"Hello po, tito, tita." Ali greets as she enters our house. I watch how she gave a smile to mom and tito Thiago and the two did the same to her. 

"Oh, you have a visitor pala, Lory. Ask the maids to prepare you two some foods. May pupuntahan kami ng tito Thiago mo." Mom said, "Enjoy you two." She added before walking pass by us. Tito Thiago gave us a smile before following mom. 

Pinanood namin ni Ali na lumabas si Mom at tito Thiago, hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi naglalakad si Ali at nakatayo lang doon. 

"Hey, tara na?" I slightly tap her shoulder, she snapped her head at my direction and nod. 

We take the stairs instead of the elevator cause it's a bit far from the front door. When we entered my room I heard her squeal. 

"Bakit ako na e-excite!!? Ano ba 'yan! First ko yata mag ukay-ukay ng mga damit tapos mga mamahalin na brand!!" she said before running towards the boxes which made me chuckle. 

"So ahm... shoes are 100, clothes are 50 pesos, bags are 80 pesos, and the remaining na hindi kasama sa nabanggit ay 20 pesos." When I told her the prices, her head snap at my direction. 

"Seryoso ba talag sis? Deserve ko ba 'to? Ahh!!" she squealed once again which made me burst out laughing. 

I gave her a nod, "Yes, so enjoy, kukuha lang ako ng pagkain natin sa baba." I said and she nods before putting down her backpack on the ground and start rummaging through the boxes. I chuckled a bit before exiting the room. I took the elevator this time since kitchen is much closer to the elevator. I went to the kitchen and rummage through the pantry. I know Ali is not a picky eater, but I also know she likes baked or cooked snacks than those who comes in packaging or the generic ones. 

"Nice," I said as I saw a strawberry shortcake in the fridge. There's few slices taken from it but it doesn't matter. I grab a cart and place the cake there and two plates and forks. I look for more snacks. I went to the freezer and saw some cheese sticks and cheese balls so I grab those and put them in the air fryer since they are rock-hard frozen. While waiting for it to cook, I grab us some dipping sauce, cheese, mayo, ketchup and ranch. 

Just few minutes after and it's already cookies so I grab plates and place those in the cart. Looking at our fridge once again, I grab a box of chocolate drink that has not been opened yet. I grab glasses for us and a jug of water before pushing the cart out of the kitchen and taking the elevator once again. 

Once I opened the door of my room, my jaw dropped. Ali have already picked lots of things and all of them are sorted out already. The shoes, the clothes and some bags. 

"3k budget ko dito sis, sinabi ko na kila mama na pag-uwi ko marami na akong dalang damit at kailangan nang magka space sa cabinet ko. Baka yung iba kong damit nasa dance room na." she said, not even glancing at me and continuing to rummage through the boxes. 

I chuckled and started placing the foods on the table, "It's okay, I know you love clothes and shoes talaga." I said as I sat down on the floor where she also seats and watch her. 

"Yun nga lang, sayang yung ibang damit, bet ko pero di kasya. I'm sure kila Gwen kasya yun. Taba ko kasi HAHAHAH!" Her laugh sounded so fake. And it annoys me when she forces herself to laugh and act as if it's not something serious. 

"Hoy, hindi ahh. You look nice, specially noong fiesta! You were stunning in your costume. Your curves and everything, you look perfect." I said as I try to comfort her and boost her confidence. I don't know how to comfort someone, I don't even know how to show kindness. 

She turn around and pouted, then she suddenly pinch the rolls on her stomach, "Taba sis oh, taba. 36 inches waist line, paano mo sasabihin na hindi 'yan taba?" she ask as she pinch her rolls. 

I flicked my tongue, "Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Beauty, but she have rolls. She's not skinny, and yet she's pretty! Parang ikaw lang!" I said, it's true naman diba? And to my eyes, Ali is perfect and pretty! She's pretty and nice! Kind hearted! Soft hearted! 

