Ludic Selcouth #3: Dancing Keys

Key #6

"What do you want for your seventeenth birthday, Ava?" dad asked while we're eating dinner. I gently wiped my mouth with the table napkin before looking at him.

"I will appreciate anything, dad. But.. please, no parties." saglit na natahimik kaya nagpatuloy nalang ako sa pagkain.

I will party for the first time in EC bar, I don't need the party that will force me to socialize with their business partners. Ako ang may birthday pero siguradong puro bisita naman nila ang pupunta.

"Are you sure?" I nodded quietly.

"Okay, then. We will just have a family dinner, and we're giving you a car." mabilis akong napaangat ng tingin at nanlalaki ang matang tinitigan si daddy. Did I hear it right?

"We're giving you a car because we know that you will be responsible, Ava. On the other hand, the moment you abandon your piano classes, you know what will happen." my heart sunk. Talagang may kundisyon pa rin.

It's surprising that they finally let me take the fake classes on Paesyn's own place. Not really his own place because we're honestly renting a studio just for that fake session. Sa kaibigan raw nila yung studio na 'yon at talagang kumpleto ang mga instruments.

It's decent and fancy, that's why we managed to convince my parents to take the classes there. Though wala naman talagang nangyayaring klase kasi umaattend ako ng dance rehearsals. Palabas lang ang mga 'yon. Akala ng parents ko ay kay Paesyn yung studio na 'yon.

Oh well, I'm really thankful that Paesyn is helping me.

"You will just use the car for going to your university. We will confiscate the key during weekends. Ruben will still drive you if you need to shop or go somewhere that doesn't involve school." mom said on a serious tone.

Napahinga nalang ako nang malalim at tumango. Atleast I will have a car, mas mapapabilis ang buhay ko. Hindi na ako kailangang daanan ni Paesyn sa university para lang palabasin na may klase kami. He will always drive me to the dance studio instead of just dropping me on the jeep terminal.

Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko pero hindi niya na talaga ako hinahayaang mag commute.

After dinner, I went to my bedroom.

Pabagsak akong nahiga sa kama at kinuha ang isang unan para mahigpit 'yong yakapin.

Tomorrow is my birthday..

Family dinner tomorrow night.. Shit. Paano ako makakapunta ng EC bar?

May last two exams pa kami bukas para sa finals. Next week ay siguradong magcocompile nalang kami ng iba pang requirements at sunod.. bakasyon na.

I'm already thinking about summer because of what I overheard with mom and dad's conversation. They will send me to London and make me compete for an international piano competition. It's stressing me out.

Naglinis na ako ng katawan at agad ding bumalik sa kama para sana matulog nang maaga.

I can't sleep though. I wonder what will happen tomorrow. I'm excited and nervous with the foolishness that I will be doing together with Kerry and Juliana.

Nasakin na ang forged ID na pinagawa ni Kerry. I also managed to force Juliana to come with us. I feel like I'm being a bad influence to her since she's really an obedient daughter to her family, but well.. Birthday just happens once a year. It wouldn't hurt to rebel atleast once right? Tsaka 18 naman na kami next year!

I was scrolling through my home feed when a photo caught my attention. It has a lot of likes, retweets, and comments.

It's a pretty girl's tweet. She's holding a beer glass while Paesyn is beside her, they're both smiling widely on the camera and Paesyn's right arm is around the girl's shoulder. May caption pa na, "guess who I met tonight and luckily took a picture with?! The famous Paesyn Holeary!"