seven

After the final exam, Aliyah stood up on her seat, walking on Elyse who's currently fixing her things "Would you like to join me on studying at the café?" she asks and help her on fixing her things

Elyse did not bother to look at her getting the notebook in Aliyah's hand "Who likes to be the third wheeler? No thanks, I can study alone" she said while walking outside the classroom.

Scratching her head, she let out a laugh "Galit pa din?" she mumbled as she walked outside their room, discover that Gio was already waiting for her. "I thought we will meet at the café?" she asks as she moves near him

Leaning at the railings in the hallway Gio look at Aliyah with a smile on his face he walks towards her "Luckily we finished early today. I'll accompany you for a long time in studying"

"Oh," Aliyah said when Gio hold her hands and walk in the hallway "Gio" she tried to pull her hand but Gio didn't let it go he just pulled her close to him so they could hide their intertwined hands "Just this one" he pleased as he holds her hands tight showing her a thin smile

Being in a relationship for a couple of months this is the first time Gio holds her hands in the public because before she was too shy and Gio always comply with her requests. Looking at his tired face she stops her tracks and faces him, holds both hands "Is there something wrong?"

Gio looks at his girlfriend, sighed "Nothing" pulling her into a hug "I guess. I just want the world to know that you are my girl"

Aliyah laughs "Sira. Matagal na nilang alam" pag-alis niya sa yakap ay pinitik niya ang noo ni Gio "When you're still courting me binakudan mo na ako eh" she rolled her eyes, grabbing his hands she started to walk

Gio chuckled "Mahirap na pag madaming kakompetensya"

Arriving at the café Aliyah immediately goes to her favorite spot and spreads her studying materials in the table while Gio goes straight to the counter ordering Aliyah's favorite drinks and snacks.

While Aliyah was busy studying Gio usually just look at her, on her notes, or help her on reviewing things, just like he would ask tons of questions about the topic she was reviewing. Looking at her girlfriend's phone placed in the table, observing her being drawn on studying he use this chance, "Can I borrow your phone?" he quietly asks

Too drawn in studying Aliyah just nod her head not realizing what was the real question.

Gio holds the other hand of Aliyah and simply make her unlocks her phone, still holding her hands intertwining it with his fingers, he starts to check her phone. Opening her gallery and messages, she found nothing in her phone he decides to lock it again but before he could a text message arrived, 'Where are you?'

Adam texted Aliyah after he got a call from Mrs. Argania pinapakiusapan siya na ihatid si Aliyah sa bahay nila after the study session of Elyse and Aliyah. Minutes have passed Aliyah still not responding to his text, he decided to call her sister "Where are you?"

Elyse who just got home when she got the call from her brother "Bakit ka natawag eh nasa iisang bubong lang tayo?" she asks her brother who is in the garden.

Looking at Elyse sarcastically conversing with him on the phone he hanged up "Are you alone?"

Elyse scoffed "Malamang alangan naman magsama ako ng boyfriend ko diba? Edi hindi na ako sinikatan ng araw" she rolled her eyes as she walks towards their house

"You're not studying?" Adam asks

Elyse looked back at her brother "Mag-aaral ako alangan naman dito ako sa daan mag-aral diba?"

Awe displays in the eyes of Adam "You will study alone?"

Elyse knew what her brother's intention "Ay gusto mo ba ako samahan?" she teasingly said "If you're willing, I can comply naman" she walks towards him and grabs his hands going to their house

"Elyse" her brother warned.

Looking at him innocently "What?" looking at Adam's impatient face, she sighed "Di ka din pala willing, it is wrong choice talaga na I decline to be a third wheeler kay Aliyah sa favorite café ko" stating all the facts where and who is Aliyah with, she walks toward their house but before entering she look back again at her brother "No need to thank me, just a make-up set will do. Mwah!"

Looking at his sister happily entered their house; Adam shook his head.

Feeling her hands become numb, Aliyah hesitantly looks at it found that her hands were still intertwined in her boyfriend's hands who is now sleeping. Dahan-dahan niyang triny alisin ang pagkakahawak nito sa kamay niya pero mas hinigpitan ni Gio ang hawak dito, looking at the view outside, the lights on the street was already on and the street start to be busy. Looking at the food na hindi man lang nabawasan, she sighed and fix her things with her one hand. "I'm really a bad girlfriend" she mumbles.

Adam witness how Aliyah struggles on fixing her things using her one hand, he strides towards her, getting her things and immediately put it inside her bag. "Let's go" he grabs her hand and pulls her to stand up.

