Countdown to Forever

Chapter 48: I Thought

"Babe, I can't go to Palawan next week." Den told LA.

"Huh? Bakit naman?" LA asked Den.

"You know my application sa CV Hospital? Tanggap na ako! I can start daw March 24. I can't say no. Magpapalakas pa ako to become a regular." Den explained.

Kanina niya lang nareceive ang letter ng CV Hospital na natanggap daw siya.

"Then let's celebrate?" LA said.

"You know you can't. Babalik ka pa ng Palawan ngayon." Sabi ni Den.

Madalas ay pabalik-balik si LA from Palawan to Manila and vice-versa. Kailangan kasi talaga siya ni Mrs. Lazaro for some meetings. Siya na kasi ang pinagkakatiwalaan nito since Den doesn't want to handle their business.

"Damn! I won't be there sa unang araw ng pasok mo. Sorry, babe." LA asked.

"Okay lang yun."

"That's not okay, babe. Babawi ako sa'yo pagbalik ko. Promise." LA said.

"Sige na. Ma-late ka pa sa flight mo." Sabi ni Den.

LA left Den after he kissed her cheeks. Cheeks lang muna.

Den called Ella to inform her na may trabaho na siya.

"Besh, accepted na ako sa CV." Sabi ni Den.

"Oh? Congratulations!"

"Thanks. Hindi nga lang ako makakasama sa Palawan."

"Yan ba talaga ang rason o dahil sasama si Alyssa at yung girlfriend niya?" Ella asked.

"No. I'd be starting to work that day so I can't go. Besh, move on na sa topic na yan. I miss you." Den said. Na-miss na niya si Ella. Medyo nagkailangan ulit sila dahil dun sa huling pag-uusap nila.

Isa na sa rason na sasama si Alyssa at saka ang girlfriend niya kaya ayaw na din magpakita ni Den sa Palawan kahit anak naman siya nung nagpaparty. Buti na lang dumating yung letter kanina at may mararason na siya. She loves LA pero may something pa rin si Ly sa puso niya. Siguro first love nita ito kaya ganun.

"Okay okay. I miss you too, besh! Kasi naman eh! Best friends ko kayong dalawa. Wala akong kinakampihan kasi alam ko yung side niyo pareho pero basta! Ang gulo niyo!" Ella said.

"Hehehehe. I know you love us. We love you too kaya you're stuck up with the two of us." Den said.

"You know what? Meant to be talaga kayo!" Ella said.

"Ha? Pinagsasabi mo?" Den asked.

"Ganyan din yung sinabi niya sa akin nung nagreklamo ako sa kanya kanina about missing you!" Ella said.

"Kanina? Magkasama kayo ngayon?" Den asked.

"Yes. We're in a bar. Lakas pa rin nun sa girls! Grabe!" Ella said.

"What? Anong ginagawa nila?" Den asked.

"Wala, lalapit tapos magpapapicture. Buti na lang hindi selosa si Rad." Ella said.

"Nagpapapicture lang pala. Anong nakakaselos dun?" Den asked. Wala naman di ba?

"Not when Alyssa's only wearing her famous black sando. Dinidikit pa kaya ng girls yung hinaharap nila!" Ella said at halatang nandidiri ito.

"WHAT?!" Den shouted.

"Makareact ka naman! Kunwari di ko narinig. Sige bye na. Mukhang nagselos na ata si Rad. Hinatak na si Ly palabas eh. Bye, besh! Congrats ulit!" Ella said and then hung up.

"Nagseselos siya. Yiiiie." Sabi ng boses sa utak ni Den.

"And you're back. Bakit ba pasulpot-sulpot ka?" Den asked herself. Mukha man siyang ewan ay kinausap na lang niya ang boses sa isip niya.

"Nagpaparamdam lang ako pag nalilito ka." The voice said like it was an obvious thing.

"I'm not confused or what." Den said.

"You are, deny pa more. Anyway, just want to tell you one thing. You need to let go the other person para maging totoong masaya ka. It's either the person you love or the person who loves you. Mahal ka naman nung isa kaya lang...anyway, bye. My time is up." The voice said and then faded away.

"You just made me more confused!" Den shouted.

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"How are you, babe?" Rad asked Alyssa. Hindi ito nakasama sa Palawan dahil maaga siya niluklok as the CEO of the company. She was frustrated. Kung kailan nagpaplano na siya bawiin si Den saka naman umekstra ang magaling niyang kuya para sabihin na kailangan na niyang magtrabaho immediately. Sayang opportunity para mapalapit ulit kay Den. Wala pa naman siya plano talaga pero gusto niya lang talaga makita si Den dahil miss na miss na niya ito ng sobra.

On the other hand, Rad joined Alyssa's friends. Gusto daw siyang maging kaclose ng mag ito. She was looking for Den. Gusto niya makita ito pero she got no chance nung nasa New York pa siya, wala namang dalang picture si Ly doon e.

"This is kinda frustrating! Puro paperworks agad dito!" Alyssa complained. Medyo naninibago pa kasi siya.

"Happy Anniversary pala sa inyo!" Sabi ni Rad. Inaasar si Ly.

"Fuck you!" Alyssa said. Halata dito na inis na talaga siya.

"HAHAHAHAHA. I love you too. Bye na!" Rad ended the call.

Alyssa just continued signing some papers. Someone knocked on the door so she just told that person to open it. Una, tinatamad siya. Pangalawa, nasaan ang secretary niya? Pangatlo, marami siyang ginagawa.

"Ma'am, meeting na po with the new biologists."

"Where's my secretary?" She asked.

"She just went to the cr po." The girl said. Eto yung kaibigan ng secretary niya.

"Wag ka ngang conyo." Alyssa said. Mataray na talaga siya sa ibang tao since 5 years ago. Wala lang. Trip niya nang magtaray.

"Sorry po, ma'am."

"Tss. You may go." Alyssa said at saka nag-ayos.

Nagpsych ako for myself. Not for this! She said talking about all of the papers on her table.

Busy siya sa pag-aayos ng suit niya habang papasok ng meeting. Tumahimik naman ang room nang makita siya. She went straight to her seat nang hindi man lang tinitigan ang mga tao sa kwartong iyon.

When she was finally seated, she looked at them. She was shocked.

TANGINA BA'T ANDITO SIYA?

There was sitting her other half. Her big eyes ay mas lalong lumaki. Contrary to Alyssa, hindi kasi siya nagpakita ng emosyon. Nakabawi na agad siya sa pagkagulat.

Nagsalita naman ang tatlo pang biologists at nagpakilala. She doesn't remember anything. Ang alam niya lang ay nandun si Den sa harap niya at nakayuko lang ito.

Nung siya na ang magpapakilala ay tumingin ito kay Alyssa.

"Good morning. I-I'm Dennise Lazaro." Sabi ni zden nang medyo nauutal.

Shit! Ikaw yung boss namin? I'm not prepared!

"Akala ko Valdez apelyido mo." Alyssa said. That made Den's jaw dropped. Isama na rin yung sa mga kasama nilang iba.

What the fuck? Den asked herself.

Alyssa just stood there. She was grinning.