My Make-Believe Boyfriend...

Por dyosathewriter

2.3M 50.8K 20.5K

"I have a proposition," kaswal na sabi ni Ashley. "What?" tanong ni Bobby. "Tutal iniwan ka na ni Kate at hin... Más

Chapter 1 : Ashley Is Back
Chapter 2 : Bobby Takes The Bullet
Chapter 3 : Stalking Kate
Chapter 4 : Bobby Says Sorry
Chapter 5 : The Revenge Of Bobby And Ashley
Chapter 6 : Happy Birthday, Robert Aldus
Chapter 7 : Getting To Know Each Other
Chapter 8 : Bobby Asks Ashley Out On A Movie Date
Chapter 9 : The Movie Date
Chapter 10 : The Dessert And The Realization
Chapter 11 : Bobby's Monthsary Surprise
Chapter 12 : Bobby's Msytery Girl
Chapter 13 : A Trip Down Memory Lane
Chapter 14 : Bobby Crushes Down Ashley's Wall
Chapter 15 : Ashley Meets Miranda And Jacob...Again
Chapter 16 : The Closure
Chapter 17 : Me & You / You & Me
Chapter 18 : From Make-Believe To The Real Thing
Chapter 19 : Happy Birthday, Ashley Grace
Chapter 20 : What Happens In Grandeur, Stays In Grandeur
Chapter 21 : I Love You In My Lifetime And The Next
Chapter 22 : I Am Ready... As Long As It's With You
Chapter 23 : Sharing The Love And Happiness
Chapter 24 : Aldus's Possessive Gracie
Chapter 25 : The Supportive Girlfriend
Chapter 26 : Bobby's Lucky Charm
Chapter 27 : The Wind Beneath Bobby's Wings
Chapter 28 : Meet The Parents
Chapter 29 : Bobby Fights For Ashley
Chapter 30 : My Gracie, My Perfect Imperfection
Chapter 31 : The Acceptance And The Magic Kiss
Chapter 32 : Jealous Aldus
Chapter 33 : Kiss And Make Up
Chapter 34 : The Truth About The Acquaintance Party
Chapter 35 : Crazy for You
Chapter 36 : Ashley And Her Seven Wards
Chapter 37 : Wish Granted
Chapter 38 : Making Wrong Things Right
Chapter 39 : Meeting Ashley's Mother
Chapter 40 : Totally Gays
Chapter 41 : Ashley Grace's Most Comfort Zone
Chapter 42 : Ashley Meets The Legitimate Lim Family
Chapter 43 : Daddy's Girl
Chapter 44 : The Healing In Progress
Chapter 45 : Hope Springs Eternal
Chapter 46 : Change Of Heart
Chapter 47 : Team AshBy Versus Team MaKki
Chapter 48 : Kate Mercado Is Back
Chapter 49 : Kate From Bobby's Past
Chapter 50 : Memories Of Kate From Bobby's Past
Chapter 51 : Brokenhearted Bobby
Chapter 52 : The Lover's Quarrel Because Of Kate
Chapter 53 : Feisty Gracie
Chapter 54 : The Roaring Lion's Sexy Pose
Chapter 55 : Bobby Lied To Ashley
Chapter 56 : The Aldus And Gracie Break Up
Chapter 57 : Ashley Grace Is Missing
Chapter 58 : Finding Ashley Grace
Chapter 59 : Off To Nowhere
Chapter 60 : Meeting Akki Eliseo By Chance
Chapter 61 : That One Text Message From Miranda
