"Okay. Where do you plan to eat?" Den asked Aly. They are now in Den's car and they are already on the road.
"You choose. Ikaw manlilibre e," answered Aly.
"Nah ah. Correction. Ikaw ang manlilibre."
"Why me?! Ikaw ang may kailangan sa akin. I have your notepad remember?" asked Aly.
"Let me refresh your memory. You pulled me out of my office. Ngayon, wala akong cash dito or card because I left my wallet. Buti nga nasa bulsa ko yung car key ko," paliwanag ni Den.
"Okay. Turn the car around. We'll get your wallet," utos ni Aly.
"No way! Hindi ako magsasayang ng gas pabalik."
"Huwag kang madaya! Sinadya mong kalimutan yung wallet mo. This should be your treat. Ako na nga madalas magbayad kapag lumalabas tayo dati," said Aly.
"Kahit na. Kapag may occasion, birthday, anniversary, pasko, grabe ang mga gifts ko sayo ah," depensa ni Den.
"Kahit na din. Kapag may out of town trips dati, I book the flights for us and make hotel reservations," sagot ulit ni Aly.
"So ngayon sinusumbat mo?"
"Hindi ko sinusumbat. I'm trying to emphasize here kung gaano ka kakuripot," Aly said.
"Fine. Let's get my wallet pero ipafull-tank mo ito." said Den with a smirk.
"Haay! Kalahatian pa lang ng araw nahighblood na ko sayo. Sige na. Ako na manlilibre!" said Aly while holding her nape.
"E bakit ba kasi nangunguripot ka?" tanong ni Den na may kasamang pang-asar na ngiti.
I just don't want you to feel special, Den. I want to treat you like an ordinary friend. Hindi nga dapat kita niyayayang lumabas. Ano ba itong ginagawa ko? Aly told herself.
"Ikaw yung kuripot, hindi ako. Kahit ilibre pa kita ng kahit anong gusto mo!" Aly said defensively.
"Sinabi mo yan ha!" said Den laughing.
Putek! Kakasabi ko lang na huwag magpabibo kay Den e. Me and my stupid mouth, inis na sabi ni Aly sa sarili.
"Oo na lang," Aly said with a fake smile.
--------------------------
They are now in a restaurant at si Den ang umorder ng lahat. The waiter has already taken their order when Aly said, "Mapang-asar ka talaga ano? Yung mga pinakamahal pa talaga pinili mo."
"You said lahat ng gusto ko," Den said smiling. Kung pwede nga lang pati ikaw e, naisip ni Den.
"Fine. Baka kulang pa, sabihin mo lang," said Aly confidently.
"I definitely will," said Den with a bigger smile.
"Naku, Den ha. Stop smiling like that. Huwag ka masyadong pacute," Aly said.
"I'm not. I'm just being me. You're just too focused on me, kaya ang dami mong napapansin sa akin. Tapos paimpress ka pa diyan sa panlilibre mo."
Hala. Am I that obvious? Aly thought.
"Uy, natahimik. Totoo nga, paimpress siya. Haha," pang-aasar ni Den.
"Actually, naaawa lang ako sayo kasi you have a penny-pinching nerd for a suitor. Hindi man lang makabili ng food for you."
"It's the effort that counts. You know that guys who can cook turn me on," said Den.
"Yes they do. But it is the girl who can cook who made you fall in love," nakangiting sabi ni Aly. Okay, Aly. Last mo na yan. Why do you keep on competing with that nerd? Sabi ni Aly sa sarili.
