The Page Turner

8

"Hey, Nygel's birthday is tomorrow, what are you up to?" I am now with Adrian walking out of our subdivision. Small world because we had the same neighborhood.

"I don't even know what would be my gift to him. Do you have any idea?"

"Just buy clothes because it will last a long time. I’ll come with you to the mall to help you buy a shirt for him," I agreed. It was also a good thing and he was not going anywhere so we went to the mall. It's Friday and my OJT is over because we already finished the 80 hours of the first batch. Mom knows that we have classes every Friday but I didn’t inform them that this second semester we will not have Friday classes because our subjects have been reduced. It's okay because they are still giving me my allowance and I can save something.

Me and my friends also don’t have plans for today so Adrian and I would just wander around the mall. He was absent today in his classes because he told his teachers that he’s not feeling well, but here he is, taking me to the mall. Though, it’s card giving day today so it’s not bad that he’s absent.

During my stay at EK, it was really magical. I had so many things that I experienced and learned while working at EK. After our last OJT, we were just allowed to take a free ride and enjoy the last day. Especially in the office I learned a lot as well as page encoding.

"Didn't your debut be on November 23? Do you have plans?" Adrian asked me as we walked to the Mall. I shrugged and walked straight and looked around at the Man’s Clothes area.

"I don't know my parents, I am just waiting for them to decide if they will spend money for my debut or what. Last time I said I was going to make my debut, they went mad at me."

"Maybe your parents can't stand you especially since you're the eldest so they will make sure that they have a plan for you." Maybe, but I still don't know. It's up to them, it will only add to what she can criticize me for. They’ll just tell me that I was spending so much money and cause them stress.

"Is this good for him?" I put the navy blue shirt on Adrian's body and checked. It is a simple shirt and has a pocket on the right side.

"It’s good and it will fit perfectly to his body."

I'm short on budget and I only have one thousand pesos and the shirt cost 500 so I just bought it. I invited Adrian to have milk tea with me. I’ll treat him because he accompanied me here today at the mall. We went to the Milktea Shop and it was good that we found a table immediately.

"Go and order there. Mine is creamy cheese taro and the size is large. Order yours too." I handed him the money and he lined up. I just scrolled to my phone and saw that Nygel had a chat.

Nygel: Where are you? Our classes have been cut now.

Blair: I’m at the Milk tea Shop right now here in the mall. How about you? Still at school?

I didn’t bother to say that I was with Adrian right now because he might wonder why we are together. He doesn't know that I will give him a gift tomorrow for his birthday. It took him a while to reply to me. Adrian arrived and put my milktea on my table.

"Nygel doesn't seem to have a class anymore," I opened. He sat down in front of me.

"Isn’t it too early? Maybe the teachers will prepare for the meeting later. I told Nygel and the others last night that we should skip classes today, but they are good students,” he said. I laughed because of that. So he was just the one that skipped the classes today among his friends, huh?

"Attendance is a must, don’t you know?” I teased.

"Let them, I have an excuse letter on Monday so it's fine." I just laughed at him and saw that I have received a notification in Messenger.

Nygel: I hope everyone has a date haha.

I immediately frowned and turned outside the milktea shop, just in case Nygel was there and he saw us together! Gosh, he might think differently!

Blair: Who has a date?

Nygel: Aren't you?

"Hey, I think Nygel saw us today. Look at his chats." I turned my phone to Adrian and then he laughed, "You're dead now, he’s probably jealous." I glared at him before replaying Nygel again.

Blair: What? Me? Are you here at the mall too?

Nygel: We’ll talk later, I don’t want to disturb the both of you.

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. Is he jealous? For real? But why? Does he like me?

Blair: Adrian and I are not dating. We just met at the gate of the subdivision earlier and then I just wanted to wander around for a while because my parents knew that I was busy, so we ended up here.

I don't know why I am explaining, but I'm just happy with his reaction. We’re not a couple to make him jealous!

"What? Are you having a love quarrel now?"

"As if." I rolled my eyes at Adrian.

Nygel: Okay. Enjoy.

Blair: HAHAHAHA hey why are you like that? Are you jealous?

Nygel: No, I just don't want to bother you.

Blair: Where are you? Let's meet!

Nygel: Don't let me be your third-wheeler.

"Ugh, he’s so grumpy. Are we a couple to make him jealous? I already explained." I complained to Adrian and frowned. "Maybe he likes you.”

"Don't make me hope for that.”

