This Can't Be Love

Sneaky Bastard

Chapter 6: Sneaky Bastard

Dom and Sam can’t even contain the pain anymore, it’s the feeling like they're sucked in a black hole. Then they felt a ground, the side road they are in. They felt rolling on the side road as they hugged each other.

Naramdaman nilang parang nabibiyak nanaman yung ulo nila as they rolled on the dirt side road. As they landed and settled on the ground. Sam heard someone.

"Ahhhh!" She looked to her right and saw Dom crying in pain.

"Dom!!! Dom!!! Are you okay?!" Sam asked and she held Dom's head. "Oh gosh, you're bleeding? Are you? Hey Dom!"

"s**t!" Dom's eyes grew wide in shock. "f*****g hell!"

"Oh my gosh!!!" Sam said it back.

"Why-"

"You do? Dom... Bakit naaalala ko?" Sam asked.

"Jesus! Whoa!" Dom said as she adjust herself from the ground and pushed Sam lightly as a reflex. Then they saw a car coming.

"s**t boyfriend ko!" Sam said and she literally pulled Dom to the bushes. "I texted him to come and pick me up..."

"Sam what the hell! Aray!" Dom shouted but Sam covered her mouth.

"We did something wrong! Dapat di natin naaalala to!" Sam said,

She's in love with Dominique oh my gosh what!?

"Dont ask me! Hindi ko alam kung saan tayo nagkamali-" then Dom paused they heard a muffled cry. Nagkatitigan silang dalawa. Naglakad si Sam papunta sa naririnig nila and Dom crawled on the ground. Then they saw something they didnt want to see.

"Aubrey?!!?!??!" Sigaw nilang dalawa as their eyes darted on Aubrey's direction. The girl is crying, she had a scratch on her face. It scarred Sam's heart when she saw her daughter like this.

"Oh fuck... Kill me..." Dom said and di siya pinansin ni Sam. Sam run towards Aubrey and held the kid in her arms.

"Shh.. Mommy's here. Dont cry little bree bree..." Sam said and Dom felt like her chest erupted like a volcano.

Fuck. My. Life.

She can almost hear Granny Dom's "I know..." but she didn't. It terrifies her.

"Dom! Ano bang ginagawa mo?! Bakit nakatayo ka lang diyan!" Sam shouted at her, nakita nilang pumasok si Toni sa loob ng bar. "Bilisan mo"

"Bilisan?! Really?! Sam? kinaladkad mo ko!" Sabi ni Dom and she stood up with scratches all over her body.

"Anong gagawin natin?"

"Well make her shut up... We're going to make a scene if hindi siya tumigil kakaiyak!" Sabi ni Dom and she finally walk closer to them at lumuhod sa tabi ni Sam.

"Ate dim... it hurts" sabi ni Aubrey as she held her knees.

"I can’t take her home," Sam said and Dom's eyes go wide in shock.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Wala kang roommate this sem diba? Can you bring her sa dorm mo? For tonight .."

"Are you crazy?! How about tomorrow? The next week?"

"Dom! Please!" Sam shouted and Dom stopped. Sam made Aubrey stop crying too. "We'll figure everything out tomorrow."

"f**k!"

"Words!" Sam shouted and Aubrey looked at her.

"You sound like mommy..." Aubrey said and finally, Sam gave her a smile.

"Really?" Sam asked and the little girl nods as she wipe her tears from her face. Dom finally made a move and help Sam. Binuhat ni Dom si Aubrey.

"Hey Little ninja... Do you want some... ugh..." Dom didin't know what to say, but she thought na anak niya naman si Aubrey baka magustuhan niya din yung favorite niya. "Ice cream?"

"Would it be... chocolate?" Aubrey asked adoringly. Sam and Dom smiled.

"If you want to..." Sabi ni Dom and Aubrey nods like her life depends on it. "Okay, say bye to uhm Ate Dim."

Aubrey looked at Sam and beamed at her mommy. "Bye-bye."