Chapter 62 : Robert Aldus Finally Finds His Gracie
Chapter 63 : Robert Aldus Serenades His Ashley Grace
Chapter 64 : Eliseo Vs. Gallego, Maravilla, Agoncillo, Esquivel & Rufino
Chapter 65 : Always Choose To Forgive
Chapter 66 : Seeing The Bruha Face-To-Face
Chapter 67 : Run, Robert Aldus, Run...
Chapter 68 : Ashley Grace Meets Anna Linda
Chapter 69 : Ang Forever Ni Anna Linda
Chapter 70 : Ashley Grace's Superman Incarnate
Thank You ❤
#Team AshBy ❤
Special Chapter 1 : Ashley Version 2.0 Is Back
Special Chapter 2 : Kate Mercado Is Back, Too
Special Chapter 3 : The Revenge of Ashley, Bobby And The Whole Gang
Special Chapter 4 : The Text Message From Kate Mercado
Special Chapter 5 : Enough Is Enough
Special Chapter 6 : Ang Paghaharap Ng Past At Present
Special Chapter 7 : Reasons To Celebrate
Special Chapter 8 : Rome del Mundo
Special Chapter 9 : Hello, Sexy Dreamy Eyes...
Special Chapter 10 : "You Are Everything To Me"
Special Chapter 11 : The Flaming Arrow Tattoo
Special Chapter 12 : How Ashley Grace Met Rome Del Mundo
Special Chapter 13 : Dudong At Grasya
Special Chapter 14 : Sexy Dreamy Eyes Versus Cute Hooded Eyes
Special Chapter 15 : Fatima Rivera
Special Chapter 16 : Ang Cookie Ni Patty
Special Chapter 17 : Ashley Grace Meets Fatima Rivera
Special Chapter 18 : Ashley Grace Fights For Her Man
Special Chapter 19 : The Brewing Conflict
Special Chapter 20 : Cobi's Warning
Special Chapter 21 : The Real Patty Rivera Is Out!
Special Chapter 22 : Coffee Date With Rome del Mundo
Special Chapter 23 : Where The Hell Is Robert Aldus Gallego?
Special Chapter 24 : Akki's Wise Words
Special Chapter 25 : "Hi, Robert Aldus..."
Special Chapter 26 : "Are You Still Mine?..."
Special Chapter 27 : Ashley Grace Fights For The People She Loves
Special Chapter 28 : "Because I love you, Ashley Grace..."
Special Chapter 29 : Never Again
Special Chapter 30 : Rome Clears Ashley's Name
Special Chapter 31 : Rome del Mundo Says Good Bye
Special Chapter 32 : A Woman's Intuition
Special Chapter 33 : Physical Injury
Special Chapter 34 : Galawang Patty Rivera Exposed!
Special Chapter 35 : Kiss Patty's Feet
Special Chapter 36 : The Gang Has Heard Ashley's Call For Help
Special Chapter 38 : Fatima Rivera's Worst Nightmare
Special Chapter 39 : Ashley Grace Lim--HFU's Most Notorious Bully
Special Chapter 40 : The Victory Party
Special Chapter 41 : Happy Graduation, Ashley Grace
Special Chapter 42 : Some News
Special Chapter 43: "Hi, Mommy Gracie..."
Special Chapter 44 : "YES..."
Special Chapter 45: Pamamanhikan

