Patakbo akong sumilong sa kotse ko, wala na akong pake kung basang-basa ako

matutuyo din naman iyan mamaya. Bwisit! Kaya nga ako nagpunta sa park na ito para
magtanggal ng stress pero parang mas naabala pa ako.

~neo temune eonmomi ta eulla

neo temune shimjangi mong malla
like a fever~

May tumatawag sa phone ko pero parang ayaw ko nang sagutin pa, ang ganda-ganda kasi
ng ringtone ko bigla tuloy akong napapasayaw.

"Hello?" I picked up. Siguraduhin lang nila na importante to.

"My lovely daughter, this is your loveliest mom!"

Shit. Tangina I was trying to avoid her calls on purpose, kelan pa ba nagpalit ng
number si mommy? I have no choice but to talk to her now, hayss.

"What's up mom?"

"Patricia akala ko kung napano ka na. Alam mo bang tawag ako ng tawag kagabi? You
were not picking up, are you avoiding me or something?"

I was clubbing last night, but I won't tell her that ofcourse.

"Mommy may group study po kami. Pinatay ko yung phone ko para walang distraction."

Yes ganito nga. My mom would always buy this excuse, basta't tungkol sa pagiging
mabuti kong estudyante.

"Ohh is that so? I'm sorry, I was just worried at tsaka alam mo namang nag-iisa
nalang ako sa bahay na ito kasama si Tristan at mga katulong natin. Iyong mga
kumare ko naman eh sobrang busy sa mga apo nila. Trishia ako nalang ang napag-
iiwanan sa kanila, parang kailangan ko narin ata ng mga apo."

"What the heck mom, apo?! Nasa college palang po ako, ba't hindi niyo po hingan si
kuya Tristan tutal napaka rami naman niyang babae." Ibinulong ko lang iyong mga
huli kong sinabi mahirap na, kahit naman napaka sama saakin ng kapatid kong iyon ay
pinagtatakpan parin naman namin ang isa't-isa. "Mommy kung tumawag kayo sa akin
para lang dito ibababa ko na po ito." Pagtutuloy ko.

"No wait! Grabe ka naman sakin Pat, okay hindi ko na iyon babanggitin. Nadala lang
talaga ako sa pagk-kwento alam but the real reason I called you for was to inform
you about a small gathering we'd be having next day after tomorrow at 7pm. Hindi mo
na kailangang mamroblema ng susuotin dahil ipapadala ko nalang yung dress sa
apartment mo. Ipapasundo nalang din kita kay Tristan."

Seems like everything has been planned. Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko.

"Okay mom i'll be there, iyon na po ba?"

"Yes take care my lovely daughter, mwah."

"Bye mom, take care too."

Ibinaba naman na niya agad iyong tawag. Sa totoo lang ayaw-ayaw ko talagang
nagpupunta sa mga gathering na yan dahil puro naman sila matatanda. I would only
look awkward hanging around by myself.
Napansin ko na tumila na yung ulan at medyo natutuyuan na ako. I need to go home
quickly at makapagshower or else i'd catch cold.
_ _ _

It's saturday 5 pm. I'm getting ready for the event. I first took a shower and
brushed my teeth. I don't think I should really get into this so I'll put on a
light make-up, it would also go well with my powder-blue dress. It looks very
simple but chic at the same time, its silk and really flowy. I didn't bother to
curl my hair, I'd like this as it is.

I bought my purse with me and this is it. I look really simple but its fine, I'd
look good in anything. I'm taking a good look at myself in the mirror.

Right at the moment I recieved a message from my brother. He's here at bilisan ko
daw, he really despise waiting for girls I don't know why.

I grabbed my white heels, I really like these since they go off with anything.

I'm already in front of the elevator and as soon as it opens the first thing I see
are two people making out. Like the girl's hands are literally everywhere. I don't
mind anyway and I'm not uncomfy but they might be and don't want to disturb their
moment since it looks like they're really into it.

Anyway I have no choice but to get in because I'm running late and traffic is also
really bad at this hour. I got in but they don't seem to mind me thankgoodness. I
think its basic manners not to look and mind your own business so I'm being
unbothered.

Bumukas din naman agad yung elevator kaya nakalabas din ako agad. Lumakad na ako
palayo nang hindi lumilingon. Well I hope everything goes well.

