Alyssa was discharged of the hospital already. She's now resting pero sa bahay nila. Her dad decided na dito na muna siya since Friday naman nung nakalabas siya at he said na this weekend, dito muna siya. Wala na rin siyang nagawa since daddy niya na ang may sabi.
"Aly, gising ka na ba?" Nanay Elsa asked. Alam kasi niya na maaga na itong magising. Nasanay na rin sa dorm.
"Opo, nay. Pasok po kayo." Ly answered at pumasok nga ang matanda na may dalang pagkain niya. "Ay, dinala niyo pa, nay. Sa baba na lang po sana ako kakain eh."
"Ay, naku hindi. Magpahinga ka lang dito at ako na ang bahala sayo." Sabi naman ni Nanay Elsa. "Kamusta ang pakiramdam mo?"
"Okay lang po ako, nay. Wag na po kayo mag-alala sakin, magaling na po ako." She answered and flexed her muscles na muscles na talaga ngayon.
"Ikaw talagang bata ka!" Nanay Ela said while shaking her head. "Si Dennise, parang hindi pumupunta dito? Nung Biyernes lang ng gabi tas di na bumalik?" Nag-iba naman ang mukha ni Alyssa. Biyernes nga kasi siya nakauwi at Linggo na pero hindi pa ulit bumabalik si Den dito.
"Ah, busy po kasi yun, nay. Graduating na po sila ni Ella, diba." Ly answered.
"Ay, oo nga pala. Oh siya, sige. Tawagin mo na lang ako pag tapos ka na diyan, ha?" Nanay Elsa said.
"Sige po. Thank you, nay!" Ly said. Tumayo na si Nanay Elsa para lumabas but Ly spoke again. "Nay!"
"Oh?"
"I love you." She said and smiled.
Nanay Elsa walked back to her bed and hugged her, "I love you too, nak." She said.
"Oh, nay. Nag-I love you lang po ako. Wag po kayong iiyak!" Biro ni Alyssa.
"Hahaha. Ikaw kasi eh!" Sabi ng matanda at pinahid ang luha niya.
"Sabi ko wag eh!" Ly said and they both chuckled.
"Sige na, sige na. Ubusin mo yan ha." Nanay Elsa said and tuluyan ng lumabas ng kwarto.
Pagkalabas ni Nanay Elsa, nagsimula na siyang kumain pero hindi mawala sa isip niya yung tanong ni Nanay Elsa kung bakit di nagpupunta si Den dito. Ang totoo kasi, magkaaway sila. After kasi nung nagpunta sa ospital ang mga kaibigan nila, nagstay pa ulit siya sa ospital ng isang araw bago nakauwi. Nung Friday na yun, habang nag-aayos ng papers sa paglabas niya ang mga kuya niya, Doc Raf told her to go to his office para makapag-therapy sila. Ginawa nila yun ng isang beses sa room ni Alyssa pero its not as effective daw kasi kapag dun, ang asa isip ni Alyssa is patient siya because she's sick physically pero pag asa office ni Doc Raf, madaling ma-adress na they're treating her OCD. So ayun nga, nag-therapy si Alyssa and halos isang oras din yun. Nung araw na yun din pinaka nagshow yung attacks at mga routines niya. Pero, eto na nga. Lol. Nag-away sila kasi tawag ng tawag si Alyssa kay Den pero hindi siya sinasagot. Hinayaan na lang niya, thinking na she's just busy. Siyempre, graduating nga eh. Sige lang. Ayaw din naman niya magdemand masyado kasi tama si Den. She'll be needing her more sa mga susunod na araw, linggo or buwan because of her OCD. Ayaw niya namang bago dumating yun ay ubos at pagod na si Den. Nakauwi siya ng di man lang nakakausap si Den. Pero she texted her kasi baka pumunta pa sa ospital eh asa bahay na nga siya. Tumawag ulit siya pero wala pa rin. Nag-scroll siya sa Instagram and saw a post from one of LA's friends. Its his birthday pala nung Friday and Den was with him kaya siguro hindi siya masagot sa tawag. Okay, sige. He's her boyfriend, after all. But what really made Alyssa mad is when Den came, drunk. She even lied to her and told her na classmates niya ang kasama niya. Nainis lang si Ly na makitang lasing si Den tas nagsinungaling pa. Bumalik naman talaga si Den dito nung Sabado ng umaga pero ayaw naman siya kausapin ni Alyssa kaya ayun di na nagtry ulit.
