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*****
Few months after the Epilogue
3:50 AM
Denbear:
Come on teddy
bati na tayo sigi na
Teddy:
Panget ka! Yoko sayo!
Denbear:
Ako? Panget?
Teddy:
Galit ako so panget ka ngayon kahit pogi ka naman
Denbear:
Thats my teddy hahaha
Teddy:
Im not yours!!!
Denbear:
Yes I am hahaha
Teddy:
NEVERRRRRRRRRRR
Denbear:
Even after all that making out? hahahaha
Teddy:
I hate youuuuuu
Denbear:
No you don't hahaha
Teddy:
Yeah I don't hate you, I just don't love you anymore
Denbear:
Hey! That's crossing the line Braylee Emanuel!
Teddy:
Denbear:
Hindi ko talaga alam na may inimbitahan si Haji na dancer para sa stag party
Teddy:
Come on Denver, don't lie to me.
You know you can tell me everything.
Just be honest with me
Did anything happen?
Denbear:
I think Haji slept with the dancer
Other than that nothing else.
Apollo, Jethro, Cohen, and I went to the balcony and talked about some stuff while drinking. But Teddy, I can't tell you what we talked about. I really really can't.
Teddy:
Okay. I believe you.
Denbear:
So you're not mad anymore?
Teddy:
I have to tell you something too hehehe
Denbear:
What is it, Teddy?
Teddy:
Hehehehehe
Denbear:
Teddy?
Did anything happen in the bachelorette party?
Braylee stilled as she stared at her phone.
Lying on the bed with her phone above her face, Braylee's short black hair is sprawled along her cotton blue pillow. She couldn't help but whimper knowing for sure that Denver is going to be mad. She could already imagine the look on Denver's phone right now, the tone of his voice, and the next words that could come out of his mouth.
Before Braylee could even send her reply, he called.
"Braylee? What happened in that bachelorette party?" he sounded annoyed but there was still that gentle tone in his questioning voice.
Braylee giggled awkwardly. Already sensing the trouble brewing between them. "Riley kinda invited a male stripper. But don't worry, I covered my eyes."
"Oh come on!" He yelled from the other line, making Braylee shut her eyes with a grimace.
"And they kinda dared me to touch his abs. But I swear, I didn't like it and agad akong nag-alcohol! I swear! Mas the best parin abs mo! Promise! And hintuturo ko lang yung nag-touch!" Braylee was almost breathless with how fast she talked.
"What the fuck?!" Denver yelled again. "So All this time galit ka sakin samantalang mas malaki naman 'tong kasalanan mo?!"
"Hey I didn't mean it!" giit ni Braylee. "I had to honor the bet! Natalo ako eh!"
"Sinabi mo sana sakin! Tutubusin kita!" Denver sounded so pissed from the other line but somehow, what he said made Braylee smile like a fool.
"Braylee?" Denver asked with a menacing tone when she heard Braylee snickering, as if she was trying to suppress her laughter.
This time, she couldn't help but giggle as she spoke on her phone. "So? You're willing to touch another guy's abs for me?"
And for a few seconds, there was only silence on Denver's line. And not a little while longer, she heard him sigh. "Damn it, Braylee." She couldn't help but smile at his tone. He no longer sounded mad, instead, he sounded as if he's already given up his anger and was on the brink of laughter.
"I love you, Bear," she giggled and sighed. "I'm really really really sorry. Sorry for being mad earlier too."
"And I love you too, Bear. More than you can ever imagine." He sighed and chuckled. "Go to sleep now Teddy, get some rest. Bukas ka magsusukat ng susuotin sa kasal diba?"
"Nope, dadaan muna ako sa bahay ni Lucho," she said.
"Samahan na kita?"
"No need, coach Denbear. You have some kids to teach," she reminded him.
He sighed from the other line, making her smile.
"Goodnight, bear," he said.
"Goodnight, bear," he answered.
*****
"Dumbaby girl of Filimon Heights? More like Dumbooby girl of Filimon Heights!" Riley laughed as she saw Braylee leave the fitting room, wearing the grey tube dress that he picked out just for her. It was so body-hugging that it accentuated her figure.
Braylee stuck her tongue out as her nose crinkled. She gave Riley an annoyed look but she wasn't really annoyed. No matter how much her friends tease her, it really doesn't get to her nerves.
"Akala ko talaga kayo ni Thorn ang unang ikakasal." Riley sighed as he turned Braylee around to fix the zipper on her back.
"I thought so too." Braylee couldn't help but chuckle while fixing her short neck-lengthed hair with her blue nail-polished fingers.
"On the bright side--" Before Riley could finish, his phone suddenly rang. Prompting him to excuse himself out of the large room filled with dresses and gowns.
As she was left alone in the room, Braylee walked along the room, looking at the dresses and gowns displayed on the wall and racks.
As she was browsing on one of the racks, a familiar comforting warmth wrapped along her waist. She didn't turn around to see who it was because in her heart, she already knew who it is. A smile formed on her face as she felt him kiss her bare shoulders.
"Done with the practice, Coach Denbear?" she asked as she continued browsing the dresses on the rack right in front of her as he continued hugging her from the back.
