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Chapter 2 First Meeting and Invitation

  • • Jada •
  • I was born in the States. My Nanay was seven months pregnant when they had to travel to the US. It was because my Tatay's parents died due to a car accident.
  • Yes, I call my parents Nanay and Tatay for an unknown reason. I just want to address them like that. It’s humbling, maybe.
  • They were the ones in charge to take care of my Tatay’s parents’ wake because they were the ones available at that time.
  • The funeral service lasted longer than normal, something not usual in the States. That’s because they had to wait for my father’s siblings who were scattered in different parts of the earth.
  • My Nanay is an only daughter. Her father was the former Governor of the Province of Laguna.
  • My Tatay, on the other hand, has eight siblings. All of them are just a year apart and their parents got married at a young age, that’s why they became eight.
  • My parents married at a young age too. This is why I don’t understand why I never had a sibling. Maybe because they both got busy with their careers.
  • My Tatay is a businessman. I won't say we're rich but we have restaurant chains in Manila and one in the US.
  • My Nanay was a teacher when they got married. Tatay wanted her to stop teaching after giving birth to me. But she firmly refused.
  • She said she'll take a leave while having me but she will go back to teaching once I reach the age of two. Tatay had no choice but to agree.
  • Since my Tatay has lots of siblings, I got tons of cousins as well. Unfortunately, I’m not close with most of them, except for Faith.
  • Faith stayed with us while completing her OJT in one of the famous hotels in Quezon City. The rest of our cousins are all in the States so I never had the chance to hang out with them or even meet some of them.
  • Back to me, I studied in the US as requested by Tatay’s eldest sibling. It was because their second eldest suffered from depression and she has no one to look after her.
  • My aunt is an old maid that’s why she’s alone in life. So after leaving New York, we moved to National City, California.
  • I attended Ira Harbison in grade school and transferred to National City Middle School. I studied here in the Philippines for college.
  • We had to go back after three of my father’s restaurants encountered a problem. They then decided to stay for good.
  • I met Honey at the university I attended. Since wearing a uniform is not a requirement at Saint Mary’s University, we can dress up whenever we want.
  • I don’t doll up though, not like Honey. Most of the time, I don simple clothes like fitted jeans, sneakers, and tees.
  • Honey, on the other hand, prepare her outfit the night before. She always looks good, she has to. The same goes for the pinks.
  • My friends are all fun to be with. During our break time, we will hang out under the biggest mango tree on the campus, the one closest to the gym.
  • Bambi and Ada treated that spot as their own, because why not? Hanging out there lets them see the sweaty abs of our gorgeous varsities, daily.
  • Who won’t drool?!
  • Well, it’s not like I drool over hot bods. I’m used to seeing those back in the States. High schoolers there are comparable to college students here, in terms of height and built.
  • I can only shake my head whenever I hear the pinks shriek. Especially when Lyken and Kobe pass us by. Both are considered as the hottest varsities in our university.
  • Well, they are all good-looking. You’d think it’s one of the qualifications to become a varsity. Whoever you pick, you win.
  • What I don’t understand is why Ada and Bambi are obsessed with Lyken and Kobe. Especially with Lyken who won’t even pay an inch of attention to them. He won’t even spare a glance. But my pink friends would faint for them.
  • We are freshmen while both lads are in their sophomore year. That is why Ada and Bambi are melancholic whenever they recall that the duo will leave the university ahead of us.
  • “Sheesh! I hope they fail all their subjects so they’d have to stay for another year,” they would even pray.
  • One day, the most sought-after varsities approached us. I was laying down on one of the benches, with my head on Honey’s lap, stopping her skirt from being blown by the wind.
  • We were busy stalking Kobe’s Facebook account when we suddenly heard someone speak from behind us. It was a voice we’re so familiar with, we both froze.
  • "Hi girls!" the handsome voice greeted us. "Oh! You're looking at my account!" he added.
  • I suddenly felt the urge to stand up and check if I was right as I can’t see him clearly. Even Honey suddenly lifted her gaze in shock.
  • When he realized that it was indeed Kobe, her face flushed. She was caught red-handed by her crush, stalking his account. Trailing behind Kobe was Lyken with his usual poker face.
  • ‘Thank God we’re done checking Lyken’s account.’
  • Because not one of us responded to his greeting, he continued to introduce himself. "I'm Kobe Quintana by the way and this is my best friend, Lyken Fontanilla," he said.
  • In trance, Honey extended her hand to return the handshake. “Honey Perez,” she replied, introducing herself.
  • I almost laugh out loud as she didn’t dare mention her real name. Well, with a name like hers, even I wouldn’t want her to introduce herself like that.
  • "This is Jada, by the way," she added, introducing me to the handsome lad in front of her.
  • I nodded at Kobe in acknowledgment. Smiling at him timidly before turning my attention to the first book I grabbed from the table, pretending to be reading it.
