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"Is she rude to you?"

"Uh. . . n-not really," I said. What do I say? Ang hirap i-explain, e.

"Really?" Kailey raised an eyebrow, her eyes trying to pierce through the elevator's sleek doors.

"Uhm. . . hindi."

"Fame could really cover your senses up even if it's just on Twitter, couldn't they?" Kailey said, rolling her eyes. "Hayaan mo siya. Ako ang bahala sa'yo."

The truth is Lyka wasn't that famous. Lyka was just famous for her hugot tweets. Hindi naman 'yon masamang bagay, pero you know, parang napilitan lang siya para roon. Para magkaroon ng followers. She doesn't even have an active love life since you've been here, Preppy mumbled. And I didn't shush her. Well. . . .

"Wh-what do you mean po?" I asked, looking down for a bit.

"Hindi ka na no'n susungitan, 'ka ko," she said. I'm not used to Kailey saying deeper (or rarer) words in Tagalog, Preppy thought. Me too, I wanted to say. Well, " 'ka ko."

" 'Wag kang matakot do'n, duh," she added.

With Preppy laughing in my head, I smiled for a bit. Kailey, like, trusted me so much. No! I'm not planning anything bad! It's just that. . . I seem so lucky being one of the people she is close to. She was close to "never approachable." 'Di ba nga, si Jasmine, nagpasama pa sa akin sa office ni Kailey. Pati ako, I used to not like going in her office. Her office used to sound like panic.

Today? I don't know.

"Glenn," Kailey said, giggling. "Sabihin mo lang sa akin kapag sinungitan ka no'ng Lyka na 'yon. Damn her."

"She even hid your invitation," she mumbled, her eyes doing the "I must calm down" roll. We were walking towards her brown car, and she already keyed it or started it or whatevered it using something that looked like remote control from where we were standing. Or walking.

The headlights of her car flashed before us as we walk deeper into the parking lot. It left violet spots in my eyesight, and Preppy laughed at it. With Kailey walking faster towards her car, I followed her.

"Kaya mo pala sa kanya nakuha 'yon," I said, quite shocked by what I realized and by what I saw—Kailey opening her car for me. I went in immediately, not wanting to waste her time. "Baka naman naitabi niya lang 'yong invitation ta's nakalimutang niyang ibigay sa'kin or something—"

"Nope," she said, looking down at me as I was sitting on the seat beside the driver's. She was there, standing, her figure hugged by her dress. Her eyes were staring into mine as if it was calling me to listen carefully.

"Bakit si Lyka pa ang kukuha no'n para sa'yo?" she asked me, raising her eyebrows and smiling at me as if I would already realize what she meant. "Are you that close?"

You're not close, Preppy answered, trying to close the topic eagerly. Well, she wasn't wrong. She was absolutely correct. Bull's-eye.

"Hindi, 'di ba?" Kailey asked plainly. I nodded.

Kailey then glanced down at my legs, and I immediately followed to where she was looking down. I am in my pencil skirt. It was our uniform. Employees. I awkwardly looked at her as I looked up at her.

"B-bakit?" I uttered.

"Paa mo, babe," she said. "Maiipit. I will close the door."

Shocked by two things again—the thought of her, calling me "babe" and the thought of my feet, hindering Kailey to close the door of the car, I drew my feet back, placing them inside the car before she slams the door gently. What the hell. Inakala ko pang nakatingin siya sa legs ko. Damn your brain, Glenn. Why would she stare at those?

But she called me "babe."

Kailey made her way to the other side and entered the car. Damn. Damn. Damn. Kailey doesn't like you, okay? Girl friends can call you "babe," I tried convincing myself.

"Glenn," Kailey said.

"Po?"

"Basta, ah," she replied and leaned closer, fastening the seat belt for me before she did hers. "If ever that Lyka scares you—indirectly or not—tell me."

Well, I guess Kailey would scold the "popular girls with bad attitudes (and popular twitter accounts)" for me. I mean. . . no. That won't happen with malice. Friends protect each other. Right? I thought, sighing imaginarily.

"Uh. . . okay," I said, giggling awkwardly. "Thank you sa ano. . . sa free ride."

"No problem, babe," Kailey said.

What the hell.

I was about to shoot Kailey a look, but before I could, I already heard her chuckling. Probably at my reaction. Alam ko, mukha akong tanga.

"Bakit?" Kailey asked, still chuckling as she started her car's engine. "I'll call you 'babe' from now on."

"Edi wow," I said, rolling my eyes. She was still laughing when we made a turn in the parking lot before we left it.

Unable to stop it, I started laughing, too, and I said, "You know, that was our endearment."

Kailey's smile and chuckles faded into a deep shade of curiosity. She looked at me. "Our? With Peter?"

