Burning II

Sabrina came home that night and the first thing she did was tell Joan

(home, thank you for the time Joan.)

After that, she throws her phone on the bed and went straight to the bathroom.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

Looking steadily and intently.

She doesn't know herself like she used to

or did she really know who she was?

She caressed her cheeks

"I'm gorgeous"

She closed her eyes, but she doesn't see herself whenever she thinks of that word.

she sees someone else.

She opened her eyes and sees her reflection

She slowly removed her makeup, wiped her lipstick and washed her face.

She took a shower and blowdry her hair.

And it was the Sabrina the world hasn't seen yet.

She lay down, her mind starts wandering and eyes slowly blinking, drifting in and out of her consciousness then she thought to herself

If Joan closes her eyes, does she think of her too?

.....

Sabrina's POV

(The next day)

"Handa na ba kayo?"

And when everyone shouted yes, 'yun na nga.

"Oo G, it's way better if you do it that way" I responded when Gia asked for my preference about the floral archway, we chose a cottagecore theme kaya naman we need to effectively apply the nature-inspired environment

nandito rin sila kuya Wes and Wayne and Shiloh is busy helping for the choreo

I admit, I'm pressured since I'm the youngest ever na naging President ng council. I want to continue the legacy of the school and this party is a major part of it, I want to prove them that I'm not just better like them but more than they could ever be.

At oo, I'm so busy pero ang utak ko ay pinagpipilitan paring hanapin si Jo. Hindi ko siya nahagilap simula pa kaninang umaga and she's never been late, I don't want to ask Gia too

But considering the time we got home, baka talaga napagod siya. I even dragged her here kagabi. I feel bad and I wouldn't mind if she can't come...... But the selfish in me wanted that poor girl to be here and for what?

For me, obviously.

I bit my lip. This is driving me crazy, I took my phone out and opened my contacts, the very first thing you'll see ay ang pangalan niya, oo I pinned it on top, I know my priorities.

I was about to call her nang biglang lumabas ang pangalan ni Damian.

"Ano?"

"Sarap naman ng bungad" sagot niya sa kabilang linya with accent, he was away for a long time kaya naman it's expected.

"I'm just a bit occupied... sorry, why'd you call again?"

"I know, I heard from tita you're busy preparing daw for your acquaintance party, you even went home so late last night"

"What, you went there?"

"erm, yes, tita offered me lunch but I was hoping if we could grab lunch instead?"

"Ian.."

"And I'm kinda worried for you, are you even eating? at tsaka you can't be home that late dapat diba, I can take you home you can just call me—"

I don't know why pero I'm just so annoyed, I clicked my tongue "Ian, I appreciate you and all but I'm fine on my own."

Silence.

He chuckled, and even I can taste how bitter it sounds, but it's the truth, it's been years.

"Hm, you're right. I guess you weren't the same Liana I left before."

I massaged my temple "where are you?"

"Outside"

"Wait up."

I hanged up, kinuha ko ang mikropono sa gilid "everyone, you can have your lunch break, get back at 1. Thank you!"

After announcing that agad akong lumabas ng campus

And there he is. Leaning on his car with a bouquet of flowers.

"Hey" he was about to hug me but I intentionally stepped back

"Ian, I'm sorry I really don't have time for this.."

"But it's lunch, maybe we could grab something to eat kahit sandali lang—"

"No, Ian I can't, and if it's the date I've promised a long time ago I'd make it up to you pero—"

"Pero you won't go out with me? How Ironic"

That didn't sound right. But I guess he still has the slightest of right to say foul things as I respect my promise, but if he goes beyond that, tingnan nalang natin.

"Ian, we're friends five years ago but we're no longer the same anymore"

He looked at me smugly "yes, nagbago ka na nga hindi na ikaw ang dating kilala ko and how could you? Hindi naman ako nagbago ah"

"And maybe that's the problem Ian and yes you're right, you don't know me so stop fooling yourself that you do because I've grown out of the Me and the Liana you knew five years ago"

"But Lia, I've waited all this time."

"And I didn't asked you to, you don't hang on the person Ian, you hang on the promises that person made."

"Is it a mistake to do both?"

"No, pero yung hindi ka man lang nagparamdam? and then bigla ka nalang dadating at maniningil sa pangakong I don't know, a promise that was almost forgotten, aba apakadesisyon mo naman!?" Hindi ko mapigilang sininghalan siya, he's really getting into my nerves

"I'm sorry... I'm really sorry Lia. That's the reason I'm here, babawi ako"

"Babawi?" Bawian kita ng buhay eh "eh hindi naman naging tayo"

"But I like you!"

Ang kapal din ng mukha eh "you'll get over it" I answered deadpan

I was about to leave when he grabbed my arm "is it because you finally have someone, ganun ba, who? is he better than me?" His jaw clenched

I remove his filthy hands off me before saying "Yes, and she's way better than you could ever be"

Then I walked away after wasting my precious time on him.

Bad trip ang yabang yabang naging crush ko lang naman siya dati, I know guys like him, guys with fragile masculinity and gigantic egos, argh. Akala niya ba I'm easy to get just because I wear pink? Baka nakalimotan niya pink rin ang utak.

But the negativity he brought was easily wiped away by someone who I've been aching to see.

I saw her cross the street and I waved my hands all the way up "Joooo!" I called

She was scanning the place until our eyes met

I smiled and I don't care kung mapupunit na ang mukha ko

I run to meet her midway

"Sab!" Bati niya

my heart is racing hearing her say my name

"Jo" I looked at her with so much joy na hindi ko na namalayang tinititigan ko na pala siya

"Sab?"