Special Chapter 37 : "You and I... We Fight Together..."

9.4K 436 567
Por dyosathewriter

Hello, Friends! I’m back! Alive and kicking.
Belated happy birthday to @Lhady_Mixxix (also an April baby) 🎂
And shout out to our frontliner friends, lalo na kay @feonaraine. Salute to you. Thank you. 🙋🏻❤
For this chapter, ilayo muna natin sina Robert Aldus at Ashley Grace sa stress. Pa-cute and flirt-flirt muna. Hehe!
Grabe, MAY na pala ‘no? Lumipas ang April ko na hindi ako nakalabas ng bahay. Pero okay lang, basta safe and well, ‘yun ang importante 👍🏻☺
MAY we all be blessed for always. Keep safe and healthy, Friends! I love you ❤ -- Dyosa

*******************************
BOBBY

ARE YOU HERE to apologize on behalf of Ashley?” nakataas ang isang kilay na tanong ni Patty sa akin.

I asked her for a meeting. Ayaw pa niya noong una. She seemed to be avoiding me since the last incident with Ashley and Dezi in this same coffee shop. Pero sa huli ay pumayag din siya.

She asked for my cellphone before she started talking, making sure it was not recorded.

Smart. Frighteningly smart. She knew how it works and was cautious of it.

“Because if you are, I won’t accept your apology, Bobby,” mataray na dagdag pa ni Patty. Walang kangiti-ngiti sa labi. “Gusto kong si Ashley mismo ang lumuhod at mag-sorry sa akin. Siya ang nanakit sa akin.

Lumuhod? I wanted to laugh. I doubted if Ashley Grace would do that. At sa tingin ni Patty ay hahayaan kong gawin niya iyon kay Ashley Grace ko?

Si Ashley Grace ko pa? Kapag alam niyang nasa tama siya, ipaglalaban niya ang karapatan niya saanman siya makarating--kahit nag-iisa lang siya.

Napahawak ako sa batok. This meeting was a mistake. I should not have asked for this in the first place.

But I was just doing this for Patty.
Alam kong kahapon pa lang, pagkatapos ng meeting ng buong gang, nag-uumpisa nang gumalaw si Andrew Rufino.

Hindi ko na alam ang progress pero in just a few days ay makakarinig na kami ng resulta mula sa kanya.

It could destroy Patty and her family.

And to avoid this, I was giving Patty a chance to walk away to this.

I would want her to be the one to apologize to my Ashley Grace. Na kung nasaktan siya ni Ashley, it was because Ashley just retaliated to her verbal assault.

Hindi sa natatakot ako sa kasong pwede niyang isampa. With my and my friend’s connections, hindi ako natatakot sa pamilya niyang puro lawyers.

Ayoko lang na madungisan ng isang walang kwentang kaso ang pangalan ni Ashley Grace ko kung makakaya naman na makuha sa magandang pag-uusap.

Like I have told Ashley, a court case no matter how trivial, was a serious matter. Ayokong makaabala pa ito sa kanya. O makadungis pa sa pangalan niya.

But Patty seemed defiant. Iniisip niyang siya ang argabyado.
Siguro ay wala pa siyang kamalay-malay na nakarating na sa akin ang mga pinaggagagawa niya.

“And it was because she just retaliated,” pagtatanggol ko kay Ashley, sa pinakakalmadong boses na kaya kong ilabas.

Kahit na sa gusto ko nang makipagsigawan. But no, my mother would not approve of it. Ang laging bilin ni Mommy sa akin, kahit na gaano pa nakakainis ang isang babae, hindi kailangang makipaglaban sa kanya.

It would be ungentlemanly. At isinapuso ko ang pangaral na iyon ni Mommy.

Hindi ako makikipag-away sa babae. Kung kayang pakiusapan sa diplomatikong paraan, gagawin ko sa abot ng makakaya ko.

Siguro kung naging lalaki lang si Patty, baka ako na mismo ang humamon sa kanya ng suntukan sa pang-aaway niya sa girlfriend ko.

But since Patty was a girl, a diplomatic way of talking to her would be the best way.

“You told bad things about her. A verbal assault,” I continued in a serious tone.

Patty smirked, an eyebrow raised. “Is that what she told you?” Isang nanunuyang ngiti ang ibinigay niya sa akin. “Sinungaling ang girlfriend mo. Wala akong sinabing masama sa kanya. Bigla na lang siyang nanampal.”

Sinungaling?

I may be a bitch but I am not a liar, Robert Aldus… Kahit na ikakapahiya ko pa, I always own up to my mistakes… Ashley would always tell me.

One of the many things and more reasons why I love her so much.

I clenched my jaw. “Patty, mataray ang girlfriend ko pero hindi siya sinungaling. That I can vouch my life to it,” seryoso kong sabi.

Hindi nakakibo si Patty. Hindi ko alam kung natakot ba siya sa ekspresyon ko o sa kaseryosohan sa boses ko.

Naglabas ako ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga. Sinalubong ko ang tingin niya. “Tell me honestly, Patty, where does the resentment come from?”

Ilang segundong hindi sumagot si Patty at nanatiling nakatingin lang sa akin.

Pagkatapos ay tumigas ang mukha niya. “You don’t deserve somebody like her.” May halong insulto ang tono niya.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. Ang Patty na nasa harapan ko ay ibang-iba sa Patty na kaklase ko at itinuturing na kaibigan noon.

The Patty before me was the Patty Ashley Grace had been telling me all along.

The real Patty Rivera.

