Eythan and I are sitting in his car and he's driving me home. After school pumunta muna kami sa malapit na mall. He actually put an effort to look me a dress na susuutin ko mamaya sa party ni shawn. It was a color red backless dress And guess what? Sobrang ganda niya.

We arrived at my house exactly Five pm. The light is off which means my parents probably not at home. Hindi ko na inaya si eythan pumasok sa loob dahil alam kong kailangan niya pang maghanda at mag ayos din ng sarili para sa magaganap na birthday celebration ni shawn.

"Thank you for the dress. See you later." I said smiling as i climb out of his car.

He acknowledges it with a smile and nod then he starts the car again. "Wear the dress baby. I have a feeling you'll like it." He yelled before he drive away.

---

By the time i go out in my room It's around eight and just the right time to leave for the party. Ang bahay ay tahimik maliban sa naririnig na ingay ng television na nanggagaling sa sala. Eythan's leaning against the sofa habang nanonood ng Pba. So hindi niya napansin na lumabas na ako. I slightly feel shy specially when i realized that my dress is exposing my back.

"Baby is that you?" Eythan asks as he straightens up and switched the TV off. "Wow you're so pretty."

I gulp. Hindi ko alam kung nagsasabi siya ng totoo. Well for me I don't look any different except for the make up and hair. Naglagay ako ng eyeliner, maskara, blush on at pulang lipstick. I even slightly curled my hair. It's not like i've turned into a beauty pageant contestant in the space of an hour, I just look like me.

"You look good Cait." Eythan awkwardly scratches the back of his neck and I blush immediately.

"Thanks." Nahihiya kong sagot and awkward silence follows.

"So shall we go?"

Tumango ako at sabay kaming pumasok ng kotse. He starts up the car but then looks at me suddenly and I feel conscious of his gaze on me. Hinawakan ko ang mukha sa pagtataka na baka nasira na agad ang make up na nilagay ko.

"What?" I ask as he keeps looking.

Eythan leans over at may kinukuha sa dashboard. Hindi ko alam kung ano pero all I'm aware of is how close he is. I can smell his cologne which he always uses. It smells so nice on him and It's addictive like a drugs on me.

I shake my head cursing myself mentally at my train of thoughts.

"Ano yan?" Nagtataka kong tanong ng makita ang hawak niyang kahon na pahaba.

Binuksan niya ang kahon at lumantad doon ang napakaganda at kumikinang na kwintas. He put out the necklace on the box and places it on my neck. I reach out to touch it feeling surprisingly good wearing it.

"That looks so good. I knew there was something missing in your outfit."

Tiningnan ko ang sarili sa rearview mirror at napangiti ng makitang bumagay sakin ang mamahaling kwintas. Eythan held the heart pendant and smiling warmly at me.

"Thanks eythan." I say as i lean forward and kiss him on the cheeks.

"I knew you'll like it too. Magaling akong pumili, e." Sinabi niya at proud na ngumiti.

"Yes because your gay instincts were pretty good and impressive." Ngumisi ako.

"You need to stop talking about my sexuality baby or I just might get sex with you to prove that i'm not gay." Kumindat siya at ng makitang namula ang aking pisnge ay bumulanghit siya ng tawa.

Umayos ako ng upo at humalukipkip. I turned my face on the side glaring out the window. While him is keep on laughing as we drive off to the party.

My eyes widen as i stare around the house. Music so loud. People were dancing wild and free. Alcohols everywhere. And that's when it sinks in. I'm at a birthday party and It's as cheap as any party I've seen on the club or bar. This is awesome!

"Nagustuhan mo ba dito?" Natatawang sinabi ni eythan ng makita siguro ang naging reaksyon ko.

"Oh yeah!"

Now, he held my hand and pull me through the gaps of space we get between all the tightly pressed bodies. Sinubukan kong kilalanin ang mga mukha ng mga nadadaanan and Voila! Mga estudyante ng monte university ang karamihan. Nagpatuloy kami sa pakikipagsiksikan ni eythan. As we pass through the crowd, I can sense a lull through the commotion wherever we pass from. People are staring and I'm not surprised that they are, Lahat sila ay nagtataka kung bakit magkasama kami ni eythan sa kabila ng pag aakala nilang nagbreak na kami.

