(Alys Prov)
"Right, right?!"
I was just going back and forth to Aya's condo. That's right, she got herself a condo. Aya's now one of the promising designers in the field of fashion. She used to intern with my Mommy and now she's working for her!
"Stop right there, Alys. I'm dizzy," she said and then motioned me to sit on the bean bag next to her. "So, you're telling me that Drake's hit on you?"
I nodded. D-amn that man! He's married but he still managed to kiss me? What a jerk! Poor Miss Stinson.
Aya adjusted her seat and continued to apply French tips to her nails. "Maybe he's still into you."
"But he was the one who left me, remember?"
God, Aya is the only person on earth who knows everything I went through when Drake left me. I would bug her every single day to ask what's up with Drake, how is Drake. But I guess time really does heal everything. I went on like that for three freaking months! On the fourth month, I guess I just started accepting the fact that he gave up on me. And it says a lot.
"Maybe seeing you again brought back the old flame?"
I rolled my eyes. "Old flame my a-ss, Aya. I'm with Tripp, and I'm happy with him."
She raised her hands in protest. "Hey, not saying anything, Besh. It's just me, maybe he still thinks you're his. You know? What you guys had was pretty great."
I gave her a smile for that. What we had sure was pretty great. When I think about it, I just smile, but when I think about what he left me with, I cringe. But as it really is, what we had was a thing of the past. Move on, look forward.
"Yeah, it was pretty great. But hey, how are you and Kent? Still not talking, huh?"
I grabbed a beer from Aya's fridge. No, she still doesn't drink. All her college life, Kent was with her and I tell you, Kent is like the ideal son-in-law to every mother! He doesn't drink, he studies hard, and once he commits, he commits. The result? A sensible Aya. I can't even beg her to go to a club. She's all too Miss Goody-Two-Shoes.
She shook her head. "Come on, Besh. Kent and I have only been on break for three months. It's too soon to talk."
I shrugged. "Nothing's too soon, Aya. The longer you don't talk to a person, the greater the chance you'll forget how it feels to be with them. And seriously, once you forget what it feels like, the moving on process is just a piece of cake."
She wiggled her eyebrows. "Is it real talk, Besh?"
"What? No! Stop with your segue now. What I've been meaning to tell you, if you still love Kent, which you still obviously do, go talk to him. Don't wait for some random s-kank to snag him away from you."
Aya suddenly burst out laughing. Did I say something wrong?
"Why are you laughing?"
She shook her head while laughing. "Nothing, Besh. I'm just not used to your accent. It's like I'm watching Harry Potter right now."
I rolled my eyes again. Seriously, is it a big deal? Even Mommy and Daddy are teasing me with my accent. Sorry!
I jumped on her couch and made myself comfortable. "So, what's up? You would go talk to him now?"
She gave me a half smile. "Maybe. I'll think about it. The fight we had is still fresh in my mind, huh."
Shrugging my shoulders, I got my phone from my pocket. Miss Stinson texted, and it turned out, she's Cristine Stinson, and her father is Tito Steve's business partner.
As I was saying, when I arrived, she started spilling details about Cristine and stuff. I didn't ask or anything, she just said it! She's weird.
I read her text and it turns out, she wants to meet up. We just met yesterday, huh?
I didn't reply to her yet. I'm still pissed with Drake. I haven't even told Tripp about him kissing me yet. I know he would freak out! And I definitely don't need him freaking out. He needs all the concentration he could get because of his final presentation.
After bugging Aya, I left her condo. Good thing her unit was just above mine. She's on the 20th floor. Can I go back to my condo? Well, I'll check if Drake is still in his unit because if he's there, there's no way in hell I'm going back.
-Four years ago-
"Yuck, ha, Alys. Did you really come to this apartment to cry?"
Huhuhu. Tofer is annoyed! I don't have an assignment in the core course, Drake already broke me, and now Tofer is annoying me! Why is my life like this?!
Tripp shot him. "Aish. Stop being so silly, Tofer." He handed me a tub of strawberry ice cream. "Are you okay? Your eyes are swollen. Tsk. Go to sleep."
I nodded as I opened the lid of the ice cream tub. Even the lid, doesn't want to be with me?!!
Tripp took the tub and opened it. He also stood up and grabbed a spoon from the kitchen. "T-thanks."
He's hitting my head. It's been three weeks since Drake left me. Ugh!! I tried to block him on Facebook but I can't! I don't want to unfriend him either because he always sends me a lot of friend requests, what if he changes his mind and comes back to me? How can we be friends and how can I send a relationship request?!!
"I have tickets for the movie. Let's go to the Upper East Side later?"
I nodded and ate ice cream. It's embarrassing for Tripp, eh. He's always the one I think about when I think about Drake. I don't have any other friends here in New York. Sister Karen is busy with her PhD, Kei is busy with her life. Speaking of Kei, he invited me to go to a bar but I don't want to. Drake said it would ruin my studies. There, I'm thinking about Drake again!!