"I'll see you tomorrow morning bree-bree.." Sam said kay Aubrey and looked at Dom. "You too..." Dom nods.

Samantha's phone rings and she looked at Dom. They just kissed, she almost tell Dom she loves her, but now here she was standing infront of her future daughter and wife as she held the phone that she was about to answer.

"Sam... Your phone is ringing." Sabi ni Dom and Sam shake her head out of trance.

"Oh? Right." Sabi ni Sam. "Dom..."

"Sam... You should go, hinihintay ka ng boyfriend mo" sabi ni Dom and Sam can saw a hurt strike through Dom's face.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Sam said and Dom nods. "Say something."

"We'll be waiting." Sabi ni Dom at kinapa niya yung susi ng sasakyan niya sa bulsa niya. Umalis si Sam at pinanood lang siyang umalis ni Aubrey at Dom. Paglabas ng bar ni Toni he ended his call and run on Sam's direction. They kissed. Dom looked down and the next thing she knows the car was moving away.

Then Dom made her way to the car at pinaupo niya si Aubrey sa tabi niya. There's a moment of silence sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Hey, cupcake," Dom called Aubrey then the little girl look at her and smiled, Dom thought Aubrey liked her nickname. "Let's go grab ice cream?"

Then Dom drove to a 24/7 convenience store. Grab a gallon of ice cream for her and Aubrey, grab some chips for her, and some foods na magkakasiya sa maliit na ref ng dorm room niya.

Dom opened her dorm room, it’s one spacious room with two beds, a sink, a mini-fridge, two study tables.

"Ate Alex? Dito ka ba nakatira?" Aubrey asked as Dom grabbed two spoons from the cabinet.

"Mmhmm. Pero may house talaga kami, malaki din." Sabi ni Dom. "Definitely bigger than this." Dom sighed and looked at Aubrey. "So... Cupcake... What do you want to do?"

"Can we watch Happy Molly?"

"Happy what?"

"The princess???" Aubrey asked confused then Dom remembered the show with the robots, and princesses, and castles. A terrible show in the future.

"Ow? Happy Molly? Wala ka akong ganun. Well we can sing, I'll play the guitar."

"Really? But can we eat ice cream while doing that?"

"If you want to..." sabi ni Dom and they did sing along all night.

___________________

Sam got to her dorm room around 3am. She got her keys on her pocket and slowly walk inside. She turned her lampshade on at umupo sa single bed niyang kama. She let out a deep sigh and stare at her sleeping bestfriend blankly. Tiningnan niya yung oras sa phone niya and 3:30 na wala pa siyang tulog kakaisip sa gagawin nila ni Dom kay Aubrey.

"Ugh..." Sam groaned and slapped herself. "Bobo ka talaga Sam!"

Gumalaw si Ella and opened her eyes. Tinakpan niya pa yung mata niya sa liwanag ng lampshade ni Sam, may hang over pa si Ella from last night.

"Besh.. kung bobo ka ano ako? Walang utak?" Tanong ni Ella at nakita niyang may tumutulong luha sa mata ni Sam. Biglang napaupo si Ella at kumirot yung ulo niya, tumingin siya sa digital clock nila sa study table at tumingin ulit kay Sam. "Ui Besh joke lang yun... bakit? Nag away ba kayo ni Toni?"

"No. It’s not that."

"Then what is it?"

"Besh? Look I need your advice alright? About... about an... adult problem." Sam said slowly as she wipe her eyes. Ella's eyes got wide and her face in shock.

"Holy crap! Sam are you pregnant?" Ella asked at lumipat siya sa kama ni Sam at naupo.

"No. Worse."

"Oh gosh? Manganganak ka na?!"

"Jorella please!" Saway ni Sam "Tell me you won’t freak out or anything..."

"Besh! May hang over ako! Ano sa tingin mo magiging reaksyon ko kung ano man yan?"

"Basta!" Sam said and held her best friend’s hands. "Okay?" Ella nods. "So... I saw the future."

