Chapter 5 BE ABLE TO THINK PROPERLY

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen…" The party host started to speak at the front. "It seems everyone has already arrived and we are ready to sing a happy birthday song for our celebrant."  Everyone clapped. "May we call on Ms. Marla to walk at the front?"    Marla walked to the front. She is stunning. All eyes were on the celebrant. She looks all grown up in her pink off-shoulder mermaid gown. She also had a chic headband on her head. Her friend is looking radiant. Marla is like a male version of Arnel. "Let's all sing a happy birthday song." The host said again and started to sing so the crowd would follow. Happy Birthday to You Happy Birthday to You Happy Birthday, Dear Marla. Happy Birthday to You. The song is finished and it's time for the celebrant to blow her cake and make a wish. "Thank you, everyone," Marla said to the crowd. "So, now it's time for you to blow out the candle and make a wish." Marla nodded on what the host said and closed her eyes. She made a wish and then blew out the candles. Everyone clapped and said happy birthday again. "Shall we go and get some food now?" Arnel suggested after Marla blew her cake. "Sure!" Mary Ann answered. "I am already starving," Arnel said. "When you are at a party, there are a lot of ceremonies you need to do along with others before eating." He said that made her chuckle. "Sounds like you don't like parties, huh?" "Just a bit. I mean, people go to parties to show off what they have?" He said that surprised her.  She stopped for a second. "Oh, I am sorry that's based on what I have observed but this party is my sister so only those people close to her are invited." She just nodded. Well, she isn't also a party girl but she attends once in a while. Well, Cathy always takes her with her just like this night. Her grandmother only allows her if she's with Cathy. She isn't allowed to attend a party, especially if it's a night party if she is just alone.  Her grandmother knows that Cathy has a driver and car that's why she's confident to allow her to attend and Cathy never breaks the promise of coming back early. All of us went to the buffet table. It's in the corner near the back door of the house. There is a lot of food being served to the guests. They served chicken barbecue on a stick, grilled pork belly, and chicken lollipop. They also have pasta like spaghetti and fried noodles. She could also see her favorite, fried chicken and there are also steamed vegetables. There are a lot of other foods that she could see but she isn't familiar with.  Mary Ann grabbed her plate and started to fill it in.  She put little spaghetti and a piece of fried chicken on her plate and Cathy also had the same.  She is about to leave the buffet table when John puts two pieces of chicken lollipops. "Try this." He said. She was a bit surprised but she managed to respond. "Thank you." Mary Ann answered with a faint smile. She looked at John's plate.  John's plate has steamed vegetables, chicken barbecue, and chicken lollipops. It seems that he doesn't eat rice. Probably his way to maintain his body. She said in her mind.  Arnel's plate has grilled pork belly, steamed vegetables, and rice.  The two men voluntarily held their plates and they all sat back at their table. They were in the middle of our meal when someone approached their table and gave wine to John and Arnel. "How about you ladies? Aren't you going to try having a drink even just for tonight?" Arnel asked them. "No, I don't think so." Mary Ann answered. "Sorry guys, as much as we wanted to. If I like to take Mary Ann with me to the next party in the future, we better not try." Cathy responded. Arnel shrugged her shoulders. "Well, it so happened that I am the one who asked permission for Mary Ann. Her grandmother won't allow her anymore if she smells her alcohol once we are back home." Arnel just nodded. "Also, speaking of, I promise your grandmother that we will be back home early." Cathy turned her eyes to Mary Ann. "Okay."  "I will just text the driver." They heard a ring. It's John's cellphone.  "Excuse me." He said pointing his phone. They all just nodded. While they are waiting for the driver to pick them up, suddenly, Mary Ann feels she needs to use the washroom. "Cathy, I think I need to use the washroom." "Oh, let me--" "I am a bit familiar with where the washroom is. I should be okay." She smiled at Arnel. She left Cathy and Arnel busy talking.  Going now and then to the house when they were in high school, she's already familiar with Marla's house. It seems nothing has changed. She went up to her room, so she could use the bathroom in Marla's room. Far from what she can imagine, entering Marla's room will be the way for her to lose her femininity to someone she doesn't know. She gave herself to someone, even his face she didn't see. Mary Ann tried so hard to sleep and even with her eyes closed it is as if she could imagine what happened back in Marla's room.  She can't quite imagine how she was so quick to give herself, especially since she has given the thing that she should only give to the man she loves, or to the man she can marry. What else can she be proud of herself now? She just kept crying with remorse. Mary Ann knew that even if she cried a drum of tears, it wouldn't change the situation. She wouldn't be able to reverse the time and be in the same place again. She cried and cried for the whole night. She didn't even notice what time it was. She almost heard the first rooster crowing down until her eyes finally fell asleep. Meanwhile, John was lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling of the room. If only he could just go back to the hotel where he is staying, he'd rather not, but Arnel already advised him that he could stay at their house as long as he wanted. He let out a deep sigh. He wanted to leave because of what happened to him and the woman earlier to one of the rooms at the house. Well, staying at the hotel is the original plan anyway. He'll spend the night there and then they will go fishing the next day with Arnel's family but everything has changed. He'd rather be alone to think.  He ran away from his family and called Arnel who offered him to stay with them. He needed some space or distance, whatever you call it while he still had his sanity. Their family is going through some issues and he wanted to stay away for a while. His parents had been fighting almost every day that he only wanted to be away from their house to avoid hearing all those words coming out from his parents. He would have taken Diane with him but the problem was that she had to go to school. He went to Arnel without Diane.  Arnel is his friend and classmate from when he was in high school. He almost wandered all the places in the country but not Arnel's. He was able to go place after place because of trying to escape the family issues they have. Adrian, his best friend, has been left behind in another country. He did not go home because he was addicted to his studies. He already graduated but he wanted to get a master's degree. He wanted to get richer even though he was already the sole heir of their family. He always says that everything that he does is because of his childhood sweetheart. He wanted to prove something to her. That woman is very lucky. He wished that his friend could find his happiness. John remembered something. He put his hand inside his pocket and pulled something that had been wrapped in a tissue. John was holding a piece of earring that he found in the bathroom of Arnel's house. He had an idea who owned the earrings he was holding. He could not be mistaken that Mary Ann was the owner of the earring. Tomorrow he will also ask Arnel and Marla to help him go to Mary Ann's house. His tongue is still playing, his lips bitten by the woman, he smiled like crazy reminiscing about what happened earlier. He seemed to want to hug the woman again and lock her in his arms. He took the vacant pillow, pinned it to his thighs and he covered himself with a blanket.