Chapter 1: Party
Adrien's POV
6:00 A.M.
Nagising ako sa tunog ng alarm ko as it deafeningly rang beside my bed. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon pagkatapos ito patayin, still feeling a bit weak and heavy-eyed. I brushed my hair back, put on my white slippers, and walked straight into the bathroom. I took my toothbrush and started brushing my teeth as I stare at myself in the squeaky clean mirror.
I didn't sleep well last night. I was wondering kung saan na naman kaya pumunta si Ashton.
After brushing my teeth, I started to remove my clothes, feeling the coldness of the early morning as stepped into the shower. Ramdam ko 'yong mainit na tubig na umagos sa balat ko, it felt great, but I still can't stop thinking about my brother.
He never says anything pag nawawala siya nang biglaan. He just comes back the next day like he really had a night out with his friends, but I know he won't spend a bad night like that.
I stepped out of the shower, feeling more awake now than I was earlier, grabbing a clean towel nang biglang tumunog yung phone ko. It's Katniss—Katniss Vasquez. We have a lot of classes together and I think she likes me. This week ko lang napansin because she constantly tries to meet my eyes. I also notice her body language and it screams out that she indeed has a crush on me.
[Adrien! Pwede ba ko sa group niyo for our feasibility study to be passed next week? Absent kasi ako kahapon. Pretty please?]
Hindi sa nag-aassume ako—but actually, oo nga, nag-aassume ako. People are allowed to assume things. They actually do it all the time, because we respond to the things we see and feel and in result, we make up conclusions.
[Sure.]
I didn't bother checking my phone after that. I got out of the bathroom at nagbihis na.
Katniss is very attractive. She's also an optimist and an excellent student. She's the type of girl that can make the people around her like her. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, but I don't think I can bring myself to like her.
Meghan's POV
6:00 AM
Now this is the part I hate the most. Putangina talaga.
Kinuha ko 'yong phone ko sa bulsa, at tinawagan isa-isa ang mga nasa contacts ko. I have managed to get a lot of friends, para lang may matulugan. At para hindi nila ako itaboy, may schedule sila according to the letters of their first name. And for today—letter N ako.
I scrolled down my contacts na nagsisimula sa N at karamihan sa kanila ay mga lalaki, and they're less than 15. Bihira ako makitulog sa mga lalaki. I have to make sure na wala silang gagawin sakin, and it's almost impossible to find a man like that.
I tapped the very first name—Nina. It gave a few rings dahil walang sumasagot. The bad thing about this time ay halos lahat tulog pa.
I went on to the next girl. Wala ako sa mood kumausap ng lalaki ngayon because of last night. Nag-ring lang ulit nang nag-ring 'yong phone ko and after a few seconds, ni-reject yung tawag ko. Bitch.
After two more tries, I moved on to the next and last contact for the letter N, Natasha. Matagal na nag-ring 'yong phone niya, but luckily, she answered.
"Um, hey, Nat?" I said, making sure I sound weak and 'kaawa-awa'.
"Meghan? How's life?" she greeted. Mukhang ginising ko ata siya.
"Life's been shit again, Nat," I answered, trying my best to sound convincing. "Can I go sleep over at your place again? I promise, last na 'to. I had a fight with my father again," sabi ko, although I haven't seen nor spoken to any of my relatives for 6 months now.
"You're a really good friend, Meghan." Then you should fucking let me sleep in. Antok na ko, fuck. "At alam mong welcome ka sa bahay anytime, but... I'm out of town kasi ngayon. I'm really, really sorry. Maybe it's time to avoid fighting with your parents?" Maybe it's time you stop trying to tell me what to do.
"Maybe it is," sabi ko, trying to sound sad. "Thank you parin, Nat. Have a nice day!" I said before ending the call. I sighed. Tangina naman talaga. Ito na naman tayo—no choice na naman.
I scrolled up my contacts and tapped the name that in some weird way, binabagsakan ko halos araw-araw. Without further hesitation, I started calling him. I sighed as I watched it ring. At wala pang limang segundo, sinagot niya na agad 'yong tawag ko. Unlike all the other contacts I have in my phone, this one is actually my friend.
"Alam ko na. Wala ka na naman mahanap na tutulugan?" bungad niya sa'kin and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I'm sitting in my car right now, with nothing but a bad fucking headache and heavy, sleepy eyes.
"Papunta na ko d'yan. And I'm starving as fuck," I said at binaba na agad 'yong call. I groaned at napasandal nalang sa upuan ng kotse ko. The sun's starting to shine brighter at mas umiinit na ngayon. I should get at his place already, before the weather gets too hot and annoying.
