"Asrow's party? Yeah, I got invited too."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I was walking to class with Shaira and was asking about Asrow's party. Hindi na dapat ako magulat kasi partenga pala ng cheerleader squad 'tong kaibigan ko at inimbita niya daw ang mga circle of friends niya.

Baka ang lahat ng mga binabayaran niya nando'n din, char.

"Wait, hindi naman sa inooffend kita or ano, pero pa'no ka nakakuha ng invitation? Are you and Asrow friends?" Nagtatakang tanong niya.

"Clark invited me, pwede daw magsama ng kahit sino." I casually answered. Nung nakarating kami sa classroom, pumasok kami agad at umupo sa kanya-kanyang mga upuan.

"Ohhh, o'nga pala! Mahilig makipagkaibigan 'tong si Asrow, I nearly forgot about his friendliness for a sec." Napakamot siya sa kanyang ulo at natawa ng saglit. "Sa Friday na pala 'yun 'noh! Aabsent ka ba sa work sa araw na 'yon?"

"Sa tingin mo?" Pagsusungit ko.

"Sabi ko nga, tanga po ako hehe."

" 'De, aabsent nga ako. Clark said that we will be hanging out with each other. We'll have time for each other if we attended the party together." I explained to her while I was rearranging my things inside my bag.

"Aware ka naman na imbitado ang lahat ng basketball team diba? Pati na din yung ibang mga varsities?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"So how will you two exactly have time for each other?"

Napatigil ako sa ginagawa ko. May punto yung sinabi ni Shai. Syempre dahil nga kumpleto sila doon, ineexpect na nila na dapat sila yung magkakasama sa party, parang magkakatropa na din kasi sila. Ayoko namang maging rason para mahiwalay si Clark sa kanila pero... Ugh, this is too much for me to think about.

"Si Clark naman na nagsabi mismo, let's see." Sabi ko bago ko siya nginitian. "Pero ano kasi Shai... May favor sana ako?"

"Oo, may extra akong damit sa bahay. Do'n na tayo umuwi mamaya para sabay na tayo sa party." Sambit nito at nginitian din naman ako.

I was overjoyed! Alam naman ni Shaira na wala akong mga damit na pang-sosyalin dahil nga, mas pinipili 'kong bumili ng mga gamit na mas importanteng kaysa doon. Kung titignan nga, halos puro minimalist clothes lang ang nasa wardrobe ko. Walang fancy clothes doon or yung mga heels na ginagamit kadalasan ng mga babaeng kaedad ko.

"Sasama din mamaya sina Castriel and Wyatt. Kapag hindi ka pinansin ng boyfriend mo mamaya, sa'min ka na sumama." She reminded me before laughing her ass off.

Inirapan ko siya bago nagsimula yung klase. I kept on jotting down notes throughout the whole class while Shaira dozed off to nowhere. Nung nasa kalagitnaan nga kami ng lecture, kinurot ko siya sa siko niya 'tas napasigaw ng kaunti. Nagtinginan kami sa kanya eh, pati yung professor, 'tas ang nirason lang niya ay may nakita siyang gumagapang na ipis sa sahig, so she was excused.

Hinampas niya naman ako pagkatapos no'n kasi tawa ako ng tawa sa reaksyon niya. Ang kulit eh haha!

"See-through lingerie ang ibibigay ko sayo mamaya, bahala ka diyan!" Pagsusungit nito at binelatan ako. Halatang napikon siya sa ginawa ko sa kanya.

"I don't mind because I'm sure that it'll still look good on me," I playfully smirked at her.

" 'Di mo sure!"

After school, we immediately went to her house to pick up some clothes. Sumama na din sa'min sina Castriel at Wyatt kasi gagamitin namin yung kotse ni Wyatt papunta doon sa party ni Asrow. Clark never told me that he's going to pick me up from the house so I just went along with Shaira and her friends.

Shaira wore a black fitted sleeveless dress that ended just above her knees. The sequins on it made her glowing with beauty. I fixed her makeup and gave her a light one because it suits her face more. She also wore her favorite black heels and had big hoop earrings around her ears.

