The Second Bride on the List

Chapter 11

Please stop…

Alyssa leaned her forehead on the glass pane.  It has been raining the whole week, but today is the worst.  She could not get out of the village without submerging on the flood water on the highway going to work.  And they supposedly have a game today, which is cancelled because of the weather.

She's getting bored.

She sighed.  She picked up the book, and pulled the comforter closer to her, snuggled on the small couch on the library between her room and Kiefer's.  She leaned her head on the glass pane, and went back to reading, just to occupy her thoughts.

"… thanks, Roy," Kiefer ended the call. 

There has been a lead on Sarah's case, but it still remains a lead.  He is not sure if Alyssa would be happy, since it would still put them in the same position as before.

He saw her curled up on the couch in the library, seemingly reading a book.  He smiled.  She is not exactly picture perfect, but there's something about her that gets to you after some time.  Like an acquired taste.

He cleared his throat, "Wala kang pasok?"

"Wala akong mahanap na submarine," she replied absentmindedly, her focus on the book.  He chuckled, and moved to where she was, "Try Grab."

She removed her eyes from the book, and glared at him, "Seryoso ka?"

"Tinatamad kang pumasok, ano?" he pursued.  One thing's for sure: he likes annoying her. 

She let out a deep breath, and replied, "Yung panahon ang nakakatamad. Hindi ang pagtatrabaho."  He was silent, which is well and good, annnd went back to reading, until she felt something softly touch her earlobe, tickling her.  She swatted it.  And it's back.  She swatted it again. Yet it keeps on coming back.  She groaned and scratched her earlobe when she heard Kiefer snicker.  Somewhere near her.  She threw the book at him. "Napakalaking bangaw naman kase," she yelled at him, standing up, and picking the book.

"Ang sakit nun ha," Kiefer massaged his arm where it hit him, and Alyssa just made face at him. "Buti nga hindi ka nadagaanan at napisak.  Yun talaga ang intention ko 'pag langaw e."  Kiefer grinned at her sassiness, "Alam mo, ang ganda mo pala pag nangiti ka."

Alyssa was shocked, and Kiefer laughed, "Naniwala na naman 'to. Uto-uto!"  She bashed him with the book on the arm again, "Tigilan mo ako.  Hindi kita inaano…"

"Naano ka ba?" Kiefer couldn't wipe the smile off his face.  Alyssa rolled her eyes at him, "Maaano ka talaga sa akin 'pag inulit mo pa."

Kiefer laughed, and looked outside.  The rain has started to slow down, but still steady like a shower.  He looked at the half-court on the backyard.  When was the last time he last played basketball?

Alyssa stopped pretending to read.  She's too bored, and Kiefer's annoying antics just made her regret lounging in the library.  She stood up, and was about to go back to her room, when she saw Kiefer standing by the tall window pane.  Curious, she looked out where he was staring.

The basketball court.

"Tara, laro tayo," she blurted out.  God knows when she has last played in the rain, but it beats getting cooped up inside the house.

Kiefer glanced her way, and raised an eyebrow.  She rolled her eyes, "Wag mong sabihin pinagbabawalan kayong maglaro sa ilalim ng ulan?"

Kiefer looked back outside, and grinned, "Oo.  Protective parents namin e."

"Ulol," Alyssa chuckled, and she went to where he was and grabbed his arm. "Tara," she smiled conspiratorially, "Di kita isusumbong na naglaro tayo sa ulan."

Her face is so enchanting against the gloomy weather.  He doesn't know what made him nod his head, but he couldn't do anything about it now, with her taking the lead, and pulling him with her outside the house.

"Ang lamig!" she screamed, and laughed heartily.  "Ayan, lalabas labas ka, tapos di mo rin pala kaya," he shouted back at her, with all the noise that the rain is making.  He kiddingly moved back inside when Alyssa stopped him, and pulled him away from the direction of the house.  "Wag! Mas magkakasakit ka pag bitin!" she yelled at him, wiping her eyes of the rain drops.  He grinned at her happy face, "So magtitigan lang tayo? Ganun?"

