Ngayon na yung activity nila Lau. Like the usual, may prayer service muna sila sa gym then konting talk about the virtue for this month then break time tas balik sa gym for the program proper. Right now, they're in the music room to practice for the last time. Aside from the band, andito rin ang buong barkada. Di talaga kasali SHS sa program, pero hiniram nila si Gretch. Den was just watching as Alyssa sings with all her heart.
"Matunaw, besh." Ella nudged her.
"Oo nga, wag mo masyado titigan, Den! Baka maubos." Ara said and laughed.
"Hay, mga taong inlove nga naman." Sabi naman ni Kim.
"Andami agad nasabi? Bakit, hindi ba kayo tumititig sa mga crush niyo ha?" Den said and smirked at them.
"Ewan ko lang kay Mika." Kim said and smiled sheepishly at Mika who's also staring at you know who from the band infront of them.
"H-ha? Ano yun?" Tarantang sabi ni Mika.
"Ayun. Uso naman pala yung tumitig eh. Tayo rin kaya?" Ella joked and nakipag-apir sa dalawa.
"Basta ako kay Bea ah." Ara said.
"So, kay Gretch ako? Pwede na rin." Kim said and smiled. She looked at Ella. "Oh c'mon, Ferdinand! Hahaha!
"EllDy! Hahaha!" Sabi pa ni Ara
"Mga sira ulo! Hindi ba obvious na he's into Bea? Feeling ko nga sila na eh." Ella said. "Tsaka, hindi si Thirdy crush ko, no." She said with a huge smile on her face.
"Ay, ano nga yun? V--Von ba, besh? Von?" Den said, teasing Ella.
"Ay? Akala ko Jovee?" Sabi naman ni Mika.
"Hala, Ella ha! Andami mo palang draft prospects. Sino kaya ipi-pick mo sa kanila? Hmm.." Kim said and kunwaring nag-iisip.
"Ako, I'll go for Von talaga." Den said.
"Nah. Its gonna be Jovee, believe me. Von's for Lau." Mika said.
Von and Jovee are also 3rd year students, classmates, both from the other section.
"Eh? Akala ko si Myco?" Ara asked.
"Lau doesn't like him naman eh." Mika answered.
"So, JoveeElla pala?" Biro na naman ni Kim.
"Huy, hindi ah!" Ella said, but she's blushing. Crush kasi talaga niya yung dalawang yun. You know, typical teenager pag single, crush dito, crush doon. Well, not all, but most teens.
"Sus! Kakasabi mo lang sakin kanina na nakasabay mo si Von sa locker tas kilig na kilig ka eh!" Den said.
"Tas sabi mo rin sakin, kasabay mo si Jovee kanina sa jeep nung papasok ka! Yiiieee!" Sabi naman ni Mika.
"Ah, ganon? Wala talaga tayong itatago dito?" Ella said and they all laughed.
"Hahaha. Basta, besh, we just want to see you happy. Gusto ko bago tayo mag-college, may boyfriend ka na." Den said.
"Grabeng pressure naman yan, Den." Ly said and snaked her arms on Den's neck. They just finished practicing.
"Oo. Grabeng landi nga din yan eh." Ella said and rolled her eyes. "Tapos na ba kayo? Tara, gutom na ko!"
"Bitter." Ly whispered and she and Den giggled.
They walked going to the canteen to eat before going back to the gym for the program. Thirdy and Bea are walking together. Asa unahan sila ng mga ate at kuya nila and kitang-kita nila kung paano sila magkulitan.
"Sila ba?" Ly asked Kief na asa left side niya. Den's on her right, their hands, intertwined.
"I don't know? Di ko pa natatanong si Thirdy eh." Kief answered. "Sa tingin mo?"
"Nope." Ly answered.
"Ha? No?" Den butted in.
"Yeah, no. They're just really really close friends." Ly confidently answered.
"How sure are you?" Kief asked.
"I'm just sure." Ly said and smiled.
"Eh bakit nga?" Den asked.
"Because of her." She said and pointed Maddie. "Bea's courting her."
"What the?" Den said. "Di nga?"
"Oo nga. Di ko lang sinasabi sa inyo kasi ayoko naman masyado mang-chismis ng tao pero Bea's always in the CSG office. She waits for Maddie pag may meeting kami. I don't know, maybe they wanna keep things lowkey." Ly said and shrugged.
"Eh bat mo pa tinanong kung sila ni Thirds?" Sabi ni Kief.
