Exhausted from their last game this conference, Den entered the dugout with her head down. Not until she saw Alyssa waiting for her, with a smile on her wife's face.
"Hey," Alyssa said softly as Den approach her with a hug, Alyssa hugged Den tight while she stroke Den's back. Den didn't say anything, she just let herself rest in Alyssa's arms.
They stayed in that position until Den get herself up para maligo so they can go home.
Pasulyap sulyap lang si Alyssa kay Den na tahimik lang while they're taking the road home, she reached out to Den's hand which the latter held it back.
"Love, do you want to rest na or can we go somewhere else?" Alyssa asked.
"Where, babe?" Den asked her.
"Sa dati, tagaytay?" Alyssa asked with a smile. Den smiled a little and nodded.
Minutes later, nakatulog na si Den sa biyahe. Alyssa reclined Den's seat when they made a stop sa gasoline station sa SLEX. Bumili rin si Ly ng coffee for the both of them. Ginising na lang niya si Den when they already arrived sa Bulalo place na lagi nilang kinakainan.
"I missed this, tagal din nating di nakabalik," sabi ni Den when they sat at their usual spot.
"For some reason, feeling ko nangyari na 'to," sabi naman ni Alyssa, "but yeah, the last time we went here ata was when we're still not out."
Den nodded, "one of our escapes. Thank you love."
"For what?" Alyssa asked.
"You really just know it when I needed things like this the most," Den said and sighed, "today was tiring but I know I did my best."
"You did, love, this whole conference, you did your very best, and I'm very proud of you," Alyssa said, "baka naman pwedeng next year, ice cream girl ka na rin?"
Den chuckled, "what if ikaw na lang maging ube girl?"
"Ooopss," Alyssa only said and shrugged, natawa naman si Den.
"I think for now, let's just stay in different teams, love," Den said, "I kinda want to still see your frustrated face pag nasasalo ko spikes mo e."
"Yabang neto," sagot agad ni Alyssa na ikinatawa ni Den, "but yeah, gusto ko rin nakikita face mong frustrated pag di mo nasasalo spikes ko," ganti ni Alyssa sa sinabi ni Den kanina.
The two laughed, they really still get competitive when it comes to volleyball.
"Babe," Den said after a long silence, "what do you think of me putting Valdez na in my jersey next confe?"
Alyssa's eyes widened, "really? You will?"
Den giggled at how Alyssa looks so happy, "yeah. I think it's time na rin. Are you okay with it?"
"IT IS," Alyssa answered enthusiastically, "I mean, of course."
"Okay, alam kong kinikilig ka right now, no need to hide it, alam mo yun?" Den asked at mas natawa pa siya nang ngumiti na si Alyssa.
They've been married for a year now, and before the current conference started, Den decided to still use Lazaro muna for her jersey. Medyo na-sad doon si Alyssa but naiintindihan niya naman.
All their friends except Ella was shocked when they announced na they are already married. Their families already know naman na, nagsabi agad sila before they flew to Australia. The ceremony with their friends and family already happened just 2 months later din, just in time before the current conference started.
"I apologize in advance for the person I will be once you're wearing your jersey with my surname on it," Alyssa said, "I swear to God, I'll boast about it."
"Ang cute mo, love," Den said while laughing, "basta wag kang madidistract pag teams natin magkalaban ah?"
"Try ko," Alyssa joked, "feeling a little bit better, love?"
Den nodded, "who wouldn't when I'm with my favorite person in our favorite hideaway place?"
Alyssa smiled, "I have something for you pala."
"What is it?"
"Wait, kunin ko sa car, tinago ko sa likod so you can't see it kanina e," Alyssa said at nagmadaling bumalik sa kotse niya. Nagtataka namang sinundan ni Den si Alyssa ng tingin hanggang sa kotse nila, kita kasi sa table nila where they parked.
Den laughed out loud when she saw what Alyssa have for her.
It's a trophy-shaped balloon.
Alyssa, from the parking lot, showed to Den, who's at the balcony of the restaurant, the balloon. Kitang-kita niya how Den laughed. Nagmadali siyang bumalik sa table nila.
"Here!! Congratulations, Mrs. Dennise Lazaro-Valdez, for this best libero award!" Alyssa said, more of like announced.
Den, whose still laughing, accepted her trophy, "thank you."
"And of course, flowers for the best libero," Alyssa said at inabot kay Den yung binili niya rin na roses.
"Thank you so much, love," nakangiting sabi ni Den.
"Wait, one more thing," Alyssa said and took out a rectangle-shaped box from her bag, it's a necklace with infinity pendant, "to the best woman and my only love," Alyssa then put the necklace on Den, she kissed Den's cheeks after, "I love you, Dennise."
Den reached out for Alyssa's face, cupped Ly's cheeks and gave her wife a loving kiss, "I love you so much, Alyssa."
Both smiled when they broke the kiss, Alyssa kissed Den's forehead one more time.
Here's to this love that made it to the end.
Here's to you, AlyDen.
AD Infinitum.
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Thank you for that wonderful 6 years of TDKAU, everyone! I'm really glad I was able to finish it, kala ko kasi igoghost ko na 'to e. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Thank you for still reading this one! :)
TDKAU, signing off.
