ANAIS
"Hi, Ana!" Steve waved as he walked to where I was standing. Steve was one of the hottest guys in the campus and all the girls were crazy over him. And I was like any other typical teenage girls who had a huge crush on him. He was the son of famous movie stars and had been appearing on tv shows and doing commercials himself kaya sikat siya sa mga babae dito.
"Hey, Stevie." I smiled.
"It's Anais." Coco sighed.
"It's just a little nickname I gave her." Steve said. "I think it's cute that way."
"Her name is perfect the way it is." Coco said in a bored tone.
I subtly nudged him with my elbow. "Coco..."
"Anyway, I just want to ask if you're free on Saturday." He averted his attention back to me.
"Saturday? Well, I don't really have any plans..." I bit my bottom lip to keep myself from smiling.
"Yeah, tell that to tito Axel." Coco whispered, even though I couldn't see him as he was right behind me, I could feel the mocking smirk in his voice.
"Great! My parents will be away for the weekend. Do you want to come to my party?"
"Why, of course. I would love to." I beamed.
"But unfortunately she can't..." Singit ni Coco.
"Coco..." I whined.
"Teka, bakit ba ikaw ang nagdedesisyon para sa kanya?" Steve's lips curled into a smirk. "Si Ana ang tinatanong ko, hindi ikaw. Mag-ano ba kayo, Ana?"
"We're friends... bestfriends." I quickly answered.
"Magkaibigan lang pala kayo. Kung makaasa akala mo boyfriend." He chuckled sarcastically, his eyes glaring at Coco. "Sorry pare, I can't invite you to my party. You're not on the list. Maybe next time."
"I don't want to go anyway." Coco shrugged. "And Anais won't come to your lame ass party. She's not allowed to."
"Say who?" Steve snided.
"Says I." Coco snarled.
"Coco naman!" I frowned at him.
He didn't pay attention to me. He looked back at Steve with eyes that spat venom. Alam ko na ang tingin niyang ganon. I knew Coco more than anyone else does. He had the temper of a castrated bulldog and was easily provoked. Kapag nagtuloy-tuloy ang galit niya mahihirapan na akong pigilan siya.
"Um, Steve, I'll talk to you some other time. Kailangan na namin umalis." I said, pulling Coco away.
Hindi pa rin nila tinatanggal ang mga mata nila sa isa't isa. They looked as if they were ready to attack each other. I tugged Coco a little harder, trying to break the tension between the two guys, but he wouldn't budge.
"I don't give a damn about your opinion. Si Ana ang tinatanong ko, kami lang ang nag-uusap dito." Steve averted his eyes to me and smiled. "So, Ana, do you still want to go to my party?"
I bit my bottom lip and turned my head to Coco. His face hardened and his jaw clenched as he looked at Steve.
"Ana?"
"Y—yes, I'll go to your party..." I quietly said, almost in a whisper.
"I'll be expecting you on Saturday." He winked at me.
I forced a smile before pulling Coco away. Nang makalayo kami ay marahas na binawi ni Coco ang kamay niya sa akin. He took big, heavy steps until I had to hasten to keep up with him.
"Coco!" I called but he acted as if he didn't hear me. "Coco, ano ba? Sandali lang!"
When I finally caught up with him I wrapped my arms around his. "Coco naman. Huy! Galit ka ba?"
He kept his eyes straight ahead, he didn't even bother to look at me, and he wore a scowl on his face. He stopped in front of his red Alfa Romeo car and took out his keys. Coco pressed the unlock button on his car remote.
"Coco, ano ba? Hindi mo ba ako kakausapin." I shook his arm.
He ignored me, angrily pulling the door to his car open. "Coco naman, kausapin mo ko..."
He slipped into his car and I hurriedly ran to the passenger's side. I opened the door and got in just in time before he could start the car.
I angrily hit him on the arm. "Talagang iiwan mo ko?!"
"Bakit hindi ka magpahatid dun sa Stevie mo?"
"Bakit ba nagagalit ka? I want to come to his party. Masama ba yun?"
"Pinahiya mo ako sa harap niya."
"I did not!" I exclaimed.
"You chose him over me!"
I let out a deep exhale. "Coco, I did not choose him over you. You're my bestfriend. But I can't always let you decide for me."
"Your Dad asked me to look after you." He said in a monotone voice.
"Pwede mo naman ako pagtakpan. May tiwala si Dad sa'yo. Ikaw naman, kapag ikaw ang nangangailangan palagi kitang pinagtatakpan. Why can't you do the same for me? You know I like Steve at saka sabi mo nga, di pa ako nagkakaboyfriend. I think I want to give it a try with him. Don't you want me to have a boyfriend?"
"Of all people, why that douche?" He asked.
"I like him..." I quietly said.
"I don't like him for you!"
"I know you got in a fight with him a year ago but it's all in the past now. And I have nothing to do with that!" I said. Coco was two years ahead of me, there was already an ongoing war between them before I even started going to this college. The girl Steve was courting or I don't know if it was his pseudo-girlfriend was caught making out with Coco at a party. They got into a fist fight and was suspended from school for a week.
Coincidentially, nakilala ko naman si Steve sa theater club na sinalihan ko noong unang semester ko dito. Ayaw ni Dad na ginagabi ako sa pag-uwi minsan kaya napilitan akong magquit sa club. Ayaw din ni Coco na nakikitang kasama ko si Steve kahit na group pa kami. Kapag nag-aabot sila, they'd always exchange grimaces and snarls.
"Ayaw mo ba akong maging masaya, Coco?" I pouted and rested my chin on his shoulder.
He gave me a sideway glance and his face softened. "Of course, I want you to be happy. You're my friend..."
"Yun naman pala kaya pabayaan mo naman akong magmake ng decision. Please, just this once..." I began to plant soft kisses on his neck.
He exhaled. "Anais, I promised your Dad—"
"Please, Coco? Ngayon lang naman ako humingi ng favor sa'yo." I murmured against his skin.
"Okay, fine." I could feel the hesitation in his voice.
"Really?" I couldn't hide my excitement.
He nodded his head.
"Tutulungan mo akong makapunta sa party? You're going to cover up for me?"
"Yeah, yeah..." He said in a bored apathetic tone. "But you have to promise me..."
He paused and shifted to face me, looking straight into my eyes. The color of his hazel iris turned a hue darker.
