"TEQUILA, PLEASE," anang lalaking umupo sa tabi nito, sa may counter. "Give her whatever she wants, I'll pay for it... You didn't told me you're coming. You want to go upstairs?"     Nakilala lamang ni Sapphire ang kaibigang si Rovic nang alalayan siya nito paakyat sa may hagdanan, muntikan pa silang malaglag pareho dahil sa pagkahilo niya. Good thing, she immediately clung her arms around his neck.     Their eyes met and their faces were almost touching, they could feel the warmth of each other's breath. He laughed first and Sapphire did too. Hanggang sa makarating sila sa roof deck ay nagtatawanan silang dalawa na parang nasisiraan ng bait, they filled the whole place with laughter and screams.     The whole place is too dark, it was only illuminated with the brightness of the full moon from above. May iilang mga stars sa itaas at 'yun ang

  MULA SA loob ng bahay ay tumatakbo si Peter patungo sa direksyon ni Sapphire, sumilip din si Helene na naka-ngiti at humahabol kay Peter.     "Peter?"     Halos matumba silang pareho nang yumakap ito kay Sapphire. He hugged her so tight that it made her feel like hugs were nostalgic. Naninipa ang kaniyang puso sa tuwa dahil sa presensiya ng pinaka-malapit niyang pinsan at kung bakit ito nanlalambing ngayon ay marahil may na-kuwento si Sean.     Kumalas ito sa pag-kakayakap before he raked her body with a frown in his face. He gently pressed her thin arms. "Pumapayat ka, Saf?"     "Mapayat na'ko noon pa..."     Pumasok sila ng bahay para roon ituloy ang kanilang kuwentuhan. Helene handed her a dark paper bag as her present last Christmas, hindi nakasama ang mga ito sa America

DALAWANG ARAW bago ang pinaka-hihintay na prom night ng mga estudyante sa school, maraming bulong-bulongan tungkol sa theme at sa kaniya-kaniyang gowns na balak suutin ng ilan. Meanwhile, Sapphire just chose to volunteer to help on the preparation, especially on the decorating department.     She heard about Maurice and some of her classmates volunteering on the said preparation. Ilang araw na silang wala sa classroom, excuse naman sila at isa pa'y wala na ring gaanong gawain sa academics. They're just waiting for the final examination and then graduation is waving.     Maliban sa event organizer na ni-hire ng school ay naroon din si Mrs. Doqueza para magmando sa mga gawain at dahil naging malapit na rin naman sila ni Sapphire, hindi na ito nahirapang kumbinsihin ang Ginang. She badly need this, the distance from him, the silence from unnecessary noises, the diversion.  

  "1... 2... 3... smile!"     Matatamis na ngiti ang ihinarap nina Sapphire at ng mga kaibigan nito sa camera kung saan ang photo booth. They made different poses, different angels and their smiles bursted in laughters after.     "Kuya, make four copies, please," ani Alexis at nakuha pang kindatan ang guwapong photographer na halatang interesado rito. Pagkatapos ay  biglang nagbago ang itsura nito, inilabas niya ang phone para i-check ang kaniyang mukha. "Do I still look fresh, guys?"      "Darating ba si Hiro?" nagtatakang tanong ni Trisha. "May sarili silang event, right? Umattend ba si Sean, Sappy?" Bumaling naman ito kay Sapphire.     "Yeah, pero ang sabi niya hindi siya magtatagal. Susunod daw siya kaagad dito para bantayan ako."     "Really? I'll text Hiro na ma

  BUT SAPPHIRE fake her sleep, she prevent breathing for almost twenty seconds just to trick her kidnappers. Ibinana nila si Sapphire sa backseat ng kotse, malakas nilang isinarado ang pinto at ang sumunod na mga pangyayari ay hindi na nito masyadong alam, all that she know is that the car's moving and the driver is no other than Ruth.      "Bantayan ninyong maigi sina Rovic at Will, huwag ninyong hahayaang makatakas at baka maunsyami na naman ang plano ko," huli nitong bilin sa dalawang tauhan.     Sapphire has no clue what Ruth is up to right now, balak pa 'ata nitong mag-carpool?      Ten minutes of driving and Sapphire ended her drama. Idinilat niya ang kaniyang mga mata, medyo hilo pa siya at nanghihina. Naka-tali ring muli ang kaniyang mga kamay, she's having hard time moving. This is ridiculous!