Manipulate Ft. ALYDEN

The Preparation

The team is once again assembled inside Aly's office, the main office, except for Kim who left for their honeymoon.

"So guys, next week na ang birthday ni Aby but we still dont have any plans for it!" Vic said while pacing.

"And in case you didnt know, debut party na niya! And it should be extravagant!" Mika added with hand gestures.

"18 na si Aby?! Oh my god! Dalaga na ang baby natin!" Gretch hysterically yelled.

Marge didnt mind her friends over reactions and instead placed some papers on the coffee table. She did that silently when Mika noticed what Marge was doing so she asked the latter.

"Whats that?" And took one of the papers.

"This is my plan for Abigail's Debut party" She said casually.

"Really? Thats great Marge!"  Vic said excitingly.

"I know, I know. And so am I" She boasted. "Because I know how all of you love cramming." And all bursted into laughter because of the said fact.

Aly, looking at her friends from her work table, watched the sight with delight. Her friends working up and giving time for her little sister's debut party. How she is thankful that they love her sister so much.

"Hoi Alyssa! Ano? Ngisi ngisi lang? Kapatid mo kaya to!" Mika threw throw pillows to Aly.

"Eh anjan nman kayo eh. I know you guys can do it. Maybe even better!" She said while catching the pillows.

"Buti alam mo!" Marge agreed and everyone nodded too.

"Soooo, I'll get my ass off my own office to let you all concentrate. Bye!" Aly slowly said and quickly ran out.

"ALYSSA!!!" all shouted in unison.

Seconds later, Aly peeked her head in "P.S. Dont be too loud okay?" Then smiled widely before closing the door.

After running away from her friends, she thought of a certain person that could really help them. She went to Shiela's table and asked her a favor.

"Shiela, please help them with anything they need" She said while pointing her thumb back to her office.

"Yes maam" Shiela nodded and stood up from her table.

Aly was about to walk away when she remembered something. "Oh and Shiela..."

"Maam?" She faced her boss.

"Make an invitation list. The family, investors, business partners, VIPs, selected clients, and... thats all, I think?"

"The media?"

"Oh, the media of course. Well, just one or two"

"Roger that" Shiela said with a salute.

Aly was walking towards the elevator when it was Shiela's turn to remember something. She immediately called for her boss' attention.

"Wait maam, should I make an invitation for Ms. Lazaro too?"

Aly slightly surprised on what Shiela asked but then composed herself shortly. She smiled widely and before the elevator door close, she said.

"No please." And Aly saw how her secretary's forehead crease.

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Alyssa ran off from her friends because she has a valid reason. She decided to buy a gift for her little sister because this is the only free time she got before Abigails's birthday. While entering the mall she thought of some company. 

Punta ka MOA, bilis.

She texted and it didnt took a while for the latter to reply.

Bakit? Anong meron jan?

Meron ako dito. Duh? De jk. I'll be waiting at SB. Make it fast.

Harhar. Not funny but I'll be there.

Aly didnt bother to reply. She waited at the line and bought a coffee for herself and waited for her company to come. She opened her ipad to check up some emails. Aly did some work inside the said coffee shop. She contacted the clients herself to set up meetings because she knows that Shiela is busy helping her friends.

Then, she heard someone cough. She lifted her head and saw Dennise with arms crossed. She automatically smiled.

"You're here, upo ka" She pointed the chair infront of her.

"So ganyan ka pala sa mga taong special na sayo?" Den said with one brow raised, still not taking her seat.

"What do you mean?" She asked and forehead creased. "At pwede ba, umupo ka na."

Dennise, didnt know how to explain her side and is quite embarrased about it, drag the chair making an unpleaeant sound inside the shop and sat harshly at the chair accross Aly's.

"Wheres my coffee?" Den irritatedly asked.

"Here." Aly handed a bill to Den and look back to her ipad.

Everything that is happening right now, Dennise cant see any sweetness from it. She stood up from the table harshly which made the table wobble and Aly startle.

"I have my own money" she coldly said then walked to the cashier.

Aly scratch her head in frustration. She did not act gentle at all. She did not pull Dennise a chair nor buy her own coffee. Alyssa thought she's with Shiela in a business meeting. She stood up and went to Dennise's side.

Aly holds two shoulders of Den and whispered to her ear. "Hon, sorry na. Upo ka na dun, I'll buy for you" she sweetly said.

But Dennise didnt bother to look at Aly because she might see how flushed she is now. She tried to shake the latter's hand off her shoulder.

"No thanks. I can handle myself." she said trying to sound cold.

Aly didnt know what to do next. So, she said "Sige. Samahan nlang kita dito" she slips her hand to Den's then squeezed it tight.

Dennise, surprise on what Aly just did, froze from giddiness. Though, she didnt let go of Aly's hand. Aly smiled when Den squeezed her hand back. She then raised it and kissed Dennise's back hand. Den turned to her and smiled.

"Good morning maam, whats your order?" The lady on the cashier asked.

"One dark mocha frappe please, Venti" Den looked at Aly "You?"

"Uhm... Do you have a grouchy, over exaggerated, nagger, dauntless, petite, sexy, gorgeous, head turner Dennise Lazaro here?" Aly while scratching her chin and scanning the menu board.

Dennise flushed and automatically hit Aly's arms. "What?" Aly giggled and innocently asked while rubbing her hitted arms. Den just rolled her eyes back at the latter.

Aly turned back to the girl "And dont forget, sadist" Den was about to hit Aly again but this time, she caught her hand then locked it with hers.

