This Can't Be Love

The Roommate

Chapter 7: The Roommate

"O-kay... guys uhm" Sam called everyone's attention and she looked at Dom. "Explain mo kay Bree na boyfriend ko si Toni, ako na bahala kay Toni." And Dom cant say a thing, she just nods and brought Aubrey downstairs.

"Babe?" Toni finally called Sam. "Bakit siya nandito? Ginugulo ka ba niya ulit?"

"No. Uhm. Babe si Dom... We're friends."

"Friends? Kailan pa? When did you two start hanging out?"

"Sa Party ni Topher... Bestfriend niya si Toph-"

"Alam ko... and I also know how much you hated them? This is all so sudden. May hindi tama, just tell me kung tinatakot ka nanaman-"

"Babe I swear, she's my friend now." Sabi ni Sam and Toni looked at her and felt she's really saying the truth.

"Okay... okay... but tell me if my gagawin siya sayo."

"Sure.." sabi ni Sam at nabigla siya ng bigla siyang halikan ni Toni, she pushed Toni away.

"Babe? What’s wrong-" Toni asked but ayaw na ng gulo ni Sam so she kissed Toni and when she felt the boy smiled she broke the kiss.

"Tara na sa baba?"

"Okay..." and Toni is back being a lovesick puppy.

Sa may living room naman habang nakakalong si Aubrey kay Dom pinisil ni Aubrey ang pisngi ni Dom.

"Bree..."

"Bakit ka malungkot?" Tanong ni Aubrey kay Dom.

"Hindi ah? Nabobored lang ako." Sabi ni Dom and she looked at Aubrey. "So... Have you seen that guy upstairs?"

"Mmmhmm.." Aubrey hummed. "Sino siya?"

"Boyfriend siya ni Ate Dim eh..." sabi ni Dom and Aubrey gave her a quizzical look. "Uhm remember Ate Dianne and Kuya Jake? Ganun si Toni at Dim..."

"Crush ni Ate Dim si Toni?"

"Mmhmm... Unfortunately."

"What about you?"

"Uhm..." nagisip muna si Dom ng sasabihin niya then she smiles. "You know what? Let's discuss everything later with Ate Dim, sounds good?"

"O-kay..." Aubrey said at naglalaro na sila ni Dom when Sam and Toni goes downstairs. Sam looked at them and Dom gave her a thumbs up and Aubrey winked at Sam.

Nakita naman ni Toni yung exchange ni Dom at Sam so he draped his arms on his girlfriend's shoulder and looked at Dom suspiciously.

"I just want him to be eaten by a lion..." Dom whispered as she fixed her eyes on Toni and Sam being oh so cozy on the kitchen.

"I want him to be eaten by a shark..." Dom heard Aubrey so smiled and giggled.

"I want him to be eaten by crocodiles..." Dom continues and she can see Aubrey nodding in agreement on her peripheral.

"I want him to be eaten by a puppy..." Aubrey said and Dom looked at her. "Thousands of puppies, hungry puppies..." Dom snorts a laugh as she gave a high five to her daughter and Toni shot them a look. Nakita naman ni Sam na ang saya ni Dom at Aubrey kaya nagexcuse siya kay Toni. She walks towards the two while smiling.

"Hey you two..." Sam greeted as she approach the couch. "Ano nang pinaguusapan niyo?"

"Hm nothing..." sabi ni Dom and Sam looked at Aubrey and the kid gives away by the look on her face that she and Dom were up to something.

"Yes Ate dim nothing, we're just talking about puppies..." sabi ni Aubrey and Dom burst into laughs again.

"Oh sorry.." Dom excused herself from her unlady-like laugh.

"Dom something's fishy in here... Something smells so bad I want to put a handkerchief over my nose and mouth… Ano nanamang tinuro mo kay Bree?"

"Sam wala I swear!" Dom said defensively.

"Dominique... Isa..." sabi ni Sam at di nila napapansin na nakikinig lang si Aubrey sakanila.

"Okay... We're just talking about your boyfriend.."

"And???"

"And... how we want him to be eaten by a Lion, a shark, crocodiles and puppies... thousands of hungry puppies..." habang sinasabi ni Dom yun Sam's face turns into disgust.

"Dom, what the hell? He's still my boyfriend and your my friend..." sabi ni Sam and Dom have her look.

