Please follow me:
@LourliaLumaque
-----
I made myself a tuna sandwich, and got some chocolate pudding from the fridge, and locked myself inside our room, right after Andrew left. I needed some time alone. I needed to think.
I know, having a celebrity for a suitor may sound exciting. But really, it's one heck of a headache as well. I don't know if I'd be happy or sad. I'm confused. Plus, I'm hungry. I only had salad during the party, and I have every excuse to pig out.
Normally, Julia would bug me for details, and annoy the crap out of me. However, this time, I felt she understood me to give me some space.
An hour later, someone came knocking on the door.
"Sweetie?" She said.
It's Mom.
"It's open!" I yelled so she could hear me from outside.
"Hey! Can I talk to you?" She asked when she came into view.
Great! The woman wants to talk.
The last time she wanted to talk was when I was eleven. I'd told her I wanted so bad to adopt a dog. However, she thought it wasn't practical. And she'd explained to me why we couldn't afford to adopt one.
What's wrong now?
"Sure," I told her, after putting away the empty chocolate pudding container and small plate for my sandwich.
Mom sat on the bed beside me. She let out a long sigh before speaking up.
"Wow!" She said. "How time flies! You're all grown up."
Where is this all coming from? I just gained a suitor. I'm not dying, Mom.
"I remember when you were four, you were watching your favorite Disney movie, Cinderella." She continued. "You told me that when you grow up, you'll meet a handsome prince, you'll kiss under the stars, you'll get married, and live happily ever after."
Was it really necessary for her to bring that up? I was a kid!
"Did you really have to bring that up, Ma?" I couldn't help sounding so annoyed.
"It's just that, one minute, you're pooping in your undies. And next thing you know, you're all grown up, and attracting the opposite sex." She said.
Okay. That was one time when I pooped in my undies! And I was five years old! We were at the mall, and suddenly, I had the urge to do a number two. What choice did I have?
"And he's not just a normal member of the opposite sex — the one that you've smitten." She added. "He's one of the hottest male celebrities in our country!" She squealed.
"Now, you sound like Julia, Mom." I said, which made her laugh.
Then she paused for a moment, before continuing with her speech.
"Look." She said. "You're still very young. Most kids your age could be reckless. Especially, for someone who has an outrageously handsome suitor, then you guys tend to forget the things we've taught you."
She had a good point. Some kids my age are so reckless, they get themselves in a lot of trouble, like getting pregnant for example. They'll only realize how wrong they've been when everything in their life's ruined.
"However, I know you." She continued. "You may be nineteen, but you're smart and responsible. And that's the only reason why I said yes to Andrew when he asked my permission."
I simply smiled at what she said.
I'm really happy to know that she trusts me this much. And I'm gonna make sure that I don't break that trust.
"Thanks, Mom." I told her.
"I love you, kiddo."
"I love you too, Mom."
Mom and I shared a long hug. We then laughed at each other after. Then she bade me good night and left the room.
I felt better after Mom and I talked. However, a great weight has not yet been lifted off of my chest.
"Hey, Tiff."
Julia appeared by the door, her voice was soft like a whisper. It seems as though she needed my permission to enter the room.
Why would she need my permission? Technically, this is her room.
"Hey, Juls!" I said. "What're you doing there, by the door?"
"Oh," she said. She probably realized that she could get inside her room anytime she wants.
"Nothing." She shrugged while walking towards me, and taking the space beside me, on my bed. "I just... thought you needed some privacy."
Yes. I did need a moment to myself a minute ago. However, at times like these, I seriously needed some Julia talkin'. So I decided I wanted to talk to her regarding this whole new situation that I'm in.
"Not really." I said.
"You know, if you need someone to talk to, I'm all ears." She offered.
Sweet Julia is what I love most. She can be annoying sometimes. But most of the time, you can really count on her to be there.
"Thanks," I sighed. "Well, you all heard Andrew. He told everyone in this house that he wants to date me."
"Did he tell you anything, before telling us?" She asked.
Oh, well! As expected, just like the curious girl that she always is, Julia would ask me something like that.
"Well... Yes." I finally confirmed. "He confessed to me during the party earlier."
Julia's eyes widened, but it wasn't with surprise. It was the look that told me she knew it, even before I told her so.
"I knew it!" She said.
Yeah. I knew that you knew, too.
"I knew something happened when you, two, had that little disappearing act!" She added.
"Keep it down, Juls!" I shushed her. "Mom might hear you and misinterpret what you've just said."
"So," she said, prolonging the O before continuing. "How did he confess to you? How did he make his move? Did he say the L-word yet? Tell me everything!"
She said those sentences so fast, I think I didn't even understand some of them.
