Epilogue (1st Part)
"... you understand, right, baby?" mommy said to me. I had no choice but to nod. I wanted this, I agreed. Now, I had no choice but to agree to what she had to say.
I smiled and hugged mommy. "Thanks for the chance, mommy."
"No problem, baby. Go ahead, I'll go ahead," he said and then went into his office. I was left holding the envelope.
"Good morning," Drake said.
What time is it?
He lowered a paper bag onto the dining table. "It's already past 10 am. Have you eaten yet?"
I shook my head and slowly walked towards the table. Because one night, Drake suddenly left me, the time he said he didn't want to keep it a secret. I didn't want to either but... what could I do?
He prepared the Chinese noodles he bought to take out. Is he a fan of Lim Chinese Restaurant? We always eat from there.-_-
He gave me chopsticks. "Drake..."
"Hmm?"
"I'm sorry..."
He looked at me. "Why? For hurting my feelings again and again?"
I pouted and played with the chopsticks. "Don't be mad at me, okay? Have you opened your Facebook?"
Drake:
"What?"
"I said, have you opened your Facebook yet?"
"What does my facebook account have to do with you hurting me?"
Take a deep breath, Alys. Drake is a bit slow, even though he's very intelligent. Sorry.
I took my laptop and handed it to him.
"Quick. Log in, quick!!"
Drake: doubtful stare" "Fine."
While he was pressing it, I was already excited!! Because, because he was emoting about his secretiveness, I sent him a relationship request on fb!! Oh, right?? That's okayl Shaira and I aren't friends on facebook... and besides, he sees it... there's nothing I can do. Maybe I should just explain to him? I'll think about it later. Drake is more important now.
I feel like he saw it because.... "Seulment Vous. I love you, Alys," he said then leaned in and kissed me on the neck.
*THE
254
When I recovered from the shock... "W-why on the neck?"
Nagshrug siya. "Brush your teeth first before I'll kiss you on the lips."
Sorry. Sorry. You're thrilled!!!
I ate the dumplings with a vengeance. Drake is crying!! I'm so excited, he's going to ruin it with his brush your teeth spiell The Drake Palma Way, oh!!
After we ate, he made me get dressed.
"Huh? Why?" I don't want to leave, it's my free day today!! I'd rather roll around in bed today! ~(*u*)~
"Tripp went fishing with Tito Tristan and Shaira went shopping somewhere far. So, let's go on a date, facebook girlfriend?"
Omg omg. Sorry, Tripp and Shaira. I'll tell you so much soon! I can't keep Drake a secret anymore. My heart is about to explode!!
I quickly got dressed and we left. As usual, Drake brought his mysterious car. Where were we going?
-"Seed."
*poke*
"Seed."
*poke poke"
the
the
"Hmmm?" I said with a matching stretching motion. "Where are we going?" said to him.
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I looked around me and then... "Uhh... why are we in the cemetery?"
Drake reached out from the back of his car and then handed it to me. "Here, give this to my mom so she'll like you," he said and then handed me a basket of sunflowers. It's beautiful!!
He opened his door so I opened the one on my side too. I was wondering if Drake would open it for me. In the almost one year we've known each other, he's never opened the door for me.
We walked until we came to a mausoleum.
"Mom, this is my estrange girlfriend. Alys, this is my mom."
Drake's mommy is so pretty!! She has a painting on her face. Tsk. I thought Aunt Katrina was an angel, this one is more angelic! No wonder Drake is so hot, his mommy is so pretty!
"Uhh... hello po, mommy ni Drake?"
"Tsk. She's my mom so call her mom."
"I don't want to! We're not married yet!"
"If you'll wait for our wedding day to call her mom, you'll just wait in vain. I won't marry you until you turn 28."
"And why?! I'm only 18, so I'm going to wait 10 years?!!!"
"Both your dad and your daddy made me promise not to touch you until you turn 20 and not to propose until you turn 28 so yeah... wait for me."
"You're too much!"
