Maybe You & I

ALLIE

Nathalie Bueno Escudero is the eldest daughter of Joaquin and Anna Escudero (The Lawyer & I book). A consistent honor student who is always on top of her class, a black belt in Taekwondo, a bemedalled  gymnast, and is the new Miss Teen Philippines who will represent the country in the coming Miss Teen Universe contest. Despite all these achievements, Allie has never been in any relationship or whatsoever. And she refuses to admit to her friends that she has been a No-Boyfriend-Since-Birth. She promised herself that she will never get in a relationship until she finishes college, but that was before she met Harold, or popularly known as Harold the Jerk, who refuses to get off her back.

Harold is not really bad .... when he is in front of my parents, mabait siya. Actually, sobrang bait niya. Pero kung walang nakakakita sa kanya na kakilala ng pamilya niya, bully siya, bastos sa mga babae and palagi niya akong sinusundan at hinaharass. Akala nina Mom and Dad na okay lang talaga siya kaya they are allowing him to come visit me at the house kaso minsan nagdadahilan na lang ako na masakit ang ulo ko or nagkukulong ako sa bathroom.

Mom and Dad are busy with the family business especially now that we have opened three branches ng resto namin and they need to be working double time. Naiintindihan ko naman. Kaya nga di na ako nagsusumbong sa kanila. Ang hindi ko na lang talaga ma take is when Harold crept behind me one day at the cafeteria ang hugged me so tight from behind. Siyempre lumaban ako. But he is also a black belt in Judo so hindi talaga ako makakalas sa yakap niya. That made me come up with the idea na kailangan ko talagang mag ka bf, by hook or by crook. Pero paano? Saan naman ako kukuha ng lalaking magkakagusto sa akin at mauutusan na ligawan ako? Saan di ba? Sino?

"Nathalie, Jenna will have her 13th birthday this Saturday. You have to come girl."

"She's 13 now? Who will be there?"

"Her classmates and friends and you and the other girls."

"Harold won't be there?"

"Sadly, he will be there. You know my Dad is the friend of Harold's Dad so probably he will be there with his family."

"Oh man! I don't know if I could go to the party of your sister Jill."

"Common Allie, you have to be there."

"I'll see."

"You have to come or else I will never talk to you again. And Friedrick is coming to the party. I invited him. I'll probably introduce her to Mom and Dad na."

"Kayo na ba?"

"Oo...yesterday lang."

"What?"

"Bakit di mo sinasabi sa akin?"

"Kagabi nga lang eh. Tsaka kanina pa kita hinahanap para sabihan ka kaso ang hirap mo hagilapin."

"Busy kasi ako sa training for the Miss Teen Universe eh."

"Oo nga ano? Kailan pala yun?"

"Next month na at buti na lang dito sa Pilipinas ang contest kung hindi haynaku mahihirapan akong maghabol sa school works natin."

"So, punta ka girl ha? I want you to come. Please."

"Sige, I'll see."