And so, I told Julia everything: from how I've noticed Andrew being quiet the whole time, down to how he'd lead me up the staircases, towards the balcony, and how he confessed to me that he likes me.
"Oh my gosh! That's so romantic!" Julia squealed in delight.
In all honesty, it was the most romantic gesture a guy has ever done for me yet. But then again, he's the only guy who's done anything romantic for me.
"I know." I admitted. "But I didn't give him an answer yet."
"Why?" Julia asked, looking confused.
"Because I wanted to make sure," I said. "That I do like him. You know what I'm sayin'?"
"I get what you mean." She said, then she let out a sigh. "But, in all fairness, a lot of these celebrities nowadays prefer a girlfriend or boyfriend that's outside showbiz."
"Really?" I wondered where Julia got that idea.
"At least, that's what Mark told me." She said, the last part was almost a whisper.
"Oh."
What. Mark. Told. Her?
That's a revealation. And she seemed apprehensive too, probably of how I'll react. This teenie tiny bit of detail has stirred up my curiousity. What else has Julia and Mark talked about?
"So," I continued. "You and Mark... You guys are quite close now, huh?"
She blushed. Aha! Mark must have said something to her to make her all conscious and blushing.
It's payback time, Juls!
"What makes you say that?" She asked.
She's obviously pretending to be oblivious. She can't even look me in the eye.
"I just noticed." I said. "What else have you guys talked about earlier, at the party?"
"Not much."
"Not much?"
"Hey! I thought we were talking about you!" She quickly retorted.
"Oh, come on! I'm done talking about me already!" I whined. "Let's talk about you."
With that, she pouted like a five-year-old. Something obviously happened between her and Mark, and she's refusing to tell me.
"Come on. Spit it out." I demanded.
"Just don't laugh at me!" She finally gave in.
"Okay! I won't laugh, I promise." I said, while holding up my right hand.
She let out a long sigh, before continuing.
"I..." She stuttered a bit. She was hesitant for a moment. But eventually, she said, "I told Mark I was his basher before."
My eyes widened in surprise.
"Why?" I said, confused.
Why would anyone tell someone she's hated him before, unless they're good friends now?
"I don't know!" She admitted. "He was being nice to me. And I felt guilty that I've judged him before. I never even took the time to listen to him sing. And then, I felt like telling him that."
Wow! Finally, Julia has learned a valuable lesson. I'm so proud of her!
"He's an amazing singer, by the way." Julia added, with eyes sparkling with fondness.
Oh... Really, now?
Anyway, what I'm curious to know is how Mark reacted, when she told him she was his basher before.
"Well, what did he say?" I asked.
"Surprisingly," she said. "He just laughed at me, because he couldn't believe it at first. Then, I showed him my profile on Twitter. He was a bit shocked to see my past tweets."
"And then?" I asked, curious to know more.
"He said, I was very popular in their fandom." She said, feeling a bit shy about it.
I wanted to laugh at her. But, I promised I wouldn't. So I just had to hold it in.
"He and his fans also thought it was a fake profile," she added. "Because, he said the girl in the picture was too pretty to be a basher."
Yet again, the last part came out like a whisper. She seemed even more embarrassed. She was blushing furiously. And I had to wipe off the smirk on my face.
"And?" I asked again.
"Please stop that." She said.
"Stop what?" I asked, trying so hard to control the laughter.
"That!" She gestured a hand towards me. "Stop smiling!"
"Okay!" I said. "I'll stop."
Do you know how hard it is to suppress a laugh?
"So, what did you tell him?" I added.
"Nothing. I just sat there, staring at him like an idiot."
"And, did he say anything else afterwards?"
"He said, I shouldn't worry about it, because it was all in the past." She said. "And then, we started talking... About a lot of stuff."
"Oh," I smiled at her. It seems that Julia is already getting to know Mark.
This is good for her. At least, she now learned to not do unto others what she doesn't want them to do unto her. And I thank Mark, because he's been very nice to Julia, even if she was one of his bashers before.
And, just in time, my phone beeped. I looked at it and saw that I just received a text from Andrew.
From: Brown Eyes
+63937XXXXXXX
Sweet dreams, Tiffany. Looking forward to see you again. <3
I scowled at myself for acting like a seventh-grade teenager — hiding myself under my bed sheet, preventing a squeal to escape from my lips.
Dang it, Andrew! I thought I'll be sleeping peacefully tonight!
-----
A/N:
I'll be revising a lot of chapters. I saw a lot of typos, and I'm not satisfied with how I wrote some chapters.
Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. The fun begins in the following chapters. I'll update real soon! Please feel free to leave a comment.
NO RUDE COMMENTS PLEASE!😘
And don't forget to like this chapter.
And please follow me. 😘
Twitter: @fanaenae_girl and @lourlia_lumaque
Instagram: @lourlia_aem