See You at Freedom Park

Chapter 1

"Finals natin bukas, Leya. Stop." I said then rolled my eyes as Leya drunkenly leans on me so I'd drink one more shot. "We need to study!"

The music was so loud and the lights were too colorful, ang kulit din kasi magalaw! Well, what do you expect at clubs? Many people are dancing on the dance floor and may iba ring nagma-make out na. The place smelled like cigars and perfume. I don't hate this atmosphere, but I hate it today. Sino ba naman kasing tanga ang gustong mag-aral for finals bukas pero sumama sa club?

"Sige na, alam kong gusto mo 'to. Tara na kasi, let's take a break from studies. Ano ka ba? Almost three months na tayong tambak. Robot ka, bhie?" Leya sarcastically said while pouring herself another shot. 

It was true, three months na akong tutok sa pag-aaral. I didn't even have the time to enjoy myself anymore. I was so busy making my parents proud by striving to be a consistent Dean's Lister. They say I'm a sucker for academic validation, it's true. Pero, I think hindi lang validation from acads 'yung hinahabol ko, but validation from my parents as their daughter.

"Ang dami-daming lalaking tumitingin sa'yo tapos diyan ka nakatutok. Hay nako!" Coline added. I covered my ears para kumonti 'yung ingay. May naririnig pa rin ako, pero it still helps. The problem is that wala nang pumapasok sa utak ko! 

"If she wants to study, then let her be. Dadagdagan niyo pa mga aalagaan ko." Alyssa said habang inaakayan si Princess galing sa dance floor. It was Princess's first time to drink and hindi namin alam na low tolerance pala siya. Poor thing.

"Tama!" Princess exclaimed while hysterically laughing.

"So true! Atsaka many people are looking at me because I'm wearing a uniform. Hinila-hila niyo ba naman ako papasok dito ni wala akong pamalit! Good thing that the guard's already familiar sa'tin." I told them.

"Baka crush ka ng guard!" Coline joked so I rolled my eyes. "Joke lang, ito hindi mabiro! Lahat kami may jowa na, ikaw na lang wala. Catch up-catch up naman tayo diyan!"

"Wala akong time para diyan. I'm too busy wooing my parents." I said while pretending to read my notes kahit wala nang pumapasok sa isip ko. Gosh, bakit ba kasi ako nagpauto sa mga 'to?

Kung umuwi na lang agad ako, edi sana maaga pa akong nakatulog ngayon. Instead, kasama pa ako sa mga mag-aalaga ng mga lasing kong kaibigan. It's a good thing that Alyssa brought her car kasi doon kami nagkakasya lahat. 

"Weh, kahit siya maging jowa mo?" Tanong ni Leya at tumuro sa kaharap naming table from the other side of the club. 

I won't deny it. I was a bit interested. Babae rin ako, 'no! I need some spice lalo na't I'm so stressed sa school.

"Sino diyan?" Kumunot ang noo ko.

"'Yung pinakamatangkad, naka-color back." Leya answered. 

I blinked slowly with a hint of sarcasm on my face.