After All This Time

You're Going To Love It.

Patrice's POV

It was quarter to 10 nung dumating si Ricci. Buhat buhat niya ang tulog na si Ryle.

"Hi babe."

He kissed me on the cheek.

"Hi. How's your day with Ryle?"

Ngiti kong sagot. I kissed our baby on the cheek lightly.

"Ihihiga ko muna to. I bought you food. Kumain ka na ba ng dinner?"

"Yup. Nagluto na lang ako ng corned beef kasi ako lang naman mag-isa eh."

Tumango ito at dumiretso na sa kwarto. I walked towards the box of pizza Ricci bought. Kumuha ako ng isang slice at nilagay sa plate. While I was getting iced tea, Ricci hugged me by the waist.

"How's your day babe?"

"Okay naman. Natapos ko lahat ng kailangan kong tapusin for today."

He kissed me on the lips.

"Good."

He let go of my waist at umupo sa couch.

"You want pizza? Kukunan din kita?"

"Sige."

Kumuha pa ko ng isang slice at umupo sa tabi niya.

"You're watching Love, Rosie?"

"Yup. I love this movie so much. Marami kaming similarities when it comes to experience. Nakaka-relate ako."

He smiled. We focused on the movie. Well, he focused on the movie. Iniisip ko kasi kung pano ko siya icoconfront tungkol kay Maddie. Pero I know I should. Kasi the more na patatagalin ko lang, the more na maiistress lang ako. Huminga ako ng malalim and stood up.

"Oo nga pala babe, Maddie went here. Hinahanap ka."

Alanganin ang tingin niya sakin.

"R-really? Anong ginawa niya dito?"

Kinuha ko ang paperbag sa cabinet sa ilalim ng TV.

"Yun nga, hinahanap ka niya. She wanted to give you this. Sabi ko wala ka kaya ibibigay ko na lang pag-uwi mo. Hoodie mo daw yan and yung report niyo. Naiwan mo daw kasi sa condo niya eh. I didn't know you were partners pala."

"Y-yeah. We were partners sa EnglComm. Hey babe, tabihan mo ko."

Hinila niya ko at pinaupo sa lap niya and hd started to talk.

"Maddie once had feelings for me, babe. Pero simula pa lang, naging clear na ko na there's no way na magugustuhan ko siya. I know that's harsh for me to say that to her pero I don't want her to expect anything. Mas masasaktan siya kung aasa siya sa wala di ba?"

Tumango lang ako.

"Tapos naging partners nga kami sa research paper namin for finals. We always make our reports together with our other blockmates sa subject na yun. Once lang nangyari na gumawa kami na kami lang. It was at the dorm."

He was playing with my hair which made me relaxed.

"Aaminin ko, she tried to kiss me that time. Pero naitulak ko siya bago pa niya naituloy then I told her to go home na. Simula nun, parati ko ng sinasama si Brent kapag gumagawa kami ng reports pag alam kong kaming dalawa lang. Nung time naman na yan na naiwan ko sa condo niya yung report namin, yan yung day na nagcelebrate kami with the whole block dahil naging successful kami lahat sa pagreport nung researches namin. Nung time naman na naiwan ko yung hoodie sa unit niya, yan yung two days before ng actual reporting na tinapos talaga namin at inaral namin mabuti yung research namin. Dahil sinabi niya samin ni Brenty na inaantok na daw siya, nagpadeliver kami ng sobrang daming food. Naisip namin ni Brent na gawing charades yung mga words to remember kaya ayun, nawala daw ang antok niya. That's what she's preferring dito sa note. Then after the report she wanted us to try if we would work out. I told her na ayoko talaga and I was.... already taken."