Made In New York (Monterèal Series #1 Book 1 )

Chapter 1

Body Shot

I smiled as I look at the nice view from the Fifth Avenue. The weather is great, so were the shops I passed by. What a nice day to walk around the streets of New York to breathe some fresh air even if it's not that clean here anymore.

 After the stressful semester, hindi naman isang krimen na magpahinga at aliwin ang sarili. But, I thought to myself, wala akong ginagawa ngayon, baka naman mayroon? na overlook ko lang? Wow. The academic anxiety is getting into my nerves. 

I felt my phone vibrated kaya panandalian ang tumigil sa paglalakad at binuksan ito. It was from Anne.

Anne:
Sapph! Invited tayo sa party. Let's go! Loose some grip!

I rolled my eyes. When she says ' loose some grip ' she means walwal, to get rid of the proper manners for a while and be reckless. No way, not totally me. I am raised prim and proper but not so nice. I typed my typical reply to her reckless invitations. 

Ako:
I'm busy, Anz. Sorry. 

There, nagsinungaling ako ulit. Partying isn't my thing and I have to do advanced studying for the next lessons. Yes, I'm that kind of girl na more focused sa career and not my own pleasure or anything that is wordly, for example, college parties and stuffs. Napakawild pa naman ng mga tao dito. Ibang-iba sa Pinas na medyo conservative. 

My phone vibrated again. It's Anne. Again. 

Anne:
Oh come on, Sapphira Lumiera Villamoral! I know you're lying.
I'll dress you up aryt? Meet you at five pm

I sighed. Really? I have to force myself na maging wild and conform to the habits of western people? Though I live here, I still consider myself Asian, I mean, my habits and everything are considered Asian.

 I have no excuses left, it's spring break, halos lahat ng kaibigan ko ay nagpaparty sa mga pribadong lugar. Unfortunately, Anne's one of them. I know, how come a nerdy owl like me came to be friends with a party animal, odd right? 

I did not reply to her message. I know and can imagine what's gonna happen next. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad dahil nadudumbo na ako ng mga tao rito sa pinaghintuan. I then went to Rockefeller Center, just a few blocks away from Fifth, dito ako naglibot at in-enjoy ang aking alone time.

 Nang mapagod ako sa paglilibot at pagkain kung saan-saan, by four in the noon, bumalik na ako sa apartment ko. Dad provided me one when I decided to go here and see what New York has stored for me. At first, hesitant pa sila but I convinced them until nakulitan na sila sa akin at pumayag na. There's something about New York that I really like and it feels a lot like home. Yung mga kuya ko naman, nagkahiwa-hiwalay din. Maxon in Canada, he works and lives there, Aeron stayed in Philippines for our business and to accompany our old man.  Philip is in Singapore for some business, that includes extra service, no, just kidding. Umuuwi naman kami palagi para may reunion. 'Yon nga lang, twice a year lang, minsan once lang kaya napipilitan si Daddy na bumisita sa amin.

Thankfully, I met two crazy bestfriends habang nasa NYC. Even though I enjoy New York, I am still no exemption to homesickness. I met them in the most bizarre and unexpected way, you wouldn't want to know how.  And speaking of crazy....

"Sapphira!" it's Anne. I know. Now I regret giving them spare keys of my apartment. 

And then a gayish, high-pitched voice bombarded my ears, "Lumiera!" it's Jamie, the one and only. 

Nandito na sila at mangugulo sa tahimik kong mundo. I wished inside my head I should've stayed Rockefeller or went to St. Bartholomew's Church to pray for their souls. When I entered, I immediately noticed their eye-popping party outfits. Anne's wearing shorts and red spaghetti strap while Jamie's on his neon green sleeveless shirt and black khaki shorts. Guwapo nga siya kung tutuusin, too bad he's looking for guwapo as well.