"Kane, Lily's here already," Mommy called from outside my room.

I checked myself one last time in the mirror. Hadley had helped in curling my hair and she parted my hair on the side and clipping a barrette on the left side.

"You look beautiful, Kane," Daddy's voice reverberated from my phone.

I glanced back on my phone's screen and he was beaming at me, holding his phone awkwardly too low.

"Thanks, Daddy. Please hold your phone a little higher so we can see you better."

He adjusted and held his phone at eye level.

"Thank God for technology. If it weren't for modern tech, I would be missing another one of your special days."

"I understand. You have to work for us."

"It's not like we're used to him being overseas and missing everything," Hadley mumbled, and I clicked my tongue.

"Being away from you is the consequence of giving you a comfortable lifestyle, but I promise, I'll be retiring in a few years. I'll make sure I'll be home for each of your weddings."

"Stop the drama, Daddy," Hadley interjected, squeezing herself against me so she could fit in front of the camera. "I wanna cry."

"Alright, Hadley," Daddy chuckled. "You did great with your sister's hair, by the way."

"Anything for my big sis," she replied, proudly flexing the curling iron in her hand.

"I heard Lily's already there. You better go now, Kane. Have fun at the party and don't forget to take lots of photos with your friends," Daddy reminded me. "Love you both. Regards to Mommy and Alex."

"We love you too," Hadley and I replied at the same time, and dad hang up.

"Now grab your purse and let's go," Hadley commanded, twirling her finger before pointing to the door. "There's a party waiting for you and please don't forget to flaunt your flawless and hairless legs."

I laughed as I keep my phone in my purse. "I will keep that in mind, ma'am."

We walked to the living room where Lily was talking to Mommy. She stood up and gasped overdramatically when she saw me walk into the room.

"Dang, my best friend is looking fine af," she complimented.

"Back at you," I replied.

She was wearing a flowy, cream-colored halter dress which she paired with a nude gladiator sandal, complementing her flawless fair skin.

"I followed a strict diet for this dress to suit me."

"You girls look amazing," Mommy interjected. "This feels like your senior prom all over again."

Lily exchanged glances with me and she fake laughed at Mommy's last remark. We both knew our senior prom wasn't one of my greatest nights.

"Where's your backpack?" Lily asked.

"Right, Kane. I thought you're all sleeping over at Vino's," Mommy added.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "We are?"

"Haven't I told you?" Lily asked, and I gestured my hand in front of me in response. "My bad. Why don't I help you pack?"

Lily pulled me back into my bedroom and shut the door behind her.

"You didn't tell me about sleeping over at Vino's," I whispered in a shaky voice.

"We'll have an afterparty there."

"And why didn't you tell me?"

Lily picked up the backpack on my ottoman and emptied its contents on my bed. "I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you. But it will be fun."

She handed me my bag.

"We'll be sleeping at Vino's."

"Yeah. It's been two years since we all had a sleepover. It's about time."

"At Vino's," I repeated, making sure she hears me right. "The last one was at Miguel's."

"Caela and Vino's parents are away. The house helpers are on vacation. It means we have the house all to ourselves."

"Does everyone know?"

"I guess..." she mumbled. "Just grab some clothes you'd wear to sleep."

"I've never slept at Vino's before."

"Neither did I. Why are you so nervous?"

I opened my closet and grabbed a camisole and shorts on top of my sleepwear pile and fresh underwear from my drawer and shoved everything inside my backpack. I also grabbed my bedroom slippers on the floor and place them inside the second compartment of my bag.

"Who suggested it?" I asked, zipping my bag close.

"I'm not sure. Does it really matter?"

"No. It's just that... It's been a long time since I visited their house."

Lily narrowed her eyes at me before slowly nodding her head. She gave me a mischievous smile and said, "I see... you think we'll watch some movies tonight?"

"No," I disagreed. "I just think it feels strange to be spending the night at their house, considering everything that has happened between us."

