Chapter 10

Summer, 2010

"So I put my hands up they're playin' my song. The butterflies fly awaaaaay!!!" Megan sang, more like shouted, at the top of her lungs.

Top-down and arms raised up high under the clear evening sky, she couldn't feel more exhilarated at this moment. It was nothing out of the usual. Every summer since 2006, she's been returning to her beloved hometown to meet all of her friends again and have a good time. This was always the case for any returning student. Despite studying in another country, you were welcome to return to Ras Tanura, or any part of the KSA, as long as your parents still worked there. By 2010, almost everyone in the group except Felicity and Lacey were returning students.

After spending some time in Ras Tanura, the gang would, more often than not, continue to hang out in the Philippines. There were summers when some people couldn't make it. Nonetheless, they retained the unspoken rule of seeing each other under any circumstances.

Lost in the haze of pure elation, Megan then turned to Zoe, who's standing right next to her.

"Noddin' my head like yeaaaaahhh! Movin' my hips like yeaaaah!" Zoe sang, sharing a wide grin.

"Put my hands, they're playin' my song, you know I'm gonna be okaaaay!"

"Yeeeeeeeeeeeaaaahhh!!! IT'S A PARTY IN THE USAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

"YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! IT'S A PARTY IN RAS TANURA!!!"

"We're so weird." Zoe chuckled and shook her head.

"I think everyone else agrees," Megan said as she knowingly looked at some of their friends behind their vehicle riding in the golf cart, as well as a couple in their own car.

"You're lucky that not many people live here." Logan snorted. For both Megan and Zoe's benefit, he's been driving carefully since the mini singing session started. He didn't mind it, of course, but he had to admit that he wanted it to end soon. If only he could get to their destination faster.

And just when he thought it wasn't going to get any worse, Bad Romance began playing.

Logan had to shoot a look at Odell for raising the volume. The former had no idea if his best friend was doing this on purpose.

"YES BITCH!!!! LOUDER!!!" Megan yelled as she and Zoe drown in fits of laughter.

"It IS louder!!!" Odell yelled back with a questioning gaze.

Megan then turned to look at the golf cart riders once more and harmonized with Danica, who was also gearing her lungs up for the singing session of her life.

"Caught in a bad romance. OOOOOOHHHHH!! Caught in a bad romance!!" Megan looks back at Zoe, feeling the adrenaline and excitement course through her veins. "RA RA RA AH AH!! ROMA ROMAMA!! GAGA OOH LALA! WANT YOUR BAD ROMANCE!!!"

Not missing a single note, the three girls scream sang their hearts out. At one point, Felicity also joined. But it wasn't until the bridge of the song that things started to spice up.

"I want your love and I want your revenge, I want your love, I don't wanna be friends!!!" Megan felt like she was going to lose her voice but continued to raise her tone, "Hit it, Odee!!"

Odell's expression drastically shifted to something way more dramatic than expected. "Je veux ton amour. Et je veux ta revanche. Je veux ton amour, I don't wanna be friends!"

Logan couldn't help but cackle at the crazy yet enjoyable atmosphere oozing in their car and the next, as Odell raised his voice an octave higher. "I don't wanna be friends!!"

Zoe and Megan screeched simultaneously. "I DON'T WANNA BE FRIENDS!!! WANT YOUR BAD ROMANCE!!!"

"WANT YOUR BAD ROMANCE!!!" Danica followed, almost choking on her own saliva.

Having witnessed this, Jared, Jacob, Naia, and Felicity burst into ugly laughter.

"Jesus Christ," Jared muttered under his breath and shook his head. Driving the golf cart with the euphoric vibes circulating certainly is quite the task.

Nonetheless, it didn't take that long for them to arrive at the beach.

