Chapter Twenty Six

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I woke up to a delicious aroma I smelled.

As I opened my eyes, I grabbed my eyeglass and wore it to make my sight clear. I roamed around the area and remembered that I didn't go home when I left Quila's house. I remembered that Tom picked me up and I was the one who decided to stay at his place overnight.

Tom's apartment is spacious with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom with shower. He doesn't share his apartment with anyone else. He lives alone. He said that the other bedroom was meant as a guest room just in case.

And he also said that I am the very first one to sleep in his apartment's guest room.

I was about to go out when I heard a knock on the guest room's door where I slept. I opened the door to see Tom smiling.

"Magandang umaga, magandang binibini" he said in a language that I am unfamiliar with. My guess is it is a Filipino language and I know I'm right.

"As if I'm gonna understand that," I answered. "Can you tell me what that means?"

"Good morning Miss Beautiful" he responded.

I gave him a poker face look and said, "Whatever. Good morning"

"Breakfast is ready," he said. "And I know you'd like it."

"What's for breakfast?" I asked then he led me to the dining table as I followed him behind.

"Tapsilog" he answered.

"What's that? Filipino dish?" I asked. I assume it's a Filipino dish but I'd like to confirm if my assumption is correct.

"Yes, that's right," he answered. "Tapa, Sinangag and Itlog"

"I totally have no idea about what you are talking about, but the aroma whispered to me that it's delicious," I answered.

When we finally got to the dining table, we sat down and began eating.

What's prepared on the table were: eggs, thinly sliced dried meat and rice with fragrant garlic bits. Tom saw me scanning the food and one by one, he pointed to each food. First, he pointed to the egg. "Itlog'', then next to the thinly sliced dried meat, "Tapa" then next to the rice, "Sinangag".

"So that's what they were called in Filipino," I said. Look at that! I learned something new today and last night when I went to Quila's party. "Let's start eating, shall we?"

With that, I began serving my own plate and Tom did the same too. At first, we ate in silence but the silence broke when Tom spoke about something that's been bothering me for the past 2 weeks.

"I was just wondering," he began. "Have Nico asked you out already?"

I shook my head sideways and said, "No, he did not and it's such a bit of a relief because I am not sure if I can date someone for real."

"Well, we faked-date and I knew that you learned from that experience, right?" He said.

"I know but it's NJ we're talking about," I said. "He's my friend. I'd risk our friendship. In addition, he might have mistaken me for someone else."

"What made you say that?"

"Remember when he said that we met before in summer?" I started. "I have no memory of that moment and neither is my elder sister."

"It's a possibility," Tom said. "But have you thought of confirming?"

Nodding, I answered, "Yes. I'd like to confirm too. I already formulated a plan that might actually work."

He looked at me with this super curious look and he seemed to be waiting for me to share my plan. So I explained it to him.

"I'm planning on putting Beatrice in a show," I started. "I am going in disguise so that I can catch information directly from him."

"If your plan is to disguise as Beatrice, then does it mean that we're going to continue pretending as couples?" Tom confirmed.

"Yes and no?" I answered. "Yes because NJ knew that you're dating Beatrice and no because the reason for our play-pretend is mainly for your family's tradition"

"You're right," Tom answered. "But if ever you need help, let me know okay?"

"Thanks Tom," I answered. "Honestly, NJ and I don't talk anymore." I continued sadly.

"I noticed that in school too," he said. "Does he no longer barge into your house?"

"Not anymore," I said. "Never thought I'd miss him."

"Hey, cheer up! Everything will be alright between the two of you, okay?" Tom said, trying to comfort me. "I'm always here to help you. Just tell me how I can be of help."

Then I thought of another plan. A start move that I hope will turn out fine.

"Actually...Tom, are you free this coming Saturday?" I asked.

"Yes, I am. Why?" He asked.

"I remembered that I was supposed to be the storyteller at their day care center," I started. "But since we don't talk anymore, I haven't been in their daycare center for a while."

"Okay, I'm listening," Tom said.

"Since Beauty Smith didn't show up, I was thinking of going there as Beatrice Smith as their new story teller." I explained.

"Sounds great," Tom answered. "At least, you're closer to Nico that way."

"I just feel bad for lying but I would really like to know what he was talking about." I said.

"Okay, I'll take you there on Saturday," Tom agreed. "Just send me a message, okay?"

"Yes, I will," I answered. Then we changed topics.

"By the way, how's your first day as a cheerleader?" he asked excitedly.

"I haven't started yet. I just joined on Monday," I said. "Quila said that I will start next week. We will be having practice but they said that they would like to see me dance alone first."

At that thought, I suddenly felt nervous and at the same time, thrilled. Who would have thought that I am going to do the last thing I'd like to do - be in the spotlight.

"It's nice to know that you finally decided to showcase your skills," he said. "I'm rooting for you!"

"Thanks Tom," I said. "And thank you for being my friend."

"Best friends," he said. "You, me and NJ"

And I never thought that I would be best friends with the 2 boys I'd like to avoid while attending our school.

***

Tom drove me back home. I invited him to go inside for lunch but he refused and left me standing in front of our house as he drove away.

When he was outside, I stepped inside our house.

"How's the party?" L asked when she saw me. She's sitting on our couch with a book. Seems like she's been reading.

"It's good to be home" I simply answered. "I appreciate that they invited me to their party which, by the way, has a lot of couples grinding each other and making out," I continued. "Who does private things in public? I'd rather stay home."

She chuckled. "You're just not used to it,"

"And I will never get used to it 'cause this will be the first and last time that I am attending a party."

I told her about the swimming pool, Quila's mansion and last but not the least, the time when I almost got into trouble. It's such a relief when Tom arrived on the scene and saved my butt.

It was supposed to be a story, but it ended up like a rant.

I don't want to see the library boy ever again!

And what's he even doing in that place? Was he invited by Quila? Do they go to the same class together? I've got no idea because Quila and that creepy library boy don't go to the same class as I do.

I know this sounds mean, but I am quite happy that the library boy is not my classmate.

"Wait. If you didn't stay overnight at Quila's, then where were you?" L asked.

"At Tom's place" I simply answered.

"Whaaaaaat?!" she reacted in surprise. She looked at me in a teasing look as she grinned. "Soooo... something happened between the two of you?"

"Oh shut up you dirty-minded lady" I said. "Nothing happened between the two of us. We slept in seperate bedrooms. He got a room for guest."

"Hey! I was just kidding!" L said and laughed. "I know that you're into NJ"

"Whoaaaaa! Hold on a second!" I said as I raised my hands up in the mid-air, stopping her from her assumptions. "Didn't I tell you that he's just a friend to me?"

She looked at me, unconvinced. "Really?"

"I'm telling the truth!" I answered and sighed. "We don't even talk anymore."

"Sorry to hear about that," L empathized. "You planning anything?"

"Actually, yes. I have." I answered and with that, I shared my plan with my elder sister and talked about it very well.

I've got a feeling that my plan will work. I knew I would be able to pull it off.

But if I got busted right away, chances are NJ would never ever trust me.

Despite that risk, I'm still gonna disguise as Beatrice Smith, befriend him and fish information about his past and his claim about us, meeting when we were in highschool at a summer camp.

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