"If you want my body, wait for 2 years. I'll give in on the night of your twentieth birthday, don't worry."
*gasps!!*
Jusko Lord, I'm having a headache with Drake. It must be bad that he's coming to our house, Daddy's already influencing him! That slap on the head was so hard! I wonder why mommy married him. Even if Dane is really her son because Dane is so different from her!! Daddy seems like a sampid in our family.
"Are you on drugs?" I asked him.
Umiling siya. "No. If I'm on drugs, I'd kiss you senseless right now. But since I'm not, I'll wait patiently for 2 years."
I wish I could sink into the ground. I'm ashamed of what Palma says!!
Drake must have been getting tired of what she was saying, so he placed the basket in front of his mom's tomb. He also lit candles.
"Mom, as I've said, this is my girlfriend, Alys. I know I told you I like really pretty girls but... yeah, I love her so to hell with physical appearance. But she's cute, right?"
Stop me, I'm going to choke him even though I'm thrilled by his insults!!
"Dad's gonna have another baby so I hope he'll quit clinging onto me. You've met Tita Katrina, right?" Napatigil ako. First time kong marinig na tawagin niyang Tita si Tita Kat. "She's being nice so I'm trying to stop hating her since she'll be the mother of my brother. I hope you'd like her soon. Dad loves her, I think."
Kinuha niya yung kamay ko tapos hinawakan niya. "Anyway, she's Alys and she's all the things I hate in a girl. She's loud and stupid and obnoxious and clingy. I hated her but now, I love her."
I whispered to him. "I'll bite you later!!"
"And she hurts me physically, too. She bites me, she pulls my hair, and she kicks me. But I love her still."
He took something from his pocket.
4G
"W-why are you proposing?!!!"
I'm going to hyperventilate!! Why does he have a ring box?!
200
He just stared at me. He looked at his mom. "And she's assuming as well, mom. I don't know why I love her."
Tumingin naman siya sa akin. "You've got the memory of a bird, Alys, I told you I won't propose until you're 28."
"So why do you have a box like that?!!"
"This? This's for your birthday. But I messed up so yeah, I'm giving this just now."
I fell silent. The memory of my debut was coming back. The time Drake made me cry so much.
"Drake?"
"Hmm?" he said. He opened the box. He thought it was a ring, but it wasn't. It was a strawberry pendant.
"W-why weren't you able to come to my debut?"
If I was silent earlier, he was silent too. "It's not my story to tell but I'll tell you. this." He paused. He probably didn't really want to tell it because it seemed like he was just being forced.
"If you don't want to say it, that's okay..."
"No, I should tell you this. I had to attend to Shaira that night," sabi niya. "Shaira has... suicidal tendencies. I don't know why she has those tendencies. She has a complete family and she gets anything she wants but still, she cuts her wrist when she feels depressed."
Now, I've noticed. Is that why Shaira always wears a watch or bracelet? Is it because she needs to hide her wounds?
"That night, I was about to go to your debut, Alys. I swear, I'm about to go down the car and to greet you a happy birthday but then, her nanny called. She cut her wrist. Again."
"I was forced to go to her knowing that I'm the only one who could stop her. She's crazy and annoying and it's driving me nuts. But I can't leave her, she's my best friend."
I've spoken. I understand now. All along, I doubted him even though the truth is, he didn't do anything wrong... "It's okay, Drake. I understand you now..."
But he didn't stop, he continued talking. "And the night you ran off?"
"Huh?"
"The night you saw me and Shaira emerging from the bathroom. I know you have a dirty mind so you probably thought wrong. But I'm telling you, I did nothing but to keep her from slitting her wrist. She's nuts, Alys. I had to break my own bathroom door because she locked up herself and threatened me that she'll kill herself."
"I swear, my hands are pure.. I think. I didn't touch her one bit."
Wow! All my doubts turned out to be nothing?!
He came closer to me and handed me his gift again. "Now that I've made myself clear, will you accept this strawberry as the sign of my affection?"
