After my two shots of wine, someone went here and stood few meters away from me. He leaned his body against the counter and ordered his drink.
"Hey," I called him.
"Yeah?" He turned to me lazily.
"Jonas, right?"
He nodded. "Etincelle, right?"
"Yes. Are you alone?"
"I'm with my friends."
"Is Baste here too?"
"He's not with us. Don't expect anything from him anymore. You know how devastated he is right now."
"Yeah..."
I felt bad for Baste too. There were times that he ran to me and cried. He was hopeless. He really loved my cousin. I'd never seen any man like him who would cry over a girl. In fact, he could have any woman he wanted but he wanted Thrante alone.
"Who are those friends?" I asked him.
"Skyler and Xander."
"Ah," I replied and shut up.
I excused myself from him. I searched for Morthena everywhere. I found them on the circle sofa. Morthena was so drunk already.
"Can you still make it, More?" Haponesa asked.
"Y-Yah," she hiccupped. "O-Of course..."
"What happened?" I asked them. They all looked at me.
"She's drunk already. Where shall we take her?"
"Why is she so fast to get drunk?" I complained.
"She took all the shot glasses offered to her," Morayta replied.
"I thought we'll get Azy drunk tonight?"
I looked at Azy. She just gave me a shrug.
"We'll be dead if Azy will go home drunk," Haponesa reminded.
Having no choice, we sent Morthena home. We called her driver to fetch her. She was safe now. I hoped she would not throw up. She's dead with her mother!
"Gosh!" Haponesa blurted out. "We should go home too."
"Too soon?" I argued. "You guys go first. I'll stay here."
"Boy hunting?" Morayta teased.
"Yeah. And Philip is still here too."
"Ah, okay. I'll probably go home now."
"Take care." I agreed.
The three went home already but I remained here. I went to Philip and he introduced me to his friends.
"This is John, Rich, and Mark. Guys, this is Etincelle."
"Hello," I shook my hand with theirs. "Nice to meet you all."
"Are you single?" Rich asked quickly.
"Yup. What about you?"
"Nah. I have a bf,"
"Oh," my lips formed in O shape. "Where is he?"
"He doesn't know I'm here. I just told him I'm resting early."
"Really?" I laughed.
Rich didn't look suspicious. He looked manly. I even thought of liking him tonight. Nevermind.
"Joe!" Philip greeted over my shoulder. I turned around and met Jonas' deep eyes.
"Hey," he greeted him. "I thought you left early."
"Hi!" I greeted Jonas' friends.
"Hi. I'm Skyler." He offered me his right hand for a handshake.
"Etincelle," I reached for his hand. We shook our hands in a second. I loosened up first.
"This is Xander, by the way."
"Hi, Xander." I smiled to him. "Are you going home too or you just arrived?"
"We're going home. We're just telling everyone," Skyler replied.
"Ah," I nodded. "Take care."
"Thanks, Etincelle." Skyler smiled and looked over my shoulder. "Man, we gonna go home. Baby duties."
"You have a baby already?" I asked in surprise. They just laughed at me except Jonas who was just silent.
"None, Etincelle. What I meant was we have girlfriends."
"Really?"
"Yeah... but we're not for long commitment. Try."
"Same goes with me," I chuckled. "Okay. Take care!"
"How about you? Aren't you going home yet?" Jonas asked. It only changed my mood.
"I'm staying here with Philip," I replied.
He didn't like me and I was aware of that. Until now, he hadn't moved on from what I did to his car and to his unit. He was counting all the thing he considered "burden" as if I wanted his kindness that night. If you will do good to your fellow, is there any need to reproach?
"Yeah, man. I'll keep her company until she wants to go home," Philip se
"Good. We gotta go." He forced a smile and left after. He went with his two friends.
"How rude," I commented.
"Is there any tension between you two?" Philip asked so I turned around to face him again.
"I don't know. He's probably a bitter man."
"What?" He chuckled. "Did you have a past relationship with him? Perhaps fling?"
"It's not that. I did bad to him but I already apologized. To hell with his grudges!"
"Forget about him. He's just an inexperienced."
"Good for him," I puffed up my chest.
Jonas is known to be picky when it comes to girls, to dating a woman. And until now, he has still no girlfriend. His friends tried to introduce him many girls but he refused all of them. To him, they were cheap, wild and not decent women. He talks shits as if he had something to show off?
But they said, it's just his nature. He's looking for a good woman to introduce to his family. Decent, family-oriented, kind, smart and a woman who has dreams.
Does it need to have a woman like that to show to his family? For what? For him not to embarrass himself because the woman he brought wasn't good enough? Isn't it that if you love the person, you love the whole package. Not because of her physical appearance or of being who she is.
When the party was over, Philip walked with me to the parking lot. I brought my car so I will go home.
"Can you drive alone?" Philip asked me hesitantly.
"Of course. I'm not drunk, Philip. I can go home safe."
"Sorry, I can't drive you home. My friends are wasted too."
"No, it's okay. I can handle myself. I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."
"Here's the deal: you call me when you got home. Okay?"
"Okay," I nodded. "Good night, Philip. You go home after your friends."
"Yeah. Good night too."
"Bye," I waved at him before I went inside my car and drove away.
