taco tuesdays

Eliza

"Hello?" I call out to the dark and open space of Asher's loft. It's almost 7 pm. The motherfucker can sometimes be a messy prankster. So I tread lightly on the wooden floor, maybe a booby trap out there is just waiting to be unleashed.

"Ash are you home?" I call out again but still no answer.

Just when I was about to put my spare key in my clutch, the lights turned on just the same time all of my close friends, Asher, Ethan and Gwynn, shouted "Congratulations!" and I say "Fuck!". There they are holding an obvious homemade chocolate cake with sparkling candles around it, making me jump and feel like I'm out of myself.

"I'm scared as shit, you guys, what're you all doing here?" I said while walking towards them.

"Blow it!" Asher exclaimed, wearing that usual big smile of hers, always a ball of sunshine. I obliged and put the sparks out. When I scanned the room, I saw my mom and Dad, Kate my big sister and all the luggage I'll need, sitting on Asher's place of Zen.

"You didn't?" I stared at my friends wide-eyed while my parents and my sister continue their quiet chat.

"Kate was in this surprise party, too. So don't blame us all for it." Gwynn commented just as Kate walked towards us.

"So I saw you're almost finished packing, I did the rest. All the books, toiletries and every tiny thing you have in your room."

"You're really always an intruder, Kate." I roll my eyes at her.

I make my way to the long table which Ash humorously called "Fruit of the Loom" because of where it came from. A lot of fast food we can ever consume lays on the table. Tacos, burgers, fries, nachos and what seems to be a four seasons punch. Ash calls it fruit punch being the recipe 1 part fruit juice, and 5 parts vodka or any liquor she wishes to put.

"You didn't have to do this, you know." I try to keep my tears at bay and let them tease me for it.

"Oh dear baby girl, I have always been proud but I Googled everything and Kate said this was a billion wide known project, and this could be your biggest break ever. Meaning we will never get to see you that much this year..." My Dad's words swirls in my mind, his words were always my anchor and my shield whenever I needed it. Hearing him say these words, even though he always expresses how he feels, still warms my heart.

I wiped at a stray tear on my cheek and I hugged my Dad without saying anything. He's a lot taller than my Mom and I got my height from her. I always feel whenever he hugs me like no one can ever harm me in anyway. Then Mom joined us, smiling sweetly while she walks towards us. She always looked so proper with her white blouse and black slacks.

"Just promise me, you'll come home when you can?" My mom searching my face, always a look of comfort I see in her, her deep green eyes and paired with deep set of eyes, blonde pixie hair she always liked to sweep on the left, some say I look a lot like her when she was younger but I would like to believe my parents physical combination is what I am.

"Of course, Mom. It's LA, it's like my second home for a few years I've been in the US. And Kate will be with me few weeks from now so I guess it will still feel home when she's around." I shrugged my shoulders and smiled at them.

"Okay, so let's get the party started, shall we?" Asher interrupted our bubble of drama, still with her apron on, liked she even cooked any of these, led us to the "Fruit of the Loom" and we quietly ate with my parents.

To my surprise, Asher prepared Caesar's salad for them. Bummer!

8:00 PM

"We must be going everyone. Please make sure my daughter catches her flight and no more drinks please." My Dad making his last few reminders while walking towards the exit. But he knew Ash is someone you don't talk about being the good influence.

With kisses and hugs they gave to me, Kate flipped me off and I did the same thing trying to not make our parents see. I stared at their car until it disappeared from my view. And just I was turning around, Asher with a red cup in hand, shouted,

"The night is young bitches! Let's turn up!"

And we did.

We binged on Netflix, ate our tacos, burgers, nachos, fries and had too much fruit punch. Way too much fruit punch.

"So, have you already met your co-star?" Ethan wiggled his brows at me.

