1 UNO

Only the ticking of the clock could be heard as Leanne del Rosario laid dazedly on the bed contemplating about life. She did not even notice her mother entering her room. Leanne is already 19 years old and is about to graduate from university next year, but she is still unsure about her life and future.

"Have you thought about it?" her mother, Johanna said.

Waking up from her thoughts, Leanne got up and face her mother, "I don't know po, Mom. I just don't think business is for me."

(po= added to sentences for respect)

Johanna sighed and patted her daughter's hair, "A lot of students your age doesn't know what to do with their lives either… For the time being, why don't you visit our property and learn how to manage our plantation in Bicol since it is still vacation. You can also live at our ancestral home. Your titas and titos have always said that you look like your great-grandmother, you can go and see for yourself."

(tita= aunt; tito= uncle)

"Urghhh!!! Alright, alright." Leanne grumbled as she went back to laying down and nestling under her blanket.

Looking at her daughter, Johanna could only shake her head and leave the room.

Leanne del Rosario is your typical Filipina from a middle-class family in Manila, Philippines. She has mestiza features with long black hair, dark brown eyes, high button nose, thin pink lips, fair yellow-undertone skin and is 1.60m in height.

Her looks are considered above-average and had a few admirers herself. She is an only child so she had grown up a little spoiled, but despite that she is still kind, straightforward and independent. Her family have been land-owners since the Spanish regime era and have also been preserving their ancestral home.

(mestiza= a woman of mixed race, especially on having indigenous and Spanish descent)

The sky was about to go dark when Leanne's phone suddenly rang.

"Hyellow?" Leanne answered the phone without even looking at the caller's ID.

"Guuuurl! Come to Savanna at 7pm. Let's go parteeeey." A high-pitched voice could be heard from the other line.

Leanne already recognized this mildly annoying voice as her best friend's, Solana Lee. Solana is a bright-looking girl with too much energy.

Solana and Leanne have been friends since the start of their college days. The two of them often go out to party and drink in their free time.

"Nope. Can't. I have to wake up early tomorrow to go to Bicol." Leanne tiredly answered.

"Oh come on, Lili. You've been cooped up inside your house all vacation. You can lift up your mood by partying all night. You have a driver and can just sleep along the way to Bicol. Pretty please…" Solana whined trying to convince her friend.

Leanne thought for a minute and realized that Solana does make sense, "Fine. I'll go get ready." She said as she ended the call.

Leanne got up and chose a simple black crop-top, red high-waisted skirt and red ankle boots. She curled her hair and did her make-up with a strong winged-eyeliner and bloody red lipstick. Leanne always expresses herself strongly and confidently.

Arriving at Savanna, Leanne waited for Solana by the entrance. Loud music could be heard even outside the club. Leanne kept herself busy with her phone, when someone approached her.

"Hi. Are you by yourself?" A guy that looks her age was smiling and talking to her.

Looking up from her phone, Leanne scanned the guy. He looks handsome with those styled hair, sharp eyes, high nose, pink lips, strong jaw, broad shoulders…

As Leanne's eyes continued to wander down, the guy interrupted her. "Hello? Can you hear me?" The guy waved his hands in front of her to catch her attention.

"Huh? Ah… yeah… I mean no. I'm not alone. I'm waiting for my friend." Leanne answered, stuttering.

Before the guy could respond, Solana arrived and came up to them. "Sorry I took so long, Lili… Oh! Isn't this Alexander from BS Biology?" Solana said as she eyed the two.

The guy seemed happy to be recognized as he formally introduced himself, "You know me? Yeah, I'm Alexander Rodriguez. May I also get your names? I was hoping for the two of you to come join me and my friend."

"Who doesn't know you!? Captain of the varsity basketball team, future doctor and resident gentleman, Mister Alexander Rodriguez. Nice to meet you. I am Solana and this is…" Solana looked excited as she spoke hurriedly, but Leanne stopped her before she could finish.

"I'm Lili. We are juniors from Business Management. Sorry but we can't stay with you, since it's our girl's night out. Bye!" Before anyone could protest, Leanne quickly said her part and dragged Solana inside the club.

Solana complained as she tried to resist, "What's wrong with you? He looked totally interested in you and hey, his friend might be handsome too. We could finally get rid of our 'single since birth' statuses."

"Aren't we here to make me feel better? Besides, I'm not interested in men right now. Not until I feel sure about myself and my future. I can't just be in a relationship when my priority is in something else. I'll only wrong him." Leanne's mumbling could only make Solana surrender, anyway they'll have plenty of chances when school opens again.

Leanne and Solana enjoyed the night, dancing and drinking. They also found some of their classmates and talked for a long time.

At 1am, Leanne called her driver and went home. When Leanne got home, she cleaned up and packed her things before she went out again to head to Bicol. She realized that it was a very bad idea to party last night.

Leanne was having a hangover and the ride took at least 9 hours. She had to stop the driver several times to vomit. She felt really bad and is constantly blaming Solana in her mind, "I will never listen to that girl again!"

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