She chuckled, "Lugi sis, maganda siya kahit chubby, ako mataba lang." sagot niya bago muling hinarap ang mga kahon. I sigh in frustration before pushing my hair back. 

"Bagay kaya 'to sa akin?" she showed me a black combat boots from Prada. 

I nod, "Yes, it will look nice on you!" I exclaimed, she look at the boots and slightly pouted. 

"Di pala, maikli binti ko, malaki calves ko, magmumukha akong shunga--"

"No! Take it! I mean buy it, tawad 90 pesos nalang!" I cut her off, she look at me with wide eyes before burst out laughing. 

"Gaga! Ikaw nagtitinda tapos ikaw yung tumatawad!" she exclaimed before burst out laughing once again. 

I flicked my tongue, "Eh kasi! Bagay syao 'yan! Bilhin mo na!" I said and she started nodding while laughing. Few seconds later, she stopped laughing and chase her breath. 

"Okie, pero 100 ko pa rin bibilhin." She said and I just nod. She continue choosing and choosing until she stand up and grab her bag. I watch her get her phone from the inside and seat down again. 

"Kwentahin ko na." she said and I just nod. 

"So... 8 na sapatos so 800. Yung damit ay... 18 na piraso so... 900. Yung bag ay 6 so 480, bale... 2,180 lahat." she said before reaching for her bag. She grab her wallet and hand me the exact amount. 

"Pwede mag request?" she ask and I immediately nod. 

"Sure, sure, what is it?" I asked, "May boxes pa sila or packaging? Okay lang kung wala. Gusto ko lang i-display sa kwarto ko yung mga lagayan." she said and my lips slowly parted before slowly nodding. 

"I'll find, okay? Di ko sure eh." I said before standing up and walking towards my closet. 

"Kahit wala na okay lang. Huwag ka magpakahirap na hanapin." I hear hear shout from the bedroom as I rummage through my closet. I did found some few Louis Vuitton bags, Channel, Gucci and Balenciaga. So I brought them out and place down on the floor. 

"I'll help." she said as we start folding the clothes and putting it inside the bags. 

"Sorry hindi ko nahanap lahat. I tend to throw them away eh." I said as I put the folded clothes inside a Louis Vuitton bag. 

"Hoy, ano kaba! Okay lang, ako na nga nanghihingi ng favor." she said before slightly laughing. Once we have put the clothes, shoes and bags in the bags. I told her that we can now eat. 

We sat down on the sofa and starts eating, "Hindi ka nag recess kanina." I told her as I noticed she didn't go with us this afternoon for recess. 

She giggled, "Alam ko kasi na pupunta ako dito, alam ko rin na parang may sarili kayong grocery sa kusina niyo kaya ni-reserve ko na yung gutom ko." she replied before laughing which made me laugh as well. 

She's peacefully eating when I suddenly brought up a topic, "Remember my problem last week? Sam and my... you know, my friend?" I ask, she turn her head at my direction and nod. 

"Ah yes, Sam and si special guy?" she ask with a slight grin on her face. 

I sigh, "He's not that special." I said and she giggled. 

"Ehh!! Pero sige, sabi mo eh, so... ano na? Anong sabi nung Sam guy?" she ask, I took a bite form a cheese stick and sigh. 

"He told me he won't tell anyone which made me feel relieved." I said and she slowly nod. 

"Edi goods pala eh, mabait pala talaga 'yan. If he's some kind of arrogant person, he would use that against you." she said and I nod. 

"Yes, he's really nice and soft spoken." I described him, 

"Yung special guy mo? Paano magsalita?" she ask, leaning slightly forward to me. 

Bahagya akong napatawa, "Well... he's... funny, makulit, sabog, ang dami niyang Tagalog words na sinasabi na minsan hindi ko alam." I said with a slight chuckle. 

"Ay..." I look at Ali as she suddenly showed an expression. 

