This Can't Be Love

Back On Track

Chapter 11: Back On Track

Its been weeks since yung confrontation ni Sam, hindi mapakali si Dom. She hangs out more sa art room instead sa dorm room niya with her alleged girlfriend na si Amy. Amy tried her hardest, she even brought Dom to her sorority parties but Dom really loves peace and quiet... and ironically a really loud annoying girl.

"Hey whatcha doing?" Dom heard as she finish one of her paintings.

"I've said this before, and I'll say it again. You're Jorella, not Isabella, and Im not freakin' Phineas..." sabi ni Dom and Ella walked up to her while smiling. "Muka bang triangle ulo ko sayo?"

"Dom naman eh, pinapatawa lang kita..." sabi ni Ella and she sat on one of the long rectangular table on the room. "So... Ano nga yan?"

"Wala lang... Just one of my thoughts." Sabi ni Dom and Ella jumped and landed on her feet at naglakad papunta sa likod ni Dom.

"Hmm... You're thoughts-" But Ella's eyes grew wide as soon as she saw what Dom did on her canvas. "Wow." She's looking on a painting of a staircase with two shadowed figures sitting on the steps halfway through it, two girls, their knees were touching.

"Wow my ass..." sabi ni Dom at kinuha niya yung painting sa easel. "Alam kong panget..."

"Alright picasso, calm down..." sabi ni Ella as she took the painting from Dom. "This is really pretty!"

"Nah. Akin na. Itatapon-"

"Akin na lang! Kung okay lang sayo!" Sabi ni Ella and Dom looked at her with confusion and smile.

"Alright... Hindi yan tapos." Sabi ni Dom and niligpit niya na yung mga paint brush niya at nilagay niya sa fanny pack niya... naalala niya nanaman si Aubrey nung suot niya yun. Dom could cry but Amy came in and wrapped her arms around Dom's neck. Ella just watched the two.

"Hi Ella..." Amy greeted and Ella gave her the friendliest smile she could give. Then Amy looked at Dom. "Babe, naka Dinner na ikaw?" Amy asked and Ella's quiet impressed that the girl knew some words after months. Baluktot nga lang.

"Hindi pa..."

"Well today's my lucky day. Dinner with me?" Amy asked and Dom smiled and nods. "Yes! Oh! and by the way. Here." Amy said as she gave Dom a red envelope.

"What's this?" Dom asked.

"Its valentines next week... I thought I could give you something to look forward to?" Amy said and Dom kept the thing on her fanny pack.

"Thanks Babe.." sabi ni Dom. "We could go to Dinner after ko mailagay sa room tong mga gamit ko."

"Sure... I'll change clothes also." Sabi ni Amy.

"Ells we're going ahead! See you at training tomorrow." Sabi Dom and they exit the art room and Ella look at the painting. The shadowy figure both wearing glasses.

To Sam: Besh wr r u?

Ella texts her friend at nakareceive naman agad ng reply.

To Jorella: Canteen, Dinner time. Im alone. Come here quick.

Tumakbo si Ella dala dala yung painting ni Dom and some curious eyes were looking at her pagpasok niya ng dorm canteen.

"Oh? Ano yang itsura mo?" Ella asked her friend as soon as makaupo siya sa harap ni Sam.

"I just feel really ugly today..." sabi ni Sam as she blindly stabbed her salad with her fork and Ella looked at her with disgust.

"Lucky you, I feel ugly every day Besh.." sabi ni Ella as Sam smirks and gave her a single nod.

"Wait what's that?" Tanong ni Sam ng makita niya yung dala ni Ella.

"Yun na nga! Ang talino mo talaga!" Sabi ni Ella and she lift the unfinished painting at pinakita kay Sam. "Dom did this... I just had the feeling that this girl right here, on the left side... parang ikaw. But this girl on the right? She's wearing glasses too, and Dom's not really-"

"Besh shut up..." sabi ni Sam as her eyes were trained on the painting.

"Oh? So you know what's this?" Ella asked and Sam nods.

"Very much..." sabi ni Sam and she felt like she'll go on a trip to her memory lane on what happened on the future... and she really did. The scene played in her mind. Loud and Clear.

"Hey..." She heard a voice from her back she was a bit shaken up by the familiar voice. "Hey Miss Jumpy pants..."

"Shut up...." Sam said to Dom.