On the other hand, she let me borrow her baby blue off shoulders top, paired up with ripped jeans. Nagsuot lang ako ng sneakers ko kasi hindi ako komportableng magsuot ng heels or basta, yung mga sinusuot ni Shaira. Nag-light makeup nalang din ako kasi ayoko yung may masyadong mabigat sa mukha.

"Oh, nasa'n yung see-through lingerie mo, ha?" Pang-aasar ko sa kanya nung nakita ko siyang inaayos yung mga gamit niya sa bag. She was putting a lot of makeup inside it for retouch.

"Tse! G na g ka naman diyan," Tinawanan ko nalang ulit siya. I sat on the bed because she was taking too long to prepare. "Ah oo nga pala Cal..."

"Hmm? Ano?" I curiously asked. She looked like she was about to say something to me but she was hesitating and was debating on her mind if she should say it. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay pero iniwasan niya lang ang tingin ko.

"W-Wala, mamaya nalang. Tara na, baka nag-aantay na masyado sina Castriel sa baba." Pag-aaya niya sa'kin bago niya ako hinila palabas ng kwarto niya. 

Sinubukan ko ulit siyang tanungin tungkol doon pero inignore niya lang ulit ako habang pababa kami ng stairs. Inirapan ko naman siya. Ayoko lang kasi yung may magsasabi ng, 'may sasabihin ako sayo', 'tas wala naman pala amp! Curious na curious na ako 'tas bibitinin lang pala awts gege nalang talaga.

"Wew ganda niyo ah!" Castriel stared at the two of us in shock. 'Tas bigla siyang lumapit kay Shaira. "Baka impostors kayo ha, 'di ko kayo nakilala eh!"

"Ah ganon," She looked at him with a threatening smile, resulting to him getting scared at her.

Castriel was wearing a black sweater with a minimalist quote on the middle and a pair of slacks. Naka-sneakers lang din naman siya. Si Wyatt naman ay naka-plain white shirt 'tas green bomber jacket. Nagsuot lang din siya ng ripped jeans and his usual shoes. 

"Anong oras daw punta ng boyfriend mo?" Tanong ni Shai sa'kin nung nakalabas na kami ng bahay niya.

"Uh, I don't know. Kanina ko pa siya chinachat pero hindi niya ako siniseen," I told her. Totoo naman. Nakapagmessage na ako sa kanya ng ilang chats pero ni seen 'di niya magawa. Wala naman silang practice ngayon, ba't naman ganun siya?

Tumango-tango lang sa'kin si Shai. "Okay..."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. May sasabihin pa dapat ako pero hinila niya na ako sa loob ng sasakyan ni Wyatt. The smell inside was good, considering that this was just new and was bought last week. Hindi nakakahilo yung amoy, 'di tulad nung ibang kotse. Ako yung umupo sa shotgun seat habang sina Shai at Castriel ay nandun sa likod, nag-aaway nanaman pihado.

"Yung buhok ko, Castriel! Mapapatay na talaga kita!" Shaira attempted to get a hold of Castriel's locks of hair but failed, when he managed to dodge her attacks.

"Makakalbo ka din naman balang araw kaya okay lang 'yan!" Castriel laughed as he kept on dodging Shaira's attacks.

"Ah ikaw, gusto mo na bang makalbo ngayon? Halika rito, willing akong kalbuhin ka!"

I couldn't help but laugh at the two. They are so close with each other 'tas parang magkapatid na din sila dahil sa kaharutan at mga away. Habang nasa byahe, tinignan ko ulit ang phone ko. I didn't receive any new messages from Clark but it says delivered on my phone. Baka wala nang charge yung phone niya?

"You should've let Castriel sit here so that the infuriating noise can be avoided," Wyatt suddenly talked to me while he stopped the car for a while because of the people crossing the road.

Tinignan ko siya agad. "... Pinapalipat mo ba ako?"

"No, I was only saying. Those two will never stop bickering at each other when they're near one another." Bumuntong-hininga siya bago niya ulit pinaandar ang kotse.

"Ah may point naman. Ewan ko, dito ako pinaupo ni Shai eh." I explained to him before I looked at my phone, hoping to get another message from Clark. Tinawagan ko na din siya kanina kaso in another call daw. Baka ate niya kacall niya.

"Parang mga bata," Wyatt commented as he looked at the two from the front mirror. 

