valdez/lazaro

5. Band-aid

@depinisyon: BAND-AID. Panggamot. Noon, kapag nasusugatan ako, band-aid lang, okay na ako. Sana nga may band-aid din para sa puso.

Freshmen pa lang sila when Ly noticed that Den had a thing for band-aids.

Don't take it the wrong way, it was a good thing, because every time masusugatan siya, or anyone in Eliazo for that matter, they know they can always turn to Den. Mahilig siyang manggamot eh. So even the simple task of putting band-aids on someone's cuts appealed to her.

Freshman year, Den and Ly were walking around Ateneo together, trying to get used to the big campus and all it's buildings. Alyssa was getting tired, kanina pa sila naglalakad pero si Den, go lang ng go. Sobrang pagod na siya, so she couldn't blame herself when she tripped on a rock and fell. Ly dusted herself off, trying to play it cool kahit na alam niyang may masakit sa right leg niya.

"Your leg's bleeding!" Den had said as she points to the cut on Ly's shin.

"Liit lang kaya nito, I'm fine." She flashed her peace sign at Den.

Den however, was too busy to even glance at Alyssa's way since she was too preoccupied with getting something in her bag.

"Weirdo siguro to nung high school." Alyssa thinks as she watches the smaller girl take out a pack of band aids.

"Girl scout ka ba?" She asks as Den carefully takes out a band-aid and places it over the cut on her shin.

"I just like the thought of being ready."

Den looks up and Alyssa think that she has the prettiest shade of blue eyes she's ever seen, contact lens or not.

Sophomore Year, magbe-beach volleyball yung buong team sa Boracay, since doon nilang naisipan mag vacation.

It was Ly and Den versus Fille and Gretchen. Of course partners ang alyden, they insisted. Hindi naman nagtaka yung iba, the pair were always clingy with with each other, never getting enough of each other's presence kahit roommates rin sila.

One particular spike caused Ly scrambling to get the ball, she dove for it, pero in a split second she could feel a sharp pain on her arm.

"Time out! Time out!" She shouts as she checks her arm on the side.

Den, being den, rushes quickly to Aly's side. Once she sees the problem, she immediately runs to her bag and fetches her band-aids.

Alyssa thinks its weird, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

Then came Junior year,

They were drunk and laughing, Ly had her arm around Den's shoulder and Den was laughing at Ella's attempt to perform a body shot.

They were out partying, as the new UAAP champs, the seniors thought that everyone needed a break, so in order to make sure everyone had a good time, Dzi Gervacio herself decided to initiate a house party. Halos lahat ng varsity teams were invited, which was not a problem since her house could accommodate them all, but the volleyball team were sitting on the benches beside the pool, doing shots and laughing the night away.

Ella dances in a wild fashion, Bea Del mocks her, telling her na hindi siya marunong sumayaw or something, Alyssa doesn't pay attention, she focuses on the girl beside her. God Den was so beautiful, kung sino man maging syota nito he would be damn lucky to have her.

"Ay gusto mo pala makatikim ng ellavator shuffle huh bea?" Ella slurs as she once again attempts to dance in public. She waves her arms, causing it to collide against Alyssa's glass and sends it tumbling to the floor.

Since everyone was drunk, nagtakbuhan silang lahat. Some dove straight for the pool habang yung iba tumakbo sa loob ng bahay.

"Idiots." Alyssa laughs, her drunken state slowly washing away.

"You have a b-boo boo." Den points to her ankle.

She almost forgot na nandito pa pala si Den. Den smiles sheepishly at her, her whole face red from consuming too much alcohol.

Alyssa thought she was lovely anyway.

"Ella kasi, feel free to beat her up in the morning." Alyssa jokes, taking out the small pieces of broken glass foot.

Despite her drunken state, Den manages to take out a crumpled band-aid from her short pocket. When Alyssa asks her why she would bring one, Den just shrugs and says that she doesn't like the idea of Ly getting hurt and not being prepared.

Senior year.

Den gave her a chance and she blew it, she blew it. She was a coward. Hindi niya kaya mag come out, in front of her family, in front of her friends, especially in front of the fans. So Den cut the chord, and months later masakit parin, pero atleast she's happy.

Now she has to watch Den with LA every damn day while all she can do is pretend to be happy for them. Alyssa thinks that she's over it, but sometimes it hurts just a little.

She's in her room sulking, because through the window she could see Den and LA talking. Out of jealousy, Alyssa takes out the pictures she had printed out of her and Den together. She almost cries as she sees one particular picture of her and Den during last year's championship. It was only when she put the pictures down on the table when she notices na nagka papercut pala siya because of it's sharp edges.

And this time, no band-aids came.

An idea came to my head and i just had to write this. Hooray for double updates!!!!! (This is probably my favorite one shot to write in this whole book so far)

Comment and vote, and if you want, i made a twitter too @/dendenlazaros :)