"Yeah," I said, snorting.

She frowned at her steering wheel and at her wind shield. The city lights started to break in into the darkness inside Kailey's car, and I could see her reaction from here. She was, like, regretful of what she had done. But there was none she should be worried of. I am not even missing Peter anymore. Then, Preppy butted in just in time, giggling, No, you're missing him right now.

There was no lying. I felt my face fall. I forgot about Peter for a while and how he is one hell of a better man among the others. He is a man, not just a boy. He became a man. And he would always say to me, "You made me a better man." I think I just did. . . but sadly, not for too long.

"Uhm. . . sorry," Kailey said, and I could hear her sigh the slightest.

"No, don't say—"

"Sorry, babe," Kailey said, teasing me again. Instantly, I felt a smile being plastered on my face. She began laughing loudly, and I got scared that we could be heard by everyone around us. But I realized that we were inside her car, and there was nothing to worry about. I began laughing as well, not quite scared that we might get into a road accident because of all of our laughing. Kailey is the driver, and she is good at everything, I thought, letting Preppy hear it for no reason at all. I have nothing to worry about.

"Hay," I said, belly laughing. "Ba't ba tinatawag mo akong 'babe'?"

"Wala lang," she said, bringing her laughter into a short stop. "Your reaction is just so priceless." And she did burst out laughing again.

"Bahala ka," I said, chuckling, but honestly, I could already feel my cheeks heating up in contrast with the low temperature inside Kailey's car.

Taking a look at the windshield, two things—again, two—greeted me: the heavy traffic and the way the city lights hit Kailey's face. I could see how her face still has imperfections. Kahit napakaganda niya, nakikita ko ngayon ang mga newly-formed wrinkles niya. Na-smudge na rin ang mascara or eyeliner or whatever niya sa gilid ng kanan niyang mata. Syempre, hindi mo naman makita 'yong kaliwa dahil nasa gilid ka niya, Preppy giggled, squeezing herself inside my thoughts. But it didn't take her beauty away. Those, like, blended and never hindered my eyes from seeing how theatrical her beauty is. Yes, theater.

Naaalala ko noon, naging bida siya sa annual musical play sa school namin. And I was so happy with a bit of envy for her. Not in a bad way, though. In a "I wish I could be her" way.

But Kailey wasn't that happy. She had always had trouble with fame. She told me once that she wanted to be famous within the campus, and that was why she auditioned for the role of. . . who was that? Oh, "Annie." Pero kahit na naging matunog ang play na 'yon at naipakita niya ang galing niya sa pag-arte noong year na 'yon, noong nasa third year kami ng high school, hindi naman naging matunog ang pangalan niya. I witnessed how they would call her "Annie" but never "Kailey." I knew she didn't like it. Trust me, I saw her roll her eyes sadly (if that is possible to be imagined), and if I could hear her thoughts, I was certain that they would say, "It's okay, Kailey. You did your best."

"Heavy traffic again," I heard Kailey sigh beside me, bringing me back to the present day. "Tsk, tsk."

"Sorry, ah," I said absentmindedly.

"Anong 'sorry'?" she asked, chuckling while cracking her knuckles easily. Kailey's right hand left the steering wheel and flew to my shoulder. Naramdaman ko biglang nilaro niya ang ilang strands ng buhok ko. Iniikot niya ito nang dahan-dahan as if my hair was so adorable.

"I always liked your hair, babe," ang sabi niya, at naramdaman ko ulit na uminit ang pisngi ko. What the hell. What the hell. What the hell? Bigla ko naman uli siyang narinig na tumawa nang malakas. I swear, she saw me shocked, and I looked like an idiot! Lord, help po.

"See? Nakakatuwa kaya 'yang reaction mo kapag tinatawag kitang 'babe'," ang sabi ni Kailey at tumawa pa ulit. Pati tuloy ako, natawa. What the hell.

"Tigilan mo nga," ang natatawa kong sabi. "Nakakaloka, ha."

"Ayaw ko," Kailey laughed. "Simula ngayon, tatawagin na talaga kitang 'babe.' You can't change my mind. I like your reaction."

Pagkasabi niya no'n, unti-unti nang nag-ease ang traffic. Nagsimula nang gumalaw ang mga sasakyan, pati ang sinasakyan namin. . . na dina-drive ni Kailey. Napatingin ako kay Kailey nang sabihin niyang, "Lumuwag na rin ang traffic. Finally."

Napangiti ako nang hindi ko alam. Siguro, dahil naging ganito na kami ka-close ni Kailey. Dati, I wished I could be one of her "close" friends, not just a seatmate you get to talk to when your best friends are not around to listen. Napakaganda ni Kailey, and if she could just turn her head just for a little bit to look at me, she would see that I was staring at her. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin bago pa niya ako mahuli. Tapos, tatawagin niya na naman akong "babe." Help me! I screamed inside my brain. Bakit ako kinikilig?!

