III— First Love Never Dies (Part 2)

Okay, so this is how it feels to be in a costume party. The last costume party that I attended is way back in elementary where I dressed as Red Riding Hood. I forgot the feels of that and now I'm in another costume party and dressed as Harley Quin. I hate how my hair was tied and sprayed with temporary colors. Makapal ang make-up ko at uh well, that's the highlight of the costume. I'm glad that Princess designed the outfit to be less slutty than it should be. What I hate is the fishnet stockings on my legs at ako lang yata ang Harley Quin na hindi nakangiti.

If you think Gray was dressed into Joker...

Well...

You're wrong. It was Detective Tross who was dressed into Joker while Gray had a normal outfit except that his face is extra white, which I figured out he was dressed as Edward Cullen.

Lumapit si Detective Tross sa akin. "I know you're disappointed na ako ang nag-costume ng Joker," he said and giggled. "Sorry but he said he hates a lot of make-up like this." Tinuro pa niya ang kanyang mukha.

I scowled at him. "I'm not disappointed." Meh, bakit naman ako madi-disappoint? It's not like I expect us to be in a pair outfit!

Inilibot ko sa hall ang paningin. Dumidilim ang paligid sa tuwing nakatuon sa harap ang spotlight. The staff was enjoying the night. Dumating na rin ang iba pang imbitado sa party at maging ang mga organizers. Gaya ng sinabi ni Ate Kat, the party isn't that big dahil selebrasyon iyon ng recent success ng KD. It was organized mainly for the staff at sa mga model. I stayed on the side samantalang nagmamasid naman sa paligid sina Gray at Detective Tross.

I saw the secretary dressed in an Egyptian outfit at malawak ang ngiti nito habang kausap ang isang lalaki na nakaitim. There were white cloth on his arm and forehead and when I took a glance at his face I figured out it was the Emersson, the model-slash-obsessive suitor, dressed in an outfit as Vincent of Ghost Fighter.

"Hello, Amber!"

Napalingon ako sa pinagmula ng boses. It was Princess at suot niya ang isang Jasmine of Aladdin-inspired na damit. Bagay na bagay ang suot niya sa kanya and she looked like a real version of Jasmine only that she was a fairer version. Her exposed tummy was so sexy that it made me snort when I remember how my tummy stuck a little every time I have a meal. Hindi naman ako mabilbil but my tummy really stuck out a little kapag busog ako! But hers— argh! Here I am again with my insecurities! Do you know how I feel?

"Ikaw pala, Princess," ngumiti ako sa kanya. She's so kind that I cannot bring myself to hate her even a little. Alright, I hated the thought that she had a crush on Gray at mas lalong naiinis ako nang malamang siya rin pala ang unang crush ni Gray. Kung bakit ako naiinis sa isiping iyon, hindi ko alam ang rason!

"Pasensya ka na kung nabo-bore ka. Ivan said hindi ka mahilig sa mga ganito," wika niya. Ivan said? Ang dami naman yatang nasabi ni Gray sa kanya. I've seen them talking but I can't hear what they're talking about. Hindi naman sa pagiging feeling but why would Gray tell her about me? Okay, no big deal. Maybe he ask him to at least entertain me for a while.

"Ayos lang, Princess," nahihiyang sagot ko. She's busy yet she still manage to make her way here to talk to me.

"We talked a lot and he told me a lot of good things about you," she said with a smile. Again, I tried to control myself and didn't let it get to my head. I'm sure saglit lang nila akong pinag-usapan at pagkatapos ay puro na tungkol sa kanilang dalawa ang topic nila! Didn't Detective Tross said that she was Gray's first crush?! Kuya Pierre said that Gray is Princess's first love. Kung gayon ay may 'mutual feelings' pala sila sa isa't isa! Ah! Wala akong pake! So what? I also have my first crush, puppy love at first kiss sa nose pa! Reo Loyola is very handsome and very worthy of being someone's first crush, puppy love and first kiss kahit na sa ilong pa! Uh, I know I'm blabbering here! Basta, kung crush man siya ni Princess at isinulat pa niya sa diary, so what? I also wrote Reo's name in my old diary at pinag-FLAMES, HOPE, at kung anu-anong computation pa kung pass o fail ba ang combination ng pangalan namin! Don't laugh because I really did way back in my elementary days!

Right. The diary. Why do I have this urge to read that diary? Sabi ni Kuya Pierre ay nasa silid pa iyon ni Princess.

