ANAIS

"You look beautiful. You're like me when I was your age." Mom said as she zipped the back of my red dress. College ball namin ngayon. Even though Dad never liked the idea of me going out at night, he had to let me. Mom threatened him that if he doesn't she'd sleep in the guest room. Mom said I shouldn't miss any prom nights and school balls kasi hindi ko na daw maibabalik iyon. Dad was against it but he couldn't do anything about it. Kapag gusto ni Mommy, Dad has no say.

"Mom..." I looked at her reflection in the mirror.

She looked up at me and smiled. "Yeah?"

"Who was your first love?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Your Dad was my first love." She smiled, nostalgically. "Pero kung tatanungin mo sa akin kung sino ang una kong boyfriend, iba ang isasagot ko sa'yo."

"First love, first boyfriend... what's the difference?" I asked.

"Alot. Iba ang gusto sa mahal. Sabi nga ng lolo mo sa akin noon 'you'd think you're in love with the person who makes you happy but sometimes it's the person who makes you feel the most'. I hated your Dad then. I hated him with a passion and he made me feel the most. I wouldn't be hating him that much if I didn't care about him." She said.

"When did you know you love him when you said you hated him?" I asked, puzzled.

"Nagbabakasyon kasi ang Dad mo sa hacienda noon. He went back to Manila and followed him. I knew right then that I couldn't lose him. I did everything and when I say everything I mean EVERYTHING just to win his heart."

"Ikaw pala ang nanligaw kay Dad noon." I giggled.

"I won't deny it. I used to bake him cookies and brownies and I used to send flowers to his office. I even went as far as going to his office without panties and showing it to him."

"MOOOM!" My eyes widened in surprise but couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay, I went too far. I'm sorry." She tensed. "You did not hear that. Pretend you did not hear that, Anais."

"I can't even— ugh! That's crazy! Why would you do that?"

"What? Your Dad was wild man, I had to keep up with him." She said.

"I didn't know you were wild, too." I commented.

"Just for your Dad." She giggled like a schoolgirl. "Why are you asking all these questions anyway? May boyfriend ka na ba?"

"Well, there's this guy. His name is Steve and his courting me. I like him, Mom." My voice squeaked.

"Hindi naman kita mapipigil kung magboyfriend ka. Pwede kitang pagbawal pero hindi ko makokontrol ang desisyon mo. At the end of the day, ikaw pa rin ang magdedesisyon para sa sarili mo. You're sixteen now. I had a boyfriend when I was your age. Pero, Anais, always be careful. Your Dad's taught you a lot of things about guys. Most of them were exaggerated, I know, but some are true. You've heard about the birds and the bees, right? You know it's about sex?"

"Yeah." I bit my bottom lip.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. I just hope hindi ka magmadaling lumaki. You're still  young and you're still our baby. I've had friends who lost their virginity at such young age. Naiintindihan ko an teenager ka. Even if your friends are doing it, don't do it until you think you're ready. Sana huwag mong ibigay ang sarili mo dahil lang gusto mo yung guy, or your friends are doing it, you're pressured, or you're just curious. I've seen alot of friends make those mistakes. Remember once you give it, you're never going to get it back. If you're going to do it, do it with someone special. Don't be in a rush, honey. Somebody you'll find the man you'll really love and would want to give him your all. Sana alam mo kapag binigay mo ang sarili mo hindi mo pagsisisihan iyon. I waited twenty three years to lose my virginity and I lost it to your Dad. He's worth all those years of waiting."

There was nothing to lose. It was long gone. Kinapa ko ang nararamdaman ko. I did not feel any regret. There was no 'I wish I waited' and I didn't even lose it to someone I love in a romantic way or my boyfriend. I lost it to Coco, my bestfriend since I was little.

"I'm not going to stop you from seeing a guy. Pero alam kong matalinong bata ka, Anais. Alam mo ang tama sa mali." She gave me a meaningful look.

I hesitantly nodded my head.

Do I?

"Hey..." I saw Dad popping his head into my room from the mirror. "How's my little girl?"

"Daddy..." I smiled and turned to face him.

"You look beautiful." Pumasok siya sa kwarto ko at huminto sa harap ko. "You're looking more and more like your Mom. Lalo akong natatakot."

