It's been a week since that night, that incident was a nightmare.

Nakauwi kami ni Faith with the house already cleaned and fixed pero hindi parin nagiimikan sina tito at tita, until now hindi pa masyadong magaan lahat sa bahay pero both parties are tyring to communicate naman na.

I suddenly remembered what Ali said before we left her condo, that I would make a good mom.

I chuckled while thinking about it.

Ang aga aga yun yung nasa isip ko.

But then hindi pa kami nakakapagusap ng maayos, just small talks here and there. She texts me to ask if everything was going well and if my wound has healed.

It did. But I know I got a lot more than a wound that night, things that take long to heal.

My phone vibrated kaya I lost my track of thoughts.

You have an email from University of the Philippines, College of Medicine.

Shit.

I read it and all I could think of is paano ko ibabalita kina tito't tita to.

"Tito? lalabas ho ako, may pupuntahan lang po" pagpapaalam ko.

"Magingat ka" maikling sagot ni tito.

I went agad sa malapit na convenient store samin to buy ice cream bago nagabang ng masasakyan. Nakashort lang pala ako with a white shirt di ko manlang napansin na nakapambahay pa'ko umalis but it just didn't matter anymore.

The ride to Ali's condo was cruel, I can't get off my mind kung paano ko siya kakausapin. Nagisip ako ng mabuti, magsusulat na sana ako ng speech but nauunahan lang ako ng kaba.

My hands were sweating until I was already standing infront of Ali's door.

I was contemplating kung tama ba'tong ginagawa ko.

My hand reached the door buzz before I change my mind.

The door opened and I saw a sweaty Ali in her sweatpants, gray sports bra and black windbreaker.

"Uhm.."

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Ahh.. ice cream?" pagabot ko ng gallon.

She looked at it and back to me still emotionless.

She opened the door wider letting me in.

"Feel comfortable, may mga baso sa kitchen for that ice cream" sabi niya while removing her jacket and put on an oversized black shirt.

Kumukuha na ako ng baso sa kitchen para lagyan ng ice cream. Inabot ko kay Ali ang isa and she immediately ate from it.

I looked at her lovingly, I missed this side of her.

"What?" she looked at me and stopped eating while her spoon was still in her mouth. Mauubos na ata niya yung nasa baso niya.

I giggled.

"Wala naman"

"It's hot" pagrarason niya.

"You're hot.."

She scoffed.

"I just got back from a morning run, that's why it's hot"

Ah kaya pala nakaganun pa siyang damit kanina.

"By the way, what's the ice cream for?" she asked.

"Ahh well.. I passed" sagot ko.

I saw a hint of happiness sa mata niya but she instantly blinked and sumimangot.

"So?" aba malakas to ah.

"Am I forgiven?.." she said I needed to pass my interview para patawarin niya ako diba.

"Oh.. that.." she seemed to remember it now.

I laughed from her silliness.

She sighed and looked at me.

"Why did I say that again??"

"Ewan ko sayo" asar na sagot ko.

She smiled.

I guess I am..

She slowly crawled to put her head on my lap.

"I thought you didn't need me anymore" mahinang sabi niya.

"I will always need you boo.. always"

I caressed her cheek before kissing it.

She held my hand and kissed it.

"Last week felt like hell" she said.

"I know boo.. I know"

"Let's not do that again hmm?" she turned her head to look at me.

"Yes boo, never again" sagot ko.

"That is if you stop clinging to that jerk" umupo siya and threw her small pillow obviously annoyed.

"I will boo, I never even clinged to him before"

"Yeah right, kitang kita ko nga e" she said sarcastically.

"Come here.." hinila ko siya para pasandalin sa balikat ko.

"That was an honest mistake boo, I wasn't thinking straight. I know I told you I should be more careful around him but I failed to do so, I hurt you and we both had to go through such burden" pageexplain ko.

"I'm sorry Ali, I'm really sorry.. "

"Hmp" pagtatampo niya.

May tinatantrums ah.

"Sus, oo na babawi ako, ano bang gusto mong ulam?" maglulunch na rin pala.

"Hmm.. ahhh hmmm" pagpapacute ni Ali.

"Well kahit ano namang gusto ko walang laman yung ref" sabi niya.

"Ha?! what have you been eating then?"

"Malapit lang naman convenient store dito e, I can live with that"

"What?! processed food lang kinain mo the whole week?!"

"What? delivery works too" inosente niyang sagot.

"Get up" utos ko.

"Why? I just layed down" pagiinarte niya.