"Friends? Sam we both know were more than friends..." sabi ni Dom at napalunok si Sam. "We're like a small gang, you, me and Bree-" pagharap ni Dom kay Bree she saw the kid's face. "Bree-bree?"

Umupo si Sam sa pagitan ni Dom at Bree and Toni looked alarmed but then tinaas ni Dom yung index finger niya to stop the guy, then Toni gave Dom a look and Dom just gave away her middle finger towards the guy but her attention was caught by the words from Aubrey's mouth.

"Sam? Dominique? Bakit you have the same names as my moms?" Aubrey asked and Dom's face is still in shock as Sam's face.

Tumingin ulit si Sam kay Aubrey "Bree-bree? Uhm can our gang have a meeting upstairs?" Sam asked and the kid nods. Binuhat ni Sam si Aubrey at maglalakad na sana siya when Toni stopped her.

"Babe?"

"Oh gosh... Babe sorry... Masama pakiramdam ni Bree"

"But-"

"I'll talk to you tomorrow..." sabi ni Sam and she made her way upstairs and stop on her tracks halfway. "Dom... Make a glass of milk for Aubrey." Sabi ni Sam until she's finally out of sight.

Lumapit si Toni kay Dom and looked at the girl. "Okay... Sabihin mo nga sakin kung anong ginawa mo sa girlfriend ko? Bakit siya nagkaganyan?"

"Anong pinagsasabi mo?" Sabi ni Dom and she walk to the kitchen at gumawa ng iinumin ni Aubrey.

"Binablackmail mo ba siya?" Tanong ni Toni and Dom look at him in disbelief then shakes her head. "Ano! Bakit ganon na lang concern niya sa kapatid mo?" Tanong ni Toni.

"Hahaha..." Dom laugh. "None of your business."

"Well If my girlfriend is involved then it’s now my business... and sa totoo lang, I dont trust you, you have a bad reputation."

"A bad reputation is better than no reputation at all..." sabi ni Dom and she finished the glass of milk at susunod na sana siya kay Sam when Toni stopped her.

"Tell me!" Toni asked and Dom just stare at him for a second because she can’t last long with that awful... never mind.

"Do you speak English?” Dom spits out the words.

“Yes, I do,” he answered brusquely.

“Good. Go f**k yourself,” Dom said without hesitation and she left Toni mouth hung open.

Pagpasok ni Dom her face turns into a really worried look. She gave the glass of milk kay Aubrey as the kid sit on the bed and her back leaning against the head board. Umupo si Dom sa kabilang side and she stare at Sam para simulan niya.

"Bree?" Sam called her baby.

"Yessss?"

"I am Samantha Lazaro, I’m your mommy Sam" sabi ni Sam and nakatingin lang si Dom sa bata.

"Bakit... bakit you're on the same age as my Ate Di?"

"Uhm... I-uh..." Sam rumbles.

"Okay... Hey my little ninja." Dom called Bree and tumingin naman sakanya yung bata. "I am your mama, I’m Dominique Valdez."

"But-"

"Okay... para mas madali ganto na lang" Dom started and she shift on the bed to sit comfortably. "Me? And Ate Sam will be your moms in the future."

"Huh?"

"Uhm... Okay..." Sam was in awe sa pasensya na pinapakita ni Dom sa bata. She knows Dom very well and her patience is shorter than Ella. "Ikaw, ako and si Ate Sam parang sumakay sa bus. Then instead of travelling on the road we travellled in time. This is where mommy and mama are just friends, wala pa sila Ate Di and kuya Dil." Aubrey nods.

"So... you're young mama?" Aubrey asked and Dom nods. Aubrey gave her glass kay Sam at tumayo sa kama at lumapit kay Dom, she stretch Dom's face then her mouth form an 'O' shape when she found the unmistaken similarities. "Wow." Then she looked at Sam and grabbed her face and touch her nose to Sam's. "Wow." Sabi ni Aubrey at kinuha niya na ulit yung gatas niya kay Sam at umupo. "So... If you're my mama-" sabi niya kay Dom then tumingin siya kay Sam. "-and you're my mommy. Is that guy my Daddy?"

"Ewww hell no!" Dom's immediate reaction and Sam shot her a glare. "Just saying. I mean eww."

"No baby.." sabi ni Sam kay Bree. "Toni is my boyfriend now before I and mama got together."