"Hays, sinabi mo pa." I agreed with him. Parang kami yung companions nung dalawa dahil ang kukulit talaga nila.

Nang makarating kami sa bahay ni Asrow, tumahimik naman na yung dalawa. I wasn't surprised of how big their house was. It was technically a mansion, bahay nga naman ng isang senador. Walang ilaw sa paligid pero may umiilaw na disco lights sa loob 'tas may malakas na patugtog doon. 

Nagpark ng kotse si Wyatt doon sa may gilid, katabi ng ibang kotse ng mga bisita. We immediately got out of the car and went inside the house to get refreshed. Ilang minuto lang naman yung pagkalate namin kaya wala pa masyadong nangyayari sa loob.

But there were a lot of dancing, singing, and.... t-there were people making out on the couch!

"Oh wow, inosente ah. First time makakita?" Pang-aasar ni Shaira nung nakita niyang namumula ang pisngi ko sa dalawang taong 'yon.

"Shut up," I said, bummed out.

Iginala ko ang tingin ko sa party. This is definitely my cup of tea because I've never been fond of parties. First time ko ngang makaattend ng party sa college eh kasi alam 'kong magulo yung mga ganito at hindi naman ako nagkamali. It was smelly inside because their sweats are mixed up with one another but I was already used to it because of work.

"Cally!"

Tumingin ako sa kanan ko at nakita si Clark. He was wearing a basketball jersey shirt and plain black Nike shorts. Suot-suot niya din pala yung basketball shoes niya. Wala naman silang practice pero 'yun pa din suot niya. Umalis muna saglit sina Shaira para bigyan kami ng time ni Clark.

Binigyan niya ako ng isang halik sa pisngi. "Ngayon ka lang ba dumating?"

"Bakit hindi mo sinasagot ang mga chats at tawag ko?" 'Yun agad yung tinanong ko sa kanya. Amoy pawis na din siya. Mukhang kanina pa siya nandito pero hindi niya man lang ako sinabihan. 

"Nagchat ka?" Nanlaki ang mga mata nito at agad kinuha yung phone niya sa shorts. "Ay shit, oo nga! Sorry hindi ko narinig kasi ang lakas ng tugtugan dito oh, rinig mo naman."

"Pero kahit na, dapat sinabihan mo ako na nandito ka na pala. You never even attempted to send a single chat to me. Ganun na ba kahirap magsend ng message sa'kin, Clark?" I pointed out and stared at him furiously. I hate this attitude of him. He was always making excuses to cover up his wrongdoing. 

"Sorry babe," He pouted before getting my hands. He cupped them using his own before saying, "Nandito naman na ako hehe."

"Oh tapos?" Pagsusungit ko pa lalo.

" 'To naman eh, minsan na nga lang tayo magsama 'tas susungitan mo pa ako. Come on, let's have fun, you and me!" He tried to cheer me up. Palagi niyang pinupush yung idea na minsan lang kami magsama para mabaling ang atensyon ko sa kinakagalit ko sa kanya.

I didn't answer him nalang 'tas tumingin ako sa ibang direksyon. Nakita ko yung buong basketball team na nag-iinuman doon sa may dining room. May mga cheerleaders din silang kasama doon, na mukhang nakikipagsayawan sa mga lalaki.

"Clark, tara na!" One of his teammates called him.

I bit my lower lip when Clark told them, "Teka lang! Sinusuyo ko pa 'to, baka umiyak!"

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo 'noh," I seriously told him. Is that how low he thinks of me now? "Kelan kita iniyakan, ha? 'Tas pinagmukha mo pa akong killjoy sa mga kaibigan mo. sinabi mo pang sinusuyo mo ako edi nahalata nila na nag-aaway tayo ngayon!"

"Eh totoo naman ah, killjoy ka naman kasi talaga kahit kelan." He said without thinking about this words carefully.

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. He knew that I wasn't the type of girl to mingle around parties and drink around people I'm not familiar with. He knew that I'm not sociable to other people and that I prefer to be lowkey because I don't want any attention at all.

"Oh siya, doon na muna ako sa mga kaibigan ko. Mukhang ayaw mo naman akong kasama." He frowned at me and let go of my hands. "... As usual naman, so hindi na ako nagulat."

