Tilting the Hourglass

Chapter 2

My friends and I are chilling in a café nearby, Lynne and Milo are bickering about the ruling of a case we're supposed to be studying when I got a text message from Tristan.

"Sama ka later? Party sa club dahil birthday ni Joshua. You can bring your friends over. " That was the composition of his text. Nakita ko namang sumilip si Milo sa phone ko para magbasa. Agad ko siyang binatukan.

"Oi! Nag-aaya itong si tukmol mamaya sa club, G ba tayo?" Milo asked our friends.

I frowned upon hearing him.

"Wow. Kapal natin ah? Ikaw ba inaya? In-announce agad eh." I scrunched my nose in disgust.

Milo just smirked then took a sipped from his frappe.

"G ako." Lynne raised her hand to show us she's willing to go. "Ikaw din diba?" She nudged at Trey.

Trey nonchalantly nodded his head.

"Ikaw ba Amy, Sama ka?" I asked our goody-shoes friend.

She took a glance at Milo in which the latter gave her an approving look, "Why not? Para mabigyan namin ng chance boyfriend mo na i-redeem ang sarili niya."

I nodded. "Good. It's settled then. Pupunta kayo at ako ang hindi." I scoffed.

Agad naman tumaas ang kilay ni Lynne sa tinuran ko. "Bobo. Pangit naman nun! Ikaw yung inaya tapos ikaw 'di pupunta?"

Trey glared at me and said, "Bakit hindi ka pupunta?"

I sighed and shortly replied, "Family Dinner."

Their mouths formed an "o" pero agad naman nilang na intindihan ang sinabi kong dahilan.

Milo tried his luck and asked, "Edi after ng dinner niyo, doon tayo pumunta."

I was about to answer when Amy said, "Baby, Do you think papayagan siyang umalis? Eh sobrang strict kaya ng Dad ni Seri."

Everyone nodded at what she said. Lagi siyang may punto kaya wala din makakontra.

I don't want to push my luck kahit na gustung-gusto kong mag club at mag chill. Panibagong disappointment nanaman ang maibibigay ko kay Dad kapag nalaman niyang umalis ako sa family dinner para lang makapag club.

I texted Tristan that I can't come. He expressed his disappointment about my decision and when I explained why, He didn't reply anymore.

Hindi ko na pinilit. Why would I chase him over some petty reasons?

My friends noticed that my mood went down so they just continued studying the cases.

When my class ended that day, Auntie Maggie was already waiting at the parking lot of the school. I took a short tour at the restroom first to freshen up and change my clothes before meeting her.

"Sup." She said as I sat on the passenger seat of her car. She looked at the rear view mirror and fixed her lipstick.

I kissed her cheek and said, "Stress ako sa isang subject!" I protruded my lips for drama.

Umismid lang si Tita at nagsimula ng mag drive. "Pwede ka pa naman mag shift. Ako magbabayad sa tuition mo kapag nag Fine Arts ka."

"Wow. Sugar mommy." I grinned to tease her.

She immediately made a disgusted face and look at me. "Tigilan mo ako Serena Lucille ah. Seryoso ako."

I grimaced and pouted, "Sorry po. Tatapusin ko na 'to Auntie, Ilang buwan nalang naman matatapos na ako. If the future's good, Baka mag double degree nalang ako. Enroll na ako nalang akong fine arts nun." I smiled to assure her.