This Can't Be Love

Our History

Chapter 1: Our History

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HIGHSCHOOL

Dom woke up around 6am and as much as she wanted to stay in bed, she can't. This will be her first day in highschool. Naligo si Dom at nagbihis na ng uniform niya. She exits her room at bumaba sa hagdan papunta sa kitchen. She saw her Dad cooking something for them. Her Dad just gave her a look and offers her a plate to eat.

Dom's mom died right after she had Dom. Her Dad blamed her for that, and he blame himself. He's a doctor and hindi niya naligtas yung mommy ni Dom. Masasabi ni Dom na her Dad never been a father to her, but she still love him so much.

"Dad... May PTA meeting po later..." sabi ni Dom habang kumakain siya. She knows the answer, but atleast she tried.

"Akala ko yung mommy ni Topher yung pupunta?" Tanong ng Daddy niya.

"Ano pa nga ba..." sabi ni Dom. She grabbed her bag and her tennis racket. "Bye..." Dom said on her way to the door, she shuts the door and muttered a silent "...Dad"

Dom left the house and shakes her head. She walk three houses from theirs at nakarating siya sa bahay nila Christopher. Pumasok siya without knocking at dumeretso sa loob.

Kumakain pa lang sila Christopher ng pumasok si Dom.

"Oh? Dom maaga pa ah? Excited for school?" Tanong ng mommy ni Christopher sakanya. Alam na agad ni Christopher yung nangyari ng makita niya si Dom. "Kumain ka na ba?"

"Im okay tita... Hihintayin ko lang po si Topher" sabi ni Dom at naupo siya sa sofa as she plays with her racket. Nagpaalam na si Christopher sa table at naglakad papunta kay Dom.

"Let me guess..."

"I know... What's new?" Tanong ni Dom. "Let's go?"

"Okay..." sabi ni Christopher at kinuha niya yung bagpack niya at yung tennis racket niya. "Ma! Mauuna na kami ni Dom!"

"Magingat kayo!" Sigaw ng mommy ni Christopher.

"Thank you tita!" Sabi ni Dom at lumabas na sila.

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Sam woke up and she's excited to be finally in highschool. Nauna pa siya sa alarm clock niya, she grab her glasses from the night stand and put them on. She fixed herself and wear her favorite pants, new student siya so wala pa siyang uniform. 

After fixing herself, She run down the stairs and kiss her mom, her dad and her little brother, who's in first grade in a special school. Trevor was born with a complication called club foot, where the bones are not aligned correctly so he's having difficulties to walk at his very young age. So his parents decided to get him an electric wheelchair. Her mom is a gradeschool teacher, while her dad is a college professor.

Lumaki si Sam sa pamilyang simula umaga hanggang gabi walang sawa ang pagbabasa ng libro, actually her bonding with her brother is just reading books and playing games... board games.

"Samantha okay lang ba talaga na hindi ka na namin ihatid?" Tanong ng mommy niya as Sam filled her plate with hotdogs and omelet.

"Ma okay lang po... Si Trev na lang ihatid niyo, malaki na po ako, kaya ko na..." sabi ni Sam as she gave her parents a smile.

"Thank you ate.." sabi ni Trevor and it melts Sam's heart.

"Ikaw pa!" Sabi ni Sam and she gave her brother a wink.

After they talk about how beautiful their morning are, her Dad look at his watch and its almost time to go. "Oh? Let's go... Baka maaga magrounds si sir mamaya,"

Sam's dad drove them off and they stop on Sam's new school. She transferred para malapit lang sa school ng kapatid niya, she gave them goodbye kisses at bumaba na siya.

She took a deep breath, smile and fixed her eye glass. Tiningnan niya yung reflection niya sa phone niya, and she gave a smile. Her braces shines and she nods in satisfaction.

She walked in and highschool isn't that bad after all.

She walked in on her first class. Earth science for first period. She loves this subject... well she loves every subject. She look around, this is not the earth science she's expecting. This is more like an animal science. Almost half of the class were sitting on top of their desk, running, throwing crumpled papers... Highschool nga.

Umupo si Sam sa pinakaunahan para kahit maingay mamaya marinig niya pa din yung teacher.

Natapos yung buong klase at walang naintindhan si Sam, pero okay lang sakanya yun. Mas gusto niya nga na nagseself study lang siya.

Wala siyang narinig sa buong klase kundi icongratulate yung Valdez at Ravena. She didn't look back to see who are those person, because honestly she does not care at all. All she cares about is to get over Highschool and ace all her exams, to think na first day pa lang niya sa highschool.