"Basketball!" she yelled, and she pulled him towards the basketball court.

The cement was rough on her soles, but she doesn't care.  She let go of his hand and picked up the ball lying on the side, and passed it to him.  Kiefer caught it in time, made a dribble, and let go on the free throw line.

Swoosh!

Alyssa ran to pick the ball and passed it back to him.  Kiefer dribbled and let go again.

Swoosh!

They were at it, when they decided to play one on one.  "Pustahan tayo," Kiefer said, dribbling the ball while Alyssa was on the defensive, "Kung manalo ako, ipagluluto mo ako ng dinner mamaya."

"E pag nanalo ako?" she asked, her eyes on the ball.  Kiefer thought of any punishment.  Then shrugged, "Bahala ka. Kiss kita?"

"Kiss?" she said incredulously, "ang corny mo naman! Ano mapapala ko dun?"

Kiefer was able to run past her and make it to the ring.  A point for him.  "Igihan mo pagbantay! Ayaw mo ata manalo e!"

"E kiss lang ang prize ko!" Alyssa whined, and Kiefer chuckled.  "O sige, kiss na may hug!" he said, and Alyssa stepped aside. "O edi ikaw na panalo! Ayoko na!" she sulked.

"Eto naman hindi mabiro!" he grabbed her back into the court.  "Sige, kiss na may hug, at may ice cream!" he cajoled.  "Ice cream? Malamig na nga ang panahon!" she exclaimed.

"O sige, kiss na may hug at saka…," Kiefer looked around, trying to think of something.

"Lomi galing Batangas, deal ako," she stole the ball from him, and ran to the ring for a shot, "Wag na yung kiss at hug."

Kiefer laughed out loud, "Hoy… baka mo lang malaman, good kisser to oi!"

Alyssa covered her ears, "Alam mo, di ko kelangan marinig 'yan! Kadiri ka!"

"Anong kadiri dun?" he asked, arms wide on the defense.  "Ilang laway na kaya ang nahigop mo," she cringed and shivered at the mental image.  "Hoy, masarap kaya laway ko!" and Kiefer stole the ball from her hand and went straight away for a dunk.

On the covered paveway, away from their eyes, their grandfather smiled at the pair trying to have fun despite the gloomy weather and rain.
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"Ang hirap naman pala nito," Alyssa said, while trying to follow the recipe over YouTube.

She's a perfectionist alright, Kiefer could see that.  She'd diligently follow the instruction right up to the last measurement. And she'd make that funny frustrating sound when it calls for a pinch of salt.

"Gaano kalaking pinch ba?!?" she sighed, "Malalaki daliri ko, duh..." She tapped her fingers on the counter top, staring intently on the video on the telpad.

Kiefer was seated on the kitchen stool, leaning on the kitchen island. "Just sprinkle some stuff," he shrugged. Alyssa let out a sigh, "Paano kung masobrahan ko? Paano kung kulang pala?"

Kiefer stood up, and took the pepper shaker, and started sprinkling pepper on the cooking pot. Alyssa shoved him aside, stopping him, "Teka, teka! Ang dami na 'yan!" But Kiefer was back at it, "Hindi… kulang pa yan, ilang ikot ko pa lang-"

Alyssa used her body to prevent him from getting near the pot, "Sino ang nagluluto dito- Ikaw o ako?!?"  Grinning, Kiefer moved his face closer to Alyssa's…

Mozzy cleared her throat, which gave Alyssa the opportunity to push him away.  "Good evening po, Tita," Alyssa smiled, "Kumain na po kayo?"

Mozzy just pasted a smile on her face, "Don't worry about me.  Are you cooking dinner?"