I love her,” seryoso kong sabi na hindi bumibitiw sa matapang niyang tingin. “As far as I can remember--” I said, calmly and keeping my temper at bay. “I did not give you the right to tell me whom I deserve or not in my life.”

Para namang natauhan si Patty. She tried to hold my hands pero agad kong nailayo iyon. Kunwari ay napasuklay ako sa buhok.

Malalagot ako sa Ashley Grace ko. Maka-karate ako nang walang katapusan.

I like you,” she boldy said. “Gusto kita dati pa. Hindi pa tayo magkakilala, gusto na kita. I am your fan. And nang maging kaklase kita--“

There. The worms were out in the can.

I am very much in a relationship, Patty,” I reminded her.

Her eyes were filled with contempt. “You don’t deserve someone like her--“

“The fact that I love her and she loves me, we already deserve each other,” mariin kong sabi. “I love her--for everything that she is and she is not. Sana malinaw na sa ‘yo ‘yon.”

Napalunok siya. Tila gustong maiyak.

Nagbaba ako ng tingin. I could not take a girl cyring in front of me. I felt like I am a bastard.

“There are other guys--“ I said in a low tone. Pambawi kung sakaling nasaktan ko ang damdamin niya. Hindi ko gustong mangyari ito pero gusto ko ring maging malinaw ang lahat.

Ayokong magkaroon kami ng gap. Magkaklase kami at buong semester kaming magkasama. At magkakasama pa nang matagal sa iisang campus.

Ayoko ng feeling ng tulad ng nangyari sa amin ni Kate. Every time I would see her, I would feel sorry for her.

Mabigat dalhin sa dibdib. Kahit na sabihing siya ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng nangyari sa amin. I was not that kind of person.

Pero kailangan ko ring protektahan si Ashley Grace ko. I could not let anybody trample on her and tell me that I don’t deserve her just because she is an illegitimate child or pangit ang pinanggalingan niyang pamilya.

I did not give a fucking damn before and I would not give a fucking damn now.

Mahal ko siya. Mahal na mahal na mahal--maaring higit pa sa buhay ko.

Hindi ko hahayaan ang kahit na sino na maliitin siya.

I would always be ready to take the bullet for her.

“I don’t want other guys!” she snapped.

I was wrong. Walang patutunguhan ang pag-uusap naming ito. Ipipilit niya ang gusto niya. Magpapaikot-ikot lang kami.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa ibabaw ng mesa. “I’m sorry--“ Akma akong tatayo pero isang matalim na tingin ang ibinigay niya sa akin.

I’m filing a case against her. I’m serious…” banta niya.

“Are you threatening me?” I asked back, through gritted teeth.

“I am telling you what I am capable of,” matigas niyang sabi.

Bumalik ako sa pagkakaupo. Can Patty understand what was coming out from her mouth?

“Sa tingin mo, anong pwede kong ikaso sa ‘yo sa paglalagay mo ng pampatulog sa kape ko?” I whispered vehemently.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. She tried to open her mouth to, maybe, deny it but opted not to.

“Becca told me that she saw you put something in my coffee--the same night na may usapan kami ni Ashley Grace na dadaan siya sa unit mo para magkita kami. At nilagyan mo ng pampatulog ang kape ko.”

Isang nanunuyang tawa ang lumabas sa bibig niya.

Then her lips curled up on one side, mocking me. “Anong pwede mong ikaso? Wala, Bobby. Wala. Kahit na sinong magaling na abogado ang tanungin mo. Wala kayong pruweba ni Becca. Puro lang kayo salita. Hindi tinatanggap sa korte ang puro salita lang.”

She was right. My bluff did not work.

Tumayo ako at ibinulsa ang cellphone ko. “We are just going in circles, Patty. Just do whatever makes you happy--“

You make me happy,” tila nang-aasar pa niyang sabi. “I want you.”

Nagtangis ang bagang ko. Tama si Ashley at Becca, nakakaubos ng pasensya si Patty.

Ang tunay na Patty. Hindi iyon Patty na kilala ko noong una.

