Maybe it’s time we give him a response, boys, I said when I finally got over my shock.

George and Dannie looked at Jackie. And for a long moment, she just stared at her boss, her mouth hanging open. And slowly, finally, she nodded.

“Good. See you then,” Dean said before he straightened to full height and turned toward his house.

Tomorrow’s Thursday, right? This is going to be fun! Georgie, we have to come! We have to come!

“I have an out-of-town thing to do tomorrow,” Georgie said as Jackie maneuvered me back on the road.

What? No, not tomorrow. Please, Georgie!

“But you can make it tomorrow at Art, right? You don’t have to pick us up. I’ll call Troy anyway. He needs to get more photos,” Jackie said.

Dannie was silent throughout the whole exchange.

“I guess I can meet you once I get back,” Georgie finally said, adding, “I will surely need a few bottles after tomorrow.”

No one said a word. We all knew where Georgie was going. How could I be so unlucky? I was sure tomorrow would not be a good trip for me as it had always been these past years. Whenever Georgie would say she’d be out-of-town without any explanation, it only meant one thing. I couldn’t even make myself say where we were going.

But tomorrow evening was enough for me to go through where Georgie would be taking me. It would only be for a couple of hours anyway.

“I still can’t believe he asked us to see him play,” Jackie said, changing the subject. “Do you think he likes me?”

“He asked us to see the band. Why? Don’t tell me you like him,” said Georgie.

“Maybe he knows about what you did,” Dannie uttered. “Which reminds me…why did you do it, Jackie? That’s just so wrong,” she added.

Jackie chewed on her lower lip. “I had no choice. Brian confronted me, asking why he had never seen me around with Dean Gamboa who is supposed to be my new boyfriend. So I had to do something about it. It was the only way I could get the chance to actually be with my boss after office hours. And it worked.”

George had already transferred at the passenger seat and she turned to Jackie as she strapped the seatbelt around her. “You mean to say that Brian saw the two of you inside Toto? However did you manage that?”

Jackie let out a proud sigh. “I am the best when it comes to acting and directing a great story. All I had to do is come up with a good conflict and arrange for the other characters to be at the same place at the same time. It was a piece of cake.”

“It was still wrong,” Dannie pointed out.

“And crazy,” Georgie added. “You are going crazy, you know that?”

“Hey! I am the victim here, remember?” Jackie said in defense as she guided me to the street where their apartment was located.

“And so is your boss,” Dannie countered.

“Come on, he doesn’t have to know. And he’s an arrogant man who wouldn’t even help me in the first place when I told him about my problem.”

“But he turned out to be nice. He even invited us to his gig,” said Dannie from behind, leaning over in case Jackie wasn’t hearing her.

Jackie was silent.

Ohhh…someone is having second thoughts! What now, Jackie girl? The innocent Dean Gamboa wasn’t that bad after all, right? What do you do, girl?

Jackie shook her head. “No, I need to do this. I am desperate to get Brian out of my life. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Just kill the guy,” George uttered with a sigh as Jackie slowed me down.

“I want to. I’m no killer.”

You’re a car tire killer, girl. Trust me, you’re a killer.

“I can do it for you,” George added without showing any sign that she was kidding. Georgie was indecipherable that way. She would joke and you wouldn’t even know it until you realized it too late. Dannie and Jackie could read her too well, but there were still moments when both of them would be in doubt whether or not George was serious and not. And right now was one of those moments.

“You’re not serious, are you?” Dannie asked. Jackie had already parked me outside the apartment.

“Of course, I am,” George said as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “But I might if it would mean I could keep you from going insane,” she added, looking at Jackie.

“Don’t worry. I got this covered. Things will be okay.”

“I don’t know, Jackie. I have a feeling that this is not going to turn out good for you or anyone else,” Dannie uttered as she climbed off me.

“Very optimistic, Dannie, thanks,” said Jackie, locking my door and following Georgie.

“I’m just saying,” Dannie answered. Their voices trailed away as they entered their apartment.

I’m afraid I’ll have to agree with Dannie, Jackie girl. This is not going to turn out good.

  *****

“Oh, we have a new neighbor!” Jackie whispered beside Dannie. They were spread out in the living room, George watching the news, Dannie typing her lesson plan and Jackie holding a pair of binoculars as she looked out the window to the direction of the house next door. The house was pretty much the same as their apartment and it was also being put on lease, too frequently on lease, as a matter of fact. It was known among the neighborhood that it was an unlucky apartment because no one stayed there longer than a year.

Jackie had always been on constant watch for the next group of individuals who would take the place. It was a hobby for her. They only had one constant neighbor after all and it was the old man next door whom she had been sharing his WIFI without his consent. But he was history now that he eventually activated the security code.

“Hmm…he’s different from the others.”

“Why?” Dannie asked absently.

