The Last Chapter

Sunday Night

[Lance Alexander Zamora's POV]

Matagal ko siyang tinitigan. Busy siya sa pag-aayos at pakikinig sa mga sinasabi ng taong nasa paligid niya. Di ko mapigilang mapangiti. Kahit kasi ayaw niya ng mga bagay na 'to, alam kong masaya siya lalo na sa ginagawa ng Mama niya.

They all look happy.

"Mama naman, I should get dress within 30 minutes. Wag ka ng kabahan."

"I'm so disappointed with him! I thought that he got this under control but no! He's ruining your debut. I can't let this happen! I'm gonna sue him!"

"Mama. The gown looks fine, it may not be the dress you wanted but I'm okay with it. Chill okay?" Hindi maintindihan ni Alexa kung pano kakausapin ang Mama niya. "It never cross my mind that you'll be like this."

"And what's that suppose to mean, Alexa?" Pareho silang natahimik. Tinakpan ko ang labi ko para itago ang ngiti ko. Pero maya maya, mas nauna na silang tumawa sakin. "Yes, I'm being hysterical."

"Yes you are and you need to calm down. Okay?"

Umupo si Mrs Delos Reyes sa sofa dito sa loob ng kwarto. Nagpaypay siya gamit ang kamay niya. She's a perfectionist. Kahit di naman halata na di nasunod sa sketch yung gown, pinansin niya 'to at she even want to sue the designer.

"And what are you still doing here, huh?" Napatingin ako sa kanya. I shook my head at pinagtaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Pumunta ka na kaya sa kwarto mo. Kelangan mo na ding magbihis."

"I'm on my pants. Coat nalang."

"I don't care. Sige na punta na. I bet Andrei and Lorenzo need some help. That little monster throws tantrums whenever Lorenzo puts his little coat on." Natawa ako sa pagme-make face niya. " Why does he even have your blood?"

"Bakit pakiramdam ko kelangan kong maoffend sa sinabi mo?"

"Ah! No time for that." Hinigit na niya ako palabas ng kwarto. "Ang alam ko dapat di na ako namomroblema sa party na 'to. But heck, I feel like it's back to zero and I have fix everything!"

"You just have to put your gown, you know."

"Really Lance?" Tinulak na niya ako ng tuluyan palabas and gave me a very bored look. "You don't know what happens when Mama's like this. But come to think of it, it's the first time."

I smirked at her.

"Ah!" Umiling iling siya. ibubrush up niya dapat ang buhok niya pero bigla niyang naalala na nakaayos na ang buhok niya. Frustrated. "Sige na. Magpapogi ka na sa kabilang kwarto."

"Aw. I'm still no good looking for you?" I frowned.

Pinadaanan niya lang ulit ako ng bored look niya at sinara ang pinto. She's really harsh.

Pumunta na ako sa kabilang kwarto like what she told me. Kelangan na rin namin mag-ayos since wala ng 30 minutes ay magsstart na ang party. Isang engrandeng party ng mga Delos Reyes. Rich kid.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad ng makitang may tao sa labas ng kwarto. Tatlong tao. Alam kong alam nilang nandun na ako pero lahat samin walang may gustong umimik. Dumiretso na ako. Wala akong panahon para dito.

"Last day." Sakto niyang sabi nung itutulak ko na yung pinto. Tumango ako. "Buti di ka pa kinakain ng konsensya mo."

"Sabihin mo nalang ulit sakin yan..." tumingin ako sa kanya, "...pagnapatawad mo na siya."

Kita ko ang pagreact ng mata niya nung sabihin ko yun. Pareho lang kaming tumingin, naglalabanan ng tingin. Walang may ayaw bumitaw ng matatalim ng tingin sa isa't isa. Hanggang ngayon andun pa rin ang galit niya sakin. Na parang walang paraan para mawala yun.

"....si Gatorade kasi nasa kabila pa. OH!" biglang bumukas ang pinto. Si Marcus. "Andyan ka na pala e! Kanina pang nagiiyak si Andrei! Aba! Andito din pala kayo. Hi Alex, Russ, Rinrin!"