Tumunog ang cellphone niya at nagpaalam siya sa akin na sasagutin muna niya iyon. Lumabas siya ng hall at ipinagpatuloy ko naman ang pagmamasid sa paligid. Napansin ko ang isang mascot na Baymax. I really like Baymax kaya gusto kong lapitan ito but when he remove the head, it was Leo, the ex-boyfriend, I backed out from my plan of playing with the mascot at sa halip ay tinitigan na lamang siya.

The party started at tila mas lalo lamang akong naburyo roon. Ate Kat was in the middle of her speech nang dumating si Gray at umupo sa tabi ko. "Pasensya ka na kung naging abala kami."

"Okay lang, iyon naman ang ipinunta natin dito, 'di ba? Did you get something?"

He scanned his eyes on the area. "Nothing useful so far except that Leo is flirting with Cherry."

"Eh? I thought he's flirting with Maila, the secretary," wika ko na sanhi upang mapatingin sa akin si Gray. "Nakita ko sila kanina."

"Really? Thanks for that information, Amber!" Bigla siyang tumayo at nagpaalam na sa akin. I frowned and scanned the area with my eyes again. Heto na naman ako, at tila loner na nakaupo sa pang-apat na mesa.

Baymax was sitting on the corner at nakasandal sa pader. Sa tuwing may dadaan sa harap niya ay sinusundan niya ito ng tingin. I know because the mascot's head tilted.

I sighed at tumayo sa kinauupuan ko. I have a plan in mind, it wasn't really illegal but it's unethical. Kinabahan ako at pinagalitan ang sarili ko. But in the end, I found myself striding away from the hall up to the second floor where the rooms are. Tahimik ang bahaging iyon ng malaking bahay dahil nasa party ang lahat.

My mind was debating whether I continue or not. Natagpuan ko na lamang ang sarili kong tinatahak ang hagdan, at panay ang lingon sa likuran ko, trying to check if someone might caught me sneaking up.

My foot climb the flight of stairs as I felt my heavy breathing. As I passed the rooms intended for us, the nervousness that I felt tripled. I opened the door that I saw Princess entered that afternoon. Nang pinihit ko ang pinto ay nakabukas iyon na mas lalo lamang nagpakaba sa akin.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. There's no turning back. I closed the door behind me and looked around the room. Her room is as pretty as her— no I'm not insecure. I opened the pile of drawers, hoping to find an old diary doodled with childish hearts and colorful pages.

Don't get me wrong. Gusto ko lang makita ang diary ni Princess dahil... dahil nabo-bore ako sa party and I want to know who does she likes, Gray or Khael. Yeah, yeah, I guess that's it.

Binuksan ko ang isa pang drawer and there was a brown thick planner. It's way too mature-looking to be a grade school's diary but nevertheless, I found myself interested in such planner. I opened the planner at may nalaglag na mga nakaipit na papel which looks like origami and paper planes. It looked so old and — so this is the diary! I picked up a handful of old photographs. May nakita akong litrato which looks like baby pictures of Gray and Khael? It only made me wanted to read more!

Bigla na lamang akong nakarinig ng mga yabag at papalapit na boses ni Princess! My mind panicked as I rammed the photograph back to the planner and shove it back on the drawer. Few more steps and this door will open! I opted to the last resort I have. Itinaas ko ang bintana at tinantya ang taas niyon. It's a suicide mission, I know, at mas gugustuhin ko pa yatang mahulog doon kaysa sa mahuli ni Princess!

I squeezed my body out the window. Maririnig pa rin sa labas ang mahinang ingay na nagmumula sa hall. The only thing that I stepped on is the roof that was only half a meter wide. I held tightly on the pipe to secure my safety. Shit, bakit ko ba 'to pinasok?

Just as when I was able to take a secure grip, narinig ko ang pagpihit ng pinto ng kwarto.

"Of course Kuya, bata pa lang kami ay gusto ko na siya," it was Princess, whose voice sounded like she's a little bit shy.

"Dalaga ka na nga, Princess," sagot naman ni Kuya Pierre at tumawa. Princess beg to her brother to stop teasing her.

"Kuya! Baka malaman ni Gray at—"

Nagsalita ulit si Kuya Pierre. "Bakit mo iniwang nakabukas ang bintana mo?"

Sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi ko na alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko! I heard footsteps towards the window at kung sakaling maisipan man nilang tingnan ang labas ng bintana, I'll be dead. And with that, I'd rather chose to die by falling down the ground kaysa sa mahuli nila ako rito!