After I ate, Tripp took me to the dorm to get dressed.
"Where are you heading at?"
I saw Kei reading a book on her bed. In fairness, she's not feeling well right now. I found out Tripp has a crush on her. Well, I can't blame Tripp, Kei's pretty! But she's not Kei's type. She still likes Sheen. It's a mess. What you like, you don't like. What you don't like, someone likes you.
I took a coat from the closet. It's cold tonight. I might not only be heartbroken, I might also get brain freeze. =_ =
"Movies. Are you coming?" I asked her. She always invites me when she leaves. And besides, Tripp has a crush on her! Maybe this is my chance to make up for Tripp's help. I'll just walk her to Kei!
She shook her head. "Pass. Have a great time, tho. You need it."
I smiled. "Thanks, Kei."
She suddenly sat down on her bed and put down her book. "I don't want to be nosy but what's with you and Drake?"
I was stunned. I couldn't tell her. We weren't at this level yet. Maybe she was wondering why I looked like a walking dead now. Alys Zyril Perez is all eye bags. I'm not pretty anymore. :(
"Ah... What... We're breaking up. Hehe."
She filled the space on her bed so I went over there and sat down. "Everything will be fine. He's a jackass for letting you go. You'll be fine, promise." And after that, I had been fine. Just kidding. Aya said (I don't know why I asked her) that moving on is a process. Right now, I'm still in the acceptance stage. She said Denial, Acceptance, Bargaining, I've forgotten those two. But that's how it is, I can move on. Time heals everything. Tsk.
I calmed down for a while and then Tripp and I went out. We watched a movie, actually, it was an animated film. It's funny but I'm not laughing. Hey, Drake. Instead of making me inspired, you made me miserable.
"Didn't you laugh at all? That penguin is so cute!" Tripp said as we walked out of the movie house.
I rubbed my hands together because I was cold. "I laughed! Brrr." Why is it so cold today? It's not even winter yet!
Tripp took my hand and put it in his coat pocket. I was a little surprised so I pulled my hand back.
"That's ice, Zyril. No offense. Hurry up, you'll get cold."
My hand was still shaking a little when he took my hand and put it in his pocket. We just stopped in the middle of the road. His hand was also resting on mine. His hand was warm, Drake's was cold. Aish!! Stop comparing!
"Are you okay?" he asked while still holding my hand.
I was so confused. NO!
"A-ah. Yes. T-thanks, Tripp."
"Shut up, that's nothing. You're welcome. Shall we have sushi?"
-Present-
I just can't help but smile whenever I remember how I found Tripp. I mean, not literally. Took us almost three years before we had the guts to admit that we want to be together. Sure, Mom asked me at First, if I'm really serious about Tripp. She said Maybe I'll just rebound Tripp. Seriously, what's with rebound? Can't a girl just fall out of love from a guy who broke her heart and fall in love with the guy who's been there for her? Is it really so impossible?
I arrived at the VIP room. Why are we meeting here?
"Good noon. Lunch?"
I swear my jaw fell. Drake again?!
My eyes roamed the room. No sign for Miss Cristine Ann Stinson. I thought it was an emergency meeting? Why is Drake here? Does he have dibs on the cake?
"Where's Miss Stinson?" I asked, still not sitting down.
He shrugged. Oh, God. Don't say it's another of his "Get-You-Back" agenda? It's getting way out of line!
"Lunch, Alys?"
It gave me chills, how he said my name. Parang may galit or something. Siya pa ang may karapatang magalit? Tsk. Really, really complicated man.
I waved my phone. "I'm calling her. If she'll not be here, I'm leaving." I dialled her number and much to my surprise, The phone on the table rang.
"Why is her phone with you?"
He gave me 'that' smile. It's a 'I-Know-What-I'm-About-To-Do-Is-Bad-But-You'll-Like-It-Anyway' kind of smile. It's annoying and creeps me out!
"Left it with me. Because that's how relationship works, Alys. You need to trust your partner."
He said that while looking at me. Two can play this game, Mr. Palma
I sat down on the chair and placed my order with the waiter who had been watching Drake and me for a while.
"Sure. Let's talk about trust, Do you want it?"
He shook his head. "We'll have time for that. For now, what's with your slutty clothes?"
"Pardon me?"
He pointed out what I was wearing. "Really short shorts check. Extra thin top- check, I can see your lace bra, by the way. Black wedge- check. And really distracting red lipstick. Slutty attire," he said and then had a spoonful of whatever he's eating.
I took a deep breath. And smiled.
"For your information, this is called trend."
"Sure. Does Tripp like it that way?"
"He likes me in anyway."
He grabbed his glass of wine and sipped it.
"Good for him."
"Tha--" I was about to say thanks when he cut me off.
"I don't like you that way. Change your clothes. I'm dating you today."