"Just wanna make sure Bea's not messing things up. Mukhang hindi naman." She said, looking straight at the three younger peeps infront of them. Bea and Maddie are now walking side by side, while Thirdy now has his earphones plugged in. "Talk to him, Kief. He might be needing it."
"I sure will." Kief said.
They reached the canteen and parang sanay na sanay na sila with their fan girls who never fails to greet them and give them stuff. Every single day. Lalo na kay Alyssa. Its already known that she has the most fans, mas madaming babae pero may pailan-ilang lalaki din na nagpaparamdam at nagbabaka-sakaling, mapapagbago nila si Alyssa. But, no. They can never. Kakaupo pa lang nila, a girl approached their table na.
"Yari ka, Kief. Ayan na girlfriend mo!" Biro ni Alyssa sa kanya.
"Hahaha. May dala pang chips oh. Penge ah?" Sabi naman ni Gretch.
"Ayan na, ayan na, aya--" Alyssa stopped nung sa kanya lumapit yung babae. "--n na."
Yung mga kaibigan niya, pati si Den, natatawa sa kanya.
"Hi, Ly!" She said. "For you!"
"H-hello." Ly said and awkwardly smiled. "S-sakin 'to?"
"Yes. Bukas na lang ulit si Kief. Tsaka, kinuwento kita sa parents ko and sabi nila na sayo ko naman daw ibigay yan." The girl said. Alyssa knows her by face, but she can't remember her name. Makakalimutin talaga siya, lalo sa pangalan.
"A-ah, ganun ba? Well, t-thank you!" She said, making herself sound excited. But she's really not. She feels awkward and shy. Sa lahat ng nagkakacrush sa kanya, si Carla lang ang kaya niyang asarin kasi nga close din sila. Pag iba na, nahihiya na siya.
"Sige, I have to go! Bye! Kief, tomorrow!" Sabi nung babae. Tumango at ngumiti lang si Kiefer sa kanya then she left.
"Ayan na, ayan na, ayan na!" Asar ni Kiefer kay Alyssa pagka-alis ni Rhian. Yep, that's the name.
"Shut up." Ly said.
"Hinga, Ly! Hahaha." Den said.
"Ugh, pati ba naman ikaw?" Ly said and pouted.
"Cute ka, I know that. But, I don't wanna get suspended. Atleast, not with the president." Den said and pulled Ly to stand up and buy their food. Their friends, either smirked or smiled sheepishly at Den's remark, but Alyssa's clueless.
"What do you mean?" She asked Den habang naglalakad sila.
"What I mean is.." Den paused. "You should buy me food na." She said and dragged Ly sa harap ng mga pagkain.
"Yun lang?" Ly asked after Den told her order sa taga-tinda.
Den looked at her as if searching for any signs of sarcasm but she found nothing. "Yeah. That would be it."
"Ang konti ah." Ly said, this time, full of sarcasm.
"Sabi ko na eh!" Den said and hinampas siya sa braso.
"Ah, hahaha! Joke lang! Share ba tayo or sayo lang yun?" Ly asked and again, she received a slap from Den sa braso niya. "What? That's a serious question. Parang ayoko din kasi kumain. So, if you want those, edi I'll buy na lang for me."
"At bakit ayaw mong kumain?" Mataray na tanong ni Den.
"I ate sa house eh. Tas kanina before practice, nung wala pa kayo, we ate. May padalang lasagna si Tita Mozzy sa dalawa eh." Ly answered. "Can I eat pizza na lang?"
Den smiled at Alyssa's cuteness, "Bat ako tinatanong mo?"
"Kasi, baka mamaya magalit ka na naman sakin pag di ako kumain ng kanin." Ly answered. "Tsaka, dalawa pong Sprite." She told the canteener. (Dude, idk what to call them lol)
"You can eat whatever you want. As much as possible, gusto ko na you eat rice kasi its for you din naman, but if you say naman na busog ka, edi go." Den said.
"That hasn't been the case for the past months, Den. Not at all." Ly said, shaking her head.
Den chuckled, "Kaya nga po ganito na ngayon, diba? I've been forcing you to eat rice for months now, di ka naman tumataba. So, from now on, hindi na. Eat whatever you want. Basta, wag magpapagutom."
"Yes! I'm free!" Ly said. People looked at her so nahiya naman siya. "U-uh, isang pizza, ate. Thank you po!"
They went back to their seat and nakabili na rin ng pagkain yung mga kaibigan nila. Maddie and Bea are sitting beside each other while Thirdy is across them.
