AQUAMARINE

THE damn time is ticking too slowly. Kung hindi lang ako inobliga ni Cynthia na um-attend ngayon, I would be spending my night with Melissa instead. Or is it Miranda?

"Keenan, paki-explain nga kung bakit nandito si Blue?"

I chuckle at Denzel, who's been eyeing me closely ever since I got here. Granted, he's my buddy, but I'm here primarily because of his sister's birthday. Anyhow, wala rin siyang magagawa. We actually didn't have any choice but to say yes to Cynthia's demand, dahil kung hindi...oh, I wouldn't dare to imagine how miserable she would make my life.

"Denz, kahit hindi ako magna cum laude graduate katulad niyang si Keen, alam ko kung bakit nandito iyang si Blue," ani Kiefer. "Obvious naman."

Hinayaan ko na lang silang mag-usap-usap. Tonight is Cynthia's twenty-fifth birthday, and she invited me kahit na alam niyang ayaw akong papuntahin ng kuya niya. It's not that Denz didn't trust me, umiiwas lang talaga siya sa gulo because it's more likely Cy would make a scene—she does that every time I'm around.

It's in her nature—she grew up a brat, and unfortunately, the brat is obsessed with me. And who am I to break a good girl's heart?

I chuckle again, patting Denz on the shoulder. "Come on, guys. Relax. Party ito ni Cynthia and she hates it when someone ruins her special day."

"That's why I don't trust you here," Denzel mutters, sipping his glass of wine.

I shrug, not offended. "Well, I can leave, but Cynthia will hate you when she finds out you kicked me out." Tiningnan niya ako nang masama at tinawanan ko siya. Man, he could bore a hole on my forehead.

Inakbayan ko siya habang nakangisi pa rin. "Hey, I know she's your sister. She's off limits." Isa pa, I don't get involve with someone I know. I have my rules, and I never break them.

I'm known to be a ladies' man, but I don't do the chasing. I never do, and at times like these where I'm expected to behave, I try to stir away from girls and from trouble. That's why I wish Serena were here—her very presence is enough to scare women away. Besides, kahit parang aso't pusa kami n'on, she keeps me entertained.

"Shit! I have to run!" narinig kong bulong ni Kiefer sa tabi ko.

I know what he meant, but it's too late. I could already see Denzel's mom looking straight at us, wearing that big feline grin we all know too damn well.

"Gentlemen!" She walks towards us with her graceful frame that almost reminds me of my own mom, but Mom's more calming...and serene.

"Hi po, tita." Isa-isa namin siyang sinalubong ng yakap at halik sa pisngi.

"Ano bang ginagawa ninyo at dito lang kayo nagtatago?" she asks, giving her son a disapproving look.

"Just enjoying the wine, tita." Keenan tips his glass to her, saving our friend.

Ngumiti naman siya at hinawakan ang braso ko. "Pababa na ang mga dalaga. You should take turns dancing." She winks at me.

"I'm sure Kie—"

"Dance with Cynthia," putol niya sa sasabihin ko. Napangisi na lang ako. Damn! Denzel will have my balls!

Just then, the band changes tunes and the lights dim into purple and white halos that fill the ballroom. They're playing something that makes Zeke curse—that magical sound thing. Jeez...why do girls like that stuff so much?

"Boys, come up front! Denzel, samahan mo nga sila rito," tawag muli ni tita sa amin.

Tinapunan muna ako ni Denzel nang masamang tingin nang dumaan siya sa harap ko at agad akong nagtaas ng kamay. "I swear it was your mom's idea, not mine."

"Nagtago ka sana."

I grin. "She would've found me."

The crowd falls quiet, at mas lalong pumangibabaw ang tunog ng violin. They're playing Taylor Swift's song...I think. I'm not sure.

Pumunta si Denzel sa harap at sumunod si Keenan, but Kiefer stays behind me. I look at him, silently asking if he's sure. Confusion passed across his eyes—he thinks maybe Cynthia would come out last, kaya mabilis ding nagbago ang isip niya.

All the while, I'm praying that Cynthia would show up first, but I just know her—she loves the spotlight, loves grand entrances and dramatic setups like this. Come on! Masquerade party pero iyong celebrant lang daw ang magsusuot ng mask? I failed to see the logic.

I sigh. Denzel will really have my balls slaughtered after tonight if I let Cynthia come near me.

A girl wearing a white mask and a white dress steps down from the stairs, and I'm starting to feel the dread. Tiningnan ko ang relo ko. Shit! How long was this party, anyway?

I look up and see Denzel taking the girl's hand. She smiles shyly, looking at him.