The nerve!

I was about to say something else but he already went out to hang out with his friends. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha, what the heck?? Ayaw ko daw siyang kasama pero siya nga 'tong puro tropa nalang ang gusto niyang kasama. He even chose them instead of me, but I didn't react to it because I know how important his friends are to him.

Pero naiinis ako kasi binabaliktad niya yung sitwasyon, eh siya nga yung jerk sa'min dito!

Mukhang may binulong pa yung isa sa mga cheerleaders sa kanila 'tas tinignan ako. Mas lalo akong nainis nung tumawa sila ng sabay-sabay. They were making fun of me, weren't they?

"Ugh, tangina." I whispered before I turned back and was about to head out straight to the door because I want to be with Shaira and the others. But I ended up bumping into someone so I was cut off from my thoughts.

I looked up and all the hairs on my skin rose up at the sight. Asrow was wearing a plain white polo shirt and the first two buttons was opened, revealing his chest a little. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and he was also wearing a rose necklace. His grey pants looked well with his polo shirt. He was also wearing a plain white shoes, which matched his overall outfit.

Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mga mata. "Woah woah, nandito ka pala?"

"C-Clark invited me," I told him without looking at his eyes. Tinititigan niya kasi ako na parang natutuwa at nang-aasar pa siya! 

"You told me that my dad and I are scum and look where you are right now, at our house." He teased with a playful smirk. Uminom siya ng kaunting wine galing sa glass na dala-dala niya.

Inirapan at inismiran ko siya. "Oh tapos? I already told you that Clark invited me."

"Ikaw ba yung girlfriend ni Clark?" He asked and raised an eyebrow at me. He tightened his hold around his glass when I nodded. "Ay weh? 'Di nga?"

"We're already dating for one year so excuse your lame teasing," Inirapan ko ulit siya. Gusto ko na sanang lumabas ng bahay para hanapin sina Shaira eh kaso, nakaharang 'tong si Asrow, ugh! He was enough to cover the entire door.

"Oh, kakastart lang naman ng party, sa'n ka pupunta?" Nagtatakang tanong nito.

"I want to be with my friends."

"You have friends?"

"Tanga ka talaga 'noh?" I was irritated with him! Ang 'dami niyang pinagsasabi na hindi naman konektado ugh.

Mukhang may tinignan muna siya sa isang direksyon, kaya napatingin din naman ako. Pero bigla niya nalang ipinalibot ang kanyang arm sa'kin 'tas hinila  ako palabas ng bahay. He was gentle with me so I wasn't hurt or felt like he was suffocating me with his arm.

"Luh, sa'n mo naman ako dadalhin??" I asked when a few people saw us outside. May swimming pool din kasi sina Asrow kaya nagswiswimming yung ibang tao doon. 

He didn't answer me and just kept on walking away from the party. Napatigil kami sa garden nila. It was full of flowers and grasses. Likod pala 'to ng bahay nila. May benches dito 'tas mga stainless tables and chairs. Parang masarap tumambay dito kapag mag-aaral kasi ang peaceful ng parteng ito 'tas mukhang hindi ka talaga madidistract.

"Oh, ano meron dito?" Naiirita 'kong tanong sa kanya habang inaayos yung damit ko. Nagusot niya kasi nung hinila niya ako papunta dito.

"You... didn't tell anyone about my secret, did you?"

Tumingin ako sa kanya. He looked serious with his question and at the same time, he was nervous. He was doing something illegal after all. I didn't tell anyone about his secret though. Magkaibigan sila ni Clark pero hindi ko siya sinabihan, pati na din sina Shaira.

But I wanted to tease him too.

"And what if I did?" I asked with a playful smirk. I crossed my arms around my chest and raised an eyebrow at him. "What are you gonna do about it?"

He tilted his head a little and bit his lower lip to try and suppress a smile from his mouth but he failed to do so. Inikot-ikot niya ang natitirang wine sa loob ng glass niya habang nakatitig pa din sa'kin. Hindi naman ako nagpatalo kaya tinitigan ko lang din siya.

"Do you want me to do something about it?" I gasped when he used his free hand to wrap it around my waist and pulled me closer to him. Halos magdikit na ang dalawang katawan namin nang dahil sa kanya.

