"Who do you think is the most intelligent being, existing as of today?"

I pressed my lips unto each other and smile when someone immediately came in my mind. Someone who's not getting tired of lending me ears whenever my parents' are failing to do so.

"Thank you for that question." I smiled at the master of the ceremony.

"Some might answer, its the scientists. But if I were to ask who is the most intelligent being I have ever known, that would be Him, the one who's above. We wouldn't be able to live and witness how bountiful and fascinating the paradise is if not for his intelligence."

I shifted my weight as I squared my shoulders to stand straight and confidently delivered my answer. "And there's nothing to witness in the first place if he's not intelligent enough to create all of these. Thank you."

I smiled when I remembered what I answered earlier. This is the first time that I joined pageant and even a few minutes after, the flattering feeling is still etched in my insides. I don't think it will vanish anytime soon.

"You should be the winner!" Chaileigh shrieked as we met halfway of the hallway.

I slowly shook my head, smile is still carved in my lips. "First runner up is not bad and the moment Ate Dree answered, I already knew she will win."

I didn't even expect to become one of the runner-ups. Lots of candidates were great, especially the college students.

She pursed her lips and let I out a loud smirk as I know, somehow, she agreed on me but she won't admit it because that's how supportive she is as my friend.

Bahagya akong napailing at unti-unting nauwi sa isang ngiti ang aking ngisi.

"Still, you're the winner," she muttered proudly.

"Your trophy's waiting outside by the way," pabirong sambit niya at wala mang binanggit ay alam ko na agad ang tinutukoy niya.

The loud chattering sounds around subsides when my teenage heart thumped wildly as my eyes enlarged at the thought of my boyfriend waiting for me outside the Livies University.

I immediately turned to the direction where the exit is located and started finding it from the crowd. Narinig ko ang bungisngis ni Chaileigh habang nakasunod sa akin.

Ngunit napahinto ako nang makita ang boyfriend ni Cha. He's looking at our direction and now walking near us.

Siniko ko si Chaileigh sa aking tabi na mukhang hindi napansin ang papalapit sa akin. "Jack's here."

I glanced at her over my shoulder and I caught how her eyes widened as she scanned the place to look for her boyfriend.

"Ayon, oh." I pointed Jack's direction. Diretso sa aking kaibigan ang mga mata niya habang si Chaileigh naman ay hindi na mapakali sa aking tabi.

"Oh my God! May gagawin pa nga pala 'ko, Ry."

"I thought we're going home--" Dali-dali niya akong tinalikuran at nagtungo sa direksyon palayo sa papalapit niyang boyfriend.

Kumunot ang aking noo dahil sa inakto niya. And when her boyfriend stopped in front of me, I faced him with confusion still plastered in my face.

"Rylli," Jack greeted. Bakas rin ang pagtataka sa kanyang mga mata. "Saan pupunta si Cha? Is she avoiding me?"

Marahan akong napailing. "May gagawin pa raw. I don't know if there's something wrong between the two of you but you should talk to her."

Unti-unti siyang napatango habang ang mga mata ay nasa direksyong tinungo ni Chaileigh.

"Mauna na 'ko, Jack." Paalam ko kaya't bumalik sa akin ang kanyang mga mata.

He cocked his head for a quick nod. "Congats nga pala."

"Thank you." I offered him a smile before walking away from him.

Agad kong natanaw ang exit ng University. I stride towards it with my excited steps. Habang papalapit ay lumilinaw sa aking mga mata ang pamilyar na bulto na nakasandal sa itim na kotse habang may hawak na isang pumpon ng bulaklak, ilang metro lang ang layo mula sa gate ng Unibersidad na aking pinapasukan.

As our eyes met, he immediately stood straight and started walking towards my direction. Maverick's sporting his usual business attire.

The smile in my lips grew wider as we faced each other. Agad na pumulupot ang bisig niya sa akin. I felt him kissed the top of my head and whispered, "congratulations, babe."

I bit my lower lip when Maverick pulled away from me. "Thank you."

"For my girlfriend," he muttered as he handed me the bouquet he's holding. "I'm so proud of you, Rylli." The smile in his face widened.

My heart raced as I felt contentment in him.

Kinuha niya sa akin ang bouquet na ibinigay sa akin noong tawagin ako bilang first runner-up upang ipalit ang bulaklak na bigay niya, habang patuloy ang lakad namin palapit sa kanyang sasakyan.

He tilted his head on me. "I reserved us a table at your favorite restaurant, let's go?"

Agad akong tumango. "Maaga pa naman." Hindi pa ako hahanapin sa bahay. The pageant ended earlier than expected. My parents didn't know that I joined and I can't wait to tell them that I snatched a place in runner-ups!

I hope they'll be proud too. Like how Mav and Chaileigh are.

He opened the passenger's door for me. Ngunit hindi pa man ako nakakapasok ay tumunog na ang aking phone. I immediately picked it up because I already know who's calling. Tama ang hinala ko nang makita ang pangalan ni Mommy sa screen ng aking phone.

"Amaryllis?"

"Yes, mom?" bungad ko.

"I heard you're done for today. Go home immediately. The Ynareses are dining with us," puno ng awtoridad na sambit niya at tila hindi na mababali iyon.

I bit my lower lip and glanced at Maverick who's still holding the door of his car, waiting for me to enter. "M-mom, can I skip dinner at home today? I m-mean, I'm planning to dine with my b-boyfriend."

Humigpit ang aking hawak sa aking phone matapos tumahimik ang kabilang linya. Kumabog ang aking dibdib at natantong mali na binanggit ko iyon sa phone.

"You have a what?" Mom asked, almost shouting.

"I'm having dinner with my boyfriend, Mommy."

