This Can't Be Love

A Little Too Late

Chapter 10: A Little Too Late

"Hey what's up..." Amy asked and nakita niya kung saan nakatingin si Dom. She took Dom's hands and Dom looked at her.

"Are you going to ask me for a coffee?" Dom asked her, Dom keeps herself from crying.

"You drink coffee because you need it and beer because you deserve it. I think Im going to get you drunk tonight..." sabi ni Amy and Dom nods, Sam left her with no choice. Dom didn’t know but she walk towards Amy and leaned for a kiss.

Amy pulled away after a couple of seconds and when the two got the chance to breath-

"Dom..." Dom heard and when she turned around she saw Sam standing behind her. "Wh-what-"

"Babe? What's going on?" Toni asked as he jogged towards the three.

"Ikaw may gawa nito! Ikaw!" Dom shouted as she launch herself towards Toni, but Amy caught her by her waist to stop her.

"Dominique! What the hell?!" Sam shouted then Dom look at Sam with anger.

"She's gone! Aubrey's gone! And its this guy's fault!" Sigaw ni Dom as she points her finger kay Toni.

"What?! Ano pinagsasabi mo? Ano yang binibintang mo sa akin?! Aubrey? Who the hell is Aubrey?" Toni asked and Sam looked at him.

"What did you just say?" Sam calmly asked her boyfriend.

"Aubrey... Sino yun?" Toni asked one more time then Sam's head whipped in Dom's direction, she can see Dom's eyes tremble in anger. Then Samantha looks at Amy as if she wants to squeeze some sense out of the girl.

"Why are you looking at me? Am I supposed to know this Aubrey we're talking about here?" Amy asked and Sam's eyes filled with fear.

"Baby... I'll talk to you tomorrow, umuwi ka na muna." Sabi ni Sam kay Toni and she grabbed Dom hands, gusto sanang alisin ni Dom yung kamay ni Sam, but her grip is so strong. "Amy can you give Dom and I a moment please?" Amy nods and Sam drag Dom out of everyone's sight. "Dom... What's this?"

"What's this? Sam we changed it. This f*****g time thing? Nabago natin. Aubrey's gone." Sabi ni Dom and Sam shaking her head as she listen to Dom while talking.

"Hindi pwede, diba kasama mo lang siya? At si Besh... Si Besh! Baka nakita niya-"

"She didn't know Aubrey, just like your boyfriend and Amy's reaction."

"Then tell me bakit naalala natin si Aubrey? Huh?!"

"Because we did not meet her sa time na to, but the rest of the guys did!" Sabi ni Dom.

"Please, wag mo nga akong sigawan!"

"Wag sigawan?! Sam do you f*****g know what the hell you just did? We're suppose to share that kiss, but we did not because you know why? That freakin' pet of you dont leave you-Yes! Its Toni im talking about" sabi ni Dom and Sam slapped her hard in the face, Sam's eyes grew wide in shock sa ginawa niya as her chest heave up and down in a fast pace. Dom's looking down and Sam saw a tear drop on the cold grassy ground.

"Dom im-"

"Dont you dare f*****g touch me..." Dom muttered while looking down. Then she lift her head, her eyes were red from the alcohol and the tears.

"Why do you have to be such an ass to him?! And me? Pwede mo namang hindi siya idamay at ako na lang!" Sabi ni Sam. She wanted to say sorry but she can't, Aubrey's gone and Sam can’t let it sink in.

"Sam here's the thing, Im..." Dom paused and trained her eyes to Sam. "Im an asshole even if Im nicer to you now, even if Im f*****g love the s**t out of you, even if you're my favorite person ever I am still an asshole. Forever and always."

"Dom I-"

"Tingin ko nabigla lang tayo, maybe I shouldn't have fallen for you, or you shouldn't have question yourself, and you know what? We dont have to anymore. Dianne? Dylan? Aubrey? And little Aiden... They're just memories from the future that would never happen." Sabi ni Dom and Sam start to cry as she bites her lower lip to muffle her cry. "Thank you, Sam, thank you for ruining the only thing I look forward to in my life."

Sam felt the bitter taste on Dom's words and it’s like a venomous thing that spread to her body, she felt cold.

