This Can't Be Love

Just A Memory

Chapter 9: Just A Memory

******* (Starts for the holidays ;-) )

It's the 30th and busy lahat ng Orgs magprepare for their own New Years Eve party para sa mga members nila na nagstay sa dorm. Nasa room ni Dom at Sam si Ella ngayon kasama si Aubrey, wala si Sam dahil kasama nanaman siya ng boyfriend niya. Simula ng nalaman ni Toni yung paglipat ni Sam ng room para na siyang di mapakaling pusa na aalialigid kay Sam.

"Hoy! Dom! Anong oras ba dadating si Sam? Malalate na tayo sa meeting ng Org!" Sabi ni Ella and Dom looked at the clock and its almost 7pm, umuulan pa kaya nagaalala na din si Dom kay Sam. "Yan, nagtext na din si Amy, nakakahiya naman kung malate tayo, tayo na nga naginvite sakanya."

"Sabihin mo na lang Ells pumunta na lang dito, sabay sabay na lang tayo." Sabi ni Dom at nakita niya si Aubrey na naglalaro lang ng ipad niya at malungkot. "Hey princess... Why?"

"Ang tagal ni mommy... and its raining." Sabi ni Aubrey and she pouts and looked at her mama. "Kailan tayo makakapagmall together?"

"Diba nagmall tayo yesterday?"

"Yes... pero mama sabi ni mommy she'll have dinner with us."

"But Toni called her eh, dadating na din yun." Sabi ni Dom and she looked at her phone and read Sam's text na malapit na siya. "She's on her way... Lift up your head princess, if not the crown falls."  Sabi ni Dom and Aubrey smiled at umupo sa lap ni Dom and hugged her mama's neck. "There's still more time to spend together honey."

After a while dumating si Sam, medyo nabasa ng ulan. Tumakbo si Aubrey papunta kay Sam at binuhat naman siya. Kinuha ni Dom yung bag ni Sam na iniwan niya sa sahig para mabuhat si Aubrey. Ella just watch them with a playful smirk.

After magpalit ni Sam ng damit humiga sila ni Aubrey sa kama niya at si Dom naman nagbibihis para makaalis na. Then a knock on the door caught everyones attention, Dom opened the door yawning and she closed her mouth ng makita niya si Amy.

"A yawn is a silent scream for coffee..." sabi ni Amy as she walk inside Sam jolted up in her bed and looked at Ella.

"Thanks.." sabi ni Dom ng bigyan siya ni Amy ng coffee, binigyan din si Ella.

"Oh? I didn't know she'll be here, I just grab two cups on my way." Sabi ni Amy kay Sam as soon as she saw the girl.

"Its fine.. I have lots of those here" Sam replied coldly.

Dom looked at Sam and gave her 'the look' dahil nagiging kaibigan na din ni Dom si Amy ngayon.

Tumayo si Sam and she walk towards Dom who's been drinking her coffee.

"You. Me. Right now." Sam ordered and Dom looked at her with confusion.

"Pero Sam malalate-" and Sam drag her outside bago pa makapagsalita si Dom.

"I could cut the s****l tension with a knife..." sabi ni Ella and Amy looked at her confused, and Ella just gave the girl a friendly smile.

"Bakit siya nandito?" Tanong ni Sam kay Dom.

"Uhm. Ininvite kasi namin ni Ella si Amy sa meeting ng org for New Years Eve... Diba? May celebration kami?" Dom explained and she can saw disapproval from Sam's face.

"Anong oras ka naman makakauwi?"

"I dont know? I'll bring my key para di ka na maistorbo..." sabi ni Dom and that wasn't what Sam meant.

"Okay..." sabi ni Sam, she cant tell Dom about the thing she knows about Amy dahil siguradong magagalit si Dom pag nalaman niyang pinakealaman ni Sam yung mangyaari.

Pagpasok nila sa loob tulog na si Aubrey and buhat na ni Ella at Amy yung dadalhin nila sa meeting sa kabilang building.

Ella carried her bag and Amy took Dom's.

"What the heck? This is too heavy." Sabi ni Amy and Dom giggled at umuusok nanaman yung ilong ni Sam na nakita naman ni Ella.

"That would be my stuff, I got it." Sabi ni Dom and she got her stuff from Amy.

"What's that?"

"Let's just say... a drum set." Sabi ni Dom and Amy smiled and shakes her head. At lumabas na silang dalawa. Ella came tailing behind them but before she got out of the room she found Sam's angry eyes. "Oh no, smoke’s curling out of your nose, Besh. You aware of that?" Pangaasar ni Ella as she pretends to fan Sam's nose as if there were really smoke coming out of it.