At Lunch, naglakad si Sam papunta sa canteen and bumili ng sandwich, while eating she felt a burning pain in her stomach. She stood up and hurried to the nearest comfort room.

Dom and Christopher walk on the hallway both having a bad day. Why they have to study and aim for high grades and play tennis at the same time, they can’t just play their asses off and have an okay grades? No they cant.

"Christopher wait lang... MagCCR lang ako..." sabi ni Dom and Christopher wait for her outside. Dom take a pee and gussy up herself on the mirror, fixed her blue cap.

"Oh... If not the star player sino pa kaya to" sabi ni Ella as she entered the comfort room and she saw Dom's blue cap. Dom turned around and Ella smiled. "Hi Dom..."

"Hi..." sabi ni Dom.

"So... Magreregister ka ba sa art club?" Tanong ni Ella at inayos niya yung ponytail niya. Ella and Dom are good friends, magkasama sila sa isang school simula pre-school, if not for Christopher, baka si Ella ang bestfriend niya. Ella is on the volleyball team while Dom is on the tennis team. Parehas din silang kasali sa Art Club, where they bonded. But Topher and Dom’s friendship is just over the top.

"Oo naman-" and Dom paused when they heard something. Someone. Lumapit si Dom sa cubicle and pinch her nose, Ella looked at the cubicle with concerned eyes.

"Oh my god... Are you okay?" Ella asked as she approached the door while Dom just standing with a disgust look in her face.

"Did you just s**t yourself?!" Dom asked and there comes a muffled cry behind the door.

"Dom!" Saway ni Ella, then Ella approached the door and knocked and grab her training clothes from her duffel bag. "Here put them on!"

"Are you giving that to her?"

"Well yeah... Lumabas ka na nga Dom, sometimes I regret talking to you" sabi ni Ella, and that's true. But there's just this side of Dom that Ella loves to talk to, the Artist Dom, not the self-absorbed athlete.

Dom just stands there and listen to the girl behind the door change her clothes.

She got out and Ella and Dom saw the girl.

Long hair, with a black framed eye glass, puffy red eyes and her teeth have braces. A weirdo. Dom thought.

"Hey what's your name?" Ella asked her and Sam looked at her.

"Are you the good one?" Sam asked and Ella nods.

"Oh? So I’m the bad one?" Dom asked in shock, she didn't saw that coming.

"Shut up Dom..." sabi ni Ella.

"Sam..."

"Hmm... Sam poo poo!!!" Dom shouted with a tune of a moving train.

"Dom! Lumabas ka nga!" Sabi ni Ella as she pushed Dom away and she walk up to Sam and wipe her face as Dom exits the room. "I’m Ella, hindi ka dito nag-grade school no?" And Sam shakes her head. "Lumayo ka sa isang yon ah? But she's a good friend of mine, pero ganyan lang talaga ugali niya.."

"El-ella... Thank you"

"Wala yun..." sabi ni Ella and she looked on Sam's right hand. "Hindi sa nakekeelam ako pero... You can trash your pants over there" pointing at the trash can.

"Oh? Right..." sabi ni Sam and she washed her hands.

"Okay ka na?"

"I guess?" Sabi ni Sam and Ella looked at her from head to toe.

"Did you drink some lemonades on the canteen?" Sam eyes go wide and nods. "Next time... dont"

"I’m keeping that in mind.."

"Let's go? Sure kang okay ka na ha?"

"Yes-"

When the two got out of the bathroom Christopher and Dom standing outside with almost the rest of the school.

"That girl?" Christopher asked and Dom nods with a smug look in her face.

The stupid kids began chanting Sam poo poo as if their in a championship game of their favorite team. Sam cried and Ella held her hand.

"She's not!" Sabi ni Ella as she shot daggers on Dom's direction. "She's joing the volleyball team kaya hiniram niya yung uniform ko!"

Sam was shocked lean on her side to Ella's ear "I dont really-"

"Shut up... or get embarrass, your choice" Ella whispers at Sam and she looked at everybody "So the show is over... We have tryouts to be in right now" and they walked away and the rest of the kids in the hallway just laugh.

From that day she started her lifetime devotion of hate on that Dominique Valdez with the stupid Blue cap. She can't deal with arrogant people in her life, she's allergic to that. Her hatred lasts until the graduation ceremony in highschool, as she took her valedictory speech. She's going to college with her ONLY friend and luckily became her bestfriend Ella. She'll leave all of this humiliating memories and get over it... Because she's going to college!!!

