Manipulate Ft. ALYDEN

The Take Out

"I'm sorry okay? Next time nlang if I'm not busy na. I'll call you later. Bye"

Before Dennise could respond Aly cut the call. Minsan na nga lang ako maginvite di pa siya pwede! Tsk!

Dennise decided to call Aly earlier to invite her for lunch but the latter immediately declined because of her busy schedule. She is really feeling sad and lonely right now.

Mag lunch nlang akong mag isa! Who needs an Alyssa Valdez for lunch?!

Dennise stomped her feet and was heading out her office when someone suddenly entered and Den accidentaly bumped her head on the opening door.

"Ouch!!!" Dennise yelled in pain.

"Oooops! Sorry Besh!" Ella apologetically smiled upon entering "Ano ba kasi ginagawa mo sa likod ng pintuan?"

"Bakit ba kasi bigla bigla ka nlang papasok?!" Den said in irrate.

"Oo na. Oo na. Talo na ako" Ella raised her two hands up as defeat. She pulled Denden back to her office and let her sit. "Whats with you?"

"What do you need? Bad mood ako ngayun Jorella ha kaya wag mo akong pagdiskitahan!" Den warned and gave her a death glare.

"Wala akong pake sa mood mo Dennise!" Ella dared to say then thows a newspaper on top of the table. "Explain this!"

"Whats this?" Den raised a brow.

"Check it yourself" Ella crossed her arms.

Dennise opened the newspaper and saw Aly and her picture on the front page. Alyssa was wrapping her arms around Dennise shoulders to protect her from being crushed by the reporters and paparazzi. Both their faces were clearly taken in the picture.

"Valdez attends engangement party, will she be next?" Tasha read the headline loud.

Both Ella and Den was surprise because of Tasha's sudden appearance. Den just ignored her and headed to the page where the report is.

"Alyssa Valdez, a business tycoon at a very young age, is expected to attend her closest friend's engagement party. But we didn't expect that she would bring a date! Yes a date! And who's the lucky girl? She is Dennise Michelle Lazaro, a pediatrician at Makati Medical Center." Dennise read the article loud.

"I told you besh! Sikat ka na!" Ella cheered.

Dennise check the other pages for more pictures of hers and Aly's then she thank God that the only picture published was the one when they entered the hotel.

"Hay. Buti nlang" then put down the newspaper.

"Yan lang? Yan lang sasabihin mo after seeing your face in the front page of the Inquirer?!" Ella hysterically asked.

"Oo yun lang! Buti nlang yun lang ang lumabas na pictures" Dennise yelled back and regret right after she just said that. She saw Ella's face lit up.

Upon hearing her friends reaction, it made Ella curious "So, theres more?" She raised a brow.

"I-I dont k-know" Den quickly averted her eyes from Ella.

"Tell. Me. The. Truth" Ella said in command.

"Ewan ko! Its like, I made a little commotion at the party so I made sure that there were no bad reviews about me" Dennise reasoned out.

"What?! Nanggulo ka sa party?!"

"Its not like that...Well... Just a little bit" while showing her hands holding an invicible coin between her pointer and thumb finger.

"Buti nlang tlga at walang lumabas na ganun! Kundi ikakahiya kita Dennise Michelle! I will disown you!"

"Ang OA mo De Jesus!"

"But seriously Lazaro, what did you do?" She showed Den a teasing smile.

"None of your business!" She said and was about to stand up but Ella hold her still.

"Tell me na besh. You know that you cant run and you cant hide with me." Ella ended with a wink.

"Urgh!" Dennise tweaked herself in defeat. "I though that the guy beside her was going to kiss my Aly! Then with my senses all fired up, I turned her to me and kissed her. Then shouted at her infront of everybody. And then walked out of the hall." Den explained in a fast phase so that it wouldnt be embarrasing on her part.

Ella was intently listening and nodded when Dennise stopped. "Go on..."

"Aly run after me and explained that it was just a prank. She said it was all a joke and that they were not about to kiss but let Aly smell his breath to the guy. And... the end." Dennise sigh after that long explaination.

Then a wierd and awkward silence crept Dennise's office. Ella looked so surprise but then it was changed. Slowly... any minute now...

"BWAHAHAHAHAHA! ANG POSSESIVE MO BESH! HAHAHA!" Ella bursted into laughter. She held her tummy because its aching cause of her laughter.

Den on the other hand covered her blushing face from humiliation. "I am not possesive!" She defended herself.

"YES YOU ARE! BWAHAHAHA! NOW YOU'RE BEING DEFENSIVE! HAHAHA!" Ella still not stopping from her laugh.

"Tumigil ka na nga Jorella Marie! Lets eat!" Den said and was about to get out when-

"Sorry besh" Ella said and wiped a tear from her eye. "I cant come with you."

Dennise immediately turned head back and looked surprised. She holds Ella's forehead then her neck.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Ella shove her hand.

"Wala ka nmang lagnat. Whats your problem? Andito nman ako. You can always talk to me. Bestfriends tayo diba?"