Halos mapugto ang hininga ko nang sumara ang bintana at hindi ko na masyadong nauulinigan ang boses nila sa loob. Nangangawit na ako sa pagkakakapit ko, plus the thought that I look stupid up here just added insult to the injury!

Nanlalagkit na ang katawan ko dahil sa pawis ko! Narinig ko ang pagpinid ng pinto at nang sumilip ako ay wala na sila sa loob. Now I have one less problem but I have another one. Paano ako bababa rito?!

Just when I started telling myself the words synonymous to stupid, nakarinig ako ng mga yabag mula sa ibaba. It was Gray who held his phone and dialing some number. Nakatayo siya at nakatalikod sa akin nang naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone ko and before I can toss away the pouch I was holding, pumainlang na sa ere ang ringtone ko na naka-full volume pa kasabay ang pag-vibrate.

Mula sa ibaba ay nakita kong napatitig si Gray sa cellphone niya bago lumingon sa likuran niya. His eyes traveled from the ground up to me who looks so stupid up here. See? Hindi nga ako nahuli nina Kuya Pierre pero nahuli naman ako ni Gray!

"What are you doing up there, Harley Quin?" nakangising wika niya. Kung malapit lang talaga ako sa kanya ay malamang nasapak ko na siya. I know I really look stupid right now but can he at least be considerate and not laugh?

"I... I... saved the cat."

Mas lalo lamang siyang natawa. "Cat? What cat?"

"Tulungan mo akong bumaba!"

"Why did you even end up being up there? Don't give me the 'I saved the cat' crap because I'm not buying it."

I know, I know. Duh. "Gray, nangangawit na ako rito!"

"What should I do then? Tumalon ka, sasaluhin kita," he said and he kept his phone on his wallet as he raised his arms, motioning me to jump.

"Are you crazy?" Hello, takot ko lang na talunan siya!

"I think you are. Who would want to climb walls—" he stopped and stared at the window. Then he flashed a naughty smile. "Oh, never mind, I think I know the reason why. Tumalon ka."

Wala akong panahon pa na isipin kung ano ang iniisip niyang rason. Seryoso, nangangawit na talaga ako!

"Come on, Princess. Jump."

I gave him a scowl. "I'm Amber, not Princess!"

"Alam ko."

"Stop calling me Princess, 'yong puppy love mo ang tawagin mong Princess!"

"Pero ikaw ang Mahal na Prinsesa ko."

"Shut up, Gray!" Heck, I know I'm blushing right now. KO. Mahal na Prinsesa KO.

"Jump, Amber."

"Idiot, I can jump down without you catching me. Now, itabi mo 'yang mga flower pot na nasa baba dahil tatalon ako."

He laughed like crazy and do as I say. Una kong inihagis pababa ang suot kong high heels. I'm surprise I was able to stay here that long given those shoes! Sinalo naman niya ang pouch kong naglalaman ng cellphone. Nang maalis na niya lahat ng flower na nasa ibaba ng tatalunan ko ay agad akong tumalon, and I landed both on my feet.

"Quite the stunt," he said, handing me my shoes. Agad ko iyong sinuot at naunang lumakad sa kanya bago pa niya ako kulitin dahil sa nangyari. He ran to catch up to me at nagulat ako nang inakbayan niya ako! One arm on my shoulder, the other one was touching the red hair. "I never thought you'll look this good in these two high pigtails."

Bago pa man ako mangisay rito ay bigla na lamang tinawag ni Detective Tross si Gray. "Ivan, nandito ka lang pala—" he stopped and looked at us kaya kaagad ko namang inalis ang nakaakbay na braso ni Gray. He stood on the door at nakangisi sa amin. "Am I on a bad timing?"

My! I don't know why I found myself embarrassed kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at naunang pumasok sa loob, leaving them behind. Pumasok ako sa loob at nagtungo sa hall na pinagdarausan ng party. Nothing was really going that much except that everyone looks like they're enjoying the night— except for some people.

The secretary, Maila looked furious at panay ang lingon sa paligid na tila ba may hinahanap. On the other side was the staff na binabantayan din nina Gray na si Cherry. Gaya ni Maila ay hindi rin yata ito na nag-e-enjoy. The mascot was sitting on the side at tila walang pakialam sa sarili. Wait, hindi ba siya naiinitan sa loob?

My eyes searched for another person but I cannot find the one dressed as Vincent. Hinanap rin ng mga mata ko si Ate Kat at nasa stage siya kasama si Princess. The light switched off and no one panicked dahil may spotlight naman but when the spotlight turned off, everyone waited for minutes dahil baka surpresa iyon ngunit umugong na ang ingay nang wala pa ring nangyayari.

