Den's POV

I saw Aly wearing a turtle neck, geez, sobrang init and he chose to wear that? Buti nalang at air conditioned sa room, pero pag lumabas ka sa hallway, ramdam mo yung init.

"Hey, ano namang naisipan mo at nag turtle neck ka?" I asked at hinawakan yung braso niya.

Nakita ko siyang parang nasaktan sa hawak ko. Di naman ganon kadiin yung hawak ko ha?

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing."

"Lies."

"Shut up." He said.

Bumalik ako sa upuan ko at pinagmasdan siya. Sobrang tahimik niya na naman. Takot sakanya yung classmates namin dahil hindi nga siya nagsasalita, pag tumingin pa siya, parang papatayin ka niya.

Nang natapos yung lecture namin, naunang maglakad si Aly. As in dire-diretso lang siya. Alam ko namang pupunta siya sa Music Room. Maybe he needs some time alone. Paano kasi, mula nung naging friends kami, parang lagi ko nang ini-invade yung alone time niya.

"Yow Den! Tara na! Let's eat!" Hila sa akin ni Yeye.

Sumama naman ako sakanila ni Ella. Naupo kami sa usual spot namin.

"Hey, I saw Aly earlier. May kasamang babae." Ella said.

I sighed.

"Oh, what's wrong?" Yeye asked.

"I can't understand him sometimes. I mean, all of the time. He's always pushing me away. Never siyang nag open up sa akin." Sumbong ko na parang bata.

"Maybe he's not comfortable talking about himself." Yeye patted my shoulder.

"Ganon ka ba?" Tanong ko.

"No. Tsaka, Den! Magkaka iba kaming mga lalaki, hindi kami pare-parehas. Stop thinking na magkakaparehas kami. I'm outgoing, I'm really open about everything. My life is like an open book. But Aly, he's really different from the guys you used to know. Try asking Chen, he's close with Aly." Yeye explained.

"As if namang magkukwento yon sa akin." I leaned on my chair.

They started eating. I'm still thinking kung paano ko makaka usap ng maayos si Aly.

"Oh, what seems to be the problem here?" Vic asks as he sat beside Ella.

"Nothing. Den's new boyfriend is giving her a headache." Ella teases me.

"Wow? Bago yata yon?" Vic acted shock.

Binato ko sa mukha niya yung nilukot kong tissue.

"So, who's the unlucky guy?" Vic asked.

"Aly." Yeye said nonchalantly.

"Woah? Really? Nakalapit ka kay Baldo?"

"Baldo??" I asked.

"I mean, Valdez. Really? That's new." Vic chuckled.

"And why is that?" Ella asked.

"Paano, no one had the guts to come closer to him. He really hated it. He hates talking to other people. Never mo siyang makikitang nakikipag usap sa stranger. Keep this in mind, he hates it when someone touches him." Vic said.

"Why? Is he germophobic?" I asked.

"No, ayaw niya lang. Hindi niya sinabi kung bakit, pero one time when I tried na akbayan siya, he really got mad. He said 'get your hands off me.' and his tone is really scary. When a girl tried to hold his arm, he removed that girl's hands and walked away." Vic said.

"I see. Pero hinawakan niya ako one time." Sabi ko habang nakikinig pa sa mga kwento ni Vic.

"Really? What's with you?" Natatawang sabi ni Vic.

"I don't know? Are you close with him?" I asked.

"Yeah. Even our houses. Konting lakad lang, nasa bahay ka na nila. Hey, don't tell this to anyone, but his parents are divorced. He lives with his Dad." Vic said.

"Ohhh. Ano pang alam mo kay Aly?" Ella asked.

"Hmm. His Dad never allows him to play piano. Dad niya yung nagdesisyon na maging Doctor siya. His mom? She just got out from the rehab. They needed to put her there kasi laging nag iinom." Vic said.

"Woah, that's really shocking." Ella said.

"Hey, alam ko kung sinong pinagkwentuhan ko ha. Pag kumalat 'to, isa lang sainyo babalikan ko." Vic threatened us.

"Alam naman namin. So, stop threatening us. We know how to keep a secret." Yeye said.

"Oh, whatever. Good luck on pursuing Aly, Denden." Vic said before saying his goodbye.

I shook my head in disbelief. Hindi ko akalain na ganon pala yung buhay ni Aly, I thought he's just a rebel son. Yung tipong galit sa mundo because of his attitude, but no, alam ko na ngayon na may dahilan pala siya, but still, hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon sa Dad niya at bakit ayaw niya ng patugtugin si Aly. If he knew how good his son is, baka mabigla siya.