(Haba ng chika ko, no? Lol.)
"Ate! Uy, ate!" Kian called her.
"H-ha? Bakit? Kanina ka pa diyan?" Ly said.
"Oo. Bat ka kasi tulala?" He said. "May nagpadala daw sayo nito." He said and handed a package to his sister. "Sige, ate. Kain lang ako sa baba."
"Sige. Thank you!" She said and he left na.
Napangiti naman siya nung binuksan niya yun at nakita yung note that said:
I'm sorry, babe. Bawi po ako sayo.
/IE/
Napaisip pa siya kung ano yung IE but then she got a text from Den.
From: Babe
Sorry, Phenom. 😭
She said and dun niya lang narealize na yung IE pala ay Iron Eagle. She smiled and typed a reply.
To: Babe
Ganan ba magsorry ang Iron Eagle? Get your ass up and go here, woman! 😏
From: Babe
YOU get your ass up and open your damn door, woman! 🙄
Alyssa jumped off her bed and opened the door. A huge smile plastered on her face when she saw Den standing outside.
"I missed you!" She said and hugged Den.
Den hugged her back, "I'm sorry."
Ly separated from the hug, "What's inside that package will define if the sorries are valid." She joked.
"Place your bet." Den confidently said as they went inside Alyssa's room.
They sat on Ly's bed as she opens the package. Her eyes grew wide when she saw what it is.
"Babe?" Ly said, her eyes glistening in happiness.
"Happy monthsary, babe!" Den said and smiled at her.
"Gosh, babe! Thank you so much! Happy monthsary!" Ly said and hugged Den and kissed her on the forehead.
"Ano? Lets try it out?" Den said.
"God, I think I'm gonna start vlogging na!" Ly said and they both laughed.
Well, Den got her a new camera kasi. She's been saying na gusto niya yung camera na yun kaso hindi siya nagkaka-time umalis kaya di niya nabibili. Oh well, papel. Dennise Lazaro ha her ways. Ganito naman sila eh. It doesn't matter kung sino makakaalala ng monthsary nila. If its Ly and she wants to give Den something, then she will. If its Den, edi she'll do the same. But most of the time, wala. Haha. Batian and cuddle is enough for them.
"Tingin ako!" Den said and Ly showed her the photos she took. "Alam mo, you really have a future with this." She said.
"Still needs to practice more though." Ly said.
"Ang galing lang, no? You can pursue a lot of careers in the future. You can be a singer, a professional volleyball player, you can be a photographer or as you said it, a vlogger." Den said. "And oh, you can also be an artist! You draw and paint so good! You can build a museum, kayo ni Rex!"
"That's if the OCD won't crash all those dreams. Or else, wala akong magagawa kahit isa dun. I'll just stay here in my room for the rest of my fucking boring life!" Ly sadly said.
"Shh. Kaya nga nagthe-therapy ka na ngayon, diba? I'm sure Doc Raf knows what to do." Den said and smiled.
As of now, hindi pa masyadong nagsho-show yung OCD kasi nga may therapy. But, Doc Raf told Den already na OCD the second time around is more dangerous. In Alyssa's case, she's more likely to experience sever attacks kasi she's done a lot in her life. The life she had after the OCD temporarily left her was a very busy one and Doc Raf said that she might've developed new fear for Alyssa. Hindi niya yun sinabi kay Alyssa kasi he knows she's gonna panick so he left Den with it. Si Den na lang din nagsabi sa family ni Alyssa.
"Well, yeah. I have the best doctor in the world so I guess, I don't have to worry." Ly said. "Ako naman picturan mo! Pagandahan tayo ng kuha!" She said and gave Den the camera tas nagpose na.
