Sincere Lies

Twenty-Five

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I realized there were things I never thought I would experience in Town in a Building as I strolled down the biggest hallway in our school campus. I never thought that I would be joining a pageant (which I didn't win, but that's okay as what Chris and my friends said). I also never thought that I would be in love with a person who could totally get me even with the most misunderstood language. I never thought that I would actually feel happy. I never thought that I would actually feel happy and feel loved enough in school.

"Good-bye, Stephanie," Abby said, waving at me. That was in spite of us being not that close anymore. Hindi na siya lagi ang kasabay kong kumain sa school, and that's okay. In our school, I have a new set people to join lunch with, and I'm happy. On the whole, I was happy in spite of things not going the way I wanted to.

"Bye-bye," I waved back at Abby as she smiled.

Maybe this is how much Chris has impacted my life. I tend to see things in a much brighter way than before.

There were more things I never thought I would experience because of Town in a Building and most importantly, because of Chris. I have a better self-esteem now. I also don't stress myself about studies that much anymore.

And now, we'll be going to the yearly ball of Town in a Building. We've prepared so bad for this, and now, it's time. Although I don't have much time for that.

I checked my phone to see if my friends were already outside the university, but what caught my attention was the five missed calls of Mom. I called her back, and after a few rings, she answered.

"Stephanie?" Mom started.

"Tumatawag po kayo?"

"Mga 12 na kami ng midnight makakauwi ng Dad mo," ang sabi ni Mom. "Hindi kami na-orient na hanggang hating-gabi pala ang reunion namin."

"Ah, sige po," ang sabi ko.

"Bili ka na lang ng ulam mo for your dinner," ang sabi ni Mom. "Bye."

"Bye."

Yes! I thought. I got so much time to spend with Chris! Maybe I have time after all.

As I approached the main gate of our school while checking my phone for any message of Lannie, nakita ko na agad ang itim na kotse ni Maddie. I looked down on the school uniform I was wearing and wondered how I would change into my ball gown, but I just went with the flow and ran to the car.

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You might wonder how I managed to wear my gown for the ball, but to tell you, it was easy, and to do it, it was hard. We drove all the way back to our house, which was safe because my parents weren't home yet, and there, I changed into my gown with the help of my friends. No one saw us in gowns, thankfully.

I was so happy upon seeing my gown for the first time. It was cerulean fading into teal, and I loved it to the absolute most.

And I realized something fortunate—my parents said they would be home by midnight (thankfully), and I would have to go home only before 12.

"Saktong-sakto, may reunion sina Mom and Dad hanggang 12, kaya kahit medyo late na tayo umalis, ayos lang," I said when we talked about our alibis to our parents. Well, my parents didn't even know a single thing about the ball, about Town in a Building. "Eh, kayo, paano kayo nagpaalam sa parents niyo?"