"What are you talking about?!" Ella is confused of how her friend act.

"Kasi you just turned down my offer of eating lunch. Thats really... unusual." Then its Dennise time to laugh out loud.

"Sige tumawa ka lang jan. Harhar." Ella rolled her eyes.

"Eh bakit nga? Whats your reason for turning me down?" Den placed her hands beside her hip.

"Kailangan ko pa kasi bumalik sa shop eh. Peak hour pa nman ngayun." she scratched her head.

"So bat ka umalis ng shop mo in the first place kung peak hour ngayun?" Dennise asked in confusion.

"To give you the newspaper." She causally said.

"So pumunta ka lang dito para ibigay yan?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yup! Tsaka invite mo nlang si hottie mo! Hahaha" Ella wiggled her brow.

Dennise rolled her eyes to her friend. Then sigh deeply. "I already did."

"Oh tapos?"

"She diclined. Super busy niya kasi" Her eyes starting to form water.

"If she cant come, then bring the lunch to her" Ella suggested and tapped her friends shoulders for encouragement.

Dennise's face lightened "Thanks Besh! You're the best!"

"I know right!" Ella said in a matter of fact and flipped her hair.

---------------------

Alyssa is busy signing papers for the new product that is to be released by the end of the month. This is the main reason why she cant meet Dennise today for their lunchdate.

She checks all papers from page to page to ensure legitimacy of each before signing. Aly's focus was interupted when she heard a sudden beep from her landline.

She pressed the button. "I'm busy Shiela"

"I know maam but someone here insisted to meet you" Shiela said.

Aly creased her forehead. "Who?"

"Someone named Dennise Lazaro maam"

Aly's jaw dropped. Anong ginagawa niya dito?! "Let her in Shiela. Btw, may iba ba na nakakita nung pumasok siya?" She nervously asked.

"Yes maam. Everyones eyes are on her. She's your date last night right?"

"What the! How did you know?!" Aly stood up from her chair. She's very surprise.

"Your picture is at the front page of the inquirer maam. Both of you" Shiela informed her boss.

Alyssa mentally slapped herself. "Argh! Tell me about that later, papasukin mo na siya"

"Will I bring utensils maam?"

Aly creased again. "Why?"

"Seems like she brought lunch for you"

Aly smiled on the thought "Yes please. Ihabol mo nlang"

The call ended then a few minutes later, the door opened and she saw the most beautiful girl on earth. With her pair off blue eyes, red lips and pointed nose, she smiled shyly.

"Hey, lunch?" Dennise when she entered the office then raised the paper bag she had.

Aly smiled "Sure"

When the utensils arrived, Dennise prepared and placed everything perfectly. Then called Aly to eat.

"Hon, lets eat" Dennise said happily.

"Mauna ka na hon. I still have to finish this" Aly took glimpse on her then back at the papers.

"Please? Magkakasakit ka nnman niyan eh" Den pouted.

"Kakain din nman ako eh. Tatapusin ko lang tlga to" Aly peeked at Denden again. "You go first." then half smiled.

Dennise sat back at the sofa harshly and started to eat. She checks Aly every now and then to see if she has finished. Den really cant help it anymore so she brings Aly a spoonful.

"Say aaaah" Dennise said which made Aly jump in surprise.

And just like that, food flew all over the desk. The food stained Aly's clothes and her inportant documents.

"Ah! s**t! s**t! s**t!" Aly tried to remove the food from the papers but it got worse.

"Sorry! Ly, I didnt mean it. Really!" Den tried to help but Aly shove her hands away. This surprised Den. "Sorry" she looked down and sat back at the sofa.

"Shiela, please print another copy of the contract" Aly called over the landline.

"What happened maam?"

"Just do what I ask you to do! Bring them over as soon as you're finished!" Aly exclaimed which made Dennise felt more guilt.

Aly stood up from her desk and went straight to her bathroom. Her dress was also stained by the food. She wiped herself with paper towel and fix herself.

When she got out of the bathroom, she immediately finds Dennise. She then sits next to Den at the sofa inside her office. Aly was about to apologize when Den faced her and said.

"I'm really sorry Alyssa! I wont do it again. I promise. Please forgive me." Tears continue to fall from Den's face. "I promise, I wont come here again. I wont interupt you anymore." then she wiped her tears but more is still coming.

Alyssa immediately hugged the latter tight. She rubbed her palms against Den's back to soothe her. She also felt guilt for shoving at Dennise earlier. Half of this was her fault too.

"No, sorry Dennise. I know that you were just trying to help. I was hard on you. Sorry"

Dennise couldnt contain it anymore and more tears came down her face. Aly continued to comfort Den until her sobs stops.

"Sorry"

Both said in unison then they looked at each other. A tear left Den's eye again but Aly quickly wiped it. They both smiled and giggled softly.

"Lets eat?" Aly asked and looked over the table full of food. "I'm starving." She smiled at Den.

Dennise face lit up and prepared a spoonfull for Aly, again.

---------------------