"Hey boo.." I felt Ali's arms wrapped around my waist while I was busy looking for something in my bag.

"Oh bakit boo?" I turned to her and cupped her cheek.

"I'm not feeling good" she said.

"Ha?" kinapa ko kung mainit siya.

"You have to stay home today boo, uuwi ako agad after class halfday ko naman"

"I can't, we have tests today" she sulked.

"What? well I can fetch it for you boo, call in sick and I'll take it later"

"I really can't Anna, malapit na yung midterms"

She stood up before taking her bag and keys.

"Pasok na tayo boo, I'll fetch you at lunch" she said before leaving the room.

I just shrugged how unenthusiastic Ali is this morning, baka she's just not well talaga.

It's my last class this morning when I got a call from Jake.

"Hello Hannah? may hang out kami with the ministry this lunch sa bar nina Warren, punta ka?"

Naalala ko sina mama, if I have to do this then so be it. I'll take the bullet for them once again.

"Sige Jake"

"Nice! sige sunduin kita jan sa building niyo after class."

I sighed before pocketing my phone.

"So? malapit na pala midterms no? gusto mo ba mag extra lessons with me?" tanong ni Jake while we're riding sa kotse niya papunta sa bar.

"Uh, di na siguro Ja-"

"C'mon, sige na Hannah, makakatulong yun promise I'll pay for it"

"No need Jake" pirming sagot ko. I can't keep not appearing sa part time jobs ko.

"Okay, sabihin mo lang ulit kung nagbago isip mo"

I faked a smile.

"Nga pala bro! are you guys datinggg?? ayi ayi!" pangaasar ni Warren kaya napasama na sina Kuya James.

"Oo nga Hannah! parang napapadalas kayong magkasama! ayi ayi!" nag apir naman sina Kuya James at Kuya Ori.

"Hoy! magtigil nga! mabait lang yang si Hannah kaya pinagbibigyan si Jake" singit ni ate Jani.

She's not half wrong.

Jake looked at me smiling before holding my hand.

"Oo, nililigawan ko na si Hannah"

Nagsigawan silang magkakaibigan bago nag apir.

What the fuck?! I stared at him with widened eyes before pulling my hand.

He looked at me with sharp eyes.

For a moment I got scared of what he's about to do.

"We're dating" he whispered while smirking and slipping his hand on my leg.

I was frozen in fear, medyo mataas ng konti yung table kaya hindi nila nakikita yung movements ni Jake below.

Naiiyak na ako sa takot pero I tried to smile so I won't look awkward.

"Did you have fun?" Jake asked as he was taking to Ali's condo.

I just nodded and continued to stare at the window.

"Good thing, cause we'll be going out again tomorrow"

"What?!"

"Oh bat parang ayaw mo naman?"

He smirked at me.

"I-uh..."

"I'll take you out after practice" he said bago ako makababa ng sasakyan niya.

He immediately left, ambilis niya magpatakbo.

I checked my phone as I was in the elevator to Ali's unit.

You have 8 messages from Boo🐻💕

Ah shit!

Nagulat ako kaya hindi ko na nabasa yung mga messaged ni Ali.

I forgot to tell her na hindi na ako nagpapasundo, what the hell!

I ran to her door before going inside.

"Ali!?"

I took my shoes off before running upstairs.

"Ali are you home?!"

I saw her sa kama tulog at nakakumot.

I looked at the clock, it's already 4:52 pm. What the hell did I do?

"Boo?" I touched her face trying to wake her up slowly.

Nagulat ako when she feels so hot.

"Ali! may sakit ka, shit why didn't you tell me" she slowly sat up bago sumandal sa headboard.

"I did, I texted you"

Shit! just shit!

"I'm sorry boo.. higa ka muna please" I quickly regret everything that happened.

I went to the bathroom para kumuha ng towel at magpainit ng tubig.

"Boo? can I remove your shirt?" I got back to Ali para lisahin siya. She's burning up. Mahina talaga resistensiya niya.

"Mmm" she mumbled.

I started removing her black shirt leaving her in her black bra.

Nilisa ko siya bago ilagay sa noo niya yung basang towel.

"Stay here okay?" I fixed myself and changed my clothes bago nagluto ng mushroom soup para pakainin si Ali.

