He Married the Stripper.

Believing in Forever.

---ALEX---

I watched as Ed laughed hysterically after I told him about what happened with Emily. I wasn't planning on telling him everything but he wanted an explanation as to why we want our prenup revised and seeing as he's the one handling all the legal matter; he's the one with the upper hand and being vague was not gonna cut it. I had no choice but to let him know besides there's no use hiding it from him anyway, since apparently he's an honorary squad member and he'll know the truth eventually. Whatever that means. 

"Wow I cannot believe the great Alexander Altamerana III got rejected!" He said as he wiped his tears and tried to calm his laughter. 

"She didn't reject me." I said through clenched teeth. Why was I friends with this jackass again? 

"Dude! You told her you like her and she said she's not ready for a commitment. I call that rejection!" He laughed again. Oh right, coz I don't really have any friends.

"She said---" I shook my head and decided not to keep explaining to him. Para saan pa? Ang mahalaga dito ay yung totoo and that is hindi niya ako ni-reject. She didn't explicitly say she's not ready for a commitment, she just said she doesn't know how she feels yet and would rather we take things slow. I take that as her saying she'll think about it and if she's thinking about it then it already means she likes me enough that she can't say no. Ayaw lang niyang i-admit sa sarili niya but I'm pretty sure she likes me. Gusto lang nya talagang ligawan ko siya since she's a dalagang Pilipina.

"Bro, as someone who'd seen everything and everyone you did. This is downright hilarious. Magaling talaga pumili si Lolo Al, isipin mo nakahanap nga siya ng katapat mo. Honestly I really think si Emily na talagang karma mo, to think she reduced you to a pining lovesick puppy." He started laughing again.

"I'm not pining nor am I lovesick. I told her I like her, that's different from love."

"Uh-huh, keep convincing yourself that. From what I gathered she basically just told you the sex is good but not good enough for a commitment! Normally you're the other one who'd say that to someone and remember what you used to do kapag may nag-sabi sayo na they want to take the relationship to the next level?" I glared at him and went back to my desk.

"You automatically break off whatever relationship you had with them. Pero ikaw, aside for the fact that you told her it's fine that she doesn't like you "now". Sinabi mo sa kanya na you'll make her fall for you?! Sabihin mo nga sakin when was the last time you actually did that?" Naupo siya sa harap ko, still trying to provoke me for a reaction but I decided I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"That's right. Never. Kahit kailan di ka nanligaw. Kahit nga si Lu---" I chucked a stapler at him to stop him from continuing what he was gonna say.

"Jesus!" He said as he caught the stapler before it hit him in the face.

"I sent you the changes we want made and Gigi has the printouts." I told him while he mutters to himself about how I almost killed him.

"Oh yea, I've been meaning to ask, kailan mo hinire si Gigi?" He said as he finally dropped his fascination for my so called "predicament".

"I thought you're part of the squad?" I teased him as I buzzed Gigi in. Hindi siya napansin ni Ed because he was playing with the stress ball I keep on my desk. I should be using it since he's been stressing me out.

"Yea, pero hindi naman sinabi sakin ni Gigi na nag-hahanap sya ng trabaho or that she was even thinking about working as a secretary. Kung alam ko lang edi sana ako nalang nag-hire sa kanya because between the two of us, I actually need a secretary." 

"Hindi ko naman gugustuhing mag-trabaho para sayo no." Gigi told him. He looked up and smiled at her.

"Sinasabi mo lang yan coz you don't know how nice I am to my co-workers." He smiled as Gigi gave him his share of the documents and placed mine on the desk. I looked it over to make sure everything looks good as they continued with their banter. 

Ed suddenly brought up a college friends' wedding and asked if Gigi wants to be his plus one which she promptly declined. 

"Eew, hindi kita type no!" Gigi grimaced at his proposal.

"Hindi rin naman kita type, I'm only asking coz there's this girl I'm desperate to avoid and maybe by bringing a date she'd leave me alone." Ed explained. Oh yea, of course Sue will be there. She's one of Willa's best friend. I'm actually surprised she's not part of the entourage.

"I like drama like any other mosang pero ayoko namang maging wallflower habang ginagawa mo yung groomsman duties mo no. Humanap ka nalang ng iba." 

"Ayoko nga! Who in their right mind looks for a fake date to bring to a wedding? If I do that I'll just look desperate!"

"And you're not desperate now?" 

"We're friends! I don't mind looking desperate in front of you. So???" He asked again wiggling his eyebrows. 

"First of all, hindi tayo friends. Second---" I tuned them out, they can do what they want for that wedding, I don't care.

"Oh wait! What about Emily? Groomsman din si Alex, isasama mo ba siya?" Ed remembered and they both looked at me. So much for it not being my business.

"I didn't ask her." 

"Why not?"

"I don't feel like going all the way to Davao for a wedding."

"What? Why not? The whole barkada's coming and we're all part of the entourage---" 

Oh I have so many reasons; First, Patrick is a friend of Ed, I just became part of their group because Ed always drags me around with him and I guess that meant I was part of their circle. Second, I hate going to weddings. Third, I do not have the time to take a weekend of just to go to a wedding. Fourth, the wedding at a resort in Davao, where the couple had their best memories and promised to be together forever. 

Just like I stupidly did. 

Once upon a time.

"I don't believe in forever but I do believe in you." I told her as we walked away from the loud party by the beach.

She stopped walking and took my hand in hers. I let her guide my hands to where she wanted them for it's rare to see her being sweet and I didn't want to waste the moment by ruining it with my impatience. She held my hand in her cheek and gave it a chaste kiss. I'd rather have her kiss me on the lips but this is nice too.

"Then believe in me. I'll make sure we get to forever." She smiled and with just that I believed her. I believed in the impossible because she said it. I believed everything that came out of those lips. Everything seemed true and possible as long as she was with me.

Who knew forever was so short?

That everything I believed in will come crushing down in a blink of an eye?