This Can't Be Love

For Real?

Chapter 2: For Real?

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"We're in the future, "sabi ni Dom as they stare blankly at Dylan who's still minding his own business. It was stated as a fact because though Sam is still stunned, the reality around her wasn't up for debate in her mind.

This boy is clearly and undeniably Dom's son because they love and kept telling people are living under the rocks.

"No way..." Sabi ni Sam as she watches Dom's son doing his own thing, Dominique Valdez married to a nerd, apparently.

Dylan isn’t really the athletic type, didn't he? He wore glasses, he's thin and not very athletic looking. Sam laughs internally at Dom but still felt confused as f**k.

"Sam... Believe me, we're in the future" sabi ni Dom as she shakes her mind out of confusion.

"Dom that's impossible. Nababaliw ka na ba? Time travel is impossible. Yes, there are studies but no one ever made it, not even close..." Sabi ni Sam as she looked at Dom. Dom looked at Dylan and dragged Sam with her away from the boy. Lumayo sila para hindi marinig ni Dylan.

"Shut up smart ass" sabi ni Dom with the same tone as Sam's voice "You're wrong. It is possible, ano sa tingin mo ang nangyayari sa atin ngayon?"

"Oh? So you believe in time travel? Naniniwala ka din siguro sa Alien ano?" Sam asked and at the same time annoyed by Dom's ‘smart ideas'. An angry flush settled over Dom's face because, yes, she did believe in Aliens and sometimes and in unicorns too... 

"Oh, Really? Well, what do you think happened then?" Dom asked Sam as she raised her eyebrows challenging Sam.

"Well obviously I have suffered a terrible brain injury, I’m in a state of hallucination right now..." Sam said as her chin goes up looking so confident, and the irritation on Dom's face was undeniable.

"How am I here then?" Dom snapped and giving Sam another eyebrow raised.

"Im in a coma, and you clearly is a piece of my damaged brain.." Sam said in a very serious tone.

Me? A piece of a damaged brain? Oh... f**k it... Dom thought

Naglakad siya papunta kay Sam, and she grabbed Sam's arms and gave her a hard pinch in the arm.

"Ouch!" Sam shouted and Dylan looked at them, they just gave him a smile and he continues shuffling papers on the desk.

"See? You're not in a coma, You felt something at kung nasa coma ka hindi mo yun mararamdaman...So shut the f**k up and accept that you're in the future... with me. That kid is my future son, and I’m a freaking coach..." sabi ni Dom still confused. "And hearing what I just said, I think I’m going crazy..."

"How?" Sam asked as she held the part where Dom pinched her.

"Like I would know? You’re confused as I am right now. I’m just handling things magnificently..." sabi ni Dom and Sam rolled her eyes.

"You're so full of yourself..." Sam snapped back.

"Yeah? Look who's talking..." sabi ni Dom and she was about to choke Sam to death but 'her son' found what he's looking for.

"Okay lang ba kayo? Punta na tayo sa gym..." sabi ni Dylan and he starts walking and Sam followed him, they stopped to look at Dom "You coming?"

"Of course, I apologize." Sabi ni Dom and Sam march her way to Dom and drag her with them.

Dylan shrugged "No probs..." He grinned and Dom was immediately charmed, Dom gave him a smile too. Her future son is a charmer, minus the glasses, but that looks good on him though... seriously.

They walked along the hallway and the silence was deafening. As Dom starts to get comfortable he starts asking Dylan.

"So... Are you like... uhm... play? I mean what sport are you in?" Tanong ni Dom and Sam looked at her and shakes her head.

"Ugh, no..." Dylan answered as soon as he felt that the question was intended for him, when Dom heard his answer she's not disappointed at all... She's just surprised, honestly.. "I'm still in high school y'know. I just come by here after school to hang out. It's better than being in an empty house for hours, y'know?"

He was walking in front of them, and not looking, but Dom nodded anyway.

"Will you join? I mean when you got to College?" Dom asked.

"Dom stop it.." Sam whispered when she felt Dom's forcing Dylan to do some Physical Activities. I mean let the kid do his thing Dom... Dammit. Sam thought. Shut up... Dom mouthed as she waits for Dylan's reply.

