The Perfect Boyfriend List

Chapter 2

[Chapter 2] Princess in a Lonely Tower

"Next time, I will be the one to order with Will. Just relax and stay calm on the table, Princess," Liesl said as she's driving to my house, to drop me off. "I don't want another disaster to play on the special day of my life."

I scoffed.

"You're not getting married," I clarified. "Don't act as if I'm going to be your bridesmaid any minute."

She smiled.

Liesl Ann Estrada, my bestfriend since birth.

A geek. A nerd. (Even if the same words makes up only one meaning). But despite all of that, she was a very good bestfriend to me.

"Seriously, what happened ba?" she asked.

"Seriously. Stop bugging me the same question because you know that I will answer the same thing even if you ask a million times."

"Pero... it can't be na bigla biglaan na lang maiinis sa'yo yung lalaki."

"Yeah. But since he's a jerk, I require you to dismiss that idea."

"Sinabi ko naman sa'yo na being sarcastic has its own consequences."

"Shut up."

She. Laughed. Out. Loud.

After what happened on the restaurant, I feel so ashamed. Ashamed because of the little scene that happened in there. Ngayon, mukhang hindi na ako makakapasok dun nang nakataas ang baba.

Everyone in that place will remember that scene.

Darn that guy!

"On the more serious note, you need to stop being sarcastic to the strangers you really don't know." she suggested.

"What's wrong with being sarcastic?" I asked looking at the window, waiting for my house to pop out any minute.

"It's not wrong," diniinan niya yung pag kakasabi ng wrong. Putting an emphasis at it. "Just don't be sarcastic with strangers kasi di mo alam, nakakasakit ka na ng feelings."

"Who cares about a jerk's feelings?" I asked her, remembering that guy from the coffee shop.

"I am." she stopped and there I stood at the grand entrance of my little castle. "I have a jerk boyfriend, remember?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right." I opened the passenger's door and stepped down on the porch of my house. "Not that I'm not aware that you're really happy with him but..."

"But...?"

"Just make sure that he won't make you cry. Don't give your all to Cray. You might get hurt in the end."

"Tss. Kilala mo naman ako, diba? I'm picking the right person to love and to give all of me with. Maybe kasi this is my first time loving a special someone. Maybe because I'm taking this risk kasi gusto kong sumubok na magmahal ng isang tao na alam kong seseryosohin ako. And I know that that's Clay. And, I'm willing to give all of me to him even if that means hurting myself in the process of doing it."

Lumamlam ang tingin ko sa kanya. Probably what she's feeling for Cray is true. Maybe it's not a joke for her but for him, I know it is. I grew up with Cray and I know how it works. Alam ko yung mga ways niya para mapahulog sa kanya yung isang tao. And I can see all of the signs at Liesl.

It's not that I don't want my bestfriend to be happy. It's just that I want her to be without hurting herself because she is loving and falling for the wrong guy. I don't want her to get hurt.

"Don't say those things as if you're going to sacrifice your 'v' to him..." I warned her.

Nagkibit balikat siya.

"Oh don't you ever do that," I say. "I'm going to yank your hair hanggang sa dumugo iyang anit mo."

She chuckled.

"See you tomorrow. And I assure you that I won't be doing that thing with him." she winked at me.

That is enough to me. Kasi kapag si Liesl ang nangako, alam kong hindi napapako ang mga promises niya. She never broke a promise.

I smiled as I push the passenger door close.

She drove away as I wave my hand goodbye.

Nang wala na siya sa paningin ko, I grab the gates handle and open it wide enough for me to enter.

Manang Belinda, my yaya welcomed me in. She was my yaya ever since. I was in kinder when she entered the job of being my yaya and my second mom. She takes care of me mostly kasi palaging wala si mommy at daddy. But even though they're here, she's still treating me like her own child that came from her own womb.

"Kukuha kita ng merienda mo," she said. "Magshower ka muna at magpalit ng damit. Gawin mo na yung assignments mo ah? Tapos nun, mag rest ka. Tatawagin na lang kita once nandito na Mommy at Daddy mo."

I smiled at her. The usual smile that I do when I hear their name. Alam ko naman kasing impossible na nandito sila ngayong gabi. Otherwise, they're here because of a very good reason. Business as usual or an important occasion where they can dress me up and proudly present me to everyone like their every own trophy.

Kahit na ayaw ko, syempre wala akong choice. I still love them even though they're lacking qualities of dream parents. They are the reason why I am here, aren't it?

I proceeded upstairs and did my usual ritual after going home from school. I showered, changed my clothes, and finished my assignments.

After I finished it, I looked at the bond paper plastered on my study table.

It was my the perfect boyfriend list. Doon nakasaad yung mga qualities na hinahanap ko sa magiging boyfriend ko.

Kailan kaya kita makikita, makikilala at makakasama? Please rescue me from my lonely tower, my prince...

Si Liesl lang ang nakakaalam nun. And being my bestfriend, she deserves and has a right to know it.

Wala siyang ganitong list. For all I know, that girl doesn't have any plans regarding her own love life. She was just winning it by taking all the risks. Masyado kasing mahilig sa excitement eh.

Kaya nga medyo kinakabahan din ako. Kung saka sakali mang masaktan siya ni Clay, I'm sure super sakit nun. Manang Belinda once told me that first love is the most painful experience you'll ever have.

Well, good to know that I'm not winning it by risks. I'm planning and looking for my prince that will suit what I want.

Kasi when things get unplanned, dun lang papasok ang sakit.