Always the Best Friend, Never the Girlfriend

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 14

James' POV

I drove as fast as I could to reach my condo in a few minutes. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero mukhang excited na ako talaga ngayong gabi. At first, di talaga ako interesado nung sinabi sakin ng mama ko na kailangan ng representative ng pamilya namin sa acquaintance party na yun. Parang pambatang party lang, kailangan pa ba ng representative galing sa pami-pamilya? Though I knew that the school director was the one who had been organizing this social party for years, I was not as excited as others until earlier.

Red light, stop.

I sighed. Sayang di ako umabot sa yellow light. Sighing, I checked my watch. No worries, may oras pa. I wondered what Erin was doing right now. Sigurado ako, di naman siya pababayaan ni Mia. Sabi ko na eh, ayusan mo lang si Erin, mas maganda pa siya sa ibang socialite girls sa school. Hindi ako nagkamali na piliin siyang date ko tonight. I smiled at the thought.

I'll do whatever I can tonight to see that genuine sweet smile of her. Just the thought of it makes me smile too.

Green light, go!

Siguro nga, ito na yung sinasabi siguro ng iba na 'moving on stage'. I'm glad that I'm finally moving on.

After a few turns on the road, I finally reached my condo. I jumped out of my car as soon as I parked it and ran my way up to the elevator door. I checked my watch again. And I got into my floor after barely a minute. Buti nalang mabilis ang elevator dito kahit na nasa 12th floor ang room ko.

I rushed inside my unit and grabbed the paperbags I got on my dining table. Sabi ni Mia, dito niya daw nilagay ang suit ko at shoes for the party. With a quick shower, I dressed up in a few minutes. I checked my reflection at the mirror.

Simpleng white shirt panloob at gray suit ang binili ni Mia. Alam talaga niya kung ano ang babagay sakin. I trust her taste kaya sakanya ko pinaubaya si Erin. Hindi na ako pupunta ng salon para sa simpleng hairdo ko. Clean cut naman, pasado na 'to kahit sa taste ng mama ko.

RIIIIIIIIING. RIIIIIIIIIING.

I grabbed my cellphone at the sofa and answered, "Yes Ma?"

"Anak, kamusta ang date mo? I heard from Mia break na daw kayo ni Andrea? What happened? Paano tonight?" She said on the other line.

"I got a new date, Ma. She's a friend." I answered.

"I trust you, anak. Alam kong sa magandang pamilya naman siya galing." She sighed, "Sayang nga lang si Andrea, maganda ang family background niya-"

"Ma!" I whined.

"Okay, okay. Whoever that girl is, ang importante di ka niya lokohin okay? Alam mo namang ikaw lang ang lalaki sa mga anak ko, dapat hindi ka nagpapaloko." She paused. "Sabi ni Mia, she looks amazing. I told her to send me a picture via email tonight."

"Parang mas updated ka pa sakin, Ma. I've got to go. Bye, Ma." I want this conversation to end.

"Okay, ingat, enjoy at wag kalimutan... socialize! Love you, anak!" With that, she ended the call.

I smiled. Sana magustuhan din ni Mama si Erin balang araw.

As I checked my watch, bumaba na ako ng condo para sunduin si Erin sa mall. Sa parking nalang ako nag-hintay dahil on the way narin daw sila pababa ng parking. I turned my stereo on and had the speakers on high volumes. I need a push tonight. 

Kailangan kong iparamdam kay Erin, na dapat maging proud din siya kung ano ang meron siya. Dahil hindi siya dapat mahiya kung anumang meron siya. At sana mag-enjoy siya kasama ako tonight.