"Inlababo ka sis?" she ask and my brows furrowed, "Inlababo? As in... sink?" I confusedly ask and she burst out laughing. 

"Hindi, as in... in love--"

"Hell no! Why would I be in love! I'm 16, Ali! We're 16, why would I be in love?" I cut her off with a shocked expression and she just burst out laughing. 

"Grabe... HAHAHAHA!! Ang in-denial mo dun, sissy ko!" she said between her laughter, I pouted and take a bite out of my food. 

"Hinid naman ako marupok gaya mo." I mumbled that she heard. 

"Ay! HAHAHAH! May ganun! Sorry na, marupok, sorry na ito lang ako." she acted like sad which made me chuckle. But with what she said I remembered something, someone. 

"Hey... he talks like that." I said in a calmer voice, she drop the sad expression and look at me confusedly. 

"Who? Sam?" she ask and I shake my head, "No, the other guy." I said and her brows furrowed. 

"Sad boy?" she ask and I chuckled before shaking my head, "No, he jokes like that. Like... like that! I can't explain it. He acts like a sad boy but then would take it back cause he is not a sad boy." I said and Ali's lips slightly parted before slowly nodding. 

"Ah okay... gets." she said before taking a bite of her cake. She went silent because she's eating while I stare at the blank wall. How is he doing pala? We barely talk. Wala naman akong sasabihin sa kaniya. That's why even though we are friends in social media I still don't know what's happening on his life. What would I even say naman? How do I start a conversation. he's always the one who starts it when I go to their place. Maybe he's just not interested in talking to me. Maybe... he's not interested to me. 

After me and Ali finished the foods, she told me she needed to go home cause she have assignments to do and it's Friday tomorrow. I help her with the bags since some bags are huge and she'll surely have a hard time. I even offered her that I'll take her home but she said she can do it and our houses are just a block apart. 

When I went back in the house, I ask the maids to get the cart from my room since I am lazy to bring it downstairs by myself. 

"So... sino na ka partner niyo?" Ali ask, it's recess time and prom is around the corner. A lot of students are excited and Ali is one of those students. I don't really care about it. Prom means a lot of people and I might need to socialize. And also the partner, wala akong gustong ka-partner. Dahil wala naman akong ka-close. 

I shrug. "I don't know, probably no one." I replied before taking a spoonful of the lugaw I bought sa canteen. 

"Mag pa-partner pa kayo?" Gwen sarcastically ask which made us burst out into laughter. 

"Kailangan 'yon diba? Para sa cotillion?" Jax ask, kailangan ba talaga? Why can't we just dance on our own? 

"Of course, sinabi na sa'tin na kailangan talaga." Laura replied and I pouted a bit. 

We went silent, walang kasunod na nagsalita matapos ang sinabi ni Laura. Pero maya-maya lang din ay nagsalita si Ali. 

"Si Franco nalang kaya sa'kin? Pinsan ko naman, para walang issue. Tapos isayaw nalang ako ng gusto akong isayaw." Ali said, my head snap at her direction and slowly nod. Pwede naman... I won't ask Franco naman to be my prom date. That's embarrassing and weird. 

After our prom talk and also the afternoon recess, we went back to our classroom for the next classes. Since the prom is already a big talk, maraming teacher ang nakaka-alam na paparating na ito. Kaya halos ang mga teacher namin ay bukang bibig na rin nag tungkol dito. 

After class, I decided to go home immediately. Starting the  month of March, kaunti na halos ang aming requirements. So that mean after class, I would just lay down, rest, sleep or do something I want. But this afternoon, I don't have anything I want to do right now. 

How is Inin doing right now? 

I pick up my phone from my bed side table and opened my messages. I immediately saw Inin's nickname and I press on it. I scroll through our messages. But I didn't even last a minute before I immediately reached the start of our conversation. A sigh escaped my lips, how do I explain this? How do I explain my the feeling inside me? I want to talk to him, but at the same time I'm shy and I don't want to start a conversation. But I want to talk to him, I just don't know how. 