"You okay, Thirds?" Ly asked. Tulala kasi siya sa dalawa.
"Y-yeah. I'm good. Why?" Thirdy answered. Alyssa just shrugged. She knows Thirdy feels something for Bea. She would know kasi si Thirdy mismo ang nagsabi sa kanya. Parang siya talaga yung pinaka-pinagkakatiwalaan ng lahat sa barkada. Well, she's kept a lot of secrets na rin naman for them.
"Wala lang." Ly said and smiled. "Gusto mo?" He offered Den's food to Thirdy.
"Baliw." He said and chuckled.
"Hey, hopia ko yan eh! Bat mo pinapamigay?" Den said at hinampas si Ly sa braso.
"Ay, sorry sorry." Sabi na lang ni Alyssa and tumawa.
"Ly!" Someone called her.
"Another one!" Bea joked.
"Baliw, its Lau." Ly said. "Uy, rhyme!" She laughed at her own remark. "Ano na naman, Laura Victoria?" She said. Naging close din kasi sila since Lau asked for the CSG's help for their activity. "Can't you see I'm eating with my girlf--"
"Woy!" Ella reacted.
"--friends. I'm eating with my girlfriendsss!" Ly said and tinuro yung lahat ng babaeng kasama niya sa table. Sabi sa inyo, makulit talaga siya pag barkada kasama eh.
"Dami mong sinabi, di pa nga nagsasalita si Lau." Den said.
"Pwede na ko magsalita?" Lau asked.
"Haha. Go. Bakit nga?" Ly said.
"I'm just gonna give this to you. Pinapabigay ng CSG ng senior high." Lau said and handed Ly a paper bag.
"Ano 'to?" Ly asked.
"Buksan mo kaya!" Gretch said.
"Galet?" Pang-aasar pa ni Ly. "Mamaya na sa room."
"Sabi ni Ate Cha, buksan na daw tas ibalik daw sa kanila yung sobra." Lau said. Napasimangot naman si Den dun.
"Eh? Ano ba 'to?" Ly asked again.
"Buksan mo nga!" Sabay-sabay na sabi ng mga kaibigan niya.
"Okay." Sabi lang ni Alyssa at binuksan nga yung paper bag. "Luh? Bat sayo pinadala 'to?" She said tas nilabas yung mga shirt from the paper bag. "Mads, oh." Binato niya kay Maddie yung isang shirt. T-shirt yun ng CSG, parang uniform nila.
"Nakita kasi ako ni Ate Cha sa may speech lab tas pinabot sakin." Lau answered. "Okay na ba? Akin na, ibabalik ko yung iba."
"Yung kila Jia, ate?" Maddie asked. "Kunin na rin natin." Kinuha naman ni Alyssa yung shirt for the other officers.
"Ikaw magbabalik nito?" Ly asked Laura.
"Yup. Akin na." Lau said.
"No. Kami na lang mamaya after the program." Ly said.
"Sure ka?" Lau asked and looked at Den then back to Alyssa.
"Yeah, why no--"
"Ehem.." Den said. "Sige lang, Lau. Kami na magbabalik mamaya."
"Okay?" Lau said. "Sure kayo ah? Mauna na ako, may aayusin pa ko sa gym."
"Uh, yeah. Kami na bahala dito." Ly said. "Thank you!"
Lau left and everyone in the table are looking at Den and Ly.
"T-shirt.jpeg." Kief said and laughed. Alyssa glared at him.
"Mads, samahan mo ko ibigay 'to kila Jia ah." Ly said.
"Woooh, change topic pa!" Ara said.
"Kung ako talaga, magagalit ako." Sabi naman ni Kim.
"Ako rin. Pupuntahan ba naman yung ex? Ay naku talaga." Gretch said.
"Tas parang nae-excite pa oh!" Thirdy said. He smiled kasi nakaganti na siya kay Alyssa.
"Ikaw, Bei? May sasabibin ka? Ikaw, Mads? Mika? Ella?" Sabi ni Alyssa dun sa mga hindi nagsalita. Umiling lang sila habang nagpipigil ng tawa. "Thank you ah!" Sabi naman niya dun sa mga madadaldal niyang kaibigan.
"Den, tara." Ly said and stood up.
"Saan?" Den asked.
"Kay Cha." Ly answered and smirked then dragged Den away from that table.
"Wait lang, Ly!" Den said. They stopped. "Akala ko mamaya pa?"
"Para matapos na. Nakakainis sila eh." Ly said and they continued walking.