"Ow?" Aubrey said as Sam nods. "I dont like him."

"Yes. My child!" Sabi ni Dom at niyakap niya si Aubrey. "I seriously wanted to punch him, pero kawawa naman yung kamay ko madudumihan."

"Dom stop being mean to him, mabait si Toni. Hindi man siya perfect but... basta! He's like an angel that fell from heaven." Sabi ni Sam and Dom rolled her eyes.

"Yeah? You think? So was lucifer..." sabi ni Dom at natawa si Aubrey.

"That's a good one mama..." sabi ni Aubrey and Dom wink at her.

"Wow... Naintindihan talaga niya yung situation natin" sabi ni Sam dahil di siya makapaniwala that this five year old girl didnt freaked out on the thought na nagtime travel siya, well Aubrey's smart after all, she's her mom.

"Bree took time travel thing well compared sayo, kung hindi mo pa nakita si Granny Dom di ka pa maniniwala." Sabi ni Dom and Sam remembered that also.

"Well it’s unusual naman kasi..." sabi ni Sam and they saw Bree yawn, like a cute little puppy.

"Okay little kid, you can sleep now." Sabi ni Dom as she let Bree lie down. Pero binuhat ni Sam si Bree.

"After magtoothbrush.." sabi ni Sam at dinala niya sa CR si Bree para mag tootbrush. Sumunod naman si Dom at sumabay magtoothbrush.

They tucked Aubrey in on the middle of the bed as Dom and Sam stand awkwardly on both sides.

"You know what Sam? I'll take couch, this is you room anyways." Sabi ni Dom and Sam shakes her head.

"No. Uhm. Ikaw yung bisita ko so you take the bed, I'll sleep on the couch." Sabi ni Sam as she grab a pillow on the bed.

"What if... uhm..." Dom said rumbling.

"Yeah?"

"Can we just join Aub-"

"Sure!" Sumagot si Sam kahit di pa tapos si Dom and it made the girl smile "Oh sorry..." sabi ni Sam and she lie down beside Aubrey as Dom did the same.

Sam and Dom just stare at the ceiling for a good 10minutes, alam nila na gising pa sila and Sam dont want this night to be an awkward night. Sam knows na Dom never start a conversation so she will. She let her head fall on her side and look straight at the other girl, Dom felt Sam move so she did the same. Nakatingin lang si Dom at naghihintay sa sasabihin ni Sam.

"It's uhm... It's nice to have you..." Sam blurted out and Dom smiled.

"Have me huh?"

"I mean to have you here... in my room... you know..." Sabi ni Sam to recover but she made it worse, kaya umupo siya and internally face palm herself. "Ahhh f**k. Could I get you something before I hang myself on the ceiling in embarrassment?"

"No silly... humiga ka na ulit" sabi ni Dom and Sam did pero pulang pula pa din yung muka niya. "But either way... its nice of you having me here. Thank you."

"I can't believe Im having a pillow talk with you right now..." sabi ni Sam and she heard Dom hummed. "So... Us huh?"

"Yeah us." Sabi ni Dom then she looked at Sam. "Sam?"

"Wait are you proposing?"

"What? No." Sabi ni Dom.

"Ow? Okay ano nga ulit sasabihin mo?" Sam asked and swear that she'll just keep her mouth shot dahil she kept embarassing herself.

"What if mabago natin yung mangyayari? Sam Aubrey's not supposed to be here." Sabi ni Dom and Sam looked at her.

"Are you scared that we..."

"Kinda. Wait. You're not?"

"Well I am... Nakita mo naman tayo diba? Masaya yung pamilyang nagawa natin and I want that too..." sabi ni Sam amd she heard na napabuntong hininga si Dom. "Dom as long as Aubrey's here we know we ended up together, okay? Ang kailangan lang natin maibalik si Aubrey."

"I know..." sabi ni Dom and they both drifted to sleep.

Sam woke up early and she just missed Christmas Eve for the very first time, but di man niya aminin sleeping with Dom and Aubrey makes her comfortable. She watch Dom and Aubrey cuddled in her bed and she cant help it but get her phone and take pictures. Dom shifted her body and her arms landed to Sam's waist, at nabigla si Sam so she scoots away and fell on the bed.

"Ouch.." she muttered and Dom immediately woke up and check up on her.