"Nasan si Andrei?"

"Nasa loo-" di ko na pinatapos si Marcus at dumiretso na ako sa loob.

*

[Alexa Gabrielle Delos Reyes' POV]

The music started playing as I close my eyes and took a deep breath. The curtain slowly pulled up and the darkness of the place starts to fade little by little. Ito na 'to. This is the start of my debut.

I stay still with a straight face. Ramdam ko ang di ko maipaliwanag na feeling sa loob loob ko. Para akong nabibingi sa nagiging applause ng mga tao dito at kahit sila parang ngayon ko lang nakita sa tanang buhay ko.

I think I'm lost in paradise.

"Hi." He offered his hand and I think I was lost for a moment. "Shall I escort you to your throne, princess?"

He smiled at me. Pinatong ko yung kamay ko sa ibabaw ng kamay niya. I thought I lost my memory bago magsink in sa utak ko na siya pala ang nasa harapan ko. Ito ba talaga ang feeling na nagde-debut?

He linked my arms into his, securing me.. "You look beautiful."

Do I?

Tumingin ako sa paligid ko at unti unti ko ng nakikilala ang mga nandito. My sight caught my classmates from afar. I even saw Francis, Aly and other familiar faces from BFC. And bebs with Marcus.

Napatingin ako sa katabi ko. Covered with white suit, his hair shouting its color. Napatingin din siya sakin at ngumiti. "Yes, baby?"

I shook my head. 

I heard him chuckling nung makaabot na kami sa platform kung nasan ang 'throne' ko. I saw Mama and Papa nung umupo ako. Papa smiled and waved at me childishly while Mama gave me a smile I've never seen before.

I looked around. Hindi ko alam na alam ni Mama kung anong gusto ko. Diamond-like chandeliers, autumn leaves, gold and orange lighted place. Mostly remind me of the upcoming Christmas season. The cool season of Fall.

I took a sigh and pulled up a smile, 

"Welcome to my Kingdom." I greeted everyone.

I'm the princess of My Wonderland.

*

"Princess!" Napatawa ang lahat nung hinawakan ni Papa ang microphone. Everybody knows kung anong ugali ni Papa. "Oh my! I never thought I'll see another lady who'll be as beautiful as my wife, again!"

Natawa ang lahat sa sinabi ni Papa. Napatingin ako kay Mama, na simpleng ngumingiti sa lahat ng napapatingin sa kanya. Alam kong kinikilig yan.

"Hi, Princess."

"Hi, Papa." I smiled at him. Huminga siya ng malalim para maging seryoso pero sa tuwing magsasalita na siya ulit mapapatawa siya. Serious can't be found on my Papa's vocabulary.

"I love you."

Three words but it means everything. It meant a hundred, even thousand of words unspoken.

Binigay na ni Papa yung mic kay Mama when I mouthed 'I love you too'. 

"Gab."

"Ma."

Akala ko magsasalita pa si Mama pero nagulat ako nung umakyat siya ng platform. Napatayo ako sa kinauupuan namin ni L.A., sinalubong si Mama. Then she hugged me.

Another way to say everything.

Tila nabingi ako sa palakpakan ng tao. I never hugged mama like this before. Mama freed me. Pinabalik na niya ako sa upuan ko. Kinuha na naman niya yung mic,

"Good evening everyone. Welcome! Let's share happiness as we celebrate my daughter's special day as she turns into a lady." Nagkatinginan kami ni Mama. "Happy Birthday, Gab."

"Thank you, Ma."

Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao. Bumalik na si Mama sa upuan niya. Tumayo si Gatorade at inalalayan ako pababa ng platform. Sinalubong kami ni Papa. Nakita ko yung pasimpleng irap ni Papa nung kunin niya ako kay Lance.

Hanggang dito ba naman?

"Please, give me the honors."