That's Angel, for sure. Kahit pa natatakpan ang mukha niya dahil sa mask niya, alam kong si Angel iyon, dahil siya lang naman ang nagkakagusto sa masungit na kuya ni Cynthia among her friends. She looks great in that dress, bagay sa kanya.

But I still don't get why they need to do this. I mean, it's not like Cynthia's a debutante anymore. Matagal nang tapos ang debut niya.

I tap Keenan's shoulder. I'm curious and Keenan might have the answer. He always does.

"Ano?" tanong niya sa 'kin nang hindi lumilingon. He's looking straight at the girl who was elegantly stepping down the long stairs.

"May iba bang okasyon besides Cynthia's birthday celebration?"

"One of her friends just came back from Greece. I think she's throwing her this party as well."

See? He knew.

"How do you know that?" I whisper, but the girl he was watching is already in front of him.

The moment she trains those eyes on me, I know it's Liv, because she's the only friend of Cynthia's who would look at me like that—na para bang may ginagawa akong kalokohan minu-minuto. That girl needs to let her hair down.

But wait, did Keen say friend? Sina Liv at Angel lang ang kilala kong laging kasama ni Cynthia. Who's the other girl? From Greece? Now that's something.

A figure appears at the top of the stairs, and this time, she's wearing a black dress and a red mask.

Naramdaman ko ang pagpa-panic ni Kiefer sa tabi ko. He turns his head to give me a helpless look. I grin. "She's all yours."

"'Lang'ya ka p're," asar-talo niyang sabi.

From the stairs, kitang-kita ko ang pagnguso ni Cynthia nang makita niyang si Kiefer ang makaka-partner niya at hindi ako.

Tinapik ko ang balikat ni Kiefer. "Destiny, Kiefer. Naniniwala ka na?"

"Just shut up."

Padabog na bumaba si Cynthia at tumayo sa harap namin ni Kiefer. "Ma! You said Blue's third in line!"

Lumapit sa amin si tita at pinahinahon ang anak. "Cy, don't make a fuss. You can dance with Beau later, but now..." Tumingin ito kay Kiefer at sinenyasan itong ilayo na ang anak bago ma-traffic ang flow ng party.

I'm not an uptight person, at madalas hindi ko makasundo ang mga ganoong klaseng tao, but in this case, I'm grateful for tita's organizational skills.

I watch with satisfaction as Kiefer led Cynthia away. Mabuti na lang pala at nakipagpalit si Kiefer kanina. Or else...I shudder at the thought of Denzel holding a scalpel. He's a freaking surgeon and he could really cut off my balls!

Ako na lang mag-isa ang naiwan. I wait there at the bottom of the stairs, pero walang nangyari. Si tita ang lumabas at hawak na niya ang mic, she's talking, but I'm not keen on listening. Narinig ko lang na hindi raw makakarating ang kaibigan ni Cynthia kaya umalis na lang ako roon.

I grab a glass of martini from the passing waiter and stay in one corner where Cynthia can't see me. Hindi ko na alam ang ginagawa nila, I just entertain myself looking outside the window. I ask myself again kung hanggang kailan ako magtatagal doon, until I notice a reflection on the glass.

Nobody else seemed to notice that she's there at the top of the stairs, just standing, looking over the crowd. She's wearing a white dress, and I can see from where I'm sitting that there's a black mask over her face.

I don't know why, but she holds my attention for a long time just by standing there. She's so mesmerizing kahit na nakatayo ako ilang metro mula sa kanya.

She starts to step down, dragging her dress behind her like an empress—and I thought time slowed down.

Shit! I think I'm catching the flu.

I bring my glass to my lips and drank nothing. Ni hindi ko na napansing naubos ko na ang iniinom ko kanina pa, but I never forget details!

I watch her. I can't seem to help it. Nakita kong lumapit sa kanya si tita at itinuro ako. I gulp when she turns to me.

Damn! Why did I suddenly feel so fidgety? And excited?

But she's damn hot!

Siya ba? Iyong kaibigan ni Cynthia na galing sa Greece? I think it's her, but why didn't I know about her?

The crowd parts as she walked towards me. She's starting to catch everyone's attention, too, and I suddenly feel an irrational urge to hide her.

The heck?! Saan galing iyon?

I try to stay still as I wait for her to come near me. Her eyes are cast down, and I can see the color of her hair now that she's so close to me—dirty blonde. I wonder if it were natural or not.

She's slender, tall, and she smells like strawberries. My eyes naturally drift down to her red lips that make her skin look fairer and paler. She has a nice cupid's bow on her top lip and a full lower lip.

And then her eyes snap up to meet mine, and the rare aquamarine color make me feel breathless—all at once.