"At bakit naman?" Mom cocked a brow, putting her hand on her hips.

"I would have to chase off a hell lot of men." He chuckled and pulled Mom by the waist. "Sometimes I wish our daughter is not as beautiful as you. Mas mahihirapan ako nito."

"Dad, Mom, you're in my room." I rolled my eyes.

"How 'bout I'll drop you off the ball and wait for you in the parking lot?" Dad asked.

"Mom, ayan na naman si Daddy!" I whined.

"Ikaw talaga." Mom slapped him on the chest. "Tigilan mo nga anak mo! Sasabay nga siya kay Audrey at Therese."

"But-"

"Atticus, stop it." Mom gave him a warning look. "Let your daughter enjoy her teenage years."

COCO

I arrived at the ball night with Yvo and Tate. We were all dressed up in suits. Tate was waiting for his date to arrive and Yvo being the usual loser he was didn't have one. That makes the two of us then. Misery indeed loves company. I hadn't asked a girl out. What was the point anyway? Isa lang naman ang rason kung bakit ako nagpunta dito. Si Anais.

I looked around but couldn't find the face I wanted to see. Mas maaga akong umalis kaysa kay Audrey. She and Anais were going  to come to the ball together with their other girlfriends. Ako naman, sinundo ko pa ang dalawang ito.

"Hey, four eyes. Do you want to get laid tonight?" I nudged him as we sat on the round table.

He sat up straight, obviously scandalized by my question. "Why are you so obsessed with sex? Is that all you think about?"

"I'm a guy. What else would I be thinking?" I rolled my eyes.

"I get it, our continued existence as species depends on sex. But come on, don't you have anything else to think about? Like how to stop cancer or how could those morons believe the earth was flat?"

"Have you ever jacked off, Yvo?"

"Ano'ng klaseng tanong yan?" His cheeks turned visibly red.

Tate snickered. "What the hell? You're an asshole. Leave him alone."

"Just answer me, dork." I sighed.

He coughed uncomfortably. "Masturbation is a basic human need. It relieves tension and cleans the body of toxins. Wala naman sigurong masama doon."

"Meron! Instead of your hand or whatever the hell you use. Wouldn't it be nice to have your dick buried inside some hot-"

"This conversation is going nowhere. Wala ka talagang masabing matino." He shook his head.

"What do you jack off to, anyway? Pictures of Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking?"

"Gago ka talaga." Tate threw a piece of corn from his plate to me as he laughed. "Palagi mo na lang pinagtitripan si Yvo."

"Bakit pa kasi kayo nag-away ni Anais? Now I have to put up with you."

"You love me anyway." I smirked.

"If the devil knocks on my door and gives me a a bag of Doritos in exchange of your soul, I would gladly take the Doritos." He replied.

"Ikaw na nga itong tinutulungan. If you want to use your hand tonight, suit yourself" I shrugged and then turned to Tate. "Who's that date you're talking about?"

"Naomi Alonzo." He answered.

"Naomi Alonzo? No way!" My eyes widened. She was the hottest girl in school, every guy's fantasy. She had appeared on numerous men's magazine and was quite a sensation online. "Damn! Salute, dude. You're only a freshman and you're already banging every guy's fantasy girl."

"Wala pang nangyayari." Tate rubbed the back of his neck.

"Meron na mamaya. I'm sure of that." I said and turned to Yvo. "You should get tips from Tate or you'll be using your hand for the rest of your life."

"What about you? Wala ka bang date?" Tate cocked a brow.

"Wala." I shrugged.

"Hah! Wala ka din palang date eh." He chuckled. "You don't practice what you preach."

After a few minutes, I turned my head to the entrance just in time the girls arrived. Anais was in a red off-shoulder cocktail dress and her beauty was enhanced by light makeup. She looked like a woman tonight. God, she was beautiful.

Steve didn't waste anytime. The asshole walked up to her and offered his arm. Anais obliged wrapping her arms around him. My jaw ticked as I watch them walking together. Anais' eyes met mine and she tensed. We stared at each other for just a split second before she turned her head to Steve.

