Secret Heartbreaks

10

I'm sure that you already know the answer, you just don't want to acknowledge it.

Gretchen's words replayed in my ear. Hindi iyon mawala sa isip ko at tuwing wala akong ginagawa, iyon agad ang pinag-iisipan ko. At dahil ayaw kong marinig ang boses ni Gretchen at ayaw ko ring maalala ang kaniyang sinabi, inabala ko ang sarili.

Though it was late, I still started making Martell's sweater until I fell asleep. I had classes the next morning and since I stayed up late last night, I went to class really late. But what's more surprising is that I wasn't the only one who's late for class. Pagkalabas ko ng unit, nakasalubong ko sina Sasha at Olivia na mukhang nagulat din na sabay kaming male-late.

"Yay! Friendship goals," nakangiting pambungad ni Sasha bago inangkla ang braso sa amin ni Olivia.

Naglakad lang kami papuntang paaralan dahil ani Sasha, sulitin na lang daw namin ang pagiging late at babawi na lang bukas. Aniya pa na kahit tumakbo kami papunta roon, late pa rin naman kami.

"I stayed up late last cuz I started planning the Halloween party I'm hosting," Sasha shared as we walked towards the university as if we were just strolling around the neighborhood. "I'm still not sure about the theme. Any suggestions?"

Both Olivia and I shrugged. Hindi ako makapag-suggest ng tema dahil pinag-iisipan ko na ang susuotin ko.

"We three should have similar costumes," ani Sasha, mukhang nabasa yata ang iniisip ko. "Let's do Powerpuff girls!"

Patuloy kaming nag-usap-usap hanggang makarating sa paaralan. Break time na noong dumating kami kaya nag-chikka ulit kaming tatlo bago nagtanong-tanong ng mga na-miss namin.

Napag-usapan namin na ako ang gagawa ng mga susuotin namin. Olivia would be Blossom; Sasha as Bubbles; and I'd be Buttercup.

"Gaz, gusto ko sweetheart top yung dress," pag-request ni Sasha. "Powerpuff girls but make it sexy, please?"

Natawa kami ni Olivia sa kaniya. Sasha seems to be really excited about her upcoming party that her enthusiasm started to rub off on us.

"Where will you hold the party?" I asked. We were now planning for the decorations and setup yet she haven't mentioned where this party would take place.

"The three B's," she answered with a smile. "Berlin, Barcelona and Budapest."

"What?!" Pareho kaming nagulat ni Olivia. Alam ko naman na ganito talaga si Sasha pero hindi ko aakalain na hanggang doon ang karangyaan niya!

"Don't worry, we'll use a private plane," she assured nonchalantly as if holding a party on another continent is no big deal.

Sasha gestured us to come closer to her as if she was about to reveal a big secret. "You remember Orion, right? Orion Alvarez?"

Tumango kami ni Olivia at sabik na hinihintay ang susunod niyang sasabihin. "Well... long story short, we're gonna be the first ones to enjoy their newest hotels' restaurant bars and clubs."

I invited London in advance as per Sasha's request since she's also in Europe. We talked about the party for the whole day and only stopped when we arrived at our apartments. Olivia went somewhere, Sasha busied herself contacting every organizer she knows since according to her, she doesn't want to plan all three by herself, while I went to the gym.

I expected to see Martell but it was Gretchen and Gabriello who were there. Inigo was around as well and as usual, our conversation drained me. Nakakapagod na nga ang mga pinagawa ni Chloe tapos nadagdagan pa ng kadaldalan ni Inigo.

"How about this Friday? We could go eat some snacks after my classes," pag-aya niya. Kanina niya pa ako inaaya na pumunta sa kung saan at kanina pa rin ako tumatanggi. "I have a test on chemistry during my last period but after that, I'm free already."