The beauty of the beach in Ras Tanura, besides the ocean and sand itself, were the chairs and tables. Rooted in the grainy and white sand stood the contrasting dark brown bench chairs with a matching table, enough to accommodate six; ten, if you counted little kids sitting on their parents' laps. Then, there was a cemented triangular roof, lined and decorated with palm leaves.

As Billionaire played in the background (c/o Odell as always), the gang put their stuff on the table and laid out their snacks. Logan, who volunteered himself as in charge of the booze, pulled out a big bottle of Jack Daniels and coke.

"How did you even get a bottle of that here?" Danica inquired out of curiosity.

Since alcohol was banned in Saudi Arabia, it was impossible to get any sort of liquor. There's the famous Siddiqi of course, but that stuff was too strong for adults, let alone teenagers.

Logan shrugged, genuinely not knowing where it came from. He would later find out that his father bought the famous alcohol in Bahrain. "My dad had some stashed."

"Okay, so we all know everyone's drinking except Fae," Jacob chimed in a singsong voice.

"I can take a sip," Felicity said defensively.

Odell proceeded to cock an eyebrow at the young girl. "If this gets to the parents, you're gonna be the first one to rat us out. So no thank you."

"No, I won't." She frowned and folded her arms across her chest.

"Just one sip won't hurt," Logan voiced in a negotiable manner as he gazed at Zoe, "Right, ate?"

The eldest of the group weighed the options for a minute. "One sip. And only from my cup. No one else gives her any."

"Here you go." Jared suddenly offered everyone a glass of mixed coke and Jack Daniels. He quietly stirred up the concoction while everyone was chatting away.

Naia shared a warm smile and slightly batted her eyelashes at him. "Always the gentleman."

"I try," he uttered coolly as he downed almost half of his drink.

"So... what has everyone been up to?" Megan asked, wanting to get the needed life updates from all of her friends.

Naia was the first to answer, recalling some memorable moments she had in school plus new experiences with her friends. Then, Odell was quick to counter that by bragging about his own epic adventures, which he sometimes shared with Logan since their schools were quite close to each other. One by one, the stories and banter gradually started to flow as it should. They never really acknowledged it, but as the years passed, the gap in their friendships grew further and further. The first meeting during summer was always a tad awkward, but the more time they spent with each other especially on nights like this, that uncomfortable feeling faded away.

As the sky grew darker, each person started to do their own thing in a comically tipsy state. Whether it was Jacob giving Naia random piggyback rides while running all over the beach or the weird nonsensical card game being played by Jared, Zoe, Felicity (who was just drunk on life after that one sip), Danica, and Odell, everyone was just enjoying the high they were experiencing.

This left Logan and Megan straying elsewhere though. Just a few feet away from the beach was a winding road, with house after house. Since this side of the neighborhood was quiet, the two friends were allowed to talk about anything and everything. From playful and harmless repartee to honest, serious, and deep chats.

"What happened to us?" Megan wondered thoughtlessly as they walked at their own pace.

The loud crashing waves could be heard at a distance and the salty breeze followed them on their path.

It took a while for Logan to respond. "I don't know actually. I think everything started falling apart ever since you moved."

Megan's expression abruptly turned glum. "Well, thanks. That makes me feel so honored and happy."

Logan chuckled and stated with utmost sincerity, "You were kind of the glue that held us all together."

A bittersweet feeling washed over her as she blurted out a quote from one of her favorite movies, "'Flattered, I may be. Flattened, I will not.'"

He stopped on his tracks for a moment and directed a strange glance at her. The line sounded awfully familiar. "Looney Tunes?" he guessed unsure.

She chortled and nodded. "Yeah."

He shook his head at the endearing silliness she's just displayed but decided to stay on track with the topic they were talking about. "We all just started having our own group of friends at school you know? And some of those friends were also living in RT and.... yeah," he explained with a heavy sigh. "Of course, living and studying in different countries later on didn't exactly help either."

"Understandable."

"You have friends in the Philippines too, as far as I'm concerned."