"Uhm... I'm sorry maam but we dont" The lady said hesitantly.

"See, theres nobody like you honey" Aly proudly said and peck Den's lips. Den smiled back in giddiness.

"Maam? What name should I put?" The lady interrupted.

"Denn-" Den was cut by Alyssa.

"I'll write it for you" Aly took the cup and pen from the lady's hand then wrote...

♥AlyDen♥

"Here, thanks" Aly handed back the cup.

"Okay... Uhm... Alyden, 190 your bill maam" She smiled awkwardly to the two.

Dennise just shook her head out of embarassment and handed her bill. She then pulled Aly back to their table. Aly laughed while walking back to their seat.

"Nakakahiya ka Alyssa, promise!" Den while raising her right hand.

"Talaga? Well, thats new" she boasted.

"Really new! What if someone took a picture of us doing sweet stuff in public?"

"Sweet huh?" Aly wiggled her brow teasing Den.

"Alyssaaaa!" Then hit Aly's arms again.

"So what? Write anything they want. I dont read newspapers anyway"

"Whatever! I'm just concerned about you. Pano kung mawalan ka ng investors or clients if nalaman nilang your dating me? Just a Dennise Lazaro. They may say that-" Aly shut Den by placing two fingers on Den's lips.

"I dont care what they say Dennise. I only care about you. They dont affect me in any way, just you" She said with eyes full of sincerity.

Dennise smiled because she saw how sencere those eyes of Aly were when she's saying it. She felt her butterflies burst into her stomach, her heart beat thump like a drum. She wanted to kiss Aly here and now. Not caring what other people might say around them.

"Kilig ka na nyan?" Aly teasingly said. Den hit her arms again. "Ouch, nakakarami ka na ah"

"Ikaw nman kasi eh... So bakit tayo andito?"

"Oh right. I'm gonna buy a gift for Aby and you're gonna help me"

"Aby? You mean... your sister?!" Den said in surprise.

"Yup. So, tara na." While placing her things back to her bag.

"What about my drink?" Den raised her cup.

"You can drink it while walking"

"What about your work?" She creased.

"I'll finish it later. Lets go"

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Aly and Den were walking inside each stalls and carefully picked a gift for Aby. But it seems like, Alyssa was not satisfied. She wanted the best for her little sister. They decided to enter the nerest ice cream parlor and rested for awhile before ordering.

Both, Aly and Den, were exhausted and frustrated in walking all over the mall the whole day yet Alyssa did still not find the best gift that she could give to her beloved sister.

"Hon, wala ka ba tlgang nagustuhan sa lahat ng pinasukan nating shops?" Den asked while her head rested on the latter's shoulder.

"I'm sorry hon pero wala tlga eh." She sigh deeply. "I'm not saying that all those clothes, shoes, bags and jewelries were not pretty. They just dont say anything about my sister, thats all."

Den sat straight and look at Aly's frustrated face, she held them with two hands. "So you wanted your gift that says somthing about your sister?" Aly nodded. "Can you remember any event in her life that you saw her true happiness?"

And Aly did some thinking. She reminisce the time when her father brought them to an amusement park when they arrived back at the Philippines.

Alfredo was carrying her two year old daughter, Abigail, on his arms while holding his seven year old daughter, Alyssa, on his right. Aly saw her litle sister's eye widened and traced where she was looking at. She tugged her father's clothes.

"Papa! I think Aby wanna ride that!" Aly pointed at the carousel.

Alfredo smiled and look at his other daughter, Aby, and can see excitement in her eyes too. "Then let's ride that one!" And the three ran to the carousel.

Aly rode a white horse with a beautiful pink carriage on its back. Seated at the back is Alfredo and her little sister. The family's smiles were beyond happiness. Happiness which cannot be measured.

Alyssa bitterly smiled upon remembering the best day in their lives ever since her mother died. The same day they last saw their father before he left them to work at Russia.

"Hon, are you alright?" Dennise's voice pulled her back to reality.

"Yeah. I'm okay." She assuringly smiled.

"So ano? Did you remember anything?" She asked.

"I did. Thanks hon!" She said and peck on the latters lips.

After they ate some strawberry ice creams topped with their overyly sweetness with each other they decided to go home. They were walking to the mall's parking lot when they accidentally came across someone, both, not knowing, wanted to turn their back and run away but its too late.

"Ms. Alyssa!" He looked at Aly then the person beside her. "Dennise."

"I-I-Inno, hi" Aly nervously greeted and asked "What brings you here?"

She took a glimpse of her right to see Den. But it seemed that Dennise wasn't giving her attention to Inno instead she was looking away. This made Aly's forehead creased in confusion and surprise.

"Ah, just to shop things. This is a mall anyways. Hahaha" He laughed casually.

"Ha.Ha.Ha." Aly nervously laughed back.

"So, nice bumping to you both. Bye!" Inno said then walked away.

"Y-yeah bye!" Aly waived back.

Thats it? Not even asking why we were here? Why Dennise is with me? And how the hell did we knew each other?Aly's thought bubble was popped when Den pulled her.

"Tara na Hon. Ipapa ship pa natin ang gift mo for Aby. Lets go" while pulling Aly away.

Dennise. Why didnt she ask? How I knew Inno? And how is he accquainted with me? Nakakalito na ah!

Aly mentaly slapped herself and concentrated back on the person holding her hand and is helping her to prepare Abigail's gift. 

Maybe I'm just over thinking. She thought.

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