"Ali.."

Iyak nalang ako ng iyak, hindi ko na mapigilan yung mga nararamdaman ko.

"B-boo" I tried to reach onto Ali's hand but she pulled it almost immediately.

"You called me for this?" naluluhang tanong niya.

"Ali please.. p-please, no boo please"

"Please?" she scoffed.

"Hannah halika na ako na maguu-"

Nagulat ako nang suntukin ni Ali si Jake na nagpatumba sakanya and made his glasses fly off.

"Ano bang problema mo?!" sigaw ni Jake na hawak ang panga niya.

I stopped Ali from hitting Jake again, I can't take witnessing another fight.

"Ali stop! don't do it" hinarangan ko si Jake bago siya nakatayo.

Ali smiled bitterly at me.

"Right, hindi mo pala to kailangan" she said.

"Oo kaya umalis ka na" banggit ni Jake.

"Don't even think you have a say in this asshole" balik ni Ali.

"Call me anything you want but you're not the one she needs right now"

After that Ali's hand came flying to hit Jake again, this time harder, I couldn't stop her.

She hit him multiple times more, they were on the floor all bloody and all I could do was shout.

"Ali please!! tama na! tama na please!!" sinubukan ko siyang hilain but I failed, she was not stopping.

Until Jake hit her back and she fell sa mga basag na pinggan.

"Ali!" shit I can see blood everywhere.

"Tangina!" tumayo si Jake bago tinadyakan si Ali sa tiyan.

"No!! fuck you! stop! umalis ka na!!"

I pushed Jake as hard as I can but he yanked me even harder.

"Aray!" napasigaw ako sa sakit.

He looked at my arm and biglang lumaki yung mata niya.

"Shit" I heard Ali curse while standing up almost losing her balance.

"What the fuck did you do?!" she grabbed Jake's collar and pushed him away before taking a look at my arm.

I looked at it and saw blood dripping, I didn't even notice na nasugatan na pala ako.

"Ahh fuck" Ali cursed again, silently this time.

Ngayon ko lang naramdaman yung sakit, I looked at Ali and saw her busted lip.

"Shit are you okay boo?" I wiped her blood which made her hiss in pain

I looked at Jake na naka sandal sa pader holding his jaw from pain.

"Umalis ka na Jake" pirmi kong sabi.

"But Hannah you need me to-"

"Who the hell said I need you?!" I cut him off sa galit ko.

I didn't even call for him, siya yung nagkusang pumunta dito.

He looked at me for a second looking betrayed bago dinampot yung glasses niya and naglakad papunta kay Ali at binangga siya sa balikat, Ali just bit her lip while looking away.

I knew she didn't want any more trouble.

"Boo pating-"

"Take your cousin, I'll take you both sa condo"

Ali cut me off and took my bag with her before standing at the door waiting for me.

Agad ko nang binuhat si Faith at tinakpan ng towel dahil malakas parin ang ulan.

Pinayungan kami ni Ali hanggang makarating kami sa kotse.

Faith was crying the whole ride so I couldn't talk to Ali because I was busy calming her down.

We entered Ali's condo and she immediately put down my bag sa sofa before opening it.

"What's her milk to water ratio?" tanong niya.

"Huh?"

"She's hungry, kaya hindi tumitigil sa kakaiyak"

"Ah, 1:1" sagot ko.

Maybe she knew how to handle babies dahil kay Lucas.

I gave Faith her feeding bottle which made her stop crying.

"Here, fix her up and let her sleep sa kama ko" abot sakin ni Ali ng damit ni Faith.

"Thank you.." nahihiyang sambit ko.

"Come down after you tuck her in"

"Ah.. okay" umakyat na ako para ayusin si Faith sa kama, she's been crying all night too, angbata pa niya para dun.

I went to the bathroom after ko mapatulog si Faith and tried to clean myself a bit bago bumaba kay Ali.

I removed my turtle neck long sleeve slowly, I can feel na nasabit yung sugat ko sa right arm.

Napaluha ako sa sakit as I was topless na sa bathroom, I looked for a towel to use and saw one sa mga cabinet sa tabi ng sink.

I cleaned my wound with running water and closed my eyes sa sakit, I probably got it when I fell sa mga bubog, it's not too deep but still hurts like hell.

Tinanggal ko na rin yung pants ko kasi basa na at putik putik.

I wore the towel bago lumabas ng banyo, hindi naman pwedeng nakahubad akong bababa.

I went inside Ali's closet to borrow some clothes, hindi na pala ako nakakuha ng para sakin kanina.

I chose to use one of her black hoodies para hindi ko na kailangan magpambaba since oversized naman to.

I went down after fixing myself.

I couldn't see where Ali was from the stairs but the bathroom door downstairs suddenly opened.

Ali was wearing a see through white shirt and shorts. Her bruise was still fresh and I can see she hasn't attended to her wounds correctly.

I couldn't hide my worry for her.

She was busy drying her hair with her towel when she saw me.

She looked at me coldly and went straight to the kitchen.

Hiyang hiya ako kay Ali sa nangyari, what the hell was I thinking kanina.

I failed to stop Jake from getting too close and I let my guards down kaagad.

I was so stupid, I know I hurt Ali so much.

"Ali?.. about what happened kanina.." she just continued what she was doing as I talked behind her.