"Fortunately." She smiled to herself, recalling the hardships she went through during high school. A lot of bullies were out to make the new kid miserable. Thankfully, college was being kinder to her. She never did tell anyone about her horrific experience in high school though, except Zoe.

"But it's not like we hate each other," Logan quickly saved.

"True," Megan agreed. "We're just...." Indifferent? Awkward?

"Adjusting," he finished for her. "This is why need to make our vacation in the Philippines count. No more malls please." It's kind of been a tradition for the gang to visit a mall or two every time they would hang out in their dear motherland. A tiring tradition, if anyone were to ask him.

"An amusement park then. Like Enchanted Kingdom," she suggested.

His eyes lit up at the thought of their friends enjoying the numerous rides. "Sounds fun. And that's near my place."

"Good." She shared a warm smile and he couldn't help but return it.

"Hey we're getting some cheese fries if you guys want some," Naia suddenly hollered from a distance, interrupting the two friends' pleasant conversation.

Logan and Megan took this as a signal to return to the beach and began to head towards where Naia was standing.

"Shall I come with?" Megan asked as soon as her friend was within earshot.

"Why ever not?" Naia replied with the widest grin.

The walk from the beach to the North Recreation Center, where you could order the tastiest cheese fries ever, was quite long. Megan didn't take this as a bad thing, because it's been a while since she and Naia spent some time alone together. Messaging each other on Facebook and exchanging emails was nice, but actually being with the person you trust and enjoy hanging out with in real life was something that would beat any virtual interaction. Even video calls.

"So, how are you, chica? Have any chismis for me?" Naia asked, sharing a sweet beam.

On their way to the recreation center, their conversation was much more joke-y and light. So, as soon as they finished ordering their cheese fries and were left to wait for it, the atmosphere took a semi-serious turn.

Megan thought about it for a moment, but answered amicably, "I'm good, yeah. Same old. You?"

"I'm running for vice president this school year! If that's news," Naia revealed coyly. She's been wanting to break the news since their first meeting, but as usual with their friends, timing news like this was quite the challenge.

"Wow!! That's great, Naia!" Megan gushed with small claps. "I know you can do it."

"Of course!" Naia chirped confidently. "We're never ones to disappoint. It's a bit nerve-wracking, but it's nothing new."

"Former secretary and vice president of ISG's high school? Um... yeah, sure it's brand new," Megan playfully remarked.

A light and airy laugh escaped Naia's lips. "Always the flatterer."

Megan furrowed her eyebrows at her but managed to say with the sincerest smile, "I missed you."

Naia's expression turned serious for a moment, both feeling shocked and another mysterious emotion she wasn't quite familiar with. But she returned Megan's smile and replied, "You too."

"So... tell me. Boyfriend?" Naia asked in the most casual tone she could muster. The perfect question to smoothly exit out of that mush fest.

Megan was quick to shake her head. "No."

Out of disappointment, Naia frowned. "Oh come on. What about your quotable statuses on Facebook then?"

"Just crushes. Flings. Nothing serious." Megan avoided her interrogating eyes.

"You're kidding."

"I'm just... I have other priorities. Studies and all that." Megan knew this was half a lie, but she went with it. She didn't really want to admit that deep within the miscellaneous clutter of her mind, she was actually frightened at the thought of having an actual relationship.

Sensing that her friend wouldn't budge, Naia chose to throw out the usual line. "Or maybe you just haven't found the right one yet."

Megan shrugged and carelessly blurted out of nowhere, "Or maybe it's because deep down... I'm not completely over Jared."

Naia jumped in her seat a bit, both intrigued and shocked at the confession. With sympathetic and pitiful eyes, she commented gently, "Sweetie, it's been a while."

"I know." Megan looked down at her hands, feeling rather stupid. "I just—every time we're all back here and gathered... that lingering feeling comes back again. Any smidge of affection I have left for him suddenly bubbles up and tries to torture me. I mean, don't get me wrong. When I'm in the Philippines, I'm fine. I get to think about other things and I get to meet all sorts of guys, but.... it's him... and you and me and everyone else and nostalgia and... I don't know. I don't know what it is."