Summer was just around the corner. I worked out everyday to achieve the body goal that I wanted. Azy's wedding is getting near too so I had to maintain my figure."Thrante's eager to get annulled with Sebastian," Mom stated during our dinner. "Your Tita Katherine is also supportive. I don't think they won't win against the Marcados. They've done it before against the Imperial. There's no way they won't do it again.""Do you think that is normal, Mommy? Will it bring a shame to both families if people will learn about the annulment?""It surely will. But as much as I want to be excluded from this issue, I also want to support your cousin. In this generation, divorce and annulment is normal for married couples.""This is why I hate marriage," I grunted. "I'm not against them 'cause I know Baste was a good husband. Maybe they aren't just meant to last? They are not meant to be.""Maybe they are better off as separated, Etincelle. They need a break fro
After that chitchat, I went home and found my mother in the living room."I'm home," I announced."Etincelle," Mama called. I kissed her cheeks and sat next to her."Why, Mommy?" I asked."Within this week, Thrante will send a summon to Sebastian for a statement proving that there's no collusion between two parties.""And?" I folded my legs, leaning my side against the sofa. I studied my mother's face.Some people said I looked like my mother, some said I was the girl version of my father. While studying Mom's bare face, I can see myself in her. I got the shape and color of her eyes. While for Dad, I got his nose and lips."Do you know how the annulment goes?" She asked me but it didn't sound like a question. "Your petition will be granted only if it will proven to the court that there's no collusion between two parties. That means if the case is proven that both parties have no illegal connection, there's a big chance that the petiti
"So, you're in good terms with Baste again?" I asked Thrante as she told me she's living with Baste again.I have no work today so I decided to meet Thrante. It's her day off too so I decided to visit her here in the penthouse."He offered me a 30 days of marriage. I just thought his offer sounds good and he promised to rewrite his statement once this agreement ends.""Then what? What if you will your mind?"She bit her lower lip. I can see how hard this was for her. But she looks like she's just go-with-the-flow set up and she has no back up plans."Look," I folded my arms. "if this agreement works, I hope you guys will get back together.""What for? We will be annulled after this.""So, it's fine with you that Baste will love someone else?" I asked, incredulous."If he wants to, who am I to restrain him?""You sound so confident. Did you find a better man already?" I accused."Me?" She chuckled with distinct moc
"How old are you again?" He asked curiously."25?" I was not sure. "Or 26.""Still young," he remarked.Silence followed. I was just staring at my shot glass, not knowing what to do. I feel like I will doze off if I will add another shot."You're an architect, right?" He asked again."Yup. Why do you ask?""I have a friend who's looking for an architect. I'm thinking if I should recommend you to him. Is that okay with you?""Really?" I peered at his side. His eyes were serious. "When?""Is that a yes?""Will I ask if not?""I want to make sure. There's still a tendency you will decline the offer if you don't like it.""Depends on the job.""What does that mean?""I specialize restoration. You might ask me for commercial buildings."He slid his palm across his mouth, staring boldly at me. I turned my face away. His hot stares burned my body even more."Here's the thing," he
Folding my arms, I studied the face of Jonas who was standing mightily in front of me. He stood beside Joshua and a man I didn't recognize. He was out of out of my league, not even in my circle of friends."He's the client I was telling you," Joshua spoke up, referring to the stranger. "He has a land property in Aurora. He plans to renovate it. It's an old house and they want to turn it to a restaurant.""What era?" I asked and looked at the stranger."By the way," Joshua piped up. "It's rude to just discuss things without proper introduction, right?""I'm Architect Reyes," I introduced myself to the guy and offered him a handshake."Jacob Lozano," he smiled—it was benevolent, and accepted my hand.His hand was big and warm. I smiled warmly. He looked good. He was friendly and approachable.Jonas cleared his throat, jabbing the back of his palm again
The following morning I readied myself because we were going to Aurora. I brought extra clothes and underwears just in case of emergency. I just thought they would tell me we would go home tomorrow.Five in the morning was our call time. We have to be early because Aurora is far from here and to avoid the heavy traffic too. I calculated the time travel. It's almost five hours."Good morning, E!" Joshua greeted happily when we met outside the house. He told me he will fetch me up and we will go to Jacob's place together."Good morning, Josh! Why are you happy today?""I don't know either," he chuckled.His attire is just simple. Plain pink shirt, heavy jeans and a leather boots."You're in love," I accused."Oh?" I chuckled. "I'm just happy today.""Don't lie to me, Josh. I know you. So, you're hitting on someone?""Nah," h
"I was surprised that Jonas was there. I remembered he offered me a job too. Maybe that's the offer he was referring to. He said his friend is looking for an architect," I told Thrante. I recalled what happened yesterday."And? Have you talked to Jonas again?""I haven't yet. Someone called him yesterday when we were off to go. He called her Honey. Do you think that's his girlfriend?""I'm not sure. But I know someone whose name is Honey.""Really?" She nodded. "Who is she?""Honey Rallos, my family lawyer.""Oh," my lips formed in O shape. "Do you think there's a connection between the two? Isn't she a friend of Joshua?""I don't know," she shrugged. "Jonas is a friend of Joshua, I supposed.""They were batchmates.""Maybe Jonas and Honey were batchmates too?"I fell silent. What is it with me if they wer
They left after that while I and my friends remained on our round table. I wandered my eyes around and realized how full of people this place was."Boy hunting you want?" Morthena asked all of the sudden."Boy hunting?" Morayta repeated, sounding confused."It's up to you, guys. You might like to. Philip told me there's a lot of boys here.""Pass," Morayta quickly replied, waving her hands dismissively. "I'm not into boy hunt tonight.""Same," Haponesa shrugged off."Where's Azy by the way?" I asked. This is why I feel ùlike someone is missing. Azy isn't here."She's not available. You already know why," Morthena replied.This was why marriage sucked. It restrained you from doing your old lifestyle. Thinking about it made me sick."I'll just room around," I told them and excused myself.I looked for a shot to drink. I would drink tonight but not too much. I promised to Mama I wouldn't come home drunk.