Chapter 1

AT THE CORNER of the convenience store, a woman with a long and shiny hair was found eating alone. She's wearing her plaid long sleeve, and skinny jeans that is paired with a cheap shoes. But she then suddenly stopped from eating when her phone rang. 

"Good afternoon, Sera! Free ka ba ngayon?" Greeted the other line just right after Seraphim answered the call from her bestfriend named Lilia.

Hearing her question had Seraphim casted a glance at her cheap wrist watch. She noticed that she still have a time to do anything before the time strikes at 5pm, so she gave her a satisfying answers. 

"Oo, bakit?" She replied with her brows furrowed, even though she's fully aware that it can not be seen by the other line. She just thought that it is quite unusual for Lilia to make a call for her, since her bestfriend oftenly spends her time alone.

"Uhm, magpapasama kasi sana ako sa 'yo, kung okay lang." 

"Oo naman! Okay na okay. Sa'n ba 'yan?" Seraphim replied with no hesitation. 

When it comes to her bestfriend, she prompts to do anything for her even though she's clueless about what it is. Lilia is the only person whom she considered as her bestfriend, so she's willing to do anything just not to lose her.

"May gaganapin kasing business party bukas ng gabi, at bilang anak ni Papa kailangan ang presensya ko ro'n. Kaya magpapasama sana ako sa 'yo ngayon para magpatulong na pumili ng gown na susuotin ko bukas. I wasn't supposed to join dahil maraming tao ang makakasalamuha ko, pero alam mo na... business."

This is one of the reasons why Seraphim is willing to do anything just for her bestfriend. It is because Lilia treated her like a sister and even accepted her for who she is, despite the huge gap of their family status. Galing sa mayamang pamilya ang kaniyang kaibigan, habang siya naman ay nag-iisang bread-winner lamang sa kaniyang pamilya. Lilia is undeniably rich, while she's just the opposite of her.

In other words, Lilia is the sparkling diamond, while Seraphim is just a mere stone.

But of all their differences, Lilia still chose to keep her as her bestfriend, which is very big deal for Seraphim. Kaya't bumabawi siya sa kabaitan nito sa paraan ng pagpayag sa kahit ano basta ay manggagaling sa kaniya.

"Uy, naks! So, makikita ko na pala ang Lilia na naka-gown?" Sera responded with pure astonishment in her voice, which Lilia just chuckled. "Ngayon ba agad?" Tanong nito na agad din namang sinagot ng kabilang linya.

"Nasa'n ka ba ngayon? I'm just gonna pick you up na lang." Her bestfriend asked which she responded instantly. 

Hindi rin nagtagal ay may itim na Subaru na huminto sa kaniyang harapan, dahilan para lumitaw ang ngiti sa kaniyang natural na mapupulang labi at mapatayo para salubungin ang kaibigan niya. In enchantment to see her friend again after several months, niyakap niya ito nang sobrang higpit para ipadama dito kung ga'no niya ito nami-miss.

Lilia is studying in a prestigious school for college, taking the course of engineer, kaya't sobrang busy nito para makikipagkita sa kaniya. Habang si Seraphim nama'y tinutuon ang atensiyon sa paghahanap-buhay. Matagal-tagal na rin ang huli nilang pagkikita, kaya gano'n na lang niya ito na-miss. Though, they still contact each other through video calls, ngunit, para sa kaniya, iba pa rin sa pakiramdam ang makita niya ito sa personal. 

"Grabe, na-miss kita nang sobra!" Lilia cried out on her shoulder, just right after the moment Seraphim entered inside the car. 

Nang marinig ito ni Seraphim ay agad siyang napabitaw at pinaniningkitan ito ng mga mata. "Weh, true ba? O 'yung boses ko lang ang na-miss mo?" She teased her.

"Ay, oo! Isa rin 'yan. Baka naman may pa-welcome ka sa 'kin diyan..." 

"Heh! Dumaan ka na lang sa Velasco Street mamaya. Kakanta ako ro'n." She replied, which the other just winced at. 

Wala na ring nagawa pa si Lilia, dahil kahit papa'no ay naintindihan niya ito. Seraphim have to prepare for her voice after all. But nevertheless, Seraphim invited her to the street where she's performing. And she want to hear her angelic voice again, kaya pumayag na rin siya.

Habang nasa loob ng sasakyan, the two girls took their time to bond with each other as they were catching up with their lives. Sinusulit na nila ang oras, dahil baka matatagalan ulit ang susunod nilang pagkikita. And as usual, gano'n pa rin ang treatment nila sa isa't isa. Nothing has changed. 

"Manong, sa Mega Mall niyo na lang po kami ibababa." 

Just as what Lilia ordered to the driver, binaba nga sila sa isang mall matapos ang ilang minuto. And as someone who are not used to going to a mall, nababahiran ng excitement ang mukha ni Seraphim habang nakatanaw ang mga mata nito sa malaking gusali. 

"Matagal‐tagal na rin ang panghuling punta ko rito, ah." If Seraphim was not mistaken, her last visit to this mall is when she graduated high school which is technically five years ago already. 

Hearing her remarks have Lilia to let out a sigh, causing  Seraphim to avert her gazes at her friend. "If I wasn't busy within those years, I could've brought you here or somewhere..." Lilia murmured heartily, in which Seraphim heard. 

"Hala siya!" she teased her, before grabbing her neck upon having her arms on her shoulder. "If you felt sorry just because of it, then I want you to know that you don't have to. Hindi mo naman 'yon obligasyon para gawin mo sa 'kin, e. Today is enough, kaya't sulitin na lang natin bago pa mag-alas singko." 