"Boo.. upo ka muna, you have to eat dinner para makainom ka ng gamot"

She slowly sat up.

"I can feed myself" mahina niyang sabi.

"No, ako na. Let me take care of you" pinigilan ko siya bago subuan ng soup.

"I'm sorry kanina boo.. madami kasi kaming tinapos kaya hindi kita nasabihan na mauna ka nang umuwi" another lie.

Alam kong pagsisisihan ko tong lahat but I didn't know what else to do at this situation.

"I went to your last class, they said nauna ka na umalis nagmamadali ka daw" she answered.

"Uhh, oo boo e sa bahay kasi kami nung classmate ko gumawa.."

Fuck this. I hate having to lie to Ali.

"Ahh, tell me next time ihahatid kita" sagot niya habang kumakain.

She's already sick but she still thinks about me. I'm starting to really hate my self.

"This is good boo, but I really wanted noodles with egg" she said nang naubos na niya yung soup.

"What? instant noodles kahit may sakit ka? sa tingin mo papayag ako?"

"Ih, that's what I usually have kase when I'm sick.. it's calming"

"Not anymore boo, I'll make something else more comforting next time"

She smiled at me while fixing her blanket.

"Here, take your medicine bago ka matulog, it's a good thing sabado bukas you can rest here"

She took her medicine before drifting off to sleep again.

I went to bed after everything I needed to do.

I looked at Ali.

She's too innocent, too precious..

Too much for me.

She does everything right, she loves me the way every woman deserves.

She gives it her all everytime.

I can't handle being the reason she'll ruin her life.

I wiped my tears and hugged her before kissing her forehead.

"Forgive me Ali.."

The alarm went off the next morning, I almost forgot may practice pala kami sa church today.

I saw Ali still sleeping soundly while facing me.

Pinakiramdaman ko yung temperature niya and felt relieved, hindi na ganun kataas yu g lagnat niya.

I kissed her crown before getting up and getting ready to go to our practice.

Nasa banyo ako putting light make up after I checked my clothes when I heard a thud in the bedroom

"Ali!" I opened the bathroom door to see what happened.

"Oh? you ready boo? hatid na kita"

She said while trying her shoes.

"What? no no"

"Huh? ayaw mo nang ihatid kita?"

"Uh no! no it's not that, it's just dapat nagpapahinga ka pa diba? bakit nakabihis ka na? humiga ka nga ulit" I went out of the bathroom para sermonan siya.

"I don't feel like I need it boo, I'm good look" she stood up jumping and dancing.

I laughed, she's so silly. She knows how to get what she wants.

"Please don't wait for me boo, umuwi ka na get some rest and don't skip meals" pinaalalahanan ko siya as she dropped me off sa church parking lot.

"Yes boo, blah blah" pangaasar niya.

She doesn't look well still but I know she's trying really hard na makatulong sakin.

"I'm not joking boo, wag mo na akong sunduin I'll get home myself, magpahinga ka nalang okay?"

"Depends how I feel later boo" she smiled.

"Ish stubborn" I lightly pinched her cheek.

"Pasok na ako ha, sige na boo alis ka na" I walked to the front door still watching Ali standing beside her car smiling and waving at me.

I suddenly felt sad.

"I never meant to hurt you Ali.. I just can't continue doing it."

"Goodmorning Hannah!" they all greeted me as I entered sa church.

"Goodmorning din po" , I greeted back

"Morning babe.." I got startled when Jake wrapped his arms on my shoulder from behind and pulled me closer to him.

"What are you doing?" I whispered half angry.

"What? we're dating nga diba? makisama ka nalang, this will bring good news" he whispered back smirking.

I didn't want to continue the practice, gusto ko nalang tumakbo pabalik kay Ali at yakapin siya.

It was break time when I received a call kay mama.

"Ma?"

"Kamusta Hannah? balita ko nagkakamabutihan na kayo ni Jake? may trabaho na ulit si papa mo wag ka na magalala, sina tito mo binigyan ng isa pang taong ng mga magulang ni Jake para makapagbayad.."

I smiled bitterly.

"Salamat anak ha.." rinig ko yung sakit sa salita ni mama.

"Hmm.. opo" halos tumulo na yung luha ko.