Natigil lang sila sa pagpipicture when the door opened and Nanay Elsa went in to get yung pinagkainan ni Alyssa. Paglabas ni Nanay Elsa, Den got a call naman from Ella.
"Besh, why?" Den said.
"Where are you, besh? Sir Ricky needs to talk to us daw." Ella answered.
"I'm here kila Ly eh. Bakit daw ba?"
"I don't know too. Baka sa playing year? Pero, ewan. Basta punta daw tayo sa office eh."
"Uhm, sige. Punta na ko. Bye." Den said and ended the call.
"You're leaving?" Ly sadly asked. She heard naman what Ella said.
"I'll be back na lang if I still can." Den said. "Sorry, babe. Kahapon pa kasi sinabi samin ni Sir Ricky 'to eh." She said.
"Its okay. Just call na lang if andun ka na." Ly said and hugged Den. "Take care." She said. Its not as if sa malayo pupunta si Den, but naputol kasi yung bonding nila kaya ganun.
Den left and Alyssa just stayed inside her room, taking pictures of random things inside. She went down and washed her hands kasi she felt na madumi yun from holding the camera for so long. She wants to resist it but the thought that germs are creeping inside her skin, scares her a lot. She sighed after washing her hands for the 8th time.
"Okay ka lang?" She was surprised to see Nicko behind her.
"Y-yeah. Kanina ka pa diyan?" She asked.
"Nope. Andito daw si Den kanina?" He asked back.
"Yeah. But she left na kasi she needs to talk to Sir Ricky daw." She answered.
"Ah. How are you feeling?" Nicko asked again.
"Fine. I feel fine." Ly answered. "Sige, kuya. Taas lang ako." She said. Nicko just nodded at her then she went to her room na.
When she got to her room, she got her phone from under her pillows. She saw a message from an unknown Facebook profile so she opened it.
Andrea Nicolas
Hi, Alyssa! 😁
She didn't know who that woman was so hindi na dapat siya magrereply but she sent a message again.
Andrea Nicolas
Hello, anak.
Her eyes grew wide when she saw that message. She knows that a lot of people can do that nowsadays, na kahit di naman nila alam na ampon siya ay pwedeng may magbiro sa kanya nun. She's received a lot of random messages from her fans also since she started playing in the UAAP and hindi malayo na nantitrip lang din 'to. She left the woman on seen again kasi di niya naman alam ang sasabihin niya, but she sent a message again.
Andrea Nicolas
Anak, ako 'to ang mama mo. Sorry kung iniwan kita dati sa ampunan sa Baguio pero andito na ako ngayon. Andito na si mama. Gusto kitang makita, Jane.
Halos maibato niya ang cellphone niya nung mabasa niya yun. She knows her story, the Baguio thing. She even called her with a different name, which probably is what she named her.
"What the hell?" She said. She went out of her room and profusely knocked on her dad's room. "Daddy! Daddy!" She called as she keeps on knocking. "Dad, open up! Please!"
"Anong problema, Aly?" Nanay Elsa asked. Alyssa didn't answer and just continued to knock.
"What's the matter, Ly?" Ruel worriedly asked.
"Dad, no! Ayoko." Ly said and hugged him.
"What do you mean?" He asked. "Hey hey. Shh, ano ba yun?" Andito na rin sa may pinto ang mga kapatid niya.
"Ayoko, dad. Hindi ako sasama sa kanya." Ly said. She's crying and her phone dropped on the floor.
Nicko picked it up and he was also as surprised as Alyssa is to see what's on it.
"Dad.." He said.
"Ano ba yan?" Ruel asked. Nicko gave him the phone so he slowly separated from Alyssa to see it. "Shit." He said.
"Ano yun, dad?" Paulo asked.
"Ruel, ano ba yan?" Kinakabahang tanong na rin ni Nanay Elsa.
"Daddy, no. Ayokong sumama sa kanya. Hindi naman siya ang mommy ko! Si mommy lang ang mommy ko!" Ly said. She knows she told Den she'll be fine to see her real parents but she didn't know it will make her feel this way.
