My Bestfriend's Girlfriend
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I do not own My Bestfriend's Girlfriend, the characters of Sailor Moon, Playstation Portable (PSP), and the characters and movesets of WWE Smackdown VS RAW 2011.
List of Filipino words/references that you will encounter along the way:
Isaw (pronounced as ee-sao) – skewered barbecued pig/chicken small intestines. Isaws are commonly sold on streets.
Kuya (pronounced as koo-yah) – an honorific commonly used for an older male relative. It can also be used to refer to male strangers, regardless of their age. Its Japanese counterpart is Onii-chan/Onii-san.
Haruka, wearing a white jacket over a black long-sleeved shirt, gray pants, and black leather shoes, drives her yellow convertible sports car to the concert hall's basement parking lot. Beside her is Usagi, who is wearing a sleeveless pink dress, golden earrings, and white high heels.
"I thought we're going to a concert but it's just ballet." Usagi sighs.
Haruka rolls her eyes and sighs. "Don't mind it."
Haruka spots an empty parking space, puts the gear shift in reverse, and looks behind her. She then maneuvers the steering wheel and slowly parks the car backward to the empty parking space near the concert hall's basement entrance.
"Hurry. Park it there. Backward. You might hit something. A little more…" Usagi says, dictating every move Haruka should do just to park the car.
Haruka's eyebrows start to twitch and veins pop on her forehead. She finally reaches her boiling point. "Will you shut up? I might hit something because of you!"
Usagi is silenced and just rolls her eyes. Haruka successfully parks the car and pulls the handbrake. The car stops and its headlights are switched off.
Haruka removes the car keys from the ignition. "We're here. Let's go."
Usagi sees a shiny rectangular plastic card on the dashboard and grabs it. "What's this?"
Haruka grabs the plastic card from Usagi's hand. "Give me that. That's my driver's license. It's none of your business."
Usagi holds Haruka's wrist and attempts to pull the card away from Haruka's hand. "Let me see!"
"No!" Haruka maintains a firm grip on her license card.
"I'll just look at it!" Usagi lifts Haruka's fingers one by one, in order to loosen Haruka's grip from the card, but to no avail.
Haruka tightens her grip on the card. "Stop it!"
"Give me that!" Usagi initiates a tug-of-war between her and Haruka.
"I can't let you see it!" Haruka pulls the card towards her side.
"Let me have it! I'll just look at it!" Usagi pulls the card towards her side.
Haruka grits her teeth and chops Usagi's wrist using her right hand. Usagi loses grip of Haruka's license card. The card lands on the car's floor near the accelerator.
Haruka picks up her driver's license from the car's floor and takes out a chocolate bar from her jacket's pocket. "Just eat this chocolate."
Usagi grabs the chocolate. "Chocolate?!"
"Yes. And don't EVER meddle with other people's things EVER again."
"Okay fine. Prick." Usagi crosses her arms.
An awkward silence surrounds the two. Usagi seizes the moment to attempt grabbing Haruka's license once more. She uses her left hand to shove Haruka's face while she uses her right hand to reach for Haruka's license card. "Let me see it! Give me that."
Haruka struggles and tries her best to get the card far from Usagi. Usagi's ring finger and pinky finger happens to touch Haruka's lips. Haruka bites Usagi's pinky finger.
"OOOOOUUUUUCH!" Usagi screams in pain.
"You're so annoying!" Haruka shouts at Usagi.
Usagi is persistent. She tries to get Haruka's license card one last time. "Let me see it!"
Haruka uses her free hand to twist Usagi's arm.
"OWWWWWWW! STOP!" Usagi pleads.
Haruka lets go of Usagi's arm. Usagi rubs her arm to ease the pain.
Haruka puts her driver's license on her lap. "You know what? Let's go. You're so annoying. You're not allowed to see my driver's license."
"Sheesh. You don't have to resort to violence, you know? Here it is. I'm going to eat the chocolate!" Usagi tears the wrapper of the chocolate bar and munches on the chocolate.
"Let's go. We're going to be late." Haruka opens her car's door.
Just as Haruka was about to step out of the car, Usagi grabs the driver's license from Haruka's lap.
"Give me that!" Haruka attempts to take back her driver's license but it was too late. Usagi's eyes are already feasting on her license.
