The Brainy Rebel

TBR 16

Maxine Valdez

A month had passed and we three became closer with each other. Hindi naman nahirapan mag-adjust sa university si Scott kasi nga kasama naman niya kami ni Nate parati. And just like as expected, napakarami na niyang naging girlfriend. Pero bumalik siya sa Germany ngayon for a short vacation.

"Ate Maxine! May naghahanap sayo sa phone!" Sigaw ni Marg mula sa living room.

Tamad na tamad akong bumaba. "Sino raw?"

"I don't know him. Ethan daw. Boyfriend mo 'yon 'no?"

"Of course not!"

I turned to the phone.

"Hello? Bakit?"

[Exe-J, nine in the evening. Birthday ni Jade.]

"Huh? Ngayon ba ang birthday niya?"

[Actually, hindi. Nung isang araw pa ang birthday niya. But she just got home, galing siyang Macau.]

"Sige, pupunta ako."

[Okay, bye!]

Binaba ko na yung phone.

After almost four months... my favorite side of Maxine Valdez is back!

~

Eight o'clock habang nasa mini theater si Mommy, umalis na ako.

Pagdating ko sa Exe-J, people are wildly dancing. Oh my God! Namiss ko 'to! Lahat ito! The lights, the crowd, the music, the smell of vodkas and other drinks, I'll die because of ecstasy!

"Maxine!"

Napatingin ako sa tumawag sakin. "Hi Jade!" Lumapit ako sa kanila. He's with the guys Ethan, Peter, and Zayn. "Belated happy birthday! Anyway, how's the trip?"

Ngumiti siya ng simple. "Okay lang. Boring kasi I've been there like... twelve times?"

"Pasalubong namin ni Ethan?"

That's when she smiled ng nakakaloko. "PARTY!"

Natawa na lang kaming lahat. Nakakamiss pala sila. After we got close kasi ni Nate, hindi na ako nakapunta pa rito. I don't know why. Parang nawala sa isip ko, which I think is impossible because this has been my home.

"Teka, Maxine. Bakit ang tagal mong hindi pumupunta rito?" Takang tanong ni Zayn na nagbunsod sa kanilang lahat na tumitig sa akin. Immediate hot seat, yes?

I took a sip of my drink before answering. "Focus. Studies."

"Eh bakit si Ethan, laging present? May classes din naman siya, ah."

"Mabait ako, eh." Natatawang sabi ko. Making stories.