I fake a cough "erm, hey" I bit my lip "wanna grab lunch with me?" I was hoping she'd say yes from the bottom of my heart, I mean maybe she already had lunch, I started to panic internally though this is not the first time we shared lunch together pero paano kung—

"Yes, of course Sab"

My heart jump

I intertwined my arms with hers as we walk inside "I'm glad you're finally here Jo"

"Half day lang akong nawala no" anya niya

"Bakit ka nga ba late?"

"I'll tell you later Sabrina ang tanong ay kung bakit nasa labas ka?"

"I...I was waiting for you!"

"What?" She chuckled looking at me confused "and how would you know na dadating na ako aber?"

"I didn't, but you came"

......

Back to reality.

After lunch we went straight sa gym and continued designing

I was really nervous of how this would turn out pero I'm glad seeing the place almost done.

Kuya wes' team was incharge of the catering

Gia is leading the stagecraft team

Shiloh is still practicing with her seniors

Wayne is helping the tech team

And Joan, wait where is she?

"Have you seen Joan?" I asked a random student at agad naman itong umiling

I've asked other students but they didn't see her

I started to worry kaya naman pinuntahan ko si Gia who's currently painting a decor

"Hey G, have you seen Jo? Kanina ko pa siya hinahanap eh, I've seen her helping with the flowers earlier pero after nun hindi ko na siya naaninag uli.." I didn't even paused while saying that and I've been running everywhere looking for her and now I ended up catching my breath

"Sab calm down, breathe"

I automatically took a deep breath

"and don't worry she's backstage"

"Backstage? What is she doing there?"

"Oh talking to ate Geo"

"Geo?"

"Oh, right you haven't met her, she's the vice president of the drama club, they're gonna perform sa party"

"Ah, I see. So kasali si Jo sa drama club?"

"Nope, actually nililigawan pa nga siya eh"

"Ha? Nililigawan?"

Gia sighed, she put the brush down and carefully leaned the cardboard she's painting on the wall.

"Halika, puntahan natin sila"

"Good idea!"

"Sabrina?"

"Yes?"

"Don't look so excited or she'll find out"

I gulped "find out what?"

"that you're dying to see her" she smirked after saying that na para bang nakapuntos siya sa pambabarang iyon

akala mo naman puntos papuntang langit

I rolled my eyes at her "shut up, Shiloh worshiper"

Nang umabot na kami sa backstage hindi ko parin hagilap si Jo

"Listen" Gia said

So I did and I've heard a beautiful humming followed by harmonizing

I pushed the curtain and there she was but what really caught my attention is the person sitting next to her, they're way to close to each other.

"That's ate Geo"

"Huh, that she is. Haven't seen her before"

"Really? She's popular though, specially sa freshmen"

I admit she's pretty, she has shiny tan skin and her face is giving...

"Both gender go crazy over her" dagdag pa ni Gia na hindi naman nakatulong

"talaga ba. she's okayish for me"

"Huh, bulag ka ba?"

"Hindi pero ikaw malapit na isumbong kita kay Shiloh eh"

Gia's eyes widen "of course Shiloh is the prettiest!"

"Talagang bumawi ka o ikaw babawian ng buhay mamaya"

She just rolled her eyes "now go talk to her at magpapatuloy na ako sa ginagawa ko"

"Ha huwag mo'kong iwan dito!"

Gia was about to leave ng may biglaang dumating na ikinagulat ko

"Gia?"

"Ate Maya!" Bati ni Gia, sometimes I forget that she's years older than me and she knows people here, she's always been nonchalant but becoming close to her made me realize that Gia is just like us.

I smiled politely at her knowing she's older than me.

" Maya meet Sabrina the—"

"Student council President" she interrupted as she extended her arm "nice to meet you"

"Ah hi po, nice to meet you too" I shake her hand and smiled politely

"Hindi ba kayo papasok?" Tanong niya

"Sabrina's looking for Jo is it okay if ikaw na ang sumama sa kanya? I have to do something pa kasi"

Ate Maya didn't hesitate and nodded enthusiastically "sure, Gia"

Agad namang umalis ang bakla, kainis. I stick my tongue out at her.

"They're still practicing, makakahintay ka ba? I guess they're about to end narin"

"ay opo"

I noticed her looking at me "You're even prettier this close"

"Po? Ay hindi naman po"

"Stop being too polite para namang 10 years ang gap natin"

"Ay sorry po–I mean sorry"

She just chuckled "hay, so close pala kayo ni Roble?"

I nodded "I guess? We've known each other before the election"

"welp, that's rare"

"Rare?"

"I mean you're against each other diba?"

I nodded slowly "yes but looking back, maybe we weren't really opposed to each other, it just so happens that others wanted us to stand on different sides" I tucked my hair behind my ear "And that was a blessing in disguise, because I love being beside her."

After saying that I saw Jo walking towards us, agad akong tumayo para batiin siya hindi paman siya nakaabot ay agad bumulong si Ate Maya sa akin "could you please convince her to join our club? your girl is talented, we'll take care of her" she then winked at me after saying that.

Nang nakalapit na siya ay agad siyang binati ni ate Maya until my presence finally caught her attention

"Sab you're here"

"Ah yes, I'm just erm" I scratched my head thinking of things to say

"She was just checking on the club Joan" Maya interrupted, good save

"Oh, ganun ba. Ah oo nga pala, meet ate Geo the Vice president of the drama club"

The girl beside her extended her arms at ngumiti ng matipid "Georgia Nicolette Vergara, you can just call me Geo. Nice to meet you"

I accepted her hand "Liana Sabrina Audrey Sevilla, nice to meet you too" I reciprocated the smile she gave

After handshaking, a curiosity went over me "if you're the Vice president, who's the President then?"

Both Joan and her looked at the person standing next to me.

And who's standing next to me?

"Maria Anastasia Yvette Rosalez, the president of the drama club" she said with a full smile "for short, Maya"

Now it makes sense.