I once again scrolled down the messages, just reading and reading the conversation. 

"Shit!" I sat up on my bed and immediately pressed end call. I fucking pressed call! I sent him a missed call!! How am I this stupid!? Ayaw ko nga siyang i-message pero natawagan ko naman! Ahh!!

I just turned off my phone and took a deep breath. He's not online naman, he won't notice it. 

After dinner, I took a shower and change into pajamas. Just as I pick up my phone and about to sleep. I saw Inin's message which alarmed me a bit. 

from Inin: 

Bakit ka tumawag? Sorry wala akong load kanina eh kaya di ko nasagot 

to Inin: 

No, its fine, nothing important, napindot ko lang naman. 

from Inin:

Ah, okie okie, kumain kana? 

Napakunot ang noo ko, why is he suddenly asking me that? 

to Inin:

Yes, you

to Inin:

?

I was a bit panicked na nahuli yung question mark. 

from Inin:

HAHAHHA, akala ko ako yung hapunan mo eh. Bampira ka ba? HAHAHAH pero oo, kumain na kami. 

A slight chuckle escaped my lips as I shake my head a bit. 

to Inin:

That's good, I'll be sleeping now, goodnight. 

from Inin:

Goodnight Lory! Sweet dreams! Sleep tight!

A small smile prints on my lips before I turned off my phone and putting it on my bedside table before turning off the lampshade and drifting to sleep. 

The next few days, guys started asking me if I can be their prom date. Since it is required, I just choose the one who I think is good to be my partner. It's just a partner, it won't harm me. As long as he don't say something stupid that will annoy me, it will be okay. We started having practice for the prom and the cotillion. After the practice or after just one round of the routine, I would immediately put myself away from my partner. He's not the best in the classroom, well... no one is really that good in the classroom. But he's nice, knows what is privacy. 

"Lory, panyo mo." Napatingin ako sa aking likuran nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses. 

Franco hands me my hankechief, "Medyo nadumihan na." he said as I reach for it. I try to control my emotions and not smile. 

"Thank you, it's fine." I said as I dust my hankerchief. 

"By the way, ang galing mo palang sumayaw, tinitingnan kita kanina, you look like a princess while dancing." he said and my eyes widened a bit. 

"Well ahm... thank, I guess." I shyly said while looking down on the ground. 

"Franco! Tara na!" I hear someone shouted, my head snap up and look at the direction of the voice. 

"Sige, una na ako, bye!" he said before dashing away. I was left there stunned and wasn't able to process things. He just told me I look like a princess while dancing! 

When Saturday came, mom and I went to Lucena for me to get myself a gown. Since prom is in few days, I should be looking for a nice gown to wear at the prom. Mom brought me to a shop with lots and lots of gowns. The color motif in the prom is blue and white, so I went to a navy blue dress that caught my attention as I went inside the shop. 

"Mommy, I like this one." I said as I point at the dress, mommy who's busy typing on her phone lift her head up and look at the gown. 

"Sure, how much is it?" she ask, 

"This is 21,000 pesos ma'am. This is made with Silk, Satin and Chiffon cloth ma'am, the beads are also---"

"Sure sure, we will get that." Mom cut her off, I pursed my lips and feel a bit bad for the saleslady. Mom continue typing on her phone while the saleslady help me with the gown. I went to the fitting room to see if it looks good on me, and it does. I didn't bother showing it to mom cause she might just get mad at me. 

On the counter, mom hand her black card to pay for the gown. And after that, we leave the place and go to the mall to get me a shoes. 

"Mom... can I get my friends donuts before we leave?" I ask once we are done buying my shoes. I got a glass shoe that cost 12,000 pesos from a famous brand and we are now about to go home since mom have her schedules. 