Ella looked at her and giggled. "Ow? Well I won the lottery." Sabi ni Ella at tumawa nanaman siya at hinampas siya ni Sam. "Aw!"

"I’m dead serious."

"How?"

"I dont know..." sabi ni Sam and huminga ulit siya ng malalim. "May isa pa."

"Yes?"

"I saw the person I ended up marrying, and its not my boyfriend..." Sam said she saw Ella mouthed 'Thank god' and her eyes were so focused, Ella nods signalling she's waiting for a name. "It’s Dom..."

"Ow? Well that's not really-"

"WHAT?!"

"Besh..." Ella said and stood up, grabbed a can of juice from their fridge and gave it to Sam. Uminom si Sam and she calmed down. "Are you calmed down?" Sam nods. "Sam… are you like... pranking me? This isn't the best time dahil medyo may hang over ako"

"Besh I’m not kidding."

"Okay. I guess you're saying the truth, dahil first of all you're just so freakin' uptight to do this-"

"Wha-thanks?"

"Okay, so its true? You and Dom?" Ella asked and Sam nods. "Well, not a total shocker-"

"Besh! Ako! At si Dominique! Dominique Valdez? Hello? The mean thing!"

"Yeeaaaah? And you obviously have this weird and odd infatuation towards her-THAT! Don't talk nagsasalita pa ako, that I think made me not freaked out."

"Okay but this one will kinda shock you."

"Try me.." Ella challenged her.

"Well, we had kids, kami ni Dom, three... but technically four dahil future me is pregnant, and then pagbalik namin ramdam na ramdam namin ni Dom na may yumakap samin, pagbalik namin besh.."

"Ano?"

"Si Aubrey... our five year old daughter. She's here..." Sam said and Ella's face froze and her mouth are hanging open.

"W-what?"

"Nasa dorm room siya ni Dom ngayon."

"No way. An actual kid?" Ella asked and Sam nods. "Oh my gosh. Anong gagawin niyo?" Sam just shrug. Tumayo si Ella at naghilamos ng muka niya. "Okay. I’m ready"

"Ready for what?"

"I want to see your lovechild!!!"

"Besh..."

"Besh please?"

"Its 4am at hindi ko alam kung anong floor si Dom..."

"But I know..." Ella said and wriggle her eyebrows. Naglakad na sila ni Sam papunta sa kwarto ni Dom. They cant believe na hindi naglolock ng pinto si Dom na kinagalit naman ni Sam, but when they entered the room wala yung dalawa sa loob. "Oh? Wala naman sila dito."

"Saan dinala ni Dom yun?! Oh my gosh! Baliw baliw din minsan yung babaeng-"

"Sinong baliw baliw?" Dom asked when they entered the room habang buhat buhat niya si Aubrey at may dala siyang grocery bag. "And not to be inhospitable but why the hell are you two here?"

"Bakit di pa natutulog si Bree?" Tanong ni Sam at kinuha niya si Bree kay Dom.

"Hindi pa siya inaantok eh." Sabi ni Dom at nilabas niya yung binili nila sa grocery store.

"And why her scratches aren't treated yet?!"

"Uhm dahil hindi ko alam kung paano gawin yun?" Sabi ni Dom "Sam look-

"How I am supposed to trust you to take care of our kid, when you can't even figure out how to treat these?" Sabi ni Sam at pinahiga niya si Aubrey sa kama ni Dom.

"Uhm looks like I dont have a say kung saan siya hihiga?" Sabi ni Dom and Sam just glared at her. "Okay, the hell?"

"Wow. Totoo bang kayo? I mean. I just can see world war 3 here and nothing else." Sabi ni Ella.

"Sam! Sinabi mo sakanya?!"

"Shhh..." sabi ni Sam at tumingin si Ella at Dom kay Aubrey na natutulog na. "Isn't she cute?"

"I know right..." sabi ni Dom at napangiti siya.