"Shut up Besh..." sabi ni Sam as she swatted Ella's hands and she guided Ella outside and shut the door.

____________________

Art Strong will be hosting a new years eve party and nakapagdecide na to made a live band exclusive for the event, and Dom will play for tomorrow night. Sa practice nila around midnight kitang kita ni Ella na gusto ni Dom yung ginagawa niya dahil hindi mo siya makikitaan ng pagod sa muka. Dom may seem a bit show off but some of the members liked it. Ella smirked on the possibility na magkaroon ng fans club si Dom sa loob ng ateneo.

"Ells? Is that girl... Dom's roommate."

"Si Sam?"

"Is she her girlfriend?" Tanong ni Amy kay Ella, Ella shakes her head because she didn’t want to answer but Amy took it as a No. "So.. Dom's single, Nice..."

"Why? Are you... uhm..." Ella battling if she'll asked the girl's sexuality but took it back nang maalala niyang magiging ex siya ni Dom.

"Will that be a problem?"

"No of course not. Its cool." Sabi ni Ella and Amy nod and smile and get back ogling on Dom's who's playing the bass guitar.

"Patay tayo diyan..." Ella whispered to herself and Amy looked at her.

"What?"

"Oh nothing..." sabi ni Ella and she just enjoys these nerds' performance.

2am at natapos na yung band practice and yung pag aassign ng mga duties ng bawat isa, Ella was assigned for the promotion nung show and it was open for all at the campus' grounds.

"That was a nice jam you guys got there..." Amy compliments Dom as soon as Dom joined her and Ella..

"Thanks... This is actually my first time playing infront of a crowd so... yep, really need to do my best." Sabi ni Dom and Amy nods.

"Well... I might say you're magnificent up there on stage." Sabi ni Amy and Dom smiled back and blushed.

"Thanks. That so kind of you-"

"Ahem..." Ella interrupted, Sam will kill her in her sleep if malaman niyang wala man lang ginawa si ella about sakanila. "Guys I really need my bed right now, can we like uhm... have this conversation tomorrow?"

Sabay sabay silang pumunta sa dorm building at naghiwalay sa may elevator. Kinuha ni Dom yung susi niya sa bulsa at binuksan ng dahan dahan yung pinto. She saw Aubrey fast asleep on Sam's bed, si Sam naman nakaupo sa upuan sa may study table niya, with the lamp shade as the only light in the room. Dom smiled as soon as she saw Sam reading her Bio books with her headphones on.

Dahan dahang lumapit si Dom and she lightly touch Sam's shoulder. Sam stood up in shocked and touched her heart.

"Dom! Ano ba naman! Bakit di ka man lang kumatok?" Sam shouted.

"Sorry... But this is my room too, and I love looking at you when you're so focused on that thing... Nerd." Dom said with a playful smirk and Sam blushed. Sam turned her chair to look at Dom as the girl change into her pajamas.

"So... for the spirit of you know, this newfound friendship, can you tell me what you are guys doing all night?" Sam asked trying to sound casual.

"Nope." Dom simply answered and looked at Sam and gave her a smile.

"O-kay... why?"

"Be-cause... Its a surprise." Sabi ni Dom at umupo siya sa kama niya. "Im expecting you and Bree tomorrow."

"Oh? So that's for me-"

"What?"

"I mean for us?" Sam rephrased her statement.

"Kinda." Sabi ni Dom and she lie down and turn her lampshade off. "Night." And she drifted asleep.

__________________

Nagising si Sam when she heard a knock on the door.

Knock knock

Knock knock

"Wait lang..." sigaw ni Sam with her eyes half opened she opened the door.

"Hi? Room ba to ni Dominique?" The girl asked.

"Uhm. Sino ka?"

"Orgmate ako ni Dom. Gising na ba siya?"

"Hindi pa." Sabi ni Sam and she looked at the girl from head to toe and back.

"Thank you. I'll be back later." Sabi nung girl and she took off. Hindi na nakatulog si Sam dahil every 30 minutes may kakatok para hanapin si Dom. Quarter to nine may kumatok nanaman.

"I swear to god-Oh? Thank god its you. Pasok Besh." Sabi ni Sam and she let Ella in. "Kanina pa may hanap ng hanap kay Dom ayaw naman nilang ipagising..."

"Actually Im one of them.." sabi ni Ella.

"What?!"

"Kailangan na kasi siya don, pero kailangan niya din magpahinga." Sabi ni Ella and Sam let out a deep sigh. Ella waited and after a few nagising ba si Dom.

"Anong oras na Sam?" Tanong ni Dom.

"Nine thirty na..." sabi ni Sam as she help Aubrey eat her breakfast. Then there's a knock on the door and Sam shot Dom a look.

