When Gypsy Heard His Name:

Melissa and Gypsy spent hours getting ready for the party, but they made sure to arrive fashionably late. They deliberately timed their entrance to make a statement, intending to steal the spotlight the moment they walked in. They wanted to make an unforgettable impression, and they knew that everyone’s eyes would be on them as soon as they entered the venue. Especially Gypsy, who had carefully prepared for the evening, hoping that everything would go just as planned.

And that’s exactly what happened. The moment they stepped inside, all eyes were on them. The handsome guests, friends of Melissa’s older brother, immediately looked them over with keen interest, taking in the sight of the two beautiful women who had just arrived.

Gypsy had no idea that the party the Ichari family was throwing would be more grandiose than she had imagined. The guest list was impressive, the kind of high-caliber crowd that could make anyone feel out of place if you are not rich and successful enough.

"Gyps, I’m really glad you let Melissa convince you to come to my party," Jed, the celebrant, greeted them with a warm smile.

"How could I miss it? You only throw a party like this once in a while," Gypsy responded, trying to play it cool.

"Right? You almost didn’t come! I thought you weren’t going to make it because you didn’t reply to my messages," Jed said, his voice carrying a hint of playful disappointment.

"You’re such a drama king, Kuya Jed. Anyway, welcome back!" Gypsy beamed, tapping him on the shoulder with genuine excitement.

Jed laughed heartily. "Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m just messing with you."

He then guided them to a table where his closest friends were gathered. The spot they were seated at was perfect. Positioned right in the center, the beauty of the two girls was unmistakably on display. They were the only women at the table, surrounded by a group of charming, eligible bachelors. It was impossible not to notice them.

"Hey, guys! I want you to meet my sister, Melissa, and her best friend, Gypsy," Jed introduced them to his friends. One by one, the guys greeted them with handshakes and friendly smiles.

After a while, Melissa excused herself to join her boyfriend, Tristan, who had just arrived. That left Gypsy as the only woman at the table. She couldn’t help but smile at the situation, but deep down, she was bothered. Her best friend, who had been nearly in tears just days ago after discovering Tristan had cheated, now seemed perfectly fine, as if nothing had ever happened. She was so used to these “comebacks” from Melissa, who always seemed to forgive and forget in an instant.

Gypsy had never fully understood it, but maybe that’s just how things worked with her best friend. As Melissa, ever the forgiving soul, easily let go of past pain, Gypsy was left sitting there, the only girl among a sea of men, trying to sort out her thoughts about everything that had happened.

“Wow, they really are quite the group, aren’t they?” Gypsy thought to herself, observing the group of men around her, some eyeing her already. The night was just beginning, and she had no idea what it would bring. But one thing was for sure—she wasn’t about to let herself be caught off guard. Tonight, she would make sure she stood out, no matter what.

Gypsy didn’t feel out of place at all, especially since Jed’s friends were all being friendly and engaging her in conversation. In fact, some of them were even subtly flirting with her, trying to get her attention. Tyron Velasquez, a neurologist, was particularly persistent. He was a handsome guy, no doubt, but there was just one small problem—he was a doctor, not an engineer.

Then there was Knight Vega, an architect, who also seemed interested in her. Several others she met at the party were showing similar interest. But as she had already mentioned to Melissa, she had no interest in any guy who wasn’t an engineer. It was a personal preference, something she couldn’t easily shake off.

But it wasn’t just the guys’ attempts at flirting that caught her attention—it was the way the room seemed to focus on her. Every time she looked around, there were pairs of eyes watching her, seemingly waiting for the perfect moment to approach her, to make their move. The attention made her a bit uncomfortable, but she wasn’t one to back down.

"Gypsy, are you free tomorrow? I was thinking of asking you out," Tyron said, flashing a confident smile as he leaned in a little closer.

"Sorry, I’m busy," she replied, hoping to end it there.

"What about the day after? Or maybe some time when you're not busy?" he insisted, his persistence clear.

Gypsy didn’t want to come off as rude, but she also didn’t want to lead him on. Still, she could tell he wasn’t going to give up that easily. Maybe she would humor him this time and say yes, just to be polite. But deep down, she was certain she wasn’t going to pursue anything with him.

Before she could respond, Jed, who had been listening in, couldn’t resist making a comment.

"Looks like Tyron's really got his eye on you, Gypsy," Jed teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Who wouldn't? With her beauty, it's impossible not to," Tyron chimed in, smiling at Gypsy.