As I've said, he's the only real person I have in my contacts, pero sa lahat ng mga nasa contacts ko, siya rin 'yong pinaka-ayokong tinatawagan.
He's too kind to me. I don't like it. And he's been this way since we were kids. Bago pa ako maging ganito. Nandito na siya lagi para sa akin noong may inuuwian pa 'kong bahay, noong may mga nagluluto pa para sakin at nabibili ko lahat ng gusto ko.
I started driving, feeling a bit dizzy as I stare at the familiar road. I took a left turn and in just a few minutes, I already saw Jaden's condo. I hope he's not so busy like he always is. It makes me feel like a nuisance.
I went for the parking lot and quickly and lazily pulled up near his building, not really giving a lot of fuck kung pantay ba 'yong pagka-park ko o kung dalawang lot 'yong nasakop ko.
Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papunta sa condo niya, still feeling a bit groggy dahil sa mga nainom ko last night. Bitbit ko 'yong bote ng Cuervo na hindi ko maalala kung saan ko nakuha habang naglalakad.
Alam ko narin 'yong passcode dito. It's always 844120. If I didn't know him ever since I was 7, I would've thrown myself a party habang wala siya, but maybe I've got a little politeness left in me, and that's why he trusted me with his passcode.
"Well, good morning to you," bati sa akin ni Jaden pagbukas ko ng pinto. He looks good—as always. He's in a plain white loose polo that's showing his sexy collarbone and a simple light blue shorts. He looks so clean, so gentle and sweet.
Chinese ang papa ni Jaden. Which explains why his last name is 'Lee'. He doesn't look anything like his mother. Sa unang tingin, parang pure Chinese siya. He has those cute little eyes that disappear when he smiles. He used to be the campus heartthrob when we were in high school.
Inirapan ko siya at dumiretsyo sa loob ng loft condo unit niya,. Nilapag ko 'yong bote ng Cuervo sa center table sala at humiga muna sa sofa, letting my body sink into the fluffy, soft white leather. His condo has a theme of white and a dull blue, with lights everywhere, making the whole place look cleaner and colder than it is.
"I cooked some ba-"
"I don't wanna fucking talk," sagot ko sa kaniya, closing my eyes.
"You should eat. Sabi mo kanina you're starving," he muttered in a gentle, caring tone, as he's slowly getting near me. His footsteps continued walking towards me, and after a few more seconds, ramdam ko nang nasa tabi ko siya. I became more determined to keep my eyes shut. I don't wanna see his face na disappointed sa'kin because of how pathetic I look right now.
"Mamaya na ako kakain. Don't you have somewhere to go to? Why are you still here?" I said at hindi na napigilang idilat ang mga mata ko.
And of course, he doesn't look disappointed at me—he never does. The first time he saw me, his eyes were filled with admiration, na parang lahat ng bagay tungkol sa'kin, kinakahangaan niya. And he never stopped looking at me like that, not even now.
Although right now, he looks pale. I mean, he was always snowy white, but he looks extra pale right now.
"I have classes, pero nagabsent ako," aniya.
"Why? Don't tell me nag-absent ka because I told you I was coming," sabi ko at napabangon. "You know I hate bothering you and—"
"Calm down, Meghan, you're very pretty, pero hindi ako mag-aabsent para sayo," sabi niya at tumawa. "Atleast not kung okay ka naman."
"Then why didn't you go to school?" I asked habang nagtatanggal ng sapatos. I got up and walked away from the living room, and into the dining area, bare-footed. Pumunta ako sa table, checking out what he cooked for me. Bacons and some karaage.
"I'm sorry kung nagprito lang ako, you were already on your way, and I'm... I'm kind of umm... sick," he said, almost whispering the last part at napatingin agad ako sa kaniya. Kaya pala namumutla siya!
"You should've told me! Hindi na dapat ako pumunta dito at pinagluto ka ng kakainin ko!" sigaw ko sa kaniya at kinuha 'yong Cuervo ko na nilapag ko sa lamesa. "I'm leaving," mariing sabi ko at hindi na siya nilingon.
"Meghan, I know you don't like going in here, I know you hate bothering me, pero napadpad ka dito dahil-"
"Dahil wala na akong ibang mapuntahan," pagtuloy ko sa sinasabi niya. "I am fucking aware of that, Jaden. But guess what? I don't give a single fuck."
"I'm not gonna do anything for you anymore, para hindi mo maramdaman na inaabala mo ko. Just please... stay. I'm gonna be so worried kapag umalis ka, knowing that you have nowhere to go."
