***PLEASE VOTE IF YOU LIKED IT!***
Dedicated to @Audriiinnn. She's Aubrey, btw. And tama yung character niya na hindi nauubusan ng sasabihin. At totoong nag-uusap kami sa lahat ng apps. Viber, Wechat, FB chat.
CHAPTER 1
Fourteen years later...
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Ugh. I sighed and rolled over. Pwede bang wag na lang pumasok? Napakalambot ng kama at unan ko. Madilim din sa labas at parang uulan pa. Lalo lang nakakatamad.
Pero ayaw manahimik ng alarm clock.
Fucker.
Tumayo na ako at chineck ang phone ko. May isang message mula sa kaibigan ko na si Aubrey. May chismis daw siya. This made me smile. Lagi namang may chismis si Aubrey. Hindi nauubusan. Directory siya ng chismis, kumbaga. At kung saan-saan nya iyon kinukwento sakin. Minsan sa WeChat, Viber or Facebook Chat. Kapag walang internet at hindi mapigilan, itetext pa nya yon o tatawagan ako.
But it's because of her that my life is more interesting.
Pumasok na ko sa shower at hinintay na umayos ang temperature. Ano nga ba ang gagawin ko sa araw na ito? Ah. May game nga pala si Mike ngayon so manonood kami ng friends ko. Mike is my boyfriend nga pala and we'll be celebrating our 2-year anniversary soon.
He's one of the hottest guys on campus right now.
Pero before? He was a nerd. As in chess ang intrams niya at baduy sya manamit. Close to jejemon level na. Ugh, gross. Joke lang. Hindi naman. Ang harsh ko. Haha.
But it was that hot, nerdy look that got me attracted to him. It was his beautiful singing voice which sealed the deal. But this was after I gave him a complete fashion makeover.
Back to what I was saying. Grabe, sobrang galing niyang kumanta. Walang kapares. Well, except for the vocalist of my favourite band, Rivendell.
I dragged Mike into my world and let him explore his opportunities. I asked him to get out of his comfort zone at magtry-out sa football team and sa bandfest na ginagawa sa school naming tuwing February. After much coaxing, nag-agree din siya. And last year was clearly his year. He got everything he wanted.
Look at him now.
He's the super hot and super talented captain of the football team and the vocalist of Halcyon as well.
I turned off the shower and heard the shrill ringing of my phone. Nagmadali ako magtuyo ng katawan and wrapped a robe around myself. Then, I reached for my Iphone.
"Hello?"
"Andreia!!!"
Napangiti ako. Alam na alam ko na kung sino ang may-ari ng boses na yun. Kay MC un, isa pa sa mga kaibigan ko.
"Oh? Bakit?"
"May kwento akooo!" she gushed.
Napataas kilay ko. "By any chance is this related to what Aubrey wanted to tell me?"
Tumili siya at sumakit ang tenga ko. I winced. Muntik ko nang mailaglag 'yong telepono. "Oo! Grabe! Kasi lumabas kami kagabi with Mike's teammates! Too bad you're not there! Tapos nagbar kami..."
Di niya natapos ung sinasabi niya kasi tumili siya ulit. Tapos may isa pang boses sa background na tumitili.
"Are you with Aubrey?" tanong ko.
"Oo! Dito na sya natulog sa amin. Anyway, balik sa kwento ko. Nag-inuman kasi kagabi tapos nagtruth or dare kame. Naalala mo si Vince?"
"Yes. He's your crush."
Maraming crush itong si MC. Sometimes, I lose track kung sino ba yung mga kinukuwento niya sa akin.
"Yep! He was dared to dance shirtless, last night! Tapos ginawa nga niya! Saw his V-line! And I wanted to lick every inch of it!"
My jaw dropped as I heard those words. Natauhan lang ako ulit nung tumili silang dalawa ni Aubrey. V-line daw! Etong si MC talaga, sobrang green kahit kelan. MC nga pala is short for Maria Ciara; parang Maria Clara pero totally opposite.
"O-kaaay? More details later? Baka malate pa tayo."
"Okay! Laters, baby!" sagot niya. Natawa ako sa reference sa Fifty Shades. See? Green diba?
Nilagay ko na yung phone ko sa bag at nagmadali magbihis.