"Bakit ka nadito?" Dom asked her and Sam's face were still in horror.

"Calming my nerves..."

"From?"

"Just dont go downstairs now..." sabi ni Sam.

"Why?"

"Just trust me on this one... can you?" Sam said and Dom sit beside her.

Sam and Dom sitting beside each other on the stairs and having a little talk. About their favorites, movie, color, book, subjects and stuff.

"Wow you're such a dork.." Sam said after she heard Dom talk about her interests.

"Coming from you? Maybe I am..." sabi ni Dom and Sam giggled.

"Ahem!" They heard from behind and looking at the two girls standing behind them. Dianne and Sam with towels twirled on their heads, then behind them Dylan with unruly hair scratching his eyes and Little Aubrey yawning and her small arms wrapped around her brother's thigh.

"What are you lovebirds doing here?" Dianne asked the two and Dom and Sam stood up fast as lightning and catch their breaths.

"We're just uhm.." Dom starts rumbling.

"Talking..." Sam said and Dianne nods.

"Yeah? Okay. Well, find somewhere else to talk. You're blocking the stairs." Sabi ni Dianne and Dom and Sam parted to make ways for the kids "Sumabay na kayo, magbebreakfast na din naman tayo..."

Sumunod naman si Dom at Sam sa mga bata and Sam tailing on the very back of the line.

Then the scene ended and Sam felt a tear fall down her face. Those three are gone, Dianne, Dylan... and her little Bree.

"Besh? What the hell? Nakakaiyak ba yung kapangitan ng painting ni Dom?" Tanong ni Ella and Sam wipe her tears and shakes her head.

"Nasaan si Dom?" Sam asked as she wipe her tears and Ella can clearly see how the dark circles formed around her best friend’s eyes dahil nawala yung concealer niya.

"She's out with Amy... Nagdidinner." Sabi ni Ella as she stares at her miserable bestfriend.

"What?! Where?"

"I dont know..." sabi ni Ella. "Sam wag mo na guluhin, can you just move on? Masaya naman sila... Amy even gave Dom an early valentine gift."

"What gift?" Sam asked. Now she looks like an overly attached ex-girlfriend.

"I dont know... Nasa red na envelope." Sabi ni Ella.

"Let's find it!" Sabi ni Sam at tumayo siya.

"What?! Are you crazy?!"

"No! Well maybe..." sabi ni Sam as she held Dom's painting on her left and use her right hand to drag Ella.

"Besh di pa ako kumakain!" Ella shouted and parang di siya narinig ni Sam. "Ano bang gagawin natin?!" Nakita na lang ni Ella nasa floor na sila ni Dom and they're walking towards Dom's dorm room. "Besh wala nga diyan si Dom!"

"Better..." sabi ni Sam and she gave Ella the painting as she starts picking up the lock of Dom's room. Ella was terrified dahil baka mahuli sila ng dorm leader nila.

"Besh what the hell!!! Alam mo bang pwede tayong mapaalis pag nahuli tayo!" Ella shouted and Sam looked at her with Angry eyes.

"Shut up!" Sabi ni Sam and she continued picking Dom's lock.

"Do you even know how to do that-" Ella paused when she heard the lock click and napalunok na lang siya at napaatras as she held her chest. "Woah! Woah! What demon possessed you! Umalis ka sa katawan ng bestfriend-" Ella was cut when Sam drag her inside and slam the door shut.

"Now... Help me find that red envelop." Sabi ni Sam.

"Damn it, Sam! Saan natin hahanapin yun? Sobrang gulo ng kwarto ni Dom!" Sabi ni Ella at malakas pa din kabog ng dibdib niya dahil she never ever broke in sa loob ng isang dorm room, ngayon lang. But looking at Sam, may potential ang beshie niya na maging house robber.

"Besh! Saan nilagay ni Dom?"

"Sa bag na maliit..." sabi ni Ella as she watch Sam all around the room.

"You can do so much better than that!" Sabi ni Sam.

"Sa lalagyan niya ng mga paint brush niya... its a fanny pack." Sabi ni Ella and she pretends to search the room pero pinapakalma niya lang yung puso niya. Halos baliktarin na ni Sam yung room ni Dom. Sam even got to Dom's fridge to search for that fanny pack.

"Really? Besh? On the f*****g fridge?!" Ella asked as she saw Sam na pilit binubuksan yung ref.