"No way! Is this you?" Usagi bursts into laughter upon seeing Haruka's photograph on the driver's license. In the photograph, Haruka is wearing heavy makeup and what seems to be a pink sleeveless dress.
Haruka glares at Usagi. "Yeah. What's so funny about that?"
Usagi wipes the tears off her eyes as a result of too much laughing. "Nothing. You just look… different. What made you decide to do this?"
Haruka crosses her arms. "It was a dare."
"Dare?"
"Yeah. Mamoru said that if I wear makeup and a dress during my license's picture taking, then he will pay for my car's maintenance."
"And you believed him?"
"Yeah. He DID pay for my car's maintenance after my photo was taken but I guess the joke's on me." Haruka sighs. "It's still 2 more years before my license expires."
Usagi laughs out loud even more. Her eyes tear up even more and the muscles of her abdomen start to ache from too much laughing.
Haruka clenches her fist and veins pop out of her forehead. "Stop it already. You're annoying!" She grabs her license from Usagi. "Let's go."
Usagi suppresses her laughter but cannot stop herself from smiling from ear to ear. Haruka glares at Usagi, forcing Usagi to sport a neutral face. Haruka and Usagi step out of Haruka's car. They proceed to a door leading to the lobby of the concert hall.
Setsuna, wearing a gold, glittery sleeveless gown and diamond earrings, and 3 of her friends, who are mostly sexy women in their 40s, are gathered at the lobby together with their younger boyfriends. The first friend is a long-haired brunette wearing a red flowing gown. She is clinging onto a handsome man in his early 30s. The man, who has a short dark brown hair and sideburns, is wearing a gray tuxedo. The second friend has medium-length jet black hair and is wearing a purple gown. She is accompanied by a young man in his late 20s who's wearing a white suit. The young man has a Roman nose and a blue medium-length hair tied in a ponytail. The last friend has a short maroon hair and is wearing a skimpy black gown. Beside her is a young man in his early 20s, who is wearing a black suit. He has a buzz cut hairstyle and is wearing silver earrings. All of them notice Haruka, walking arm in arm with Usagi, arriving at the lobby.
"Here comes Haruka." The friend with jet black hair whispers to the maroon-haired friend's ear.
Haruka and Usagi approach Setsuna.
"Guys, I want you to meet Usagi, Haruka's new girlfriend. The one I was telling you about?" Setsuna says to her friends.
"Oh it's so nice to finally meet you. Setsuna has told me SO MUCH about you." The brunette friend says to Usagi.
All of Setsuna's friends laugh.
A tall guy with pink spiky hair, who's wearing a gray suit, arrives at the lobby and approaches Setsuna. "Uh, excuse me, honey, the show is about to start."
Setsuna puts her arm around the guy's waist and introduces him to Haruka. "By the way Haruka, this is Takano, my boyfriend."
Takano extends his hand to Haruka. "Takano."
Haruka shakes Takano's hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Takano is currently the head of the marketing department of our hotel and he's currently pursuing his post-graduate studies in business at Harvard University." Setsuna says to Haruka with a smug look on her face.
Haruka just nods.
"Yep. I'm on my break now that's why I'm here. How about you Haruka? What do you do?" Takano asks Haruka.
"Me?" Haruka stares blankly at the ceiling. "Well… I'm uh…"
Setsuna sighs and shakes her head. "Nothing. Because after college, Haruka didn't bother to look for a job. That's why until now, she's still bumming around."
"So? That's okay. Haruka is still young. And she's doing a lot of things like… uhm… what do you do again?" Usagi looks at the ceiling and then at Haruka. She laughs out loud.
"Yes? Can you please tell me what else she does aside from getting a girlfriend who has no manners and eats like a pig?" Setsuna, with a sarcastic look on her face, puts her hands on her waist.
Setsuna's friends laugh at Usagi.
"Setsuna…" Haruka interferes.
"Sorry but we can't help it. Your girlfriend is really funny. Where did she study? If ever she really DID study." Setsuna insults Usagi even more.
Haruka steps in between Setsuna and Usagi. "Setsuna, you're too much."