I was going to take it but... "Why did you just say this now? Why not before?"
"Because... I don't know. Please stop asking about what happened in the past. Live in the present, Alys. Let's be happy today and don't worry about what would happen tomorrow. Could you do that for me? For us?"
I smiled.
"Thanks for the strawberries, Drake, but..."
"But what again?" he said then rolled his eyes! Oh, how cute!!
200
"I'll be your girlfriend again once you fix things with Shaira and Tripp. I'll be your girlfriend again if you agree..."
He smiled and took my hand. "I'll see you again tomorrow. After the last day of exam."
After that, we said goodbye to his mom and she took me to our house. I still need to take care of something. I hope everything goes well.
Tomorrow....
"Tripp!"
"Oh?" he said. He was here at freedom park. Today was the last day of school.
I sat next to him while he continued taking pictures. Tripp is really good at taking pictures, he seems like a professional. He gave me a picture, I just don't know where he got it... Actually, I don't know how he got it. That's the picture where Drake left me again, and I started crying again. It's really good, it's like destiny? Every time I cry, Tripp sees it.
But what's different?
When I cried, he didn't come to me... He just took a picture of me. I even remember when he gave it to me....
-flashback-
"What's this?" I said to Tripp. I was in the cafeteria, eating. He just talked to me again! Tripp has been ignoring me for a week... I miss his thick face so much!
He brought the wrapped something closer to me. "It's the last time," he said.
"Huh?"
He pulled the chair in front of me and sat there. "I was thinking," he said then he stopped and looked at me. "I really love you, Alys, but I can't keep chasing someone who doesn't like me."
"It's Tripp..."
He raised his finger to stop me. "It's my decision, Perez. I know I said, I'm always here. Yes, I'm here... but just as a friend. I'm a man, Alys. It's not fun for me to always be the second option. Why do you think I stopped Shaira? Because she doesn't like me. So you, I'll stop you too."
"Are you mad at me?"
He shrugged. "You know yes, you know no?"
"It's Tripp!"
He winked at me again, that's it, he's being cute again. "That's my secret. It's better that you don't know, right?"
"No, you're mad at me?"
He stood up. "That's it, I'm leaving."
I couldn't stop him anymore. I reached for what he gave me and then... I called him.
"Tripp..." I said on the other line.
("Oh? I just left, you already missed me.")
"W-why did you give me this?"
("Ah, why? Is it ugly?")
"No. But why is it like this?"
I heard him sigh. Maybe he was mad at me. I was always hurting him. "I told you, when five comes, I won't stop you, right? But that's not enough, Alys.... When you cry ten times, I'll stop you. Drake is the reason you're crying, he should be the one to let you go. Sorry, Alys. I really can't take it anymore."
After that, he hung up the call.
-present-
"Let's eat. I'm free!" I told him. We didn't talk for a few days after he told me that. Of course, I was hurt. Tripp was practically my best friend and that's all i could hear from him. But since we were practically best friends, I didn't ignore him until he ignored me.
"I don't know about you," he said. Grumpy forever! Now, I've proven that he and Drake are cousins!
"Sige na, please?" with pretty eyes and pouty lips!!
He handed me his dSLR. "Picture first."
I did the peace sign and then he took a picture of me. "What? Are you ready??"
He first put his dSLR in the holder, put on his cargo shorts, and then stood up. He offered his hand to help me stand so I accepted it.
"Are you going to bring me?" he said.
"Really, are you still a girl?" Then I laughed. Because Tripp still feels like a girl! Trying hard to be grumpy!
"Psh. I'm not dating you anymore, I have the right to be rude."
"I don't know about you. Come on, let's go to... just. Let's wander!"
20
After that, I dragged Tripp to the coffee shop. It's just, since he said he would stop me, we haven't bonded much. Ever since I met Tripp, guess what, we've known PMS for four months! We bond here at the coffee shop. Coffee here and there and everywhere! We are caffeine buddies!
