After parking my car, I headed straight for the elevator and pressed the button for the 8th floor, where Glim's condo unit was. She's my best friend. I come here almost every day, so even the guards recognize me by now. Once the elevator doors slid open, I walked straight down the hall until I reached her unit. Knowing the passcode, I let myself in without hesitation.
The place was unusually quiet. I frowned. Where could Glim be? It was almost ten in the morning, there's no way she was still asleep. I slipped off my boots and went straight to the kitchen, hoping she had cooked something. I hadn't eaten since last night. I refused to go home too, because I knew I'd just end up irritated by Mom's constant guilt-tripping, begging me to move with them to New Zealand.
As if I didn't know Dad's real plan, he only wanted me there so he could groom me for business matters. Too bad for them, I happen to be their stubborn, headache-of-a-daughter who doesn't care one bit about business. My sister Sabby exists, but they never pressure her!
Speaking of Sabby, it would be a miracle if we ever got along for more than a few minutes. Unlike me, she was homeschooled. Don't ask me why, my parents are weird like that. She's overly nosy, always trying to track my every move. Even Mom and Dad don't hound me like she does, yet she insists on acting like the parent. That's why I can't stand her. She even goes to my school sometimes just to check if I showed up.
"You're so ugly."
"Ahh! Pregnant horse!" I shouted in shock when she suddenly appeared, and without thinking, I punched her.
"You're going to be the death of me," she groaned. I just brushed past her and headed for the fridge. "I'm starving."
"Well, good morning to you too!" she snapped. "What nonsense have you done this time? Skipping classes again?"
I rolled my eyes. Seriously, do I have to hear a lecture even here?
"Shut up, will you? I'm hungry. Just cook something for me, okay? I haven't eaten since last night."
"You are unbelievable," she muttered, stomping her feet as she grabbed ingredients from the fridge. I smirked. I knew she couldn't resist me. This was better, I could just lie around and do nothing while she worked.
Gosh, I loved my life. I flopped down on the couch and started scrolling on my phone. I checked Twitter first, frowning as I skimmed through the endless problems this country seems to churn out. One scandal wasn't even over yet, and another had already popped up.
I switched to Instagram instead. My DMs were flooded, as usual. Nothing new. Ignoring them, I kept scrolling.
Scroll.
Scroll.
Scroll.
Then I froze. My eyes locked on a photo on my screen, and something unexplainably stirred inside me. It felt as though I knew him. As though he had always been a part of my life, maybe not in the past, but definitely in the present, and somehow in the future too.
But I couldn't place a name, nor did I know who he really was.
He was handsome. Sure, I'd seen plenty of good-looking guys before, especially at school, but there was something about him that drew me in. Gosh, it was even my first time actually complimenting a guy, even if it was just in my head. And worse, he was a stranger.
Maybe he just looked familiar. I shook my head, logged out, and set my phone down on the table. My stomach growled the moment the scent of menudo filled the air.
"Is it ready yet?!" I complained. At this point, I was so hungry I could bite someone.
"Just a moment, your MAJESTY!" Glim snapped, exaggerating the last word.
A few minutes later, she finally finished cooking. I devoured two plates in no time. I almost choked, but thankfully she placed a glass of milk in front of me. I've always preferred milk over coffee. We moved back to the living room after eating. I was so full I didn't want to move.
"You look so stupid," she teased.
I mouthed a 'whatever' and rolled my eyes again. Before she could get another word in, her phone rang. She answered quickly, and I smirked, silently thanking whoever was on the other line for saving me. But my smirk vanished when she showed me the caller ID: Tita Divine, my mom.
What the hell? I hadn't even gone home, and she was already bothering me here too? I motioned for Glim to go on.
"Uhh, yes Aunty, she's here. Don't worry—uh huh, she's fine, we're having fun. Yeah… yesterday?"
She pulled the phone away for a second and gave me a look that said where were you yesterday? Right, I hadn't gone home because I'd crashed at my cousin Xerine's. She's as reckless as I am.
"Tell her I'm with you," I whispered, worried Mom might hear through the line. If I admitted I was with Xerine, they'd assume we got into some kind of trouble again. Glim rolled her eyes at me, and I glared back. If she snitched, she'd regret it.
"No Aunty, she's with me. Yeah, there's nothing to worry about. Okay, bye."
Relief washed over me when the call ended. I rubbed my temples, exhausted already. I needed to unwind. Luckily, Glim seemed to sense that.
"Come with me later," she said. "We have a party."
"What kind of party?"
"Batch reunion. 2004–2005."
"What? We didn't even know each other back then!"
"Don't worry, I'll be there. Just come. I even bought our outfits yesterday."
"Today?!"
She just shrugged and disappeared into her room. I groaned. I thought I had more time. Now I'd need a miracle to get past Ate Sabby, especially since I hadn't gone home last night. I could already imagine my eardrums shattering from her nagging.
__________________________
The table overflowed with bottles of liquor. Music blasted as people danced, laughed, and drowned themselves in alcohol.
And yes, I was drunk too. Want to know how I even managed to come here? Simple. I pretended to have a fever. I told Mom I was too weak to go home, but assured her Glim would take care of me. She wanted to drag me to the hospital, of course, but after some quick lies, she finally agreed. Sorry, Mom.
Strangely enough, Sabby hadn't been around for two whole days now. Maybe miracles really did exist. At least my life was peaceful for once. That's why I let myself get wasted tonight. Not because of heartbreak or anything, I just felt like drinking.
I sat slumped against a wall, dizzy from the alcohol. Glim was insane, she had left me here when I didn't know a single soul. I was going to rip her hair out later. I struggled to stand, steadying my head with one hand. The room spun. I staggered toward the side, trying not to bump into anyone. I'd been holding my bladder for too long, and I couldn't take it anymore.
I stumbled toward the pool area. Thankfully, there were fewer people outside than inside. Not far off, a group of guys were whistling and laughing, clearly playing some game. If I took the long way around, it would take forever to reach the bathroom. I had no choice but to pass by them.
Only when I got closer did I realize they were playing truth or dare. A line of girls in swimsuits stood waiting their turn.
And then, I froze. A familiar guy approached me.
Wait.
I knew him. He was the same guy I had seen earlier on Instagram. Was this even real?
I squeezed my eyes shut, thinking maybe it was just drunken hallucinations. But who was I kidding? I was drunk, yes, but not enough to confuse reality from fantasy. My eyes widened as he stripped his shirt off right in front of me. My gaze was glued to his abs like a magnet.
Oh, shit. My eyes were going to get pregnant. I quickly looked away, remembering that I still desperately needed the bathroom. I was about to leave when he suddenly cupped my cheek. Our eyes locked, and suddenly the air felt too thin. Breathing became impossible.
How could he do this to me? Only he had this effect on me.
And before I realized it. He kissed me. He fucking kissed me.
My mind screamed in shock. That was fast, how could he steal that from me so easily? The crowd around us erupted with mixed reactions, cheers, groans, gasps. I was one of the shocked ones, so much so that my reflex was to slap him. The crowd gasped louder.
"I'm not part of your stupid game, idiot!" I wanted to shout, but the words stuck in my throat.
Our eyes met again, and I suddenly felt weak, like a wilted leaf. His gaze was blank, void of any emotion. And yet… I'd be lying if I said I didn't like that kiss. But that was my secret to keep. I bolted toward the bathroom and faced myself in the mirror. My drunken haze had all but disappeared.
What a day!