VIII

It was a disaster. When we let the squad and the family knows, it's like everything turned upside down. Ate Prim, Third and Four threatened me to not do anything that will hurt Ali, the Fortalejos did the same thing to Ali. I thought it was the other way around, but I guess, it says something about how close we are to each other's important people, though I have yet to meet her parents.

Since then, we never had a time along together, like N-E-V-E-R.

When I asked Ali to go out with me and eat somewhere, maybe in Jollibee as she wanted to try it, I was so shocked to find Third at the back seat before I could even seat on the driver's.

One time I asked her to teach me how to kick properly and powerfully. When I thought I had her alone in the gym/training room, Ate Prim entered in her gym clothes, acting shock to find us there (when it was more shocking to see the lazy ass finally tried working out).

When I invite her inside my room to play (online games and leave the door open), Four came and took her away, saying he needs her to play with him for an important tournament.

All would've been a coincidence, if not for the Fortalejos.

Limuel was asked by DJ to watch over us and report to them, tried to trick him it was Ate Prim's idea and order. Lies, but then, it almost work, as almost all of us are afraid of the tigress, if not for the order and how it was issued was a tad bit weird, plus Lim's loyalty to me. He doesn't even know of DJ, yet, and just recently learned about Ali and I because of DJ incident.

They always seem to snatch me at the right moments, mostly when Lim and Nana are MIA, and Ali and I are alone hanging out.

One time, it was a basketball match and they needed two more player, so they forced Third and I to play, when I actually was about to ask Ali to eat out with me tonight. Then there's city tour, school tour and so many tour, I think wasn't even necessary that required us to be with them almost 24/7.

One night, I just can't take it anymore. I softly knocked on Ali's door very late at night. Didn't want to use the intercom, as I fear Ate Prim instructed the maids to notify her if I tried to contact Ali through it.

I heard some quick shuffling and a loud sound that seems like something heavy fell off. After a few seconds, the door opened, and a flustered looking Ali showed up.

"Are you okay?" I asked her when I noticed her pale face. 

She visibly swallowed before answering in stutter. "Ahm... I was actually awake... Ahm... I was just shock about the knock. It came out of nowhere." Then, she gave me a toothy grin before opening her door wider. "Come in."

First thing I noticed was her perfectly made bed. I am almost sure she haven't laid on there, yet. At the very least, not recently.

Second, was her open terrace. The wind blew pass the curtains, creating a crisp sound of fabric wildly whipping against the empty air.

Third, her clothes. Some of her buttons were done wrong, but decided against pointing them out.

She must've been out, and just came home right as I knocked.

"Did I wake you up?" I asked her, out of manners, but also because of my suspicions.

She moved around, awkwardly, in the dark, walking towards the side of her bed. She lifted a book from the side table, and timidly smiled at me. "No, not really." She's lying. For what reasons? I don't know.

I stayed silent for a couple seconds, made her restless, maybe, as she cleared her throad and asked me of my business.

I decided to let her go. Whatever she's hiding, she will soon tell me that, I hope. We just met a couple of months ago, no need to pressure her and move a couple of steps forward. I'll let her tell me everything on her own accord. Right. I'll just have to be patient and a lot understanding.

"I want to ask you out for a date," I said and winked, trying to loosen her up. Maybe it worked, as she visibly relaxed her tense self and sigh.

She, then, grinned at me. Didn't even took long before I found myself getting dragged outside her room, asked to wait as she gets ready, as more and more shuffling happened behind the closed door.

Unlike Ate Prim, Ali finished getting ready quicker. She's in a casual clothing, comfortable black sweatpants, black loose shirt and white sneakers hat. She also have a black bucket hat on and a black face mask. Not really a fan of black, eh? I think as I look at my equal black-ish outfit.

"Ready?" I asked.

She gave me a toothy-grin before nodding and fixing her face mask up, to cover her nose, down to her chin.