At kung maririnig ni Ashley ang mga pinagsasasabi ni Patty, baka hindi ko na maawat at hindi lang sampal ang maibigay niya rito. And worst, madadamay pa ako sa galit ng matapang kong girlfriend.

Better to walk away from this… And from her, Gallego. Kung ayaw mong mayari sa Ashley Grace mo.

You can’t have me, Patty. I’m sorry,” malumanay kong sabi.

“Kung gano’n, tuloy ang kaso.”

“Be my guest, Patty.”

Her eyes were cold when she met my gaze.

“And one more thing, please stop taking pictures of me and sending it to your group chat. I don’t like it. It’s somewhat…” I trailed off. Ayokong sabihin ang salitang ‘creepy’. Hindi magandang manggaling sa isang lalaki para sa isang babae.

"That Dezi bitch,” bulong niya habang nagngangalit ang mga ngipin.

Napailing ako. Hindi siya ang Patty mabait na nakilala ko noong una. What happened to her? Surely, may pinanggagalingan kung bakit siya ganito?

And looking at her, I realized it was not just the infatuation with me anymore. It was pride.

Nasaling ni Ashley ang pride ni Patty nang merong lumaban sa kanya. Hindi iyon kinakaya ng pride niya na merong isang naglakas-loob na kalabanin siya.

Dahil palaban ang Ashley Grace ko.

Nakahanap si Fatima Rivera ng katapat kay Ashley Grace Lim.

I felt proud as Ashley's boyfriend kahit na hangga’t maaari ay ayoko ng gulo. Ang astig at cool lang kasi ng girlfriend ko.

“You’re a celebrity, Bobby. Why would you find it creepy? Surely, hindi lang ako ang gumagawa niyan sa ‘yo,” she said. There was so much challenge in her voice. Siya na ang nagsabi ng salitang ayaw kong sabihin. “At kung nag-iisip ka ng ikakaso sa akin, wala kang pwedeng ikaso.”

“If you say so,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. And then I started to walk away.

It was good to play dumb and the underdog.

“Tell your girlfriend I’ll see her in court,” pahabol niyang sabi sa nang-iinis na tono. “And when I win, I don’t want to see your face in HFU med school. Go, find another med school.”

Was she really serious? I had been a Lion all my life--mula kindergarten--and I will definitely stay as a Lion. Walang ibang med school akong nasa isip kung hindi HFU lang.

Kung hindi lang parang pambabastos sa isang babae ang pagtawanan siya, ginawa ko na.

What a threat!

Humakbang akong muli pabalik sa kanya. “You can still walk away to this mess, Patty,” malumanay kong sabi.

I was giving her one last chance.

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. Of course not. I don’t threaten people. It’s not my thing. But I do give warnings. I warn people for them to stay out of trouble.”

She returned my gaze, sneering. “Oh, my dad always gets me out of trouble, Bobby. Always,” mayabang niyang sabi.

I doubt, I wanted to tell her. But no, she would have to see and experience it herself.

I wanted to witness how her dad would manage to get her out of the trouble she made this time.

“Good for you,” I replied, so casually.

Hindi niya yata nagustuhan ang tila balewalang pagtanggap ko sa sinabi niya. Ang gusto yata niya ay matakot ako.

Lalong tumalim ang tingin niya sa akin. “Do you know Senator Carlos? He is my dad’s good friend.”

Gusto kong mapangiti nang maluwang.

Of course. Senator Carlos' eighty-eight-year old mother was my mom’s regular patient. Not that it mattered.

And Lolo Nanding can talk to every president of the country we had and have without having to ask for an appointment.

Maybe this fact did not matter to her family, too. Iniisip nilang malakas ang kapit nila sa isang senador.

Sa isang senador. Lang.

Tumaas ang isang kilay niya. “At sino ba ang ipinagmamalaki ng girlfriend mo? Ikaw? Ang pamilya ng best friend mong maimpluwensya? Hindi ako natatakot.”

I gave her a sympathetic smile. “Friends, Patty. True friends that, I realized, don’t exist in your life.”

And then I started walking away without looking back kahit na ilang beses niyang tinawag ang pangalan ko.

I will let Andrew Rufino take care of this.

