His Insignificant Other

One.

"Let us all welcome on stage! Outbreak!"

Clamorous cries went after that. Nandito na sila, magkaka-stampede nanaman nyan mamaya sa exit. Kung bakit ba kasi ako pumayag na isama sila eh.

I exasperatedly let out a sigh and went straight to the dressing room, excited shouts and loud whoops still ringing in my head.

"KANBARUYO TOMODACHIII!" Sigaw ko.

(Good luck friend!)

"You're as noisy as always. Argh. Natutulog yung tao eh." Lucky went out of the fitting room, scratching the back of his neck. Kumuha lang sya ng kape sa vending machine at lumabas na.

As usual, natulog nanaman sya sa fitting room.

"Serene naman eh!" Phoebe whines, in which i found cute by the way.

I flashed an apologetic smile and sat beside her who's busy putting her make-up on. Sila na ang susunod na performer.

"Mademoiselle! You're on standby!"

Ibinaba ni Phibs ang brush na hawak nya and turned to her crew-mates. They exchanged knowing looks and did their hand gestures.

I was left again. Chos. Sila Phoebe, nasa backstage na, the rest, nauna na sa may stage, for support.

Ako? Ewan, tinatamad ako.

I set myself on the couch at nagpasyang matulog muna. Gusto ko mang suportahan sila Phibs, masyado akong inaantok para dun, wala akong tulog kaka-polish ng event na to.

I'm one of the head event organizers, by the way.

I was about to give in to the pull off to dreamland when i heard ruffling noises outside. Boses lalaki.

I decided to shrug it off but then the door swung open.

"Haha, i myself made a mistake too, though."

"Si Jake naman parang walang tulog eh! Bro, seriously?"

"But you guys did a great job!-- oh, Serene, andito ka pala? I thought you're out to cheer for Phoebe?" I flung my eyes open and looked at her straight in the eyes.

"If i did that, don't you think people will find it odd to see the organizer cheering for a certain bunch of bitches?" I said in a flat tone that had Jean rolling her eyes.

"You sound like a bitch if you talk like that." Jean said, smiling.

Ngumiti ako pabalik at saka tinignan isa-isa ang dahilan ng commotion kanina.

Bryle, Jake, Trick, Adrian, and Yago.

Say hi to our nation-wide-famous dance group, Outbreak! (Tries hard to sound mischievous.)

"Good job, guys!" Walang halong biro, magaling sila.

Lalo na si *cough* Yago *cough*.

Yago sat in front of me at naamoy ko ang pabangong ako mismo ang pumili.

"Puyat to eh. Nakatulog ka na ba?" Yago said, pinching my cheek.

Kahit ayaw na ayaw kong hinahawakan ng ibang tao ang mukha ko, ayos lang basta sya. Ihhhh!

"Uhm, excuse me?" Lahat kami napatingin sa pinto and saw Celine standing there smiling.

"Celine!" Sigaw ni Adrian and ran through her.

Bumalik kami sa kanya-kanya naming ginagawa, couple talk yun, hindi dapat mag-eavesdrop.

Tumayo si Yago and shew me his million-dollar-worth smile. "Matulog ka na, okay?" I just found myself nodding.

Nagising ako sa ingay ng speaker na maririnig mula sa kwarto.

"Are you ready!"

"The time has come! For us to know! Sino nga kaya ang nakapasok sa top--"

"They should apply to themselves what my name means. Para hindi sila nakakaistorbo." Tumayo ako at nag-retouch bago lumabas para samahan mag-ingay ang mga tao.

Nagpalinga-linga ako pero ang nahagip lang ng mata ko eh si Tricia na may mga kausap, si Jake na busy lumamon, si Adrian kasama si Celine on a very secluded part of the venue at mukhang may seryosong pinaguusapan, at si Trick na sumasayaw mag-isa.

Gaaahhh i'm looking for Yago-- i mean, for Phoebe, of course.

*

Outbreak won as champions, well that's what usually happens. And Mademoiselle won as 2nd placer.

After party.

"Cheers for Outbreaaak!"

*cling*

Nakakaproud, uhm well, kahit naman hindi ako member ng dance team nila, i'm friends with all of them naman, so it doesn't make any difference.

Well, for me.

Shouts and cries are observed inside the lodge that we're in. The've taken in the fans, if you would want to ask.

Bawat member may kanya-kanyang ulupong ng fans sa paligid.

"At least may place tayo." Jacey said, tone almost losing a glimpse of hope.

"Hoy. Para sa inyo yung inorder kong 3 cases ng drinks! I'm cheering for you, ano ba!" Sigaw ko.

They all smiled at me and i also did. They're my friends, after all.

"So may girlfriend ka nga? Sumagot ka!" May mga fans na kasalukuyang iniinterrogate si Adrian about his love life.

Omg. Diba sila ni Celine?

"Gahh, yan ang hirap sa fans ng Outbreak, nakakatakot!" Bella

"True enough, i wonder kung aamin si Ajan." Phoebe said.

"M-meron.." the fans gasped at what Adrian said.

"Sino nga!"

"B-basta, hindi nyo sya kilala."

"Adrian Callejo sino ang girlfriend mo!" Kung makasigaw naman si ate ng full name, feeling close?

Tumayo ako amd decided to go to the washroom.

"SERENE!"

Ha? May tumawag saakin?

Lumingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses and i found out that everyone is looking at my general direction.

"Oh god Serene's gonna kill him for this!" Bulong bulong pa eh naririnig ko naman.

Pero wait, anong meron sakin?

Ngumiti ako at saka nagsalita. "Uhh hello, i'm Serene Villamor, 18 and--"

"Sya. Sya ang girlfriend ko." My mouth gaped open at hindi ako makapagsalita.

Anong sabi nya?

"Totoo ba!?" Someone from the crowd snapped and threw dagging glares at me.

Ilang sigaw pa ang narinig ko, hurtful words together with the situation itself that i can't even comprehend anymore.

And before i knew it, i was being dragged out of the bar and into a familiar car.

"What the fuck did he just do! Argh!" Sigaw ni Phoebe sa steering wheel.

"Ano bang nangyari Phibs? Bat galit na galit ka?"

Phoebe gave me a what-the-fuck-has-gotten-into-you-are-you-serious look. Pero hindi ko talaga magets ang sinasabi nya.

"Okay? So Adrian just said that you're his girlfriend in public."

Ano raw?

Saglit akong natigilan ng marealize ko ang sinabi nya.

She didn't just say that didn't she?

Tell me she didn't! Tell me i was thinking of the wrong thing! Oh god please.