"D... D-do you want me to... Dom... Uhm... Gusto mo bang lumipat na ulit ako ng room?" Sam asked and she didin't need to hear Dom's answer, but Sam waited.

"I thought you'd never ask..." sabi ni Dom. "I'll be out for the night, I'll be back early in the morning. I want all your stuff out of that room by 5am."

Sam nods and she saw Dom walking away. The Dom she's afraid since high school. High school Dominique is back.

------

After a week nagstart na ulit yung regular classes, one week na din since nakalipat si Amy ng room. Hindi niya pa din makausap si Dominique.

Pagkatapos nilang magshower ni Dom sa girl's bathroom, niyaya ni Amy si Dom magbreakfast, Dom just nod and walk like a zombie papunta sa dorm canteen.

"Dominique? You've been like that for almost a week now, maybe its time for you to tell me what happened." Sabi ni Amy and Dom looked at her. "I know you're scared to tell people how much it hurts, so you keep it all to yourself... But Im here"

"Thanks, Amy..." sabi ni Dom and she chew her food. "Do you play tennis?"

"What?" Litong tanong ni Amy.

"Do you?"

"I know how to..." sabi ni Amy and Dom stood up and walk out of the canteen, sinundan naman siya ni Amy.

Dom didn't know that Sam was watching her and amy from the corner table, Ella is still confused of what happened. Dahil ang alam ni Ella is that Dom and Sam just erased the existence of each other since high school, but they tried to be civil with each other over the past years and maybe became unlikely friends for the past days, but now, they look like a couple that just gone down on a messy break up.

"Sam? Would you please stop looking at her and talk to me?" Ella asked her best friend and Sam just look down and wipe her eyes.

"Besh... You dont have to know what happens, Just be here, for me." Sabi ni Sam and Ella nods.

"Okay... But I need to go, I have a class today, see you at training?"

"Sure..." sabi ni Sam and her voice almost cracked. Ella needs something, she missed her class looking for Dom.

Nakita niya si Dom sa tennis court with Amy and she jogged towards the field.

"Dom..." Amy called and they stopped playing. Tinuro ni Amy si Ella na nakatayo sa likod ni Dom.

Parang nagets agad ni Amy yung nangyayari at umalis siya. Tumalikod si Dom para sumunod kay Amy but Ella called her name again.

"Dominique..."

"What?"

"Can we talk?" Ella insists.

"Okay, but keep it short like your height."

Ella smiled, "Thank you." She muttered, Dom never change, naglakad sila ni Dom papunta sa mga bleachers. "Dom? Ano bang nangyari sainyo ni Sam?" Tanong ni Ella at tumingin siya kay Dom.

"Let's just say na she took away something from me... Na sobrang importante sakin" sabi ni Dom and Ella looked at her confused. "And she cant give it back, because its gone now."

"Pero kung sayo yun bakit sobrang apektado siya?"

"What do you mean?"

"She haven't slept for days, ni hindi niya nga hinahawakan yung mga libro niya. She's just staring, then she'll cry..." sabi ni Ella at nakita niyang lumunok si Dom. "Dom paano kaya kung magusap kayong dalawa?"

"And then what?"

"Then you can talk things out..."

"I dont know..." sabi ni Dom and she stood up. "Salamat sa concern Ells, I got to go. See you in training!" Sabi ni Dom and she jogged out of the field as she wipe her sweat.

Habang palabas na din si Ella sa fence ng tennis court someone stopped her at napabuntong hininga na lang siya.

"What?" Ella asked Topher na nakatayo lang sa harap niya.

"I don’t like you, but we’re going to have this talk anyway..." sabi ni Topher and Ella looked at him in disbelief.

"Talk?"

"Siyempre tungkol kay Dom! Wala siya sa sarili niya simula nung magkaroon ng klase." Sabi ni Topher at lumakad siya palapit kay Ella. "Alam kong alam mo kung bakit..."

"Toph, kahit ako di ko maintindihan okay? Gawin mo na lang lahat para maging okay si Dom..." sabi ni Ella "Dahil ginagawa ko lahat para mapasaya si Sam..."

"Sam? Samantha? Anong kinalaman niya dito?" Tanong ni Topher. Ella looked around and draf Topher on the side of the bleachers.