LUCKILY, HINDI PUMASOK ang professor namin sa dalawang oras na klase kaya maaga kaming nakauwi. Hindi na ako pinansin ni Patty.

Napansin iyon ni Becca at tinanong ako. I just shrugged my shoulders. Bahala na lang si Patty ang magkwento kay Becca. Kahit na baligtarin niya ang pangyayari sa pag-uusap namin, sigurado naman akong hindi maniniwala si Becca sa kanya.

Habang naglalakad ako ay panay ang tingin ko sa paligid. Nakakapraning isipin na baka nariyan lang si Patty sa tabi-tabi at kinukuhanan ako ng pictures.

This was one of the downsides of being a ‘celebrity’--kung celebrity man akong matatawag. People could take pictures of me. And it was out of my control.

Tumingin ako sa relo ko. Masusundo ko si Ashley sa eskwelahan. But first, I would have to go to a flower shop.

TEN MINUTES AHEAD of Ashley’s last class, I was already waiting beside her car, parked not farther from mine, holding a bouquet of a dozen red roses.

May ilang estudyanteng napapatingin sa akin sa open parking lot.

I heard one girl--marahil ay freshman kasi hindi niya ako kilala--said ‘sweet naman ng guy na ‘yun’ to one of her classmates.

Ang ibang estudyanteng nakilala ako ay lumapit sa akin at nagpa-picture at pinagbigyan ko naman kahit na nahihiya ako dahil hindi naman na ako basketball player.

I was now Bobby, a med shool student and probably, a future doctor.

Si Miranda ang nagsabi kung saan naka-park ang kotse ni Ashley dahil sila ang sabay na pumapasok. Kung maaga ang klase ni Miranda, maaga ring pumapasok sa eskwelahan si Ashley.

Pero hindi sila sabay uuwi ngayon dahil may council meeting sina Miranda at sina Lance at Preia na lang ang maghahatid kay Miranda pauwi.

Kaya tiyak na magugulat si Ashley Grace ko kapag nakita niya akong naghihintay sa kanya. Bihira na kasing mangyari ang ganito simula nang pumasok ako sa med school.

Somehow, aminado akong hindi na katulad ng dati na marami kaming oras para sa isa’t-isa. At mas madalas na si Gracie na ang naglalaan ng oras makita lang ako, siguro dahil naiintindihan niyang siya ang mas maraming free time kaysa sa akin.

She would sometimes whine and complain about it, but surely, she understands my situation.

Panahon ko na ito para bumawi at sorpresahin siya.

A few minutes later, I saw her.
She wore a white floral lace dress. Her fair and flawless skin shone like a sun in the dessert.

The dress was above her knee and she also wore a pair of Hermes open-toe sandals, which was a no-occasion gift from me.

Pinabili ko kay Ate Two mula sa U.S. nang magpunta siya roon para sa isang convention. Ashley insisted that she pay for the pair of sandals--kahit na piso lang--dahil aniya, bad omen daw ang magregalo ng sapatos sa isang karelasyon dahil maghihiwalay daw.

And me being un-superstitious, just joked that she was just scared of her losing me.

Pinagtaasan lang niya ako ng isang mataray na kilay at mayabang na sinabing malaking kawalan sa buhay ko kung mawawala siya.

My feisty Gracie.

Of course. Like I needed to hear that twice.

Hindi na kailangan dahil alam na alam kong malaking kawalan sa buhay ko kapag nawala si Ashley Grace.

It would be the death of Robert Aldus Gallego.

So fucking true.

She was fumbling for her car keys inside her tote bag kaya hindi niya ako marahil napansin. Or maybe she was not really expecting me kaya wala sa isipan niyang naririto ako, standing several meters away from her.

Her actions were so graceful--the way she walks and the way she frowns--that I felt she really was a goddess incarnate. A dream come true.

I stared at her with longing. Kahapon ko lang siya kasama pero na-miss ko na agad siya.

I heard her muttered ‘fuck shit’ when she could not find her car keys.

It made me smile. She looked so cute when she curses an awful lot. Hindi ko gusto ang babaeng palamura pero heto at naku-cute-an ako sa kanya. Weird that I even find it so attractive.

