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Maloi sat in the small recovery room of the dental clinic, holding back a laugh as she watched her very drugged-up girlfriend blink sluggishly at her.
Gwen, who had just had her wisdom tooth removed, was staring at Maloi like she was seeing an angel descend from the heavens.
Maloi bit her lip, trying not to giggle. “Baby? How are you feeling?”
Gwen blinked again, slow and unfocused. Then, after a long pause, she mumbled, “Who… are you?”
Maloi froze.
Oh, this is going to be fun.
She smiled sweetly, adjusting the blanket over Gwen’s lap. “I’m Maloi, girlfriend mo.”
Gwen squinted. “Nooo… sobrang pretty mo naman to be my girlfriend.”
Maloi choked on a laugh.
Gwen suddenly gasped, her eyes wide. “Wait. Oh my God. Did my girlfriend break up with me?!”
Maloi covered her mouth, dying internally. “No, no! Tayo pa rin.”
Gwen whimpered. “Eh, nasa’n siya? My girlfriend’s so pretty. So cute. So amazing. Love na love niya ‘ko.”
Maloi grinned. “Wow, she sounds perfect.”
Gwen nodded aggressively. “She is! I love her so much.” Then, her expression turned dead serious. “But… but you…” She pointed dramatically at Maloi. “Ang cute mo.”
Maloi blinked innocently. “Talaga?”
Gwen nodded slowly. “Yeah…” She tilted her head, still dazed. “Single ka ba?”
Maloi nearly lost it.
Keeping a straight face, she leaned forward slightly. “What if I am?”
Gwen gasped, gripping Maloi’s hands. “You should date me!”
Maloi bit her lip, barely holding back a laugh. “Akala ko ba may girlfriend ka na?”
Gwen pouted. “Yeah, pero wala naman siya dito… and you’re so… so pretty.” Her eyelids drooped, and she squeezed Maloi’s hands tighter. “Please be my girlfriend.”
Maloi snickered. “Hmm, I don’t know… What if magalit ‘yung girlfriend mo?”
Gwen’s eyes widened. “Oh. Oh no.” She covered her mouth. “You’re right! My girlfriend’s scary! Baka masapak ako no’n.”
Maloi raised an eyebrow. “Sasapakin ka niya?”
Gwen nodded aggressively. “Yeah. She’s so strong.” Then, after a beat, she pouted. “But she’s also so soft.”
Maloi’s heart melted.
Gwen sighed dreamily. “Always nga niya ako hina-hug. And… and she lets me lie on her lap.” She smiled dazedly. “Her lap is the best place in the world.”
Maloi giggled. “She sounds amazing.”
Gwen beamed. “She is! She’s perfect! Mahal na mahal ko siya.”
Maloi reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Gwen’s ear. “Alam mo ba? I think she loves you just as much.”
Gwen grinned goofily. “Yeah… Always niya rin sinasabi sa ‘kin ‘yan.” Then, suddenly, her expression turned suspicious. She squinted at Maloi. “Wait… why do you remind me of her?”
Maloi smirked. “Maybe because I am her?”
Maloi watched as Gwen’s loopy, post-wisdom-tooth-removal brain tried to process the fact that the woman she had been shamelessly flirting with was, in fact, her actual girlfriend.
Gwen’s jaw dropped (as much as it could, given the numbness). She stared at Maloi like she had just discovered the meaning of life.
“No way.” Gwen whispered, eyes wide.
Maloi giggled. “Yes way, baby.”
Gwen gasped dramatically and clutched her chest. “I can’t believe it. Girlfriend ako ng pinakamagandang babae sa buong mundo?!”
Maloi grinned. “You are.”
Gwen let out a dazed giggle. “Man… Ang galing ko naman.”
Maloi nearly choked on a laugh. “Yes, baby, you are.”
Gwen suddenly frowned. “Wait… If girlfriend kita…” She squinted at Maloi suspiciously. “Then bakit ka nakipag-flirt sa ‘kin kanina?”
Maloi blinked. Then she smirked. “Ikaw ‘yung naunang makipag-flirt sa ‘kin, Ms. Apuli.”
Gwen gasped again. “No! I would never cheat on my girlfriend! Mahal ko siya.”
Maloi snickered. “Baby, I am your girlfriend.”
Gwen froze.
Then, after a long pause, she sighed dreamily and leaned her forehead against Maloi’s shoulder.
“Wow. My girlfriend is so patient. She puts up with my nonsense. Mahal na mahal ko siya.”
Maloi cooed, wrapping her arms around her. “Mahal na mahal ka rin niya, baby.”
Gwen giggled, completely content, but then she suddenly sat up straight, eyes wide in panic. “WAIT.”
Maloi jumped. “What?! Ano’ng nangyari?!”
Gwen grabbed Maloi’s shoulders. “DOES MY GIRLFRIEND KNOW I WAS HITTING ON YOU?!”
Maloi burst out laughing. “Baby, AKO nga ang girlfriend mo!”
Gwen’s face froze.
A long pause.
Then—
“Ohhhh.” Gwen nodded slowly, as if just now understanding.
Maloi wiped a tear from laughing so hard. “You are so out of it, baby.”
Gwen suddenly pouted. “You must think ang slow ko…”
Maloi giggled, pressing a soft kiss to Gwen’s cheek. “No, baby. I think masiyado kang cute.”
Gwen grinned goofily. “Cute ako, huh?”
Maloi smiled. “Sobra.”
Gwen tilted her head. “Kaya siguro na-in love ka sa ‘kin, ‘no?”
Maloi smirked. “Oh? Gusto mong malaman why I fell in love with you?”
Gwen nodded eagerly.
Maloi leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “Because you’re my favorite person in the whole world.”
Gwen froze.
Then, without warning, she burst into tears.
Maloi’s eyes widened. “Oh no! Baby, what’s wrong?!”
Gwen sobbed dramatically. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard!”
Maloi bit back a laugh. “Baby, napaka-emotional mo ngayon.”
Gwen sniffled. “I just love you so much.”
Maloi giggled. “I love you too, baby.”
Gwen grabbed Maloi’s face with both hands, eyes glassy but filled with so much affection. “Promise?”
Maloi smiled softly, placing her hands over Gwen’s. “Promise.”
Gwen grinned sleepily. “Okay… good. Papakasalan kita someday.”
Maloi chuckled. “Baby, engaged na tayo.”
Gwen’s eyes widened again. “NO WAY.”
Maloi nodded. “Yes way.”
Gwen sniffled again. “Wow… Ang swerte ko naman.”
Maloi kissed Gwen’s nose. “I’m the lucky one.”
Gwen sighed happily, hugging Maloi. “I love you so much.”
Maloi smiled, running her fingers through Gwen’s hair. “I love you too, baby.”
And with that, her loopy, emotional, and utterly adorable girlfriend finally started dozing off in her arms, still mumbling how lucky she was between soft little snores.
Maloi just held her close, laughing softly to herself.
Because loopy or not, Gwen was always hopelessly in love with her, just as she was with Gwen.