I was almost deafened by the screams in our classroom when Mrs. Cortez announced that all grade 12 students will be having Valentine’s Ball. Almost all of my classmates were excited about the ball and so was I.
I looked at Mar who was just next to me when I felt him take my hand to hold. I widened her eyes while unable to hide the thrill on my lips. "They we'll see us," I whispered.
He just winked at me, then turned to my classmates who were about to dance with great joy.
After class, we left the classroom together. Mar’s sudden distance from me when we saw Jame approaching the two of us with playful smiles.
"If I don't know that you're best friends, I might have thought that you two have a relationship," she said, laughing at what she said as well as her two maids. "But I know that you two are best friends," she said and passed us.
Mar and I looked at each other. I'm nervous because maybe Jame already knows about our relationship.
Mar smiled at me, then put his arm around me. "Don't think too much, darling," he whispered.
I pinched him on the side so he jumped up and laughed. I ran fast and Mar immediately chased me. I just laughed while running. I feel like no one is around and only Mar and I are there as if the world is ours.
When we got to the cafeteria, we were both breathless. We immediately grabbed a table and Mar ordered our food.
When he returned to our table, he handed me the soft drink that I immediately drank.
"Until now, you're still running slow," I teased Mar.
"I just gave it to you," he returned.
My eyes widened when I saw Ken coming. I immediately waved to him to come to us. He did not move immediately but eventually approached as well.
“Come with us, Ken,” I told him when he reached our table.
"I might not bother you anymore."
"But you know–"
I kicked Mar's foot for what he said. I felt the tension between the two again.
“No, Ken. Also, didn't you say you would try to get along with Ken ” I turned to Mar. "Won't you settle too?" I asked him.
Mar nodded forcefully. "Of course," Mar said.
“Good,” I said with a smile. "Sit down," I said to Ken.
After Ken ordered food, we started eating at the same time while the tension between the two of them still lingered as if in an instant the two of them would fight.
"By the way Ken, have you chosen your partner for the Ball yet?" I asked Ken who looked at me.
He thought for a moment. "Hmm, I haven't asked her yet if she will be my partner for Ball," he said, adding that perhaps he was referring to the woman he had wanted for a long time.
“She's still? Because you're so handsome, only the blind will reject you," I answered confidently.
He smiled wryly. "If you're the one I'm going to take to the Ball, will you agree?" he asked without hesitation.
I kept quiet about his question because I didn't expect it. I looked at Mar and I saw his sharp eyes.
"He's my partner so don't you dare to ask him," Mar replied strongly.
Ken ignored him. "Maybe that's how she reacts when I invite her," he continued.
I tried to smile because the tension seemed to be getting worse. I see Mar almost gritting his teeth while Ken is chilling. I don't know why there is still sadness in Ken's eyes.
"Believe me, Ken she will agree with you," I encouraged him.
"Well, let's see," Ken said. “Who is your partner?"
I was immediately silent and later I saw Mar looking at me. "He's my partner," Mar replied.
“Oh! Good," Ken said with a blank face.
I should have smiled because of what Mar said. Doesn’t he think or does he just want to piss off Ken?
"Mar likes to joke," I said, then ate some food.
"I'm not joking, Jan."
"Just eat, Mar and you'll be full."
Ken, who had been watching us for a while, stopped sneezing. We just continued eating while I kept the thrill.
When we finished eating I confronted them both. "You two, please agree for this quiet school year," I began. “You Mar, please don't be so hotheaded, okay? You have to understand that Ken is also my friend. And as for you, Ken, don't beat up the heat of this Mar's head so that there will be no trouble.” I sigh. "Please, fix your dealings with each other. You're not kids anymore."
The two were silent as if they were children scolded by their parents. "Do you understand?”
The two nodded at the same time, smiling at me.