Secret Rendezvous

PICTURE FRAME

“Because you’re mine. You know that since we were kids. You belong to me. You and I.”

My knees felt weak, and I almost melted like ice cream in the hot summer sunshine when I heard those oh, so romantic sweet words from Storme. But, no! He’s blabber mouthing, Summer. Flowery words. Don’t believe a single word he said. Don’t fall for him! I reminded myself again.

“There is no you and I, Storme. There will never be us. Get it? So, please leave.”

“Storme, don’t listen to Summer. Red and her are best friends. I mean very close friends, like a couple? But no, they are not a couple and they are not dating,” Stella interrupted.

“Luningning, why do you always have to intrude?”

“Because Summer, you are being rude to Storme,” she exclaimed, taking Storme's side.

“I am not being rude to him. I am telling him to stay away from me because he is bad news! I don’t want him near me. I don’t enjoy seeing his face. It’s disgusting!”

“Why are you so mad at me, Sunshine? I said I’m sorry. Is my apology not enough?”

“No! Your apology will never be enough.”

My handphone ring. Leon was calling . . .

“Skylene, let’s go! It’s an hour drive to the hot spring.”

“I’m in the lobby. Where are you?” I answered quickly,” Okay, we’ll be there!” I hung up the call.

“Gang, let’s go!” I shouted while Stella was dragging her gigantic suitcase.

“Can I join you guys?” Storme asked.

“No!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. The guest looked at us. I was going to walk away, but Red caught my arms and pulled me back to where they were.

“Don’t mind Skye, dude. She can pull that sassiness despite her simplicity. One of a kind! Telling you dude. She's a pain in the ass. You can hitch with us, Storme,” said Red.

“What else do you call her? Beb? Skye? Sunshine, why?”

“Oh, my goodness! Don’t be so overly dramatic, V—D-Devin!”

I walked away from them to the parking lot where Leon was waiting. Red and Storme

were walking side by side. Nadine and Stella were already inside for our ride. Bren caught up with me to the van and reminded me of our Halo band's upcoming gig.

“Skye, by the way, we need to start practicing. We have to perform for the acquaintance party.”

“Yeah, that’s right! We gotta start practicing. It’s two weeks from now.”

“Why don’t we cancel the hot spring and let’s go to Dhrim’s house to practice instead?” Red suggested.

“Sounds good to me!”

“That makes sense, Beshie. You guys did not play for a while, you might be rusty already.”

“Me? Rusty? You know me, Stella. That ain’t happening,” I said, boastful. “Leon, take us to Dhrim’s house instead.”

I sit beside Red, and Storme sits beside me. Jared is used to holding my hands whenever.

It’s nothing to me. There's no malice to it.

“Beb, your hands are rough. Did you work all summer?”

“Yeah, I did. I don’t have a choice. I needed to oversee Playa.”

“Don’t you have helpers at Pueblo?”

“We do, but you know I live alone in my villa and I do all the household chores on my own.”

“You worked all summer, Sunshine?” asked Storme.

I pretend I didn't hear what he said and look away outside the window. We arrived Dhrim’s house after fifteen minutes. It shocked me to see Dhrim and Storme greet each other casually.

“You know him, Dhrim?”

“Yes, Summer. He’s my best friend.”

“Your best friend?”

“Hell, yeah! Closer than closest. We’re like brothers.”

“How did you—,” I forgot what I wanted to say,”—know each other?”

“You don’t remember him, Sunshine?”

“Remember? No, I don’t. I only met Dhrim four years ago.”

I saw Dhrim whispered something to Storme. He only nodded in response with his creased brows.

“We went to the same boarding school in San Francisco,” said Dhrim.

“Oh, really? Block mates?”

“Sort of,” Dhrim answered, gazing at Storme.

Dhrimwel Reyes and I met in our junior high school. He was a replacement for our original band vocalist, Zed. It’s been four years and our friendship is unbreakable. The five of us are inseparable, not until Dhrim's girlfriend, my twin, came into the picture. Why does it feel like these two are hiding something from me too? The same feeling from Nadine earlier.

Speaking of Nadine, she made a quick light step towards me and said, “Beshie, let’s go set up the music room.”

Nadine did not wait for me to say yes, and she already dragged me to the basement of Dhrim’s house where our band practice room is located.

“Wait up!” Stella shouted.

“No, stay with them,” Nadine yelled back.

“Okay! I’ll get us snacks in the kitchen.”

