Her Memories

CHAPTER 8. Friend's Party

It's been almost a month since Joaquin and Asia are getting along with each other, with Lily, of course. Her friends don't know about it yet, but they noticed that Joaquin isn't stubborn anymore like before. They even made him agree to their schoolmate's house party tonight. Yes, finally he said yes, that's why her best friend Stephy is so excited.

"Asia, can I borrow your strapped wine dress, the one with embroidery?" Stephy asked.

"Sure, are you going to pick it up after school, or you're coming with me?" Asia inquired.

"Well, is it okay if I come with you? So, can I choose something else just in case? Please?" She pleads, closing her palms for begging.

"Come on. You don't have to do that. Of course, you're always welcome to come with me." Asia said, smiling at her friend.

"Thank you so much! You know how I wanted to make sure to look pretty tonight because Joaquin is coming! Finally!" She exclaimed excitedly.

After class, they come together at Asia's apartment, selecting some dresses to wear for the party tonight. It's just a random party hosted by their friend Kenny, who really likes to host a party every time his parents are out of town. But Asia and her friends are certain that it's just an excuse for him to get a chance to hang out with girls, beautiful girls rather, like them.

"Asia! Look! Isn't Joaquin's car? What is he doing here?" Stephy asked with sudden surprise.

"What!?" Asia asked and quickly came closer to the window where she peeked through and saw him parked in front of her apartment.

Later on, her phone rings, and she quickly grabs it when she sees his name appeared on the screen and quickly hides inside the bathroom before she answers.

"What are you doing here!?" She whispered through her phone, terrified.

"To pick you up for the party, why?" Joaquin asked, confused.

"Oh my God! Stephy is here. She doesn't have any idea about us."

"What about us?"

"That we ar..."

"Wait," Joaquin said and then ended the call.

"What!?" She furiously cried unbelievably and was about to call him again when suddenly Stephy yelled her name loudly.

"Annastasia!"

She comes out of the bathroom with irritation, but to her surprise, she suddenly froze in her position when she saw Stephy pulling Joaquin inside her apartment.

"Look who's here!" She cheerfully cried.

"Hi, Annastasia!" Joaquin greeted her with a big warm smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was your apartment. I was kind of lost. I am looking for an address somewhere around here but end up parking here. Then I was surprised when Stephy came out and said that this is where you live." He reasoned.

"You know what, I guess you are really destined to end up here so that you can give us a ride to Kenny's house for the party," Stephy said while still holding on to Joaquin's arms.

"Sure, so are you guys ready?" He asked, looking between Asia and her friend.

"Actually, yes. You're just in time." Stephy said.

"What do you think?" She also asked while turning around in front of him, showing her perfectly curved body with the soft pink mini dress that ends up above her knees and her hair that Asia curled beautifully, also paired with strapped sandals.

"Gorgeous." He commented and then quickly diverted his gaze to Asia.

"Thank you," Stephy said sweetly, and with that, they both decided to go to the party already.

"Guys, wait, I'll just call Maggie." Stephy excuses and walks a little distance, dialing on her phone.

"You look beautiful tonight," Joaquin whispered to Asia while she only raised an eyebrow at him.

She was wearing a black T-shirt dress with a glittered logo of a pirate on the front and paired it with a denim jacket and her glass sandals while Stephy did braided bun hair as well.

"I know. You are too." She said with a peevish reply while crossing her arms on her chest, and he chuckles,

"I'm beautiful too?" He inquired, smiling widely, trying to soothe Asia's irritation.

"Yes." She coldly answered, then Joaquin suddenly pinch her nose and chuckles, teasing her.

Yes, he is really a beautiful definition of a man even if he's only wearing a plain shirt and jeans, paired with his brown hiking boots.

"So, tell me, what are you doing here? Do you really want me to be killed?" Asia annoyingly asked while looking sharply at him.

"I'm sorry, I don't know that she's here." He reasoned.

"You should have texted me first."

"I'm sorry. Besides, I think this would be a great way so that we don't have to act around your friends."

"Yeah! And being always close and twined by Stephanie." Asia complains, frowning.

"Why? Don't you want us to be friends also? Or you're jealous?" He mockingly said to her.

"Let's go guys, Maggie is on her way to the party already," Stephy said when she comes back.

Stephy sits in the passenger seat beside Joaquin while Asia makes herself comfortable at the back.

When Joaquin told her that she is jealous, she can't get to answer him immediately because she suddenly felt doubt that perhaps he is right. She is starting to get jealous of the girls trying to get his attention, even to her own friends. Especially when he started being friendly to them, he is looking completely different now even the other girls noticed it.

A few minutes later, they arrived at Kenny's house, it is so loud with the music, and everyone is enjoying it while holding drinks in their hands. Stephy didn't let go of Joaquin since they arrived and still holding his arm possessively.

'I am never wrong with my calculations.' Asia, though, looking at them from behind.

"Asia! I missed you. Glad you guys made it." Kenny welcomed them.

"Of course! By the way, you know Joaquin? He's also our schoolmate." Stephy replied.

"Yeah! The ever snob Joaquin Valencia yet very popular to girls, and you're one of them Stephy, right?" Kenny frankly let out.

"Well, can't help it since he is way better than you." She admits sweetly, looking up to Joaquin.

"But not as popular as you are," Joaquin said politely to Kenny with a smile.

"Anyways, thank you so much for coming," Kenny said with a handshake.

"Alright, you guys enjoy it, and just feel free to stroll around. There's also plenty of drinks and food. Just let me know if you need something else." Kenny said, then held Asia's hand and pulled her to the pool area where the warmth of the party came from and offered her a mojito.

"Thanks." She said.

"Glad you made it. You haven't shown up at my birthday celebration," Kenny said.

"Yeah, I really want to, but I had an important thing to do that day."

"I understand. Do you wanna dance?" He asked.

"Oh God, yeah! Let's go!" Asia immediately gulped her drinks and walked ahead of Kenny while starting to sway her hips with Kat De Luna's 'Last Night At Miami' liveliness.

While doing her graceful movement, her sight suddenly darted in Joaquin and Stephy's direction. Joaquin looked back at her with his cold eyes, but she didn't give attention to it and continued dancing with Kenny and the others.

Asia didn't notice how many mojitos she drank, but she felt a little bit tipsy already. She decided to go to the kitchen to get a glass of ice-cold water when suddenly she heard the kitchen door creaking as it slowly closed. She turned around to look at who it was then she saw the beautiful man.

"What are you doing?" Joaquin asked with a scowled face.

"Is there any problem with getting a glass of water?" Asia mockingly retorted.

"It's not about the water. Why are you letting that guy touch you!?" Joaquin whispered in a deep tone.

"Come on, brother, what are you trying to say? That I am so naive to let them take advantage of me?"

"Aren't you!?" He looked furiously down at her, but she only gave him a smirk and walked past him. But before she could go farther, he abruptly pulled her by her wrist.

"I'll take you back to your apartment." He said.

"No!" She hissed and pulled herself off from his grip while looking up sharply at him.

"Did you hear me complain when Stephy possessively embraced you as you belong to her?" She asked seriously.

"Annastasia," He whispered her name just enough for her to hear it.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Asia immediately jumped on the kitchen counter and opened the sliding window, and got out, leaving Joaquin behind. She walked through a path until she reached the pool area again as nothing happened.