis. Napahiwalay naman ng yakap si Ly at tiningnan ang lalaking tumawag sakin. Nag iba bigla ang masayang mukha ng lalaki na katabi ko.
"Luis." I said. "Umhh, this is Lyle. My boyfriend." pagpapakilala ko sakanya. Humarap naman si Luis sa aking kasama at nakipagkamay rito. Hindi naman ako tanga para di malaman na may tensyon na namumuo sakanila. Ibinaling naman sakin ni Luis ang tingin niya at ngumiti. "So, payag ka ba?" he asked. I was confused for a second but then I realize na he asked me on a date. Pati si Ly na-confuse na rin. "Payag saan?" Ly asked. "Sa date pare." Luis replied hilighting the word date. "No." I was about to answer it but Ly did it for me. "Teka lang, bakit ikaw nasagot?" Luis ask na may inis. Ayoko ng gulo. "Hindi pwede ngayon LA. Maybe some other time." Ako naman ang sumagot ngayon, ayokong maging gulo pa ito. Lalo na't pikunin ang kasama ko. I looked at Ly and he's looking at me as if asking what was that. Nagpaalam naman ako kay Luis at naglakad na kami ni Ly.
"What was that Den?" he asked without even glancing at me.
"I declined the offer Ly, ano pa ba gusto mo?" I answered agad agad. Nakakainit ng dugo yung Den ha.
"You declined nga pero Maybe some other time? What the heck." he said, his pissed I know pero whats wrong with a friendly date?
"Whats wrong with that? A friendly date wouldnt hurt right? You know what, I dont want this conversation to end in a fight. Just bring me home." I told him. I hilighted the word friendly date because there's this one time that Laura and him went on a friendly date. Really Valdez?! Friendly date? With a girl that flirts with you? Napakalame.
Nasa kotse niya na kami ng biglang mag ring yung phone niya. He answered it and all I heard was "How is she? Yeah, I'll be there. Okay. Bye." So shrugged it off and faced the window.
"Den. Kailangan ako ni Lau. I have to go. Ihahatid nalang kita." he said. Putanginang kailangan ako ni Lau. Punyeta lang.
"No. Kaya ko na." I said then opened his car door and went out. I counted 1 to 10 silently but then all I heard was his engine. I was disappointed because I thought he'll follow me. I heard his car go and I felt sad. I was hurt to the fact that she chose to be with Laura than to be with me. I was crying silently when someone called me.
"Den.." he said. I know him. I know his voice.
"Uy, LA!" I said faking a smile. "Akala ko umalis ka na."
"Dont smile if it isnt true. Nakita ko Den." he said. Bakit ba ganon? Hind man lang niya ako pinigilan.
I felt Luis' hug "Shhh. Naguguluhan lang yon. Baka importante. Pagod din yon. Pero mahal ka non." he said.
"Tangina naman na importante yan e. Luis! Si Laura yung importante na sinasabi mo. Bakit ganon?!" I said in between my cry. Im really hurt.
"Shhh. Hayaan mo na. Sigurado akong may magandang rason." he said then he let me go. "Ano? Tara na? Ihatid na kita?"
"Wag na. Alis tayo, gusto ko mag-unwind ng mga stress." Its not a question, its a statement. I just pulled him and made my way to his car.
He's still amazed on how I acted kaya I shouted. "Mr. Revilla, are deaf or what? The date is on. So dont keep me waiting." I said. He immediately got in the car and started the engine.
We were on our way to their restaurant, yes its theirs. His parents to be exact. "Uhmm, di kaya magalit si Ly?" he asked out of nowhere. "How dare him." I just said. Puro jokes at kantahan kami sa kotse niya hanggang makarating sa restaurant.
"Ummh, kuya benjo! VIP room amin." he said to the waiter.
"Okay po sir. Tara po." the guy said.
Nasa VIP room kami at ang quiet ang ganda ng ambiance dito. Napakacomfy. Parang bahay.
"Ganda ah." I said.
"Ah yes, this room is made for couples dating but I guess we ruined its ambiance." he said scratching the back of his head.
"Friends can date here naman. I love the designs." I complemented again.
"Yes, my mom designed it. She loves designing kaya eto napakaganda." He explained. "Umorder na pala ako. Dont worry issurprise ka nila chef."
"Ohhhh sige ha! If Im not surprised lagot ka." I said.
"You'll be. Dont worry." he said with confidence.
I was surprised by the food. It was yummy, and sa buong date namin kwento lang siya ng kwento. Napakabait niyang tao. We are on our way to my condo.
"Uhmm, Den salamat ha?" he said
"Nako, sayo nga dapat magthank you. Thank you for making my day happy tho di maganda umpisa." I said then kiss his cheeks. It was a friendly kiss. Kahit kanino naman ginagawa ko yon e.
"Ah--eh yeah. You're welcome. Sana maulit to!" he said then opened the car door for me.
I saw Ly standing infront of us habang sinabayan ako ni LA ng lakad.
"Sige na Luis! Goodnight. Thank you ulit!" I said then wave at him.
"Den, ano yon?" Ly ask.
"Si Luis." I answered plainly.
"Alam ko pero anong meron?" he asked again.
"Naggala. Date. Unwind. Ano pa ba?" I said and look sternly at him.
"Date?! Dennise. Anong meron?!" He shouted.
"Wala! Whats wrong with a friendly date Ly!?" I was shouting too. Nakakainis na e. Nasa loob na kami ng condo and no one dared to spoke.
"Den. Usap tayo." he said.
"Go on. Speak." I said. Nakakainis talaga.
"Whats with you and Luis, Den?" tanong niya sakin.
"Whats with you and Laura, Ly?" tanong ko pabalik. Bakit? Pag sila pwede? Kami bawal?
"Damn! You dont answer a question with a fucking question too." he shouted.
"Stop shouting at me. Wala! We're friends. I guess he's there when you left me. When you chose to go instead na habulin ako." I confronted him. I was hurt. Badly. I need to tell him that I am hurt. "Now its my turn to ask. Whats with you and Lau, Ly?"
"She's sick." Thats all he said.
"Answer the fucking question Ly." I said through gritted teeth. Ngayon, yakap na niya nararamdaman ko. May kutob na ako, pero gusto ko patunayan.
"She's sick, Den. She needs me. Her family, nagmakaawa sila." he is now explaining. Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit sweet siya kanina.
"And so? Ano nga meron?!" I shouted. "Dont hurt me slowly Ly!" Now, Im crying. I cant stop my tears.
"Im sorry Den. I cant leave her side. She's dying Den. And the only thing that will keep her alive is a reason." He explained.
"Ly.. You're that reason, arent you?" I said then parted away from his hug.
"Den.." he said habang natulo luha.
"Ikaw yung reason na yon diba?" I smiled sadly.
"Den, Im sorry but after the treatment I'll come back. I promise." he said.
"If you'll leave. Then go. And dont promise. Im so tired Ly. Im so tired." I whispered.
"Den, this not my choice." he said again.
"No, its yours Ly. Its yours." I told him and gave him a smile.
I wiped his tears and kiss his eyes. He did the same too for we were both crying. Crying because we both know that this would be our last night together.
"I love you but.." he said. " Maybe our love isnt strong enough. "
" Maybe love itself is not enough. I love you too Babe. My babe." I said.
I parted from his hug and pack my things. I texted Ella too, so she can pick me up here. While Ly? He just there sitting on top of the bed, watching me pack my things. After I pack my things. I left our unit and glanced at the door one last time.
Bye babe. I love you.
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The end. Charot.