(Alys Prov)
"Alys," Dane called out my name. I ignored him and slammed myself on the sofa. God, Drake! You're exhausting me too much!
Resting my head while closing my eyes, I asked Dane. "What?"
I suddenly felt someone kiss my cheek. I opened my eyes. "Hi, ugly," he uttered with that familiar boyish grin that I missed.
"Tripp!" I said in glee and hugged him. "Why are you here!" and I continued to wrestle him and pin him down.
He laughed as I punched him in the chest. "Chill, Perez. Why don't you kiss me first?"
"It's disgusting!" I said and kissed him on the cheek.
I heard someone cough then I looked at Dane who looked utterly disgusted with me and Tripp. Oh, my baby brother. "You're both disgusting." And then he stormed off.
Tripp just shook his head while fixing his hair that I messed up earlier when I hugged and spanked him. "That's right, Dane was scared of you. That's terrible, Zyril. You just love me so much. Tsk. It's so stressful, huh."
I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing but I really couldn't help it! What Tripp said was so funny. It was like he was pressured by 'my love for him so much.'
"So, you're laughing at me now?" he said to me when I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"Hahaha! Because, ugly, arty much? You thought you didn't love me! It's too much, right?" I said and then winked at him.
He took my hand then kissed it. "Yes, Zyril. It's too much."
And then, I just can't help but smile. This is it, eh. This is the kind of love I wanna have, and this is not the kind of love that you can have overnight. This love... takes time. But it's constant. And I love consistency.
I pulled him back into a hug and kissed his cheek. "Are you hungry?" I asked him, it looked like he had just arrived. This guy still smells like an airport! He just lacks an airport tag, he's checking his luggage!
"You're cooked, Ugly. I miss you, eh."
I smiled at him then we went to the kitchen together to cook. Luckily Mommy and Daddy weren't there, this guy was all alone with me. We haven't seen each other for a month, eh! I miss Marco so much.
I checked the contents of the cupboard and refrigerator, it was well stocked. "What do you want to eat?" I asked him even though he wasn't particular about what he ate.
He shrugged while sitting on the stool at the island. "Pinoy food, ugly. I'm sick of eating that," he complained.
I laughed at his look. Maybe he only eats pizza and Chinese takeout there! It's just too much. Tsk. He's so busy with work, eh. He's also alone in the apartment because he brought Tofer with me to Paris.
I got the ingredients for adobo and soup. "You're not eating there, are you? Tsk."
"I'm eating," he said.
"Liar. You look thin," I stated. He's losing weight, eh. His face is thin. He really shouldn't be left alone, eh. He's too lazy to eat. Bad, bad Marco.
I was busy cutting potatoes when he hugged me from behind. "What's up?" I asked him because his head was resting on my shoulder. His head was still heavy!
"I'm sleepy. Let me sleep first," he said.
"What! I'm cooking! Tsk."
"Sssh. I've been traveling for almost a day. I'm going to sleep first, ugly," he said as he nuzzled the crook of my neck.
I 'tsked' and then continued with what I'm doing. He wasn't sleeping, eh! When I tried to walk, he walked too. Look at this guy's body!
"We're not done here," I said. At this rate, it might be night, I'm not even done cooking yet.
He chuckled and then lifted his head off of my shoulder. "One more kiss," he said and then he left for the receiving area, I think. He's probably going to sleep. I left him alone since he was still really sleepy.
"Marco, Marco," I called out his name and lightly tapped his cheek. "My love, let's eat," I said to him.
He quitely stirred and then opened his eyes. "Hmm?"
"Let's eat," I said.
He stared at me for blank seconds and then he grinned and stood up. What's wrong with this guy? "Let's go, ugly," he said then he offered his hands. We walked together to the dining room.
I also cooked for a long time because I wanted him to sleep first. I even made a foam cake and squeezed some orange juice. I must have cooked a lot, because this guy is so skinny! He must be starving himself in New York.
"Thank you," he said to me.
I just smiled. Is this it? This isn't even the least of all that Tripp has done for me. For the nights he went out even though it was snowing just to visit me at the dorm, for helping me with my projects when I almost died from too many and all at once, for putting me first even when he had other things to do, and mostly, for not giving up on me when I was at my worst. He picked me up when I was at my lowest and helped me pick up the pieces.
I just watched him eat while I contented myself with a glass of orange juice.
"Why are you here, Marco? I thought you'll arrive the day after tomorrow?" I asked.
"I missed you, ugly. Not reasonable enough?" he asked.
I smiled at him then rolled my eyes.
I let him eat and then I felt my phone vibrate.
From: Cristine Stinson
Can we meet tomorrow?
I quickly composed an sms telling her that I can't. After what happened earlier today? I just can't face her, and Drake.
"Anything interesting?" Tripp asked.
(Earlier that day...)
"That's preposterous, Drake," I said. "You're ploying again. enough, okay?!" I exclaimed and then pushed him away from me.
He captured my hand and pulled me towards him. His face is just an inch from mine. S-hit, Drake. what the hell!
"I love you, Alys. Can't you f-ucking feel it? Because me, I feel it too much and it's killing me," he said through his teeth. His eyes were tired but intense.
I stared at him with equal intensity and mocked him. "Oh, please, Drake. Fine,you love me. Do I need to love you back? Is it like that now? Just because you love me, I'm supposed to love you back? Because if that's the case, it's still a no. I won't love you. Not now, not someday. I loved you before, Drake. I loved you way too much, way better than I love myself but what did you do? You broke me into tiny, little pieces. You devastate me beyond repair. You crushed every hope I had inside my body, Drake. Now, please, tell me about it. I don't want you now. I don't want to want you. Loving you is toxic, Drake. It's exhausting every good thing I have in my life."
Then I saw pain in his eyes. I don't want to hurt him even though he pained me so cruelly before but I need to do this. I need to show him that we? We can never happen. Not now, not someday. I don't want anymore.
When girls fall in love, they fall hard. They give way too much, care way too much, invest way too much. But when they get hurt and move on, you just can't appear out of nowhere and take them back. No, not after they endure every pain and agony. That's just not how it is. Once you leave a person who loved you a great deal, getting her back is a suicide mission.
"Please, Drake. Move on, okay? Maybe you loved me before, but you need to move on. Live in the present, Drake. Maybe we're just not meant to be..."
He let go of my hand and took a step backward.
He shook his head. "This is the present Drake, Alys, and he's very much in love with you. The future Drake will be in love with you... not just like this but way more in love. You started this ploy, Alys. You played seducing Drake Palma when you were in high school. Now, face the repercussions because I'm here to stay."
(present...)
I shook my head and gave him a smile. "Nothing. After that, go home, huh? Go to sleep," I said.
"Are you sending me home?" he asked, faking a hurt.
"Crazy. You'll see me tomorrow. You'll be seeing a lot of me, Marco. For now, go to sleep. You look freaking tired," I stated.
You will need all the energy you can get, Marco. Drake won't leave us alone.