Natanawan ko agad sa harap ng building yung kotseng gamit ni kuya. I ran to it

opened the door myself, what would I expect? Buti nalang at inantay niya pa akong
makapagsuot ng seatbelt.
On the way I checked on myself using my phone just to make sure I look fine.

I look great, but something seems odd but I also can't get a grip on what it is. A
few more looks and finally!

"Damn I don't have my left earring."

I had it before leaving my house. Fuck it must have fell off on the hallway.

"Then don't wear the other one too, what's the fuss about?" My brother said still
looking at the road.

"Alam mo hindi naman iyon ganun kadali, I mean may sentimental value kasi sakin
yun. Pano kung hindi ko na mahanap pa?" Aghrhh!

"Forget it, there's no point in crying over a spilled milk. Kung mahalaga pala yun
sayo sana itinago mo nalang."

I rolled my eyes at him and muttered. "Dumb ass freak."

"Tsk I heard that."

"Well, you were supposed to."

I hate him, he is always like this. We don't really get along too.
_ _ _

We arrived at a hotel and We were guided to a room. Marami akong nakikitang mga
bisita and some of them I know pero di ko rin naman sila nakaka-usap.

I spotted my mom right away so I went to her direction. May kausap pa siya kaya
naging maingat ako. Nagexcuse naman na siya ng mapansin ako na papalapit.

"Hello mom." She went on to hug me.

"I'm glad you wore that dress, I was worried you wouldn't. I'm glad though, it
looks good on you." She said.

"I like the dress too." I said.

"Oh I should introduce you to them." Hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinukoy ni mommy
pero napadala na lamang ako.

"Christina and Ronaldo meet my daughter Patricia." My mom introduced me with a wide
smile. These are the couple she was talking to earlier.

"Hi I'm Patricia." I said again and offered my hands.

"What a beautiful young lady. Alam mo iha nak-kwento ka lagi saamin ng mommy mo.
I'm really glad to see in person like this." Tita Christina said.

Grabe naf-flatter ako sa compliment ni Tita. "I'm really glad to meet you too." I
said with a smile.

Nagpatuloy naman ang kwentuhan nila ni mommy kaya inexcuse ko na ang sarili ko sa
kanila. Sa totoo lang hindi ko parin alam kung para saan ba itong event na ito.
Maybe its only for social purposes, may mga nakikita din kasi akong bata.

I saw some of my highschool friends at a table and they called me over. I don't
hang-out with them anymore so I don't know anything new about them.

"Hi Tricia!" Anne greeted. Even before she had always been the nicest among us so I
was expecting that.

"Hey" -Jared

"Hey" I greeted back. Its kinda awkward, lalo na't hindi ko na alam kung pano aakto
kasama sila. Am I overthinking too much? Bahala na nga.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Anne. Inabutan naman ako ni Jared ng wine. He raised his glass
so I followed and drank the wine without leaving a drop. Don't expect manners from
me, tutal naman social party ito.

I saw Jared looking fascinated by what I just did. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay kaya
napangisi na lamang siya at ininom na din ang wine niya, katulad ko wala rin siyang
iniwan. Ako naman ngayon ang napangisi sa kinilos niya.

"Ah oo nga pala, diba Tricia nag-aaral ka sa (_) International University?" Tanong
ni Anne.

"Oo, but why do you ask?"

"Iyon kasing boyfriend ni Lia, si Marco Suarez doon din nag-aaral. Business
Management din ang course mo diba? Oh Pareho pa pala kayo ng department." Sagot
niya.

"Sorry, wala akong kilalang Marco Suarez." I answered. Totoo naman. Mm but I
must've heard of this name before, it sounds familiar.

"What about Marco?"

Napalingon kaming lahat sa biglang pagdating ni Lia.

"No nothing, I was just asking Trishia if she knew Marco. Nalaman ko kasi na same
department pala sila sa (_) International." Anne answered her.

"have you told her about us?" Follow up question ni Lia.

"Oo naman, pero sayang nga lang kasi hindi naman daw kilala ni Trishia si Marco."

"I see." Sinubukan pa niyang itago pero halata namang napangiti siya sa narinig.

"Hi Lia." I greeted her because I coudn't earlier.

"Trishia, nice to see you again." She greeted back.

Umupo siya sa tapat ng upuan ko kaya kitang-kitang ko siya. Well not that I hate
her or anything, but I have always felt awkward around her. To cut it short our
personalities just simply don't match.

"Where's your earring?" Tanong