Parallels

you'll be safe here

You'll Be Safe Here - Rico Blanco

--

Alyssa smiled at her teammates as they form a circle for their post-game huddle. Halata sa mga mukha nito ang disappointment at lungkot because of the loss, knowing that the standings for the final 4 are tight, and there's a chance that they couldn't be in it. 

"Girls," Alyssa starts, "it's okay. But, we have to work harder for our next 3 games, okay?" Alyssa gets a nod from the girls, "it may not be our best conference but we'll make this work, dito natin kailangan ipakita kung gaano kayo katatag, on how we can rise amidst the pressure. Kaya natin 'yan, one game at a time tayo girls," she ends with her smile never leaving her face.

"Thank you ate Ly," Jema says and side hugs Alyssa. 

"Happy??" 

"Happy!" the Creamline girls shouted.

The team's bus was silent as they take their way back to Manila. Most, if not all, are asleep. 

Dennise looks around and looks for Alyssa. She finds Alyssa at the far end, with her headphones on, zoning out with her forehead creased. 

She carefully stands up, afraid to wake up Kyla, who's sleeping beside her. She quietly walks to where Alyssa is and sits beside Ly. 

Alyssa removes her headphones and looks at Den, "hey," Alyssa says. 

Dennise smiles at her, "hey, you. 'Di ka ba pagod?" 

Alyssa shakes her head, "not much."

Dennise nods, "okay lang, Ly, you can listen to music na ulit, gusto ko lang dito."

Alyssa smiles, "no, it's okay, wala naman talaga akong pinapakinggan din," sagot nito. The two fell silent. Alyssa looks on the road outside, aware of Dennise's presence.

Den looks at Ly, na napakangalumbaba habang nakatingin lang sa labas, unlike earlier, Alyssa's forehead are not creased anymore. 

An hour later, they arrived at the gym where their trainings are usually held. Everyone bid goodbye to each other as they go to their own cars. 

"Alyssa," Dennise calls Ly na papunta na sa kotse nito. 

"Yes, Den? You don't have your car? Sabay ka?" Tanong nito.

Dennise smiles, "I have. Pero, wait," Den says, "gusto mo na bang umuwi?"

"I... it's already late."

"Yes, pero do you want to go home na ba? I'm thinking if we can hang for a while before going home."

"Saan?" Alyssa asks as she locks her car, natawa naman si Den. 

"I guess that's a yes, tara?"

Alyssa nods, Dennise smiles widely, holds Alyssa's hand as they go to her car. 

"Saan tayo punta, Den?"

"Ewan din," Dennise answers with a laugh, she starts her car engine, "kahit saan."

"Baliw ka," Alyssa comments, "feels weird though, na ikaw ang nagda-drive."

"You're so arte kasi, ayaw mo kong pag-drive-in dati."

"E kung pwede ko namang gawin kasi, why would I let you pa," Alyssa answers. 

"Sige na lang, Ly," Den says, "coffee?"

Alyssa laughs, "you and your coffee any time of the day talaga, Dennise. Tara."

Dennise brings her to a cafe inside a subdivision in the metro. Alyssa sat outside of the cafe while Dennise ordered for the both of them.

"Where did you discover this?" Alyssa asked when Dennise came back with their coffee.

"Tiktok, stumbled upon it lang," Dennise answered. Alyssa nodded.

"Thank you, Den," Alyssa says after a long silence between them, she looks at Dennise who's also looking at her, "I know what you're doing."

Dennise smiles, "what?"

"Trust me, I'm fine," Alyssa says, "it's part of the game."

"I know Captain," Dennise says, emphasizing the word captain, "but still, it's not bad to ask you out on a coffee."

"Kasi you're comforting me."

"And what about it?" Den asks, "alam mo Ly, we've known each other since we were 13, we've been teammates atleast half of it if you combine the years, and I know you're good at keeping it to yourself. 

I just can't let you do it again now that we are in the same team, again, Ly. Pero I'm not asking you naman to voice them out, I just want you to know that I'm here, I can be anything you need."

Alyssa smiles warmly at Dennise, "thank you, Den, I appreciate it."

"You should," Den jokes, "Ly, you gave encouragement to the team earlier, and I know you need it, too, sooo... we'll bounce back, Ly, just like how we always do."

Alyssa nods, "I know. I believe sa team, sa inyo, I'm thinking lang din is this the universe's way to humble us," Alyssa said with a chuckle, "but yeah, it's always sweeter when you work hard for it. Sorry, first conference niyo with us tapos ganito pa."

"Baka kami pala talaga ang malas?" Dennise said that made the both of them laugh, "kidding. You don't have to say sorry, it's sports after all, bilog ang bola. Anyone can be the champion."

"We're getting that for you and Bea."

Dennise laughs, "you don't owe us anything, Ly, we're getting that as a team."

Alyssa nods, "thank you, Den."

"You've already thanked me earlier."

"I finally have someone I can be myself with, again," Alyssa says, "hard pill to swallow din for me but minsan the pressure of being the captain and being someone everyone relies on can be so draining. I have to be strong for everyone pero minsan I ask myself, paano naman ako when I can't bear it anymore?" Alyssa stares at her now empty cup.

If you didn't ask me for a coffee tonight, maybe natulog lang ulit ako not addressing my feelings, so, thank you, Den, for seeing right through me."

Dennise reaches out to Alyssa, tapping Alyssa's arm lightly. 

"You got me, Ly. Lagi."

Alyssa smiles and holds Den's hand. She looks at Dennise and smiles at her. 

"I'm glad you're here," Alyssa whispered. 

"Right where I should be," Dennise answered. 

Then know wherever you will be

So, too, shall I'll be