"O-opo," she said, stealing a glance at the boiling pot, "Sana po, makayanan naming kainin."  Kiefer rolled his eyes and sniffed, and Alyssa ribbed him on his side.  Mozzy looked at her, and at him, and said, "Kiefer, can I talk to you…?"

Kiefer stepped aside, but Alyssa was quick to whisper to him, "Hindi ako ang nagpumilit na maglaro sa ulan, or else, lalasunin kita."  Kiefer laughed out loud, and his mother raised her brow at him.  He apologetically smiled at her, then whispered back before he stepped out of the kitchen with his mom, "Make me."

Mozzy was surprised with the sudden affinity of Kiefer to Alyssa.  She was expecting him to be civil at most, but not this chummy with her.  Kiefer was right behind her, so when they reached the living room, which is separated by the dining room, Mozzy faced him, "What was that about?"

"What about?" Kiefer asked, confused.  Mozzy sighed, "Hijo, you have never been innocent in the first place, so don't give me that face."  Kiefer shook his head and sighed, "Mother, as much as I'd like to play this mind game with you, I am completely clueless.  What is it this time?"

His mother walked over and picked up a picture frame from the console table, "Alyssa.  Do you mind explaining how you have come to be so attached to her?"

"Ma," he let out a sigh, "we're trying to make the most of the situation.  It would definitely make life bearable if we at least become friends."

Mozzy stopped, and returned the picture frame, "Anak, are you sure it's just friendship?"

"Ma, I don't want her in my bed, for sure," he smirked, and Mozzy turned around to face him.  Her face pensive, she remarked, "Make sure you keep to your word.  That girl sacrificed a part of her life just to make yours easier.  She doesn't deserve to get her heart broken just because you need someone to scratch an itch. And you don't need additional complications for that matter."

"Ma!" he moved forward to his mother, "Don't think of that! Don't… don't even think of that!"  His chests heaving, he felt utterly insulted, offended, "I know how much she has done to me, and believe it or not, I am aware of that.  And I don't want any part of her! I-"

It was Alyssa's turn to clear her throat.  "Uh, dinner's ready," she said, dropped her gaze, and turned back towards the kitchen.

"Shit!" Kiefer muttered, and was about to go after her, when his mother stopped him, "I'm warning you, Kiefer.  You will be in a whole lot of trouble if you fall for her."

"Why would I fall in love with her?" he asked back, and Mozzy just stated what she thinks is obvious, "Maybe you know the answer to that."

He shrugged off his arm from her hold, "Believe me, Ma.  I definitely am not."

"Then why the need to run after her and explain?" she asked, raising her brow.  Kiefer sniffed, "Friends do that, too.  When you know you hurt a friend, you don't let them bleed."

He gave his back to his mother, and her mother just shook her head.

For some reason, Kiefer was quite bothered with his mother.  Why would she think that he would be attracted to Alyssa?

Yes, he has started to care about her.  But there's a difference between liking someone over loving them.  He definitely likes Alyssa, for all the help she has been.  But nothing greater than that.

And right now, he knows he needs to find Alyssa-

Who seems to be calmly setting the table for three.

"That's nice.  So domesticated," Kiefer attempted at humor.  She looked at him and rolled her eyes, "Ano 'yun? Parang pusa?"  She placed the last silverware on the table, and started to pour food on the serving dishes, "Kain na tayo, bago pa lumamig ang food."

"Teka, may lason ba 'yan?" he teased, trying to find the sparkle back in her eyes.  "Teka, tinuro mo ba na ako ang may pakana na maligo sa ulan?" she fired back.  He smiled.

Damn it, the sparkle in her eyes is lost.

He called her mom for dinner, and the three shared the food that she cooked, which seemed to be too plenty for supposedly a party of 2.  They had some conversations, and it was the perfect moment for Kiefer to inform them about Sarah.