"Oh god, Sam are you okay?"

"Hmm. Medyo." Sabi ni Sam and Alt jumped out of her bed and help her stand up. "Merry Christmas."

"Idiot. Merry Christmas." Sabi ni Dom and the door shot opened and Toni standing by the door.

"Babe anong nangyari?!" Toni asked at derederecho siya kay Sam. "Ikaw may gawa nito no?!" Tanong niya kay Dom.

"Dude chill... The kid's asleep."

"Babe Im okay... I just fell out of the bed." Sabi ni Sam and tumingin si Toni na nakaupo si Dom sa kabila.

"Oh? So you two are sleeping buddies now huh?" Toni asked and Sam stood up and just drag him downstairs with her.

Natulog na lang ulit si Dom and the time flew by so fast. As they ate their meal bago umalis sobrang tahimik ni Dom, and Sam felt bad about it dahil after all Toni is the one who showed up uninvited. Dom drove back to the campus with Aubrey and si Toni hindi na pumayag na kay Dom sumabay si Sam so they take separate cars pauwi.

Once Dom got out of her car kinuha niya yung gamit ni Aubrey na sobrang dami, all brand new, Dom just really hope that her dad wont check her credit card bill.

"Mama?" Aubrey called Dom and Dom dont know why she smiles. "Where's mommy?"

"Kasama niya si Toni..."

"Why?"

"I dont know-"

"Dom!!!" Dom and Aubrey heard and it was Sam running towards them. "I asked him to drop me off agad. Okay ka lang? Im really sorry."

"Sam okay lang. Ako na bahala kay Bree." Sabi ni Dom but Sam grab some of Aubrey's things sakanya.

"I'll help you..." sabi ni Sam.

Dom and Sam with Aubrey entered their dorm building with lots of bags papunta sa room ni Dom. As they walk tahimik pa din si Dom na naglalakad sa unahan nila kaya medyo nabobother si Sam. As they reached Dom's room, she got her room key and tries to open the unlocked door kaya Dom turned the door knob and looked at Sam alarmed.

"It’s unlocked..." sabi ni Dom.

"What?!" Sam asked and they barged into the room and saw someone in a sports bra and yoga pants.

Dom and Sam stare at the tall girl while Aubrey innocently standing on the doorway.

"Hey who are you?" Tanong ni Dom and the girl got up from her yoga mat and looked at Dom.

"You must be Dominique, Im Amy your new roommate." Amy said and pansin na pansin ni Dom at Sam yung accent ni Amy.

"New what?" Dom can’t believe she'll have a roommate in a middle of a semester.

"Roommate..." Amy said looking confused.

"How?"

"Im foreign exchange? I just got here last night." Sabi ni Amy and Dom was about to say something but she heard Sam's voice.

"You can't... I’m her roommate." Sabi ni Sam at di niya alam yung sinasabi niya, nagulat naman si Dom sa sinabi ni Sam. But all of Sam can think of right now was the thing Granny Dom told her.

"Hayaan mo, little me will give you adventures." Older Dom said with a wink. "And for me, kung babalikan ko lahat, I really need to calm the F down you know, every night nagbabar kami ni Topher, lalo na nung nagkaroon ako ng girlfri-"

"Wait what?"

"Oh? Yeah, I had a girlfriend before maging tayo..." sabi ni Dominique. "Which I think is fair? Because you're still with Toni..."

"Uhm kilala ko ba?"

"Hmmm... Di mo rin naman maaalala but yes, pagbalik niyo sa future, Dom will have a new roommate, that'll be her..." sabi ni Dominique and Sam felt like she just punch in the gut.

"Why? Did you really like her?"

"I do? But not as much I like you... She's pretty much like the young me, parties, arts and stuff that's why we got comfortable and we hit it off right away..." Older Dom said.

"Ow?"

"But I love you dont worry..." Older Dom said and Sam smile sheepishly.

Sam was snapped out of her trip on memory lane when she felt Dom drag her out of the door.

"Sam what are you talking about?" Dom asked her.

"I... I-I dont know okay? I just felt I need to do that." Sabi ni Sam and her heart beating so fast and Dom dont know even a single thing that's happening. Then Sam looked at the foreign exchange student again.

You'll never be her girlfriend... Not in my watch. It's on Biatch.