Blair: As you say so.

I hid my phone but suddenly it rang again so I took it, Nygel still replied.

Nygel: Are you going tomorrow? It's my birthday.

Blair: Sad, I can't leave the house tomorrow because it’s Saturday.

I was sad because I could not attend his birthday. I have no reason to tell my Mom to leave tomorrow and another reason, I am ashamed of Nygel's friends. I gave Adrian my gift to hand it to Nygel, "You give it tomorrow. I can't go."

"Can I sell this shirt?" I immediately kicked Adrian even though I knew he was just joking. I want to go home but I told Adrian that we should find Nygel first. At least we can meet before his birthday.

We walked to the fast food chains here at the mall and saw that Nygel and their other classmates were eating. I was about to approach him but I stopped at what I saw. I pulled Adrian so we could hide.

My eyes narrowed as I stared at Nygel laughing at the woman next to him. The woman next to him, Clara, one of my varsity volleyball teammates before I quit, is beautiful. Actually he is just my age but he stopped for two years so she’s still in tenth grade. Nygel suddenly put his arm around Clara and they almost hugged and then someone took a picture of them. There were two men and the other four women were with them.

"Are they that close to your classroom?" I asked Adrian and he immediately shook his head. I narrowed my eyes at him, "It's not really. Clara is really close to all our boys."

"It looks like they're a couple. Clara's smile is different from Nygel." I answered rudely and stared at the two again.

"You’re wrong. I really feel that Nygel likes you."

"All right, come over there, if Clara isn't clingy to you, you'll see. You said she’s close to the boys in your section, so go." I pushed him slightly. He left me there and went straight to Nygel's table.

Nygel was a little surprised when he saw Adrian in front of him and looked around so I hid. Maybe he’s looking for me. I looked back at them again, Adrian stood next to Clara so she’s now in the middle.

I waited to see if Clara would hug Adrian or anything, because Adrian said she was clingy to all their boys. But until Adrian said goodbye and just went back to my place, Clara didn't even touch him.

"I thought she’s clingy to everyone?" Adrian scratched his head and avoided looking at me. "Maybe she's just not in the mood right now?" I glared at him and pulled him inside the restaurant.

"Hey Blair! Where are we going?" He whispered but I just looked for a table near Nygel. I let go of Adrian's hand and sat down next to Nygel's table.

"Hey hi! You're here." I smiled and waved at Clara. He also smiled and greeted me.

"I thought you were leaving?" A guy asked Adrian. He laughed awkwardly and pointed at me, "She wants to eat so I joined her." He sat in front of me. Nygel was staring at me so I smiled at him then ignored him.

"Go and order now, it’s on me," I whispered to Adrian. He excitedly ordered us food because it’s free. I was left at my table alone. I picked up my phone and saw that Nygel had just seen my chat earlirt. I fixed my lips so that I would not be noticeably annoyed. I was surprised because someone was sitting in front of me, I thought it was Adrian.

"You already ordered--" Oh, it’s Nygel. The expression on my face immediately changed. I was shocked and averted my eyes. "Why are you sitting here?" I tried to sound normal even though I'm already pissed because of what I saw earlier.

"Am I interrupting your date?" I looked at him and arched my brows. "Not really, I'm just thinking that maybe Clara would be jealous of us." I said just enough for him to hear it. His facial expression shows that he's confused. "Why would Clara be jealous?"

"Why would I date Adrian?"

"You know, Adrian is so handsome and anyone would think the both of you were dating because he was also absent earlier and it turned out that you're here."

"Ah, Clara might also be jealous because she hugged you earlier and now you're here in front of me and you left her there."

I was surprised when he suddenly smiled at me, "Maybe you're the one who's jealous?" he asked arrogantly. Wow! Why would I be jealous? Besides, he was the one who started to make an issue here.

"Not me, maybe you're the jealous one. You have many conclusions about me and Adrian." I rolled my eyes. "Woah, the lovebirds are fighting, e?" Adrian arrived with our food. Nygel stood up and moved next to Adrian then he sat in front of me.

"People might hear you, careful with your words. I don't want another issue," I said then turned to Nygel, "And you, go back to your table 'cause it looks like they're waiting for you."

"Guys, go on without me. I'll join them." Nygel suddenly said goodbye to Clara and others. His companions nodded and I could see the annoyance to Clara's face before they left. I looked at Nygel again, "And why are you here?"

"Nothing."