"Why else? we're grocery shopping" sagot ko.

She picked her keys and went straight out.

"Wow excited na excited ah"

"What? I'm finally going to eat something my body actually needs, let's go!"

We got to the grocery store and Ali parked her car before we went inside.

"So? where do we start?" tanong niya.

"Karne" sagot ko.

Nagpaikot ikot kami hanggang halos mapuno na yung cart ng pagkain.

"Boo bili rin tayo mga toiletries, I'm running out na, I haven't got out sa condo since last week"

"Yan kase"

Nakapila na kami sa cashier when Ali told me na may nakalimutan siya kaya bumalik siya sa mga aisle.

"Ano naman nakalimutan nun?" pagtataka ko.

Almost 5 minutes kong inantay si Ali when I saw her na halos matakpan na ng mga bitbit niya.

"What are all these food for?" tanong ko while reaching for it.

She dropped it sa cart before talking.

"Basta" sagot niya.

Paglabas namin malakas na pala yung ulan.

"Ah shit di ko dinala yung payong" sambit niya.

"Dito ka lang boo ah kunin ko yung kotse" utos niya.

Nakabalik na kami sa condo ni Ali, medyo nabasa basa din si Ali from the rain.

"Change your clothes muna sa taas boo ako na magaayos dito" utos ko kay Ali.

Umakyat na siya and I started cooking for lunch and fixing yung mga grinocery namin.

Ali came down the stairs running in her pajamas and

"Hmm I can smell it from my room boo! Chicken sotanghon?!" she shouted.

"Oo kaya halika na"

Angsarap ng kain ni Ali habang nanonood kami sa tv.

"This is just what I needed sa tag-ulan boo, I'm thankful na pinuntahan mo ako ngayon" she said bago tumutok ulit sa tv.

I just smiled at her. She looks so comfortable around me and my cooking, it makes me happy.

"Tutok na tutok ka naman jan boo"

"Shh this part is interesting, I'm not sure if they're going to win this case" she said while still looking at the screen.

She has been talking about this series na since last month, now I saw how interested she really is sa law.

"What?! why'd he have to be that dumb?! pinagtatanggol na nga siya e" naiinis na sigaw ni Ali.

"Huy bat agagalet?"

"Annalise never lose her cases boo!" galit niyang sagot.

"May first time para sa lahat, tama na yang how to get away with murder na yan mababaliw ka kakaisip"

I turned the tv off and went to wash the dishes.

Nagulat ako when I felt Ali hug me from behind and started smelling my collar.

"Hey.. I missed you" she whispered which made me smile.

She sighed bago sumandal sa counter top.

"Oh I thought you were happy"

"Well.. yeah but I was planning to take you out for picnic today, but the rain isn't cooperating" she answered.

"Hence the bulk of food I almost forgot kanina sa store"

"Aww well we can still go out boo"

"Hmm? you plan on taking a bath in the rain?" she innocently asked.

I chuckled.

"No boo, how about night drive?" pagsuggest ko.

She looked at me thinking.

"I suppose that's possible.. we ride at sundown" she said before proceeding ulit sa sala and turning on a game to play.

Sinundan ko siya after cleaning the kitchen.

"What are you playing?" tanong ko before sitting down sa sofa, she's sitting sa sarili niyang swivel chair na napakalaki habang nakafocus sa screen.

"Something" she answered.

"Anong something? e kung patayin ko yan?" pangaasar ko.

"As if"

Akma ko nang tatanggalin yung saksakan when Ali shouted.

"Boo!! no! joke ko lang yun"

"Ano ka ngayon? so ano nga yan"

"Left for dead" maikli niyang sagot.

Kinunot ko lang yung noo ko.

"Zombie zombie in your language" pangasar niya habang natatawa.

I started to tickle her para makabawi.

"Ahh! boo! noo! Anna!! stop!" her laughter filled the room and I couldn't be any happier in this moment.

I chased her hanggang makarating kami sa taas, sa kwarto niya.

She was holding a pillow as a shield trying to get away from me.

"Anna stop! ayoko na! talo na ako" natatawang sigaw niya habang hinihingal.

"Ikaw kasi e! pagbabayaran mo yun!" sagot ko.

I was about to rush at her when I noticed her expression changed. She seemed to be in discomfort.

"Boo okay ka lang?" nagaalala kong tanong.

She let go of the pillow and held her chest still looking a bit off.

"Ah it's... something-" she stuttered before falling down sa sahig.

"Ali!!"

~~~~~~~

uwu