Lilia suddenly halted from walking upon hearing her last statement. She lifted up her head sideways, and looked at Seraphim with curiosity. 

"Bakit hanggang 5 lang?" 

"Siyempre, gigimik pa ako ro'n sa Velasco." She replied in a matter of fact tone. "Pero, sa'n na ba rito ang stall ng mga gown?" she lowered down her voice, dahil iniisip niyang mapapahiya siya kapag ito ay marinig ng ibang tao.

"Parang nagmamadali ka naman, e!" Lilia ranted, stopping again from walking na naging dahilan para matawa si Seraphim.

"Ano ka ba, Lilia? Siyempre, dapat uunahin agad ang kailangan mong bilhin, para ang remaining time ay pang-bonding na natin, o 'di ba? Mindset ba, mindset." With that, Lilia plastered a wide smile on her face.

Not away from where they are, Seraphim spotted a stall where gowns are displayed for a sell. Various of beautiful gowns catches their sparkling eyes, causing the two women to have difficulties in finding one. Besides, most of the gowns suits very well to Lilia, kaya talagang nahirapan sila sa pagpili. But due to their limited time, they decided to rushly chose a gown that would best suit to Lilia.

Though they chose rushly, however, despite their immediate choices, they are still both satisfied with the gown that they have chose. Kaya ngayong tapos na sila rito, ay malaya na silang gawin ang kahit anong gusto nila. 

"Anyone who will volunteer to sing?" 

Biglang umalingawngaw ang boses ng isang bakla sa buong palapag, na talaga nga namang kumuha ng atensiyon ng dalawa. But it is not because of the loud voice, but because of what the seemingly emcee have said. Seraphim and Lilia looked at each other who are now both have seemingly the same thing on their minds. 

Suddenly, amidst the coalescing people, Lilia raised her right hand that caught the attention of the emcee. 

"'Yung kaibigan ko po!" she exclaimed as she pointed her finger at Seraphim. As expected, pareha nga sila ng iniisip. 

Ngunit, Seraphim is not really that totally convinced to sing in front of many people. She has no doubt about her ability to sing, she just don't think that she's presentable enough to sing inside this huge mall in the very front of people. 

She's just wearing a mere plaid long sleeve, while she's with her bestfriend who wore brand new clothes. 

At mas lalong hindi naging kumbinsidong kumanta si Seraphim, nang dumapo sa kaniya ang mga mata ng bakla at ng mga tao na may hindi gano'n kagandang ekspresyon sa kanilang pagmumukha.

Seraphim swallowed a lump in her throat in anxious, and then decided to refuse to volunteer. Lilia looked at her confusingly, while Seraphim is trying to avoid those gazes.

"Okay, okay! Come here, girl in plaid long sleeve. Let us hear what you've got!" Said the emcee who's undoubtedly referring to Seraphim. 

Ngayon, nasa kaniya na halos ang atensyon ng mga taong nasa paligid niya. All of them were like judging her through their doubtful eyes in which Seraphim could definitely feel, na mas lalong nagpapakaba sa kaniya. 

Those judging eyes gives her a tension and a little bit of excitement, making her to retrieve her former decision and try to do what her friend wants her to. 

"Sige na, Sera! Let them hear your angelic voice." Lilia hissed at her. Tiningnan ni Seraphim si Lilia sa kaniyang mga mata, na para bang doon siya kumukuha ng lakas para pumunta sa harapan at gawin ang nais niyang gawin niya.  

Once again, she gulped as she took a step forward. Bawat paghakbang niya ay lumilingon siya sa likod para matingnan si Lilia na ngayon ay pinapalakas ang kaniyang loob sa pamamagitan ng pag-angat ng kaniyang kamao. But the closer she gets in front of the people, the nervous she have become. Seraphim's hands are sweating excessively, kahit na ilang beses na niya itong pinapahid sa kaniyang damit. 

"This is just a piece of cake..." she murmured to cheer herself.

Inabot na ng bakla ang mikropono sa kaniya. Noong una ay tiningnan niya muna ito ng ilang segundo, ngunit hindi rin nagtagal ay kinuha niya rin ito. But due to her excessive sweats, the microphone reacted by electrifying her hand that touches her skin.

As an initial reaction, nabitawan niya nang madalian ang mikropono na naging dahilan para magtaka ang mga taong nasa paligid niya. Because of that, her anxiety was added ten times fold, lalo na't nang makita ang mikroponong gumulong palayo sa kaniya.

Her eyes followed the microphone that eventually stopped rolling right in front of a man in a black v-neck tee-shirt paired with a white men's short, and a shoes. Seraphim then ran into him to get it. But before she could even do that, the man himself picked it up and handed it to her.

Para maiwasang makuryente ulit ay ginamit niya ang dulo ng kaniyang sleeve para tanggapin ito. Seraphim smiled at him to show her gratitude, which the man just nodded and turned his back afterwards. 

Bumalik agad sa harapan si Seraphim para kumanta at nang matapos na ang kaba niya. She let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes to calm herself, as she pointed the microphone to her. A few seconds later, she started to sing the first verse of her favourite song, and opened her eyes to see everyone. 

Ngunit nakakapagtakang sa isang tao lamang huminto ang kaniyang mga mata. 

To the man in black tee-shirt who suddenly stopped from walking away. He turned his head around and their eyes met.