They went to one of the tables across from ours and Steve pulled a chair for Anais. I couldn't focus on anything but her. Look at her! Having the time of her life with Steve and his celebrity friends while I sat here flushed with annoyance. I couldn't even sit still. I tossed and turned on my chair, trying to have a good view of them.

Audrey and her girlfriends said hi to us and Tate's date arrived with a friend. The girl tried talking to me but I hardly paid attention. I kept my eyes on Anais, making sure Steve doesn't do anything I wouldn't like.

ANAIS

I could feel him staring at me. I tried to ignore it and focused my attention to the conversation. Mabuti na yun ganitong hindi muna kami nag-uusap. I needed time away from him.

"Ano, Anais? Sinagot mo na ba siya?" His friend, Lester asked.

I looked at Steve and he smiled back at me, resting his arms on the back of my chair.

"Nararamdaman kong malapit na." Steve answered for me.

"Totoo ba yan, Anais?" Tanong naman ng isa pa niyang friend na si Wendy.

"We'll see." Kibit-balikat na sabi ko.

"We will, indeed." Steve kept his smile as he looked at me.

"Huwag mo naman pahirapan masyado." Steve caressed my chin with his thumb. "Gustong-gusto ko na maging akin ka, Ana."

I didn't say anything. I just smiled back at him. I didn't know what was happening. I couldn't bring myself to be in the mood. I'd been anticipating this ball for weeks pero bakit hindi ako makapag-enjoy? I felt like something's missing...

"Anais, let's dance." He whispered to my ear.

"Okay." I answered.

He got up and offered his hand to me and I took it. We went to the dancefloor. His arms wrapped around mine as he pulled me closer to his body. I felt kind of dizzy, parang umiikot ang paningin ko.

"Are you okay?" Steve asked.

"I don't feel good." I confessed. I felt like any moment now, I would collapse.

"What's wrong?"

"Nahihilo ako, Steve."

"I'll bring you to the clinic." He offered.

"It's okay. Magpapasama na lang ako sa friends ko. I don't want to ruin this night for you."

He cupped my chin and titled my head up to face him. "Anais, you're my date. Hindi kita pababayaan."

"Thanks." I forced a smiled.

COCO

Halos mabali na ang leeg ko sa kakatingin sa kanila. Steve and Anais stood up and walked to the dancefloor where some couples were dancing to a sappy romantic song. I could feel the throbbing in my head as I watched them, his arms wrapped around Anais' waist.

"Hey, Dude. Kelsie's talking to you." Tate nudged. Kelsie was Naomi's friend. "Why are you so quiet all of a sudden? Kanina lang hindi ka matahimik."

"I have nothing to say." I shrugged.

"Thank God." Yvo exhaled. "I like it better that way."

"I guess you don't want to talk to me. I'm sorry." Kelsie said.

"No, it's not you. I'm just... thinking."

"About what?"

"Alot of things. You'll have a more interesting conversation with Yvo." I said and looked at Yvo. "Hey dork, talk to her about science and shit."

"You're the real definition of a d-bag." He commented.

turned my attention back to where Steve and Anais were. Wala na sila sa kinatatayuan nila kanina. I looked at their seats and they were empty too. "Fuck!"

"What?" Tanong ni Tate.

"Si Anais!" I exclaimed.

"What about Anais?" Yvo asked.

"Nawawala sila ni Steve. They were just there a moment ago."

"S i Steve Ocampo?" Naomi looked at me and then averted her gaze to Kelsie. "Hindi ba...?"

"What?" Nagpalit-palit ako ng tingin sa dalawang babae.

"Just tell her to be careful when she's with Steve." Naomi answered.

"Why?" I almost roared, my anxiety heightened when I heard what she said.

"Steve and I were friends before. I worked with him sa isang modelling project." Kelsie bit her bottom lip. "Inaya niya akong lumabas. We had a drink and I only had like two vodkas. I have high alcohol tolerance, alam kong hindi ako malalasing dun. I couldn't remember what happened after the second drink I had but I knew he put something in there. Basta nagising na lang ako na magkatabi kami at nakahubad ako. He said I got drunk and initiated sex with him."

"Bakit ngayon niyo lang sinabi?"

"I didn't know." Kelsie said.

"That son of a bitch!" I immediately got up from my seat.