"They won’t say anything to me, but you know what? Im not that clueless..." sabi ni Ella and Topher looked at her attentively.

"So? What do you know?" Topher asked eagerly.

"Si Dom at Sam? I think they broke up.. " sabi ni Ella with a straight face and she can see Topher's horrified look.

"What? Broke up? Are you kidding me?! Does she have a boyfriend?"

"Yun na nga eh, hindi ko din maintindihan. Pero after ng party mo? Naging close sila, they've been roommates for a week? Tapos kanila Sam nag Christmas si Dom." Sabi ni Ella.

"No way... The last time I checked, Sam is the most annoying person on Dom's book..." sabi ni Topher.

"Exactly! The same as Sam, she hated Dom more than anything, well magiimbestiga pa ako mamaya sa training, I'll tell you what's gone down." Sabi ni Ella and Topher nods.

"You're not bad after all..." sabi ni Topher.

"Kayo lang naman nito ni Dom ang over judgemental eh... Sige na. I got to go." Sabi ni Ella at umalis na siya.

________________

Bumalik sa dorm room si Ella para kunin yung gym bag niya para sa damit niya for training, pagdating niya sa gym, she saw everyone na nagpapractice and stretching, but she saw Sam on the bench just watching their teammates.

"Besh..." sabi ni Ella and Sam looked at her. "Can you just please tell me what's wrong?"

"B-besh... Have you ever liked somebody so much you just wanna lock yourself in your room, turn on sad music, and cry?" Sam asked while looking blankly on the court.

"B-besh... uhm... Wag kang magagalit but... Do you like Dom?" Ella asked and Sam slowly looked at her bestfriend. "I know may boyfriend ka but... Hindi ko talaga-"

"Yes. I like her. I think I love her, but I always messed up things bago may mangyari... I've been selfish, hindi ko alam na yung ginagawa ko... is hindi ko dapat gawin..." sabi ni Sam and cried. Ella hugged her tight. "I want her, but I can’t do anything about it because she dont even want to look at me!"

"Besh... Si Toni? How about him?" Ella asked.

"We're done... I told him Im in love with someone else, he's a good guy, he's smart in his own ways, but... It's not right." Sabi ni Sam and Ella held her face and wipe her tears.

"Besh... to tell you the truth? Im not even shocked that you liked Dom, but... Why it’s so sudden? What happened? You've been 'friends' for like... a week?"

"Let's just say na... It feels like twenty years with her, Im happy and contented." Sabi ni Sam and Ella nods and give her a smile.

"Atleast ngayon nagsabi ka na..." sabi ni Ella and they both look at Dom. "She'll come around." Then they heard Coach Tai's signal at nagstart na yung practice nila.

Sa buong practice game hinang hina si Sam dahil wala siyang ginawa sa freetime niya kundi umiyal ng umiyak. Then when a strong hit from Michelle hit her she just stand there then fall.

"Oh gosh! Ate Sam! Sorry!" Sigaw ni Mich as they all run towards Sam.

"I-Im okay..." sabi ni Sam and Ella helped her up.

"You should be..." they all heard Dom say sa kabila ng net.

"Dom! Maging concern ka naman!" Sigaw ni Ella.

"Why? Bakit siya ba ganun? Nagiisip ba muna siya bago siya may gawin? I dont think so..." sabi ni Dom. Sam walk towards her in a fast pace and her teammates separates like a red sea when Sam walk. Pagdating niya sa tapat ni Dom, sinampal niya si Dom ng malakas. The slap thundered the gym and everyone eyes fell on the two.

"Bakit ba kanina mo pa ako pinagiinitan?! Ano ba Dom!" Sam shouted she looked at Dom in the eye and cry. "It's deplorable, contemptible, and it's just plain wrong! Play fair!"

"Atleast put your A-game on the match, yun na lang naman maasahan ko sayo." Sabi ni Dom. Nabigla silang lahat dahil hindi gumanti si Dom.

"You two!" They heard coach Parley's voice loud and clear. "To the guidance! Now!" Then he looked at Aeriel. "Yel... Make sure na maihatid mo yang dalawa dun, then go back here, we'll resume the training."

Then Aeriel walked Dom and Sam sa office ng guidance counselor.

Pagpasok nila sa office umupo silang dawa sa harap ng table ni Dr. Lee.

