A Close Second

Thirty Fifth

Hello!

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1 Message Received.

Thea Andrea

Play fair, Beatrice. You're coming to my party.

It's been two days since Thea had tricked me into saying yes to her party, and I've been contemplating if I'm gonna go.

I didn't want to know why she was so adamant that she was

For one, I wasn't in the mood. I've been cooped up sa kwarto ko, trying to sleep off everything I was supposed to be deciding right now.

Where was I going to go? I passed all schools and their quota courses, apparently since the acceptance letters were trickling in so I had any of them at my disposal.

I just had to tell Mommy about it.

1 Message Received. 

Thea Andrea

I'm sending an envoy.
You wanna play dirty. Didn't I tell you I'm Thea Andrea?
Bitch, I have my ways.

Nangunot ang noo ko sa text niya. What did she mean she's sending an envoy?

"Get up and get dressed."

Nagulat ako, seeing Jacob na nakatayo sa gitna ng kwarto ko. Napatayo ako sa mula sa pagkakadapa sa kama ko at pagkakaharap sa laptop ko. Nakatingin ako sa kanya, medyo hindi prepared na makita siya ngayon.

"What the hell. What are you doing here, Jacob?"

He stares at me, a little impassive, as if seeing me in my room in my flannel pajamas at 2'clock in the afternoon not a new sight. Well, it wasn't. Not to him at least.

Hindi na ako maggulat on how he got inside in the first place, kilala na siya ng mga katulong namin, being me bestfriend and having seen him a hundred times already.

I remembered Thea's text message.

Of course, Jacob will be Thea Andrea's envoy. I rolled my eyes at the thought.

"Tumayo ka na diyan at magbihis ka na, Beatrice. Something casual." Sabi niya, flopping down my sofa. "Tanghali na, ganyan parin ang suot mo."
I looked at him, indignant. "Why, hello to you too." I said.
"Hello. Get dressed."
"Uh, why?"
"Are we really playing this game right now?"

Tinignan ko siya, putting my hands on my hips, an eyebrow raised at his request. He looked cool as a cucumber habang nakahiga sa kama ko—shoes on, may I add—like it was his business to be there in the first place.

"Right. Hoy, your shoes are getting my carpet dirty, fucker!" Sabi ko, sitting down on my bed again, taking my laptop and closing it. "I like my outfit now, thank you very much."
Tinignan niya ako. "So you want to go, dressed like that?"
"Go where?" I say innocently.
"Goodness, Beatrice" sabi niya. "Haven't you gotten the invitation? Or wala ka na talagang pakialam sa akin? It's my graduation party."

Nagsukatan kaming dalawa ng titig, and his glare was actually giving me the chills right now but I stood ground. I looked at him.

"Nag-sabi ba ako na pupunta ako? I said boldly.
He sighed. "Oo nga pala. Kababalik mo nga pala galing sa iyong mahabang pagkawala which I don't have any idea about."
He sadly smiled. "Sorry, I thought you still cared for me, your best friend."
I scoffed. "HA?! Gago ka? Don't you fucking dare use that best friend card on me Jacob. Tapos nako jan uy!"
"So ano gantihan?" He raised an eyebrow. "No text, hindi ka ma-reach, walang sagot sa messages, even on my emails. I'm sorry Beatrice, I still wanted to know about best friend."