"Alys," he said. I stopped eating my strawberry cupcake because he called my name.
"Hmm?" I said while still holding the fork in my hand.
"I'm leaving."
"You said it earlier. Where are you going?"
He shrugged. "Secret."
"You know a lot, like where are you going on vacation?"
His face suddenly softened. "I'm not really going on vacation. I'm really leaving."
I was stunned. Will he leave? Is it because of me?
I looked at him carefully, my tears were a little on the side again. Am I the reason why he leaves? Is Tripp so mad at me that he's leaving?
"W-is it because of... me?"
He smiled a little, as if he was hiding something. I don't understand Tripp, he seems to be hiding something that I don't understand. "You're overthinking, Zyril. It's been a long time coming."
He explained to me what would happen. Even though Tripp tried to make me understand, nothing seemed to come to my mind. In my mind, I'm still the one to blame. Why is he leaving? Maybe somehow, I'm still the reason. I'm really bad... I'm worse than Kei or Shaira, At least they don't make men cry. What about me? Well, I think I made Tripp cry even though he didn't want to show it because he turned his back.
He finished the strawberry frappe he was drinking. Influenced. I think Tripp is in my strawberry madness.
"So, what? Go home?" he said. He stood up but I also stood up and then I hugged him.
"You're not really mad at me, are you?"
He shook his head. "I'm not mad at you." He patted my head and then kissed my temple. "I'll bring you, we have one more week, Zy. Don't act all over it. Next week you'll make me cry."
"Tss. You brag!!"
"It's just ice, handsome."
Next time, I'll get Ice too. Tripp always says that. Power to influence.
* dignified
"Uy, Drakel"
"I've accepted your relationship request."
"Ha?"
Drake smiled, for the first time "I've talked to Shaira and Tripp, and we're now free." After he said that, he went directly to my unit. "Why... are there baggages on your bed?"
Oh...
flashback-
"Baking. Please, please, mommy. I'll just go to Brent. It's only one semester. If my grades aren't good, send me LBC to NYU. Please, mommy? This one chance. Please?"
"Fine. One semester."
present-
I tried to smile at Drake. I explained to him what mommy and I talked about. It's my fault too, I didn't study well. Maybe I'm destined to be sent to LBC in another country.
"I told you, I'm willing to be your girlfriend... if you agree," I said. "I'm leaving in a day, Drake. Can you afford to have a girlfriend whose drama is a million miles away?"
Drake is still silent. It's scary.
"Your dad said I could touch you when you turn 20..." he said. It's like he's on another planet. His eyes seem unfocused. I think he was too shocked by what I said. "But you're leaving now... and New York is so far from here."
I held his hand. "Do you want to touch me?"
He looked at me badly. "That's not what I meant. You have a dirty mind, Alys. Nothing will happen."
I said yes.
"LDR?"
"I've gone from being a secret boyfriend to being a long distance boyfriend. My lovelife's abnormal."
I laughed. Why did Drake suddenly become a comedy? I! I will miss him more than that!! "You said you were going to propose on my 28th, right? That's 10 years from now, Drake."
"I know. And I'm already counting the days. I'm sure you're the one I wanna. spend my boring life with."
I smiled again. If I didn't promise Mommy, I don't want to leave. I'm happy here in the Philippines...
I took out the plastic ring I won in the timezone. That's all my ticket cost. T^T
"Oh, let's get engaged."
Drake: --
I pouted. "Hey, Drake, even if it's plastic and looks childish, that's the sign of my willingness to be a part of your boring life! Take care of it!"
He shook his head. "You're really weird, you know that?"
I nodded. He can always remind me that I'm weird. I probably remembered
He also sat down. I'm sitting on my bed.
"I accept your proposal... but since you'll be flying away soon... I'll kiss you senseless right now to compensate for the next, few years."
"A-year???"
He put his index finger on my lips. "Hush, Alys. Drake will kiss you right now. Don't tell your dad or they'll kill me."