"You've done enough for me, I'll be fine," I said as I glare at him. "Kaya p'wede ba, Jaden, tumigil ka na? Ayokong kinakaawaan ako," sabi ko at naglakad na palabas ng condo unit niya.
I know he's just worried about me. But I'm stubborn and full of pride. He should just take care of himself. Hindi ko siya kailangan.
Adrien's POV
4:01 PM
Inaayos ko na ang mga gamit ko, ready to leave the room and go home, qnang biglang sumulpot si Katniss sa harap ko.
"I don't really get much about the discussion, I think you'd make a really good teacher, can you please, please help me?" sabi niya sa akin and I studied her face. We're in the middle of our classroom, at kakatapos lang ng klase.
She clearly understands every single thing that was discussed. She's smart, but trying to get me like this is a stupid move.
"I don't think I get it either," pagsisinungaling ko and she frowned at me, pissing me off.
"Please? Call me later? I really don't get it at may homework pa tayo about do'n na ipapasa bukas. Hindi ko alam gagawin, so please? Just this time?" I sighed, looking at her. May mga tumitingin na sa aming ibang mga students. "I'll make it up to you, I promise." Great. She's already planning a date. Smart.
"Alright. I'll try," sabi ko and she gave me a wide, relieved smile. "I gotta go. See you tomorrow," paalam ko and she nodded habang namumula.
I headed to my car, inaalala yung mga projects and homeworks na gagawin ko pag-uwi. We have a reporting next week, Mr. Garcia was asking us to research about the next lessons, and I still have to do the written report about hydrology to be passed by the end of the week. After recalling everything I have to do, I started the car at mag-ddrive na sana nang tumatakbong lumapit sa'kin si Ross.
"Man!!" hinihingal na tawag niya sa akin at binuksan ko 'yong bintana para sa kaniya. "It's Mav's birthday party tonight, invited buong year natin sa bahay nila. You need to come," aniya, emphasizing the word 'need'.
Ross is my closest friend. I can say I have a lot of friends even though people see me as distant and cold, but I don't really like having them too close into my personal life. I see most of them as acquaintances, and I think it's okay. I like having my space and privacy.
"Alam mo namang hindi ako mahilig d'yan. Dalawang bagay lang naman pinupunta nila sa mga ganyang parties—alcohol and one night stands." Magsasalita na sana siya, but I stopped him. "And you know I'm not a fan of either of those things."
"I promise, it'll be fun. Sinabi ko na sa parents mo, and they both agree that you should go out and be a normal college student sometimes," he stated, and I studied his face.
Ross always wanted me to 'enjoy life', because he doesn't quite get the fact we're two different people, doing different things and still both enjoying life.
"Kailangan ko rin ng maghahatid sa'kin pauwi kasi you know naman... how heavy of a drinker I am," sabi niya, but I know he just really wants to get me to go to a party. He disappears with a random girl—or girls—in every party, it's impossible that he wants someone to drive him home.
First, Katniss. And now, a party. I hate it when my plans change.
"Fine. Susubukan ko, but please don't force me to drink, okay?"
"'Yon, o! See you, man!" he said in success at napangiti na lang ako.
I closed the window and drove my way home.
**
I was busy changing my clothes for tonight's party nang biglang mag-ring yung phone ko. It's Katniss.
"Hi! I was wondering kung may time ka to help me with the lesson na..." mahinang sabi niya.
According to our conversation earlier, I'm pretty sure I was the one who should be calling her. I guess she couldn't wait anymore.
"I'm really sorry, Katniss, but I'm going to Mav's party tonight," sabi ko, glancing at the clock that seems to be staring at me right now.
Ross texted me everything and it's supposed to start by 8. I have to get home before 10.
"'Yong birthday party ni Mav? Really?" It's already 7:30 at nag-cocontemplate pa rin ako kung pupunta talaga ako.
"Yeah. Ross wanted me to come," I simply said, looking at myself in the mirror. Nakapants lang ako and a plain white polo.
"Well, that's... new. Hindi ka pumupunta sa mga ganyang party, e."
"Yeah... What about you? Do you wanna come?" I asked her out of curiosity.
"Hindi rin ako fan ng mga parties, but since you asked me to go, I might as well try it!" Wait, did she think I was asking her out?
"Okay—"
"Great! Come pick me up after you get ready, and don't be late, ha?" she said in an excited voice and immediately ended the call.
I guess my plans aren't gonna stay the same for the rest of the night.