Dylan shrugged. "Maybe? Hindi ko alam. This whole sports thing isn't really my thing. I mean, it's fun and all, but I've got talents in other areas," he paused and took a minute to think, his head tilting up slightly. "I might do it for fun. Tinuturuan din kasi ako minsan ni Mama at Tito Topher magbasketball..." Dylan said and Dom smiled.

Kaibigan ko pa din si Topher hanggang ngayon. Wow.

The doors to the gym were locked but the sound of the girls playing inside could be heard through them. Dylan opened one of the doors and allowed them through first.

"We can't interrupt, magagalit si Mama, so we'll just have to wait on the benches..." Dylan said and they walk through the benches and settled on the seat behind the coach, that the two girls assumed to be the Old Dominique Valdez.

"Lazaro! Your jumps are too sloppy, fix it yourself before I come at you with a screwdriver," the older version of Dom shouted.

Sam jumped in surprise at hearing her own surname and began to look over every face on stage to find one that resembled hers even a little bit. She didn't really have to look though because the girl that had been singled out replied with a "Yes, Coach!". Sam saw the girl and smiled, she's tall.

Really... How old is she?

"You exist to give hell to my kind are you?" sabi ni Sam as she felt sorry for that Lazaro, maybe that's her relative or something, she has no idea.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Dom asked her, this girl better be shut her mouth or else-

Sam and Dom's attention was caught when Older Dom stood up. Wearing a sports bra and jogging pants.

Maybe she's in her late thirties but damn. Dom still got her abs going.

"Wow..." Dom said, sounds ironic but she just praise herself.

"Does the new memo requires the coach to flaunt their hot body?" Tanong ni Sam, this is inappropriate clothing for a coach and the girl beside her heard her so Dom's head whipped on her side.

"Did you just say I’m hot?" Tanong ni Dom as she squints her eyes at Sam.

"C'mon! You're so full of yourself, You know you're attractive..." sabi ni Sam and she just mentally slaps herself, she just boosts Dom's ego... again.

"Kanina you told me I’m hot, and now I’m attractive? Oh wow thank you... I appreciate that..." sabi ni Dom and Sam rolled her eyes as she shakes her head. But honestly, this is the first time that she's been with Dom for too long. Even sa practice di sila nagsasama.

Asshole... Sam thought otherwise.

Dom starts to sweat when Dylan stood up, Sam followed and she grab Dom's arm and pulled her up.

"Hey... Don’t touch me" Dom said and Sam immediately dropped her arms.

"Mama... you've got two new kids," Dylan said as he approached her mom, and he handed the copy of the lineup to her mother.

Future Dom turned to look at them. Her eyes met Sam's first and the shock took over her body. Then she looked at her younger self she almost fell but she got a tight grip on the metal bar on her side.

"Mama... are you okay?" Dylan asked in a worried tone. Her mom didn't answer instead he was ordered to get her mom a glass of water. Umalis si Dylan and it was an awkward silence in the gym. They can hear the girls in the locker room chatting in the background.

Both girls took the time he was gone as an opportunity to openly observe this Future Dom. Nakatitig lang si Sam kay Coach.

Hindi siya nagbago, she's taller, maybe she's about 6'something now, she still got the attitude, but she's in control now. Wow magmamature din pala tong isang to, we just have to wait twenty years for that miracle...

And Young Dom was beyond pleased with what she was seeing. 

I look so professional even on those tight gym clothes. Ha! Im still in the sports, kung makikita lang to ni Daddy magagalit siya sa akin. For sure. Ugh! Dom cringed at the thought of her 'Father'

"Ma..." sabi ni Dylan as he came back and gave her mon a drink. "Okay ka na ba?"

"Okay lang ako baby boy... I just had an intense flashback." Future Dom said.

"Huh?"

"I'll explain in a minute, baby boy. I have a phone call to make first." Dominique said and dialed a number. "Hi, Kim, is Samantha in?... I see, is she expected back?... Home? Oh?...No, no message. Thank you." She ended the call and chose another number. The other end was apparently ringing for a long time. "Sam, call me back, it's important," she said eventually, apparently leaving a message before she hung up again.

"Damn it Sam!" Dominique snapped at her phone before tossing it back on the table.

