XI
"I'M nervous!" I screamed for the nth time.
"Will you shut up, baby Shan?! Kinakabahan din naman ako!" Napangiwi ako nang sinigawan ako ni Raena.
"Raena naman!" Sigaw ko pabalik.
"Kayong mga bata kayo, ang ingay niyo masyado." Kuya Lito scolded us.
I picked Raena up because we agreed to go to the party together. Harold didn't pick her up and I have no idea why. I'll behead him later for that.
What about Kriho? He texted me earlier that he can't fetch me. He's sorry, he said.
Second rejection, still from him! Applause!
"I was planning to tag along when Kriho picks you up but—" Her eyes widened in the realization of what just slipped from her mouth.
"But?"
She shut her lips tight and shook her head. I looked at her with squinted eyes.
No shit, I'm not dumb. Something's going on.
When we arrived at St. Paul and entered the venue, a photographer stopped us from coming in, so he can get a shot.
I smiled sweetly and prevented myself from blinking because of the flash. I'm still not used to it even though it always happen at every party I'm attending. Dad's business-related parties, to be exact.
Nang makapasok na kami ng tuluyan, nagtinginan kaagad sa'min ang lahat. May mga nagbulungan na magkasama raw ang dalawang sure na nominated for Queen bee.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes, for the reason that people are watching. Baka hindi ako makakilala ng mga bagong kaibigan.
If only they knew that the girls they're currently admiring were abandoned by their dates. Badum tss.
Umupo na kami sa upuang medyo malapit sa stage.
"Will you stop them? Those flashes are annoying." I asked Raena who's drinking already. My eyes widened when I realized what it is. "Is that liquor?"
Her brows narrowed before nodding. "Yup. We're allowed to drink this kapag may party. No hard drinks naman."
I frowned. "Are you serious? We're minors, Rae. Juniors. Eleventh grade. It would be okay if we're seniors!"
She stared at me for seconds then laughed. "I'm kidding! Juice lang 'to. Kilala ng servers 'yong mga seniors, hindi nila papalagpasin ang mga lower years. Saka walang balak maglasing at magpakawala mga students dahil malalagay sila sa diyaryo niyo, for sure."
And that struck me. I need to observe things and people tonight! It's one of the reasons why I want to attend this party.
Napalingon ako sa entrance nang may magbulungan.
My brows creased. No way. "Is that—"
"The one and only." She bit her lip. "With a Geek one, too."
Kriho's the one who came in, and he's not alone. He's with someone. A girl, to be specific. A girl who's not me, who's supposed to be his fucking date for tonight.
I stared at the girl.
He's with Cheena, to be more specific.
"I want to go home." I uttered. The humiliation is too much. Students knew that Kriho asked me to be his date. Then now, I came in alone without him. The next minute, he came in with another girl who's not me. How messed up is that?