Where it got worse...

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COLLEGE

Sam and Ella was on the car as Sam's father drive them one week before the start of the semester. They decided to be there one week early para maayos nilang dalawa yung dorm nila where they will be roommates.

As they got out of the car, Ella goes first and took in the air on the campus. Good thing there are alot of trees.

"Wooo! College here we come!" Ella shouted, though they are a week early, marami na din pumasok ng week earlier, but still not so crowded. Sam smiled and saw Ella hugged the invisible air. She got out of the car with a smile and was about to celebrate her new life but she saw a terrifying 'thing'... she blinked... the 'thing' was still there.

Standing 5'9 tall among the people around her, Sam knew whose that blue cap belongs to, Sam new that back, then 'the thing' turned around and yeah, she's right. Its Dominique Valdez. Her least favorite person in the whole world. Going on the same college.

What. The. Actual. f**k.

"s**t. s**t. Shit." Sam muttered as her eyes were just fixed on Dom. Ella looked at her and traced her vision. Ella saw an old friend.

"Oh? Si Dom..." sabi ni Ella

"s**t!" Sam said a little louder. Ella looked at her and raised her eyebrow.

"Oh that's cute. You're still obsessed with her..." sabi ni Ella as she starts to unload her suit cases.

Sam whipped her head towards her bestfriend "Im not!" Sam said and helps her Dad and Ella.

"Besh... really?" Ella asked and Sam nods. "Okay I get that she's a mean person, but that was 4 years ago. You got to move on. This is college!"

"No... Its just two months ago!" Sabi ni Sam as her Dad kiss her cheeks.

"Baby you take care of yourself okay? Call me and your mom if something's wrong..." then he looked at Ella. "No monkey business you two..."

"Opo tito..." sabi ni Ella. "Thank you po ulit!"

"Bye Dad!" Sabi ni Sam and her father left. She gathers her things and looked at Dom again.

"Besh... really?" Sabi ni Ella and Sam looked at her. "Stop. Obsessing over her, I bet she forget about that.. " sabi ni Ella.

"I said I’m not the one obsessed!" Sabi ni Sam and she rolled her suitcase on their way to their dorm building and Ella followed her.

________________________

Ella and Sam finished organizing their things on their room. It’s a room that can fit two beds and a really small living room. The dorm building has this big kitchen on the ground floor where everyone who lives on the building will eat. A comfort room/bathroom in every floor with eight cubicles each. Pretty cool.

"Besh ikot ikot tayo? Recruitment ngayon ng mga orgs... Maghahanap ako ng something artsy" sabi ni Ella and Sam looked at her.

"Bring your phone.. susunod ako, I'll just explore this building" sabi ni Sam and Ella nods and exits the room.

Sam opened her f*******: and checked in.

After that she lay down on her bed, which is made for a single person only. It’s too small to fit to people.

Shit! Well... sa laki ng Ateneo imposibleng magkita pa kami, oo nga naman! Tama! We could go on the same school without seeing each other, Yeah sure... I could do that.  Sam talked herself out of the misery she’s going through right now.

Sabi ni Sam sa sarili niya and she saw herself overthinking about things again. So she sat up, and shakes her head. Pag nakita nanaman siya ni Ella na ganito baka sabihin obssess na talaga siya. She stood up, grabs her phone and exits the room in a giddy mood, she's excited. She opened the door and she's a hundred percent sure someone was hit by the door, she hurried outside and take a look.

Sam's eyes go wide when she saw someone on the floor crying in pain.

"s**t!" Sam shouted "Im so sorry...Oh my gosh... sorry! I didnt meant to-" but she was stopped when the girl she hit lift her face. Oh no, oh please, no. "Dom!!!" Sam shouted in horror.

"Ugh!" Dom groaned in pain and she looked up, then the girl just said her name, Dom heard her say her name."Wait...Do I know you?" Dom asked as she held her reddened nose.

Great, she really did forget me huh? Well I dont. I'll never forget the face of this piece of... thing.

Sam rolled her eyes and answered Dom anyway "We go to the same highschool together..." sabi ni Sam and Dom looked at Sam's face and squint her eyes. Then her eyes go wide and smile.

"Sam poo poo?" Dom asked Sam and manages to sit on the hallway and lean her back on the wall.

"And we’re back...fucking great," Sam said with a sarcastic smile in her face. Dom studied Sam's face. She looked different, kaya di siya nakilala agad ni Dom.

