Chapter 8

"Halloween Ball?"

"Yep! School's new gimmick. The librarian mentioned it to me."

"And what are we supposed to do there? I'm telling you, this school is just... sighs.. And you! Aren't you something else huh, kiddo? You're close with the librarian."

Nariza and I are currently sitting on the stage in the quadrangle of the school. We're not the only ones, there are also quite a few students hanging out here as we already did our P.E. activity, and the teacher let us have some free time.

"Not really. Just a bit." I stuck my tongue out. "He said that it will be like prom, but not that grand. So instead of aiming to have the prettiest gown --"

"We're going to wear costumes?! What the heck! This school wants to do something like how American schools do?"

"Not really costumes. There will be a color theme that is required, and they'll announce the details later."

"Ohh," she nodded. "Now, that sounds exciting!"

"Yup!"

According to the novel, the Halloween Ball would be black-and-orange theme with a mask on. It can either be scary or elegant, whichever the students prefer. The colors, though, don't need to be incorporated in the clothes. It can be black dress then orange mask, or orange polo for the guys and black suit. It's pretty much mix 'n match kind of thing.

And in this scene, Jace would get in to the school and have a dance with Nariza.

For some reason, I don't really remember the detailed version that well. As if there's something wrong with my memory.

I don't know what is going on with me, but it seems like, every time I try to remember what happened in the novel, I can only recall the major scenes and not the really detailed ones. It has been going on for a few days now and the latest example is this upcoming Halloween Ball.

Jace and Nariza will meet up, spend time together, and dance at the end.

That's all I know.

"By the way mami, how are you and dadi?"

Immediately, her smile radiated and she chatted cheerfully. "We're like loons! Haha, the usual of course, but we're sweeter this time." Her smile kind of simmered down. "We talked about Venise and he admitted that she does likes him. She confessed to him but he immediately told her that he doesn't like her."

"But she still went along and willing to be the spare tire?"

"Yeah. She loves him that much. Although it sucks and I couldn't help but feel jealous whenever they're together, I can't do anything."

Don't worry Nariza, I'll take care of that. Sooner or later, you will appear at where they are at, catching them in surprise.

"I see. Sorry mami."

"It's okay, at least we're okay."

"Oh I just remember! Does dadi knows you helped out another guy?" I teased her and she immediately turned red.

"T-That guy is n-not important!"

"Oh really?" Haha, if you only know who that guy was, Nariza.

"Of course, really! So I don't need to tell that to Jace. He might get jealous, and cause us to fight."

He's a real idiot if he ended up jealous with his own self.

"Hmm. He's not important, yet you're blushing. Haha! Why, admit it, you got a crush on him huh? You found him cute?"

She looked away. "M-My husband is more handsome!"

Pfft! But he is Jace though!

"I think they're the same."

"No!"

"Pfft, you didn't answer my question though, so you did have a crush. Ayiee!"

"You're such a crazy kid!" She pinched my cheeks. "I'm loyal to my husband!"

"Ouch! H-Haha, you can still have a crush even when you're loyal, so you do have a crush."

She let my cheeks go. "Oh my gosh, yes! But it's gone okay? He was just cute.. and a bit handsome.. and tall.. has a lovable smile.."

"Look at this girl, we're just talking about crush, yet you mentioned love." She hit my arm. "Haha! Nothing huh, sure, whatever you say."

"Heh! Whatever! I'm still with Jace!"

That was still Jace, crazy Nariza.

"Okay, okay." I stretched my arms. "Can't wait for that Ball."





@~@





Hey dadi!


?


You busy?


Not really baby. What's up?


Nothing much. Just want to get some gossips.


?


Are you sure you don't have any interest with Venise?


Sure.


Hmm, okay. Thanks.


That's all?


Yes that's all.


Okay. Bye.




I'm not really bothered with how cold he's replying to me right now. The reason why I had to messaged him first is because in the novel, Mielle was supposed to talk to another character when she messaged him first and her detector would tell that it wasn't Jace that she was talking to.

"I guess it's not time yet." Now to find out why he's being cold..

She answered on the second ring. [Wassuup?]

"You two argued, didn't you?"

[Wow.]

"So you did."

I heard her sigh. [How could we not when he and Venise were together the entire time last night?]

Oohh! So this is the part where the attending and having parties started! I remember now.

"Why were they together?"

[They attended a mutual friend's birthday party, then this Venise got drunk. Then that guy didn't leave her alone as she's his 'girlfriend,' and even though they were not, he was still worried about her as she was drunk.]

"Okay, I get his point."

[Same here. But why the need to sleep on one bed? Are we just fooling around? Did he think that I would be just fine after learning what happened?]

