"What are you girls talking about?" Lily asked as she entered the restroom.

"We're talking about Vino," I replied, turning off the faucet and pulling a tissue from the dispenser. "She's asking me if we're still friends."

"Why will Kane and Vino not be friends?" Lily asked.

Iris took a step back before replying, "Because they broke up, right?"

"Vino and I are still friends," I muttered, ignoring her last question.

"Yeah, they were never not friends," Lily scoffed.

"That's good to hear," Iris replied, and I noted a hint of dismay in her voice. "I was just curious if you remained friends after what happened."

Bianca walked out of the stall and washed her hands. I walked out waited for her and Lily outside the restroom to avoid further interrogation from other girls.

"Why is Iris asking about Vino?" Bianca asked as soon as they were out of the restroom. "What's her deal?"

"I don't know," I replied.

"Oh, I know," Lily said confidently. "She's Lanie's cousin."

"Oh..." Bianca mumbled. "I see, but haven't they moved on yet? Lanie and Vino broke up eventually, and he dated someone else after her. Besides, Kane and Vino are still friends. Are they seriously trying to make up an issue about the two of you?"

"Still friends or whatever. Lanie's out of the picture and Kane is still in Vino's life. They can't do anything about that now."

I chuckled as I watched Lily get riled up again.

***

6 years ago

"Kane, have you heard the rumors?" Bianca had asked me while I organize my reviewers in my bag.

I had been left alone in the classroom because I had no appetite for lunch but it had only been 15 minutes into our lunch break and Bianca, Lily, and Jeff already returned to our room.

"Have you heard?" Bianca asked, panting.

"What? That Brian has a new girl?" I asked jokingly.

"No, Vino has."

I looked up only to see Jeff and Lily scrunched up their noses and held their fists up.

"What?" I asked.

I eyed them one by one and the girls stared at me while Jeff avoided my eyes.

Lily sighed before sitting near me. "Apparently, rumors have been spreading that Vino and Lanie were seen in the cinema last Saturday night. The juniors were talking about it earlier in the restroom."

"Why would Vino go out with Lanie? They're not close."

Lily couldn't offer me an answer. Instead, her eyes flickered at Jeff.

I looked up at Jeff and he just shrugged.

"Is it true? Did they go see a movie?"

He nodded.

"You knew about this?" I asked, and my pulse was already racing.

He nodded again.

I started laughing in disbelief and felt my throat slowly closing. My body shook as my laughter turned into sobs. My heartbeat quickened and my hands felt numb.

"H-how..." I choked. I swallowed the lump in my throat and wiped my tears. "How long has this been going on?"

My eyes burned as I stared at Jeff.

I noticed his hands were balled into fists. "One or two weeks. I'm not really sure."

It had been weeks since Vino started acting strange. The next thing I had known, he was taking another girl out. What had just happened between the two of us? Had he just been playing games with me all those times?

***

Lily walked back up to the stage and Miguel brought two chairs to the center of the stage. He strapped on an acoustic guitar and called Lily to sit next to him. They started performing an acoustic song.

"Don't pay too much attention to Iris," Bianca whispered next to me.

I nodded even if I was still bothered.

"It kinda feels like they're just jamming at home, right?"

"Yeah."

After their performance, it was time for our dinner. Everyone at each table lined up one by one to get their meals. We had agreed to have a self-service buffet so everyone would enjoy their dinner better. The DJ started playing songs while we lined up for dinner.

"Whoa, shrimp scampi with pasta," Vino mumbled behind me as I put some pasta on my plate.

I smiled and tilted my head. "You like it?"

"Yeah," he replied and helped himself with some serving. "I heard you were part of the planning committee."

I nodded. "I am. Bianx and I were in charge of the caterer."

"The set-up tonight is wonderful," he complimented. "And you got shrimp on the menu, so that's another plus."

"Well," I mumbled with pride.

"I hope this is as delicious as it looks."

"It is," I assured him. "Bianx and I tried it before."

"Okay, I will trust your judgment like I always do."

I chuckled as we both walked back to our table. I noticed Iris watching us as we passed by their table and I smiled at her and shrugged.

Once we got back to our table, Vino immediately tasted the pasta and I watched him expectantly.

"Mmm..." he moaned and gestured okay with his hand.

"Good?" I asked.

"It's great. Job well done, Kane and Bianx," he approved, then he turned to Jeff and said, "Of course, you too man."

"I just gave them a list. I didn't have anything to do with the menu," Jeff replied.

"The menu was based on the polls anyway," I added before taking a sip of my water.

"Are you guys enjoying the party?" Brian asked.

"Yeah, but I'm still waiting for the actual party time," Bianca answered. "And oh, I want to see more of The Band."

"We still have a few songs left," Lily answered.

Jeff's photographer friend approached our table to take a picture of us.

"Another one. And three...two..." he instructed. "Alright, thanks."

"Hey, what are we going to drink tonight?" Lily asked.

"Beers," Vino answered.

I exchanged glances with Brian who was sitting next to Vino. He broke into a grin and I remembered our earlier conversation about wisdom and whiskeys.

"What's next on the program?" Vino asked.

"Didn't you read it?" Lily asked at the same time Brian answered the question.

"What kind of awards?" Miguel asked, suddenly curious.

Lily and Brian's eyes flickered at me at the same time and everyone on the table turned towards me.

"Just wait and see," I answered, not wanting to spoil anyone. "Right, Bianx? Jeff?"

Bianca giggled beside me and Jeff smirked,shaking his head.