Hindi ko na lamang binigyan pansin ang mga taong todo makatingin sa akin. Sa gitna ng dance floor nahagip ng aking paningin sina mildred, wilson, claire at iba pa na sumasayaw. Nagkatinginan kami nina mildred at maski sila ay kapareho ng reaksyon ng mga tao kanina. Hindi sila nakita ni eythan kaya nagulat ako ng hilahin niya kong muli, He takes me to a corner and there i see shawn, mio, jigs and zander together with the girls on their lap.

May binulong si shawn sa babaeng nakaupo sa lap niya kaya umalis ito. Tumayo naman si shawn at sinalubong kami ng may ngisi sa labi.

"Whoa? What is the meaning of this?" Tanong ni shawn emphasizing every word habang nakatingin sa kamay ni eythan na kasalukuyang nasa bewang ko.

"Let me explain for this." Sinabi ni eythan.

"You really should explain, couz."

Napalingon kami pare pareho sa likod ng marinig ang boses ni mildred. She was crossing her arms on her chest while shooting death glare on us.

"Calm down, Mils." Wilson say as he patted mildred's back.

"So..." Mildred half glares half frowns at eythan as she settles herself on the couch a bit too harshly. "Are you fake broken up or not?"

Eythan didn't seem not yet composed the explanation he needs to say. In response he held my hand and led me to sit on the couch beside shawn.

"Alam kong kailangan ko talagang sagutin ang tanong mo pero can you please calm down first? You look like you're two seconds away from ripping me to shreds." Ani eythan.

"Buti alam mo. Now speak," Mildred says in a bossy manner.

Ang ingay ng kanta at mga taong nag uusap sa dance floor ang maririnig. Sa corner naming magkakaibigan dito sa sofa si mildred at eythan lang din ang nagsasalita. Lahat kami ay tahimik at pare parehong tensyonado sa namumuong alitan ng magpinsan.

My bestfriend Vs. My boyfriend! I'm torn between the two.

"Mils, Our break Up is fake. It's because the situation between me, cait and lance had gone complicated. Pinagbabalakan ni lance si cait ng masama so i want to protect her. And i suggest to pretend we broke up."

"What the hell do you mean it's complicated? You're either together or not, This fake break up is bullshit and you know it. Hindi mo ba alam kung paano siya nahirapan? Nawala siya sa focus sa pag aaral dahil stressed siya sa ginawa mo. Hindi siya masaya sa pagpapanggap ninyo. She's totally lonely, stressed and lost. Saksi ako sa lahat lahat dahil lagi ko siyang pinagmamasdan. Don't you dare say it's for her to be protected dahil Ikaw mismo ang nananakit sakanya. Not physically but emotionally and mentally." She growls and wilson has to get up to restrain her from physically attacking eythan.

I'm frozen at my place not having expected this outbreak.

"Mils," I begin but she refuses to be placated.

"You don't realize don't you? Hindi mo naisip na mas masakit ang ginagawa mo sakanya kesa sa ginagawa ng iba. Couz, how pathetic are you? Ilang araw na siyang nagseselos kay amanda at nasasaktan sa mga naririnig niyang hindi maganda galing sa ibang tao pero wala kang nagawa para proteksyonan siya sa sakit na dinudulot non sakanya. Now tell me that you really protect her. Is that your way to show your love? How bullshit Is that?"

And that's it. Siguro naaappreciate ko ang pagmamalasakit sa akin ni mildred pero hindi ko siya hahayaang magpatuloy sa pagsasalita ng hindi maganda kay eythan, Hindi ko nga alam kung humihinga pa ba siya sa gilid ko e.

"Okay that's enough you need to stop."

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita ng maunahan ako ni jigs. He's always the voice of reason, siguro ay pinipigilan niya akong magbitiw ng salitang maaari kong pagsisihan bandang huli.

"Mildred, maybe you should let them handle this on their own. Hindi ito ang tamang oras para pag usapan yan."

She glares at all of us, at wilson who's holding her and at then specifically at me. She blows at a breath like she's disappointed and then storms went outside.

****

😉