"I don't think something happened though?"

[Yes, nothing, but hello? Don't I have the right to be mad or jealous with what he did? He slept on a bed with another girl, Mil. Do you know how much that hurts? Then, when I'm feeling this way, I'm the one who is wrong and unreasonable? Really? Wow.]

"So did he say all of these details about the bed and such to you?"

[No. It was Pan who said so.]

"Pan.. mister Peter? And are you sure he wasn't pulling your leg?"

Nariza went quiet. [Y-Yes?]

"Right. What if he was telling the truth but mixed some lies into it?"

[Which part? They all seemed to be the truth.]

"Well, maybe it was true that they slept in one room, but what if dadi slept on a sofa or on the floor? You said Venise was drunk, right? You never know, but there might be vomits that happened and dadi asked for a maid's help to fix Venise, and the reason he couldn't leave her was because she might puke again."

Her silence lasted for almost a minute.

"Let me guess, you didn't ask him. You just gave him an attitude just cause brother Peter said those things? Then brother Peter, also just found out that they were together in the room from the maid that helped them."

I faintly heard her swallow. [Yes..] She whispered.

"So that was why."

[Why?]

"That was why dadi was cold to me. I just asked one question and got one answer. Then bye right after."

[Oh.]

"Mhm. Well, do your best mami! Soon, dadi will disappear again for whatever-grandpa reason, and I don't think you would want him to go before you two are okay." Whenever Jace gets summoned by his grandpa, he will be gone for days without any mean of communication with Nariza.

She sighed. [It's too late, Mil. He just messaged me that his grandpa called for him.]

"What the heck mami? Then go and reply! Go! Bye-bye, good luck!"





@~@





Hello dadi!




I waited for him to reply. "Huh. He's online yet he doesn't answer Mielle? Could it be?" My heart thumped at the thought.




Oh. Just ignore me, right.. take care then.
*seen*




He saw the message! That made me grin. "Here goes nothing."




Aw, baby, sulking already?


Dadi! Hi!


Hello. :)
Hows you?


I'm okay. You? You and mami? Are you two okay now?


That's good. I'm the same. And no, your mom doesn't know I'm back yet so keep it quiet for now, okay baby?
Hows she btw?


Ohh, okay.. Well, she's still sulking because of you.


I see. I really didn't mean to hurt her. I missed your mom.




My Mielle's detector is tingling -- giving me a feeling that this isn't Jace. "I guess this is what I had been waiting for -- the appearance of that character." I bit my lip, bracing myself.




Has it been a while since you last talked?


Yes. Why?


'Coz I thought you two were talking as I see you online for a while, and you ignored me when you're only like that to me when you're talking to her.
Unless you were talking with someone else..


No. I wasn't talking to anyone. I was just checking your mom's profile.


Stalker alert!


Haha. Can't help it, I missed her.


Ahh. How nice that you miss her but here I am, your 'baby' yet no 'miss you' at all.


Sorry, it's Nariza you know.
Don't be sad, baby.


Hmm.. so who are you?


What?


You're not dadi. Who are you?


Rhyn.




"Oh my gosh! It is him!" I quickly covered my mouth to contain my squeal. Oh, my gosh, I can't believe it! I'm talking to Rhyn! Iihh!

I had to put the phone down as I must move my hands at least with this giddiness I'm feeling. Then I re-read his message again and bit my lip in so much giddiness! My hands are closed into a fist as I wiggle them both almost right next to my face.

It's Rhyn, it's Rhyn, it's Rhyn!

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Phew," I fanned my face as I try to catch my breath. "Calm down, Aice, calm down. I know that's your crush in the novel, but please -- iihhh! -- ehem! Huu, okay." I sliced down my right hand in front of my face. "Game."




Eh? Rhyn?


Yes.


I see.. Why are you in dadi's account?


He told me to.


Ohh. Is he okay?


Maybe.
I gotta go. Bye.




"Sniff, sniff.. Even though it hurts how cold you are to me, my dear crush, I accept. Hihi!"




Gotcha. Thanks mister Rhyn! Nice to meet you!
*seen*




"And talking -- finally talking to you." I kissed my phone and made myself comfy on the bed. My smile doesn't want to leave. I licked my lip before biting it. I talked to my crush! Iyaaah! The reason of my sleepless nights, fantasizing what it would be like to be his girlfriend and such. Oh, my gods. Holy. Smokes --

Ting!

A new notification popped and I had to bite down and shove my head to the pillow in order to muffle my screams.




Jace Miko Salguero: Same here, baby of Jace.




"I am so gonna take a screenshot of this and edit out those last two words!"

Chapter end