"Seryoso, Ly? They were just joking!" Den said, pero tuloy lang si Alyssa sa paghila sa kanya. "Ly, ano ba?!"
Ly stopped and let go of Den's hand, "Kasi eh.."
"Ano? Ang arte lang, Alyssa?" Natatawang ssbi ni Den.
"Den naman eh!" Reklamo ni Alyssa and parang batang nag-cross arms pa.
"You know, they've always been like that. Di ka pa ba sanay?" Den said.
"I just don't want them mentioning her name too much. You know, I still remember what she did." Ly honestly said.
"So, you haven't moved on?" Tanong ulit ni Den.
"Ofcourse not! I have, pero hindi naman ganun kadali makalimutan yung lahat ng nangyari, Den." Ly said. "Okay na ko sa kanya. We talk, we interact with each other pero you can't take away the fact na she hurt me and there are just days na andito pa rin yun," She pointed her chest. "Yung pain of losing someone so important nung time na I needed someone to be with me. It still haunts me, Den. And I don't want to always feel that feeling kasi baka umabot ako sa point na pati sayo, pati ikaw, pati yung nararamdaman ko for you, pagdudahan ko na." Ly said, almost crying. And yes, they're having this moment, this drama, under the sun in the school's field. Just like in a movie, or yeah, in a typical wattpad story. Lol.
"Ly, I didn't know. Sorry." Den said and hugged Ly. Gusto man niyang isipin na parang ang OA nila, hindi niya magawa. She understands Alyssa. That feeling of having this doubt on yourself. Na baka may kulang sayo, na baka may kinailangan siya na hindi mo naibigay kaya siya umalis. She knows. Kasi that's what she exactly felt when her ex left her for someone else.
Hinahanap na sila ng mga kaibigan nila kasi magsisimula na yung activity sa gym. They saw the two of them in the middle of the field and magkayakap pa rin.
"What the hell happened?" Kief asked but who would answer, magkakasama lang sila. They just walked to them to find out themselves, what really happened.
"Okay lang kayo, guys?" Kim asked. Mukha namang nagulat yung dalawa. Marami kasing tao sa field pero no one dared to go near them. Yung mga kaibigan lang nila.
They separated from the hug and wiped their tears.
"U-uh, yeah. Okay lang." Ly said. "Magsa-start na ba? Tara." Ly said and naglakad na, leaving Den and their friends there. Sumunod lang si Den sa kanya, without saying anything. And tho, confused, sumunod na lang din sila sa dalawa.
The program started and as usual, upo-upo lang sa gym habang nakikinig sa mga nagsasalita sa unahan. By section yung upo kaya hindi magkasama si Den at Ly. Si Kiefer at Mika yung katabi niya ngayon.
"Ly, okay ka lang ba?" Kief asked, but Alyssa didn't respond. Tulala lang siya.
"Uhm, Ly?" Tawag rin ni Mika sa kanya pero tulala pa rin siya.
Naririnig naman talaga sila ni Alyssa pero ayaw niya muna silang kausap. Tao pa rin naman siya, hindi naman siya anghel na di kayang magalit. Inis pa rin siya sa kanila. Kasi naman, they were too insensitive to joke about Cha tas andun pa si Den. Siguro nga OA siya, but can you blame her? Just like what she told Den, she's fine but that doesn't mean na nakalimutan na niya yung lahat ng nangyari. And the more she gets reminded of it, the more na bumabalik yung pain. She really doesn't wanna talk to them kaya tumayo na lang siya.
"Just call me pag malapit na tayo." Ly told Kiefer. Her stares are so cold that Mika and Kief felt like she was the Alyssa before Den came.
"San pupunta yun?" Ara asked. Mika and Kief nervously shrugged as an answer.
Alyssa walked out of the gym. Bawal talaga lumabas but since kakilala niya yung student na bantay sa gate ng gym, nakalabas siya. Naglakad lang siya, without knowing kung saan siya pupunta, until she reached a 'secret place' in the school. She calls this place her sanctuary aside from the library and the music room, dito rin talaga siya nagpupunta before whenever she wants to be alone. She sat on one of the old swings there na obviously isn't working anymore kasi sobrang kalawang na at sobrang alikabok.
"Really? Why do I have to feel this now? Bakit kung kelan andito na si Den? Kung kelan nililigawan ko na siya? Why do I have to doubt my feelings for her now?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Alyssa, as if may sasagot sa kanya. She sighed and wiped her tears. She's really weak and vulnerable when it comes to the ones she love. And loved. "Am I not allowed to be happy?"