"Kahit walang ganyan, Papa." I placed my hands on his shoulders and as I start having my first dance for this night. My first dance with my Papa.

"Ang ganda talaga ng princess baby ko." Napatawa ako. "Mukha ka talagang princess!"

"Talaga?" Tiningnan ko ang sarili ko, in long white balloon gown.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Niyakap ko si Papa. "Dalaga na baby ko."

"Not yet. Bukas pa talaga ang birthday ko."

"Eh! Dalaga ka na. May boyfriend ka na nga e." natatawa niyang bulong sa akin.

"Papa!" I whined. We danced like nobody's watching us. We don't care what people may think of us. Ito kasi talaga kung ano kaming dalawa ni Papa.

"But you know what, I never regret of having a contract and letting that guy around."

That guy.

I know papa is talking about him.

"Me too, Papa."

Unlike any typical 18th birthday, I skipped all the 18 something or what. Nung sinabi ko yun kay Mama, I declined. I don't want those dramatic speeches. Alam ko naman kasi yung isasali ni Mama dun yung mga taong di ko kilala.

I don't want to smile at them and fake everyone that I'm actually grateful that they're giving me this long speech like they've known me for so long.

Actually, most of the guests here are.... familiar yet unfamiliar.

Just please, bare with me.

Nakaupo lang ako sa platform at binabati ang mga taong lalapit sakin para iabot ang regalo nila o kaya naman para batiin lang ako. Mama at Papa started to talk with their business associates or acquaintances na involved sa business ng pamilya.

I wanted this more than those girly thingy party.

"Ohmydee bebs!" Uh-oh. Not now. Not now. A bear hug from my best friend! "Happy happy happy birthday! Ghad you look so lovely. Never thought that there will be a time when you actually gonna look prettier than me. I'm so not prepared!"

"Ohkay." I pushed her lightly. "I don't think that's really a compliment."

"Eh. Just appreciate what I said. You're prettier than the Dominique Veena Delos Santos. Hello? That's news, bebs."

Whatever you say.

"Oh!" nagulat ako nung pumunta siya dun sa pwesto nung organizer. She tapped the microphone several times and... "Hi."

Talk about the speeches. Please no.

"Hi Guys. Guest. Everyone!" Napatingin lahat ng guest sa unahan. Ohkay. We're really gonna have it. Napatingin nalang ako sa tabi ko nung marinig ko siyang mag-chuckle. I rolled my eyes on him nung binelatan niya ako. Jeez! "Hi bebs."

I shook my head lightly.

"Happy happy birthday, even though it's still not your birthday." She giggled, "But yeah, happy birthday bebs! You're 18! You can get behind bars now. So please, don't be reckless!"

What the hell.

Napatawa nalang lahat ng nakikinig sa kanya. Kita ko rin ang tawa ni Mama at Papa. Letting me know that Bebs on stage having a speech is a great idea. Well, not a great idea to me.

"I want to thank you all for coming. In behalf of my bebs," She looked at me, "I know you wont have time to thank them all so yeah. I'll do that for you.'' 

I smiled. Liar. I know what she meant. It should be 'I know that you don't have plans of thanking them all.' Kasi alam kong balak niya lang talagang pumunta sa stage at mag-speech. I already told her that I don't want speeches!

"Anyway, living with the Alexa Gabrielle Delos Reyes for 18 years, I admit, is very tough. You don't know how hard it was to play with her, sleep with her and have some girl time with her. Swear!" Sinamaan ko ng tingin si bebs pero hindi siya nakatingin sakin."But I don't ever regret of having her by my side for 18 years."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya noon. Tumingin siya sakin at ngumiti, 

"Bebs, there won't be Delos Twins kung wala ka. Like duh. It won't be twins kung ako lang di ba?" She laughed at her own joke."I'm so lucky that I have you, kahit di halata cause we're like cat and mouse whatever. I don't even know why I have a brother when God already gave me you. You're 2-in 1! Bestfriend and a sister."

"Hey. Hello Veena. I'm actually here. FYI!"