"So... Of all students, you two?" Dr. Lee asked.

"I don't do anything... Im just saying the truth, she's playing like s**t and I dont want that." Sabi ni Dom.

"As a therapist, is it productive for me to slap her right now?" Sam asked him and Dr. Lee's eyes grew wide in shock.

"What? No! Violence isn't always the answer..." Dr. Lee said.

"That's what I thought... And for the record sir, she already did slap me back there. Twice actually if you counted the other one last week" Sabi ni Dom.

"You're a f*****g asshole!" Sam shouted as she attempts to launch herself at Dom again.

"Hey! Stop!" Dr. Lee said. "Miss Lazaro, you're a really good student, in fact you're one of a kind. Pero including yourself in this kind of thing is unbelievable... what pushed you to do this? Something that triggers this behavior?"

"So kung ako lang, okay lang? Un-f*****g-believable!" Dom said and Dr. Lee shushed her.

"I..." Sam started, habang si Dom nakatungo lang at nakatingin sa floor. "I broke up with my boyfriend..." Sam finally said and she can feel Dom tense up.

"May I know exactly why?"

"I... I j-just wanted to tell him the truth, he was a good boyfriend and he deserves the truth..."

"Truth?"

"That I love someone else..." Sam just dropped the L word and it makes Dom's heart beat fast.

"What does it have to do with Miss Valdez?" Dr. Lee asked and Sam looked at Dom. Dom didn't look back, she just states at the carpeted floor.

"I just vent it out of her." Sabi ni Sam.

"Okay... I won’t take any actions about this, because it’s personal, but please refrain from doing this. You two may go..." sabi ni Dr. Lee and no one bothered to say thanks, they exit the room and Dom walk fast as she can but Sam followed her.

"Dom!"

"Stay away!" Dom shouted without looking back. Sam run towards Dom and grab Dom in her arms. "I said-

"You think you can tell me what to do just because I made a mistake?! Aubrey wasn't just yours! I'm her mom too! Why am I so f*****g sensitive when it comes to you"

"Sam... please."

"You can pretend all you want, forget about everything! Make them just memories but I can't! Dom, I thought I could move on, but I can't. I already love you..." sabi ni Sam and she held Dom's hands. Dom's palms were sweating and shaking at the same time. "We can make this work again if you help me..."

"I can't..."

"Why-"

"Babe?" They heard a voice. They turn around and saw Amy on the end of the hallway.

Sam looked at Dom and her eyes were shaking in fear.

"I'll see you on training..." sabi ni Dom at umalis siya at lumapit kay Amy. They shared a quick kiss and left. Si Sam naman naglakad na papunta sa gym para bumalik sa training.

Nagtrain na siya at hindi na bumalik si Dom, baka kung saan nanaman dinala ni Amy at Topher. Nilapitan siya ni Ella para kamustahin, but Sam talked first.

"I told her..." sabi ni Sam and Ella paused from wiping her sweat and look at her best friend.

"How is my Dominique-Samantha ship?" Ella asked and Sam looked back at her.

"Seriously?"

"Just tell me..."

"Well its like titanic... its sinking." Sabi ni Sam and Ella pouts and hug her.

Pumunta na sila sa dorm building para kumain ng dinner, and as Ella and Sam entered kumakain si Dom magisa.

"Gusto mo tabihan natin?"

"Wag na. Give her space..." sabi ni Sam. Habang kumakain sila, Ella keep noticing na hindi mapakali si Sam kakatingin kay Dom.

"Besh... That's pretty pathetic of you, stop staring at her at tapusin mo na yang kinakain mo." Sabi ni Ella and Sam did take another bite of her food pero she can't keep her eyes off of Dom, she just realized now how much Dom loved Aubrey, their family after all.

Sam kept her dreamy sad eyes in Dom's direction and she smiled while looking at the other girl. Natawa siya sa sarili niya.

It’s so ironic how I look at you hoping for you to look back at me- Sam thought was broken when Dom shifted in her seat.

And it feels like Dom heard her words because Dom looked in their direction. Sam broke her gaze and looked at her uninteresting food. When she felt Dom continue her food she look at her again.

But then you finally look and our eyes meet, I look away, because I dont want you to see how much I need you...

But I know you knew...