"Who in the world locks their freezer!?" Sam shouted in frustration. "What? she's afraid someone's going to steal her rocky road?" Sam said as she gave a kick sa pinto ng ref ni Dom.

"Wait, we won’t?" Tanong ni Ella as she heard rocky road. Sam looked at her with unimpressed eyes. "What? Im hungry as f**k!"

Sam shakes her head and reach for one of Dom cabinet and grab some protein bars.

"Woah! How did you know?"

"Just eat!" Sabi ni Sam. "And shut up." Sam kneeled down and look under Dom's bed and she saw Dom's shirt and a bag... a fanny pack. Mabilis na kinuha ni Sam at binuksan.

"Woah! Calm dowm Besh! Baka manira ka pa!" Sabi ni Ella.

Sam reached for the red envelope and grabbed Dom's painting and drag Ella out. She locked the door at mabilis na bumalik sa dorm room nila.

Sam did not bother to read the thing she just ripped the paper into pieces and flushed it in the bathroom.

Habang nasa dorm room na sila ni Ella, Sam hanged the painting sa wall niya and Ella was just really worried about her.

"Samantha, dont let me call tito... Nag-aalala na ako para sayo." Sabi ni Ella and Sam looked at her.

"I’m sorry Besh, for dragging you through this. But I really need a friend okay?"

"Why? I mean... Why are you doing this?"

"Besh... Maniwala ka man or hindi, I love Dom sooo much. You dont even know. I love her and I love everything that will happen to me with her..." sabi ni Sam.

"Besh, you know I never imagined that this day would come, na you'll use the word love and Dom in a sentence." Sabi ni Ella. "Im happy for you but, she has Amy now."

"I know. But I'll have her. Trust me." Sabi ni Sam. "Will you?" Sam asked and Ella nods. Sam walked up to her and hug her. "Thank you Besh, matulog ka na. I'll buy you breakfast tomorrow."

___________________

As Ella and Sam eat breakfast sa may canteen around 6am nakita nilang umalis na nga dorm building si Amy mag isa. Sam felt the same adrenaline rush as yesterday and Ella looked at her.

"Besh there's no way I won’t finish my breakfast..." sabi ni Ella ng makaramdam siya na Sam will drag her upstairs as soon as Amy is out of sight.

"Okay! Bilisan mo! Magisa si Dom!" Sam said in full excitement.

"Hindi mo naman kikidnapin si Dom ano?" Ella asked, just to make sure that her bestfriend is still normal.

"Ofcourse not! Kailangan lang namin magusap!" Sabi ni Sam and she waited Ella to finish.

________________

Habang kumakain si Dom ng cereals niya for breakfast she heard a knock on her room.

"Dom!" She heard a familiar voice call her at pinagbuksan niya kaagad.

"Toph! Ang aga mo ah?" Tanong ni Dom.

"Namimiss ko na kasi yung bestfriend ko..." sabi ni Topher habang kumakain siya ng jollibee yum burger. (hahaha)

"Thanks..." sabi ni Dom at sinara niya yung pinto at bumalik sa study table niya at kumain ng breakfast.

"Nako! Nagkagirlfriend ka lang iniwan mo na ako!" Sabi ni Topher.

"Hindi naman... Diba nga? Pupunta ako sa valentines party mo?" Sabi ni Dom.

"Buti naman..." sabi ni Topher. "So Dom... Hey, have you done our English assignment?" Tanong ni Topher and Dom looked at her.

"The what?" Dom asked and then as soon as she realized that she need to do an English Lit assignment she look at her best friend. "Oh fuck."

"Wala ka talaga sa sarili lately... Well dont worry, Im not even halfway done. I'll ask you sana to work with it together, para-" but Topher was stopped when they heard a knock on the door. Dom look at Topher at tumayo si Topher at binuksan yung pinto.

"Hey freaks... Anong ginagawa niyo dito?" Tanong ni Topher sa dalawa. Tumayo si Dom at tiningnan kung sino kausap ni Topher, she saw Ella and Sam standing outside her room habang si Topher hinarangan yung pinto.

"I really want to talk to her... " sabi ni Sam kay Topher and he looked at Ella and the girl just nodding to him.

"Okay nerd, but maybe later..." sabi ni Topher because Sam looked like she just committed a murder.