Sam jumped but then realized that Dominique hadn't been speaking to her. Sam felt relieved. "Okay, two minutes na lang babalik na yung mga yon..." Dominique said as she looked at the three teens in front of her. "What do you know so far?"

"We're in the future," Dom said immediately giving Sam a look.

Dominique nodded. "December 21st, 2033 to be exact."

"Wow..." Sam said in awe and didn't bother to look at Dom. She's a hundred percent sure there's a smug look on her face right now.

"And you're...me and he's..." Dom cut in with some confused gesturing between herself, Dylan, and the older version of her.

"I'm a married Dominique Valdez, you're the young me, someday you'll be me, and yes, Dylan is my son." She nodded distractedly and rounded on her son "You are going to keep this to yourself. Do not tell any of your friends or siblings until I have this all worked out... Malinaw?"

Dylan nods.

Narinig nila na nagsisimula ng bumalik yung team so Dom, Sam and Dylan retrieve their seats and Dominique starts her coaching.

"Okay okay... Bilisan niyo! Kung gusto niyo ng Christmas break!" Sabi ni Dominique and Dom loving her future self, she will have a family. A real family someday.

Sam, Dom, and Dylan watched the team on training. Tumingin si Sam sa gilid niya and she can see Dom loving what she's seeing.

Dom felt a bit creeped out, dahil pag may gusto siyang sabihin and her future self will act on it, it’s like they have the same brain or something... well they really do actually.

After almost an hour of exchange of hits, Dominique called the practice off.

"Well," Dominique said finally, drawing all attention to her, "I guess it doesn't get better than that today. We still need a lot of practice but you all did very well this afternoon. Remember, Practice game in three weeks, and Intercollegiate is in five! Now go away and don't come back until next year!" Sabi ni Dominique and everyone giggled.

"Walang babalik sa gym na to ng injured okay?! Ako ang babali sa buto niyo... No one is entitled to do stupid things during the holidays... Happy Holidays!" Dominique greeted and her smile lit the whole gym.

This order was met with cheers and whistles and a few "You're the best, Coach". The stampede of teenagers exiting the gym to hit the showers.

"Lazaro!" Dominique called out over, "Stay behind" The girl nodded, spoke to her teammates briefly, then turned and approached her Coach. Dom swear that if she looked on her side she'll see the curious Sam. She did and she did saw Sam. Her eyes trained on the College girl like the girl is a freaking microscope in their lab.

Sam was watching her like a hawk, and Dom was interested in the girl too.

She has an impressive height, probably around the same as Dom. Her long black hair is in a tight ponytail.

Sam never leave the girls features, taking everything in and taking mental notes on this Lazaro. Maybe she's my niece. She looks good.

When the other Lazaro caught her looking the girl looked at Dylan instead.

"Hey baby boy..." she greeted the boy with a grin.

"Don't call me that," he demanded and his face in a total grimace.

Dianne rolled her eyes. "Whatever..." sabi niya kay Dylan and she looked at her coach. "Yes ma'am?" (Mom?)

"Could you do me a favor? And clear your weekend schedule... Can you do that?"

"Oh huh..." Dianne's eyes slid back to Sam.

"Dianne Michele!" Dominique directed, tapping the table to draw the girl's eyes back, "I'm sure you'll hear all about it at home."

"Sorry Coach..." Dianne said and looked at Dominique.

"I'll just have to talk to the girls, it’s our night out and stuff..."

"Alright..." sabi ni Dominique.

"Good..."

Dianne nodded as her eyes shifted from Sam to Dom.

Then she exits giving Dominique one last look.

Dominique sent Dylan to hit the lights off as she let the three teens follow her on the campus' parking lot. Sam and Dom looked around, nothing has changed.

They got in a black SUV as Dylan, Sam and Dom sat on the backseat altogether.

It was a quiet 15 mins drive from the campus as they reached Dom's house.

Before long they pulled into a double driveway. The house attached to the driveway was large. There was nothing entirely remarkable about it. It was brown brick and had a shallow front porch. There was a nice-sized balcony on the second floor over the front porch.

"How big is this house?" Sam asked Dominique and Dylan.

