[21] Break

I was out for the whole semestral break. My parents had decided to take a family vacation in the US. We have a house there in Beverly Hills, California. Spending the October days in California was very different from the summer days we used to spend there. For one, the sun didn't seem that much hotter but the wind felt a little bit cooler. But as the days passed and October came to a close, the wind felt much, much cooler—cooler than the December nights here.

I haven't talked to anyone back in my town. I spent my break in complete isolation from the world. Maybe I was just in heavy thought since I was becoming someone I didn't seem to recognize anymore. I wasn't even sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Some part of me missed my old lifestyle. I missed the wild parties, the company, the drunken nights and the warm bodies of overly liberated girls. It was a carefree life and we could party like there was not another care in the world.

My friends and I have grown apart since I stopped all communication ties with Karen. Only Richard and Tyler remained beside me as if nothing has changed. I appreciate my friendship with them more now than ever. It's not so bad eliminating the possible flukes in your circle, but it does pain you a little in knowing that the people you trusted weren't who they seemed to be.

This new chosen lifestyle; however, had its perks too. For one, I now have a girlfriend, who is pure, kind and beautiful inside out. I felt happier every day—or if it helps, I'm turning into a male version of Antoinette. My grades aren't bad at all too, pretty good even, as I made it all the way to the Dean's List—not that it was so much of a problem before. I found myself attending staff meetings and boardroom decisions in my family's company as part of my Saturday agenda.

It was quite overwhelming at first, but Antoinette had helped me through it. The products, brands, people, and marketing strategies were becoming more and more familiar as I finally got to understand what my father was always pestering me about this "multimillion-dollar business".

I smiled to myself at the thought of the newly coined term in my noticeable change. My family called it the "Tony Improvement Project"—TIP as they fondly called it, and they did tip me with every achievement. I had a new Sony PS3 last week, a better MacBook and IPhone last month and free gas when the tank had become nearly empty. I sat on the sandy shores as I soaked my feet in salty waters while buried in my deep thoughts.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

I looked up at the sound and saw Antoinette in a bikini and a big straw hat, her face almost entirely covered by the big shades as she towered above me. I squinted from the hot sun rays and tried to get a better view of her face. Her cheeks were flaming red.

"Yeah? A penny for where have you been?"

"Oh shut up, Anthony." She smiled and sat beside me. After a few moments of her giddy silence, she faced me and started talking.

"I met someone." Her grin grew wider as she told me about this handsome Asian-American who was standing beside a tree at the far end of the beach.

He accidentally called her "Maya". The man apparently thought she was someone he knew, a friend named Maya. Then when Antoinette said she wasn't "Maya", the man introduced himself and asked for her name, even smoothly added that he thought her name was Maya because May (Mei li) meant beautiful in Chinese.

"He's cute!" She grinned sheepishly.

"Okay, whatever you say," I said with a smile as I eyed the man she was talking about and went back into staring at the blue ocean.

"So, why are you so quiet? Why don't you head somewhere and meet someone too?" Antoinette suggested

"I'm taken." I smiled at the notion and kicked the sand off my feet. I guess I haven't told them that detail after that almost-perfect open part at Club 314.

"WHAT? How long?" She laughed.

"Not long enough."

"I can't believe it! I thought she was still waiting for at least 3 more months!"And laughed again. "But seriously, congratulations! You have successfully courted a young woman that is decent enough to be called a girlfriend!"

I stared at her with an inquisitive expression, a lopsided grin on my face. I couldn't believe how happy she was for me.

"I'm telling mom and dad!"

"Wait, NO!" But she was quickly on her feet and it took me a few more seconds to catch up with her. By that time, my parents already saw Antoinette running towards them.

"Antoinette! ANTOINETTE! NO!"

"Mom, Dad, our dear Tony is taken!" She chuckled at the thought and my parents looked at me suspiciously.

"That girl really means a lot to you doesn't she?" My mother says. I try to focus on my sister's huge hat as if I didn't hear whatever she's saying. I suddenly remembered the reason why I didn't immediately tell them the good news.

"And he courted her. Successfully, I see." Antoinette said smugly.

"That's my boy," Dad answered and placed a hand on my shoulder. "We know how you feel about the things we said, but you know we think she's nice."

"Huh" I chuckled sarcastically. Nice is a big understatement. I raised my brows to prove my point that they just didn't get it. One way or another, they have to accept my choice and live with it. I know I have chosen the right girl.

I went home bringing lots of gifts for her. I may have gone overboard, but I imagined that she'll be so happy about it. I decided that it didn't matter if I went overboard with gifts, or if I left the US with empty pockets. The same way as it didn't matter if I had a bad day, or if I failed an exam, or if my parents just have a weird vision of a perfect girl.

All I needed was now with me.

"Tony! You're back!" She gives me one of the warmest hugs when she answered the door. "You didn't call, or text or email. I didn't know when you were coming back! You should've told me so that I could..." She examined herself and blushed, embarrassed.

It was a hot day and her clammy forehead and messy ponytail didn't matter to me. Though, her loose white shirt and shorts were something that I couldn't ignore.

"Mind if I come in?" I asked even as she smiled and pulled me in her house. We walked towards the living room as she asked me to sit while she would change upstairs."I think you look quite nice. I should surprise you more often." I said appreciatively.

"Shut up. Never come back here unannounced, okay? This is embarrassing!" She laughs and quickly climbed the stairs.

The maid brought me two glasses of cold juice and a few sandwiches. I relaxed on the sofa as I counted the things I bought for her. I surprised myself this time since I've never spent so much money for a girl.

A few minutes later, she comes back dressed in dark jeans, a shirt and her hair pulled up in a neat pony. She flopped on the sofa beside me and asks me about my trip, totally ignoring my huge paper bags.

"You're so lucky... It's still so hot here. Though sometimes, I'm happy it rains... I'm still afraid if it results in a flood you know. Not that it floods here... here at my house, I mean." She talks on and on about the flood which made me feel that she was rather nervous about something.

"Felice, is there something you want to talk to me about?" I asked silently. My arm draped casually over her shoulders as I looked at her chattering lips.

"Hmm?" She muttered distractedly and offers me the untouched juice. "I don't think I have anything bothering me, though I feel quite giddy that you're back and yeah." And she stared at me. Her eyes turning liquid as her innocent expression just begged me to take her right away.

"Felice... I ah," I struggled for words as she looked at me like that. She seemed happy, but there was something off with her actions.

"I want to kiss you." She whispered in a slow dimply smile. "But I can't." And she frowned, "I like you Anthony. I really do" She bit her lip tensely as she continued, "But I think we have to break up."