Napatingin kaming lahat kung nasan yung sumigaw. Si Kuya Viniel.

"Don't really care Kuya. Duh."

"I am so gonna powerslam you!"

"Bring it on, Viniel!"

Parang naging comedy bar ang buong lugar. Tawa lang sila ng tawanan sa ginagawang sagutan nina Kuya Viniel at Dominique. Ang dalawang 'to talaga. I hope there will be no wrestling match here, in suit and gown. No. I really hope. *cross fingers*

"But bebs, thank you. We've been crazy, really. You know that." I mouthed thank you back. "But that won't chancg that I love you bebs, so much!!"

Bigla na ulit siyang tumakbo pabalik sakin at binigyan ulti ako ng isang bear hug. As much as I wanted to let go, this is what I love most about my bestfriend.

"I love you too, bebs."

Mas humigpit ang yakap niya sakin, "Happy Birthday."

"Thank you."

Bumaba na si bebs ng stage nung nagsalita na yung emcee. Sinundo siya ni Marcus. But when she looked back, I got nervous. Tumingin ulit siya kay Marcus na para bang may pinaguusapan silang dalawa. That smile.

Bakit bebs?

Nagtaka ako nung biglang nagbago ang kulay ng paligid. The diamonds turned to blue and white. Naging dim ang lighting, cool lights mostly blue. It looks like we had travel and forward to Winter.

Ice Kingdom.

Napatingin ako kay Lance nung inoffer niya sakin ang kamay niya. The music started playing and that's my cue to remember that me and him should dance. The dance we hated the most.

Inalalayan niya ako pababa ng platform. I placed my hand on his shoulder while holding the other. And we started moving. Trying to remember the step, close step pattern not until I met his eyes.

Inikot niya ako pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang tingin ko sa kanya. Kahit siya, he never want to look away. And I just think, for a moment I lost and forgot that I'm actually dancing.

Hinigit niya ako palapit sa kanya, "After the clock struck 12, all the magic vanished."

Nagtaka ako sa sinabi niya.

"Di na prinsesa si Cinderella." We made the last full eight of the dance and he slowly let me go. "Meet me after the clock struck midnight, my princess."

Clock struck midnight.

Magtatanong pa sana ako when someone approached me and asked for a dance. Si Marcus. Hindi ako tumanggi since this is the part when gentlemen can ask a dance for the debutant.

"Hi TGWSG." Napangiti nalang ako at napailing. "You look like a girl."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Ibig sabihin maganda ka." I shook my head again, wondering how bebs and Marcus talk kung pareho silang ganito. "Alam mo mamimiss kita."

"Weh?"

"Yup. You and Dominique." Wow. This is the first time he called bebs Dominique. "You've been good friends to me."

Di ako sumagot. Sumunod lang ako sa beat ni Marcus. Me and Dominique. Good friends. I really never had a thought of that. Pero kung tutuusin...

Marcus is really a good friend. He made my bestfriend happy, he was there when we need a companion. Ang inakala kong alien dahil di siya marunong sumimangot not until I met another alien named Francis.

The two smiling aliens.

"Please take care of Dominique."

"You don't really need to say that."

"Alam ko." Nagulat ako nung hinigit ako ni Marcus at niyakap. "Thank you, Gab."

"For what?"

Pinakawalang ako ni Marcus at pinat niya ang ulo ko. He weakly smiled at me pero kahit ganun hindi mo malaman kung anong meron sa ngiti niya. He's really a weird guy. But I know I like him. Who wouldn't like Marcus, anyway?

Unless you hate a guy who smiles a lot.

"What ever happens, please remember that we'll be always be friends." 

I was about to say something when we heard someone coughed behind him. 

Pareho kaming napatigil ni Marcus at napatingin sa side kung saan nanggaling yung ubo. Tiningnan niya si Marcus tapos sakin. He offered his hand pero bago ako makapagreact ay kinuha na niya ang mga kamay ko kay Marcus at nagsimulang gumawa ng step-close-step pattern.