"Four bedrooms, three bath, there's an office, and a laundry room, a small entertainment area for the kids, the living room, and there's a garage in the back but we use it for storage," Dominique informed them.

"Wow, Miss Bossy Pants you've done well for yourself," Sam told Dom.

"Tara na, let's get over this..." sabi ni Dominique.

"This is a big ass house..." sabi ni Dom and Dominique smiled at her.

"More great things inside..." sabi ni Dominique and she unlocked the door. The lights are turned on, her wife is home.

"Mama? Mommy's home early?" Dylan asked her mom as they made their way in.

"I think so... Let her sleep okay? Don’t bother her... Go grab some food on the fridge for our guests..." sabi ni Dominique and it was just about the time that Dom and Sam collected themselves.

"Oh my God! You're gay?" The look on Sam's face wasn’t disgusted, the Dominiques both extremely used at recognizing Young Sam's disgusted expression, no, it was complete and utter shock.

"Sexuality is fluid, Samantha. For 18 years I haven't fallen in love yet, because I want the right one to be the only one… Love is love, f**k Tradition!" Dom lectured to Sam as they made their way to this beautiful house's living room.

Dom sat down and Dominique sat across from her, Dylan came with a box of cookies and sit beside her mom.

Nakaupo na silang tatlo and Sam remained standing across Dylan, she's still not over the fact that Dom is gay... Sam sat down too near to Dom and Dom scooted away from her like Sam have a very dangerous disease.

Sam pouts at her as Dominique and Dylan watch them.

"You're the gay one here..." Sam told Dom as Dom scooted away from her. "I'm not going to jump on you, I have a boyfriend, and most of all you are so not my type..." Sam snapped at Dom.

Dom squeaked in offense and shifted herself comfortably back into her seat. "I am everyone's type..." Dom informed her. Dominique let out a giggle and raised an eyebrow with a satisfied look. She missed her young self.

"Well you aren't mine too. I'm sorry if I don't have an affinity towards frigid bitches..." sabi ni Sam and Dom opened her mouth to come back from that but Dominique coughed. They stopped.

"Okay..." Dylan broke in suddenly, clapping his hands infront of him. "This is getting intense... Can you explain this now Mama? It’s like I'm on a brink of being crazy..."

"Aww my baby boy..." sabi ni Dom and she held her son's hands. Then she looked over to Dom and Sam and let them ask questions.

"Are we like friends now? You've been mentioning me a lot and that girl, you called her Lazaro, and she looked comfortable with you." Sam said more like accused Dominique, while Dom looked at her in disbelief. "Kasi... I mean... I really want us to be friends, but Dom here, the young you, she's really mean..."

"What the-" Dom was about to interrupt but Sam shouted at her.

"Totoo naman!' Sabi ni Sam and she looked at Dominique again.

"Dianne Michele Lazaro?" Dominique told her "Yes Sam, she's yours..." Sam almost cried, she has an attractive child. All she wants in life is to have a daughter or a son that can avoid the bullying part of life because it sucks, she hated it. She hated Dom for it.

"Is she...Am I not married or something? Bakit Lazaro yung last name niya?" she asked, forgetting that her first question hadn't been answered.

"No, well... technically you are but...you know, I'm probably not the one that should be telling you this... Ugh! Ayokong magexplain sa totoo lang..." sabi ni Dominique.

"Mama?" Dylan called her mom raising his hands "All this stuff you're saying...I mean, she's really you?" he pointed to Young Dom, and Dominique nods. Then he pointed on Young Sam and Dominique gave him another nod.

"Believe it or not..." Dominique said ruffling his hair. "She changed a lot? You think honey?"

Dylan actually kind of whimpered at the affirmation. He gripped his hair in both hands and shot frantic looks between the two Dominiques "God that's so creepy!" his voice screeched at the end then he stared at Sam, from her head to toe "I totally thought she was hot!" he informed his mother in complete agony pointing his fingers at Sam.

There was nothing on earth that could've stopped Dom's stunned cackles or the subsequent laughter that had her bending at the waist.

Her forehead hit her knees and she decided to just stay bent like that until she could breathe normally again. Dom could die laughing right now, her son just straight up told Sam is not hot. Dylan is her son, undeniably.