“He’s alone. The last three were families. The last one was the loudest. Louder than Brian’s singing, actually.”

“Stop spying, Jackie,” George told her. “You don’t know what people can do.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, still focused on the guy sitting outside his apartment, sipping a cigarette.

“He might be worse than Brian, that’s what I mean.”

With that, Jackie turned away from the window and glared at George.

“What?”

“He’s not even like Brian. He’s kind of cute. Do you know how long I’ve waited for someone like him? But he smokes, I don’t think that’s a good thing,” she said the last sentence with a frown.

“Delusional…” Dannie uttered beside her.

Jackie turned to her with her eyes squinting and lunged for her friend.

“Hey!” Dannie cried out with a laugh. “My computer! Jackie! Stop that!”

“What are you guys doing? I’m watching here,” George said, looking over her shoulder where Jackie was already on top of Dannie, tickling her sides with her hands. “Hey! Cut it!”

Dannie and Jackie looked at her with wicked smiles on their faces.

“Don’t you dare,” George said, a nervous giggle escaping her throat. But before she could jump on her feet to escape, Dannie and Jackie were already on full attack and they tackled George flat on her back on the carpeted floor of their living room. For a while, they managed to pin George down on the ground and attacked her sides. But it didn’t last for long before George’s strength finally gave way and they both flew back against the throw pillows strewn behind them.

“I give up!” Dannie cried out.

“I yield! George! I yield!” Jackie exclaimed as George knelt and crouched above them.

“Good!” George said with a laugh, rolling back on the carpet.

The three of them laid there for a while, catching their breath with constant chuckles.

“But I’m telling you, girls, our new neighbor is really cute.”

“Shut up!” Dannie and George shouted as they threw her one pillow each.

  *****

Georgie and I dropped Dannie and Jackie off to work consecutively the very next morning and then we drove straight to the very place both of us never wanted to be.

Georgie was silent as we drove to Bago City. It was not that far from Bacolod and with Georgie’s fast driving, we only reached it in less than thirty minutes when a normal vehicle would reach it within an hour. So you might already have an idea how fast Georgie really was.

By the time we pulled into the large driveway of the Lacson residence, one of the many around Negros Occidental, I almost wanted to pull away and drive my way back to Bacolod. I would rather spend a lonely day under that damn acacia tree than be here.

Georgie’s family was among the filthy rich in Negros Occidental and she was never proud of it. If you had met her family, you would feel the same. All I got from her older brother was a condescending look. Her parents never even glanced at me the second time when they first saw me.

Even Dannie and Jackie couldn’t stand them.

But Georgie seemed to have a big thing to settle. I even wondered why she would go home now of all days. Was something going on?

The good thing about our trip was that it didn’t take long. Georgie walked out of the house in less than two hours, her face flushed. I knew it was not because of the sun.

She was angry about something.

As we made our way back to Bacolod, I wished Georgie was as talkative as Jackie. But she wasn’t. All I could manage was imagine what might have transpired inside the Lacson mansion that made her grip my driving wheel tight and break her record speed.

By the time we reached Bacolod, we went straight to the Philippine Red Cross headquarters where I spent the rest of the day with Dee. I told her about Dean Gamboa and how he invited the boys to see him and his band later that night. I promised to give her a full recap of what would unfold.

  *****

Jackie spent her day with a good mood.

She finished her work in record time, getting a good compliment from Joseph. Karen even asked why she was feeling giddy and happy.

“Brian never showed up this morning. And I have a big night tonight.”

“Oh, yeah?” her friend asked as she played with her salad.

Jackie nodded. She so wanted to tell Karen about Dean Gamboa, but she couldn’t.

And speaking of Dean Gamboa, she never saw him today. Yes, of course, he reported to work, but he never left his office. The event was closing in on them and he had been on long meeting throughout the day.

By the time office hours ended, Jackie wasn’t sure what to feel. Maybe Dean Gamboa only invited them last time because he felt it was only necessary. But why did she care why he did it anyway? She should at least grab the opportunity to be with the guy to put more stuff in his FB account. She should be happy because Brian never even called her today. Not even a single text! It was almost like a divine miracle!

Jackie was outside the parking lot waiting for George and Dannie to pick her up. Since she didn’t see Brian’s car in the parking lot, she assumed the scene was safe for her so she waited without a tinge of dread.

And just as when she spotted Toto coming toward her, Dean Gamboa passed by, carrying his suitcase.

“Hey!” she called before she could even think about it.

When she realized what she did, she prayed he didn’t hear. But he did and he turned around. His face was unreadable when he saw her.

Did she just call her boss, ‘hey’? “I mean, hey, sir!” she uttered, mentally slapping herself right after. What the hell was wrong with her?

“Yes?” he asked.