Ethan, Gwynn and Asher were my best of friends since we can't even remember. Their parents met my parents in the hospital which they were residence doctors before. Now they're both medical directors. Since Kate is a year older than I am, and she's actually too advanced for her age, didn't hang around us much. Ethan, who is the nerdy boy, who always wore thick black rimmed glasses to school everyday until highschool. He has brown hair and the usual features of an Italian guy. Hazelnut brown eyes were always his asset. Gwynn who was the model-type friend that we have. Her long strawberry blonde hair just reaches almost her bum. Ever since kindergarten, she always dreamed of becoming a Victoria Secret Angel, and now she's on the way of becoming one. Her thin and tall frame and a whole lot of hardwork is her weapon for her dreams. And then there's Asher, that bratty stubborn girl whom I always share my secrets to. She has dark hair that I always envy. Asher is a half Filipino, half Aussie and a fiery ball of sass. Her long dark hair, paired with her caramel brown eyes, she's someone who you can talk to hours about anything. Ethan had always a thing for her and I really think they're fucking and falling for each other but they can't just admit it to themselves.

"No, not yet. We're set to have dinner with the producers on the week I'll be in LA."

"Have you looked him up?" Gwynn asked.

"No. I don't really do that thing, you know that."

"Don't forget El is from the 15th century with an iPhone XR only used for playlists."

I rolled my eyes at her. And I hate how she can be an accurate bitch.

"I just don't see why should I look him up. I mean, I'll meet in a couple of days." I shrugged and bite into my burger.

"I think I was with him on one of D&G's Spring/Summer collection two years ago. He was hot! Every girl drooled when he entered the room. Too bad, I only have eyes on Dallas." she wickedly smiled.

Dallas is Gwynn's long time fuck buddy. I just don't see why she agreed to that type of relationship when she obviously has real feelings towards him. I don't get why sex and love is such two complicated things.

"Of course, Dallas. How is he anyway?"

Just as Gwynn opens her mouth and rave about how good Dallas is in everything, Asher cuts in.

"No. We are not talking about that scruffy boy. I still hate him."

Gwynn rolled her eyes and downed the rest of her fruit punch.

"We are talking about Hunter." Asher placed a plate of Caesar's salad in front of me.

"What about him? I don't even know him yet."

"Oh you know him alright." Asher tapped on her phone and showed me a picture of a young actor whom I had a crush on a while back.

"Okay?" I asked her, she can sometimes say and show things without even explaining.

"I hate how dumb you are sometimes." She rolled her eyes at me.

"Okay, see this little guy right here. I know he's your crush since you've read that thick book and lock your room each time I invite you to sleep over. I don't get why you have a thing for sorcery and flying things. But," she tapped on her phone once again, while Gwynn and Ethan stared at us from the other side of the bar.

Asher showed another picture of a man, around his 20s and yes looking so hot. The picture is staring right into the camera, but in black and white. But this guys charisma is even oozing while looking at a picture alone. Asher wiped a napkin at my mouth, teasing that I've been drooling over the picture.

"See? You find him hot already! Yes, Eliza, he's your childhood virtual crush or whatever. I hope your nether regions is ready for it."

Gwynn and Ethan laughed while I stare her down. I swat my napkin at her, missing her and knocking down her red cup instead. It's a good thing the cup's empty or else her phone will be wet.

"Deep question? Why are you not following him in IG if you already know his name?" Gwynn asked.

"Ugh, why would I even follow him if I haven't met him yet?"

"I really hate how traditional you are than my Mom. My Mom actually picked dates for me, it's always her friend's sons. Ew!" Asher exclaimed and Ethan looked at her in an awkward way.

"Hey, Cici is cool." I said to her. I find her Mom very accomodating, always cooking us Filipino dishes we haven't even tried and made us separate lunch bags once.

"This conversation is not about my Mom. It's about you. When was the last time you dated? When was the last time you even kissed someone?"

"Prolly the first and last time was Jared." Gwynn said.

