Flip (Alyden)

13

A L Y S S A ' S

I saw dennise hopped in the passenger seat, as I asked her for the keys of her car. She handed it to me and I started the engine. I saw her getting uncomfortable as I was maneuvering from the parking spot.

"You okay?" I asked her.

She looked at me and said "Yea." then I saw her turned her focus on her phone. "So how was your day?" I asked, trying to atleast start a conversation. "It was good." she answered simply without removing her gaze from her phone.

I nodded with her response. It's getting kinda awkward as she choose to ignore me.

"Did you get the lunch that I sent?" I asked. Di nya kasi nabrought up, nagworry lang ako na baka di nadeliver. Finally, she looked at me and put her phone down "So it was from you." she said. I nodded and said "May iba pa ba na possibility na magpadala sayo ng food?"

It felt like eternity before she answered, she smirked and said "Kung yan yung way mo para tanungin ako kung may nangungulit sakin na katulad ng ginagawa mo well, pwes wala." she answered then giggled. She looked at me, anticipating my reaction.

I blushed and switched my gaze from the road to her real quick and back again at the road. Atleast I was able to hide my blush. I heard her speak again "Thanks for the lunch pero wag mo na ulitin yun ah?"

This took me off guard, kanina lang she was being cocky na ako lang yung pumuporma sakanya tas ngayon patitigilin nya ko. Naobvious nya siguro na medyo naguluhan ako so she added "Minsan kasi lumalabas ako with my officemates or friends. Sobrang minsan lang ako magstay sa office for lunch baka masayang yung delivery."

"Edi si Manong kakain. Sabihan ko na lang sya na pag wala ka, pwede nya kunin yung food." I answered. She smiled at me, amazed with my answer. Alyssa - 1 point.

"Talagang you're planning to send me lunch everyday?" Denisse asked kinda shocked. Di pa ba nya gets na di ako titigil sa pag kulit at suyo sa kanya? "Yup, there's nothing you can do about it." I answered, smiling at her. She kinda stared at me for awhile.

I saw her shake her head while switching her gaze back to her phone "Nakabenta ka today?" I asked. She nodded and said "Yes, almost done with my quota for the week. Thank god" she's still scrolling through her social media.

She looked at the road with a confuse look on her face then looked at me and asked "Nabangga ka sabi mo?" I nodded and said "Nabangga yung Auto ko, di ako"

She locked her phone and I saw her paying full attention to me. "Finally!!" I mentally said. I took it as my chance to tell the story. "So galing ako dito kaninang umaga, diba?" I saw her nod as her response. "Tas medyo sumakit yung ulo ko, so dumaan ako ng 7/11 para bumili ng gamot. Ewan ko, habang nagbabayad ako narinig ko na may malakas na crash sa labas. Pagcheck ko, auto ko pala yung nabangga." I saw her sighed and unconsciously it made me smile. "Atleast di ka nasakatan, sasakyan lang yan." She said and unlocked her phone, again.

"Di ka magddinner? Tara kain muna tayo." I said. Hoping na nagugutom na sya para she would say yes. "Aly, hatid mo lang ako diba?" sabi nya. "Yea, I know pero magkasama na rin lang tayo edi tara na lang din!" I excitedly exclaimed. "Nice try but no" I heard her say.

"Unless, you have plans for tonight na?" I asked with a hint of sadness in my voice. I can't help it.

"Even if I have plans, Aly. Labas ka na dun." I heard her reply. I can feel my heart shatter. Every bits of pieces is falling apart. I chose to stay silent and focused on driving.

Bat ko pa kasi ginagawa 'to. Mukha nakong tanga. It was a good 30 minutes na walang nagsalita samin. Until dennise took my hand from the steering wheel and said "Sorry."

I gave her a weak smile and hinayaan ko lang sya na hawakan yung kamay ko. "Wala lang talaga ko sa mood kumain tonight." she said while playing with my fingers.

"What are you in the mood for then?" I asked. "To drink" she answered. Nakalimutan ko atang ito yung babaeng nakilala ko sa Boracay weekend. A party girl. I really wanna know her outside of the drunk nights and endless booze. Truly know her, ng sober, ng hindi lasing and all pero if I genuinely wanna know her, I have to see some bad sides too.

"Tara, sama ko." I said.

"No." She answered and let go of my hand. "Why not?" I asked. I saw her hesitate before answering "Basta." she turned her focus outside.

"I see it like this, either lalabas tayo tonight and magd'dinner or Sasama ko sayo kung saang bar ka man pupunta." I said firmly.

"Eh usapan nga natin ihahatid mo lang ako, ayoko nga in the first place eh. Tas ngayon pati plans ko for tonight nagugulo." She said on a firm tone. Sobrang di ko inexpect yung sagot nya.

"Tangina mo kasi, Aly." Sabi ko sa sarili ko. Kulit ko kasi. Sakit nun ah.

Nanahimik uli ako but this time she didn't apologize nor talked to me for the rest of the car trip. I broke the silence when I asked "Building 1 or Building 2?"

She didn't answer.

"Den, Building 1 or building 2?" I took her hand which is resting on her lap. Nagulat sya with what I did and asked "Sorry, ano uli yun?"

"Andito na tayo sa City land, i was asking if building 1 ka ba or building 2?" I said on a monotone. Wala na ako sa mood but I can't be disrespectful to her, Wala naman akong right to get hurt in the first place."One" She answered.

I parked my car on their condominium's drop off and put it on hazard. I looked at her and she looked at me. Di ko kaya 'to, baka mahalikan ko sya. So I broke the staring contest and said "Sorry kung ang kulit ko, thank you kasi you're being patient with my shenanigans." I said. Looking down on my hands as I'm fidgeting.

"Lipat ka na lang dito sa driver's seat pagbaba ko" I said. I was about to go down when she grabbed my arm and said "31" I looked at her confused.

Di ko gets, anong 31?

So I asked "Huh?"

She smiled and said "31 yung last two digits ng cellphone number ko. Magi'ingat ka pauwi." She gave me a smile that I'll never forget.

I nodded with what she said and stepped down from the car. I saw her moving to the driver's seat so I waved her goodbye before she drove off to their parking area.

"Still a good day, ly" I told myself. "Still a good day!"

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A/N I hope everyone can be patient with the flow of the story. It's gonna be a long ride for Alyssa. Thanks!!