"Hindi, anak. Hindi ka sasama sa kanila. Hindi kami papayag." Ruel said and hugged her tightly.
He led her to her room and stayed there until she feel asleep.
"Nay, natatakot ho ako." Ruel confessed to Nanay Elsa. Tatay Max is also here with them in the living room.
"Wala ka namang dapat ikatakot, Ruel. Legal niyong inampon si Alyssa at wala silang magagawa kung ayaw niyang sumama sa kanila." Nanay Elsa said.
"Tama, Ruel. Base sa inakto niya kanina, mukha namang ayaw talaga ni Alyssa na mahiwalay sa inyo, sa atin. Siguro ay kung dumating man ang araw na nandito ang mga magulang niya ay wala namang masama na hayaan natin silang makita o makasama siya. Yun ay kung gusto ni Alyssa." Sabi naman ni Tatay Max.
"Paano ho kung dumating ang panahon na gustuhin ng sumama ni Alyssa sa kanila? Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Ayokong madisappoint si Lita. I promised her that I'll take good care of our children." Ruel said, he's evidently sad.
"Ginagawa mo naman yun. Hindi mo dini-disappoint si Lita at hindi mo siya madi-disappoint. Alam niyang gingawa mo ang lahat para maging maayos ang mga anak niyo. Tsaka, hindi ka niya pababayaan. Sasamahan at gagabayan ka niya." Nanay Elsa said. She's also sad and worried but she has to show him that they're here for him, for them.
+++++
Its been a week since Alyssa got that message. Hindi na siya nagreply at hindi na rin naman nagmessage ulit. Hindi niya muna sinabi kay Den kasi ayaw niya namang dumagdag pa yun sa iisipin niya since busy nga siamya dahil graduating. Isa pa, naghahanap na rin siya ng med school na pwedw niyang pasukan kasi magtutuloy na agad siya pagka-graduate niya. Pumapasok na rin ulit si Alyssa pero kagaya ng sabi ni Doc Raf, bawal muna siya magtraining. Si Den naman, nagtetraining pa rin kasi nga may tournament silang nilalaruan. Nagtatanong na nga yung mga fans kung bakit wala si Alyssa. Hindi rin kasi siya pinapayagang manood ng games kasi lalo lang daw magtatanong ang mga tao kung bakit hindi siya naglalaro eh okay naman siya. Ang idinahilan na lang nilaa ay yung over-fatigue niya.
"Kief, samahan mo ko sa arena." Ly said. They're in Alyssa's house. Saturday kasi ngayon. Tsaka, she's been staying here na rin since hindi nga siya nagtetraining.
"Baliw ka ba. Edi ako naman napahaamak." Kief said. "Sa TV ka na lang manood."
"Eh, miss ko na sila. Tsaka, di ko nakikita si Den. Nung Thursday pa." She said.
"Luh? Kami nga ni Mika minsan 2 weeks di nagkikita eh." He said and sat on Alyssa's swivel chair.
"Sige. Kay Jovee na lang ako magpapas--" She stopped kasi they heard a car honk outside. She smiled. "Pag sinusuwerte ka nga naman, oo!"
"Hindi ka sasamahan niyan." Kief said as Ly makes her way down.
"Hi, Jov!" She said and opened the gate for him.
"Good mood ka ata?" Jovee asked as he watch Alyssa wash her hands from the faucet just beside the gate.
"Hindi naman." She said and smiled. They went in but Ly walked back to the gate to check if she locked it. Its showing.
"Okay na?" Jovee asked. Just like Den, he's also been very understanding of Alyssa's situation.
"Yeah. Tara sa loob." She said but she took one last glance at the gate, just to make sure. "Bat ka andito pala?"
"Wala lang. Nagpaalam naman ako kay Den. Pumayag siya kasi andito daw si Kief. San siya?" Jovee said.
"Asa kwarto" Ly said. "Uhm, Jov, pwede favor?" She said and smiled at him.
"Sabi ko na eh." Jovee said. "Ano ba yun?"
"Samahan mo ko manood ng game." Ly said, still with that smile on her face.
