My mouth flung open as I drew a soft line on my upper lip. It kinda gave me the creeps seeing myself being seductive in front of my mirror. And I sure took my time. Napasobra ang nap ko kanina at ngayong 6:30 lang ako ng gabi nagising. Hindi pa nga siguro ako magigising kung hindi pa ako inakyat sa kwarto ko ng isang 'yon. He looked so disappoint when he saw me yawning when he opened the door. It was almost funny.

I was taking a deep breath while holding the lipstick from my dominant hand. Kikay naman ako but I was never really good with lipstick, blush, or putting on mascara without looking at the mirror. I guess I'm just really not confident with my makeup skills, eh. Si Elly ang magaling sa mga ganito hindi ako.

I took a few steps back from my vanity mirror to see myself as a whole. I was wearing an old Nirvana band-tee and a white turtle neck underneath, all tucked in a red plaid skirt. I could hear the thuds my platform boots made as I walked onto my room’s hardwood floor. Naglakad ako palapit sa likod ng pinto para abutin ang nakasabit ko doon na purse. I was ready to leave.

Dali-dali kong binuksan ang pinto at naglakad pababa ng hagdan. The sight of Astreaus impatiently waiting for me drew a wide smile on my lips. I was a mischievous girl after all.

"Hey!" bati ko sa kan'ya. He was timid and had his hands under his pockets. Nakasuot siya ng maong na pantalon at isang simpleng itim na t-shirt. This man isn't really good at styling himself. I hate to admit it but you could dress him up with a garbage bag but he'd still look runway ready.

His brooding look contrasted the well-lit living room. The shadow on his lids emphasized his thick brows and sleepy eyes. Hindi ko masisisi ang mga estudyante sa school na nai-intimidate sa kan'ya. He was more of a predator than a handsome senior.

"You're so worked up for this. I mean seriously... look at you." He raised his brow and gave me a mocking look. Sumimangot ako at nauna nang maglakad sa kan'ya. I pressed my purse on my left armpit and held my phone, attempting to text Mama.

Nasa labas pa kasi si Mama at hindi pa nakakauwi, hindi ko naman na siya mahihintay that's why I'll just text her that I'm taking off already. Ang katabi ko naman ay mukhang pusang natangayan ng isda.

Ganyan naman 'yan palagi. He's always grumpy everytime I take my time dressing up. Minsan lang naman ang mga ganitong event bakit hindi pa niya ako pagbigyan. Sino rin ba kasi ang nagsabing sunduin niya ako? Last time I checked marunong naman akong mag-commute.

I looked over my shoulder once I got out of the house. Nakita ko siyang nilalaro ang susi ng sasakyan sa kaliwa niyang kamay pero natigil siya. He turned back to the house with his hands back to its territory. His damned pockets.

"What is he up to," I muttered with a soft chuckle. He jogged his way to the patio and tried turning the knob, tinagilid niya pa ang sarili niya at tinulak-tulak ang braso niya papunta sa pinto. He tried doing this a couple of times before knodding to himself and walked away from the house.

"Paalis na po ako." I smiled at my phone before hitting send. Sinandal ko ang likod ko sa Vios ni Astraeus at hinintay siyang makalapit. After all, I can't get in his car by myself since he had the keys to his possession.

"Seatbelt?" He turned to me. Tumango naman ako sa kan'ya nang may malawak na ngiti. Nginisihan niya muna ako bago pinaandar ang sasakyan at pinatugtog ang radyo.

I just did nothing but scroll through my phone. I took a picture of the traffic from outside and posted it on my story and resumed to scroll through my IG feed.

"Holy shit," nasapo ko ang bibig ko. My eyes widened and I felt a bit nervous. Nang nilingon ko si Astraeus ay magkasalubong na ang kilay niya habang nakatitig sa akin. He only took his eyes off me when the red light turned green.

"Erhm..." I don't know how to bring this up to him. I was so worked up with looking my best and forgot something important.

"The ukulele, Mariella."

"Huh?" Holy shit. I didn't utter a word but still... he realized.

I mean mukha naman talaga akong hindi mapakali. I also told him that I'll have an intermission for tonight's acquaintance party so I guess it was easy to connect the dots.

"Well, it can't possibly fit inside that small purse of yours. We're turning back." He was poker. He turned his torso to look behind before maneuvering the steering wheel. Hindi ko mapigilang mamangha sa mga gestures niya, by the way he acts and all he didn't seem like he was just 17 and was still just using his student's license to drive.

I couldn't help but bite my lip. Pero aaminin ko nakahinga ako ng maluwag since he was cooperative and didn't make such a big deal about it.

"Baba," utos niya sa'kin. Umusok ang ilong ko sa sinabi niya pero sinunod ko nalang. He lowered his window and followed my physique with his intimidating stares as I rushed inside the house.

"Ukelele ukulele..." I chanted. I searched my ukulele from its usual spot pero wala ito roon. Dumapa ako sa gilid ng higaan para tignan kung andon nga.

"Thank goodness," I exclaimed as I saw the silhouette of what seems to be a mini guitar. "Ouch," daing ko nang nahirapang abutin ng kamay ko ang ukulele, it was decently narrow from under the bed that my arm could barely reach the ukulele.

I couldn't help but celebrate on the inside when the ukulele was finally of reach. Dali-dali kong pinagpagan ang damit ko nang makatayo na galing sa pagkakadapa. I held onto the ukulele tightly and rushed to the door.

"Oops." Natigil ako maglakad nang may pumitik sa noo ko.

Astraeus was now towering me and blocking me from the halls light. He was as gloomy as ever, his face was convincing me that he just had gotten a heartbreak. If I wasn't his childhood friend, I wouldn't approach someone as gloomy as him.