"Anyways, advance happy birthday. I will still greet you tomorrow though it would not be in person." I said then started eating. "You don't have a gift for me?"

"I don't have any money."

"No money for me but you're treating Adrian?"

Adrian sighed, "Gel, don't be jealous of me. Candie is my type and not her." I turned to Adrian and my eyes widened in shock. "OMG! Are you and Candie already talking to each other? I'm not even informed!"

"It's fun talking to her, she has so many topics."

"Where is my gift?" Nygel took my attention again. I couldn't stand him anymore so I took the paper bag next to Adrian and handed it to him. "Here."

"Seriously? Is this your gift to me?" The shock on his face was so obvious. "Gel the truth is, Blair came with me to buy a gift for you. I should be the one who will hand it to you tomorrow because she can't come. That's why she treated me to milktea shop to accompany her. But eating here in the restaurant wasn't in our plan--"

"You talk too much." I stopped him from speaking because he might say to Nygel that we ate here out of jealousy.

"Thank you, Blair. I'll take care of it." Nygel smiled at me. I also smiled back because he seemed to really like my gift to him.

***

"Is everything complete? Are all my 18s downstairs?" I asked the host for my debut. I am celebrating my debut today here in our bar. I am wearing my red ball gown with a choker on my neck. I curled my brown hair and just let it go and then I put clips on both sides. I also have my gold long earrings. The make-up is just perfect for my face. Good thing we have a wide bar and a grand staircase where I will come down. My photoshoot is over now that I am wearing my gown. It's 7pm and we still haven't started because there are many more missing from the program. The others chatted with me that they had been trafficked.

Nygel: We are sitting here inside with Adrian and Candie.

"Good evening, everyone! Tonight, we will got to witness how this girl will become a decent woman. A decade and eight years of existence in this world and we are grateful to have a wonderful woman in our life. Let's all welcome, Ms. Blair Diaz together with her father, Mr. Rey Diaz!"

After the announcement of our host, the background music started playing then Dad and I started to go down slowly. My parents decided to celebrate like the traditional debut celebration. I clung to Dad's arm and smiled at my friends who were videotaping and taking pictures of me. When we got to the center, Dad immediately danced with me with a rose on his hand.

He whispered to me, "You're a woman now, don't be too stubborn with your mom so you don't fight anymore. I love you, Blair."

I tried hard not to cry because I might ruin my make-up. This was the first time my father danced to me. It was one of my dreams! After my father, the part of my 18 roses was called one after another. My host reads messages to me of those in 18 roses to somehow not be boring.

I smiled and then Candie and my other friends all screamed. Nygel handed me the last rose. “Happy birthday, Blair," he greeted me.

"Thank you, where is your gift to me hmm?" We talked while he danced with me. Many also took pictures of us and videos in addition to the camera man my parents hired.

"See for yourself later. That might be your most precious gift." For sure too, his gift to me is the one I will like the most. The program continued after the guests ate their dinner. I changed to a pink gown outfit then started with 18 gifts and 18 shots. I just cried at Candie's message to me because she is my closest friend. I changed into a blue dress and Mom gave her speech.

"I thank the Lord because my eldest daughter's debut was well organized. Thank you to those who attended tonight and I hope you liked the food. My message to you Blair, be kind and even though we are always fighting I love you and your sisters, remember that. I just want you to graduate and achieve all your dreams. Happy birthday, Blair.” I smiled at Mom and shed tears because of her message to me. Mom and Dad hugged me.

We took a family picture and it's time for me to blow the candles on my cake. They sang a birthday song to me and then I wished. I just want to be able to finish my studies and help Mom and Dad.

"Listen to our debutant's closing speech!" The host gave me the microphone.

"First of all, I would like to say thank you so much to God. Then second to my parents, I really thought nothing like this would happen but I did not expect this. I love you Mom and Dad. I am not where I am now without you. Thank you for everything. Lastly, thank you to those who came here today to celebrate with me. I hope you enjoyed it and let's have more fun later! I love you all!"

I just had a shot at every table of my friends and they and my parents let me drink because it was my debut. We also took a picture at the photo booth. I approached Nygel and Adrian.

"Where did you put your gift?" I opened up to Nygel. He handed me the big paper bag. My eyes immediately widened when I realized what his gift.

"OMG! TEDDY BEAR!" I shouted when I opened it.

"I asked Candie what's your favorite and she said you love stuffed toys."

My debut ended well. I'm so happy. But I didn't know that being too happy would cause me so much pain after that night.