"You know what? As much as I want to see this cute little kid, I think kailangan niyo ng time na dalawa. Besh? Matutulog na muna ako." Sabi ni Ella and Sam nods then she looked to the other girl. "Gusto kong bumalik yung bestfriend ko ng walang galos okay?"

"Ano naman sa tingin mo gagawin ko sakanya?" Tanong ni Dom. "Akong bahala sakanila."

"Besh....Salamat" sabi ni Sam at lumabas na si Ella, Sam just watch Aubrey sleep and smile habang si Dom kinuha yung binili nila at umupo sa bed across from where Aubrey and Sam at.

Finally, Sam sits down and looked at Dom eating some chips.

"Hoy..." Sam called her and Dom's brows quirked.

"Hm?"

"Can we talk?"

"Nagsasalita ka na..."

"Okay so... Christmas eve? Mamaya? And I can't miss our family's thing. I’m going home later but I swear babalik ako the next day for you and Bree-" Sam just can’t stop talking and Dom is really keeping herself from punching her. "But if you want you can come with me and have Christmas with my family and you can tell Topher na hindi ka makakapagchristmas with them this year. So... what?"

"Woah. Do you really? Like... talk so much? So help me god." Sabi ni Dom and Sam just looked at her.

"So? Ano nga?"

"I guess I should start packing up?" Dom asked and Sam squealed in excitement, jumped, and threw herself at Dom and she hugged the girl. Dom smiled as they hugged but immediately dropped her smile when Sam looked at her. "Do you feel like punching me for hugging you?"

"Not... really"

"Good. What progress huh?" Sam smiled and Dom smiled back.

____________________

Natapos na ni Dom ilagay sa bagpack niya yung mga damit niya at yung ilang binili niya para kay Aubrey, sana lang di mapansin ng daddy niya yung mga binili niya gamit yung credit card niya.

"Hey little bree... Okay ka na?" Dom asked her and Bree shakes her head and pouts. "Ow? Bakit?"

"I want a bag too..."

"Huh?"

"A bag..."

"Ow? A bag? Okay." Sabi ni Dom at naghanap siya sa closet niya and she found her fanny pack. Inalis niya yung mga paint brush sa loob and she wrapped her fanny pack around Aubrey's waist.

"Ano to?" Aubrey asked curiously.

"A bag? That's the smallest bag I own." Sabi ni Dom and she adjusted to make it not too tight on the girl’s waist. "So pwede na ba tayong umalis?" Then Bree shakes her head again. "Okay. Now, what?"

"I need something to put in here," Aubrey said pointing at her fanny pack. Binuksan ni Dom yung mini gridge niya and grab a handful of candies at nilagay sa bag ni Aubrey.

"Now... can we go?" Dom asked and Aubrey shook her head again. "Ugh. Ano pa ba?"

"Can you make me your sandwiches? Yung kinain last night? Yum!" Bree said as she twirled infront of the mirror wearing her fanny pack. Dom rolled her eyes and ginawa ng egg sandwich si Bree and she gave it to the kid. "Yey!!!" Aubrey cheered and Dom smiled though she's starting to get annoyed.

"Now... can we go?" Dom asked the kid and Aubrey nods. "Great!" Dom grab her car keys and locked her dorm room. Habang naglalakad sila papunta sa room ni Sam na natandaan ni Dom kung saan, Aubrey held Dom's hand as they walk as she use her other hands to eat her sandwich. The kid is too small to walk along a college dorm hallway, she's just as the same height as Dom's hips.

When they reached Sam's door and Dom was about to knock Aubrey tugged her hands. "What?!" Dom asked.

"Im thirsty..." Aubrey told Dom with her doe eyes staring straight at Dom's eyes.

"Okay, inside" Dom said and she knocked and Sam answered the door, pagbukas ni Sam ng pinto nakita ni Dom si Ella sa loob. Sam just stares at Dom and she can't believe Dominique Valdez standing infront of her dorm room. Di nila napansin na pumasok na si Aubrey at binuksan yung ref nila Sam kasi mabubulunan na siya. Ella walked to the door to greet Dom at di rin niya napansin si Aubrey.