"You're rude."

"Don't care."

Hindi talaga siya gentleman.

Katulad ng dati, dancing with him is an ease. I really don't care if I'm off beat cause he actually carry the whole dance. Madali kong naiisabay yung paa ko at di ako nagaalanganin na baka maapakan ko siya.

"I'm scared of you."

"You hated my eyes."

"What?" Napasinghap ako nung tingnan niya ako. Nagdadalawang isip kung titingin ako o hindi.

"See?" Di ko na kinaya at iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. "You actually hate the way I look at you."

"I don't hate it.. It's just that..."

"...you can't look back."

Si Frost. Di na ako nagtataka kung bakit yun ang alias sa kanya. Those cold eyes and his very mysterious aura. He's the modern prince charming. The guy full of mystery plus the masungit factor. And oh, don't forget the good looking face.

I tried my best to look at him. And he stared back. Inikot niya ako tulad ng ginawa namin noon sa practice. Sinubukan kong alisin ang tingin ko sa kanya pero there's something about his eyes na hindi lang nakakatakot o nakakanerbyos sa pakiramdam.

"Hindi mo pa naman birthday, so I won't greet you." Step, close, step.. "Hindi mo pa rin ba ako naaalala?"

I shook my head. Nabasa niya ba ang nasa isip ko? Kahit ngayon, riddle pa rin kung bakit di ko siya makilala pero sabi naman ni Papa classmate namin siya nung elementary at highschool.

"Who forbid you?"

"Someone who hates you."

"What? Bakit naman siya... Wait. Someone who hates me?"

"Actually," Inikot niya ulit ako. "I was the reason behind that hate."

"Hindi kita maintindihan.."

"Ask him." We made the last step close step beat. He slowly let go of my hands. Napaurong ako at naramdamang may bumangga sa likod ko.

Agad akong tumingin sa likod ko at nakita siyang nakatingin kay Russ.

Him?

Galit siya sakin? Pero bakit?

"May I?" Goosebumps. Dahan dahan akong tumalikod. "Shall we dance?"

"Ikaw si?"

Bigla siyang nagsmirk at kinuha ang kamay ko. He positioned them over his shoulders. Akala ko hindi siya pupunta pero eto, andito siya ngayon at sinasayaw ako.

"Sorry about the, alam mo na yun."

"I don't mind. Leaving me behind and hanging with unanswered questions. Dun ako naiinis."

"So ikaw na ang galit sakin?"

I smiled. "So you hated me? Wait. Do you still hate me?"

"A bit?"

"What?" Napatawa siya nung hinampas ko siya sa dibdib. "Why did you even hate me?"

"Does it still matter?"

I shrugged, "I don't know."

"See?" Dahan dahan kaming sumayaw, unlike nung sayaw namin ni Russ. Tinitigan ko siya. I examined his face and wondering why I didn't even recognize him. "Matutunaw ako."

"Asan ang salamin mo?"

"Threw them them bought contacts. They're pretty popular now. Di mo alam, manang?"

I tried to ignore tha manang word, "Nagparetoke ka?"

"Not funny, Gab."

"I just can't believe you're that annoying guy!"

"Wow. Should I feel good now?" He gave me a straight face. I chuckled imagining him with frames. Yeah, he really is Fajardo. Pero pano?

"Kelan pa naging Fajardo ang Marilao?"

"Last time I check, it was when my mom remarried last last year." Napailing nalang ako. Who would ever thought that he was Nerdy Fajardo? The guy who hated me before. Na kulang nalang isumpa ako with black magic and stuff.

"The guy who kissed me back in Korea and now the guy who hated me most way back. Who really are you, Alex?"

"Meh." He shrugged. "Good thing Russ didn't tell you."

Iling lang ako ng iling. Si Russ, pinagbawalan ni Alex. Si Alex si Nerdy Fajardo. Si Nerdy Fajardo ang first kiss ko. Ang taong inis na inis ako kasi galit siya sakin.