"I swear if one more orgmate comes knocking at the door-" But before Sam could talk the door revealed Toni standing outside.

"Oh look, she invited the boyfriend. Excuse me while I jam pens in my eyes so I don't have to watch this..." Sabi ni Dom at sumama yung sising niya and Sam's face turn soft.

"Babe? Anong ginagawa mo dito? Paano ka nakapasok?" Sam asked Toni.

"Uhm open house daw kasi ngayon? So they let me in? Anong meron?"

"Oh? So pets are allowed today..." sabi ni Dom before she exits the door dala dala yung gamit niya pang ligo. Naiwan si Ella habang tumatawa.

"Pasok babe..." sabi ni Sam at umupo si Toni sa kama ni Sam. Toni was about to ruffle Aubrey's hair but the kid swatted his hands away. "Bree..."

"Sorry mommy..." sabi ni Bree then Ella and Sam's eyes goes wide in shock.

"Mommy?"

"Ganyan niya lang ako tawagin..." Sam said defensively. "So... Coffee?"

"Okay... thanks babe." Sabi ni Toni and while he's having his breakfast pumasok si Dom as Dom dries her hair with a blower. "Uhm babe.."

"Hmm?"

"Tulungan mo ako gumawa ng report ko ah?" Paalam ni Toni and dedma lang si Dom habang nagaayos siya ng gamit.

"Sure thing babe... Ano ba yan?"

"Report sa stat..." sabi ni Toni pero di siya pinansin ni Sam dahil tinawag siya ni Dom.

"Sam dadalhin ko na si Bree ah?" Sabi ni Dom and Sam looked at her.

"Di pa siya naliligo..." sabi ni Sam.

"Ako na..." sabi ni Dom at sinamahan niya si Bree sa shower room.

Pagbalik nila nakaharap na sa laptop si Toni at Sam. Si Ella naman pumili ng susuotin ni Aubrey.

"Dom? Sino magbabantay kay Bree? Okay lang kung gusto mo akong sumunod..." Tanong ni Sam. Toni shot Dom a look.

"Si Amy nandon naman, siya na lang, dito ka na lang Sam." Sabi ni Dom and Sam looked at her.

"But-" Sam was cut by her boyfriend.

"Babe?" Toni called him. "Paano ba spelling ng forty?" Toni asked his girlfriend. Sam erased 'fourty' and typed 'forty'

"Yan..." sabi ni Sam at tumingin siya kay Dom but Toni called Sam again, and it gain a low voiced irritated groan from Dom.

"Why is forty spelled F-O-R-T-Y not fourty, F-O-U-R-T-Y?" Toni asked and Sam lift an eyebrow then everyone heard Dom.

"Its because no one likes u..." sabi ni Dom and Sam shot her a glare. "I mean to say U as in letter U." Ella's mouth formed a big 'O' and her eyes grew wide. Dom just burned Toni alive.

"Okay! Guys!" Ella shouted cutting the tension. "We should get going. Bye besh!" Sabi ni Ella.

Ella grab Dom's bag and Dom carried Aubrey. Aubrey waved good bye to her mommy only.

__________________

Dumating sila Toni at Sam at nagsisimula na. They sat on the audience katabi ni Amy, nakakalong si aubrey kay Amy.

"Bree bree come here..." sabi ni Sam at agad namang bumaba si Bree galing kay Amy at kumalong kay Sam.

When the live band comes on gulat na gulat si Sam when she saw Dom playing an actual instrument infront of the crowd. Amy just jamming with the crowd and Aubrey watch her mom with wide excited eyes.

"Mommy... I miss Kuya Dil" sabi ni Aubrey and Sam smiled at her and kissed her.

"Well just watch mama up there, does she remind you of kuya Dil?" Sam told her daughter and Aubrey nods excitedly and hugged Sam's neck.

"So much..." sabi ni Aubrey. After nun quarter before 12mn nagsama sama na sa isang spot si Dom, Ella, Amy, Aubrey, Sam at Toni.

"So how was it huh?! Huh?!" Dom asked as she walk approching the group. Sam looked at Ella and Ella gave her a nod.

"You're drunk?!" Sam asked, Toni and Amy looked at her in confusion.

"I’m still sobber..." sabi ni Dom and she was about to take Aubrey from Sam. "Hey..."

"Nope. God Dom what the hell!?!" Sabi ni Sam and Aubrey watch her parents with worried eyes.

"Babe ibigay mo na, kapatid naman yan ni Dominique!" Sabi ni Toni.

"Nakikita mo ba si Dom? She's drunk!"

"Pero babe..." sabi ni Toni. "Please, nang magkaroon naman tayo ng time sa isa't isa!" Sabi ni Toni and it gained a raised of eyebrows from Ella and Sam.