Kahit ako ay nag-panic dahil sa dilim but I remained standing in my position.

"Ivan, find the generators and turn it on!" Narinig kong malakas na sigaw ni Detective Tross. "I-check mo rin ang fuse box!"

Binuksan ng marami ang ilaw ng cellphone nila at nagsimulang mataranta. Ilang saglit lamang ay lumiwanag na ang paligid ngunit kasabay niyon ay pumainlang ang malakas na sigaw.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! Pierrrrrrrre!"

Napatakbo ako sa pinagmulan ng sigaw at nagulat ako nang makita si Ate Kat na nakatutop ang kamay sa bibig at nakatingin sa katawan ni Kuya Pierre na may saksak na basag na bote ng beer sa kanyang tagiliran!

Nagkagulo ang lahat at agad silang tumawag ng ambulansya at pulis. Si Detective Tross at Gray naman ay abala sa pagsuri sa crime scene. Nang dumating ang mga pulis ay agad silang nag-imbestiga samantalang agad na isinugod sa ospital si Kuya Pierre pagdating ng ambulansya. Like the usual, Gray butted his nose in the police's business.

He questioned the people and looked for possible facts. Nakatayo naman ako roon, hindi halos makapaniwala na nasaksak si Kuya Pierre gayong narinig ko pa silang magkausap ni Princess kanina. Wait, si Princess nga ang huli niyang kausap. Hinanap ko siya at natagpuan ko siyang inaalo si Ate Kat.

I don't want to consider her a suspect but I didn't discard the possibility. Lumapit si Princess kay Gray at sinabing gawin ang lahat upang mahuli ang gumawa niyon kay Kuya Pierre. They strongly believe that it was the same suspect who sent threats to Ate Kat.

Lumapit ako kay Ate Maila at nagkunwaring nakiusyoso. "Ano raw po ang nangyari?"

"Hindi ko alam. Nagulat na lang ako nang ganito na ang nangyari," sagot niya. "Hindi ko rin nakitang may kasama si Pierre kanina, dumidilim kasi ang paligid dahil sa lightings."

She's right. The culprit took advantage of the lights kaya walang nakakita sa ginawa niyang krimen. Nagpaalam ako sa sekretaryang si Maila lumapit naman kay Ate Cherry at tinanong ang parehas na tanong.

"Wala akong nakitang kasama niya. Ang huli ko lang nakita ay si Princess ang kasama niyang bumalik dito sa hall," sagot ni Ate Cherry.

"Talaga po? Wala ba kayong nakitang umaastang kahina-hinala?"

She thought for a while at bahagya pang nag-alangan. "Si Emerson. Nawala siya kanina! He said we will dance."

Uh, looks like they are really flirting with each other. I thank her at nagmasid na lamang sa paligid. Ilang sandali lamang ay ipinatawag na ni Gray ang mga pulis na nag-iimbestiga.

"Alam ko na kung sino ang salirin," matapang na wika ni Gray. Detective Tross back him up. Meh, it should be the other way.

"Sinong may gawa?"

"From the death threats and the pranks, we have the same person who execute the crime tonight."

Detective Tross stepped forward. "The culprit aims for Katrina but knowing that Pierre is always there to guard here, the culprit made advances and caused harm to Pierre. Simula sa pag-iimbestiga namin kanina pa lamang ay naibaba namin sa apat ang suspek. Una ay ang sekretaryang si Maila, who knows every schedule at —"

"I didn't do it!" Apela ni Maila. "Hindi ko iyon magagawa kay Kat at lalo na kay Pierre!"

"Nasaan ka nang mangyari ang krimen?" tanong ng isang pulis.

"Nakatayo ako malapit sa stage at nag-a-assist kina Kat!"

Kinumpirma naman ni Ate Kat ang alibi ng sekretarya at ang sunod na tinanong ni Detectice Tross ay si Cherry. "Ikaw, nasaan ka, Cherry?"

She was too shocked to answer. "B-bakit naman ako? Pinagbibintangan n'yo ba ako?"

"We aren't," sagot ni Gray. "We're exhausting every possibility. You are Ate Kat's childhood friend and you surely know a lot of things that she feared the most na kahit ang asawa niyang si Pierre ay hindi alam. Those things were sent to her as a prank along with threats."

"Ngunit hindi ko iyon ginawa! Kasama ko si Lyka at nag-uusap lamang kami!"