Jed just laughed. "Tyron, my man, listen, while it’s still early, back off. She’s not into doctors. She’s got a thing for engineers," he said, half-joking, but still making it clear that Gypsy wasn’t interested in Tyron’s advances.

Tyron chuckled, but Gypsy could tell it stung a little. Still, Jed’s words made her feel a bit better—she wasn’t alone in her preferences, at least. The night was young, and the game of cat and mouse had just begun. But for Gypsy, the rules were simple: No engineer, no deal.

"Right, Gyps? You were just shy to turn down Tyron," Jed teased, clearly enjoying the moment.

Tyron, along with the others at the table, froze for a moment at Jed's comment. Everyone's attention shifted to Gypsy, and she couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable under their gazes.

She gave a small, awkward smile, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks as she tried to brush it off. It wasn’t like she wanted to be rude, but she just wasn’t interested. Still, it was hard to admit that in front of everyone.

"Whoa!! An engineer, huh? What a shame. If I had known a woman who only wants an engineer, maybe I wouldn’t have bothered becoming a doctor," Tyron joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Tyron, back off. You’re not an engineer," Knight interjected, not missing a beat.

"Yeah, back off, you’re not an engineer either," someone else chimed in.

"Back off all of you! None of us are engineers!" another voice shouted from across the table.

Gypsy could feel her face turning even redder at the teasing. It was all fun and games, but she couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. She wasn’t used to having the whole table focus on her like this.

"Kuya, why did you say that to them? It’s embarrassing," she whispered to Jed, hoping to keep the conversation low-key.

Jed just shrugged with a grin. "I’m just helping you out, Gyps. I know you’re not into them. You’d have probably ended up saying yes to Tyron’s invite if I hadn’t said anything."

Gypsy rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the help, I guess."

Their conversation shifted to other topics, but honestly, Gypsy was no longer fully engaged. She couldn’t relate to what they were talking about, and with Melissa off with her boyfriend, she felt a bit out of place. She looked around the room, but she couldn’t find anyone to talk to. It was starting to feel like she was just another guest at a party she hadn’t really signed up for. The night was still young, but the excitement seemed to have already passed her by.

Gypsy excused herself from Jed, saying she was going to the restroom.

As she walked toward the restroom, her ears perked up at a conversation she overheard.

"Did you know that after 3 years, Drake Mortel is back?!" said a woman she didn’t recognize.

"Ahh, the famous and successful engineer?" asked the person she was talking to.

"Yes! I’m so curious, what does he look like now?" chimed in another voice.

"I’m sure he’s handsome. Someone got a photo of his back, and let me tell you, his body looks amazing," the first woman said, her voice full of excitement.

Gypsy stopped in her tracks, intrigued. Drake Mortel? The successful engineer? She had heard of him before—everyone had. His name was often mentioned in professional circles, especially for his achievements and good looks. She had no idea he was even at the party. Now her curiosity was piqued. She couldn’t help but wonder if she would get a chance to meet him tonight.

“If he’s so handsome, why doesn’t he show his face? Maybe he is ugly and  a freaked ” one of the women laughed, and the others joined in.

Gypsy wasn’t the type to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations, but something about this one caught her attention.

Just hearing the word engineer seemed to awaken something inside her, like her dormant system was suddenly alive.

The name Drake Mortel wouldn’t leave her mind. Just hearing it made her realize he was exactly her type. Drake Mortel, who are you really?

Even though she hadn’t met or seen him in person yet, Drake Mortel was all she could think about. She felt a strange sensation just from the sound of his name. She had met Clarence Tecson and Trent Ragoza at the party, two of the Philippines' proud figures in the building industry, yet she didn’t feel any real attraction toward them, despite their obvious attempts to flirt with her.

Drake Mortel,

 Drake Mortel,

 Drake Mortel—his name was all that consumed her thoughts. She almost forgot her best friend Melissa’s name because only one name was on her mind: Drake Mortel.

Every day, chocolates, flowers, and notes were placed in her locker by her admirers. It all started happening ever since she became single.

Many guys had asked her out, but she had turned them all down. However, lately, their persistence had begun to annoy her. No matter how many times she rejected them, they wouldn’t leave her alone.

“Gyps, I’m switching to engineering, just let me court you!” shouted a guy she didn’t even know.

“Gyps, can I take you out sometime?”

“Gyps, join us at the bar!”

“Gyps, I like you.”

“Gyps, I love you to the moon and back.”

