"Oh anjan ka pala boo, I had to answer that kasi e per-"

"I'm asking you.. who's Jake?"

Pinutol ni Ali yung sinasabi ko with her authoritative voice.

"Oh ahh well he's my leader dun sa music ministry I told you about sa church ni tito" pagpapaliwanag ko.

"Why is he calling you?"

"Huh? tinatanong lang boo kung anong oras ako babalik nang practice"

She stood up and went to the kitchen so I followed her.

"Are you jealous?" parang iba na inaakto nito e.

"Jealous, really.." malamig niyang sagot habang may hinahanap sa ref.

"Yes boo, are you jealous? kay Jake?" tanong ko.

"Jake huh, not kuya? I'm guessing he's older, being the ministry leader"

Ano bang pinupunto ni Ali, I didn't know how I should react so I just gave her a confused look.

"What does he drive?"

"Huh? why are you asking that boo?"

"A white honda? guy with glasses? black jacket?" sunod sunod na sabi ni Ali while pouring water sa glass.

How did she even know that?

"Do I have a reason to be jealous?" she looked at me before drinking.

"Wha- I mean none boo, wala"

"Good, wait for me downstairs I'll take you to your practice" sabi ni Ali bago umakyat sa kwarto niya.

We were driving to the mall dahil nga kailangan bumili ni Ali ng bagong damit.

"Have you had lunch yet?" tanong niya sakin.

I hesitated for a moment dahil baka pag sinabi ko na kasama ko si Jake naglunch hindi maganda yung isipin ni Ali.

"Yes boo, with my co-members" my first lie to Ali.

"Oh take out nalang den ako mamaya boo, it's not as fun as eating with you but I'm kinda hungry" sagot niya.

Umiikot na kami sa mall ni Ali and she already bought 3 new shirts and 2 jackets.

Nagulat ako when she pulled me sa isang stall.

"Wh- bat tayo pupunta dito boo?"

"See that dress? I think it'll look good on you" sagot niya.

I looked at the dress she was pointing, a bright red, sweetheart neckline with thin strap flowy summer dress.

It looks so good.

"Try it on" utos ni Ali.

I went sa fitting room para isukat yung dress while Ali waited outside.

"Hey boo? nilamon ka na ba ng salamin?" rinig kong sabi ni Ali sa may pinto.

Ay matagal na ba akong nagaayos, ughh wait last fixing. I straightened the dress before opening the door and calling Ali.

"Ano? okay lang ba?" nahihiyang tanong ko.

She just stared at me looking flustered.

"Boo? pangit ba? parang halata yung tiyan ko e" pagrereklamo ko.

Nagulat nalang ako when Ali pushed me back inside the fitting room and my back immediately hit the wall.

I haven't gotten back to my senses when she kissed me on my lips.

I heard her latch the door and slowly deepened the kiss.

My mind and body was in shock, I didn't know how to react but it seemed like my lips had it's own control over the situation as it answered every move of Ali's.

She help my neck with her one hand and my waist with the other, pushing me more sa wall.

I can't seem to think of anything at the moment except that we're doing this sa mall.. sa fitting room...

She pulled off from the kiss only to go down my neck and started planting soft kisses there.

She tightened her grip sa bewang ko and pulled me closer.

"A-ali.." it's all I could mumble.

"Hmm?" she answered while still kissing my neck.

The words are not leaving my mouth, the more she moves the weaker I become.

She slowly pulled off and looked me in the eye.

"You look perfect.." she whispered with raspy breath.

I was out of words again, like everytime.

"Let's buy it" sabi niya bago ako hinalikan sa noo at umalis ng fitting room.

I couldn't control my knees, napaupo ako sa rush of emotions.

What the hell just happened?

I quickly stood up and shrugged it off or else everyone will notice.

I changed back to my own dress before fixing my hair and retouching my light make up.

Sobrang bilis parin ng tibok ng puso ko, Ali really makes me feel things.

"One last shop boo ah, then we'll have ice cream like I promised" paalam ni Ali.

"Oo na boo, be quick hinahanap na ako nina tito"

"Nila tito nga ba?" mahina niyang sagot.

"What was that?" is she really jealous? Sam Aliya Buenavista is jealous??

"Wala, I think maganda yung shoes dun oh tara" pagiba ni Ali ng usapan.

She looks like an in-denial kid kahit na she's wearing a gray sweatshirt tucked in her black pants. Still so cute.

We were eating ice cream in Ali's car while she's driving me to chruch.

"So is everything going well kila tito mo boo?" tanong niya.