"No, I want to talk to her like... right now." Sabi ni Sam and she peeked inside at nakita niya si Dom, papasok na sana siya but Topher stopped her.

"Oh Sure sure... except maybe-"

"Except maybe what?!"

"-maybe not right now because you're a little intense right now..." sabi ni Topher.

"Intense?!" Sam shouted but Ella pulled Topher outside.

"Anong ginagawa mo? Gagawa pa kami ng assignment ni Dom!" Sabi ni Topher kay Ella as Sam let herself in and shut the door.

"Mamaya na yan..." sabi ni Ella and she drag Topher away.

________________

Dom marched to her study table and turn her laptop on, Sam grabbed the chair from the other table at umupo sa tabi ni Dom.

"Dominique please, kausapin mo naman ako." Sabi ni Sam and Dom still not looking at her as she starts her English Lit paper. "Dom, there's nothing I wouldn't do, to have just one more chance with you... to look into your eyes and you looking back" sabi ni Sam. "Ako yung nagkamali, kaya ako nagaayos ngayon. At first, I thought, maybe we really did rush things, pero Dom... I want Dianne, Dylan, Aubrey, and Aiden in my life... and you. Im really really sorry. Please be with me" sabi ni Sam and she felt like Dom wasn't listening to her at all. "Naririnig mo ba yung mga sinasabi ko? Huh? Dominique Valdez?!"

"Well, ikaw lang maingay dito" sabi ni Dom as she look around, closed her laptop and look at Sam in the eyes. "Yes, of course I can hear you..."

"I feel like every time I talk to you, I bother you."

"Alam mo bang nasabi mo na sa akin yan?"

"Yes, at sinasabi ko ulit. Because it feels like that, all the time Dom, parang ayaw mo akong kausap, parang hindi mo kayang tumingin sa akin. Dom, do you still love me?" Sam asked her and Dom looked down.

"Can you be more annoying?" Dom asked Sam.

"Yes..." sabi ni Sam and Dom shake her head. "Dominique, we can recreate what we lost... together" sabi ni Sam and she stood up. "I dont know how or why but I miss you, I miss you all the time. I just feel like I really need to say that, just so you know." Sabi ni Sam and she turn her back to exit but Dom grabs her arms and Sam felt the electricity crawling up her body, she looks at Dom with wide shock eyes.

"Samantha... Why?" Dom asked and Sam half-smiling, and half-crying answered.

"Breaking News Dominique Valdez, Im inlove with you-" sabi ni Sam, then Dom just grab her by the waist and pulled her closer, and kissed Sam on her lips.

Sam smiled as they kiss because the things suppose to happen is happening, Amy and Dom together, Dom and Sam's first kiss at the present time suppose to happen in Dom's room.

"News Update poo poo girl... Im in love with you too." Sabi ni Dom and gave Sam what she wants, her smile.

"Oh gosh..." Sam said as she clasped her hands on her mouth to stop her jaw to drop on the ground... or drool, either way, it’s working. "Are you going to break up with her?" Sam asked Dom.

"Yes, I'll just... I'll find a way. But can I ask you a favor?" Dom asked and Sam nods. "Can we pretend like we still hate each other until I broke up with Amy? She's a really amazing girl and I dont want to hurt her." Sabi ni Dom and Sam took a gulp and nodded.

"Oo naman. I could do that." Sabi ni Sam and Dom smiled at her. "And you're a really amazing girl yourself, Dom..."

Finally!!!

"Thanks..." Dom muttered and hindi nila alam na Amy was just outside the door listening. She understands everything. She walked out crying.

________________________

After ng training nila chinismis agad ni Sam kay Ella yung nanagyari, bestfriends naman sila and she deserves to know. Sam decided to bake some egg pie for Dom. Though it disgusts her to the maximum level just the thought of the eggs giving her a hard time breathing gagawin niya yun for Dom. Then the Best Friend of all time hall of famer, Ella was easily convinced when Sam told her she'll get the pie shared with her.

Si Dom naman nagshoshower na para makapunta sa room niya at magpahinga, after niya makalabas sa shower room nakita niya ulit si Topher.

"Hi Toph!" Dom greeted him.

"So... About our English Lit paper-" but Topher paused when he heard Dom's phone beeped. Hindi mapinta yung muka ni Dom ng mabasa niya yung text ni Sam. Dom looked around and grab a fire extinguisher by the gate of the gym at pumunta sa kitchen ng dorm building nila.