She was getting overwhelmed by her admirers. No matter where she went—class, the canteen, the mall, a restaurant—someone was always trying to get her attention. She just wanted some peace.

"Can you please get rid of me!?" she finally shouted at them.

"I HAVE A BOYFRIEND! AND NONE OF YOU CAN EVEN COME CLOSE TO HIM. DO YOU KNOW DRAKE MORTEL? HE'S MY BOYFRIEND!"

The room fell silent, and everyone who heard her stopped in their tracks. What was wrong with what she just said?

As soon as they heard the name Drake Mortel, the air in the room seemed to shift. What was it about Drake Mortel that made people react like this? Gypsy herself wondered.

She was suddenly jolted awake by a loud knock on her door. She glanced at her clock—6:00 in the morning. Who could be disturbing her deep sleep this early?

"Gypsy! Open the door!"

She quickly got out of bed to open the door for her mom. She knew something serious must be going on because her mom never visited her condo this early.

"Mom, it’s too early. What’s the matter?" she asked as she opened the door.

"Is it true that the rumor going around is that your boyfriend is Drake Mortel?" her mom asked, her voice filled with concern.

Gypsy didn’t know what to say.

"Mom, where did you hear that?"

She never expected a lie she told to make its way to her mother. And the way her mom was acting, it seemed like she knew this man.

"It doesn’t matter anymore, sweetheart. But here’s what I want from you. Don’t break up with him. The future I want to give you depends on him," her mom said seriously.

"Mom, what do you mean? I don’t understand," Gypsy said, feeling confused. Her mom just raised an eyebrow and glanced at her watch.

"I gotta go. Just remember what I told you," her mom said, turning her back and leaving her condo.

Gypsy didn’t understand her mom. She used to never care about her relationships, even those that lasted only a few months. But now, after pretending to be Drake Mortel’s girlfriend, her mom suddenly shows up and begs her not to break up with him.

Drake Mortel was a mystery to Gypsy. She had no idea who he was. The only reason she had lied about having a boyfriend was to get her persistent suitors off her back, especially since she couldn’t get Drake Mortel’s name out of her head. That name was the one she had used to get everyone off her case.

She didn’t realize the massive impact her lie would have on the people around her.

"Gyps! Oh my gosh, you’ve got long hair now!" Melissa’s voice screamed from across the room. Gypsy turned around, startled.

"Huh?"

Melissa gave her a playful shove.

"What do you mean, ‘huh’? I’m your best friend, and you didn’t tell me you were dating Drake Mortel! That’s hurtful, I just found out from someone else."

"Come on! You believed that? It was just a joke! I was pretending for the boys to leave me alone."

Melissa’s eyes widened, her disbelief clear.

"What? Are you serious? That was just a joke?"

"Yeah, I swear," Gypsy said, trying to calm her down.

"This is a big problem, Gyps. It’s all over the internet. There’s even a newspaper that published about it. Do you have any idea what kind of mess you’ve gotten yourself into? And out of all the names you could have used, why Drake Mortel? Do you even know who he is?"

"Nothing. I don't even know him. Who is he?" Gypsy shrugged casually.

"Drake Mortel is the most famous personality in the business world. Everyone is interested in him. Why? Because he’s mysterious. And believe me, no one has ever seen his face."

"Hey, what do you mean 'business world'? He’s not a businessman, he’s an engineer!" Gypsy corrected her.

"Well, engineering is his second course."

Gypsy shivered upon hearing that. The name she was using wasn’t just any name. If he found out about her lie, she was sure he would do something bad to her. Especially since no one knew what his face looked like—she might have even crossed paths with him already, and wouldn’t know if he was out to hurt her.

"Mel's, what should I do?" Gypsy asked, her voice filled with worry.

"Take back your lie," Melissa advised, her tone serious.

Gypsy realized Melissa was right. Before things got more complicated, she needed to take back everything she had said.

"Mel’s! Call Reporter Reyes. We need to hold a press conference," Gypsy urged.

Without wasting any time, Melissa called their friend, Reporter Reyes.

While Melissa was on the phone with Reporter Reyes, Gypsy was restless, unable to calm down.

"Gyps, it’s too late. Your mom beat you to it."

"What do you mean? Be straight with me," Gypsy demanded.

"Your mom already called a press conference earlier this morning. She confirmed that you and Drake Mortel are in a relationship."

“WHAT?”

Truly this is a big trouble and yet, she’s not ready to face the new adventure of her lovelife.