"Jilliane!" Sa nakakabinging tugtog ay rinig pa rin ang sigaw ng kaibigan ko. I don't even know how we became friends because, in reality,  we are totally opposite.

"What?"

"Have some fun! You know, minsan ka na ngalang payagan nila Tita na lumabas. Enjoy the night, Ji!" Napailing nalang ako dahil alam ko naman na tinablan na siya ng alak dahil mas naging emergetic pa ito at madaldal.

"I'm afraid if mom will freak out if I will get drunk," para naman siyang kwago na tumingin sa akin kaya napairap nalang ako.

"That's the freaking purpose of a bar, Ji! Oh my gosh, just enjoy. You are already twenty-five!"

Yes, I am old enough to manage myself, but mom is such a soft hearted person. I can't take it if I make her upset. She's so precious to me. Even my dad, they are precious to me.

I actually live in my condo, which they gifted for me. I only went home whenever mom called or when I didn't have work. I am already a successful designer with my own brand. Mom is a model, so I got inspired to her while dad is a businessman, and he was the one who helped me build my own brand.

I wouldn't get this far without them.

"You've been so busy with your brand, Ji. Just only tonight, let yourself enjoy. Plus, they gave you permission. Tita even said that you are already grown up. Come on, Ji. Lossen up,"

Actually,  maybe we became friends because she can encourage me and lift up my mood whenever I run out of myself. Cahira is such a great friend.

"Okay. It's been so long since the last time I got drunk, too."

It's already nine fourty and I have already drunk three glasses of wine. Sinuway na nga rin ako ni Hira dahil hindi naman daw ako nalalasing sa wine, which is right.  Nasanay na rin kasi ako sa mga gatherings na invited ang pamilya namin sa ibang bansa.

My parents just decided to stay here in the Philippines for the meantime since dad had a business going on here. It will surely take months again like the usual. 

Pero sakto lamang din dahil sa susunod na linggo ay magbubukas ang isang branch ng Kaizen. That's my brand's name.

"Drink this instead of that wine," I was a bit shocked when she gave me a vodka martini. What the fuck is she doing?

"Hira! What's this?" she smiled wickedly as if she got some prey. She's crazy.

"Sanay na sanay ka na sa mga wine, kaya ngayon ay vodka naman. That is to celebrate your soon to open branch here. Also, that's my way of welcoming you here again in the Philippines!" Oh, ngayong lasing na siya ay nasabi na niya. This girl, really.

"Okay, fine. Cheers to us, Architect Mendoza,"

"Cheers for more success, Miss Jilliane."

I was already drunk, but Cahira is still enjoying the night. This is what I hate to vodkas and hard drinks; I can easily get drunk. I don't even know why. Kapag wine naman ay hindi.

Third Person

As Cahira danced with the rhythm of the song, she noticed Jilliane get up from their seat and get her drink.

Medyo pagewang-gewang na rin ang lakad nito senyales na lasing na nga. Natawa naman si Cahira at nag-abang ng susunod na mangyayari sa kanyang kaibigan. Tuwing nalalasing kasi ito ay kung ano-ano ang pinaggagagawa.

The last time Jilliane got drunk, she went in the road of London and dances like an idiot. Thankfully, no one knows her there back then.

This is the reason why Cahira wants Jilliane to get drunk again. She wants to see her friend's unique side.

Jilliane had been so cold to everyone that's the reason why people called her the Elsa of corporate world.

She's not like that when it comes to her family. She's a sweet daughter. Cahira thought she knew her best friend, but every time she looked at her, she still thought that there was still  something more within her.

Natawa ito nang makita ang kaibigan na muntik matumba pero nasalo ito ng isang lalaki na nakasuot pa ng corporate attire.

Is this the time for her to find her partner? Cahira giggles in her mind as she watches the scene. Lumapit pa ito para lamang marinig ang usapan ng dalawa.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she heard her friend giggles. She tried her best not to laugh. This is so new to her sight.

"May I ask you a question?" Tila naguluhan pa ang lalaki sa sinabi ni Jilliane. 

"Okay." Wow naman, nonchalant and nonchalant.  Cahira commented in her mind.

"Are you the prince I'm going to marry?" Jilliane giggles with her own words. The man was left dumbfounded by her question. While Cahira on their side tried so hard not to laugh.

"I've been so lonely. Why did you only came now?" Baluktot pa ang ilang salita nito dahil sa kalasingan. Tuluyan namang nang tumawa si Cahira pero sa mahinang paraan dahil gusto pa niyang malaman ang susunod na mangyayari.

"You want me to marry you?" Pucha, ikakasal pa ata ng wala sa oras ang kaibigan ko. Lagot ako kila Tita Indi nito.

"Why? You don't want to marry me anymore? But the queen said I'll marry a prince someday!" Tangina, umiyak pa nga.

Natawa si Cahira dahil sa nasaksihan. Ang lalaki naman ay nakatingin lang kay Adelaide habang umiiyak.

Can she be? That's what in his mind at that moment. Actually, he had been looking for a wife for a reason.  She doesn't trust the woman her mother introduced to him. He knows they are only after their wealth. Gold digger as they say.

"Okay, don't cry. Come on," sa hindi malamang dahilan ay tumigil naman sa pag-iyak si Jilliane. Habang ang kaibigan niya ay kinakabahan na. Kailangan na niyang iuwi ang kaibigan.

"I'm sorry, sir. But I need to take my friend home." Sumingit na siya bago pa man makasal talaga ang kaibigan.

Tinaasan lamang siya ng kilay ng lalaki. To be honest, she actually got scared by his aura. There is something in this man that she wouldn't want to know.

"Cai!" Dinamba siya ng yakap ng kanyang kaibigan. She only calls her Cai when she's drunk, and that is only one more reason why she wants to see Ji getting drunk. Her cute side is showing when she's drunk.

"I finally found the prince!"

"No, Ji. You're just drunk. Come on, we need to go." Pinal na sabi nito pero iwinaglit lang ni Jilliane ang kamay niya. Pumunta ito sa tabi ng lalaki at yumakap dito. Tuluyan nang napanganga si Cahira sa ginawa ng kaibigan.

"No! I'll go with him!" Tangina?

"Jilliane! Please, masasapok ako ni Tito kapag hindi kita kasama umuwi!"  Frustrated na sigaw nito sa kaibigan dahil hindi na niya alam ang gagawin.

"No!" Parang bata nitong sabi at mas hinigpitan pa ang pagkakayakap sa lalaki.

Hihilain na sana niya ulit ang kaibigan nang biglang may sumulpot na tatlong lalaki. One is wearing a leather jacket while the other two are wearing ripped jeans. They look cool, though, with their looks and to what they are wearing.

"Ano'ng nangyayari?" The man in leather jacket asks.

"Oh, the prince has his own knight! They are handsome too, look at them Cai!" Please, let my friend wake up. Iyan ang sinasambit ni Cahira sa isip habang nakatingin sa kanila.

"Where's the carriage? Let's go!"

"Jilliane Celeste!"