Napatayo si Jovee from the couch, "What?! Ay, OA." He said and naupo ulit. Ly shook her head. "Alam mo namang bawal, diba?"
"Eh bakit ba kasi bawal? Team mates ko naman sila ah? Captain pa nila ako tas lagi akong wala dun?" Reklamo ni Alyssa.
"Eh bawal nga daw, diba. Kulit mo naman eh." Kief said habang pababa ng hagdan.
"Eh bakit nga?" Ly asked again.
"Kasi pag nagpunta ka dun, makikita ka ng mga tao tsaka mga reporters. Tatanungin ka lang nila ng tatanungin kung bakit ka wala." Jovee answered.
"Edi, sasagutin ko. Yun lang pala eh." She said. Napailing na lang yung dalawa sa kanila. "Or baka naman ayaw lang nila malaman ng lahat yung totoong dahilan? Ano, ganito na yun? Di na ko makakalaro ulit beacause I'm sick? Sabagay, who would want someone sick in the head nga naman sa team nila, diba? I'd just be a burden to them." She said and glared at them.
"Can you stop?!" That's obviously, Kiefer. Jovee would never shout at her.
"Stop? Bakit? Kasi yun yung totoo?" Ly said. "Siguro, they're already talking about how they can get rid of me! Kung anong dahilan ang paniniwalaan ng mga tao kapag wala na ako! Kasi, yun naman talaga ang dapat eh! Dapat wala na ko sa team, dapat tanggalin na nila ako. Kasi, I'm just a burden! I'm just gonna make things difficult for them!" She said and swatted the shelf which made everything on top of it, fall.
"Ly, ano ba. Stop, hindi yan totoo." Jovee said and hugged her from the back. "Hindi yan totoo."
"Ano, Kief? Di ka nagsasalita kasi toto--"
"Oo!" Sigaw ulit ni Kiefer. "Yun yung totoo kasi narinig ko! I heard them talking kung paano ka nila tatanggalin sa team. Narinig ko sila Alyssa, ako mismo. And sa tingin mo ba, ganun kadali yun for me? To witness how my bestfriend's dreams shatter just by hearing their words? Ly, its also hard for me." He said and sighed. "Ayaw ko lang na mas ma-attach ka sa kanila kasi sooner or later, you'll be out of the team. Kaya please, Ly. Dito ka na lang."
Jovee let go of Alyssa and guided her to sit on the couch. She's now crying. She feels like her life is slowly crumbling down right infront of her. Parang halos lahat na lang ng masamang pwede mangyari, nangyayari sa kanya ngayon.
"Shh, tahan na, Ly. Please." Jovee said.
"Ly, wag ka na umiyak. Okay lang naman kahit di ka na part ng team eh. Dito na lang tayo lalaro sa inyo." Kief said, trying to make the atmosphere lighter.
They heard knocks on the door. Kief stood up to open it. Den and Ella, standing outside.
"Si Ly?" Den asked. Kief just pointed inside where Alyssa is sitting on the couch while leaning her head on Jovee's shoulder. "What happened?" She asked kasi nakita niya rin yung mga nakakalat na gamit.
"A lot." Kief answered.
"Ehem." Den cleared her throat.
"Ah, Den, ano. I just--"
"I just--just." Asar ni Ella kay Jovee. "Halatang nagsisinungaling eh!"
"Uy, hindi. Ano lang, Ly needed that." Jovee said and stood up tas hinayaang si Den ang tumabi kay Alyssa.
"Hi, congrats!" Ly said and smiled pero kita mo na galing iyak siya.
"Thanks, but we lost eh." Den said and chuckled. "Sabi mo, manonod ka sa TV? What happened?"
"Sorry, babe." Ly said.
"Ano ngang nangyari?" Den asked again.
"Uhaw ka, Ells? Ano? Dun sa kusina maraming Yakult si Ly, tara!" Kief said and pushed Ella papunta sa kusina nila Alyssa. Sumunod na din si Jovee sa kanila.
"Ano nga?" Tanong na naman ni Den.