Naia tilted her head and sighed, seeing the inner conflict within Megan. "I'm sure it'll pass. I don't know how you feel exactly but... maybe getting over your first love takes time."

"Some actually say that it never dies," Megan mumbled under her breath.

Naia wanted to hug her friend but resisted the urge. She was never the one who usually initiated such physical affectionate gestures, especially with Megan. "Maybe that's it too, you know. You're never gonna be ABSOLUTELY over him, but that doesn't mean you can't move on and find someone that's going to make you feel even better than he did."

Megan exhaled heavily and reflected upon the situation. "Right."

"Let's face it, Jared isn't all the great," Naia said tactlessly. "Did he even speak to you after the Spring Fling? Or for a better word, did he even TRY?"

".... no." Megan had to admit that Naia's remark stung, but the reality of it was, Jared never did try to say or do anything. He just accepted everything as it was. As if they didn't have any sort of profound and meaningful relationship. She was left to think that maybe everything was one-sided and she overestimated Jared's affection for her.

"See? Even as your best friend, he couldn't try."

Megan could only smile bitterly at this. Naia was basically just voicing everything Megan was thinking and it hurt to acknowledge the fact that she was right.

"And besides... I see someone kind of hitting it off with Logan." Naia directed a teasing grin at her and wiggled her eyebrows.

Megan's eyes widened so much that she felt her eyeballs were going to pop out of its sockets. "What? No! He's like a brother," she protested with disgust.

"That's what Selena said about Justin."

"They're not even actually dating."

"We never know. It's pretty obvious that there's something there," Naia said in a know-it-all tone as she continued playfully, "Also with you and Lo—"

"Stop. It's incest." Megan shuddered.

"Eh. If you won't, then I will," Naia jokingly remarked.

"Naia!" Megan gaped at her, mentally facepalming. Their conversation was heading to quite the scandalous path.

"You KNOW that he always goes for older girls. He never dates anyone younger than him."

"STILL SO UNNECESSARY TO EVEN CONSIDER!"

It didn't take long for them to fall into hysterics of giggling at the ridiculousness of it all.

"Your cheese fries!!" The Indian man behind the snack bar's counter practically bellowed.

Megan and Naia immediately shut their mouths and realize just how noisy they were. With almost everyone in the room giving them a good glare, Megan couldn't help but let out a stifled chuckle.

But Naia composed herself in a matter of seconds and pursed her lips impatiently at Megan. "Can you—?" She directed a rather condescending look at her friend as if silently commanding her to get their order.

"Oh, sure." Although shocked at Naia's drastic change in mood, Megan shrugged it off. Naia has always been a bit conscious about what other people thought of her, even strangers. So maybe the judging looks they received after their boisterous laughing session wasn't exactly something she enjoyed.

And just as Megan thought, everything was forgotten the minute she and Naia started walking back to the beach. It was a lot more hushed than she was used to, but hey, at least her closest friend wasn't mad at her. Unlike her initial thought.

"We come bearing gifts!" Naia announced when they finally arrived at their spot.

"At laaaaast!!!! Yaaaaay!!!!" Danica instantly grabbed the paper bags from the older girls' hands and took the glorious cheese fries out for everyone to smell and see. She was sure no one could stop her from munching to her heart's content.

Megan tilted her head at how silly Danica looked at the moment and tried her hardest not to guffaw. "Someone's still drunk."

"A lot of them actually." Zoe shook her head and gestured at the rest of their friends. She's been sober for quite some time now and the idea of taking care of these hooligans was just beyond her.

"I'm taking it to the park!!!!" Jacob suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs.

Zoe's face turned bored, clearly done with the situation at hand. "Taking what?!"

