CHAPTER TWO

DAYS passed and just like what Jackie wanted, we had to go and attend Nexus' birthday. As much as ayokong pumunta roon — at wala naman talaga akong planong pumunta sa kahit anong nandoon si President — most especially, his birthday party, I have to. I really have to or else, magtataka si Jackie. Plus, I did say yes to her last time. Baka magalit 'to kapag hindi ako tumuloy. But ugh!

I mean, I'm really not the type of person that would go out and spend my time partying. I'm not even a friendly person. I would rather lock myself in my bedroom and just sleep or maybe read. There's no way on Earth that I'll choose a party over my bed.

Napabuga na lamang ako ng hangin saka napailing. I'm currently staring at my reflection, and I swear, I would never hear the end of it from Jackie once she sees what I'm wearing.

It was a black flowy knee-length dress with gold linings. Long sleeves at v-neck din ito na ikinatuwa ko nang husto. Kaya lang...

"OMG, Hadlee! Saan ka ba pupunta‽ Sa lamay‽ Wala ka bang ibang mas may buhay na color? I mean seriously, it's a birthday party we're going to."

I just let out another sigh before rolling my eyes at her. "Sige, mamili ka. Ito na ang suot ko o male-late tayo sa party na 'yon?" Jackie just answered me with a pout. "Just let me be, okay? Plus, I want to be invisible so what's the best color for me other than black?"

It was Jackie's turn to sigh — in disappointment though. "Fine, whatever. Basta next time, you'll let me choose which clothes you're gonna wear, okay?"

Tumango na lang ako. As if there'll be next time. Hell, I'm not doing this again. This would be the first and last.

"You know, there's a reason why we're best of friends," panimula ni Jackie nang pareho na kaming nakasakay sa kotse niya.

I gave her a sarcastic look. "What? To keep you from harm?"

Jackie rolled her eyes at me and let out a sarcastic laugh. "Very funny, Hadlee." Tinawanan ko lang naman siya. "But seriously, we're best of friends because we can balance each other." Napangiti naman ako nang maging seryoso ang tingin niya sa akin. "You're serious, I'm not. You're an introvert, I'm an extro." Napatingin pa siya sa mga suot namin. "You're wearing black, while I'm in white. Eh, the opposite attracts, right? It's just amazing."

Napailing na lang ako. "We're best of friends because you're you and I'm me, but at times like this, we both adjust for each other's comfort."

"True that." Ilang saglit matapos kaming mag-usap ay huminto na ang sinasakyan namin. "Finally!" she squealed making me flinch a little. Hinarap naman niya ako na may malaking ngiti. "We're here. Come on, Had."

Napailing na lang ako at piping nagpasalamat na nakayanan niya pang hintayin ang driver niya na ipagbukas siya ng pinto. That means she still has control.

I took a deep breath before letting it out and stepping out of her car as soon as its door opened. "Let's go, Haddy!"

I rolled my eyes at her nicknames for me. This girl doesn't know the word chill. "Hang on, Jackie. Halos tayo pa lang din oh." I pointed at the house which didn't have any lights on — I think.

It was Jackie's turn to roll her eyes. "Ano ka ba, Had? Of course, the party is set in his backyard." She even dramatically shook her head. "This happens when you barely go out of your house to party."

"Sorry ha? Nakakatamad makipag-usap sa mga tao eh," walang gana kong sagot sa kaniya na tinawanan lang naman niya.

Nang tuluyan na kaming makalampas sa gate — after i-abot ni Jackie ang invitation — dumiretso na kami sa likod ng bahay kung saan maririnig ang pinakasikat na kanta ngayon. "Now, this is a party," nakangising sabi ni Jackie habang nagniningning ang mga mata niya.

And as usual, I can't feel the excitement she feels. All I know is that I want to go home — now if it's possible. "Saan tayo ngayon?" I asked as I let my eyes roam around the place, of course, I got a quick glance of the birthday boy, and when I said quick, I meant quick almost just a second — or maybe a few seconds. And in that quick glance, I got a hold of the color of his outfit. What the—

"OMG! I saw him na," Jackie shouted through whispers. Of course, you have. "Oh my, he looks so good in black. Mukha siyang mamahalin — mamahalin ko." Bumungisngis pa siya sa kalokohan niya.

"Iabot mo na lang yung regalo mo then let's head somewhere quiet," I suggested, feeling suffocated by all the people in the backyard.

Jackie seemed like she disliked my idea and so she faced me, probably wanting me to change my mind and enjoy the company of others when she paused and scanned my outfit before glancing back at the birthday boy and back at me. "No way..."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean no way?"

My best friend exaggeratedly covered her mouth. "Don't tell me..."

