Always the Best Friend, Never the Girlfriend

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13

I didn't talk to James for a few minutes as he drove around the busy small town. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Para akong na-kidnap nito at wala naman akong magawa kundi sumunod. I laughed at myself while staring out the glass window. Somehow, gusto ko din namang sumama. Worried lang naman ako sa mga dadamitin at wala akong extra cash para ilaan sa party. I always calculate the money I earn even before I receive it.

"Erin?"

I blinked then looked at James, "Hmmm?"

"Anong iniisip mo?" He kept his face straight on the road while driving, "2 hours to go nalang, nasa party na tayo. I'm sorry if I dragged you into this. Alam kong madami ka pang gagawin tonight." He sounded sorry, at least.

"Actually, yes. Pero balang araw sisingilin kita ng malaki sa favor na hiningi mo sakin ngayon! Di pa nga ako nakaka-review sa exam sa Monday! Matatapos na ang first sem, naghahabol kasi ako ng grades. Next month, finals na." I blurted out. Di ko akalaing sasabihin ko yun lahat ng ganun kabilis.

"Sorry..." He touched my hand with his free hand.

Argh, butterflies. Ang lamig na naman ng kamay ko at mainit na naman ang kanya. As usual, nakakawala ng kaba pag hawak niya ang kamay ko.

"I promise, matutuwa ka tonight. C'mon Erin, live your teenage life!" He turned to me and smiled, "Minsan lang ang mga ganitong events. Anyway, we're here sa mall. Tawagan ko lang ang assistant ng mama ko."

I nodded.

He dialed a number then waited for someone to pick up the phone on the other line, "We're here at the entrance."

A few minutes later, a lady at her late twenties came to approach us at the entrance. She's wearing a black plain skirt and matching black plain suit with a pink blouse underneath. Her hair was drawn upward in a tight ponytail. Naka-smile lang siya habang naglalakad at kumakaway kay James.

"Hi James!" Lumapit siya at nag-beso kay James. "You must be the lucky girl, Erin?" Ngumiti din siya at nag-beso sakin. 

"Let's go?"

James took my nervous cold hand and lead me inside the mall. I look really weird right now kasi may apron pa ako at nakauniform pa ako ng cafe. Tinanggal ko ang apron at tinupi para ilagay sa bulsa. Nakita ito ni James at ngumiti nalang siya ulit para hawakan ulit ang kamay ko.

Next thing I knew, nasa tapat na kami ng Forever 21. Oh no, don't tell me dito ako ibibili ng damit ni James? Mahal dito! Tama na sakin kahit sa ukay-ukay niya ako bilhan o pahiramin nalang ako ng damit pero ang bilhan pa niya ako ng bago? That's too much! I tugged his hand to signal my hesitation.

"Everything's on me. Isipin mo nalang kapalit ito ng favor na hiningi ko sayo, okay?" He smiled and pulled me inside the store.

I walked past the rows of expensive blouses, skirts, tops, shirts, pants, shorts and dresses. Wow, grabe ngayon lang ako nakapasok dito. Lagi ko naman nadadaanan pero bakit naman ako papasok sa loob kung di naman ako bibili diba. At hindi naman ako ma-entertain ng mga sales lady dahil iniiwasan ko sila. I touched the fabrics of random blouses nearby habang magkausap pa sina James at ang assistant ng mama niya sa malapit sa fitting room. Hmmm... Ano kayang isusuot ko? Di ko naman alam ang theme at di ko nakita ang invitation.

Finally after several minutes, I sat down the bench and sighed. Kinakabahan ako sa mangyayari mamaya.

"Erin?" Mia, the assistant, approached me. "I just picked up a simple and nice dress for you. Look." She held out a white long dress with gold sequins and gold flower accents at the shoulder line. The fabric was smooth and thin but it had several layers of white overlapping fabrics to cover the purity of the owner inside. Anong simple? Simple was an understatement!