"Ofcourse, you are. You deserve all the happiness you could ever have." Someone spoke from behind her. She turned her head to see who that was, even though she already has a hint. "You still go here pala?"
"Don't you have classes?" Ly said and slightly smiled at Cha. She's the reason kung bakit siya nagkakaganito but what can she do? She needs someone right now and siya yung andito. This won't hurt, she thought to herself.
"Officers are allowed to ditch naman ah?" Cha answered and smiled. "Bat andito ka? May activity kayo sa gym ah?"
"I ditched?" Ly answered and they both chuckled.
"You're gonna perform, you won't do that." Cha said. "And you don't go here naman kapag wala kang problema eh."
"You really know me well, no?" Ly said.
"Two and a half years really helped." Cha said. "And can you please stop giving me questions as your answers. Its annoying."
"And what am I supposed to tell you?" Ly asked again. Cha glared at her. "Okay okay. I don't know if you're the right person to tell this to, though."
"I've got my ears on you, miss president." Cha said.
Ly sighed, "Can we finally talk now, Cha?" She asked and Cha was frozen on her seat. Hindi talaga dapat yun yung sasabihin ni Alyssa but she thought na hindi rin talaga siya fully makakalimot sa ginawa ni Cha if hindi sila nakakapag-usap.
"H-ha? Akala ko may problema ka? I'm here to help. This isn't the time to talk abo--"
"Yun nga yung problema ko, Cha eh." Ly said, cutting her off. This is the time that Cha never wants to see. This is the look of the vulnerable Alyssa and when Alyssa is vulnerable, she says what's inside her. She doesn't filter her words and just say whatever she wants. Sometimes, Cha hates it because she's so honest that it will make you realize how wrong and evil you are as a person. "Yun yung problema ko. Akala ko sure na ko kay Den. Akala ko okay na ko. Akala ko nakalimutan ko na yung ginawa mo. Pero akala ko lang ata lahat. Sure, I'm done with you. I'm over you." This is what Cha means by no filter and honest. "But, hindi naman ganun kadali kalimutan yun eh. Cha, what you did, made me doubt all the other feelings people around me, gives me. It makes me think na the same thing will happen again. It makes me think na everyone has the capability to do what you did. It broke my trust, not only to you, but to everyone around me." Ly sighed. "I'm lucky, Den came into my life. She's the only brave one who broke down my own walls for me. Actually, wala pa nga siyang ginagawa, okay na ko eh. She effortlessly fixed me and I'll be forever thankful for that. Pero, there are just days na I'll doubt my feelings for her and hers for me. The reason why? You." Cha needed to take a deep breath because of that. "You made me doubtful, you made me think na there's something I lack and that something could also be the something that others would look for me, na hindi ko naman mabibigay kaya they would end up being like you and doing what you did. Leave me."
"Alyssa.." Cha can't find the right words to say. She's really sorry but she knows saying sorry would never be enough. "Di ko sinsadya, sorry." She still said it. Ganun naman diba, sorry is always our last recourse. "Sorry, Ly." She'now crying but Alyssa's face is void of any emotions.
"What am I supposed to do, Cha?" Alyssa asked. She's really confused right now. Not of coming back to Cha or not, or choosing Cha or Den. But she's confused if she's ready to be in a relationship again.
"Just, just do what makes you happy. That's all that matters. Do whatever you feel will make you alive again. Be with your happiness, Ly." Cha answered even if it hurts her. She knows that telling Ly to do what makes her happy is equivalent to telling her to be away from her kasi she knows na she will never make Alyssa happy again. Ever. She lost that chance and she's in a world of regret now, but she can't do anything but to accept it. "I'm just gonna be here to support you, Ly. I'm still your number one fan, whatever happens. Or the second biggest, at that." She said, remembering that Den is supposed to be Alyssa's number one fan, now. "Is friendship too much to ask?"
Ly looked at her and smiled, "No, Cha. Not at all. Last hug?" She said. They never really had this closure naman kasi. Cha just left and told Ly na she's tired already. Yun talaga yung reason niya. That time, she feels like she won't be able to help Alyssa or to atleast comfort her when her mom died. She's gone tired fixing Alyssa from all her mess and she just prays that Den won't feel the same. Cha launched herself to Ly and they shared a tight hug. "Thank you, Cha. Thank you so much."
"No, Ly. Thank you." Cha said and tightened her hug to Alyssa. "This means a lot to me. I'll be happy for you from where I am."