His Private Investigator has shared that they have seen images of Sarah in the North, even as far as Pampangga, but only to find out that they have also seen images of her in the south.  Alyssa shared that even if Sarah is related to the clan in Batangas, it has been a while since she has been there, and she would only go there for reunions and such.  And besides, her family is helping them look and trace for Sarah, and the fact that they haven't heard from them means that she hasn't been there.

And it seems that of the friends interrogated, three of them have the cryptic consistency of Sarah going sabbatical, and wanting to go away and escape "the harsh reality", with insinuation about being stressed on her lack of projects.  They mulled over this idea, until Mozzy decided to let it go for the time being when they don't have solid lead.  "We'll eventually find Sarah, don't worry," she touched Alyssa's hand, and Alyssa just nodded.

Kiefer walked his mom to her car when it was time for her to leave, and Mozzy could not help but confess, "I must admit, I guess I overreacted when I saw you being too close with Alyssa, being too.. carefree.  Watching you both play like little kids…"

"Ma, we're cool, okay?  Drop that thought," he sighed, "We're just friends.  At least we are."

"But now that I think about it," she stopped, and turned to get inside her car.

"What about it?" He asked, curious of what she was about to say.

She stared at the face of the son that has broken hearts, and his in the process, and smiled sadly, "That somehow… I wish Alyssa has been the one you have married."

"But she is," Kiefer said, his brows together, "we had to, remember?"

"I wish," she looked forward, started the car, and looked back at him, "that you really married her.  For real."
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He found her shooting hoops on the wet court. He slowly approached her, and ran after the ball she has just released.

He dribbled, looking at her, trying to engage her. She made tentative steps towards him, spreading her arms in defense.

"When you play basketball, focus ka palagi sa movement ng bola. But you also have to anticipate kung saan pwede siya ipasa, at kung saan nakapwesto mga kasama mo," he said, dribbling forward, while Alyssa kept on moving backwards but still guarding him. He suddenly made a sidestep, and made a jumper.

Swoosh!

Alyssa just stood watching the ball, while Kiefer chased after it.

"Bakit 'di ka ulit maglaro?" she blurted out. "You still have it. Bakit 'di mo ulit subukan?" she turned to look at him.

Kiefer smiled a sad one, "May mga bagay na kelangan sukuan...."

"Kahit na gusto mo? Kahit na mahal mo pa rin ang laro?" she asked him, looking straight into his eyes.

He looked at the ring, and made a throw at it.

Swoosh!

"May nga bagay na kelangan isantabi," he murmured. Alyssa looked at the ring, "Pero may mga bagay din na kelangan ilaban."

"You don't know the whole story," Kiefer turned around, hating the direction where the conversation is going. But Alyssa didn't press on. She was just silently musing.

Kiefer noticed that she didn't come back with him to the house. He just went straight to his room, trying to block the conversation in his head.

Because he knows he still has it. He can feel it in his veins. He took a peek at the window to see if she's gone. But she was still right there, but this time, seated on the wet floor, her back to him, her eyes on the sky.

He gritted his teeth. He wanted to come out and say he's sorry if it offended her for whatever part of the conversation she heard he had with his mom, but she turned the conversation around. He just wanted to see if she's alright, but she disturbed the still waters of his being.

He paced his room. He is getting restless, knowing she's still outside. 

He can't stay cooped up in his room. He needs to release all this pent up energy-

His phone rang. "Hans... Yeah, I'm free... Hahaha! Cool... Okay, see yah," he replied to an invitation for some swig fest.

He's glad for the diversion, he immediately freshened up and gotten himself dressed. And just as he was about to step out of his room, he seems to  hear  her door close.

He sighed. Why does it feel wrong leaving her like this?

He got out of his room room, and moved towards her bedroom door, knocking. "I'm going out. Ila-lock ko na ang pinto. Don't let anyone in, okay?"

No answer. "I'm going out, Ly," he uttered on her bedroom door, and hesitantly, walked down the stairs, and out of the house.
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