I hugged her from behind which stopped her sa gulat.

"Ali I'm sorry.." lumuha nanaman ako.

Sinandal ko yung pisngi ko sa likod niya.

"I'm sorry.. I'm so so sorry" I was crying silently while feeling Ali's warmth.

I felt she held my arm and lightly removed it from her waist.

"We haven't had dinner yet, let's eat"

She put the food sa table and sat down.

She didn't wait for me to come and started eating the sushi she just microwaved.

I sat in front of her, nakayuko lang siya while still eating.

"I don't know what to say.." mahina kong sambit.

"Then just eat" pirming sagot niya.

"Boo.."

"What?! what more do you want?!"

Napatalon ako sa gulat, I'm not used to this from Ali.

Sumandal naman siya sa upuan and put down her chopsticks before holding the bridge of her nose.

"Please.. just, just eat" mahina niyang sabi bago ako tiningnan.

We ate in silence while I was busy stopping my tears from falling.

"May first aid kit sa banyo dito sa baba, take it upstairs to clean your wound later. I'll be sleeping sa sofa" she spoke coldly, though I know she's still concerned.

"But I have to clean yours too"

She did not answer that.

She cleaned the dishes before laying down sa sofa while I was left sa dining table.

I sighed before taking the kit from the bathroom and saw Ali laying down with eyes closed sa sofa.

Hindi ko alam kung tulog na siya but I can't let her sleep na hindi nagagamot yung mga sugat niya.

I sat down sa carpet and stared at her for a moment.

She looked so tired and fragile. I just wanted to hug her and say sorry ng paulit ulit.

A tear rolled down my cheek while thinking about what I just did.

How could I let myself hurt her, how could I not protect her..

May sugat siya sa left hand niya, a bruised cheek, busted lip and also one cut sa right leg niya.

I started applying ointment sa labi niya, her soft pink lips. How dare that jerk hurt her like this.

I moved onto her cheek and put ice on it, she moved and hissed sa tulog niya kaya I immediately removed it.

Dinampi dampi ko nalang ito para hindi siya maistorbo.

Nilinis ko na rin yung cut niya sa kamay and leg bago ko napansin na medyo nakataas yung shirt niya.

I was about to pull it down when I noticed na parang may bruise din dito.

I opened it until I saw her black bra.

I remembered how hard she was kicked kanina, how I would do anything to kill that bastard.

I closed my mouth, I didn't want her to hear me crying. It's good that she's resting already, I didn't want to disturb her.

I put the used cottons sa trashcan and washed my hands after cleaning my own wound.

I went upstairs to get Ali a blanket.

As I was putting it on her I felt her body was burning up.

Shit. Naalala kong basang basa pala siya sa ulan kanina.

I was putting a wet towel on her forehead when she held my wrist.

She mumbled something I couldn't understand.

"Boo? you have a fever, please let me take care of you" bulong ko.

"Why" I can't seem to figure out what she's saying.

"Why Anna? bakit" she mumbled while asleep.

Nanghihina ako sa itsura niya, she sounded so hurt.

I sat down beside her crying myself ro sleep.

I woke up and saw Faith sleeping beside me.

Pano ako nakarating dito sa kwarto, all I can remember is falling asleep beside Ali sa baba.

I fixed Faith's things na bago nagayos ng sarili at bumaba.

We need to go back na kina tito baka hinahanap na kami, I'm sure the heat had died down naman na.

As I went downstairs nakita ko si Ali na tulog pa sa sofa. I stared at her for more than a minute.

Hindi ko pa alam kung pano to aayusin pero andito lang ako Ali.. until mapatawad mo ako.

I decided to prepare breakfast before Faith wakes up.

Naghahain na ako when I heard a cry from upstairs and got startled when Ali bolted up from her sleep and looked around only to see me sa kitchen.

"Uhm sorry Ali, matulog ka lang I'll get her"

Umakyat na ako ng mabilis para kunin si Faith.

Pagbaba namin kumakain na si Ali.

She looked at us innocently, parang wala nang bakas ng galit sa mga mata niya, but I can still feel her hurt.

"I'm sorry I got hungry nauna na ako" mahinang sabi niya.

"No it's fine boo, I made it for you. Kailangan na rin namin umuwi ni Faith e"

"Oh.. okay" maikli niyang sagot.

"Atleast eat first" dagdag niya.

I sat down still holding Faith while trying to eat peacefully.

Ali stood up and went to me.

"Here, come baby ate will eat. I'll take her muna" sabay buhat niya kay Faith and dumeretsi sa sofa.

"Hi? hi Faith, stop whining na ah" ngumiti si Faith sakanya which made her reiterate it.

Gosh I missed that smile, innocent and loving. Parang kailan pa nung huli yun naging para sakin.

Napansin ata ni Ali na nakatingin ako sakanila cause she stopped playing with Faith innocently.

I finished washing the dishes and wiped my hands sa towel.

"Uhm we'll have to go na Ali, thank you sa pagpapatuloy ah"

I took Faith from her and put my bag in my back.

Nasa pintuan na kami when I looked back at Ali who's just looking at us.

"Boo I'm sorry.." naluluha kong banggit.

She smiled bitterly and rubbed her eyes.

"I might still be sleepy, but you look like you would make a good mom"

~~~~~~~

uwu :\