"Dom-" Ella was cut when they heard Aubrey's cute little voice.

"Do you have a juice in he-Oh I got it!" Aubrey shouted as she found a box of juice on the fridge.

"Oh hey kid!" Ella greeted Aubrey, she saw Aubrey trying to reach a glass from the sink but she can’t so Ella helped her. "Thanks... uhm what's your name?" Aubrey asked her as she pour herself a juice on the glass

"Ella..."

"Ella? That's a pretty name." Sabi ni Aubrey and Ella smiled, after Aubrey drink she put her glass on the sink. "You look like my Aunt Ella too..."

Dom and Sam's eyes go wide and Ella looked at them.

No. Sam mouthed and Ella nods.

"Talaga? Ang galing naman." Sabi ni Ella and she leaned infront of her. "Is she pretty?" Ella asked the kid with a smirk.

"Yes, but my mom is prettier" sabi ni Aubrey and Dom snorts a laugh. "And Ate Dim is pretty too, then Mama, then Ate Alex, then you..."

"Wow, that's quite a list..." sabi ni Ella as she retreats and sits on her bed.

"Uhm. Poopie?" Dom called and Sam shot her a glare. "Papapasukin mo ba ako or-"

"Right!" Sabi ni Sam and she pulled Dom inside and closed the door behind them. Aubrey called to Ella's lap kaya kinalong na siya ni Ella.

"This is soo cute oh my gosh!" Ella said and Dom nods proudly and Sam smiles.

After uncomfortable moments of Dom and Sam not getting used to being 'close' hinatid na sila ni Ella sa parking sa kotse ni Dom, Ella will also leave later today at nauna lang sila Dom.

"Besh are you sure na hindi ka sasabay?" Sam asked her, Ella looked at them and smiles.

"I dont want to ruin your family bonding..." sabi ni ella and hinampas siya ni Sam. "Aw!" Then Ella hugged her friend. "Im so happy you know, hahaha. Dont get mer wrong besh, mabait si Toni at kulang na lang ialay niya sarili niya sayo but look at you now, alam kong gusto mong maging kaibigan si Dom not to mention your rough history but-"

"Besh... We're just going to figure out kung paano makakabalik si Bree, then our life will go back to where it supposed to be." Sabi ni Sam and she held Ella's hands. "Happy Christmas Besh..."

"Happy Christmas..."

Then they drove their way papunta sa bahay nila Sam. Nasa back seat si Aubrey at Sam and si Dom and nagdadrive and 30 minutes drive Aubrey decided to cut the silence.

"Aren't we going to stop? Im hungry?" Aubrey announced and Sam shot Dom a glare.

"Bree-bree I just made you a sandwich." Sabi ni Dom.

"Pero gutom na po ako." Sabi ni Aubrey and Sam nods.

"Dom, pull over." Sabi ni Sam and Dom did.

Aubrey opened the door and run inside the store. Bababa na din sana si Sam but she heard Dom.

"That sneaky bastard." Sabi ni Dom habang di niya matanggal yung seatbelt niya, Sam looked at her and saw Dom smiling.

"Bakit?"

"May ginawa sa seatbelt ko. Can you uhm like untie me?" Dom said and Sam nods and unties Dom's seatbelt.

"She got that from you..." sabi ni Sam as they got out from the car.

"Really?" Dom asked her quirking her eyebrow. "So stupid things came from me? And Smart stuff came from you?" Sam nods. "Ow? How fair." Sabi ni Dom and nanlaki ang mata nila when a guy from the store drag Aubrey outside.

"Hey! Bitawan mo siya!" Dom shouted and the man looked at them.

"Kayo ba kasama nito? Im sorry akala ko kasi kasama siya nung mga batang nag shoshoplift." Sabi nung mama.

Tumakbo si Aubrey kay Sam at niyakap niya.