Mas lalo pang kumunot ang noo ko habang nagsasalubong ang mga kilay. "Don't tell you what? For goodness' sake, Jacqueline, tapusin mo naman sentences mo," naiinis kong pahayag.

"Hadlee... May theme ba today si Nexus na black and gold na hindi ako na-inform?" She pointed at me before pointing at our class president and pointing back at me again. "You have the same color palettes," she said with a pout on her lips, clearly not liking that fact.

Malay ko bang magi-itim yung mismong birthday boy sa kaarawan niya. "That's just random, Jackie. Ano naman kung pareho kami ng color palette? You are well aware that I only have black," I quoted in the air while speaking the next word, "party clothes. No other colors." I couldn't help but feel irritated, especially with how Jackie looked at me. "Kaya tigilan mo 'ko riyan sa tinginan mo na para bang pinlano kong magkapareho kami ng kulay ng damit ni President. I don't even talk to the person."

Jackie seemed to accept my words, still with a pout, before once again, facing our class president's direction. "Fine. You're right. Sorry about that."

Nabawasan lang no'n ang pagkairita ko pero hindi pa rin iyon tuluyang nawala. Here I am doing my best not to show any interest in the guy I've liked ever since for my best friend's sake, and yet, she misjudges me for a second because of actual randomness. Napabuga na lamang ako ng hangin.

Ilang saglit pa rin kaming nakatayo sa halos bungad ng backyard nang may mapansin ako. I did not want to get any attention from anyone in the crowd, but someone did land their eyes in our direction and began walking towards us. I sucked a quick and short breath in. Nang tuluyan na siyang makapwesto sa harapan namin ni Jackie at nakita kong ibinuka ni Nexus ang bibig niya para may sabihin sa amin, probably to welcome us, ay nairapan ko lang siya at nauna nang maglakad papunta sa kung saan matakasan lang siya.

I mean I did not want to do that, but then I remembered how Jackie looked at me and I got irritated again. Nakarating ako sa loob ng bahay nila at hinanap na lang ang CR para mas may excuse ako kay Jackie. I just left her alone there — even though she'd actually prefer that.

After calming myself and using the comfort room, I headed back to the backyard, only to witness the people already having fun with what seemed to be a children's party game, a Trip to Jerusalem.

Pinanood ko lang naman sila mula sa isang gilid. When I saw Jackie as one of the players, I wasn't surprised. Of course, she'll do anything to get Nexus' attention. But when the third round came, I somehow froze at the scene. Bigla kasing napaupo si Jackie sa kandungan ni Nexus, and that somehow pissed me off. It's just a game, Had. It's normal... It's Jackie, but it's normal.

After a while, the game finally ended, and Jackie found her way towards me with a huge grin on her face. Mabilis ko namang itinago ang pagkainis ko saka hinintay siyang makalapit sa akin nang tuluyan.

"I-aabot ko lang 'tong regalo and then let's head back home." She probably waited for Nexus to come to us again but since it did not happen, she'll make a move on her own, and as a supportive best friend, I just let her be.

At some point, I believed she would just give it to him and come back to me. Ayoko kasi talagang nagtatagal na nakatayo lang mag-isa sa kalagitnaan ng maraming tao. It's very awkward, almost enough to torture my brains out.

Unfortunately, it happened. Nakipagchikahan pa si Jackie sa birthday boy at sa mga kaibigan nito, to the point na nagsisimula na naman akong mainis. They were even busy drinking already, and Jackie was just there! Completely forgetting my existence! I swear you, lady, are pissing me off big time!

Finally, my last straw was picked. They were already laughing for God knows whatever, and I just walked in their direction and poked Jackie's shoulder, hoping she would finally see me again. "Hi, sorry for the intrusion, but can I excuse Jackie?"

Hindi naman gumalaw si Jackie pero nilingon niya ako at nginitian. The kind of smile that says, "Please don't ruin this for me, Had."

I took a deep breath and let her see how irritated I am right now. "Jackie," I said her name in a much threatening tone, "we need to go. Please. I wanna go home."

And of course, Jackie pouted. "Haddy, mamaya na. We're still having fun." Well, I'm not having it. "The party's still ongoing. Later na lang."

I let out a pissed breath and let go of her shoulder. "Fine. Enjoy then. I'm leaving." As pissed as I am, I stormed out of this backyard — this house. Nasa kabilang side ang sakayan pauwi sa amin, at iritado pa rin ako sa ginawa sa akin ni Jackie. I mean she told me she wouldn't leave me alone in the middle of the crowd, but she did! Kaya naman uuwi na ako, bahala siya riyan.

I was too pissed tonotice the motorcycle suddenly approaching me and then I felt my body freeze atthe realization. Hell. My last day onearth and I'm dying irritatedly.

H | Z