We all went home after that. Crystal kindly took the front seat beside Kaiden saying I might still be in shock with what just happened. Hora and I sat in the back. Callan and Verrill had their own cars and they followed us to the Ma Residence since they had something to do with Kaiden. I didn't bother asking what it was since it's probably boy's stuffs.

While in the car, everyone remained silent—even Crystal who was usually the one who never ran out of stories to tell. She tried to play some music to kill the heavy atmosphere, but it didn't help much.

"Ahm… Hora, Crystal, and Kaiden," I tried to break the silence, "can I ask you all for a favor?"

Hora and Crystal turned to me, while Kaiden glanced over the driver's rearview mirror.

"Of course! What is it?" Crystal energetically agreed.

"Well, ahm… Can you please not tell my mom and dad about what happened?" I clasped my hands together, pleading.

Their faces showed clear signs of hesitation.

"Pretty please? I don't want to worry them. And besides, I'm alright. Nothing bad happened to me."

"Sena," Hora finally spoke after her long silence, "you're doing it again." She sounded irritated. "Remember that one time you didn't tell me what happened to your dad?"

"Yes, but—"

"That is the exact same thing you're asking us."

"I just don't want to worry them. And you know mom's heart is not in the best condition. It's just unnecessary worry. And what if mom becomes too shocked? Or worries more for me, especially now that I'm far from them. She might even change her mind and tell me to go back home. I don't want that, so please. I beg you."

Hora sighed deeply. Actually, they all did. What I was asking was indeed hard. It's like I'm telling them to lie to my parents and that's not good.

"If auntie's heart is really not that good, then maybe it's alright not to tell her," Crystal agreed. I felt so relieved someone agreed at least. "It's not like our parents need to know every little thing that's going on in our lives. We'll be adults in 2 years or so. We should learn how to handle things on our own."

"But keeping secrets is not good," Hora disagreed.

"She can tell her in the future. Like, when auntie's in a really good mood or something. Timing is everything. She just needs to time it right. Don't say it to her when she's already in a bad mood."

Hora sighed again. "Fine. We can go with that." Then, pointing to me, she said, "Just don't drag it too long, okay?"

Smiling, I raised my right hand in a pledge, "Yup! Not too long. Soon—I'll do it soon."

By the time we reached an agreement, we're back at the Ma Residence. The boys went over to Kaiden's room, and we, girls, gathered to mine. Somehow, my bedroom had become the ladies' headquarters. We met up again after bathing and changing our clothes. Exhausted, we all slumped our bodies to my bed which was large enough to accommodate five of my size or more.

"So…" Crystal started in a teasing tone, "what's with you and my stupid brother?"

My closed eyes that were perfectly resting, instantly shot wide open from her question.

"Don't think that I already forgot all about it. I still have your picture."

Hora giggled beside me. "Right. What's with the hugging and laughing, couple-thingy, thing?"

"Yeah! That's why we didn't think anything bad happened. I could see flowers in your background, with all spotlights on you two. I didn't even notice the car accident!" Crystal jolted up on bed as she explained. "It's like a scene in a movie. Just lacking some background music and it could have been perfect."

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Yes! Background music! What will be good though?"

And there they were—in their own world like fangirls again.

Crystal pondered, caressing her perfect chin. When an idea hit her head, she started singing, and oh my goodness, her voice was so beautiful! Like a nightingale!

[Music Recommendation: "Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars - available in Youtube or Spotify]

"Oh, her eyes, her eyes

Make the stars look like they're not shinin'

Her hair, her hair

Falls perfectly without her tryin'

She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday"

"I know that song!" Hora exclaimed. "Bruno Mars, Just the Way You Are."

Then, they both sang together. Hora had a really nice voice, too. Listening to them just made me smile instead of being angry from their teasing.

"Yeah, I know, I know

When I compliment her, she won't believe me

And it's so, it's so

Sad to think that she don't see what I see

But every time she asks me, 'Do I look okay?'

I say…"

Hora and Crystal got up and started dancing as they sang, like pop stars performing live on stage—which in this case, was my bed. They circled around me, serenading me. And their vocal harmony, just wow.

"When I see your face

There's not a thing that I would change

'Cause you're amazing

Just the way you are

And when you smile

The whole world stops and stares for a while

'Cause girl, you're amazing

Just the way you are

Yeah"

"Come on, Senara. Sing with us," Crystal pulled my arms but I kept still on my lying down position. The bed already began to swallow me.

"You don't know what you're asking. I'm the perfect definition of tone-deaf."

"Don't listen to her, she's lying," Hora whispered to Crystal, even though she failed because I heard it loud and clear.

"Hey! I'm not lying. I have a terrible voice."

"Let's listen to it, then. If it's really terrible."

I covered my face in embarrassment.

"Please, no."

"You'll sing or we will tell auntie."

"What? Hey! You just agreed with me that you won't tell."

"Then, sing."

Conceding, I started to sing in the softest way possible. OMG. If embarrassment was water, I already filled up a dam.

"When I see your face

There's not a thing that I would change

'Cause you're amazing

Just the way you are

And when you smile

The whole world stops and stares for a while

'Cause girl, you're amazing

Just the way you are

Yeah"

And that's it. I bet their eardrums died listening to that.