"Oo naman boo, they have a child so hindi ako masyadong nalulungkot pag namimiss ko yung mga kapatid ko" sagot ko.

"Sounds good, call me if moving in with me comes to your mind na" nakangiting sabi ni Ali.

"Hindi mo talaga ako titigilan e no? let's not jump to that boo, try muna natin for freshmen year"

"Yeah right, fine. Bata pa tayo achuchu" pagbibiro niya habang ginagaya yung linya ko.

I laughed at her silliness and just texted tito nalang na malapit na ako sa church.

"So I guess I'll see you when you actually think you want to see me na" nagtatampong sabi ni Ali while we were standing sa front doors ng church with my back facing it.

"Sus, I want to see you everyday boo"

She smiled and damn that smile is my very reason why I feel blessed everytime.

Di ko natiis so I kissed her sa cheek.

Then I saw her smirking sa likod ko.

I turned around and saw Jake sa door.

"Ah sorry nalate ako Jake.." pagbati ko.

He smiled at me and looked at Ali with deep eyes.

I looked at Ali who's still smirking, her cleft chin visible.

"Uhm tara na Hannah, it's our 3rd round na sa practice e" pagaaya ni Jake.

"Oh okay sige sorry ulit ha"

"Boo pasok na ako ah, ingat ka" bulong ko kay Ali bago pumasok sa pinto passing sa tabi ni Jake.

I looked back before Jake closed the door and saw Ali cutely waving bye at me.

She and her tiny energy, hngggg sarap ibulsa.

"Hi Hannah" pagbati ni Jake habang naglalakad kami papasok.

"Uh hello sorry ulit ah emergency lang" sagot ko.

"Hinde okay lang, naiintindihan ko naman"

"Huh?" what does he mean by that?

"May I ask, sino yung naghatid sayo?" what?

"Uhm sorry ah pero I think you're getting too personal.."

I get that he's curious pero parang pa inosente nalang siya after what happened, I plan to keep Ali's profile low ayoko namang ipagsasasabi nalang basta kung sino siya.

The afternoon practice seems to be more tiring kaysa kaninang umaga since dere deretso na yung galaw.

I was wiping my sweat when arms suddenly wrapped around my waist from behind.

"Sabi ko na you're dress is a little too short kaya wag kang tatalon ng masyado" Jake said while tying his jacket around my waist.

I shrugged and pulled away from him taking his jacket.

"Uh no I don't need it, I'll use my own" taranta kong sabi bago kinuha sa bag yung dala kong blazer.

"Oof major blow!" pagsigaw naman nila kuya James.

"In ya face dude" dagdag pa ni kuya Ori.

"Shut up, let's get back to work" sagot ni Jake na halatang may pagka inis.

"Okay last one from the top" sigaw ni Jake.

The practice has been going on for almost 2 hours now and I can feel the exhaustion seeping but we have to keep going.

We finally finished with the dry run and sat down to rest while ate Jani is preparing snacks.

"Water?" tanong ni Jake sabay abot sakin ng bote.

"No worries I have one" sagot ko.

"You must be hungry, hindi natin natapos yung meal kanina e" he continued to converse with me.

"I ate na rin kanina before coming here" maikli kong sagot. I didn't want to talk to him, he's being too close kakameet palang namin.

"Ow, kasama ba yung babae kanina?"

What? why does he need to bring it up again.

I stood up and grabbed my things.

"Ah una na po ako sainyo thank you for your warm welcome"

"Aalis ka na?" tanong ni Jake.

Ay hindi obvious? hindi ko na siya sinagot at tumuloy na palabas ng church.

I was waiting na sa labas para kina tito when Jake came running towards me.

"Uh Hannah may mali ba? I mean maybe we started off from the wrong foot but-"

"No! just wala.. I really want to go home, pagod lang ako Jake" napasigaw na ako sa inis.

"But I really mean to ask you kung sino yung kasama mo kanina? is she the one na pinuntahan mo dun sa condo kanina? is she your friend? I mean-"

"She's my girlfriend"

I looked at the direction where the voice came from.

Ali was standing almost 3 meters from our side with her one hand in her pocket and the other on her side.

What is she doing here? akala ko ba umuwi na siya.

She was looking at Jake with furrowed eyebrows before walking to us and grabbing my wrist pulling me with her.

We were walking away when I intended to look back but Ali looked at me sharply and turned my head back.

"Don't you dare look at him" her voice was cold and eyes were stern. It's my first time seeing this side of Ali.

"I'm taking you home"

~~~~~~~

uwu ;/