How Did We Start Dating?

Chapter 3 - Who Kissed her?

Aaron: "What are you doing this weekend?"

I was confused but I stay cool like I didn't know anything,

Kate: "What? Nothing, why?"

Aaron: "I'm just asking if we could hang out sometime, there's an event in Tomas Morayta I wonder if you could come with me, there are a lot of Zine, selling sticks and artist will be coming so I just think you could come"

I nod my head slowly while turning around. I didn't know what to say so I made some improvise.

Kate: "Sure, I would like to invite Christine too. If that is okay?"

Christine: "I'm coming!"

I was shocked at Christine's reaction but it's okay at least she didn't hesitate since it's Aaron. I know she's in love with anyone. She's the kind of girl that types tall and skinny guy but know's how to dance. She's 4'5" but I kinda say she yells like my grandmother suing my mother for being my dad's wife. And yeah she's a great dancer, she love's dancing and grooving, she dances K-pop mostly it's her style I guess. But she is also a geek I say. She hid all of her talents in her sunglasses, she's a math prodigy but bad at writing English essays that's why we became friends, we both bad at it.

---

James: "Who's taking the shot?"

Kate: "I am"

We are drinking in James and Joey's apartment. It's kinda small but good enough to fit us all in. They've balcony right next to the kitchen, two bedrooms, and a nice restroom that two people can fit in. We were drinking on their living room, James and Janine are sitting on the couch in front of them are the table where we put the shots, beers, and snacks. Aaron is sitting on a single couch and the others, Joey, Christine and I are sitting on the floor.

It is 10:23 pm, we're all kinda tipsy and drunk, we're talking about random stuff like, being independent to your parents or what will gonna happen if the world will gonna end tomorrow or what will happen to the Philippines if Duterte wasn't the president. Until James brings up something interesting, he asked about, "what will it takes for you to tell your crush that you love him/her?". Then he looked at Aaron and Joey like they're hiding something to us.

I was about to share my thoughts when suddenly Janine slips her tongue and said, "I'll just kiss you anyways". We're all shock and looked at Janine straight in the eyes, like what's happening, but then she said that it wasn't for James so we just forget about it. But then everyone is so quiet and no one's sharing so I think now is the time to talk to Joey so I asked him to see me at the balcony. So I get in the balcony and mesmerizing the view of the city light, the blinking lights and the bright stars, I'm kinda drunk already but Joey's not yet getting outside.

When suddenly I heard someone steps in so I turned around, maybe its joey but when I look around he just kissed me. I can't see his face it was already blurry and I cant see it. All I know is after we kissed I fainted out and the next thing I know is that I'm on the sofa. Everyone is dressing up already like nothing happened so I stood up even though I had a hangover.

[present]

I wake up on our trip, Monica pokes me in the face telling me to answer the call. I stood up from my seat and answer the call, it was Andrea,

James: "Hi, you've called?"

Andrea: "Where are you?"

James: "I'm on a trip, why? What's going on?"

Andrea: "You said you're going to see Jony next morning. James, it's been 10:00 in the morning she's been waiting for you. I--we didn't know you're on a trip?"

James: "Oh sh*t, Andrea, I'm so sorry I forgot to tell you. Last night I drove back to your place just to say I'm about to go out of town with Kate and Joey. I'm really sorry, I will make this out to you when I get back I promise I'll--"

Andrea: "I'll wait for you..."

I was stoned and hung up to her answer to me,

James: "...Okay"

Then I overheard Ben asking madly who's she talking, I was about to ask her if there's something wrong but she cut off the line. I began to worry so I called her again a lot of times but the line is unattended, so I texted her instead. I couldn't think of a possible way to help her or call her, even Kate and Joey are worried about me. I told Joey to drop me to the nearest area where I can take a busway back to manila but they refused and told me our trip will be wasted if I don't come and besides its like a reunion to us anyway. They promised that after our trip they'll drop me to Andrea's house, sounds fair enough to me.

[flashback]

I am sitting near the glass window, right next to the door of Starbucks at the SM North, it was 12:29 in the afternoon, I am waiting for my friend Jannah who's offering me apart for the upcoming film, I'll be the eldest sister of the lead actor. While I was waiting for Jannah, I was also expecting to meet my boyfriend after but he refused not to, he said he's on his taping on Intramuros by 3:00 and he couldn't come. So I let him since it's his job and career so I understand his situation, I didn't tell him that I'm at the mall 'coz I want to surprise him and tell him that I'm about to audition to a special role in a film.

A few minutes later Jannah arrived accompanied by his co-worker Steve. While we are discussing the role and the time and date of the audition for the role. I was interrupted by a guy with a familiar face, a mole to his lower left chin, a high of 5'11", slightly skinny but has a posture of a guy lifting in the gym and a has a clean cut of hair. It was Jason, my boyfriend, walking happily accompanied by a woman that I never saw before. They were holding hands, happy and enjoying the moment, they're like a couple.

I told Jannah to take a break and she agreed with it. As they passed by I immediately called Jason, it took a few minutes before he answers the call.

Jason: "Hi honey, why did you call? I'm in the middle of the taping right now."

Kate: "Where are you?"

I asked him with a shake on my voice,

Jason: "Honey, I told you already, I am in the middle of a taping right now at the Intramuros I am setting up the camera's and direct--"

Kate: "Who's she?"

Jason: "Huh? What are you talking about? What's the matter--"

[indenial] [choking]

Kate: "You've said YOU are in the middle of a taping, now tell me WHO THE F-F*CK IS SHE?!"

I was shaking and tears are falling from my eyes to my cheeks while I'm looking at them straight from afar. Jason left speechless while Jannah and Steve are quiet and holding my other hand just to calm me down.

Jason: "Please, let me explain--"

I dropped the call furious and in great affliction, I looked at Jannah and cry. Covering my eyes with my both palm, I couldn't see him or think of him I was in great pain and suffering that day. After I cried and calm myself, I didn't accept the offer of Jannah and told them that I needed some time to think and rest and they let me do so, Jannah just leave me a calling card just in case if there'll be sudden changes.

After the day, I was walking upstairs at the MRT station at Trinoma, getting onto my way home. It's 7:00 pm, I'm holding a tot bag filled with grocery items and lots of goods, and my shoulder bag keeping my stuff and make-up.

I'm still bothered about what happened earlier and I wanted to clear my mind so I put on my earphones and played some mellow music. Few minutes of waiting on the train, someone pokes me at my shoulder so I was interrupted and when I turned around I saw a familiar face...