"Sige na, baka nakakaistorbo na ako" pinatay na ni mama yung call.

I buried my face sa kamay ko before letting out tears.

"Hey.. panyo oh" I looked up and saw Jake handing me his handkerchief.

"Hindi na, meron ako" I wiped my tears.

"Hay.. break the walls you have for me Hannah, I'm only trying to help, I bring good to you.."

I wanted to punch him in the face for thinking na yung pamilya ko para makuha ako. He treated me like a toy na natretrade lang.

I looked at him with a frown.

"What? I just guessed natanggap mo na yung good news.." he smirked.

"I did that" pagmamayabang niya.

Okay asshole.

"So you have to come with me for lunch, I cancelled our afternoon practice"

"What?! ano nanamang gusto mo?!" napataas yung boses ko sakanya.

"Woah, calm down. I mean I gave you what you wanted, so it's payback time" he smirked again evily.

I couldn't believe there are people out there na kagaya ni Jake. He exceeds my perception of heartless.

Wala akong nagawa kundi tumango nalang at umiyak ulit, he just left me bago bumalik sa loob ng church.

Natapos na yung practice namin and I was already fixing my things.

"So? lunch date?" Jake suddenly came to me playing with her keys.

I rolled my eyes at him bago siya sundan papuntang kotse niya.

He never opened the door for me, or even ask me to put on my seatbelt like Ali always does.

Then again, he's trash compared to her.

We were eating lunch when he held my hand.

I felt stiff again, frozen in place everytime he touches me.

"May gusto ka bang gawin? we can spend the afternoon together" he said.

"Uh I just want to rest, saka malapit na yung midterms, I need to study"

I did what I can para hindi na kami magsama pa ngayong hapon.

I did my part for my family, now Ali needs me.

"Oh okay sige, ihahatid nalang kita" sagot niya.

"No need magcocommute nalang ako"

"Ah okay" again, he never insists.

"Boo? I'm home!" I went to find Ali as soon as I got to the condo.

"Boo?!" she came running down the stairs.

"Oh ano ka ba baka mabinat ka" pagaalala ko.

"I'm good boo, it's just you're early today, it's only 1:20"

"Well uhm.. maaga tinapos yung pratice boo, we'll be playing with another band naman kasi bukas" I explained.

"Well today's my lucky day then I'll spend it with you" she smiled before hugging me.

"Aysus, you have to rest boo, have you had your lunch?"

"Of course! namiss ko talaga yung noodles with egg e hahaha"

"What? didn't I tell you not to- argh! you stubborn little kid!" I punched her jokingly before she ran upstairs.

"Hoy! halika dito!" I ran after her.

I don't know how long I can take hiding things from Ali.. I can't keep hurting her like this.

"I love you boo.." Ali mumbled as she was falling asleep in my arms.

I didn't notice how a tear escaped my eye.

Til when can I hear that from her, hanggang kailan ko itatago sakanya to lahat. Paano pag malaman niya, will she leave? can I take that?

I know I don't deserve her, that it's better kung kakalimutan nalang niya ako after ng lahat.

I cried myself again to sleep that night.

Natapos na yung Sunday service sa church, I was resting sa isang room sa may likod, like a resting room.

"Hannah?" I heard Jake as he opened the door and entered.

"Bakit?" I coldly asked.

"Sungit ah, bad mood?"

"Bakit nga ba yun?" I asked again, I was tired already kaya irritated ako sa lahat, lalo na sakanya.

"Well, bilang manliligaw.. gusto ko sana na masolo ka"

What? where is he heading?

"I say yes to all your offers na dates Jake" I answered.

"Yeah, basically.. pero I have another offer" he said before looking at me and holding my hand.

"Break up with Ali"

What?! I laughed bitterly before standing up.

I slapped him hard.

"How dare you even say her name?! you've been disrespecting the both of us ever since you entered the scene Jake!"

He held his cheek and licked his lips.

Nagulat nalang ako when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me before pushing me sa wall and started kissing my neck.

"Ah! ano ba Jake! nasasaktan ako stop!!"

I tried to stop him but he was too strong holding both my wirsts to the wall.

He looked at my eyes again, this time full of superiority.

"Break up with her or I'll make sure to  crush your family"

~~~~~~~

uwu :<