"Wait, kung kilala mo si Russ. Ibig sabihin siya yung.."

"Gab." He stopped me. "Even for this day, can we skip that Me and Justine Issue? It's your birthday and I don't have plans walking out."

"Madaya. Speaking of Justine, is she here? I invited Princess."

"Do you really have to ask me that?" Tinuro niya ang right temple niya, "Where's your brain? I'm ignoring the girl."

I chuckled, "You actually admit that you're ignoring her."

"Nah." He sighed. "You already knew almost all of it so why bother hiding it from you, right?"

"So we're now friends?"

"You can call us that." He made face aa parang ayaw niya. "But there's still a percent that I hate you."

"What!" I gawked at him. "Bakit ka ba galit sakin nun? At bakit mo finorbid na si Russ na lumapit sa akin?"

"Happy Birthday." Nagulat ako nung bigla niya akong halikan sa noo. Binitawan na niya ako at naglakad siya palayo. Leaving me again with unanswered questions.

* 

Applause.

I blew the candles after saying my wish. I faintly smiled at everyone. The clock struck 12 midnight. Binati ako ng mga taong hindi ko kilala, mga taong familiar sakin. Mga taong... hindi ko naman hinahanap.

"Meet me after the clock struck midnight, my princess."

Si Lance Alexander.

Hindi ko alam pero nakita ko nalang  ang sarili kong tumatakbo. Not bothering I'm wearing a long gown or running in high heels. I just want to meet him for it may be the last of it.

"Smack, lip-lock or torrid?"

That day. June 17th. I met a guy who stole a kiss from me. A blue head guy named Gatorade. I slapped him hard for being arrogant and annoying.

"Live with it baby 'cause you'll be dating this 'annoying' for three months, now let's seal the contract with a kiss."

And I dated him.

I shook my head. This is no time for reminiscing.

I should find him now.

I need to see him.. No... I want to see him.

I want to see Lance Alexander. I want to see my baby.

Pumasok ako sa isang hallway. Not knowing where I should go. Tinanggal ko na yung heels ko. The heck I care for those stupid heels! Oh I really gonna hit Gatorade for this. Tumakbo ako kahit di ko alam kung kelangan kong tumakbo.

Lumiko ako sa daan at nagulat na makita si Marcus. Yakap yakap si bebs. Lalapitan ko sana sila para magtanong ng marinig kong umiiyak si bebs. Nagulat ako nung makitang nakatingin sakin si Marcus.

He mouthed the words 'I'm sorry.'

It's really happening.

It's time. They're breaking up with us.

Marcus broke up with Bebs.

I bit my lower lip. No. Hindi ito ang tamang oras para magdrama at isipin kung anong mangyayare bukas o pagkatapos nito. Pero... anong gagawin ko? Kung pupuntahan ko siya.. makikipag break siya sakin.

"I want a confession."

I never said I like him.

Di ko alam pero nakita ko nalang ulit ang sarili kong tumatakbo. Dumiretso ako sa garden kahit di ko alam kung bakit dun ako pumunta. He wants me to confess. I never said I liked him, but I actually did.

I found him.

Under the fireworks, in plain shirt and pants.

"After the clock struck 12, all the magic vanished. Di na prinsesa si Cinderella."

Hindi na prinsipe si Gatorade.

Dahan dahan akong bumaba sa hagdanan. Andun siya pinapanuod ang fireworks sa langit. Tulad ng dati, nagrereflect sa balat niya ang kulay ng langit. Pakiramdam ko tumigil ang tibok ng puso ko nung tumalikod siya at humarap sakin. Mas nahirapan akong huminga nung nakita ko siyang nakangiti. Bakit parang gusto kong umatras?

"I just like him too much. Hindi lang naman sa dahil kay Mica e. I'm just wondering what will happen after this. Marcus... he's special you know."

Si bebs. Umiiyak siya kanina habang yakap siya ni Marcus.

