Dreams

As Long As

Den

Your presence completes my day. Without you, I'm not me anymore.

It's early in the morning yet I feel so drained. Wala kasing pasok today, meaning wala ring Aly na mangungulit. It's not a good thing at all. Magkasama pa lang kami kahapon pero miss ko na siya.

I sighed and went back to reading.
A few minutes later may kumatok sa pinto.

"Miss Dennise. Pinapababa po kayo ni Madam. May bisita daw po."

Si Ate Fely pala yung kumatok. Isa sa mga housemates namin. She's been here for a year now, I think.

"Ate Fely. Dennise na lang po. And wag naman na po kayong mag-po sa akin. You are older than me naman." I said as start walking to the kitchen. I need a drink before I face whoever that visitor is.

"Eh ma'am ako naman po yung papagalitan kung gawin ko yon." Sabi ni Ate Fely.

"Basta. Ako bahala kila Mom."

"Sino nga po pala yung bisita?" I asked before drinking. Who's this visitor that I even need to face him?

"Ako." Bigla kong nabuga yung tubig.

Shit!! What the hell is she doing here?

I looked around looking for her partner-in-crime. Nakakahiya yung reaction ko. 😫😫

"Wala si Ella. Pinauwi ni Tita sa kanila." Sabi niya habang kumukuha ng juice sa ref.

"Wow naman Alyssa. Feel at home ha?" I sarcastically told her.
Oh yes people.  You heard it right. Alyssa Valdez is in our house.

"Taray mo naman besh. Meron ka ba?" Nakangiti lang siya ng nakakaloko.

Tinalikuran ko lang siya at nagsimulang maglakad pabalik sa kwarto. Wala lang. Trip kong magpakipot bakit ba?

"Oy Den. Pasan ka?" Still di ko siya pinansin.
Pagdating ko sa room bumalik na lang din ako sa pagbabasa.

5 minutes...  10 minutes ... Teka?!  Ba't wala pa si Valdez? Baka umuwi na yun.

And on cue, may makinang umandar sa baba. So uuwi talaga siya?

Shit Dennise. Nag-inarte ka pa kasi. Miss mo din naman yung tao. Yan tuloy umuwi nalang si Aly.

I sighed. I should just sleep. Wala run naman along naiintindihan sa binabasa ko. Kinain na naman ni Aly any sistema ko.

Just a glimpse of Aly and my mind goes haywire. Just a word from her and I can't hear anything at all. When she's in front of me, she's all I see. Like the world fades and nothing else matters but her existence. How can I ever forget the first time she made me feel this way?

Flashback

It's a year after the three of us, Ella,  Aly and me, became friends. Also one of the days that Ella choose food over our company. Nasa gym kami, waiting for the start of practice. At gaya ng nakasanayan, we are sitting on the bleachers staring blankly at the court.

I sighed. Though today seems like a normal day, I feel otherwise. During days like today, mas namimiss ko siya. Kasi yung normal day, lagi niyang nagagawang special.

I sighed.

"Ang lalim." Biglang sabi ni Aly.

I just look at her. I don't feel like talking.

"And lalim ng buntong-hininga mo. What's up?"

"Wala." She kept on looking at me. Trying to understand what's going on in my mind.

"Ly, matunaw ako." Saway ko sa kanya. Then silence.

I went back to staring at the court.

"No, I can't let this happen. Let's go."  sinimulan niya na akong hilahin palabas.

"Teka Ly! Saan tayo pupunta? May traning pa tayo. Baka magalit si Coach." 

"Let's ditch." She grinned.

"Ditch?!!!  Ano na naman any pumasok sa isip mo Valdez?"

"And tamlay mo ngayon Den. Kung magt-training tayo baka pag-initan ka lang ni Coach. So ditch nalang tayo. I don't want to leave you alone this way." She smiled at me. Yung ngiti niya na kita pati ang biloy sa kanyang mga mata.

I can't help but be moved. All this time I thought na no one cares pag wala ako sa mood. And here is Alyssa,  doing what she can,  even ditching training,  just to make me happy.

"Uy Den. Ba't ka umiiyak? May nasabi ba akong masama? Sorry na. Ayaw mo bang magditch sa training? Sige . Balik na lang tayo sa loob." Nagpapanic na tanong ni Aly.

"Thank you." I sincerely said.

Napatigil naman si Aly at napatingin sa akin. Silently asking why I am thanking her.

Thank you because you made me feel special in your own way. And somehow, you made me forget the things I don't want to remember.

"Tara?" I instead said. Inabot ko yung kamay ko as kanya. And she held it.

"Saan tayo Den? " tanong niya nang makaupo na kami sa kotse.

"Bahala ka. Your call." I told her.

"Kuya, sa usual lang." She told the driver.

Then she looked at me again, straight to my eyes, while smiling from ear to ear.

Back then I knew, even if the world would turn against me,  as long as I have Aly by my side, I would be happy.