“Bibi Yana!”
Ugh. When will he ever stop calling me that?!
I was straightening out one stray strand of hair when a new
voice spoke up. “Liana, we’re late.”
Lex. My older brother. By two years. But he acts way older
than that.
“Coming.”
And just like that I am now standing in front of the three
men closes to my heart. My dad who’s wiping a tear out of his left eye (out of
joy, I presume); Lex, my guardian and conscience; and Josh, Lex’s bestfriend
since birth and well, my childhood-til-forever crush. Though he’s oblivious and
treats me like how Lex does: a baby sister.
Lex and Josh were dressed elegantly in tuxedos and I was
forced into this black tube of a dress. It’s prom night and just like any other
normal teenager, Lex and Josh were prepared for this night. I, on the other
hand…
“Good thing you’re a year advanced, Liana. Or else the boys
wouldn’t have seen you like this,” my dad comments, wrapping me in a tight bear
hug.
“That’s. The. Point. Dad.” I try to breathe out the words
through his life-threatening embrace. “Wish. I. Weren’t. Advanced.”
“Dad, you’ll ruin her make up,” Lex reminds him. Who’s the
dad again?
“Right. And you better get going now. Have fun!”
“Let’s go, pretty.” Josh ushers me outside. Wait. Did he
just say pretty?
~
“Your dress really suits your complexion, Liana.” Andy, my
partner from Lex’s class compliments, for the nth time tonight. I mutter “Yes,
thanks” in equal consistency.
My eyes landed on the far side of the room where Josh leads
Jen to the dance floor.
I can’t help but remember how infatuated Josh was with Jen
way back fifth grade. Every morning he would ask me to accompany him waiting
for Jen to arrive just so he could greet her good morning. So much for having a
good strategy of getting the girl, right? But I guess that’s just so Josh-y. He
doesn’t really do flashy things to impress a girl. He just lets you know he’s
there for you.
That was the first time I ever wondered: why did there have
to be some other girl who would catch his attention? Why can’t it be mine, and
mine alone?
Right. Because I was only
the younger sister.
~
“Want juice?” Andy asks from beside me.
“Yes please.” I urge him, before he could comment on my
dress and my complexion again.
Then I notice Lex and Andrea dancing behind Josh and Jen.
Lex gestures they switch partners. Josh obliged.
Sophomore year (I was a freshman then), Josh was with Andrea
and we all thought they were for keeps. They were really good together and they
were good for each other too. Everyone noticed that they were better in class,
(not that Josh was ever bad at class) and Andrea was even better at writing. That
was my most masochistic year since I thirdwheeled in almost all their dates,
because Lex had a part time job and my dad was busy with work too so Josh was
left to baby sit me which meant I had to ruin every single date they had. Or
they ruined every single chance I had with Josh. Works either way. For the
second time, there just had to be some other girl.
“There.” Andy got back and placed my juice in front of me. I
mutter a “thanks” and find Anna standing by the dance floor, almost eye-talking
with Andrea. Andrea saw her and whispered something to Josh over the music.
They stopped dancing and Anna approached them, replacing Andrea’s spot dancing
with Josh.
What’s up with all the girls of Josh’s past tonight?
Anna was with Josh during their junior year and they broke
up only months ago. Three to be exact. They were so good together that I had to
admit that even I liked them as a couple. They were both smart and easy on the
eyes. They were both good leaders and their influence on the student body was
amazing. They really were an inspiration. I was searching my memory of the
reason why they broke up when Mrs. Donovan announced “and now for our last
dance…”
Great. It’s already the last dance and I’ve only danced
once: with Lex. That. Doesn’t. Count! He’s my brother!
If only I hadn’t been Josh’s second option.
Second?
I was never even an option to him!
I was just…just… a friend. A background to all the other
girls out there. Someone to listen to his heartaches. Someone to run to when
all the other girls walk out on him. Someone when he had no one.
A reserve.
A spare tire.
The baby sister.
“May I have this dance?”
“Oh no, Andy. I’m fine.”
Wait. That’s not Andy.
I turned to find Josh grinning at me. He cocked his head to
the side, a questioning look on his eyes.
~
What if she refuses?
She still continues to stare at me with that confused look
on her face. Good thing Jen, Andrea and Anna all agreed to do this or else it
wouldn’t be as effective.
My heartbeat is almost deafening. She’s still not
responding!
“Bibi Yana?”
“I’m no longer a baby!”
She stands up, irritated, almost smacking right into my
chin. I back up, wracking my brain about what I said wrong.
“What’s wrong, Yana?”
She sighs, still furious. The song playing in the background
was almost over. It was now in its bridge.
“Go find some other girl to dance with.” She brushes past me
and I grab her arm on the last second.
“Please tell me what’s wrong?” This wasn’t how this is
supposed to be!
Still, she pulls her arm out of my grasp and walks away.
Just then Lex stands in her way.
~
Lex! Why did he have to see all of this?
“Apologize.” His face was emotionless as always, but his
voice firm as usual.
No no no. You boys don’t understand!
“Lex,” I say, his name comes out as a beg. I just want this
night to be over. I realize the song on the background has repeated. Wait. I
thought that was the last song?
He just cocks his head to Josh’s direction behind me and I
know I couldn’t refuse my brother. He’s Lex. He’s always right.
Reluctantly, I turn to face Josh, who I’d never seen more
hurt than ever.
~
I don’t know what she saw in my face but the moment she
turned her expression softened and her eyes had that kind glow in them I’ve
always loved.
Now that’s what Jen, Andrea and Anna never understood. They
all blamed Liana for hanging out too much with me, for ‘stealing’ me from them.
But that wasn’t it. I was never theirs. I have always been Liana’s.
This little girl I’ve spent every waking moment of my
childhood with.
She neared me, all irritation gone.
“Hey.”
I smiled.
“Guess that was out of hand.”
This is her way of saying sorry.
I shrug, accepting her sudden tantrum like every other one
she’s thrown before.
“So I guess I can now have this dance?”
She smiled. The one I’ve always been fond of.
When we were on the dance floor, she asked, “I thought your
last dance was so special to you? Why spend it with me?”
I gave her a duh look and flicked her forehead.
“You answer that question yourself.”
She feigns concentration.
“Because there’s still another song next to this?”
I smile at her, amused.
“No. Because there’s still a full lifetime next to this.”
MVJLO 11.10.14