"For pete's sake, Amaryllis! You're just seventeen and you're telling me you have a boyfriend?" I can now sense anger in her tone. Pataas nang pataas ang boses niya mula sa kabilang linya. "The more you should go home."

"Mommy--"

"Go home, I said. Faster, Amaryllis. Don't be late. We will talk later."

"But, mom--" My words were cutted when the call ended.

Ibinaba ko ang aking phone at bagsak ang balikat na sinalubong ang mga mata ni Maverick.

He let his land rest at the door of his car. "Your parents are asking you to go home already?"

I hummed and nibbled my lower lip. I started fidgeting my fingers while the bouquet is still in my arms. "B-babe, I'm sorry. I h-have to go home."

"You doesn't have to apologize. We can still reschedule, right?" He gave me a smile, like he's assuring me he really meant what he said.

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang sundin ang sinabi ni Mommy. Maverick drive me home. Ngunit hindi na siya pumasok ng mansyon dahil alam namin parehas na hindi iyon magugustuhan ng aking mga magulang.

When I arrived, they're already eating their dinner. Bakante ang upuan sa tabi ni Mommy kaya't alam ko na agad na iyon ang upuan para sa akin.

Si Dad ang nasa kabisera habang ang kaibigan ni Daddy na si Rodolfo Ynares ang nasa kabilang kabisera. Katabi nito ang asawa na si Milena Ynares habang ang katapat na upuan ng ginang ay ang kanilang anak na si Draven. The chair assigned to me is the one beside Draven. Habang sa kabila ni Dad ay ang aking dalawang kapatid.

I silently entered the dining room. Sa hapag ako dumiretso matapos makapagpalit ng damit mula sa aking silid. Mom turned to my direction with her sharp eyes. Ilang segundo iyong tumigil sa akin, tila may ipinapahiwatig.

I greeted our visitors before settling down on my chair. Draven even pulled a chair for me. Naiilang man ay tinanggap ko iyon at agad na nagpasalamat. He smiled at me that made me feel more uncomfortable. I don't know why.

Hindi lang iilang beses naming nakasalamuha ang mga Ynares dahil kaibigan ang mga ito ni Daddy. But there's really something in Draven Ynares's look that makes me uncomfortable. Mabait naman siya sa akin. And I heard from my parents too that he really is. Although, I heard he was once involved in a rape case. Ngunit kalaunan ay napatunayang walang sala.

Siguro ay dahil doon. Na kahit napatunayang wala siyang kinalaman sa kasong iyon ay hindi iyon mawala sa akin isipan.

"I told you to go home immediately," mom whispered beside me.

"I'm sorry. Traffic lang po--"

She tsked and didn't let me finish. She returned her attention on her food before sipping on her glass. Matapos ay nag-angat siya ng tingin sa aming mga bisita, particularly to the one who's seating beside me, Draven.

"As I was asking earlier, how's your studies, hijo?"

Draven met my mom's eyes and smirked. "Doing fine, tita."

"Oh! Dahlia, he's planning to go to law school after graduating. I heard Amaryllis have plans too?"

Natigilan ako sa pinong sambit ni Tita Milena. I glanced at my parents but their eyes weren't on me. My brothers were both focus on their food. Para bang walang mga pakialam sa kung ano mang ang pinaguusapan sa hapag.

I slowly shook my head. "Tita, I actually don't have plans--"

"Of course, Milena. My daughter here would enter law school too." My father interfered that made my voice muffled.

"Kapag nagkataon, maaari silang magsabay, hindi ba?" Rodolfo Ynares suggested.

Tuluyan akong napayuko, ayaw salubungin ang kanino mang mata. I don't have plans to enter law school like what they're all saying. And I'm just in grade twelve yet they're already taking about me entering law school.

My mother beside me hummed. "And they will be a great couple in the future. Imagine, both lawyers?"

Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata atmarahas na napalingon kay Mommy ngunit wala sa akin ang atensyon niya.

Tita Milena chuckled as she raised her wine glass. "Indeed. They can marry each other when Amaryllis turned eighteen. That would be weeks from now."

Mommy raised her wine glass too for a toast.

Hindi na ako nakatiis dahil sa mga sinambit ni Tita Milena. What marry? I'm not dumb not to get it. I would marry their son, Draven?

I heaved a deep breath and cleared my throat to somehow get their attention. "I d-don't have plans to enter law school. Im sorry." My voice remained low but I know it was enough for them to hear it.

I saw Romulus' gaze went on my direction while Fritz's eyes widened. Tila parehong hindi inaasahan ang pagtutol ko kila Mommy. Like they're not used hearing me go against what our parents said.

"And..." I bit my lower lip and looked at mom and dad. "I have a b-boyfriend." I confessed.

That's when a deafening silence consumed the whole dining room. Dad's eyes were on me while a furrow is present in the middle of his brows. Namimilog ang mga mata ni Mommy at tila hindi inasahan na sasabihin ko iyon ngayon lalo na at sa harap ng mga Ynares.

"You have a boyfriend?"

My shoulders jumped when Draven spoke. Bahagya ko siyang nilingon ngunit agad ring iniwasan ang kanyang mga mata. "Yes, I have."

"Ate," Fritz called me like he's stopping me. Dahil pare-pareho naming alam na hindi maganda ang kalalabasan nito kung magpapatuloy ako sa pagsasalita.

But I don't want to just seat here while they're planning something against what I want. I'm always doing what they want but can't they give me this one?

Isa-isa kong tinignan ang aking mga magulang pati na rin si Tita Milena at Tito Rodolfo. "If you're planning to get us marry each other, I'm sorry but that won't happen. I have a boyfriend and I love him. I won't marry Draven, I'm sorry."

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