Aliyah was startled by Adam's sudden appearance and action, "Ano ba?!"

Gio woke up suddenly when Aliyah's hand was pulled out from his hand aggressively, he blinked as his eyes adjusted and saw Adam grabbing her girlfriends hand with her bag in his other hand, he stood up "What are you doing?"

Aliyah's hand was grabbed by Gio while the other one was on Adam's hand, pulling out her hands from Adam's grasp she narrowed her eyes, brazenly look into his deep black eyes "What is your problem?"

Staring into her golden eyes, "You" Adam answered as he unlocks his phone and showed a message to her.

Gio grabs the phone from Adam's hands and saw the message from Aliyah's mom, telling Adam to take her daughter home at dinner time. He looks at Aliyah who has troubled expression, he knew that he can't compete with her parents, so he slowly loosens his grip on her hands.

Looking at the gloomy expression of the lovers, Adam who was known as an impatient person told them, "It's your choice. I'm just helping you because of Elyse' request" and he walks out

Aliyah looks at Gio asking for his consent "Gio" she holds his hand.

Gio looks at her and nod. "It's okay I understand," he said and pulled her closer to kiss her forehead "Mag-iingat kayo pauwi ha?" looking intently in her eyes, he smiled "You can go now. Di kita maihahatid sa parking, Adam is impatient, and I still need to fix my things" he said and let go of her, he turned around and fix his things in the table.

Aliyah looks at her boyfriend's back before she followed Adam in the parking lot. Trying to open the backseat door, she failed once again her eyes landed on the passenger seat door she exhaled deeply and opened it.

"Magriritual ka ba muna bago tayo umalis?" bungad ni Adam pagkabukas na pagkabukas ni Aliyah ng pinto.

Aliyah just rolled her eyes and sat, looking at him "Pwede ba bago ka sumulpot magsabi ka muna? Bakit ba lagi grand entrance ka?" she scowled at him

Adam looked at her indifferently before starting the car, "I texted you and you didn't reply"

"Why didn't you call?"

"I did. But my call can't get through" he peeked at her and smiled at her "I guess I was blacklisted"

"What the heck are you talking about," Aliyah said as she rummages into her bag finding her phone, looking at the blacklisted numbers in her phone her lips pursed slightly.

Seeing her reaction, Adam let out a sigh in disbelief "So I was right"

Aliyah cannot remember if she blacklisted it due to her annoyance, she just smiled at him "Maybe my fingers just slipped" she reasoned out "they were too honest" she mumbled

Adam chuckles as his eyes were focused on the road "I'll just pretend I didn't hear that if you would take my number out of the blacklist numbers, or else" he takes a peek on the petite brown-haired woman on his side "My mouth can slip too in front of your parents" he said as he looks at her reaction "My mouth was just too honest too" he added

Aliyah was in awe seeing the new side of Adam, 'he knows how to joke too?' she pondered.

Seeing Aliyah shocked expression, he cleared his throat "You'll take my number out or I'll just let my mouth slipped away?"

Coming back to her senses Aliyah immediately taps on her phone "Here" showing him the evidence that he is not blacklisted anymore

Frowning his eyebrows "Mr. Diaz?"

"Yup? What's the problem isn't that your name?"

"Is that how you save people's number in your phone? Last name basis? How would you save my father's phone number?" he asked curiously without looking at Aliyah

"Mr. Diaz?" she answered

Looking at Aliyah who innocently answered his question "So, you will have two Mr. Diaz on your phone? Isn't that confusing?"

"Wala naman akong number ni Tito eh. So, you're the only Mr. Diaz in my contacts" she answered

The red flashes on the traffic light, stopping the car Adam immediately grabs the phone of Aliyah in her hands, "Ayan may number ka na ni dad" giving back her phone with Mr. Diaz's phone number.

"Oh," she said as she saves his number "Thanks"

Green flashes on the traffic light, before starting to drive again he asked first "So what's my contact name now?"

Still busy on her phone the car starts to move again on the road, Aliyah shows him once again, "Mr. Diaz 2nd"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Adam gives up "Alright. Whatever"

Aliyah gets out of the car immediately after she mumbles the word thanks to Adam. "Hi mom" she greeted when she saw her mom waiting at the house door.

"Nasaan sina Adam and Elyse?" silip ni Mrs. Argania sa likod ni Aliyah

Aliyah pushes her mom inside, "Busy sila mom they already went home" she reasoned out

"Good evening, Mrs. Argania" bati ni Adam na kakadating lang.