"Oh fuck... Hahahaha... holy shit... I’m sorry...Hahahah" sabi ni Dom as she held her belly. Dominique just smiled, and Sam looked down, embarrassed.

"My poor baby," Dominique said to his son hiding her smile behind a hand.

When Dom sat up there were tears in her eyes. She took one look at the boy and had to bite her lip to keep from bursting into laughter again and Young Dom gave Dylan a wink and Dominique caught the exchange.

"Hey... you two, stop that" saway ni Dominique.

"Wow..." Dom choked out through a laugh.

"He's definitely our kid..." Dom informed Sam, Dominique and Dylan, "...and super awkward I must say," Then they heard shuffling sounds upstairs. Dominique's wife was woken up by Dom's laughter. Dominique and Dylan looked at each other.

"Honey... Can you go get your mom?" Dominique asked his son.

"Please tell me she's pretty..." sabi ni Dom and the three looked at her. "I mean... She turned me gay, she needs to be really pretty..."

"She is..." Dominique told Dom with a smile and Sam watch the three Valdez communicate, she'll ask Old Dom later where her family is, she will. Sam also wants this kind of reunion, all she knew right now is just she has a daughter. Dianne, a really pretty college girl.

"This is so cool! I mean, Mama you're really hot..." Dylan said looking at Dom and Dom smiled at him "Just what Mommy always told us.." sabi ni Dylan.

"It is... Sige na, tawagin mo na yung mommy mo..." sabi ni Dominique and Dylan made their way upstairs skipping and in a giddy mood. Sam looked up and saw Dylan walking away and she smiled. She don’t know why.

"Bago makabalik si Dylan kasama yung asawa ko, gusto ko muna kayong sabihan that she is like really pregnant right now, so hormones and stuff. Next is that I want you both to recognize that my wife and I are incredibly in love. She's the light of my life and I'd be lost without her. We're an exceedingly affectionate couple. We're almost always touching in some way, pero I'll make this slower para maka adapt kayong dalawa okay?"

Dominique said and Dom and Sam nod slowly.

"Walang problema sakin yon..." Dom said to her older self. "I'm actually looking forward to meeting the woman that will someday hold our heart and I won't be at all uncomfortable with your displays of affection. This might sound odd, but it will give me something to look forward to...  alam kong alam mo na matagal ko ng gusto magkaroon ng totoong pamilya, I mean I love tita Mozzy and tito Bong but... These? These are really mine..." Dom said and Sam nods and Dominique felt proud for her younger self.

"Ha'ay... Naaalala ko din to, you'll feel really uncomfortable Ly... how much you prepared youself..." sabi ni Dominique sa young Dom. Then Dominique shifts her gaze to Sam "You're going to be uncomfortable too, I remember that too"

The Young Dominique Valdez's brow furrowed in confusion. It hit her harder than Sam's door hit her nose on their freshmen year in college and a horrifying realization filled her.

"Oh no!" she to her older self and their eyes met, horror shining plainly in her own. "Please, please, please tell me it's not...oh God!"

"What?" Sam demanded, looking between the two Dominique Valdezes. She didn't like feeling left out, she's supposed to know things first in every situation. She got the brains, ayaw na ayaw ni Sam na may hindi siya alam.

"Wala yun Sam, I need you two to stay calm, please. We'll discuss this later. There's nothing you can do about it right now except accept that some things have changed... For example, this..."

Young Dom nodded sitting her face went blank. Her stomach was rebelling and she felt as if all  the air had been squeezed out of her lungs.

I don't want to accept it, but what else could I do?

She didn't know how to survive in this strange future. 

Please wake me up… Wake me! Ah! f**k!

"And for the love of God, just be quiet... She'shormonal, please remember that..."

"This is gonna be great!" They heard Dylan as he runs downstairs

Dominique shot her eyes to her son "You can be quiet too, young man..."

"Sorry Mama.." Dylan said with apologetic eyes.

"Baby!!!!" Dominique shouted and Dylan sit beside her Mama across Sam. All four pairs of eyes looking on their right near the front door where the stairs to the second floor were.

"If you don't stop laughing and shouting so loudly at me I'm going to divorce you!" a voice from upstairs floated down.