"It!!!" the young boy yelled with complete certainty.

Zoe couldn't help but laugh at how stupid he was acting. "You're an idiot!!" She then glanced at the two other seemingly sober people in the group, Naia and Megan, who were also engulfed with hilarity.

"You're not it, so you don't know!!!" Jacob protested, his eyes half-open and his mouth attempting to hold a sneer. "Who's the idiot now???"

The three girls merely shook their heads as another contender for most ludicrous hooligan of the night spoke, "I'm SO gay, you guys."

A comical sort of silence surrounds the gang for a second.

"We know," everyone simultaneously said.

Odell shot them all a disbelieving glare. "Oh... how?"

"Sweetie, you came out to us last year," Naia said with an amused smile.

"Did I?" Odell seriously thought about it, not being able to remember the momentous event in his drunken state.

Megan bit her lower lip in an attempt to stop herself from chortling then and there. "Does yelling 'I'm gay!!!! I'M GAY!!!!!' to the ocean jog your memory?"

A fond smile slowly graced his face. "No regrets."

Naia, Megan, and Zoe shook their heads once again and knowingly looked at each other. They can only imagine what their summer in the Philippines was going to be like.

Epic, probably.

***

As great as a summer spent in Ras Tanura was, the vacation wasn't quite over yet. The gang and their families sometimes got on the same flight to the Philippines. But they didn't really meet up again until they've planned a solid outing.

During this particular summer, the Ocampos were unfortunately not included. Mr. Ocampo had a career opportunity he couldn't pass up in Canada. So all of the family was flying there and officially moving for good.

Arabella (Megan) Vee, FaE BaUtIsTa, Danica Garcia, Zo Torres, Logan dela Ve...

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Naia Baniaga: Still a bit sad that the Ocampo brothers can't make it :(

Zo Torres: We have next summer so no worries there!

Logan dela Vega: Me and Megs talked about this year and we thought it would be good to go to Enchanted Kingdom!

Logan dela Vega: Then we can all sleep over at Odee

Odell Lumaban: Well... thanks for the absolutely planned and not at all surprise pajama party at my place

Logan dela Vega: Your welcome :)

Danica Garcia: *You're

Naia Baniaga: Possible beach outing?

Logan dela Vega: I mean sure... after the sleepover. Any beach in the south is close to Odells

Odell Lumaban: Yes it's our joint property now apparently

Arabella Vee: Hahahahahahaha

Zo Torres: Lmao

Naia Baniaga: Lol

FaE BaUtIsTa: xD

Danica Garcia: All I need is my parent's approval

Logan dela Vega: My dad's willing to chaperone so no problem there

Arabella Vee: Is Lacey coming along?

Logan dela Vega: Sure... we're not gonna drink, right?

Odell Lumaban: I mean secretly we could. It's MY house we're staying in after all

Logan dela Vega: That's mah main bro!!!

Odell Lumaban: ok, ew

Arabella Vee: Hahahahahaha

Zo Torres: So it's settled then? Trip to Enchanted then sleepover at Odee's. Pending beach trip to wherever in the south

Logan dela Vega: Yupyup

FaE BaUtIsTa: Cnt w8!

Danica Garcia: Will get back to you guys after asking for permission :)

Logan dela Vega: Sure

Naia Baniaga: I'm sure mama and papa Garcia will come through

Arabella Vee: Of course

Arabella Vee: I'm excited!!! :*

Logan dela Vega

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Logan dela Vega: UUUUUUYYYYY*

Arabella Vee: Ano na naman? Peste** hahahaha

Logan dela Vega: Wala lang. Miss kitang asarin***

Arabella Vee: Bwiset****

Logan dela Vega: You doing okay?

