#TIMY Shorts and Drabbles

Pre Dinner Part 4

Ali was getting ready for his trip to the grocery to get ingredients for the dinner that night.

"Iris, labas lang muna ako, punta ako ng grocery para sa dinner." Ali was saying as he picked up his bag and car keys.

Iris looked up from her seat on the dinning table, clearly dazed from her proposal on her laptop. "Nag promise akong sasamahan kita, wait lang, kukunin ko bag ko."

Basti who was seated beside Iris, looked at her dazed stare, and said, "Huwag na, Sungit, ako na lang sasama kay Ali. Para matapos mo na ang proposal mo."

Iris looked at Basti, narrowed her eyes, her husband is up to something, but she briefed him about Stephen and Ali, so she relaxed and just nodded, "Sige Pangit, thank you. Ingat kayo ha."

Her husband got up from his seat, sling his bag on his shoulder and gave her a forehead kiss.

"Bro, lets go. Baka gabihin tayo, magluluto ka pa." Basti laughingly told Ali.

~.~.~.~

"So, ano sinabi ni Iris para ma-convince ka i-invite si Stephen dito sa Love Nest for dinner." Basti asked Ali as soon as he put on his seatbelt.

Knowing Iris, she would have told Basti that the dinner was Ali's idea. Ali looked at Basti surprised, "Pano mo alam na hindi ako ang nag suggest?"

"I know my wife, she had that scheming thing going on."

Ali laughed out loud. Yes, they both know Iris. He figured she invited herself and Basti to dinner with Ali and Stephen to get to know Stephen specifically.

"Actually wala na ako nasabi, sabi mo nga kilala mo ang asawa mo, kapag decided na siya sa isang bagay, wala na tayo magagawa." Ali answered smiling at Basti.

"Okay lang si Stephen na makipag dinner sa amin ni Iris?"

Ali smiled ruefully as he continued driving, "Bro, to be honest, hindi ko alam kung makakapunta siya, hindi ko kasi hinintay na sumagot siya na dadating siya."

Basti laughed at that, curious, "Bakit naman?"

"He sounded hesitant, baka alam niyang i-gri-grill ninyo ni Iris."

"Hindi naman namin siya i-gri-grill. I mean, Iris and I both know that since we got married, you gave us space to adjust to our married life. And we appreciate that. We just want to get to know Stephen better." Basti smiled at Ali, clearly thankful of how supportive he was to them.

Ali just shook his head, as he turned to enter the parking lot of the specialty grocery store he frequents. "Ano ka ba, Bro, sabi ko naman sa inyo yun diba, nasa Greece palang tayo, I will always be here for the two of you. Walang nagbabago dun."

"Thank you, Bro, we appreciate it. Lalo na these past few days." Basti told him with a tap on the shoulder, that has always been their thing. "So, ano ang kwento niyo ni Stephen?"

"Kwento? Walang kwento, magkaibigan lang kami." Ali answered back as he parked the car.

"Magkaibigan o magka-ibigan?" Basti teased.

Ali sighed, "May feelings man ako, wala naman magpro-progress," with a shrug. "He sees me as a friend lang. He told me that best friends lang talaga kami, may hang-ups pa siya sa dati niyang boyfriend."

"Ali, that's hard, kaya mo ba? Na hanggang dun lang kayo?" Basti asked concerned for his friend.

"Oo naman, sanay na ata ako eh, sa inyo nga ni Iris diba, tinulungan ko pa kayo. I think I am destined to have unrequited love with guys I like." Ali smirked at Basti.

Basti stopped and looked Ali, frowning, is his friend still hang up on him, after all these years?

Ali looked back at him, faking a serious face, but failing miserably. First, it was a smirk, then a snicker, then a full blown laugh. "You should have seen your face."

Basti, finally released a nervous laugh, "Huwag ka nga! Natakot ako dun ha, after all these years, kung hindi ka pa naka move on, nakita mo na kami ni Iris, magtanan, ikasal ng dalawang beses."

Ali wiped tears of laughter from his eyes, "Alam ko naman yun, bro, ano ka ba! And I am happy for you and Iris, kahit na may nangyaring hindi maganda sa inyo, strong pa rin kayo, strong ka pa rin para sa inyong dalawa. Mahal na mahal ninyo ang isa't-isa. Sana balang araw, makahanap din ako ng ganyang pagmamahalan."

"Thanks Bro. Sigurado ako, makakahanap ka rin niyan, at pag nangyari iyon, kami ni Iris ang magiging pinaka-masaya para sa iyo."

- I miss Basti-Ali one-on-ones.

--comments are welcome --