"Eh gago-"

"Dom!!!" Sinaway ni Sam si Dom and Sam looked at the man. "Sorry po." Sabi ni Sam at hinawakan niya kamay ni Dom and they buy foods as fast as they can because Dom will surely gonna punch that poor man.

As they continue their way nakatulog na si Aubrey habang nakaunan sa lap ni Sam.

"Dom?"

"Hm?"

"We need to tell Bree what's happening."

"Sam we can't, hindi niya yun maiintindihan, alam mo bang ang bata pa niya?" Sabi ni Dom.

"Yes, but still. She's my daughter, maiintindihan niya yun. Mas mahirap magexplain sa mga tao kung bakit Dimitri at Alex and pangalan nating dalawa."

"Okay. But ikaw ang mageexplain sakanya." Sabi ni Dom. "I’m not really a person who can explain."

"I can totally see why?" Sabi ni Sam and Dom glared at her but Sam just rolled her eyes at Dom's.

After another hour they pulled over infront of Sam's house. They got out and Sam knock on the door.

"Honey!" Her mom greeted and she looked at Dom and Aubrey.

"Mom? Si Dominique po at si Aubrey, she's a friend and she came with me." Sabi ni Sam and she point at Aubrey. "Her sister..."

"Dominique?" Aubrey asked and Dom kneeled infront of her.

"Bree-bree we need to tell you something later okay?" Dom said to the little girl and Aubrey smiles. "Good girl.."

Pagpasok nila Dom saw a guy in a wheelchair.

"Dom, Bree. This is my brother. Trevor." Trevor waved at them and Aubrey beamed a smile at him and crawled on his lap. "Trev, This is Dom my friend and her sister." And they waved again.

"Dalhin niyo muna yang bag niyo sa kwarto ni Sam, dadating na din Daddy niya mamaya." Sabi ng Mommy ni Sam.

Dom and Sam got to Sam's room and they placed the bag on the floor beside Sam's bed.

"Look how cute are you?" Sam heard Dom and nakita niya si Dom na tinitingnan yung highschool picture ni Sam. "Ah... Nakakamiss si poopoo girl ah?"

"Shut your mouth" sabi ni Sam and she walk closer to Dom. "That's why I hate you before. Alam kong hindi mo na natatandaan pero I heard you and Topher shout at that guy on a wheel chair, you called him Megatron, and may kapatid akong nasa wheelchair. I hated you, you're so mean."

"Yeah, I’m aware, im really sorry Sam. I’m not really thinking." Sabi ni Dom and Sam saw sincerity on Dom's eyes. "Sorry talaga."

"Past is past... I dont care how we met, I’m just happy we did..." sabi ni Sam with a really pretty smile in her face and Dom's face lit up.

"Kahit na the first time we met you s**t yourself?" Dom said between her giggles and Sam smiles.

"What I just said about past is past?" Sabi ni Sam and Dom laugh. Dom walk up to her and hugged her, Sam hugged her back. As Sam's head rest on Dom's shoulder, nagsalita si Sam. "And yes, kahit na you met me in the most embarassing way possible. I’m still happy we did." Sabi ni Sam and she felt Dom's hug become tighter.

"Me too. Me too." Sabi ni Dom and a knocked on the door break their hugged. Sam and Dom looked at the door and they saw Toni standing.

"Hi babe. I thought I could surprise you" sabi ni Toni with a bouquet of flowers. Dom felt her stomach turned and she felt a boiling sensation in her head.

"I-uh-yeah... Surprise." Sam muttered with a horrified look as she stare at her boyfriend. Then Toni found Dom standing near her girlfriend.

"What are you doing here?" Toni asked Dom and no one could speak straight then they heard small steps coming Aubrey run inside the room crawls on top of the bed and jump. The three looked at the girl and Aubrey stopped jumping and looked at Toni.

"Hi. Who are you?" Aubrey asked Toni and Toni's face is a mix of horror and confusion.