Arabella Vee: Eh

Arabella Vee: I have school again in a few days so comme ci comme ca

Logan dela Vega: uhhhh

Arabella Vee: it's French

Logan dela Vega: IM not

Arabella Vee: Means so, so 50/50

Arabella Vee: knucklehead hahahaha

Logan dela Vega: oy may honors kaya ako*****

Arabella Vee: okay

Arabella Vee: so??????

Logan dela Vega: gago ka******

Arabella Vee: hahahahahahahahaa

Arabella Vee: So what are you planning to do while the Enchanted trip is pending?

Logan dela Vega: Chill

Logan dela Vega: say hi to the kambing******* that passes by the back of our house

Arabella Vee: WOW PROBINSYA********!

Logan dela Vega: Probinsya naman talaga********* hahaha

Logan dela Vega: san pablo********** eh

Arabella Vee: Hahahahahahaha so funny

Logan dela Vega: ikaw***********?

Arabella Vee: ako************

Logan dela Vega: tae to*************

Logan dela Vega: what are your plans

Arabella Vee: Get my shit together before school starts

Arabella Vee: should be fine though

Arabella Vee: still a sophomore. Things don't get rocky until junior year

Logan dela Vega: i wouldn't know though let's be real hahahah

Logan dela Vega: but good luck with that

Arabella Vee: thanks :)

Logan dela Vega: i'll ask the kambing to send you some luck

Arabella Vee: hahahahahahahha you're such an idiot

Logan dela Vega: for you? Always hahaha

Logan dela Vega, Naia, Baniaga, and Odell Lumaban

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Naia Baniaga: Hey guys!

Logan dela Vega: uuuuhhhh ???

Odell Lumaban: The who the what now

Naia Baniaga: Nothing. Just wanted to create a chat for the 3 of us

Logan dela Vega: for???

Naia Baniaga: Quick dinner or lunch together?

Naia Baniaga: Since everyone else has school coming up

Naia Baniaga: Or basically needs a parents slip every time they go out

Odell Lumaban: hah

Odell Lumaban: sounds good

Logan dela Vega: a quest to find the best filipino restaurant

Odell Lumaban: wow quest

Odell Lumaban: Big word

Logan dela Vega: gago

Naia Baniaga: hahahahaha

Naia Baniaga: I don't mind

Naia Baniaga: Filipino food trip it is then!

Odell Lumaban: yup

Logan dela Vega: Yup!!

Naia Baniaga

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Arabella Vee: My naeeyaaaaaaa

Naia Baniaga: yes megs?

Arabella Vee: Suplada :(**************

Naia Baniaga: hahaha

Naia Baniaga: i'm not mad, promise

Naia Baniaga: you're the only one allowed to call me that lol

Arabella Vee: hehe

Arabella Vee: SOOOOO when are we meeting up?

Naia Baniaga: Just the two of us?

Arabella Vee: Siyempre**************!

Naia Baniaga: Mmm not sure pa****************. I'll check my sched with mama okay?

Arabella Vee: Okay :)

Naia Baniaga: Date date with my meggie :*

Arabella Vee: can't wait!

Arabella Vee: update me

Arabella Vee: I have to get back to sorting out some college shit

Naia Baniaga: haha go ahead

Naia Baniaga: i'll just message you :)

A few days pass and those who were living in the Philippines, like Megan and Zoe, had to get on and navigate through their own thing, namely college. While the ones who were on vacation, like Naia, Odell, Logan, Felicity, and Danica, either distracted themselves with other activities or waited for the right timing to tell their respective parents about the planned outing.

Arabella (Megan) Vee, FaE BaUtIsTa, Danica Garcia, Zo Torres, Logan dela Ve...

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Odell Lumaban: Sooooo... is this chat dead or what?

Arabella Vee: I'm just waiting for the green light from you guys

FaE BaUtIsTa: oh sori! dey sed ok bt we hve 2 set a d8 soon so that i can tell dem ryt away

Logan dela Vega: Yes!!! One down

Danica Garcia: all good on my side :)

Zo Torres: okay, so dates

Arabella Vee: I have a saturday class this sem so i can't go unless it's the afternoon

Arabella Vee: i'm free on mondays and sundays though

Zo Torres: hey cool!