  • "Jada…" I heard someone whisper my name, not sure though which of the two guys did it. I chose to dismiss the thought, as my hands alone feel sweaty because of their presence.
  • "Shitttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!"
  • We all turned around to see who shrieked. It was none other than Bambi. "Hi baby Kobe," he greeted the man who was smiling at them, almost ready to drool because of the overflowing hotness of the men in front of him.
  • Kobe didn’t call him off for how he addressed him. Instead, he just smiled sweetly at our friend.
  • Together with Bambi was Ada, rooted at his place behind Bambi’s back. He looked like he was bitten by a snake, with eyes widened and mouth open.
  • Both pinks didn’t expect that such hotness will grace our hangout spot with their presence. Both were literally surprised but with different reactions displayed.
  • “Hey, byotch! What do you want me to feed you?” Bambi said as he try to get Ada’s attention. We laughed at their antics, even Kobe did, but Lyken remained quiet.
  • He is now sitting on the bench in front of me. However, his attention is not on us. He doesn’t even care why we’re laughing. It’s as if he’s looking at something, somewhere far.
  • "By the way Honey, can we invite you tonight? We’re planning a small outing with some of our teammates and it would be great if you could join us," Kobe told my friend when the laughter calmed down.
  • "Sure!" she quickly responded, not even giving it any second thoughts.
  • ‘Huh! She doesn’t even play hard to get.’
  • "So no one will mind? Your partner won’t get mad?” Kobe asked as he points at me with his pouted lips.
  • I clearly saw the gesture so I looked at him with my forehead creased. Kobe, on the other hand, looked shocked. He seemed like he wanted to take back what he said.
  • I also noticed Lyken looking at me. But just like as he was since earlier, he didn’t speak. He just stayed mum.
  • “My partner? Jada?” Honey chuckled as she clarify what Kobe said. Even both pinks started laughing.
  • "What the fuck Jada, I didn’t know you’re a tomboy!" Bambi teased and I suddenly want to hit him.
  • But because the situation was already awkward, I chose to smile it off. I can feel the flushing of my face so I returned my attention to the book I’m not really reading.
  • “Dude you’re out of your mind,” Lyken called Kobe off. Even if my head was bowed down, I can still sense the seriousness in his voice.
  • “Shoot! I’m so sorry! I don't mean to offend you, Jada," Kobe looked really embarrassed, his face turned red down to his neck.
  • “No, it’s fine,” I replied to clear the air.
  • “No, I’m really very sorry,” he insisted. “I usually see you pass by the gym. You always have your arm around her shoulder, plus you look a little boyish, so I sort of assumed that you guys are lovers,” he shamefully explained.
  • "No really, it's fine. It's not the first time," trying to end the conversation. Honey even looked at me, confused at what I said.
  • I’m not surprised as to why she was confused. I did lie in front of everyone when I said it wasn’t the first time.
  • It’s not the first time someone approached us in our hangout spot. But it’s the first time for someone to mistook me as a tomboy. Worst, that I’m in a relationship with my best friend.
  • I saw Kobe let out a sigh after what I said but his eyes are still apologetic. It seems like he regrets what he said, big time.
  • That’s why I smiled at him when he looked at me again. I was trying to send a message that it’s all good and there’s nothing for him to worry about.
  • "So! See you tonight?" turning his attention to Honey after seeing me smile. My friend quickly nodded as she steal a glance at me.
  • "Jada, can you come too?" Kobe asked sweetly. Lyken’s eyes flicked to him, for I don’t know what reason.
  • But with regards to their mini outing, I wasn’t interested. Besides, I know he’s only inviting me to make up for his mistake earlier.
  • I scratched the back of my head, quickly thinking of an excuse to reject his invitation, “I’m not sure I can make it. We might have lots of schoolwork to do,” I spouted.
  • “Please…” Kobe even knelt on the bench, putting his hands together as if begging for me to agree.
  • I looked at Honey as she lightly pinched my leg. She too is trying to convince me to join them tonight.
  • “Ok,” I simply answered. There’s no harm in going out anyway. Besides, this is something big for my best friend, so why not?
  • “Yes!” Kobe exclaimed. We were even startled as his voice was way louder than we expected.
  • “What about us?” Bambi butted in, pouting.
  • “You guys can come too! The more the merrier!” Kobe stated before facing Honey again. "So, we'll see you guys tonight?" Honey nodded and smiled.
  • Before both men left, Kobe handed his phone over to my friend. Honey quickly jotted her number down, returning the phone to its owner with an awfully sweet smile.
  • When Kobe and Lyken left, the pinks were anxious. They started planning their outfits for tonight as if they were the ones who were initially invited.
  • I, on the other hand, feel a bit excited. It’s been a while since the last time I went out to have fun anyway.
  • It may be different from what I and my cousin usually do when we're in the US but the thought still excites me. What doesn’t excite me is the fact that I was mistaken for a tomboy.
  • ‘Like seriously?’