Malala ka na, Robert Aldus, biro ko sa sarili.

Matapos makuha ang car keys mula sa kanyang bag ay nag-angat siya ng mukha.

My Ashley Grace. My beautiful, beautiful Ashley Grace.

I felt an overwhelming intensity inside my chest by just a mere eye-contact with her. 

Pinuno ko ng hangin ang dibdib ko. Then I smiled. My most handsome, I supposed so, holding a bouquet of red roses.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa akin, then stopped a few feet away, head cocked on one side.

She welcomed the eye contact and took a long, cool look at me before she smiled.

“Hi, Miss. Pwedeng makipagkilala?” I joked.

She raised in imperious eyebrow at me. “Bakit gusto mo akong makilala?”

A small smile played across my lips. “Kasi nakikita ko ang future ko sa 'yo. Feeling ko sasaya ako nang husto sa piling mo.”

I can see a faint smile that wanted to show on her lips, but still managed to control it from appearing. She narrowed her eyes on me.

So, so, cute. Gusto ko na siyang yakapin nang mahigpit.

Nameywang siya. “Mataray ako.” She warned.

Nginitian ko siya. “Okay lang. Attracted ako sa babaeng mataray.”

Kumibot ang labi niya. Isang pigil na ngiti. “Nangangarate ako.”

“Iyon lang ba? Kaya kong tiisin ‘yun.”

“Sigurado ka?”

“I have never been so sure about a girl. Ngayon lang.” Bagaman nakangiti ako, seryoso ako sa mga salitang iyon.

And then she smiled. A beautiful smile that took my breath away.

“Ashley Grace…” pakilala niya sa sarili, habang nakangiti nang maluwang. She even held her hand out.

“Ashley Grace? Ito ang pangalan ng babaeng pakakasalan ko kapag full pledged doctor na ako.”

She rolled her eyeballs. Pero alam kong kinikilig siya. “Tch…”

I shook her hand. “Robert Aldus Gallego… Future husband mo, Ashley Grace…”

She pursed her lips. Halatang kinikilig.

“Para sa akin ba ‘yan?” tanong niya sabay nguso sa bouquet of roses.

I scratched the back of my head. “Hindi. Para ‘to sa kapitbahay n’yo. Pinapa-deliver lang sa ‘kin.”

K-in-arate niya ako sa tiyan. Napaigtad ako, hindi dahil masakit kung hindi dahil nakikiliti ako.

“Jerk!” tili niya at nag-pout ng lips. Pagkatapos ay parang batang nagmamaktol na binigyan ako ng isang masamang tingin.

“Hay, ang Ashley Grace ko.” Natatawang niyakap ko siya. “Come here, hug kita saka kiss kita,” malambing kong sabi.

Tiningala niya ako, love in her eyes.

I gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Para ‘to sa ‘yo,” sabi ko sabay abot ng bouquet sa kanya. “Red roses. An expression of love and desire, so they say.”

She gently touched the side of my face. “I’m glad you’re here. I was having a bad day. I failed a quiz in one subject. Tapos napagalitan ako ng prof ko nang hindi ako makasagot sa tanong niya. And my hair--“ Hinimas niya ang buhok. “I have a bad hair day… Kanina pa…” she whined.

So, so cute. I was just looking at her with tenderness while listening to her whinings.

I fondly pinched her nose. “You still look beautiful to me,” ani ko sabay suklay sa nakalugay niyang buhok. “The most beautiful,” I lovingly added. “At pwede ka namang bumawi sa mga exams na kasunod. And review a little para next time na tawagin ka para sa recitation, you can impress your prof.”

She sighed and met my gaze. “I love you…”

Dumiretso sa puso ko ang mga salitang iyon. Tumatatak.

I also had a bad day after talking to Patty. Pero naburang lahat iyon nang makita at mayakap ko si Ashley Grace ko.

I softly kissed the top of her hair. “I love you more. In this lifetime and the next.”

“Hanggang anong oras ka sa akin?” she asked after, still looking at me with love in her eyes.

“Hanggang sa kung anong oras mo gusto,” I simply answered.