"Well uhm... y-you look different" sabi ni Dom as she starts to pick her things that rolled on the floor when Sam's door knocked her down. Sam assumed it was posters.

"I look different? Do I look shittier this time?" Sam asked as she raised her left eyebrow and decided not to help Dom. Because honestly... why? Right?

Dom pouts and felt a bit guilty, A BIT... Because she kinda learn how annoying this girl can be in a class she's good at, and that was almost all the subjects... so Dom ends up feeling annoyed in every damn subject, everyday "I mean you kinda look good now... You look different in a good way" Dom said as she stood up and the rolled papers are all wrap in her arms. "You're out of the braces... I see"

"Charming..." Sam said with a fake smile. Then she looked at Dom, she looks fine just with the red nose "So... I can go now? You're not dead..." sabi ni Sam and she shut her door behind her and locked it, for security measures against bad people, like this one in front of her. Dom just looking at her "This have been fun... Thank you" sabi ni Sam and that words came out of her shouts sarcasm that Dom's not stupid enough to not recognize. So Dom just smiled as Sam walk away from her.

Dom got to the Art room with a large Banner across the room.

WELCOME FRESHMEN! ART STRONG!

Dom could just laugh on the Art Org's name but she wont, she love the arts. She's been doing paintings since gradeschool, though her father doesn't approve in doing arts, or her enthusiasm on sports but she love doing those... and c'mon kailan pa may nagustuhan ang daddy niya sa mga ginagawa niya?

"Oh my gee! Dominique!" Dom heard someone from the room when she turned around she saw Ella "Wow... from gradeschool to college? Same Art club huh?" 

"This is kinda our thing..." sabi ni Dom at nilapag niya na yung mga dala niya. "Hey... I saw Samantha, she goes here with you I guess..."

"We're roommates..."

"Cool..." sabi ni Dom.

"Oh ikaw? Si Christopher?"

"Well magtatry out daw siya sa basketball..." sabi ni Dom and Ella nods. "I guess I'll be solo flight on the Tennis Team"

"Bakit di ka na lang magvolleyball?"

"Volleyball? Anong alam ko dun?"

"Well you can hit a ball... Try mo lang, para may makasama ka, nandun kami ni Sam..."

"Why not? I mean as long she'll keep her mouth shut were fine... I mean I'll be fine, I guess.." sabi ni Dom.

"Sabi mo yan ah? Okay... I'll see you tomorrow.. Sabay sabay tayong magtry out" sabi ni Ella.

"Sure... I'll got to go, hanapin ko lang si Topher..."

"Sige bye!"

Dom made her way to the gym para manuod sa try out ni Christopher, and hell... he's really fast, maybe tennis' footwork training does paid off.

"Wow! Nice one Topher" sabi ni Dom as Christopher jogs towards her.

"I know right..." sabi ni Christopher then he drink some water then look at Dom again. "Sorry I left the team, as much as I want our duo together-"

"Its okay... Im trying out para sa volleyball team" sabi ni Dom.

"Talaga?!" Tanong ni Christopher and his face lit up, he's not guilty anymore.

"Hmm..." sabi ni Dom and she watch the whole tryouts with Christopher, habang nakaupo sila Dom opened her phone and browse to her f*******:, she saw Samantha Lazaro on her timeline. Hindi siya makapaniwalang friends pala sila ni poo poo girl sa f*******:, she saw her checked in and oh my, their on the same dorm building. She browse Sam's photos.

"Hey Topher remember Sam poo poo?" Dom asked Christopher and Christopher looked over at her and look back at the court.

"The girl with the bedazzled teeth? And four eyes?" Christopher asked as he watches the tryouts of the next batch.

"Well yeah, I saw her, she looks different now..." sabi ni Dom as she view one of Sam's picture that Sam posted earlier.

"Uhm...Im not interested..." sabi ni Christopher as he watch the game and napapatayo pa siya sa excitement ng game. "Oh s**t! Muntik na yun"

"No look, I found her f*******:-" Dom said as she pulled Christopher down to sit.

"No seriously, Im not interested in your little crush Dom..." sabi ni Christopher "Noooo!" And then he shouted as the team he wanted to win loses.

"I dont have a crush that's ridiculous!" Sabi ni Dom and as she exit f*******:. "Im not even gay..." sabi ni Dom and Christopher looked at her. "I swear..."

"Well stop obsessing over her first then maybe I’ll believe you..." sabi ni Christopher and he stood up. "Bakit di na lang tayo magmall Dom? Huh? What do you think?"

