One boring class again. Aubrey is not paying attention to the lesson. Class will be dismissed in a few minutes anyway. With the amount of unnecessary details, they’re not even halfway through the lesson based on what she skimmed through from their book.
"In my Chemistry class, I want you to carefully understand it. You can use it in your everyday life. Of course, you will be using it someda-"
Their teacher was interrupted when the speaker installed on the center of the building rang. This signals that there is an announcement that the faculty will be proclaiming.
"Grade 12, please fall in line per section. Go to AVR. We will be announcing an event for next week," the announcer said. Everyone seemed happy - both from the interrupted boring class, as well as the new event to be announced. The students stood up.
"Aubrey!" Faith calls Aubrey. "I wonder what the event is about? I hope it's Valentine's day! I'm so excited to flirt."
Aubrey scolded her friend. "You never changed."
Faith kissed Aubrey in tenderness. "This girl, I’m literally kidding! You’re saying that because you have Kayden and Miller all by yourself." Aubrey glared at her friend after hearing what she just joked about. Because of Aubrey's reaction, Faith laughed.
They all lined up outside. When the queue was ready, the whole section went straight to the AVR. Only grade 12 students were there within AVR, excluding the faculty. Their principal and the teachers are waiting for the room to be filled.
After the assembly, their principal stood opposite the podium. "Good afternoon, grade 12."
He cleared her voice. "As you may know, next week is Valentine's day. I know that's also a big part of your life, as you're of legal age, you're very eager to date," he said.
He added, "It's a special event. Not only is it a Valentine's day celebration, we will also be hosting your retreat on that day."
The audience started to rejoice when they heard that it was a retreat. Faith slapped Aubrey gently because she was excited for the event to take place. "Hopefully there's a wedding booth and me and my crush will be forced to get married there!" Faith marveled.
When the students calmed down, the principal spoke again. "Your event will be special because the junior high school department’s event is separate from your event. I am also requiring every section to come up with a booth for Valentine's day. Half of the day would be for Valentine's day and from afternoon to 7 pm is your retreat. "
He added, "I will be passing waivers for your parents to sign. Students cannot commute because you will be home late that day. Your parents need to pick you up."
"That summarizes everything. Details will be posted on our school's website. You can now leave."
All the students stood with bright smiles plastered on their faces. Erin approached Aubrey and held her arm. "Aubrey," Erin called her name.
"Yes?" Aubrey responded.
"Come with me on Saturday, alright? It's fiesta. We'll enjoy it there," she said. That idea seems brilliant for Aubrey. She also wants to leave by Saturday because she has nothing to do at their house.
"Sure! I'll go straight to you," Aubrey agreed. Erin sighed in excitement.
"All right, I'm going home, okay!" Aubrey let the friend know. She waved her hands to her friend to bid farewell.
She stepped out of the room and Miller appeared in front of her. She was surprised. He smiled at her. "Bye, Miller! Have a safe trip to home!" Miller looked at her in the eyes, as if he wanted to indicate something.
Aubrey was intrigued. She raised her eyebrows, as if giving a sign for him to start talking. "I don't want to be associated with you anymore," Miller remarked. Aubrey felt unassertive, not knowing what to answer.
"Sorry?" She was reluctant.
"You know that your psychotic ex-boyfriend punched my stomach and it hurts so much. I don't blame you for that. The point is, I don't want to be associated with you anymore."
He added, "I also don't want to hear negative comments from people anymore because they see us talking. You're famous, Aubrey. I am not. Our personalities don't match with each other."
"I'm a weirdo and you're a prominent student. Do you want people to think crap about you?" he demanded.
Aubrey felt sad. Every word the young man uttered pierced her heart. "Don't think of it that way, Miller. I just want us to be friends. Nothing else."
"I don't," Miller immediately refused.
"I don't want to hear you call yourself a weirdo. I know you're more than that, you just don't show it to everyone," she whispered. "I don't even know what the reason is, I know that something inside of you is prohibiting you from attaching feelings towards someone. Snap out of it, Miller."
Aubrey felt she had exaggerated what had been said to Miller. "Sorry for that. I'm going home, huh?”
~ • ~
It's Saturday. It was nine o'clock in the morning and Aubrey, Faith, and Skyler were at Erin's house. Erin's parents fed them first thing in the morning here. The Tagalog Menudo cooked by Erin's mom was served on the table. This is all they are eating but they are already full to the brim.
"Oh, it's not possible that we’ll leave this house with more food left inside. We can still eat them, Skyler," Faith teased Skyler.
Skyler laughed. "Mom is already waiting for you guys. She will cook this afternoon the chicken you love," he said as if he was already enjoying the food he’s talking about.
"Do you want us to pray inside church first?" Erin cheered them on. The three nodded. This is the first time they have gone to church together.
"Come on! Actually, I want to light a candle there and pray." Aubrey plastered a smile on her face.
The friends talked for a few minutes before they left Erin's house. Aubrey is the only one who lives away from her friends. Friends live in that subdivision Dexterville Gold. What they are going to church now is just near the subdivision. Just a few steps will get you there.
"Isn't it every time you light a candle you ask a favor from God," asked Faith. "What is Skyler going to pray for, a girlfriend? Just kidding!" Faith teased Skyler. Skyler laughed softly. This is what Faith and Erin usually do together. Besides him being stupid, the woman he likes is numb. The thing is, both of them are blind to love.
The friends prayed before going to their candlelight vigil. There were too many people inside the church, in fact, they just prayed outside to avoid the big crowd. The mass will be held later in the afternoon so the number of people is just beginning to increase.