Napangiti siya. Nagustuhan niya ang sagot ko. “Forever?”

“Then forever it is.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Matagal ang forever. Kaya mong panindigan?” hamon niya.

“Piece of cake.” Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit. “Basta ikaw ang kasama ko sa forever na ‘yun.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Bakit ang galing mong magpakilig?”

“Hmmm… Kasi gwapo ako?” I flashed her a handsome smirk.

She rolled her eyeballs. “Sobrang gwapo. Kaya ang dami kong nakakalaban dahil sa ‘yo.”

“Speaking of which,” I said. “May sasabihin ako sa ‘yo tungkol kay Patty.”

After giving it a thought, I realized na kailangan kong sabihin sa kanya ang naging pag-uusap namin ni Patty. Ayoko nang maglihim. Ayokong malaman pa niya sa iba.

Umasim ang mukha niya. Pero pagkaraan ng ilang segundo ay bumuntong-hininga. “Ako rin may sasabihin tungkol kay Patty.”

Ako naman ang biglang kinabahan. “What is it?”

“Mamaya na lang. Masyado akong masaya ngayon para masira ang mood ko ng isang bruha.”

Mataman ko siyang tiningnan. “Let’s not ruin each other’s mood.” Hinalikan ko siya sa sentido. “Alam mo namang sidekick mo ako, right?” Tinitigan ko siya. “You and I, we fight togther. We will always fight together. Together. Forever.”

“Awtsu, awtsu…” pang-aasar niya.

I chuckled.

“Anong plano?” she asked me, referring to our time together for the rest of the day.

Saglit akong nag-isip. “Dessert?” pilyo kong sabi. Pa-cute ko pang itinaas-baba ang mga kilay ko.

Kinurot niya ako sa tiyan na ikinaigtad ko. “Perv.”

“Gusto mong kumain sa labas? Tagaytay? Zambales? Iyong-iyo ako ngayon.”

She stared at me with a smile on her face and so much love in her eyes.

You are one lucky guy, Gallego, I said to myself.

“Sa bahay na lang tayo," she said after. "Ipagprito mo ako nang maraming french fries at ipag-bake ng chocolate cake.”

Napakamot ako sa ulo. “I don’t know how to bake--“

“Problema mo na ‘yun, Gallego,” nang-aasar niyang sabi habang nakangiti. “Basta gusto ko ng chocolate cake na ikaw ang nag-bake.”

Kaya ko bang tanggihan ang Ashley Grace ko? Nah.

Yumukod ako na parang nagbibigay pugay sa isang royalty. “Gagawin ko para sa Ashley Grace ko.”

“Nag-iisang Ashley Grace mo,” she corrected me and giggled.

Her giggle was like a lethal weapon going full force on me.

Bumibigay ako kaagad, without having second thoughts. Even without batting an eyelash.

Para sa nag-iisang Ashley Grace ko.” Sinundan ko ng ngiti ang sinabi ko.

“Let’s go? My car. Your car. Unahan tayo pauwi ng bahay.”

May dessert ako pag nanalo ako?” I asked, accepting her challenge.

She just gave me a naughty smile.

And God, I love her even more.

I opened the car door for her. Ipinasok niya ang bouquet sa loob ng sasakyan.

Bigla ay tumunog ang cellphone niya. Isang text ang pumasok.

She read it. Pagkatapos ay biglang nanlaki ang mga mata.

“Fuck shit!” she exclaimed. She looked so excited. “Yes!” She laughed out so loud. “I love you, Andrew Rufino,” tili niya habang nagtatatalon sa excitement. “Finally!”

“What is it?” I curiously asked, frowning.

Excited na ipinakita niya ang text ni Andrew Rufino sa kanya.

Confirmed meeting on Friday with Patty Rivera and her WHOLE family. Will text you and the whole gang for the complete details of the meeting. Wear your victory party dress, Ashley Girl. This will be YOUR day. 

Seeing how happy and excited Ashley Grace was, I could not help but smile and be happy, too.

Somehow, after talking to Patty, I wanted this meeting for my Ashley Grace.

God bless you, Andrew Rufino. 




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