"Gusto mo masapak?" Tanong ko habang nakangiti pa din.

"Subukan mo nga?"

Hindi ko naman siya sinapak pero inapakan ko yung puting sapatos niya. Nagpanic agad siya kasi nagkaroon ng maliit na footprint doon galing sa dumi ng sapatos ko. Tawa lang ako ng tawa habang pinapanood siyang pagpagin 'yun gamit yung kanyang kamay. 

He was even blowing on it! As if that would help get rid of the dirt on the shoe.

"A-Ang 'sama mo!" He cried out as he looked at his shoe in horror. Parang nawalan siya ng laruan ah. "This was imported from the United States!"

"And so? A shoe is a shoe, so yeah get over it." I teased back and laughed as he panicked even more. "Ang OA mo naman! Pwede naman 'yan linisin gamit wet wipes. Hindi naman ganun kalala yung pagkakaapak ko!"

"Hindi ganun kalala pero bakat na bakat??" He fired back. 

"Alin yung bakat na bakat?" I lowkey looked at his pants and he noticed that because he stared at me with a frightened face. "Wala naman ah? I think a peanut like yours can't be visible from that."

"You're really tasting my patience, huh?" He said before biting on his lower lip again while the curves of his lips rose up devilishly. "Anong name mo?"

"Asar ka ng asar sa'kin pero hindi mo naman pala ako kilala?" Inirapan ko siya at napatingin nalang sa garden nila. Ang ganda nga eh kaso hindi bagay kay Asrow. Dapat sa kanya doon sa umaapoy na garden eh.

"Ano nga??" He asked before frowning. He looked like a kid whose parent didn't buy him what he wants. 

Bago pa ako magsalita, may narinig akong babaeng tumatawag kay Asrow. It sounded deep but I saw Asrow flinched just by hearing the voice. Muntikan niya na ngang mabitawan ang kanyang baso pero nakontrol niya naman ito.

"Hide, quickly!" He yelled at me before pushing me on the ground and letting me hide with the grasses and flowers. Medyo nagasgasan ako pero wala naman akong pake doon. 

I didn't say anything to him because he really looked terrified. The voice of the woman got closer and I saw someone who looked like Asrow a lot. She was wearing a pink off-shoulders top with flower patterns and a white mini skirt. She was also wearing white slippers and it looked like she just got home from a beach or something.

She looked divine, unlike her brother.

"Hi ate," Natatawang bati ni Asrow sa babae nung tinignan siya nito. Oh, ate niya pala talaga siya. Ang bata niya tignan!

She looked resentful towards her brother and yelled, "Hoy Asrow, ano nanaman ba 'to?? Bakit ka nagpaparty eh bawal nga diba?? You're taking advantage of the fact that our parents are on a business trip in another country!"

"Masaya kasi magparty ate," Sagot ni Asrow habang hindi pa din nawawala ang kanyang ngiti. 

"Wala akong pake! Wait 'till mom and dad hears about this again," She looked really pissed at Asrow for some reason. Oo nga, nagpaparty si Asrow ng walang paa-paalam sa mga magulang pero sigurado naman ako na naranasan din naman 'to ng ate niya dati nung kolehiyo pa siya.

"Magsusumbong ka ulit?" Asrow asked as his smile still didn't fade.

"Malamang, duh! I can't believe I have you as my brother! Puro ka nalang pahirap kina mama, wala kang nadudulot na maganda dito! You're always giving us unwanted troubles, ugh!" His sister complained as she rummaged through her belongings, attempting to find her cellphone inside it.

"Sige ate," 

I gasped when his ate slapped him on his right cheek before walking away and entering the house via their back door. Unti-unting napahawak si Asrow sa kanyang cheek kung sa'n siya sinampal ng ate niya. It must've hurt because I heard its loud sound. Mukhang nagmarka ito sa cheek niya.

Tumayo ako mula sa tinaguan ko. "Asrow?" 

Nilingunan niya naman ako. He still kept on smiling at me as if nothing happened just now. He was acting as if everything's okay and like he didn't just get slap at his cheek. I saw the small mark of his ate's hand on it but instead of wincing in pain, he controlled it all.

"So back to the topic, what's your name again?"

***