The one named Lyka confirmed her alibi. Ayon kay Lyka, halos mag-iisang oras na silang magkausap dahil kinukwentuhan siya ni Cherry tungkol sa problema nito sa buhay pag-ibig.

Sunod namang tinanong ni Detective Tross ay si Leo, na nakasuot ng Baymax na mascot.

"Nasa sulok lang ako," sagot niya at tinuro ang upuan na kinauupuan niya kanina. "I sat almost the whole night dahil nababagot ako at isa pa ay mabigat ang suot kong mascot."

Everyone confirmed his alibi dahil hindi raw halos ito gumalaw sa kinauupuan. Wala rin umanong nagtangkang kausapin siya dahil may pagka-snob. I looked at the mascot that he was wearing a while ago and it was seated on the chair that he sat on while the mascot's head was on the floor.

The police questioned their last suspect, the model Emerson.

"Nasaan ka nang mangyari ang pananaksak?"

He snorted. "Nasa labas, naninigarilyo."

"May makakapagkumpirma ba ng alibi mo?"

Gray let out a smirk. "Nasa labas kami but we haven't seen you."

Napatayo bigla si Emerson sa kanyang kinauupuan. "Naroon ako! Malapit sa flower garden!"

He's lying. Doon ako tumalon ngunit wala akong nakitang naninigarilyo sa paligid. I should have noticed him lalo na at nasa taas ako.

"Come on, Emerson, alam naming ikaw ang nagpapadala ng mga threats kay Ate Kat." Naglabag si Gray ng business card ng isang flower shop. "I got this from your things. I traced the transactions you made with this florist and your orders matched the flowers you sent to Ate Kat along with the threat. Nakipaglapit ka rin kina Maila upang malaman ang schedule ni Ate Kat at nakipaglapit ka rin kay Cherry upang malaman ang iba pang bagay tungkol sa kanya."

Emerson was stunned for a while. Tila baliw na ngumisi siya at kapagkuwa'y napangiwi siya sa mga pulis. "Pero hindi ako ang sumaksak kay Pierre!" Hinablot niya ang isang bote at binasag iyon. "'Wag kayong lalapit sa akin! Hindi ako ang sumaksak kay Pierre! Hindi!"

The people panicked at lumayo sa kanya. Napaatras silang lahat nang bahagyang lumapit si Emerson sa gawi namin samantalang naiwan naman ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Amber! Lumayo ka riyan." Magkasabay na sigaw nina Princess at Detective Tross. I've been thinking all this time dahil may isang bagay na bumabagabag sa akin.

"Huminahon ka, Emerson!" sigaw ng pulis sa kanya.

"Tama si Emerson, hindi siya ang sumaksak kay Kuya Pierre," wika ko na ikinagulat ng lahat, maging ni Emerson. Unti-unti niyang ibinaba ang hawak na basag na bote at sinamantala naman iyon ng mga pulis. They ran towards him and seized him.

"Totoo ang sinasabi niya, hindi siya ang sumaksak kay Kuya Pierre," pag-uulit ko sa pahayag ko. "He's the one who sent threats and pranks pero hindi siya ang sumaksak."

"Sigurado ka ba riyan, Amber?" tanong ni Detective Tross. Nang tumango ako ay muli siyang nagtanong. "Kung ganoon ay sino?"

"The one with the best alibi," sagot ko. "Si Leo."

Nagulat ito sa sinabi ko. "Ano ba ang pinagsasasabi mo?"

"You're inside the mascot all the time and sat there. Hindi mo man lamang ba naramdaman ang init? Ni hindi mo tinanggal ang ulo ng mascot and that made you suspicious."

He laughed and clapped. "Interesting story. Mahirap gumalaw sa loob ng mascot and yeah, mainit. Paano ko naman sinaksak si Pierre kung halos hindi ako makagalaw sa mascot na iyon?"

"Madali lang. You made use of the dim light. Nang dumating ka ay naupo ka sa pwestong iyon at nagmasid sa paligid ngunit nang unang beses na namatay ang ilaw at nakatutok ang lahat sa spotlight na nasa harap, you take advantage of that moment and squeezed out of the mascot. People here knows that you don't socialize if you don't want to kaya walang nagtangka sa iyong kausapin ang walang lamang mascot. Look at this."

Lumapit ako sa mascot ang ipinatong ang ulo sa nakaupong katawan. Unlike most mascots, this one has a hard body kaya nagawa nitong maupo na tila ba may tao sa loob. Hindi rin nahulog ang ulo nang ipinatong ko iyon. "By this, you can fool us that someone's inside."