"Ano ba—"

"Your purse, Mariella," paalala niya sa akin. I was flustered that I felt my cheeks heating up. How can I be so silly to leave my purse the second I get the ukulele?

Nasapo ko ang noo ko at tumalikod nang naka yuko. I got my purse from my bed and left my room. Wala na si Astraeus sa labas ng kwarto, nauna na sigurong lumabas para paandarin na rin ang sasakyan.

I rushed down the stairs while strumming on the ukulele. Tinignan ko kung nasa tono ba at tumango-tango nalang sa sarili nang mapansin okay naman ito.

Tinitigan ko lang siya nang makapasok sa sasakyan. His jaw seemed liked it would work better than a kitchen knife. Feeling ko nakuha niya 'to kakanguya niya ng bubblegum nung maliit kami.

"Eleanor texted." Hinagis niya sa akin ang cellphone niya nang nagka-stop light. I was startled but I still managed to catch it.

I opened and phone which had no password. Bumungad sa mukha ko ang default wallpaper ng cellphone niya at ang pop-up ng message ni Elly. Just before I could click on it, the screen went black at said that she was calling.

"Hello?"

"Where the hell are you?" Mataray nitong tanong. I could vividly visualize her squinting her already-squinty-eyes while her other hand resting on her waist.

"Nasa... may convenient store na," sabi ko habang nakadungaw sa bintana. Palatandaan ko kasi ang convenient store na malapit na kami sa eskwelahan. Siguro naman hindi pa kami ganoon ka-late. I wasn't needed for the party not until the closing of the event, kaya medyo hindi pa ako kinakabahan. Slight lang naman, paniguradong mamaya mamamawis na palad ko.

"Andito na tayo," aniya ni Astraeus. He looked around to find a decent parking space habang ako naman ay pinasok nasa bag ang cellphone at sinara ang zipper.

I held on to my ukulele and double checked my seat before slamming the door shut. Pagtalikod ko sa sasakyan ay sinalubong agad ako ng dibdib ni Astraeus. He was reaching his hand out so I handed him mine.

Umasim ang mukha niya at marahas na iwinakli ang kamay ko. "Ouchh! What was that for?" I yelled at him.

"I meant the ukulele not your hand," utas nito at marahas na inagaw sa kamay ko ang ukulele. He walked off without even uttering a single word.

"Oh... y-you should've just told me you big dummy!" My cheeks were burning and my hands felt a bit wet. Gosh, why is it so hot in this open space.

Pinaypayan ko ang sarili ko gamit ang kamay ko. Astraeus was walking in a fast pace that I couldn't keep up. Lakad takbo tuloy ako habang nakasunod sa likod niya.

Tahimik ang school hall. Nasa gymnasium na siguro ang lahat at naririnig ko na rin ang speech ng head ng school council. I saw a few sneaking out and going to the girls restroom, probably to redo their makeups or some sort.

"There you are!" Before I could even try and look for Elly, there she was. Tumayo siya galing sa mesang malapit sa buffet at daling sinalubong kami nang nakasimangot.

"Traffic," sabi ko.

"Really?" She looked at Astraeus for a second opinion. Walang balak ang isang 'to na paniwalaan ang mga pinagsasabi ko. Nakakatampo naman ang isang 'to.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ang lalakeng iyon at tinuon ang mga mata sa cellphone. Elly let out a defeated sigh. She then looked at me with her sharp cat-like eyes and rolled her eyes. Syempre hindi rin ako nagpatalo at inirapan ko rin siya. Inirapan niya naman ako ulit.

"Uy Flores nandito kana pala!" Natigil ang irap sesh naming ni Elly when somebody called me out of the blue. I saw Agatha trying to escape the see of people, sinusubukang makalapit sa puwesto ko.

Agatha seemed as busy as ever. She was the student council's secretary so it was common sense that she was in charge of keeping the whole event from falling apart. Her short hair swayed as she rushed towards me, nakapantalon lang siya at ang student council shirt nila. She didn't even doll up!

"Jeez Flores ang aga mo naman dumating!" Pinasadahan ako ni Agatha ng matalim na titig. Elly was beside her and nodded her head in agreement on Agatha's sarcastic remarks.

Napanguso ako dahil halatang naman pinagtutulungan na ako ng dalawa. Nilingon ko si Astraeus sa tabi ko na nawawala na. That big dummy didn't even bother excusing himself. Umalis lang nang kusa. Tsk.

Madilim ang mukha ni Agatha. Just like the dark lighting at the gym with few neon streaks and average music playing at the background.

"Pumunta ka na sa likod at malapit na ang intermission mo. Elly you can come in if you want," Agatha spoke so fast that I mistook her as Eminem. "Nandoon na rin si Austin..." she whispered cheekily at Elly.

"Weh?!" Parang uod na inasinan 'tong si Elly. She shrieked, pinalo niya pa ng malakas ang braso ni Agatha sa kilig.

Of course, it was matik that Elly came with us. Hawak niya pa ang compact mirror niya at naglalagay ng blush sa nose bridge niya.

"How do I look?"

"You look fine. Itago mo na 'yan before you start looking like a clown."

Agatha opened the door that connected the open field from the gym. Pagbukas niya non ay tumambad ang dalawang tent na hinanda ata nila para sa event ngayong gabi. I saw Austin sitting on one of the monoblock chairs while tuning his guitar. I couldn’t help but smile by the sight of it.

Pero paglingon ko sa likod ko ay nakasalubong ng mga mata ako ang matatalim na titig ni Astraeus. He was smirking from his friends remark but his eyes where predators to mine. I didn’t know whether to feel intimidated or competitive enough to send him an equal weight from my stares.