Skinny jeans, Rivendell-printed na shirt (yes, fangirl ako because of my friends. But not to the highest level. They were the ones who introduced me to Rivendell. And because they love the band, natangay na din ako) at ballet flats. Naglagay lang din ako ng konting moisturizer sa mukha at baby powder. Hindi ko na kailangan ng foundation or concealer kasi likas naman akong makinis.
This was what I loved about me.
Maganda ako.
No, I'm not conceited. I'm just stating facts.
Bukod sa ganda, makinis din. Brown ang mata ko at may pagkasingkit. Lagi akong napapagkamalang Intsik or Korean. Maputi din ako, matangkad at slim.
There's also the added fact na mayaman ako at kilala ang pamilya namin. I'm a Tan. We're rich and influential. I have my own condo, my own car and tons of clothes and shoes. Magaling ako manamit at dahil slim ako, kahit anong damit ang isuot ko, kaya koi tong dalhin. People look to me for the next fashion trends.
Bukod sa ganda, I'm smart as well. Graduating na ako this year and I'll be doing it with flying colors.
Andreia Tan, Cum Laude.
And I guess these are the reasons why I landed one of the hottest guys on campus.
I went to the elevator of my condo and straight to the parking lot. I unlocked my Black Audi R8 and drove straight to school. Grabe, matraffic. It took me almost an hour before I arrived.
The first thing I saw was Mike. He was leaning against the hood of his sports car. He was looking straight at me as I parked.
"Hey, babe," he said as I exited the car. I just pursed my lips. Hindi pa kame ayos. We fought yesterday and this was the reason why I didn't go to his team's get together. I didn't want us to fight in front of his team. My anger faded a bit when I saw the bouquet of red roses he was holding.
"Peace offering?"
He smiled and my heart skipped a beat.
Gwapo talaga si Mike e. More so when he smiled. Ang tangkad pa niya. Also, add the physique of an athlete and you've got one great package. His family is also rich and this is why some people say that we're meant to be.
I think so too. Sometimes. May times din kasi na parang may kulang.
I love Mike. I really do. Pero I feel like I'm looking for something na hindi ko makikita sa kanya. The problem is, I don't know what that something is.
Labo, di ba?
"Babe, promise wala talaga yun. The rumours about me and that girl are really just rumours. Alam mo naman ang tao mahilig sa chismis. There's nothing going on with me and her. Trust me, babe," he pleaded.
Someone told my friends that they saw Mike with another girl at a restaurant in Trinoma. I confronted Mike about it at ang sabi niya naman ay kakilala ng parents niya ung girl at may sinasara silang deal. Since the girl was single, her parents asked Mike's parents for Mike to date their daughter. Since the deal is important to them, they agreed.
News of the date spread like wildfire. This was why I got mad at Mike yesterday.
Until today, actually.
Pero mukha naman siyang sincere sa apology niya at nageffort pa siya kaya medyo naglelessen din ang galit ko.
"Fine," I snapped.
"You're forgiving me?" he asked. Sobrang hopeful ng tone niya at medyo naawa ako talaga.
"No. You're on probation for now. Please don't do anything stupid, Mike. Don't throw away two years of us for another girl," I warned.
Mike shook his head. He stepped closer and placed his hands on my waist. Then, he tugged me closer and embraced me tightly.
Sigh.
Sobrang bango niya talaga. Also, whenever those strong arms are around me, I feel safe. Secure. It's as if nothing in this world can ever hurt me. Bumilis yung tibok ng puso ko. Mike is really the perfect guy.
I never doubted him—not until now.
Oo I know na pwedeng napapraning lang ako or nagseselos. Pwedeng totoo naman yung sinasabi niya na it was dinner for his parents' benefit. But what if he's lying?
What then?
Mike placed his thumb under my chin and lifted my head. Then, he swept his thumb over my eyebrows. "Stop frowning, Andreia. You're much more prettier when you smile," he whispered. Then, he bent his head and kissed me on the lips.
"OMG!!!!" someone shouted.
We instantly broke apart. MC and Aubrey were both staring at us with knowing grins on their faces.
"Err... I'll see you at the game later?" sabi sakin ni Mike. I nodded. "Bye, babe," he said and then kissed me again—this time sa forehead.
When he was gone, Aubrey and MC went back to shrieking their heads off. "Ang cute niyo talaga ni Mike!" Aubrey gushed.
I rolled my eyes.
"Enough about me and Mike. Ano na yung kwento mo, Aubrey?"
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How's my first Taglish story so far?
Please vote if you liked it! :)