Parallels

33

Alyssa's stuck on her phone; she's trying to compose a message but always ends up deleting it. She only has a couple of hours left before she needs to leave for their game today.

"Ano ba Alyssa," she told herself and sighed loudly. She looked around her living room and her attention landed on her cabinet. She stood up and opened one of its drawers. She saw a stationery paper she bought in Japan with Dennise when they had a free day and decided to just walk around the vicinity.

They ended up in a small store that sells basically any cute things. Dennise was definitely delighted when they entered the store that she has a full paper bag of the things she bought when they left it. Dennise even gave a set of stationery to Alyssa as a remembrance.

Alyssa didn't think it'd become useful, but today it will. Not when she has a lot of words to say but there's not a single word  that comes out of her head when she's trying to use the keyboard of her phone.

Alyssa sits on the floor, putting the stationery paper on top of her coffee table while holding a pen.

"Here goes nothing," Alyssa mumbled and laughed because she's basically talking to herself.

Den,

Hi! You might find this paper familiar. Yeah, I can already imagine you smiling. I told you wala akong pag-ga-gamitan, you said someday I might, and here I am, using this to greet you.

Happy birthday, Dennise!

33? Impossible. Bakit mukha ka pa ring batang naliligaw when you couldn't find the right direction? Or why do you look like a kid na inagawan ng candy when you're sulking about something? Hahahahaha! It's unfair, Den. To look so beautiful even when you're sleeping.

Sometimes, when our trainings end and when everyone are on the floor, catching their breaths, I look at you, and all I could ever think of is how lucky I am to be breathing the same air with you.

Let alone be given the chance to come home to and with you.

Enjoy your day, mahal! Can't wait to spend the day with you.

Minsan iniisip ko sagabal ang volleyball sa pagmamahalan nating dalawa but I erase that right away, I met you through this. Hahahahaha.

Minamahal ka, palagi.

Alyssa

Alyssa inserted the paper inside the envelope and closed it. She's content on what she's wrote. Kinilig pa siya habang nagsusulat. Imagining Dennise reading her letter is enough for Alyssa to feel giddy. She sometimes hates it, na kahit ngingiti lang si Dennise, she could feel a lot of emotions inside her. Ganon ba kalakas ang tama niya kay Den?

Well, the answer's yes. Alyssa knew that, since long ago. When unconsciously, the only choice for Alyssa is always Dennise.

No matter how many people she has crossed paths with, even shared her deepest secrets to some, at the end of the day, none of them worked.

Kasi si Dennise pala.

Si Dennise lang.

Laging si Den.

She'll always crawl back to Dennise, that's the truth Alyssa accepted and when she finally did, Dennise welcomed her with arms wide open. Alyssa can clearly and will always remember what Dennise told her, that one night, when she finally stopped running away and faced the inevitable truth.

"Akala ko papaabutin mo pa ako ng trenta?" Dennise said, smiling at her, "I already stopped looking for answers when I knew I already found the one I want to spend my life with. So I decided to wait. And what can I say? Good things come to those who wait, don't they?"

Alyssa remembered how she cried that night, feeling the guilt of wasting time when all along, nandyan lang naman si Dennise. But when Dennise hugged her tight, indirectly telling her that they still have all the time in the world.

 A lifetime, per se.

"Thanks po!" Alyssa said to the florist as soon as she picked up the bouquet of flowers for Den. She put it on the passenger's seat and slipped the letter she wrote at the side. Then she drove her way to pick up her girlfriend.

3 knocks on the door and there's Dennise opening the door for her, smiling at first and was replaced by a laugh when Alyssa handed her the flowers.

"Thank you, baby," Dennise said and pulled Alyssa for a hug before planting a kiss on her lips, "can we ditch the game today?"

Alyssa chuckled, "maybe we can? Tawagan ko si coach?"

"Sira, nagjo-joke lang ako," Dennise said and put the flowers on top of the kitchen counter, "I'll get my bag lang inside the room."

Alyssa nodded and sat on the couch. Dennise wouldn't be playing today and will be on the sidelines along with Ella and Mafe. A few minutes later, Den's room opened and Alyssa saw Dennise reading her letter.

Alyssa suddenly felt shy but she couldn't take her eyes off Dennise who's smiling widely.

"God," Alyssa mumbled and literally put a hand on her chest, "ito na naman," she added. When it comes to Dennise, para bang hindi pa sapat na sobrang pagmamahal na yung nararamdaman niya.

If tomorrow she fell in love with how Dennise would always pout her lips when thinking, today she fell in love with how Dennise bites her lower lip to stop herself from smiling widely.

Little things for some, but when it all adds up, it's Dennise's whole being that Alyssa has fell in love with, or rather, falling in love with.

When Dennise looked at her, pinakawalan na nito ang mga ngiting kanina pa niya pinipigil.

"Ang sweet mo naman," Dennise said, hugging Alyssa, the hug that she always does where she would bury her face on Alyssa's neck and Alyssa would always adjust to Dennise's height, "mahal kita, Ly."

"You're making me consider ditching our game talaga," Alyssa said and felt Dennise laugh, "happy birthday, baby. Sana sapat na ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko ngayon para malaman mo na patay na patay ako sayo."

Dennise broke the hug while laughing, "why are you nervous???"

"I'm not, overwhelmed lang," Alyssa answered, tucking some of Dennise's hair behind her ear.

"Why?" Dennise asked her.

Alyssa pouts, "ang gara kasi. Kung pwedeng matunaw na lang ako ngayon kasi ganyan ka tumingin sa'kin, tunaw na tunaw na siguro ako."

Dennise pushed Alyssa's face while laughing and held her hand, "whipped! Tara na, baka ma-late pa tayo."

"Yes, ma'am!" Alyssa said and opened the door for Dennise.

When they arrived at the venue, Alyssa walked behind Dennise as they enter the dugout. The whole team welcomed and greeted Dennise, with Ella holding a cake as they start to sing happy birthday.

Alyssa only watched silently, still behind Dennise while holding one of her hands. There's a smile on Alyssa's face while watching her girlfriend's expressions.

She realized, she would do anything as long as Dennise can keep smiling like that. And what would she give up as long as she could stay beside her.

Alyssa quickly looked away, feeling overwhelmed, she didn't realize she's getting teary eyed. She quickly wiped her tears, and while Dennise is making her wish, Alyssa made a wish for Dennise, too.

Always be happy, my love. 

--

Oh edi dito rin tayo nagkita-kita? AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! sawi na naman ang mga lemons.