Camille Syanna

What happened last night was something that we had to forget! It wasn't even worth remembering.

Yet, you couldn't stop thinking about it!

I stare at my reflection in the mirror and started talking to myself. "That was a mistake. A grave one. But you could learn from it. And never do it again!"

When I exited the bathroom, ZA was already outside. I paused and thought of how I was going to behave around him. Maybe anything would do just not freezing over like I was doing right now.

He gave me a once over. I felt a little embarrassed, for reasons I couldn't understand. "Mabuti at hindi ka na kailangang gisingin pa,"

Lucky if I had even slept at all. I stared at the ceiling the whole night thinking of what happened that I said not worth remembering but was hard to freaking forget!

"What do you need?" Walang-buhay kong tanong. I don't have the energy nga, kasi 'di ba, I haven't slept at all.

"You need to come with me,"

"Where?" I asked. God, I'm too tired to argue. ZA could take me to my grave, and I'd even bring the shovel.

"Just somewhere,"

"ZA, I'm tired. I haven't had a good night rest," pag-amin ko. "So, please don't take me somewhere where we need to ride a jeep or a tricycle. I don't have the energy to siksik myself with other people."

"You talk too much," he stared at my face for a little while before he sighed and tilted his head sideways. "Sumunod ka na lang sa ibaba, Camille. Naghihintay sa atin si Charlene."

"Who?" Napakunot ang aking noo. "Who ang nag-w-wait downstairs?"

"I know you heard me the first time,"

"I do because I'm not deaf. I just want you to say her name again for more drama." I rolled my eyes. "What is she doing here?"

The first time I met Charlene, I didn't like her. Well, I was said to have a hard getting along with other people. Growing up, I only had Nisha and Chiara for a friend. Girls in our school hated me because I didn't hold back on calling them out for acting pretty but not actually being pretty.

"You'll know more later," he shrugged and did me a once over. "Wait up here. I'll get something."

I watched him leave with a frown on my forehead. How could ZA act so casually after what happened last night? He was acting as if nothing ever happened! And I knew that should make me feel more relieved than bothered, but come on!

Had he not thought about it at all?

I hadn't slept a wink because of last night!

ZA came back with an orange box of Nike. "Here, you wear this. You can't wear Jimmy Choo to where we're going."

Tinanggap ko mula sa kanya ang kahon at binuksan iyon. It was a pair of sand drift Air Force 1. When I looked down on his feet, I found out that he was wearing the exact same variant for men.

We're wearing couple shoes now, huh?

Bago pa ako makapag-comment ay tinalikuran niya na ako at tumuloy na sa ibaba.

Again, I stopped myself from making up things out of nothing. So, I put on the shoes and went downstairs. Hindi ko na naman napigilan ang pag-ikot ng aking mga mata nang marinig ko ang halakhakan sa ibaba.

"You haven't changed a bit, ZA!" Charlene said after a throaty chuckle as if she was Elizabeth Hurley.

How could ZA not know that she likes him? She was practically throwing herself at him since 'her car broke down'.

AND WHY DO I CARE?!

I cleared my throat and made my presence known. Charlene turned her head on me, and I couldn't help but judge the way she dressed. It was automatic.

Her yellow flowery peplum top looked better on the hanger. And don't get me started with her stirrup leggings. What are we? Back in 50s?

"Are you ready?" ZA asked me and when I nodded, he turned to Charlene. "Let's go,"

The two of them went out first. I was behind them, still didn't have any idea where we were going.

Napataas ang aking kilay nang huminto ito at palapitin si Pongo.

"Hi, there! Pongo, how are you?" Charlene started petting the Dalmatian like they were really close.

Pongo stirred free from her arms and ran towards me.

Ah, even dogs had taste.

I was scared of Pongo, but right now, he deserved a gentle pat on the head. "Good dog, huh?"

Napapitlag ako nang maramdaman ang pagpulupot ng isang braso sa aking bewang. Yumuko si ZA to pet Pongo rin like what I was doing.

"Pongo, you guard the house. Okay?" He said, na parang the dog could understand him.

Pongo barked. Medyo nagulat ako, kaya mas napasiksik ako kay ZA. I don't think he minds naman kasi he even pulled me closer pa nga!

