"Anong sinabi niyo po, Nay?" she asked, showing herself from her previous position by the doorway.
The surprise showed on their faces. But she needed to know. Did she hear them right? Was Den...in love with her?
"Ineng," her Nanay said softly.
"Nay, please," she pleaded.
After a while, her parents asked her to sit as they told the story.
"Noong second year ka pa lang, Ineng, dinala mo si Denden dito," Nanay said. "Natutulog ka noon, nakahiga ang ulo mo sa legs ni Denden, tapos narinig ko siya na sabihing mahal ka. 'Yung pagkakasabi niya, Ineng, alam namin na higit pa sa pagkakaibigan."
"Ako ang nakiusap kay Denden, Aly," her Tatay said. "Nakiusap ako sa kaniya na wag sabihin sayo hangga't hindi ka pa nakakagraduate. Nagsisimula ka pa lang noon kaya naisip ko na baka makagulo sayo, sa pag-aaral mo, sa laro mo, at sa buhay mo kung magkakaroon kayo ng relasyon ni Dennise. Bata pa kayo at parehas na babae."
She put her hand on her forehead. She could feel her head hurting.
She remembered that instance she brought Dennise to their house. They were taking a break from practice and she just wanted her family to meet her best friend. Now it made sense why Den acted differently that day after her nap.
"Den, ayos ka ng upo," she said while nudging Den as they sat on the couch in front of the TV.
"Ly, anong ayos pa ba ang gusto mo? Okay naman upo ko, ah!" Dennise said with a frown.
She motioned for Den to move back and she positioned Den's legs properly so that her feet were touching the floor. Den looked at her, confused.
When Den's position looked good to her, she laid down and made her head comfortable on Den's lap.
"Ly! Ang dami namang unan at laki ng space sa other end, sa akin ka pa talaga humiga!"
"Sige na, Den. Love mo naman ako, eh," she replied before closing her eyes. She really was sleepy.
"Mahal nga kita," she thought she heard Den whisper but she was already dozing off.
When she woke up, Den looked uneasy but Den said it was because her legs were going numb because her head was heavy.
After dinner and after washing up, she saw Den coming inside from the porch, her parents behind her. She found it weird.
"Anong ganap?" she asked Den.
"Wala, Ly. Nagpakwento lang sina Tito at Tita ng mga kalokohan mo," Den said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Wala naman akong kalokohan, ah! Nay, Tay! Wag po kayong maniwala diyan kay Den! Di na talaga kita dadalhin dito!" she whined.
They all laughed.
Den washed up and she waited for Den while lying down on the bed.
"Grabeng tagal mo talaga maligo, Den!" she said when Den came out of the shower. "Halos makatulog na ako."
"Ikaw naman tulog ka lang ng tulog!" Den snapped back.
It was some kind of best friend intuition but she could feel that something was bothering Dennise. So she tapped Dennise's nose as they laid down on the bed, facing each other.
"Anong problema? Alam kong meron," she whispered.
Den hesitated.
"Walang problema, Ly," Den said avoiding her eyes.