"S-sure... Wala din naman akong gagawin" sabi ni Dom and that ends her day. Malling and dinner with her best friend, though Christopher is more like a brother than a bestfriend to her, and she knows Christopher looks at her the same. His mom is not just her mom's bestfriend, Topher’s mom is her mom now too. Because her Dad just non-verbally abandoned her... sort of.

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THE TRYOUTS

Ella and Sam waited for their time, as Ella keep glancing on her watch.

"Besh... Kanina ka pa tingin ng tingin diyan, chill lang" sabi ni Sam.

"May hinhintay ako! Our 6th member" sabi ni Ella.

"Huh? Sino-"

"Ella!" Someone called Ella and Ella waved at her. Sam shot Ella an angry look.

"Besh what the hell?! Volleyball is my safe place!"

"Besh chill... Dom means no harm" sabi ni Ella as Dom jogs papunta sakanila.

"No harm? Really? Besh... That girl gave me no harm, she gave me hell.." sabi ni Sam.

"Sakit mo naman magsalita..." sabi ni Dom and Sam looked at her.

"Ano namang alam mo sa volleyball?" Sam snapped at Dom.

"Hmm... The basics? but Im sure I can do just fine, no biggie" sabi ni Dom as she turned her cap around and sit down on Ella's side.

"Yabang..." sabi ni Sam.

"Besh... Nagretire na sila ni Toph sa Tennis, they both want to try something new..." sabi ni Ella.

"So you thought bringing her here with you is the best choice?"

"Besh..." sabi ni Ella.

"Kung ayaw mo naman, ehdi hindi na ko magtatry out-" sabi ni Dom.

"NEXT!" The next batch were called and Dom didn't stand up. Ella looked at her and Dom shakes her head. The facilitator looked at them. "Kulang kayo ng isa..."

Tumingin si Ella kay Sam. "Oh f**k it! Fine! She can join!"

Dom smiled and pumwesto na sila. The referee whistled and called Dom.

"Dom... yung cap mo" sabi ni Ella and Dom removed her cap and Sam giggled in her back. Dom looked back at her and rolled her eyes.

"Hindi tennis to..." sabi ni Sam sakanya.

Then the game starts, Dom looked lost. Someone sets the ball and Ella told her na sakanya yun. So Dom jump and form her arms and hit the ball... but she missed the ball. The room were filled with collective giggles and Sam is one of those.

Karma is a b***h huh? Sam thought.

The coach stood up.

He looked at his list and looked at Dom.

"Dominique Valdez?" Coach roger called and the giggling stopped.

"Yes sir?" Dom said and raised her hand.

"Familiar name..." sabi ni Coach and he walk to the baseline.

"Tennis..."

"Oh! Right! With Christopher Ravena?"

"Yes sir..." sabi ni Dom.

"Bakit ka nandito?" Tanong ni Coach sakanya.

"Trying something new??"

"But you cant even hit the ball..." sabi ni Coach and everyone laughs, except for Ella. She felt guilty. Dom looked down. "Try mo ngang paluin na parang may hawak kang raketa... kaya mo?"

"I... I-I'll try..." sabi ni Dom. Then Coach Roger looked at the referee and whistled again. "Set the ball for her number 8..." Coach ordered looking at Ella

Ella got the ball and looked at Dom. "Galingan mo..." then Dom just nods.

Sam is preparing herself to laugh again like everyone on the room.

Ella set the ball and Dom imagined she's holding her racket. She jumped then when she was about hit the ball she opened her hands and hit the ball with her palm, the ball came rocketing on the other side of the court and landed outside the line with a loud booming sound. Dom landed and looked at Ella.

"Its out isnt it?" Tanong niya kay Ella and she saw Ella's mouth hanged opened.

"Wow..." sabi ni Coach Roger and Dom looked at him.

"Wow?" Dom asked in confusion

"That was a hard hit... Nice" sabi ni Coach as he wrote something in his list.

"Outside po..." sabi ni Dom.

"We can work on that..." sabi ni Coach Roger and he called the next batch.

Sam, Ella and Dom walked out of the court.

"Besh! Nakita mo ba si Dom? Ang galing niya!" Sabi ni Ella kay Sam as Dom talk to the coach.

"Now you're the one obsessing about her..." sabi ni Sam sakanya.

"Ahhhh! This is sooo exciting!" Sabi ni Ella dismissing what Sam just said so she just shakes her head.

Sam looked over to Dom and Dom looked at her at the same time, then Dom gave her a smug smile. Sam rolled her eyes and look at her friend. "Exciting? For you maybe, but not for me..."