"Oh please, you've been saying that for many years now..." Dominique said with a smile on her face, Dom knows what’s coming but Sam has no f*****g idea.

The woman's voice was closer now. "And every time it happens I get a little more serious... I won’t tolerate shouting at my house" Then the footsteps stopped. "Dylan! Anong sabi ko kung saan ilalagay yung bag mo? Gosh!" And they heard a door close. 

"Sorry mom!" Dylan shouted and Dominique stood up and walk her way to the stairs and stopped on the bottom step and smiled.

Kitang kita ni Dom at Sam sa mata ni Dominique na nakita niya na yung asawa niya. Dom felt the joy of her Older self, Dominique's face became peaceful and shiny.

As Sam watched the scene she felt a pang of jealousy, she wondered if she ended up this happy, or if this fairy tale was only for people like Dominique Valdez. Hindi naman nageexpect si Sam ng ganto kagandang bahay or pamilya, she just wanted to know if she's raising Dianne alone. For f**k sake her surname is still Lazaro...

Young Dom just felt a sudden swell of longing fill her up. Even though her horror at the knowledge that it was almost certainly Sam Lazaro that her older self was looking up at, she just wanted that feeling that was so clear on the older woman's face. Dom can almost feel what Dominique's feeling right now.

"I'm going to cuddle the s**t out of you..." Dominique said with a smile creeping on her face.

"Ahuh? Pero nagluto ka na ba? Baby, you know I cant cook right now and I’m really really hungry..." Samantha said.

"Baby... May sasabihin ako" Dominique said and the tracks of the other woman stopped halfway.

Dom and Sam from the living room can see the other lady’s features from her hip down.

"Please... May nasira ka nanaman ba?" Tanong ni Samantha and Dom and Sam can see that the woman placed her two hands on each side of her hip.

Dom starts to feel uncomfortable now, that woman halfway down the stairs is certainly Samantha Lazaro in her mid-thirties. Older Dom was right, she'll get uncomfortable how prepared she is for this thing.

"Not like that..." Dominique said. "May mga bisita lang tayo, unexpected guests"

"Oh, is that all?" Samantha asks and continues her way down the stairs. Slowly her body and features filled the eyes of the time travelers. Sam's eyes go wide and Dom felt someone dragging her body to hell, they both felt their stomach just turned.

Samantha bounced on the last step and then threw her arms around the taller woman and moved in for a kiss.

Sam was looking at her own profile. She was looking at an older Samantha Michelle Lazaro, and everything that had happened over the past few hours suddenly made sense.

Dom felt the heavy breathing from her side. Sam turned pale. Is she dying now? Dom thought.

After the kiss, Dominique gestures to the living room and as Samantha turned around her wife's smile dropped like a bomb. Sam and Samantha's eyes met. Similar blue eyes, Samantha's eyes were shaking and Sam's eyes in horror.

Samantha wobble on her feet and her consciousness left her body then she fell but Dominique caught her halfway to the floor.

"Oh my god! Baby!" Dominique shouted and Dylan kneel and start fanning his hands on her mommy's face.

"Mommy!"

Then Dom on the couch felt Sam just passed out she held Sam's body and shifted the body to the couch so she can lie Sam down.

"Hey! Poo poo girl! What the f**k?!" Dom said as she made light slaps on Sam's face. She removed the girl's glasses and Dom shakes Sam's body. "Poo poo girl! s**t! Sam!"

Incapable of deep thought at the time, Dom had only one observation about this different Sam Lazaro, who, aside from definitely being older, didn't look much like her younger self.

This Sam on the future is the Okay version of this Sam in her arms right now, what Dylan had said earlier makes sense now. Dominique and Dom's eyes met.

"You can say who's the drama Queen on the relationship..." Dominique jokes and Dom just gave her a nervous laugh.

But Dom smiled halfway and realized the first thing that came from her mind when she saw Mrs. Samantha Lazaro down the stairs.

Someone had finally taught the woman how to dress.

"And I am married to her... Oh shit..." Dom said as she held Sam's fragile body on the sofa.

This is all kinds of crazy.

Dom will lose her sane in 

5...

4...

3...

2...

....

Then there came a knock on the door...

where it all got crazier...