"Nakita ko 'yon," Kailey chuckled. "Nakatingin ka. Why, babe?"

Help.

"Nako, ano ba?" I laughed out. "Wala lang."

Kailey held up her right hand to touch her eyes, and I didn't know why I stopped her hand.

"Ay, shit," Kailey mumbled. "Thank you, Glenn."

"H-ha?"

"You stopped me from smudging my makeup," she said, smiling as her eyes were focused on the familiar road we were in. "That's my habit especially when I get in my car. Feeling ko nasa bahay na agad ako."

"Ah, okay," I giggled awkwardly. "May smudge na nga, e. A bit. Sa right."

Kailey took a look at the rearview mirror and giggled.

"Hayaan mo na," she said as the car stopped. For a moment, inakala kong tumirik ang sasakyan, but I was wrong. Like magic was real, nasa tapat na kami ng bahay ko. I could already see Mama's yellow and homey curtains from here.

"Ay, nandito na pala tayo," I giggled. "Nakabisado mo na agad kung saan?"

"Syempre," she said as I looked at her while unfastening the seat belt. "Anything for my babe." Then she let out a belly laugh again. Help. I repeat, help.

Natawa na naman ako at lumabas ng kotse.

"Ah, salamat nang marami," I said, waving.

"No problem, babe," she said and winked at me. Help, Preppy.

"Ewan ko sa'yo!" I said, rolling my eyes jokingly at her. "Ingat!"

"Bye!"

I closed the door of her car, and her car quickly left the front of our house. Argh, that woman! I never knew na mapang-asar pala siya. Damn the word "babe" to the bedrock! It drives me crazy!

"Oh, Glenn, anak, nandiyan ka na pala," Mama greeted me, and I immediately ran to her. Nagmano ako at pagkatapos ay niyakap siya.

"Kaninong kotse 'yon, 'nak?" she asked. "May bago ka nang manliligaw?"

"Nako! Hindi, Ma!" I exclaimed, as we entered the house. "Si Kailey po 'yon."

"Ah," ang napatangong sabi ni Mama. "Matulog ka na, 'nak. Nasa loob si Papa mo, tulog na."

Agad akong pumasok sa bukas na kwarto nina Mama at Papa at dahan-dahang nagmano kay Papa na mahimbing ang tulog.

"Good night na, anak," ang sabi ni Mama. "Inaantok na ako, huhu."

Aba, may pa-huhu na si Mama, ang natatawa kong sabi sa isip ko.

"Sige po, good night, Ma," I said and hugged her.

Agad akong umupo sa couch. Siguro ay dahil na rin sa pagod. I slouched as more things ran across my mind quicker than how I realized they would. Peter.

I didn't know why, but for minutes, I wondered how he was doing. Is he asleep now? I thought to myself. Before we sleep, he would always text me or call me. Now, he doesn't anymore, Preppy said, as if she was making me regret my decisions.

Ugh, stop, Glenn! I imaginarily scolded myself, but I was just slouching peacefully on the couch. I do not miss him. That must end there.

Just when I thought that my thoughts will finally—finally, for real—end, another thought came across Preppy and my brain. Kailey and the way she said "babe" and her wink. Then her suitor, Theodore. Damn it.

But it's actually good for you, Preppy whispered. He's out of sight for the time being.

For the damn time being! I shot back at her, sighing in real life.

It was true. Theodore was out of sight for this day, and that made me so, so happy! You never know how much I had been so relieved. Days must be Theodore-free, like before. And I was granted a day, which I was very thankful for. Nakakatuwa kayang mawala si Theodore sa buhay. Char. Super harsh.

But there was one thing I hoped for the night before the day ends. I. . . I just hope na mawawala na ako sa sight ng dead bush na 'yon. Sila lang naman ang may relasyon or soon-to-be-relasyon, and I am completely out of it!

I sighed.

Just think about it. Kailey and I are friends. You can probably call us "close," but that ends there.

Kailey. Doesn't. Like. Girls.

Then, Preppy butted in, Maybe. We never know.

BUT COME ON! Here's to Theodore, if ever you will start bothering me again: Stop. Like, why bother me, right?

You're not my ex for me to think about you.

No. Ew. Why do I have to think about Peter? Ugh.

I closed my eyes for a minute or two, and I did my best, using my remaining energy served within a day to push the thoughts away. Damn it.

I do not miss Peter, I said in my head and repeated it. I do not miss him. And that must end there.

With my belief that I could really control my fate "because I am the master of my life," I stood up, as if leaving the past all but behind, to take a cold shower. Because I love it.

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