Charlene, who almost got lost in the picture, cleared her throat to call our attention. "ZA, let's go. Mahuhuli na tayo."

Ako na ang unang humiwalay kay ZA nang talikuran kami ni Charlene at mauna ito sa sasakyan. "Someone's getting jealous,"

"I'm not going to pretend I understand," he said. We both watched Pongo ran away before we turned to each other. We were smiling for no reason.

"What?" I asked.

"Pongo is starting to like you," he stated. "And you're starting to like him back, Cams."

"I guess," I shrugged, trying to ignore the fact that he called me Cams for the first time. Not Camille, not hoy. But Cams! And it sounded so much better. "But I still don't like his master,"

"Oh, really? You don't like me, huh?" He smirked. God, he's sexy!

"What's to like?" Inirapan ko siya at nagpatiuna nang naglakad patungo sa sasakyan.

"Nothing, really," he shrugged. So, we're still not over the conversation. ZA fell into steps beside me and placed his palm on the small of my back. "I mean, really?"

"Yeah, how many really do you need?" I elbowed him a little to distance myself because he was too close again!

Charlene was standing in front of the jeep, near the passenger seat, patiently waiting for us. But ZA didn't seem to mind that she was waiting.

"I call shotgun," I said loudly para ma-hear din ni Charlene. Then, I turned to ZA. "Open the door for me, and I might like you."

He shook his head and chuckled. "Oh, you already do."

Nahihiyang umatras si Charlene nang lumapit kami ni ZA. He did open it for me! I was just joking and annoying Charlene. To be honest, I didn't even care if they'd ask me to sit on the back. But that was funny!

"Awe, thank you!" I smiled sweetly at ZA.

Maya-maya pa'y sumakay na si Z.A, at naupo sa tabi ko bago ito mag-simulang mag-maneho.

During the drive, ZA and I kept exchanging glances. He was smirking the whole time. He was smug about me already liking him! I do not!

Si Charlene naman sa likod, trying hard to get ZA's attention. She kept opening conversations about their childhood. Yung hindi ako makakasali kasi I didn't know them from Adam!

Desperate. I knew her ways because I mastered her ways! I was always desperate to get Zanti's attention. Gosh, I even followed him on Cambridge when he went to study at Harvard!

"Do you remember Miss Dela Cruz? Teacher natin noong grade two. She passed away a year ago. Hindi na nakapag-asawa," balita niya kay ZA.

"Yeah, I heard." Iyon lang ang reply ni ZA. He didn't strike me naman as someone who enjoys chismis.

"Tapos alam mo ba, yung classmate natin dati na sina Rico at Claudine, ikakasal na!" Excited na pahabol ni Charlene.

Seminar ka muna sa akin, girl! Walang structure yung pagpapapansin niya kay ZA, eh. Super trying hard. You don't go from death to wedding. That only proves you're desperate to get the man to talk to you.

"Good for them," ZA commented in a lazy drawl. He turned to me when I could no longer suppress my giggles. "Something funny? Really?"

I nodded. "Really,"

Kumunot ang kanyang noo bago kaswal na ipatong ang kanang kamay sa ibabaw ng aking kaliwang hita. He was making it a hobby squeezing my thigh!

I was starting to regret I wore shorts today.

Pinilit kong i-ignore ang marahan niyang pagpisil-pisil sa thigh ko. Kaya naman, I turned my attention to the view outside.

Peaceful na rin sa car, kasi nag-stop na si Charlene mag push na kausapin si ZA. Ilang sandali pa ang lumipas nang alisin niya ang kanyang palad sa aking hita upang siya namang abutin ang aking kamay.

I knew Charlene was witnessing all of these. And if he really liked ZA, then she must've been really hurt right now.

I turned to ZA and looked at our intertwined hands. He glanced at me and smirked.

"Really?"

"Really?"

We both asked each other. He shook his head and laughed before shifting his focus back to the road.

Tila hindi pa enough iyon for him! He moved and brought my hand to his lips. He planted it a feather light kiss, enough to make me remember what happened the other night!

Really? This was how far he would go to prove me that like Pongo, I was starting to like him too?

I leaned my back against the leather seat when I caught a glimpse of Charlene through the rearview mirror.

She didn't look happy. She was throwing me daggers.

I don't care.