"Had to let them off early, they almost beat each other up again," he sighed, burying his face at her neck.
She flinched a bit when she felt his warm breath on his skin but it didn't give her any discomfort.
"You're just like that too back then. Apollo told me na halos magpatayan kayo ni Warren noong magka-teammates pa kayo. Tapos nung rivals naman kayo, nagsuntukan pa kayo at nadamay ako." Braylee couldn't help but laugh as the memories of their college life came flooding back in her mind.
"Oh come on, bear!" Denbear complained as he hugged her tighter. "'Wag mo nang ipaalala 'yun!"
"Bakit?" She laughed. "You don't like travelling down the memory lane?"
"No." Denver shook his head while his face was still buried on her neck. "I just hate the fact that I punched you in the face." He added, making her laugh louder.
"Accidentally!" she reminded him. "And part of it was my fault too."
"Kahit na!" Denver insisted like a little kid and mumbled, making her smile in awe of how adorable he's being.
She laughed at him more and as if he's had enough, he took a step back, letting go of her.
"Hoy, tampo ka na agad?" Natatawang sambit ni Braylee at humarap sa kasintahan.
"Huh?" Braylee's eyebrows furrowed when Denver suddenly gasped and stared at the ceiling while breathing heavily. "Okay ka lang?" she asked, taking a few step towards him.
"You really like torturing me, Braylee Emanuel." Denver complained, while still staring at the ceiling. He then took a deep breath and gulped. "Don't wear dresses like that again or I won't be able to keep my promise to your Dad."
"What promise?" she asked.
Denver shook his head and pointed the fitting room. "Bear, can you please change now and don't you dare wear a dress like that again." He sounded gentle yet authoritative.
Braylee sighed. "Okay fine. Hindi ko 'to isusuot but not because you told me too, but because I find it uncomfortable too. My chest feels so tight." Reklamo ni Braylee at pumasok na lamang sa fitting room.
***
"You done changing?"
Braylee heard Denver's voice, just outside the door.
"No." Braylee answered as she put on her pastel blue dress. After fixing herself, she took her new sneakers from the floor. She tried to put it on but for some reason, she's having trouble putting on her left shoe.
"Teddy? You okay there?" Denver asked again when minutes passed and Braylee still hasn't come out. He sounded worried.
"Yeah, just having trouble with my left shoe." Braylee said as she tried to squeeze her foot.
All of a sudden, Denver came in the fitting room, shocking Braylee. She forgot to lock it.
There was a high blue chair in the corner of the room. Denver asked Braylee to sit there as he tried to help her with her shoe.
"Teddy, the shoes are too small." Denver said while still trying to put it on her.
"No, they were a little tight but kumasya naman yan kanina. Yan nga ang suot ko eh," Braylee insisted.
Denver sighed and stopped putting the shoes on her. "Who gave you the shoes?" Denver gave her a knowing tone.
Braylee grinned. "Isn't the question supposed to be, why are you wearing tight shoes?"
"Teddy," Denver asked, there was a warning in his tone.
Braylee sighed. "Reika gave me the shoes yesterday. Magkikita kami ngayon and I want her to see that I'm wearing them."
Denver chuckled lightly, putting his hands on the wall, trapping Braylee in his arms. "Diba sabi ko naman sa'yo? Kung may mali sabihin mo?" Denver said in a worried yet gentle tone.
Braylee smiled and linked her arms on Denver's neck, looking up to his eyes. "And diba sabi ko naman sa'yo? Kung kaya kong mapasaya ang tao, gagawin ko."
A playful smirk flashed on Denver's face as he leaned down closer to her face. This time, his one hand was already holding Braylee's soft waist. "You know what would really make me happy?" he asked in a soft tone as he planted a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.
"What?" Braylee couldn't help but giggle softly as he closed her eyes. She used to feel shy when they're really close to each other but not anymore, now all she could feel is nothing but comfort in his warmth.
"If you stop hanging out with Haji." He says, planting a soft kiss on her lips.
Braylee opened her eyes and gave Denver a piercing look. "Denbear, walang namamagitan sa amin ni Haji. I love you, you know that. And like what I said before, Haji's just fooling around."
Denver sighed. "First base?"
"There we have it," Braylee sarcastically smiled while nodding her head. "Nice segue, by the way."
Denver let out a soft laugh and started kissing Braylee on the lips. He was gently kissing her, but when Braylee began to answer his kisses, his lips began to move with intensity, making her moan softly.
"Denver?" Braylee gasped when she felt Denver's hand on her thigh.
"Sorry." Denver chuckled. "Almost got carried away. Anyway, I have something to give you." he added, taking out something from his pocket.
Braylee's eyes widened when she saw that Denver's already holding a small blue box on his hand. "D-denbear?" she asked, there was excitement and nervousness up her face.
"Braylee," he smiled and opened the box containing a small silver pendant shaped like a bone. Engraved on it was the word, QUACK.
"Oh my God! You're giving me a puppy?!" And just like, her face lit up like a bulb, happiness was all over her face.
END OF SPECIAL CHAPTER #1!
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