Usagi stops Haruka from making further remarks and crosses her arms. She steps in between Haruka and Setsuna. "I'm a working student taking up my masters in Special Education. You know what that course is? It teaches us how to care for people who have learning disabilities. Unfortunately, it doesn't teach us how to handle people with personality disabilities like YOU people." Usagi gives Setsuna and her friends a sharp look.
Setsuna raises her right eyebrow.
Usagi's serious face is now turned into a smile. "Just kidding!" She laughs out loud.
Haruka, sporting a proud look on her face, puts her arm around Usagi's shoulders. "That's my date! She's something huh?"
Usagi turns her attention to Haruka. "Let's go!"
Haruka nods.
"Excuse us." Usagi says to Setsuna and her friends.
Setsuna and her friends watch as Haruka and Usagi walk away from them.
Setsuna, Takano, Haruka, and Usagi are seated at the fifth row of seats inside the air-conditioned concert hall. The concert hall is dark with only the stage and the ballet performance being illuminated by the colorful stage lights. Setsuna and Takano are seated beside Haruka and Usagi. Haruka and Usagi are all cuddled up. Their eyes, filled with disinterest, are fixated at the stage. Setsuna stares at them with envy.
Haruka turns her attention to Usagi. "You were really good a while ago, Usagi. You PWNed them. Why didn't you tell me that you're already taking up your Master's Degree?"
Usagi turns her attention to Haruka. "Why? Did you ask me about it?"
Haruka, with a smile on her face, looks at Usagi straight in the eyes. "You know what? I'm really impressed with you."
Haruka and Usagi laugh out loud.
"SSHH!" A couple, seated behind Setsuna and Takano, says to Haruka and Usagi.
Haruka and Usagi are silenced. Haruka mocks the couple, making Usagi chuckle.
"Thanks for what you said earlier." Haruka says to Usagi in a soft voice.
"Thanks for what?"
"For standing by me when Setsuna's insulting me."
"That's nothing. I just don't really get it why you are so in love with that girl. She's just insulting you."
"Ssshhh!" Setsuna shuts Usagi up. Haruka tickles Usagi. Usagi laughs out loud.
Setsuna glares at Haruka and Usagi. "Guys please?"
Haruka looks to her left and then to her right. She then brings out her white Playstation Portable from her suit's jacket and switches it on. Her Playstation Portable is muted so it will not attract any attention.
Usagi turns her attention to Haruka, who is now playing WWE Smackdown VS RAW 2011 on her Playstation Portable. "What's that?"
"Smackdown." Haruka answers while selecting a character to play.
"What's that?"
"Wrestling."
"Oh… that seems interesting." Usagi turns her attention to the screen of Haruka's PSP.
Haruka settles with Stone Cold Steve Austin against The Undertaker in a singles match at the RAW arena. She presses start. A loading sequence appears on the PSP's screen. After the game has loaded, a bald muscular guy with brown goatee, wearing black trunks, black knee pads, black wristbands, and black wrestling boots is seen entering the ring. The name "Stone Cold Steve Austin" is flashed on the PSP's screen. Stone Cold enters the ring, climbs the turnbuckles, and raises his hands in the air. After Stone Cold's entrance sequence finishes, another character's entrance sequence comes next. Blue lights illuminate the whole wrestling stadium while smoke fills the wrestling ring and the ramp that leads towards the ring. A 6'10" tall muscular guy in his 40s, who has a long dark brown receding hair and a goatee, is seen walking towards the ring. The guy, who has a sleeve-full of tattoos on both arms, wears black mixed martial arts gloves, a black elbow pad on his left elbow, and a long leather coat reminiscent of black metal band costumes over a black tank top, black tights, and black wrestling boots. The name "The Undertaker" is flashed on the PSP's screen. After The Undertaker's entrance sequence has finished, the match starts. Stone Cold initiates the match by throwing a straight punch at The Undertaker. The Undertaker retaliates by punching Stone Cold as well. The two continue exchanging punches until The Undertaker gains the upper hand. The Undertaker executes a combination of punches followed by a throat thrust at Stone Cold. Stone Cold collapses on the mat. A few seconds later, he manages to stand on his both feet.
"Which one are you?" Usagi asks.
"Stone Cold." Haruka replies.
"Who's that?"
"The bald guy."
"Oh. Okay." Usagi nods. Her eyes are glued on Haruka's PSP.