Ly sighed. Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin niya kay Den. Sasabihin niya ba yung about sa nagmessage sa kanya or yung about sa OCD niya at sa team. She's thinking and di man lang niya namalayan na umiiyak na pala siya.
"Babe, ano bang nangyayari? Bat ka umiiyak? Babe, please naman oh. Magsalita ka na." Den pleaded. Pumasok sa bahay si Nanay Elsa at Tatay Max pero hindi na sila nakialam sa dalawa at dumiretso na lang sa kusina. "Babe, please.." Halos maiyak na rin si Den kasi hindi niya alam kung anong nangyayari.
"B-babe, s-sorry." Ly said.
"Bakita ka ba sorry ng sorry? What happened?" Den asked. "What's the problem?"
"Me!" Ly said. "I'm the problem, Den! I make things complicated for all of us!" She said as she cry.
"Babe, no. What do you mean? Hindi yun ganun. Alam mong hindi totoo yan." Den said as she hugs Alyssa who keeps on resisting from her hug.
This is one thing that Doc Raf told her. Alyssa's thoughts wouldn't be as threatening as they are for Alyssa, before. But every single fear, every single intrusive thought would lead to compulsions and since she's been here before, washing of hands, counting or repeating her words don't work as much anymore. She would want to hurt herself, thinking that the problem is her. That, all these things are happening to her. Normal thinking of a normal person, right? Self-blaming, yes? Happens to everyone. Completely normal. NO. From the very start, Doc Raf told them na Alyssa's OCD occured kasi mahina ang loob niya. Natatalo siya ng mga iniisip niya at hindi niya alam kung paano patitigilin o lalabanan man lang ang mga yun. Lahat naman tayo dumadaan sa ganun pero hindi ganun kahina ang loob ng iba para mag-isip ng kung anu-ano. But, Alyssa? Well, this.
"No, Den! Its true! Kung hindi yun totoo, they wouldn't have taken me out of the team!" Ly said. She pushed Den tinalsik yung mga throw pillow na ass couch nila.
"What did you say?" Den asked.
"They want me out of the team because of this fucking OCD! Kiefer heard them talking about how they can get rid of me! They want me out, Den. Ayaw na nila sakin." Ly said.
Den stood up from the couch and hugged Alyssa just like what Jovee did, "Babe, no. No, please stop. I love you, okay? I love you." She said and kissed Ly's temple. That calmed her. "Now, breathe. Take a deep breath, babe. I'm here for you, okay? Calm down." She said as she slowly guides Alyssa to sit.
"Babe, I wanna play." Ly said and Den's heart broke, seeing Ly like this.
"We'll talk to them, okay? Akong bahala." Den said. "Shh, tahan na. You'll be fine." She said and leaned Alyssa's head on her shoulder as she slowly soothes her back.
"Babe, I have one more thing to tell you." Ly said.
"Go, on. What is it?" Den said.
Ly picked her phone up from the floor and showed Den the message she got from last week.
"Alam ba nila tito 'to?" Den asked. Alyssa nodded. "Bat ngayon mo lang sinabi sakin?"
"Kasi, I know busy ka. I just don't want na makadagdag pa sa mga iniisip mo. Sorry." Ly said and looked down.
"You're never an extra baggage, okay? You know you'll always be at the top of the list. Always. You should've told me. Kaya pala you seem off this past week. Dahil pala dito." Den said. "What's your plan?"
Ly shook her head, "Ayoko, babe. I know I told you itd fine if they wanna see me, but, no. The way the message was written, it seems like they wanna get me away from here. Ayoko, babe. Ayokong sumama sa kanya."
"Okay, okay. Hindi na. Dito ka lang. Walang aalis." Den said and hugged her. "Hindi ka namin ibibigay sa kanila."
"Promise?" Ly asked.
"Promise." Den answered.
"I love you." Ly said.
"I love you more." Den said and hugged Ly tighter.
Den means it. She loves Alyssa more on moments like this. On moments that she feels she should be loved a little less, Den always makes her feel the opposite.
~
AGAIN, FANFIC LANG PO ITO. IMBENTO KO LANG LAHAT YAN HEHEHE. THANK YOU!