Entry #29: Invitation

Lalaine, the club's acting president, came to our room to find me.

"Jas, Sir Karlo wants to meet you at his office."

Nick and I immediately shared a glance.

I nervously asked him for a favor. "Come with me."

"Hold on a sec."

He questionably asked for cutters and scissors from our classmates. He placed a scissor inside the pocket of my skirt.

"What is this?"

"For emergency."

Because of that, I became even more anxious. Why the hell would we bring weapons?

With every step I took, sweat dripped on my back. As soon as I entered the office, I dug my hand inside my pocket and grasped the scissor.

"Miss Donito, this is yours, right?"

He casually showed the diary to me.

"Yes, Sir."

"Looks not to me."

What did he mean by that?

I gulped, and my periphery blurred. I couldn’t see Nick at my side anymore, so I tightened my grip on the scissor.

"Your name's certainly not Angel. Is this really yours?"

"Uhmm… the… I…"

"Long story, Sir. But it’s hers," Nick butted in.

I was relieved when Nick saved me.

"Here…"

I was startled when he handed the diary to me. I let go of the scissor and took the diary. I looked at Nick in confusion.

I asked, "Where did you get this, Sir?"

"I–"

He was stopped by the telephone.

"I'm sorry," he told us, "I need to answer this call."

Nick and I left the office so confused about what was happening.

"If he is S.T., why would he give it back to us?" Nick pointed out.

"Maybe he knew the passcode and saw the diary was empty."

"Now we are left with one option," he told me. "We need to confront him."

"But that's too dangerous!"

He smirked. "Not if we do it intelligently."

**

ROXANNE'S POV

"Do you think they're still alive?"

I giggled. "They'll be fine. My sister's not one to easily die, I'll tell you."

"What if they're in danger?"

"Kuya Simon, chillax."

"Chillax? What is that?"

I laughed. "Chill and relax. It's funny how I have to explain chillax to everyone."

"I wish I could laugh at things like you do."

"Uh? Did you just compliment me?" I teased him. "Does that mean you like me?"

His cheeks turned red as tomatoes. "How a-are they the same t-thing?"

"I was just messing with you!"

Kuya Simon was worried, and I was too. Unlike him, I chose to mask my real emotion.

"What if S.T. feels threatened and attacks them? We don't even have a plan."

I nervously laughed. "Why don't we think of good things, Kuya?"

A second felt like a day while we waited outside of the quarters.

"Why aren't they out yet?" Kuya muttered. "Let's check–"

At that moment, the door opened, and I saw two confused faces. I instantly knew a long discussion would follow through.

The four of us gathered under the shade of the mango tree. We were too wary of discussing anything because S.T. might be listening without us knowing.

"Guys!" Kuya Simon couldn't sit still.

"What's wrong, Kuya?"

"I'm just thinking we could discuss and plan at our house."

I grinned, ready to start the teasing. "So now you're inviting everyone and not just my sister?"

Ate slapped my arm, and I had to caress that part to ease the pain.

"Shut up."

If I were a candle I would've been consumed by the fire from her glare. But I wasn't so I was fine.

"What? You were invited to his house?" Kuya Nick asked, almost sounding angry.

Hmm…

"I wasn't really invited," Ate clarified. "We had to do something."

"And that is?" Kuya Nick asked for elaboration.

My sister gave the most savage reply. "And that is something you don’t have to know."

Kuya Nick looked betrayed, and his ever-present frown deepened.

Before things got heated, I clapped my hands twice. "Okay, okay! People! To Kuya Simon's house, let's go!"

A car fetched us and took us to a residential subdivision where wealthy families lived. The car got inside a gate, and an upscale modern mansion appeared before my eyes. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and I couldn't even begin to explain how beautiful it was.

I lived in that type of house in the past. Inside my dream. It was so comfy.

We all knew their family was well-off but not this wealthy. Our mouths gaped at the entirety of the mansion's façade.

We stepped out of the car and marveled at the mansion.

"Wow. Wow."

My sister and I had lost the right words to say. We could only say wow.

As we got closer to the main door, there was a tune I recognized coming from the mansion. It was joyous. The tune was too familiar I couldn’t ignore it.

And through the glass window, I saw a woman decorating a part of the wall with balloons, party banners, and everything. I gasped when I read the sloping cursive letters that said, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMON!"

I stopped walking.

"Wait!"

The three other clueless people in front stared at me.

"Actually, we haven't asked our parents for permission yet."

My sister and Kuya Nick frowned.

"What are you–"

I didn’t let them speak and faced Kuya Simon. "We'll get inside after we get our parents' permission. Is that alright, Kuya?"

Kuya Simon nodded. "Of course. Do you want me to wait for you so we can get inside toge–"

"No, no!" I interrupted him. "We're fine. You don't have to wait, Kuya."

Though he looked unsure, he left us and went inside the mansion first.

"What on earth are you rambling about?" My sister scolded me. "I already texted Mama, and she already gave her permission."

Kuya Nick added, "As for me, there's no one to ask permission from."

I snapped my fingers at them. "Guys, guys! We have an emergency. Forget about the plan to make S.T. confess. We need a new plan."

"About what? What game are you playing now, you brat!"

I stared at my sister. "It's Kuya Simon's birthday."

The two looked like I just dropped a bomb.

"No way!" Ate exclaimed.

"I know right? And we had no idea. We need to do something, at least."

"If we knew we could've bought a gift," Ate said.

"But we didn't," Kuya Nick said. "So now let’s get inside."

Ate stared at Kuya Nick. "Can I punch you once?"

Kuya Nick cleared his throat and stepped backward for defense.

I looked around.

"A garden! Let's get him flowers!"

I rushed to the patch of roses.

"Rox, those aren't yours–"

My sister couldn’t believe it when she saw me pluck a rose.

"Opps…" I unapologetically said.

"How could you– god! How could you pluck flowers from someone else's garden without permission!"

The damage had been done so…

I plucked a few more.