Muli siyang tumawa. "Ang ganda ng kwento mo."

Humakbang si Gray papalapit kay Leo. "Kailan ka lumabas ng mascot?"

"Right after knowing what happened to Pierre! Teka, bakit ba ako ang pinagbibintangan niyo?"

Hindi pinansin ni Gray ang sinabi niya. "How does it feels inside the mascot?"

"Of course, mainit—"

"Then why can't I see a trace of sweat in your grey shirt now?" tanong ni Gray. "Wala pang isang oras ang lumipas at imposibleng tuyo na agad ang pawis mo."

Everyone gasped in surprise, maging si Emerson. "I bet you changed your shirt before you sneak back to the mascot, matapos mong patayin ang power source. Officer, please check the inside of the mascot, malamang naroon ang damit na pinagbihisan niya. I also bet there where blood splatters there lalo na at paharap na sinaksak niya ang biktima."

Tumalima naman ang mga pulis sa sinabi ni Gray at natagpuan nga nila roon ang isang kulay asul na T-shirt na may bahid ng dugo. This time ay hindi na nakatanggi pa si Leo. He just sighed heavily at hinayaan ang mga pulis na posasan siya. Before he was brought outside the hall, I saw him took a glance at Ate Kat. A glance that has a lot of emotions including love... but overpowered by anger, envy and other emotions that made him commit his deed.

***

Maaga kaming gumising ngayong araw dahil aalis na kami. Naging magulo kagabi ngunit ngayon ay ayos na rin ang lahat. Maayos na rin ang lagay ni Kuya Pierre at namamahinga na lamang sa ospital ngayon.

We're heading towards the car. I didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed but I don't wanna smile either. Matapos magpaalam kay Ate Kat at Princess ay nauna akong pumasok sa kotse ni Gray. May dalang sariling kotse si Detective Tross na ngayon ay nagpaalam na rin sa asawa ng kaibigan. I sat on the backseat at hindi nag-abalang lingunin si Gray na ngayon ay magkahawak-kamay pa habang kausap si Princess. Daig ko pa ang may stiffneck dahil hindi talaga ako lumingon kahit pa medyo matagal sila roon.

When Gray finally went inside the car ay napalis ang ngiti niya nang makita ako sa backseat.

"Anong ginagawa mo riyan?" tanong niya.

"Akala ko ba matalino ka? This is what they called sitting. Say it Gray, SITTING," I sarcastically replied, rolling my eyes.

"Don't be such a brat, Amber. Hindi mo ako driver kaya rito ka sa harap umupo," wika niya. Hindi ako sumagot at mas lalong hindi rin ako gumalaw. His shoulders dropped at hinarap niya ako. I thought he was angry on me being stubborn ngunit halos umakyat ang dugo ko nang makitang nakangisi siya. Alam niyo yung ngiting tila sinasabing "I know what you did last night". Ganoon.

"What?" I hissed.

"Sabihin na lamang natin na naniniwala na ako sa sinasabi ni Princess."

I snorted. Si Princess na naman. "What did she say?"

"That you're jealous," he said. He was biting his lower lip to prevent himself from smiling.

"JEALOUS?!" What the hell? "Why would I be jealous?! Haller, kahit ika-ilang crush mo pa siya, first, second, third o hanggang ika-one million, wala akong pake."

He laughed. "Meh, that's way back kindergarten, Amber. So you're really jealous."

"Hindi sabi! Bakit naman ako magseselos?"

"Because you thought I was her first love and first crush—"

"You really are!" Hello, narinig ko kaya sila ni Kuya Pierre kagabi!

He snapped his fingers. "Am not. It's Alonzo at hindi ako. She thought you might have heard them last night talking about I might no about it and probably you got the wrong picture about it. Ayaw niyang malaman ko dahil baka magsumbong ako kay Alonzo—"

"Wait, how did she knows?" I asked with eyes wide open.

"Alam niyang nag-ala spy ka kagabi—"

"What?!"

"Pinasok mo ang kwarto niya—" I cut him off by leaping from the backseat towards the front seat.

"Drive, please! Get me away from this place!" Natatarantang tinulak ko siya sa manibela at hindi na niya napigilan ang tawa niya habang binubuhay ang makina. Nakakahiya! Alam pala ni Princess! Sh*t!

Uh, falling from the window down to the ground is really better than getting caught! Argh! This is really awkward!

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