"Oh for f**k sake... f**k me" sabi ni Dom and Toni gave her a threatening look.

"You have a terrible vocabulary..." sabi ni Toni sakanya as he drapes his arms on Sam's shoulders.

"Oh well f**k you then!!" sabi ni Dom and Toni pushed her off. Dom pushed him back. Toni pushed her again and taunts her. Then they all heard Toni jaw c***k after Dom hit him hard in the face.

"Dominique!!!" Sam shouted as she stood between the two. Kinuha ni Ella si Aubrey kay Sam at umatras silang tatlo nila Amy.

"He started it!" Dom told Sam defensively.

"He started it? Really?" Sam asked Dom.

"Yeah! It’s you!" Toni shouted as he point his index finger to Dom.

"Not helping!" Sam shouted as she swat Toni's hands. She took Dom's hands and drag her away from the group. "Dom what are you doing?!"

"He pushed me first! Are you f*****g blind?!" Dom shouted back.

"No! I’m not blind Dominique Valdez! Nakita ko ring sinuntok mo siya!" Sabi ni Sam.

"He had it coming! Im sorry! I just really want to punch him!" Sabi ni Dom.

"If you want to punch someone that doesn’t mean you can... It’s not right to just punch someone!"

"Well next time I'll inform him!" Sabi ni Dom and Sam's jaw dropped. She's back with the arrogant Dominique.

"Why you're being such an ass to him!?"

"Because he’s not supposed to be here! Sam,  tonight suppose to be our first kiss in our world! You're my New Years Kiss this year! How am I supposed to do that if that thing is all over you tonight!?" Sabi ni Dom and Sam's eyes go wide in shock. "I dont know what happened, but I think we messed up. We changed some things." Sabi ni Dom and Sam's heart beat faster.

"Go to your room, now. Go!" Sam ordered. "Papauwiin ko na siya. We'll have the talk"

"Dapat kanina mo pang ginawa..." sabi ni Dom and she walked out at niyaya niya si Ella at Aubrey na samahan siya. Papunta pabalik sa dorm room, Amy continued her night and joined the crowd. Natira si Toni at Sam na nakatayo sa grounds.

___________________

Pinagtimpla na lang ni Ella si Dom ng coffee at pinatulog ni Dom si Aubrey sa kama niya.

"You got jealous out there..." sabi ni Ella and Dom sips at her coffee and looked at Aubrey's who's been calmly sleeping.

"I just.. Nakakainis siya, bakit ba kailangang laging nandiyaan yung boyfriend niya? Is he gonna die kung di niya makita si Sam ng isang araw? Well better be. I’m f*****g expecting!" Sabi ni Dom and she was about to vomit so she excused herself.

"Eww..." Ella said as she brushed Dom out of the room to throw up to the girl's bathroom.

Dom throws up and it felt like her stomach and her guts were being pulled out of her body through her mouth, it hurts like a b***h but it’s quite relieving. She washed her face with cold water from the sink and wipe her mouth with her sleeve. She let out a deep sigh and exits the bathroom at bumalik sa kwarto niya.

When she opened the room she saw Ella on Samantha's bed.

"You okay now buddy?" Ella asked her and Dom nods.

"Where is she?" Dom asked and Ella looked around and looked at Dom.

"She? Si Sam? Diba kasama ni Toni.." sabi ni Ella as she stood up and guides Dom papunta sa sariling kama niya.

"No....Si Bree."

"Bree? Who's bree?"

"Ella... Where's Aubrey?" Dom asked the girl again.

"Dom? Sinong Aubrey? Are you supposed to be meeting someone here?"

"Ella this is not really funny... Tell me, where the f**k is Aubrey?"

"Dom you're drunk... Ako lang kasama mong umakyat dito. You should really took a nap."

"Are you sure? No Aubrey? Five year old little girl? Looks like me?" Dom asked and Ella shakes her head. Ella doesnt look like joking. "Oh god. No."

Dom stood up run to the grounds as Ella came tailing behind her. She scans the grounds to find Sam.

Now she knows why...

Toni and Sam make out as the fireworks on the skylight their spot. Dom's heart immediately lef her chest, Ella was about to take Dom away but Dom stop her by raising her hand. Ella stepped back at iniwan si Dom.

Aubrey, her little girl disappeared. Aubrey is now just a memory. Aubrey is her daughter. Was... Aubrey was her daughter.

Dom closed her eyes and let a tear fall out of her eyes.

After the c****x of the fireworks show, Dom wiped her tears away and Amy jogged in Dom's direction when she saw the girl watching the fireworks show alone.

"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-"