Aubrey thanked God for all the blessings she received - her family, her friends, and the life He gives her every day. She also wished for her and everyone's good health, and hopefully a healthy relationship if she ever gets into a new relationship.
In just a few minutes, the four had finished praying. They looked at the vendors outside the church - a stall selling rosaries, rosary bracelets, and other items. Include the sellers of bibingka, Japanese cake, and other things.
They went to the altar where a candle was lit. Waiting for their turn, they lined up at the candle shop. Aubrey was ahead of her friends in the queue. While waiting for the man in front of her who had been there for a long time, she decided to look at them.
"The candle is gone, child. Just come back later," said the nun.
The guy in front of Aubrey turned around. Aubrey's jaw seemed to drop when it was discovered that Miller was in front. She barely even recognized him!
"Miller, it's you!" Aubrey greeted him. The young man stared at him, but looked away. Embarrassed maybe.
"You're here too," Miller said. "They ran out of candles. Just come back later."
They left the queue. Faith, Erin, and Skyler realized that Miller was there, so they greeted him. "Miller, maybe we can go eat inside your house," Faith joked while smiling.
Miller raised an eyebrow. "All right. Let’s go."
The four friends were surprised when Miller agreed. They were just joking around but the man was serious. He didn't even instruct the friendship group – he just walked straight, leading them to his house. Miller's house was not that far from the church. This meant that Aubrey's friends' house and Miller's house were just next door.
Time passed and they finally arrived in front of his house.
"Miller, is this your house?" Skyler asked Miller incredulously. Miller did not utter a single word and simply nodded to entertain his question.
Their house is big. The style of their house is as if it was built in the 90's. Their house was made of stone, large and spacious. It looks like a classic Filipino house owned by a wealthy family back in the older times. To enter their house, you have to go to their elevated terrace. There you will find their huge front door.
The four of them followed Miller. He led them upstairs to enter their front door. The big door is open. "Come in," he said.
It feels comfortable in their home. The combination of white and brown is beautiful, including the furniture made of wood. The feeling inside this house is very Filipino.
"Mom, Dad!" Miller shouted, walking his way to the kitchen. Aubrey and I sat on the couch.
Aubrey turned to her left. A photo of Miller and his older sister hangs on the wall together with their graduation photo back in elementary school. The medals they got from the school they used to attend are also hanging.
Aubrey's interest in Miller's life prevailed even more. Miller looks like a decent person, not just a normal person.
"Your classmates?" Miller's mother heard that question from the kitchen. A woman in her late-40's showed up in their living room with the brightest smile on her face.
The friends stood up when they saw Miller's mother. "Good afternoon," the four of them greeted. They approached it and waved one by one.
"Oh, I never thought our youngest would bring his friend here. It would be fun," his mother said. "Follow me, eat inside."
Aubrey can't help but smile. Miller's mother hugged him. She didn't expect that a guy who acts like a robot would have a nice mother like her.
"Miller's family is cute," Aubrey whispered to Faith.
Faith smirked. "It's also your family in law in the future."
Aubrey scolded Faith. "You're so malicious. I'm just friends with him." Faith looked at her maliciously and Aubrey lightly slapped her shoulder. Faith just laughed.
The dishes prepared by the Miller family were displayed in front of them. There is menudo, liempo, chicken, pancit, spaghetti, and other foods that you would normally see in a fiesta. Friends just stared at the food intently. Just glancing at them made them full.
The three of them are now sitting at the table. Miller handed them each paper plates and a spoon and fork. He also put in large platters of each of the dishes, and placed their rice cooker in the middle. "Eat," he said.
They scooped up rice one by one. It looks like they will be on another food trip!
"My youngest, please give them something to drink," Miller's mother ordered.
"Yes," he answered. Miller approached the sink. He took plastic cups from their kitchen cabinet. He also brought a large bottle of coca cola. He gave them four plastic cups of soft drinks and handed them out.
When Miller's mother finished cooking, she sat across from her friends.
“I am Iluminada. I don't want to be called by my full name so just call me Aunt Mina,” Miller's mother introduced herself.
"Introduce yourself to me so I can know your names." Mina smiled.
"I'm Faith, the best girl," Faith joked. They all laughed.
Right after Faith introduced herself, Erin spoke up. "My name is Erin."
Aubrey smiled, "I'm Aubrey."
"You're a pretty kid," Miller's mother praised her. Aubrey was delighted. "Thank you very much!" She plastered a smile on her face.
"How about you, young man?" Their aunt Mina pointer her finger at Skyler
"I’m the most handsome person in our friendship group, Skyler," he proudly said.
Faith laughed out loud. "Oh, he's the most handsome because he's our only male friend," she grinned. Again, they all laughed.
"I'm glad you came here," Mina said while smiling
“Find Miller a girlfriend for me, alright? It's scary because our youngest is of legal age and it looks like we still don't have a girlfriend. His last crush was when he was still studying in Preparatory,” Miller's mother laughed.
"Ma!" Miller yelled. Aubrey noticed that Miller's cheeks seemed to blush at what his mother had said.
"Auntie, we're going to recruit Miller's girlfriend," Faith laughed maliciously. She stared at Aubrey and pointed. "Aubrey seems like she’s willing!"
Aubrey blushed in embarrassment. “Oh, Aunt Mina, don't believe that from Faith. That girl is a witch,” Aubrey defended herself.
Just as they finished laughing, Aubrey stared at Miller. The young man avoided it, but his face looked flushed. Is he really blushing?
They stayed at Miller's house for an hour. Aubrey didn't expect that they would actually have fun there. The saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” is true. Behind a timid guy is a loving mother who takes good care of him. I can see the good company of that mother. A caring mother and a helpful child.