After their moment, they stood up and got out of the sanctuary. Cha went back to her classroom and Ly went back to the gym. Nakasalubong naman niya ang dalawang Ravena na hahanapin sana siya kasi magpe-perform na sila.
"Ly! San ka galing?" Kief asked.
"Natulog ako sa music room." She answered.
"Gusto niyo bang marinig ang ating favorite band?" Tanong nung emcee at nagsigawan naman yung mga students.
"Tara na!" Ly said and ran to the stage. Patakbo namang sumunod yung dalawa.
Sinara muna yung kurtina ng stage at umakyat na sila.
"Please welcome, Remnants!" Sabi ulit nung emcee. The curtains opened and hiyawan na naman ang mga estudyante.
"Hi, guys!" Kiefer greeted them.
"Wazzup, Northwood!" Masiglang bati ni Alyssa. Nagtataka man sa pagbabago ng mood niya, hinayaan na lang siya ng band mates niya. "So, isang kanta lang 'to kaya wag kayo maingay ah? Silenceness is next to Godliness." She said and nagtawanan naman ang lahat ng tao sa gym.
"Sira ulo talaga yang jowa mo." Ella said and nudge Den. Den just smiled kasi kahit siya ay nagtataka rin na parang biglang okay na si Alyssa.
🎶The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah
I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again🎶
Kiefer sang solo up to this part tas sinabayan siya ni Alyssa sa chorus.
🎶Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide🎶
Since Den is a 4th year student, their section is sitting at the back. Ly may not have a 20/20 vision anymore, but from up the stage, she saw Den, smiling. She smiled back and pumped her chest three times then pointed in Den's direction. Tilian naman yung mga babae. Yung iba, akala para sa kanila yun, yung iba, tanggap na na wala silang chance kay Ly at kinikilig na sa kanilang dalawa. This is the happiness that Cha is talking about. This is the happiness she deserves. Den is that happiness and she's choosing it. She's choosing Den.
🎶I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide🎶
This time, si Alyssa naman ang nagsolo at sumasabay na sa kanya ang mga schoolmates niya.
🎶Don't stop here
I've lost my place
I'm close behind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide🎶
After they ended, saka nagsigawan yung mga schoolmates nila. Alyssa smiled and that just made the crowd go even crazier kasi her dimples showed.
"Sabi ko, walang maingay eh." Ly said. "Haha. Joke lang. Thank you, guys! You really are the best! I love you, Northwood!"
"Thank you, guys! Thank you, next time ulit!" Kief said. Nagpasalamat lang din sila Gretch then bumaba na sila ng stage.
After the program, uwian na so nagsabay-sabay na sila.
"Dennise!" Ly called. Den stopped so she walked to her. "Sorry. Sabay tayo ah? Kunin ko lang bag ko." She said and ran away from Den to get her bag sa classroom.
And just like that, all the doubts and worry in Den's mind, just faded.
"I'm not even broken, but you never fail to fix me, right there and then, Ly. And I will forever do the same to you. I'll always be here to help fix your own mess." Den thought to herself.
"Uy, besh? Ano na? Iba talaga epekto sayo ni Ly, no?" Ella said and shook her head. "Una na kami ah? Hintayin mo na lang siya diyan."
"Sige, besh. Ingat kayo!" Den said and smiled widely.
"Malala na yan, Den!" Ara said before they actually left. "Haha, ingat kayo!" Den just smiled at her and they left na.
Ly came with her hands at her back.
"Ano yan?" Den asked and tried to look behind Ly but umiwas si Ly. "Ano nga yan?"
"Pikit ka." Utos ni Ly sa kanya.
"Alyssa, isa!" Den said.
"Eh, dali na!" Ly said. "Isa lang, dali. Please?"
"Fine." Den said and closed her eyes.
"Now, open it." Ly said. Den opened her eyes and saw Ly holding three flower origamis. "For you. I'm sorry, I had to let it out kanina." She said and held her nape.
"Ginawa mo 'to?" Den asked while smiling.
"Uh, yeah. Matagal na yan. Iniiwan ko lang sa room." Ly answered.
"Thank you." Den said and hugged her.
"Uh, I think that's too much PDA for today, Den." Ly said and scratched her nape while looking around to see if people are watching them. Luckily, they're all making their way home.
"Haha. I think so too." Den said.
"Siomai?" Ly offered.
"Basta ba, libre mo eh. Why not?" Den answered. Ly smiled and held her hand then they walked palabas ng school.
It can only get tougher, but a whole lot better from here.
~