Lily nodded. "But you guys are cool, right?"

"Yeah."

"And it's not like you have a boyfriend who will get jealous or something."

I smiled and shook my head.

"Do you need anything else or are you all set?"

"Uh..." I mumbled, looking around my room for anything I would possibly need. "You know I don't like surprises like this. I should've prepared my bag a couple of days ago."

"You have your sleepwear. I think you're all set," Lily declared before tugging my arm and pulling me out of my bedroom. "Come on. I know you don't want to be late tonight."

***

7 years ago

It was a Saturday afternoon and we had a weekend movie marathon at the Williams' residence. They had an entertainment room at home so whenever someone suggested watching a movie, Vino's house was always the first choice.

I was the last one to arrive because I still waited for Mommy to get home so there was someone to look after Hadley.

"Am I late?" I asked Vino once I stepped into their living room.

"No, just in time."

"I brought some chips," I said, handing the paper bag to Vino.

I glanced at the photo frames displayed on their console table and caught sight of my favorite childhood photo of him. He was wearing a pair of red pajamas and he was beaming at the camera, showing a missing front tooth.

"Hi, Kane!" Caela, his younger sister, called. She ran down the stairs to give me a welcome hug.

"Hi, Caela," I greeted her and squatted down on the floor to hug her back. "How are you?"

"I'm doing good. How about you?"

"I'm fine. You know you're late, right?"

I stood up and looked at Vino, keeping myself from smiling. He shook his head and replied, "No, Caela. She's not late."

"But all your friends are already here."

"Yeah, but we're just about to start the movie."

"Can I watch it too?"

"Vino?" I asked, letting him answer her little sister's question.

"No. I told you, we're not watching an animated film."

"But, please?" she asked, pursing her lip.

"We've already talked about this and I said 'no', right?"

Caela's eyes started to turn misty and she pleaded once more. "Please?"

Vino shook his head. "We've talked about this earlier. Don't throw a tantrum now."

Caela sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. I felt bad watching her so I kneeled in front of her and suggested, "We can play later when we finish the movie."

"Really?" she asked, her face lighting up almost instantly.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay," she answered. "I'll go have some snacks now. My tummy is rumbling."

"Sorry about that," Vino mumbled when Caela left the room.

"It's alright."

We walked down the hall and he opened the door to the entertainment room.

The room was dimly lit, with a large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, three bean bags on the floor, and a fluffy, c-shaped gray sofa that was more than big enough for all seven of us.

They all turned to greet me and I followed Vino and sat down beside him. Miguel reached for one of the bowls of popcorn on the center table and gave it to Bianca.

"You want some popcorn too?" Vino asked, and I shook my head.

Jeff had chosen the first movie and we were watching an action-comedy film about a British agent.

The room's AC was turned on and I hugged myself as I tried to keep myself from shivering.

Vino glanced at me. "You cold?"

I nodded.

"I'll get you a blanket. I'll be right back."

When Vino returned. He gave me a small, fleece blanket and I wrapped it around me. He tugged on the blanket so I shared it with him.

It was freezing inside the entertainment room and I held my breath as I snuggled closer to Vino, the scent of his fruity-floral musk perfume messing with my senses. A few minutes later, I felt his little finger brushing against mine. I gasped and gazed at him but he was focused on the movie.

After a while, our hands brushed against each other's and I stared at him for a moment. He slowly tilted his head to look at me, as if asking for permission. I slowly intertwined my fingers with his, feeling the warmth of his hand as I squeezed it. He released a breath and cracked a smile as if he couldn't believe we were holding hands for real.

Our friends laughed simultaneously because of a hilarious scene in the movie, and I didn't realize we were missing the film. I could only hope they didn't notice Vino and I didn't react.

He brushed his thumb against mine and my heart hammered against my ribcage. I glanced at him one more time and noticed his cheeks turned slightly red.

I had squeezed his hand one more time, still in disbelief that my hand had fit perfectly with his.