Dennise sighed loudly.
Nakapagpaliwanag na siya kay Alyssa. Ly looks like she believe in Den naman, pero she told Den she'll just gather her thoughts.
Dennise gave her the space she needs. So ngayon, nasa grocery si Den, namimili na lang ng stock nila.
"Umay sayo, besh," sabi ni Ella at nilagay yung kinuha nitong isang box ng Chuckie sa cart, "ano ka ba, masyado kang worried dyan."
"Hindi pa niya ako tinetext," Den said, "1 hour na."
"E kung ibato ko sayo tong hawak ko?" Ella said, "ang clingy mo bading ka. Tsaka give her time, teh isang oras pa lang since nangyari 'yon, baka nakikipag-away pa si Alyssa sa sarili niya."
"What if this will turn out negatively? Sobrang frustrated ni Ly kagabi, even in her sleep parang worried siya, tapos nadagdagan pa nito. Natatakot lang ako, as much as possible, ayaw kong dumagdag sa iisipin niya."
Ella sighed, naiintindihan din naman niya si Den, "just trust her, besh. I'm sure Alyssa learned naman na sa dami ng pinagdaanan niyong dalawa. By now, she already know that it should be you and her against the problem, not you against her. Bigyan mo lang ng time yung jowa mo magselos at marealize na if you're going to leave her for another person, you already should have when things went rough. Just make sure to give reassurance when she's ready to talk."
Napangiti si Den because of what she heard from Ella.
"Noted, besh, no. Pero grabe, mas gumaling ka ata mag-advice? Epekto ba yan ni--"
"Sige ituloy mo yan at ibabato ko sayo tong manok," Ella said, cutting off Den before she drops any name at may iba pang makarinig.
"Defensive!!" Natatawang sabi ni Den, "just make it official na kasi."
"Ba't ka ba nagmamadali? Kami nga hindi e," Ella answered.
Den shrugged, "worried ka ba sa sasabihin ng iba?"
Ella shook her head, "no. Wala naman akong pakialam on what they're going to say about me, I just don't want her to get attacked na naman. And, let's say maging official na, I'd prefer to stay lowkey if that means protecting her."
"My God, gusto ko tumili pero nakakahiya," sabi ni Den at hinampas na lang si Ella, "sige. Kung saan kayo masaya. But I hope you already learned something sa nangyari sa amin ni Ly."
"I'm dumb pag ginaya ko kayo no," Ella said, "pero seryoso besh, siguro hindi rin talaga mangyayari, kasi out naman siya, and the fans became accepting na rin. Ibang-iba sa dati. Naisip ko nga what if you and Ly started sa gantong panahon na the fans are open minded na, siguro you won't have to go all through that.. the hiding and all."
Den found herself nodding, "may point. But honestly besh, what me and Ly went through just made me realize kasi how much I'm willing to give my all para sa isang tao. I mean, I didn't expect na tatagal kami ni Ly, ako, sa ganoong setup but we did, and that almost breakup di ba? Siguro nasabihan mo na ako ng tanga sa utak mo ng maraming beses, but I'm glad I still chose Alyssa over anything that happened.
Maybe other people would say I should've ran away and saved myself from the misery if they knew what was going on, maybe I would've considered it. But right now, thinking of it, I think I'd be in much more misery, thinking of what ifs. I'm glad I stayed," Denden said with a smile on her face.
"Anong pinakain sayo ni Alyssa when we were in college at mahal na mahal mo 'yun?" Ella joked.
"C'mon besh, who wouldn't fall in love hard kay Alyssa? Swerte nga ako at sa akin tumibok ang puso."
Ella laughed out loud, "isa pa si Ly, lakas ng tama sayo. Mag-jowa nga kayo."
"Do you think it's alright if I propose?" biglang tanong ni Den na ikinalaki ng mata ni Ella.
"Hoyyyyyy besh?!" Ella said, "teka nga! Magbayad muna tayo tas sa kainan tayo magkwentuhan, feeling ko magugutom ako dyan sa chika mo."
After nila makapagbayad, they settled in the nearest restaurant.
"So, ano? Matagal mo na bang iniisip 'yan? Nakabili ka na ba ng singsing? BAKIT HINDI KO ALAM?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Ella. Tawang-tawa naman si Den.
"Gusto ko yung nagpapanic ka na. Wala pang singsing, besh, okay? But I'm having this thought for quite a while na. Tingin mo, ready na si Alyssa?"
"WOW, hindi pa ba siya magiging ready sa lagay na yan?!" react ni Ella, "char. Pero from your bestfriend's point of view, tingin ko naman she's ready to settle down na. Who knows baka Alyssa's planning to propose na rin pala. I hope sabay kayo magpropose HAHAHAHAHAHA"
"What if ako yung hindi ready?"
"Gaga ka ba?" Ella asked that made Den laugh out loud, "sa litanya mo kanina kulang na lang dalhin mo si Alyssa sa altar e."
Den sighed, she checked her phone and still no message from Ly. If she'd count the hours, which she already did, it's been 4 hours na. Nag-iwan naman siya ng lunch ni Ly.
Nagtagal pa sila ni Ella until before dinner sa mall, sa dami ng kwento nilang dalawa, nabitin pa sila sa oras. Den messaged Ly if she can help her na bitbitin yung groceries from parking to unit nila, to which Alyssa replied immediately and answered yes.
Nagulat pa si Den when she saw Alyssa waiting sa parking spot niya.
When Alyssa saw her, kumaway ito habang nakangiti. That made Den feel relieved.
"Hi," Alyssa said when she opened the door of the driver's seat para pagbuksan si Den, "did you have fun?"
Den nodded, "but it would be more fun if kasama ka."
Alyssa only smiled and kinuha na yung mga groceries sa likod ng car, "have you eaten?" Alyssa asked while they're on the elevator.
"Nope. I wanted to eat dinner with you sana," sagot ni Den.
"Saktooo," Alyssa said as she open the door, Den gasped when she saw Alyssa set up a candlelit dinner. She felt Alyssa's hand around her waist, "sorry for what I acted kaninang morning. Nagselos kasi ako agad, babe," nahihiyang pag-amin ni Alyssa.
Den giggled and tucked some of Alyssa's hair behind her ear.
"Pero I didn't doubt you and your love for me ha? I just got jealous kasi buti pa kayo ni Nadine pwede mag-PDA," Alyssa pouts.
"'Yun talaga, babe? Baliw ka," Den said while laughing, "and that was not PDA nga sabi. She just helped me get rid no'ng ant sa mata ko. Pag tayong dalawa yung nakuhanan ng picture sa future, I hope we're kissing sa time na yon."
"Wow brave," Alyssa said with a smile on her face and hugged Den, "I found the time to be alone with my thoughts kaya nakapag-isip isip ako... Thank you babe for being so understanding."
Den hugged Alyssa back, "how are you feeling, love?"
"I realized..." Alyssa paused to look at Den, "na why should I worry about it when it's not even true. Na why should I be affected of it, or be scared of it, when I know I have you and all the people who believes in me and accepts me for who I am?
I've been hiding for a long time, I had to hide you for a long time just because I'm too coward to face what other people would say. And honestly, fuck it. Fuck what other people will think or say, and that baseless accusation against me. Bahala sila sa buhay nila. As long as I know who I am, what my intentions and principles are, and as long as I have you, I don't really care."
Denden looked at Alyssa, proud of the woman standing in front of her.
"That's my girl," Denden said. She tiptoed and kissed Alyssa lovingly on the lips, "I love you. Marry me?"
