Vibrated with Squeals
A month flew by quickly and the Hilltop Friends now faced the crossroads of their lives: their High School Graduation Ball. Today, all the senior students of Bay Institute were transported via helicopter to a remote island at the southern tip of the Capital known as the Playa de Arena Blanca or white sand beach. The islet owned by the Yiu Family boasted three-mile-long pristine, powdery white sand beaches that glimmer like pixie dust against the warm sunlight. The inviting crystal blue waters heightened the seniors' excitement more. They ran towards the sea barefoot where they get a crystalline view of the bountiful marine life underwater. The different hues of the corals from pink to blue to yellow swaying on the seabed revealed the tiny creatures that shy away from their guests.
Coach Stevenson rallied the students in an open space to distribute room assignments and reiterate the house rules. However, the room assignments and house rules fell on a hundred deaf ears when the seniors huddled into their groups and started exchanging keys with other groups – making their own room assignments.
In the midst of all the chaos, one bright belle stole everyone's attention: Cora. She fainted while they were waiting for Hugo to get their room keys. The Hilltop Friends ran to the makeshift clinic with Reid carrying his sweetheart, the sun's heat doubled his sweat coupled with his foot getting buried in the sand with every step.
"I'm ok, guys. It's just the summer heat," Cora reassured her friends but none of them believed her.
"Why don't we skip the ball?" Zoey suggested.
"Yes, let's just skip it and have fun in our room. Let's play Uno!" Jenny chimed in.
"I want to get laid tonight. Sorry," Grant deadpanned.
"Me tooooo," Hugo held out a baggie, igniting the curiosity of his friends.
"No waaaaaaay," Zoey covered her mouth in disbelief.
"Yes waaaaaaay," Hugo laughed hysterically. He had a hard time procuring these babies and there's no way he would back out from the ball. Not even when his twin sister fainted.
"Where did you get that, Hugo?" Jenny questioned, clearly irritated with her best friend.
"He got it from your cousin. I heard William say Coach is open."
Jenny turned purple in anger. Of all the people who would sell those junk why must it be her cousin?
"Hey, Jenny. You're turning into an ube (purple yam)," Hugo smoothed her furrowed brows then continued, "Business is business. Your cousin has to earn a living especially now when I heard from the grapevine that he knocked somebody up. And I, your best friend Hugo, just want to have fun. Let me be. I won't force you to try it."
Reid shook his head in annoyance and shifted his focus on the bright girl beside him. "Let's go. I'll bring you to your room." He wiped Cora's beaded sweat on her forehead and let her take a sip of water before helping her off the bed.
Inside the girls' room, everyone was busy prepping for the ball. "Cora, it's time for your prescription." Hugo reminded his twin sister. He marched to his bag and grabbed the bottle of pills inside the front pocket. He filled a tall glass with water and waited for Cora to drink her medicine. When he saw her gulp down, he turned about-face and left in an instant. Cora coughed a few times, cupping her mouth with her hand before stealthily hiding the small pill under the mattress.
The hall was filled with live music from the band playing jazz music that set the tone of the entire place. The music crawled under their skin which made the seniors sway along with the melody, inhaling what should be the culmination of their high school life.
Down the hall, the double doors opened, attracting everybody's attention. Three belles and three dashing gents entered, owning the place. Zoey earned gasps of admiration with her champagne-colored strapless ball gown that had a satin band waist. It had layers of tulle with metallic floral embroidery that gave the illusion of Zoey floating as she walked on the red carpet.
Another round of jealous whispers could be heard from the crowd when a sunny fairy trailed Zoey. She wore a gown that had loose ribbons falling on her shoulders as the straps. It had an illusion-mesh inset layered with seafoam green tulle. Her bodice was adorned with carefully curated green feathers that sweep as Jenny sashayed to the center like a mermaid enchanting all the human beings it encountered.
Not long after Jenny entered, the place vibrated with squeals when the rest of the Hilltop Friends entered. Cora in her navy blue sweep train satin ball gown was surrounded by her bodyguards who all looked debonair and devilishly handsome in their custom-fit tuxedo. The gents' ties matching a belle from their tight-knit circle.
Hugo inserted his hand inside his pockets and looked back to face his friends — his voice a little rougher and lower than usual when he called his friends over.
"It's showtime."
Edited by Swaning