Jackie wondered for a moment why he didn’t address her as ‘Miss Ramos’ as he always did. It was not weird to call talk to each other informally whenever you were off work--or even at work. But for Jackie and Dean Gamboa, it seemed like it was an unusual thing. He was too formal at work that she felt it weird to just talk to him informally, but then she also knew he was not that type of guy. And they shared some sort of secret. But why was she even thinking about it, right?

“Your car’s not in yet?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“Toto and my friends are about to get here. You want to tag along? Oh, they’re here! Look! Come on!”

Again, Dean Gamboa surprised her by walking toward her saying, “Sure. Thanks.”

Oh my God, he said yes.

“What?” he asked.

Did I say it out loud? Jackie asked herself.

“Say what out loud?” her boss inquired, frowning down at her.

“Nothing. Come on!” And then she waved her hand as George stopped Toto right in front of them.

  *****

Okay, this is really weird. How the hell did you manage it this time, Jackie girl? I wondered as we drove Dean Gamboa to his house. Again.

Georgie and Dannie must have been thinking about the same thing because they kept on stealing Jackie a glance. She was seated at the backseat with her boss. Dannie and Georgie were in front, frequently stealing a glance through my rearview mirror and then at each other. Awkward moment again.

“This is the place, right?” George asked Dean.

“Yes. Thank you once again, ladies,” he said.

I almost barfed out my gas. It had been a long time since I heard the boys being called ladies or girls collectively.

“You’re one of the very few people who call us that,” said Jackie as Dean Gamboa opened the door.

He stopped and looked at her with a questioning look. “Why?”

“Most of them just call us boys,” she explained.

Dean’s lips gave a quick quirk and it almost turned his dry, emotionless face a full three-sixty. Okay, now I get it. He’s quite handsome. Lucky bastard. “Then, thanks, boys,” he said as he swung my door open and climbed out.

Jackie groaned while her two friends just chuckled.

“See you tonight,” he added as he shut the door.

Again, Jackie was speechless.

“I never really thought he meant it,” she uttered to her friends as they watched Dean Gamboa walk to his gates.

  *****

And because it was confirmed that Dean Gamboa actually meant his invitation, Jackie urged the other two to go home so they could change. Georgie didn’t, saying she was going with her loose shirt, shorts and hiking shoes. Dannie changed into a simple white shirt, plain khaki pants and black flats. Jackie, of course, came out of the apartment in a yellow dress that stopped just above her knees, a pair of outrageously high bloody-red pumps and fresh waves. However she managed to do that wonderful transformation, I didn’t know. As how Georgie would put it, the exaggerated transformation only happened inside her room.

“I don’t think I’m coming after all,” Dannie said when Jackie confirmed that Troy was coming with his camera that night.

“Come on, you’re not only coming because Troy would be there. You guys can’t stand each other but we all know you both enjoy it,” Jackie said, looking at her friend dryly.

“That’s not true!” Dannie exclaimed.

“I have to agree with Jackie,” Georgie said, starting me up.

The journey to Art District was full of bickering over Dannie and Troy. I wanted to hug Dannie and tell her I felt for her. Troy was never good for any of the boys, much more for Dannie.

When we reached our destination, my headlights almost watered. I saw a vic that I could actually converse with sense. Hey, Tata! I cried out when I spotted her. And thank goodness Georgie parked me right behind her. So, do you have something to tell me about your cocky owner? I asked her as the boys left and entered Art District.

  *****

Jackie was almost pulling Dannie. “We were only joking about Troy. We know you don’t like him, but he’s our friend, right? We’ve been through a lot together.”

“You mean I’ve been through a lot of frustration because of that guy,” Dannie uttered with ire. She was always like that when it came to Troy. It was nothing new to her friends.

“There they are,” George said when she spotted Troy with Miguel and Lee. “Ugh, Miguel’s here.”

“This is going to be fun!” Jackie cried out. She almost skipped her way to where the three guys were already seated. And they must have arrived early because they managed to grab a good seat right in front of the small stage area where the band was setting up.

Jackie’s gaze immediately landed on Dean Gamboa who was still wearing his stupid baseball cap. He was talking to someone wearing the same black cap. Jackie frowned. She had never seen that guy before.

“Hey,” she said to the guys when they finally reached them. She took a seat and let her friends greet each other the usual way: throwing nasty comments which were accepted without feeling hurt. Her attention was focused on the band on stage and their additional member who was still talking to Dean with his back turned to them.

The man must have said something because Dean Gamboa suddenly burst out laughing. Jackie was awed. It was the first time she saw him laugh out loud like that and it was…she couldn’t explain the feeling. It was, for lack of a great word, a beautiful sight.

When the lead singer approached the man who just made Dean Gamboa laugh and whispered something in his ear, he slowly turned around and faced the audience.

As the crowd cheered, Troy, Miguel and Lee uttered in unison, “Damn!”

Jackie gasped and then she uttered under her breath, “No, no, no, no…”