Ella and Sam is in the room of the burning oven and Dom immediately sets the fire off.

After mapatay ni Dom yung apoy she look around and nang makita niyang silang apat lang yung tao she finally look at Sam.

"What the hell happened?! Bakit umaapoy yung oven!" Dom asked and Sam stepped forward.

"Gusto lang naman kita igawa ng egg pie Dom eh... hindi ko naman sinasadyang masunog yung oven. You have nothing to get worried about." Sam explained.

"Nothing to get worried about? Sam nabasa mo ba yung text mo?" Tanong ni Dom and she get her phone and read Sam's message. "Dominique! Come quick, we’re stuck in the kitchen bring a fire extinguisher. Fire emoji." Dom told the group, closed her phone, and look at Sam again. "I fire emoji?! Really?"

"Sorry na... I did that para magmadali ka." Sabi ni Sam and Dom walk closer to her.

"Well, are you okay?" Dom asked her and Sam nods while smiling.

"And guess what? You save your egg pie!" sabi ni Sam and Dom smiled. Ella and Topher were standing in shock.

"Uhm Dom? How about we do our English Lit paper now?" Topher said and the three-shot him a look.

"f**k that assignment, I'll do it tomorrow okay?" Dom said and Topher nods and he felt Ella just nudge him.

"Now... Do you believe me?" Ella asked the confused boy.

"I don't think I would have believed this if I wasn't standing right here..." sabi ni Topher as he keep his eyes fixed on Dom and Sam. Then he shakes his head and looked at the girl beside her. "Ikaw ba? Okay ka lang?"

Ella was shocked at the concern Topher gave her but she answered him anyway. "Uh... Oo okay lang ako. Thanks." Sabi ni Ella and when Dom and Sam turned around they saw the two and a smirk crept both on their faces. They know something, but better to keep it a secret.

___________________

The four of them share the egg pie sa canteen at nag dinner na din.

"Wow... I can't believe that one day will come and we got to share a table with the Phenoms." Sabi ni Ella kay Sam in a really low whisper.

"Believe me Besh, baka one day makashare mo ng bahay yung isa sa kanila." Sabi ni Sam an Ella looked at her. "Basta..."

Biglang dumating si Amy and hugged Dom's neck from the back and gave Sam a punch in the gut.

"Hi, Babe... You're eating without me?" Amy asked.

"Sorry... I got really hungry." Sabi ni Dom at pinaupo niya si Amy sa tabi niya. "Let's eat."

Habang kumakain sila Amy got really clingy kay Dom, and Sam shot daggers at her. Amy's whispering to Dom's ear enough para marinig ni Sam. But this one really hurt Sam's ear.

"Babe... I really wanna do dirty stuff with you." Sabi ni Amy as she almost lick Dom's ear with her tongue but her eyes were looking at Sam. She smirk when Sam tensed up.

Sam return the stare and aswered amy. "Dirty stuff? Like what? Farming?" Sam said and Dom snorted a laugh as Amy pouts. Si Ella at Topher naman kain lang ng kain at walang alam sa nangyayari.

Dom, Amy, Topher, and Ella just got into a deep conversation about cool stuff na walang kainterest interest si Sam so she just zone herself out. Enjoy na enjoy yung apat sa usapan nila and then Topher suddenly invite everyone sa valentines party niya.

"So guys... Please, I really want you guys to come. " sabi ni Topher and Amy still wrapped around Dom's body nod.

"Sure Toph, will be there. As long it involves me kissing MY GIRLFRIEND for hours why not." Sabi ni Amy and it ringed on Sam's ear.

"Ako din! Pupunta! Kami ni Besh!" Sabi ni Sam and the four looked at her dahil after hours of silence nagsalita siya.

"Oh, hi Besh! You're here. I almost thought Samantha Lazaro passed away," Ella said sarcastically pinpointing Sam's almost-complete silence while they were eating. "And no, I won’t go with you."

"What?! Why?" Sam asked.

"Besh hindi ka ba nakikinig, its a Valentines Party." Sabi ni Ella and Sam blushed.

"Oh? Well... Im still going." Sabi ni Sam.

"Whatever you say, nerd..." Sabi ni Topher and Sam blushed so hard and she almost want the ground to open and just suck her down the earth.