CHAPTER 5
814 Words
06-29-25
Kabanata Five
continuation..
"Thank you, Rance Molina, for singing our graduation song! Let’s give him a round of applause!"
Thank God! I pulled it off!
When I returned backstage, Trina immediately greeted me with a hug.
"Thank you so much, Rance!"
Shit. I don’t want to assume anything, but does Trina like me too?
"Hi? Rance, right? You really have a beautiful voice," said one of her female friends.
"T-thank y-you," I stammered. I wasn't sure if I should call her "Ate" (older sister) or just Trina.
"OF COURSE! I told you, right? He has potential!" Trina chimed in. "By the way, do you want to come to my house? We’re having a celebration."
"Huh?"
"Oh, come on, don't 'Ate' or 'Po' me. Our age gap is only three years," she said with a smile.
"Um, okay... if it's not a bother."
"Don't be shy! Only a few people are coming," she said.
She went back to the stage for some photos, then came back and pulled me along. I just followed her. She led me to the parking lot where her other friends were waiting in a vehicle.
"You took forever, Trina," complained one of her friends.
"Oh, sorry! I invited someone else. This is Rance, by the way. Rance, these are my friends! Okay, you guys sit there, I’ll take the front. Let's go, Manong!"
And with that, the car drove off.
Their house was beautiful—a mix of European and modern styles.
"U-um, Trina, where is the bathroom? The line at the one downstairs is really long."
"Go upstairs, turn left, then right at the end of the hallway. There’s a bathroom there," she said, pointing. I nodded.
As I walked upstairs, I was even more amazed by the interior. I couldn't help but take my phone out to snap some pictures. I wanted to show Deon proof that I actually made it to Trina’s house. If I just told him, he’d probably say I was making it up. I know exactly how that friend of mine thinks.
I took photos while heading up and followed Trina's directions. Soon, I saw the door.
But wait—are photos enough? What if he says they're edited or AI-generated? It looked like I needed to take a video of myself.
So, as I approached the bathroom door, I started recording a video.
I opened the door... only to see a girl in a bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her hair, holding a mop. She was playing 'Lambada' music—ballroom style.
Her back was to me. She was singing along with her eyes closed, using the mop handle as a microphone. When the chorus hit, she let go of the mop and started grinding/dancing.
My jaw dropped.
Right then, she turned around and opened her eyes. Startled, she slipped and was about to hit the floor, but I caught her just in time. The towel fell off her hair.
That’s when I realized who she was. She was the new transferee, the one sitting next to me—Amari! The one who kept staring at me!
"I-I'm sorry!!!" I apologized quickly before slamming the door and rushing downstairs. Trina was waiting at the bottom of the steps.
"That was a fast bathroom break."
"Yeah," I said, scratching my head. Just then, a housemaid passed by, and Trina called out to her.
"Manang, where is Amari?"
"Ma’am, she might be in your sister's room, watching over her."
"Oh, can you do me a favor? Tell her to come down here. I want to introduce her to my friends."
"Um, Trina, can I ask... is the Amari you’re talking about Amari Dolores?"
"Oh, yeah! How do you know her? Oh crap! I forgot, you guys are the same age. I think you're in the same room, if I’m not mistaken? Are you friends with her? Oh my, are you guys close?"
Friends? She doesn't even know how to smile or talk, let alone be a "close friend."
"Um... yes, no, and... yes. Yes, she's my classmate, but we aren't exactly friends... but we are seatmates, so I guess we’re close."
She laughed softly. So cute!
"Wow, what a coincidence."
"So, how are you related?" I asked hesitantly.
"She’s my niece! Her mom and I are half-sisters."
"Ah."
What a hell of a coincidence! Should I have said we were friends?
Later, the maid returned and said Amari was feeling sleepy. She said Amari was tired from helping out around the house.
I was relieved because I could avoid seeing her. I still couldn't get over our "incident."
- Writer