I, then, took her hand and intertwined our fingers, gently pulled her downstairs. When we reached the garage, I took out the keys from my pants and unlocked my car. I opened the door beside the passenger seat, and closed it after she comfortably sat on the front seat, not before kissing her hand I was holding. I, then, walked around the car, opened the other door and sat on the driver's seat. I put on my seatbelt and looked at Ali to check if she has hers, on. I smiled when I saw her comfortably safe on her seat.

I looked behind me and took the takeout I got from Mcdonalds and put it on her lap. She grinned at me, which I returned with a wink. I, then, started the car and maneuvered it around the fountain and out of our land.

I can hear her child-like squeals as she looked inside the paper bag. It was all her favorite.

She first took out a burger and let me bite first. I was innocently chewing the food, when she suddenly lean and kissed me on my cheek. I almost choked, which earned me a cute laugh from her.

"Not fair," I said between coughs. She opened the cup of Starbucks iced americano, which is, of course, not so cold anymore, and let me drink while she was holding it.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to kill you, especially like that." She laughed again, which made me shake my head as a smile crawled on my lips.

I just drove aimlessly around, not, as we talk about our childhood. The burgers were all gone, even before the 20 minutes mark since we left. The fries were more than half-way consumed, 2 hours away from the house, which is quite a lot, to say.

"Is that for real?" Ali cutely nodded her head.

"Ask DJ to show his forehead. It really looks like Harry Potter's scar," she said animatedly. She, then, proceeded to tell how DJ got the scar

We stop by, when we were around Tagaytay area. It was a not-so-popular place that has an overlooking view towards east, sunrise. Ali doesn't know about that yet, as it was supposedly a surprise for her.

2 hours before sunrise, I finished setting up on the grass, put a blanket on it, and took the basket that I filled with more foods she like. Some were cooked by me, around dinner that I hid.

As I am not really a cook, I only managed to cook Omu, which is Japanese omelette rice, and a few finger foods, like onion rings, calamaris and breadrolls filled to brim with either cheese and hotdog or cheese and ham.

Ali was delighted and kissed me once again on the cheek, asking how did I know her favorites.

It was easy, not only Tiara was a big help, I also like to observe her at school, and she always buy breadrolls at Kabalikat, one of the closest cafe-stall from the Junior High School School Complex. Ali, also, always ask Nana if the latter wants to cut classes and buy TONS of calamaris, which my friend kindly rejected. Acting like a good student model after being elected as the Student Council's Treasurer, when infact, she was the one always instigating the cutting of classes in our batch. Such a hypocrite. I didn't say anything against her though, and just let her be in her little act of goody-two shoes in front of Ali.

Ali is the best food buddy one can ever get as a girlfriend. She likes eating a lot, but still keep on make sure to eat healthy by eating healthy foods to cover the fats and carbs they took in one day in the next couple of days, plus spending time in the gym.

One month in the relationship and I had eaten foods I never really thought existed or will ever eat, without even gaining any fats, though I have gotten a bit heavier, a couple of pounds max, but only because body muscles gained more form, thankfully, not to the point I look grossly buff for my height. Still lean, but a big bigger, mostly around my shoulders. My abs also hardened and became magazine worthy, as what Ali teased me when she saw it.

Our relationship has also been all giddy and fun, so far. We banter here and there, mostly childish arguments, especially when the red flag's up. But still, things have been pretty smooth, so far, while feelings got deeper. I fall deeper.

The date was a success. I enjoyed watching Ali's amazement as she looked over the beautiful scenery. I can't help but smile when I realized how beautiful she looked on her bare face, twinkling under the orange light of the rising sun. Later on, she looked at me and smiled, and that's when I saw the tears hidden behind her eyelids. Pain and happiness, if I'm not wrong, swam around her beautiful deep blue doe eyes- the very color of a deep ocean, filled with uncertainty and mistery, hiding the biggest secret and mystic.

Just who is this girl I love? What is her secrets? One day, I'll make sure I'll know, one day. And when that day comes, I'll love her more than ever, whatever the pain she's shouldering is.

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