“Better yet, Stella,” said Nadine, and she stared at me. She locked the door as soon as we entered the room.

“Yo, Beshie! Why do you need to lock the room? It’s unnecessary.”

“I need to have a word with you, Summer,” Nadine said seriously.

“Okay! Why do you sound so serious, Nadz?"

"We need to talk. Badly need to talk," she replied.

" I was right, you're hiding something. What is it? Spill the bean!”

"The picture frame, Beshie."

"What about the picture frame?"

“I read something at the back of the picture,” Nadine asked, her voice sounding strained.

“What does it say?” I asked curiously.

“Beshie, tell me the truth.”

“What truth? Come on, Nadz! I’m not hiding anything from you.”

“You, Storme, and Dhrim. Are you childhood friends?”

“No! I only met Dhrim four years ago. Remember? Junior year? So, what are you talking about?”

“The picture frame. Bren is right, you are the girl in that picture. I can’t be mistaken. You were in between Storme and Dhrim. You were holding the pink teddy bear, the same one you have in your bedroom.”

“I don’t get you, Nadz.”

“The photo on that picture frame says 'Vin, Sunshine, Rim-Rim. Friends forever!'"

“I do not know what you are talking about, Nadine.”

“Then you have a mission to find out. Isn’t it a coincidence? Why do Dhrim and Storme know each other? Why were they whispering at each other? Don’t you remember anything? Or you are hiding the truth from us?”

“Nadine, I swear. Even if I die now. I don’t know what you are talking about.”

[Storme POV]

Dhrim did not have a date with his girlfriend. We met up yesterday. He's the only person I know aside from Summer since they sent me to California. I stalk Summer after we met on that day at the university. I wondered what happened to her because she did not recognize me. Dhrim also told me she remembers nothing about him.

I don’t know what happened to you when I am gone, Sunshine, but I will find out. I must admit, seeing her with another guy breaks my heart. Why do I feel this way? These sacrifices are for the sake of our business. It has always been for the business. I am aware of the contract marriage. The merger of Almeda and Buenavente is all about the money. I went back home not to rekindle my friendship with her but to avenge myself.

Summer’s father phoned me before midnight. He was furious at what happened in La Casa Buena. My pranking turns into a disaster. I don’t know how I will explain to my father when he finds out. He will be mad. Worst disown me. The company merger might be on the verge of being canceled because of what I did. I know I went overboard. I convinced Popsie Liam that I will make it up to Summer and will do everything I could for her to forgive me.

I wanted to get even with Summer for embarrassing me the first day I set foot in the university. I don’t let anyone do those kinds of bullying on me, including her. I avenge not only myself; I get even! I am very egoistic.

She can’t win over me, but Summer always has a counterattack. Now I know how she plays. I realize that I have to be careful agitating her. Because every word that comes up out of her mouth with no remorse or thinking twice. She will do what she says. Sunshine never changes. She’s still the Skylene Summer I know— impulsively.

The attitude Summer’s pulling off, is it her defense mechanism? I admit I am doing the same. I can’t even count how much trouble I pulled off just to be noticed by my parents. I was hoping that every mistake I make they might show up and send me back home. But I was wrong. Until I stopped hoping that the day would come, I am coming back home.

I slept at the housekeeper's quarter that night. I woke up early to cook breakfast for Summer and her friends. I think of leaving a note for her. I wanted the morning to be peaceful as it could be.

My Princess, I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I wanted to tell her how sorry I am in person but it ain’t going to happen she will forgive me. It would be endless fighting. I will let her enjoy the food. I cooked her favorite chicken Arroz Caldo. It took me years to master the perfect taste of the Arroz Caldo we used to like when we were young.

I regret the day I pushed Summer in the pool nine years ago. That was the reason I grew up away from my family. The root of hatred that consumed me all these years. I never thought of coming ever back home to the Philippines. San Francisco is my home. I never saw my parents for nine long years. Except for my brother, who visits me once a year.

Seth is fifteen years older than me. If my older brother did not protect himself from an arranged marriage. He probably will end up miserable like me. I’m happy that he fought for his life and married the woman he loved.

I was on a road trip with my friends from San Francisco to Seattle. I just graduated from a half-year-long baking & patisserie class with my block mates in New York. We wanted to celebrate. Zedrick suggested we should go on a road trip and explore Route 66. We were in New Mexico when my father called with the news that my grandfather is sick. He said I needed to come home immediately.