Jared was my first boyfriend, my first kiss and even my first heartbreak. We had gone to prom together, only to leave the party apart. He was actually cheating on me the whole time with a skunk. He chose Pamela who's a whore in highschool over me. Maybe because I was a conservative teenager, I never gave my virginity to him. My parents voice ringing in my head each time he would try to get into my pants. I'm only leaving my house to go to Asher's or Gwynn's. I only started clubbing when I hit the legal age of 16, sneaking with both Asher and Gwynn a couple times only to bribe my sister Kate so she can shut her mouth in front of my parents, and I already started auditioning for acting roles before that. Ever since, I never had anyone who I actually had a relationship after that. I'm just 20 years old, still too young to complicate my career with a relationship.

"I'm not into dating right now. And I don't even care about Jared anymore. Last thing I heard, he got another woman pregnant, it's actually his third baby and with three different women."

"Wow, you keep up." Ethan commented.

"Duh, it's like we're not in the same neighborhood." I roll my eyes at him. Word goes around and Jared's Mom is one of those women who do gossip for killing time.

Asher handed me my phone and had my Instagram app fired up. The bitch followed Hunter Thompson using my Instagram.

"Ash! Why would you do that?" I feel my eyes are gonna pop out of my head. Asher can be a little intrusive and this is on another level. I'm trying to snatch my phone from her when she said already DMed Hunter. Once I have my phone back, Hunter already replied with an emoji.

Just a simple smile emoji. The one thing that baffled me is Asher sent a tongue emoji with a water splash. I'm shaking my head mentally and literally. So much for first impressions.

I quickly deleted the message sent by Ash and click the "unfollow" button.

"What the hell did you do?" I almost screamed at her.

"Just giving you a head start." She had the audacity to wiggle her brows at me after what she did. But she's beside Eli now so I can't really smack her in the head.

"So, what's your plan if he asks you to date?" Gwynn asked.

"You're so ahead of yourselves. You mentioned he's hot, he's a model and women drooling all over him. So it's impossible he's not dating someone."

Asher and Ethan seemed lost talking to each other. So, Gwynn and I continued on about this not-so-mysterious guy.

"From what I heard with the ladies gossiping in the dressing room, he's a really private guy. Like they never knew anyone that he dated or someone he's actually liked to take out on a date. They said he's genuinely sweet and kind to everyone but they never saw him actually into someone."

Privacy is so important to me. And I really understand Hunter even though I haven't met him yet. There's gossip of me and my sister Kate having a feud because we don't follow each other on Instagram. I just don't feel the need to follow everyone I know in my personal life in social media, and my sister feels the same way. We just laughed about how everyone can exaggerate things to another level. My sister Kate, is also an actress and just a few blocks away from my LA apartment. We agreed to this set up so we see each other when we can, not just by following each other on social media. I always separate my social life from my career. And my sister is thriving in her own path and I have never been so proud of her, even if she's a pain in the ass most of the time.

"Maybe he doesn't like his personal life being paraded like it's auction, Gwynn." I drink the last of my fruit punch and continue to eat my salad. It's actually really good.

"But I bet he's gonna shit his pants when he sees you..." Ash making a comeback in the conversation.

"Whatever..." I dramatically wave a hand up the air, mimicking Asher's signature hand wave.

"What? You are a damn goddess. You're beautiful without even trying. Even your skincare routine is insulting my whole existence!"

Ash is really extra sometimes.

"But kidding aside, El, this has been your biggest break ever and you know we're so proud of you. Always."

"Fuck you!" I said while wiping at my eyes. Asher always expresses how she's so proud of me but I always get emotional because she's more of a bitch than a sweet friend. And I won't trade it for a different one.

We hugged, all four of us, and we cried. This will be the longest time we will be apart from each other. I love my best friends.

"So what do you say one last hurrah at The Retro?" Asher excitedly says. The Retro was one of our favorite clubs downtown with 80s and 90s vibe.

Thinking that it's only almost 9 pm and it will be a night flight I need to catch. Thanks to my manager who arranged it for me.

"Fine. Let's go."