"Imagining him dating other girls. Treating other girls just like the way he treated me. Caring and loving others and knowing the fact that he's been like that to me before. Hindi mo ba nararamdaman yun bebs? Yung feeling na gusto mo siyang ipagdamot? Yung feeling na ayaw mong iparamdaman sa iba yung pakiramdam na binigay nila sayo?"

"Gab."

Napatingin ako kay Gatorade. Nagulat ako nung makita siya hawak hawak ang pisngi ko. At... tinawag niya akong Gab.

"You called me Gab." I said more like a whisper.

Wait..

Mas nagulat ako nung bigla niyang pinunasan ang pisngi ko. "Yes, I called you Gab."

Why?

"I'm sorry. Pero bakit?"

Sinubukan kong tingnan siya. Ni hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakuha ang lakas ng loob para tingnan ang mata niya. Napapikit ako nung lumapat ang labi niya sa noo ko.

"Please wag mong gawin sakin 'to ngayon, Alexa. Please."

"Are you," I lightly pushed his chest. "...breaking up with me?"

Napatungo siya noon. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko,

"Yes. I'm breaking up with you." I bit my lower lip. He said it. He broke up with me. "I'm breaking up with you, Gab."

Mas napakagat ako sa labi ko not thinking kung magsugat man yun o ano. Ramdam ko ang lamig ng kamay niya sa palad ko. Ayokong bitawan ang kamay na yun. Ayoko.

"Shit." Nagulat ako nung bigla niya akong niyakap. Mas lalo kong di napigilan ang luha ko. I returned the hug. Umiling iling ako.. Ni ayaw ng magsalita ng mga labi ko.

Pakiramdam ko naso-suffocate ako. May nakabara na kung ano sa lalamunan na pinipigilan akong magsalita. Di ako makahinga ng ayos pero alam ko sa sarili ko...na ayaw ko pa siyang bitawan.

"Gab.."

I'm not Gab.

Hindi ako si Gab.

Ako si Alexa di ba? Si Mama monster. Yung baby mo, di ba?

Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Gatorade sa braso ko. Dahan dahan niyang niluwagan ang pagkakayakap ko sa kanya. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang pisngi ko.

"Look at me." I refused. "Look at me."

"How can I look at you when you actually gonna be out of my sight sooner?" Pinunasan ko ang luha ko nung dahan dahan niyang binitawan ang mukha ko. "I like you, Lance."

I really do.

Hinawakan niya ang baba ko at inalalayan yun para makatingin ako sa kanya, "Alam ko."

Nakita ko na naman ang mata niya.

"I like you too, Alexa." I closed my eyes.

He kissed me.

"Thank you."

But when I opened my eyes, nakita ko na siyang naglalakad papalayo sa akin. That kiss was the last kiss from him.

We're over.

Gatorade broke up with me.

*

INT. Boyfriend Corp. Francis Madrigal's Office

"Hello, good morning. Andito po ako para mag-inquire about sa boyfriends niyo." Nahihiyang pumasok ang babae sa loob ng office ng isa sa manager dito sa Boyfriend Corp. Masiglang ngumiti sa kanya ang binata.

"Ikaw ba ay sawi sa pag-ibig? Ikaw ba ay takot sa mga lalaki? Iniwanan nalang sa ere kaya galit sa kalalakihan at may namumuong pakiramdam na gustong maghiganti?" alanganin na umupo ang babae sa upuan sa harap ng table ng manager. "Naghahanap lang ba ng taong sayo'y magpapakilig? O kaya naman malakas lang talaga ang iyong trip?"

Hindi mapigilang mapatawa ng dalaga at walang ano ano'y tumango kahit hindi niya alam kung para saan yun sa daming tanong sa kanya.

"Nasa tamang lugar ka, magandang binibini!"

Tumayo si Francis sa swivel chair niya at itinaas ang dalawang kamay,

"Welcome to Boyfriend Corporation!" Inilagay ng manager ang isang papeles sa harap ng dalaga, "Choose from the list and he'll be yours. Pay the amount and get the service you will never forget.

-END-