Zo Torres: same. But i don't have a sat class

Zo Torres: just a full-packed wed

Logan dela Vega: we can work around that

Arabella Vee: going on a weekday would be wise

Odell Lumaban: So this coming mon?

Naia Baniaga: I can't this mon :(

Naia Baniaga: tues?

Arabella Vee: Can't

Zo Torres: Same here

Logan dela Vega: Sunday then

Naia Baniaga: Yes!

Zo Torres: eh.. okay. After church, i guess

Danica Garcia: So who's driving for team north?

Zo Torres: me, substitute ocampo hahaha

FaE BaUtIsTa: and for team south?

Logan dela Vega: me as always

Arabella Vee: This sunday then

Arabella Vee: no take backs!

Naia Baniaga

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Arabella Vee: Iyaaaa

Naia Baniaga: Meggiiiieeee

Arabella Vee: Still don't know when you're free!

Arabella Vee: When will have our date?

Naia Baniaga: soon!

Naia Baniaga: i just really need to settle my sched with mama okay?

Arabella Vee: okay :(

Logan dela Vega, Naia Baniaga, and Odell Lumaban

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Naia Baniaga: So... Palawan.

Logan dela Vega: A beautiful island?

Odell Lumaban: "What is Philippines' most beautiful island?"

Naia Baniaga: You're both annoying

Logan dela Vega: Better than being an airport

Odell Lumaban: HAHAHAHAHAH

Naia Baniaga: F off

Logan dela Vega: Is it just the 3 of us then?

Naia Baniaga: Duh

The plan to go to Palawan came up a couple of days ago when they all met for dinner. Naia was so hopped up and excited about it, making sure that she turned on her persuasive skills up a notch. Odell and Logan were enthusiastic about it at first, but the minute Naia mentioned that she only wanted the three of them to leave, the two boys couldn't give a clear yes or no to the invitation.

Odell Lumaban: …

Naia Baniaga: what?

Odell Lumaban: doesn't it feel like we're purposely leaving everyone else behind

Naia Baniaga: no we're not

Naia Baniaga: I mean come on, let's be real odee

Naia Baniaga: we can't really vibe with them

No one answers for a while. So, Naia decided to push the envelope further.

Naia Baniaga: We just live in different worlds now

Naia Baniaga: We have inside jokes and other stuff that WE only relate to

Naia Baniaga: The same probably goes for them

Logan dela Vega: I guess…

Odell Lumaban: What about zoe and megan?

Naia Baniaga: they wouldn't really care

Naia Baniaga: they've got college to worry about

Odell Lumaban: Right

Naia Baniaga: I'm always right

Odell Lumaban: it still feels wrong naia

Naia Baniaga: come OOOON you guys

Naia Baniaga: they'll be fine!

Naia Baniaga: haven't we always wanted to have an epic summer just the 3 of us?

Logan dela Vega: epic summer sure

Naia Baniaga: then let's go!!

Odell Lumaban: but

Naia Baniaga: can you really picture going all out with them tagging along??

Odell Lumaban: well they're not losers naia

Naia Baniaga: i was never implying that they were!

She was.

Both Odell and Logan knew she was.

Arabella (Megan) Vee

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Logan dela Vega: Well some of them kind of are losers

Logan dela Vega: But I think Megan's alright

Logan dela Vega: You sure you don't want her to tag along naia?

Arabella Vee: what.

"What the fuck… did I just do…" Logan muttered under his breath, mortified to his very core.

His eyes were glued to the header of the conversation.

It couldn't be.

This wasn't happening to him.

He literally just checked some stuff on another tab, returned to the next tab, which was Facebook and… You idiot! You and your crummy, stubby fingers clicked on the wrong chat!!!! FUCKING!!! IDIOT!!!