"Sure sure, make it fast." she said and I immediately run towards the donut stall. Gladly there's no line and also... I'm glad mom is in a good mood. I bought four dozen of Krispy Kreme donuts. 1 for Ali, 1 for the friend group, 2 for me or the people at the house. 

After buying, me and mom went out the mall and take the way home. 

Next day, Sunday, I decided to finally have courage and message Inin since I wanted to see him. No particular reason... I just... want to see him. 

to Inin:

Hey, saan na kayo nakatira? 

Gladly he's online at this time so he was able to see it immediately. 

from Inin:

Ay oo nga! Sorry di ko nasabi! Andito kami ngayon sa Morato, yung ginagawang hotel dito. 

My brows furrowed as I try to think where that place it. Morato? Isn't that the one near the railroad? But ginagawang hotel? 

to Inin:

Sure sure, I'll be there by 5PM. See you. 

from Inin:

Okie! See you! 

I played some video games on Theo's playstation at the living room, I spent my whole afternoon playing alone since Theo is with mom and Tito Thiago. When the clock strikes 4PM. I stopped playing and take a body wash and change into comfortable clothes. I put my hair into a high ponytail and put slight layer of make up. After getting myself ready, I went downstairs and prepared four pieces of donuts in a container before going outside the house and taking my motorcycle with me. 

I took the route to Morato, I stayed in slow pace as I look around. When I saw a familiar hut, that's when I know that's the place. I parked the motor near the hut once I arrived at the place. 

"Oh Lory, hija! Kamusta?" tito shouted from the top part of the building they're making. I look up at him and smiled before waving, "Okay lang po." I said and tito nod and smiled before I walk towards the hut. 

"Tao po?" I said as I peak inside, "Mukha ba akong maligno sayo?" Inin joked as he's fixing the table. 

Napatawa ako ng bahagya bago pumasok, "4:43 palang, ang aga mo, di ko tuloy naayos yung lamesa, madumi pa kaya hindi na kita nasalubong sa labas." he said as he put away some things from the table. 

"It's fine, binati na ako ni tito." ani ko bago inilapag ang donut sa lamesa. 

"Ah, yun naman pala, parang sinalubong na rin kita. Parehas naman kaming pogi ni papa." ani nito bago nagpapogi ba na ikinatawa ko. 

"Yabang," I said as I sit down on the wooden chair.

"Here, galing akong Lucena kahapon, pasalubong ko." I said as I hand him the container, he gasp before his eyes widened, "Wuy! Salamat! Lagi kang may dala kapag pumupunta dito. Para mo kaming dinadalhan ng ayuda." he said which made me chuckle. 

"No, I just really like giving things or foods." I said and he slowly nod before opening the container and picking a piece of donut. He took a bite out of it and his eyes widened. 

"Uy! Sharap!" he said with food in his mouth. I chuckled and shake my head. 

I watch him enjoy the donut, it looks like he's really chewing it into small pieces and enjoying every bit of it. 

I cleared my throat, "Hey... ahm... can I ask a question?" I said and he nods, "Sige, tira." he said and I nod. 

"Anong pangalan ni tito?" I curiously ask, I've been adressing his father as tito but I don't really know his name. 

"Ah... Ray, pero Raymond talaga siya, yung iba tawag ay Ray yung iba ay Raymond." he answered and I slowly nod. 

"Isang question pa, may prom ba ang TH?" I ask and he nods, "Meron, kaso di ako sumasali." he answered before giving me a smile. 

"Pero ano ha, ayaw ko talaga, mahiyain ako eh. Wala naman akong magiging ka-partner dun. Tsaka hindi ako maalam sumayaw 'no! Kapogihan lang talaga ambag ko sa lipunan." he joked which made me sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. I hear him giggle before continue eating.  

A sigh escaped my lips as I look on the other side and stare at the wall, "I wish you can be my partner though." I saw his head snap up from my peripheral vision, oh my... did I just say that out loud?