Logan dela Vega, Naia, Baniaga, and Odell Lumaban

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Logan dela Vega: FUCK!!!!!!!!!!

Odell Lumaban: What??????

Naia Baniaga: What's wrong???

God, please guide me. Please. Are you up there? Please, just this once. He thought in panic. And just when it couldn't get any worse, his hands started shaking as he stared at Megan's angry replies.

Arabella (Megan) Vee

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Arabella Vee: What in the fuck are you talking about?

Arabella Vee: Answer me, prick!!!!!!!!!!!

Logan dela Vega: nothing

Logan dela Vega: sorry it was the wrong chat

Arabella Vee: CLEARLY

Arabella Vee: Do you think I'm fucking stupid Logan????

Logan dela Vega: no

Arabella Vee: then fess the fuck up

He had to remind himself to breathe every second or so.

What would be the wiser choice? Coming clean or thinking up of a spontaneous elaborate lie?

Well, your brain's just a big blob of white now so… if you're gonna think of a lie, you better think fucking fast.

...

Well??

I'm fucked. It's over.

Logan dela Vega: Me Odell and Naia are planning to go to Palawan next week

Arabella Vee: How long has this been going on???

Logan dela Vega: A few days…

Logan dela Vega: I wanted you to come along

Logan dela Vega: So did Dell

Arabella Vee: You guys want an award for that?

Arabella Vee: I would be in the dark about this bullshit if it wasn't for your stupidity

Logan dela Vega: I'm sorry Megan

Arabella Vee: Losers? LOSERS, LOGAN??

Arabella Vee: REALLY?

Arabella Vee: You got some fucking nerve

Arabella Vee: Asshole

"Can you believe this shit?!" Megan exclaimed filled with rage as she showed the conversation to Zoe, who was sitting across her.

They decided to have a spontaneous dinner out after school since both of them happened to be free.

Zoe rolled her eyes. "Honestly? It's weird that I'm not surprised. Especially with Naia."

Megan merely sent her a questioning look.

"Come on. She's always had that 'I'm better than everyone' attitude. Of course, she had to take it up a notch when she started studying in the States," Zoe scoffed, "Not just her. I think Logan and Odell are making asses of themselves too."

"This is fucked up," Megan stated, staring into nothing and feeling her jaw clench just thinking more about the whole ordeal. "No wonder she's not that active in our group chat."

"It is what it is." Zoe shrugged and sighed.

Megan could almost feel a tear forming in one of her eyes. "God, I'm so mad right now..."

Zoe shared a sad smile and patted her back. "It's okay. I am too."

With all the rage building up inside her, Megan felt stupid and hurt at the same time. No wonder Naia kept saying she would get back to her but never did. No wonder her replies seemed curt and uninterested. Megan thought she was being paranoid this entire time. But her worst assumptions have come to life. Did Odell, Logan, and especially Naia, think she was a pushover??? While the rest of their friends in the Philippines were 'losers'.

Haven't heard that word in a while. She bitterly smiled to herself and came to a final verdict. "You know what? I can't take it."

Arabella (Megan) Vee, FaE BaUtIsTa, Danica Garcia, Zo Torres, Logan dela Ve...

Active

Arabella Vee: Let me start this off by saying that I was really excited about Enchanted this Sunday. But guess what? Not EVERYONE in here feels the same way. Alam mo*****************, you can always say to our faces if you want to hang out with us or not. There was no need to fucking sneak around. There was no need to LOOK DOWN on the rest of us just because we're not as 'cool' or not as 'sosyal******************' as some of you. It is SO FUCKING EASY to just tell it as it is.

Arabella Vee: But meh. I guess that's just the way you are. I'm starting to see everything as clear as day. I don't need shitty friends like you.

Arabella Vee: So, goodbye and fuck off my life forever :) :*

Arabella Vee has left the group chat.

And the rest, as they say, is history.