Moments later, Haruka, playing as Stone Cold, manages to kick The Undertaker on the gut. Haruka presses the triangle button, which made Stone Cold perform a Stone Cold Stunner on The Undertaker. She presses the circle button, prompting Stone Cold to pin The Undertaker. Haruka and Usagi watch as referee counts to three.
"1… 2… 3!" Haruka and Usagi shout in unison. They high five afterwards.
Their noise draws the attention of the people around them. "SSSHHH!"
"Sorry." Haruka and Usagi grin. Their faces also turn red from embarrassment.
Haruka switches her PSP off and keeps it in her suit's jacket.
Haruka notices Usagi shivering. "Are you cold?"
Usagi's arms are crossed and her teeth are chattering. "I-i-i-i-t'sss ffffrrreezzzing."
Haruka removes her jacket and gives it to Usagi. "Here put this on."
Usagi gets Haruka's jacket and puts it on. "Thanks."
Haruka puts her arm around Usagi's shoulders. Usagi leans on Haruka. Setsuna glares at Haruka and Usagi. She grabs Takano's arm and puts it right around her shoulders.
The ballet recital is over. Haruka and Usagi have come out of the concert hall's exit door. They use the stairs to go down the lobby. While going down the stairs, both of them are laughing out loud. "We're embarrassing."
Setsuna rushes to stop the two. "Haruka, wait. We're having a late night dinner. Bring Usagi with you. My treat."
Usagi draws herself close to Haruka and clings onto Haruka's arm.
"Uhmm… thanks but I'd like to spend the rest of the evening with my date. I hope you don't mind." Haruka replies to Setsuna.
Setsuna nods. "Uh… of course. Maybe next time."
"Alright." Haruka waves her hand to Setsuna's friends, who are behind them. "Bye guys."
Usagi raises a thumb up in the air. "See ya!"
Haruka and Usagi walk away from Setsuna and her friends. Setsuna's blood boils at the sight of Haruka and Usagi, whose arms are linked together.
Haruka and Usagi are strolling at a park. Usagi is wearing Haruka's jacket over her pink dress.
"What have you eaten? Are you sick? Why didn't you give in to Setsuna's invitation? Why didn't you go with them?" Usagi asks Haruka.
"Tss… That's the style. I don't want her to think that I'm still after her." Haruka fixes her collar. "And… I don't want to be with her friends. They're so boring."
"You're right. Your wrestling game is more fun to watch than that ballet recital."
Haruka and Usagi stare at each other for a moment.
Usagi turns her attention to her left and sees a food cart. She removes Haruka's jacket and hands it back to Haruka. "Oh… wait a minute. Hold that." Usagi goes to the food cart. "Two isaws please!"
Haruka watches Usagi as she buys isaw. The vendor hands two sticks of isaw to Usagi. Usagi, in return, hands over a 20-peso bill to the vendor. Meanwhile, Haruka sees 5 kids playing a basketball game at the half court of a basketball court nearby.
Haruka approaches the kids. "Hey, can I join?"
"Sure Kuya." The kids reply to Haruka.
One kid passes the ball to Haruka. Haruka dribbles the ball and manages to evade the kids who are trying to steal the ball from her. The moment Haruka gets near the basket, she jumps and does a lay-up. The kids are wide-eyed at Haruka's perfect form while doing the lay-up. She shoots the ball on the basket and manages to land on her feet. The ball lands on the concrete pavement and bounces. One kid catches the ball.
"Wooo! Go Haruka!"
Haruka turns her attention to the voice she heard and sees Usagi, who's holding two sticks of isaw, standing in the corner of the half court. "Wait a minute." She then turns her attention back to the kids and excuses herself. Haruka leaves the kids and approaches Usagi. The kids continue playing basketball without Haruka.
"Here Haruka. Taste this." Usagi gives Haruka a stick of isaw.
Haruka gets the isaw from Usagi. "What's this?"
"Just eat it." Usagi, while eating isaw, walks away.
"Hey Usagi, wait up." Haruka follows Usagi and manages to keep up with Usagi's pace. "What's this?"
"It's called isaw. Taste it."
Haruka takes a bite of the isaw. "It tastes good."
"See? I'm right huh?" Usagi smiles at Haruka and continues walking. She sees a bench and sits down on it.
Haruka follows her and sits right next to her.
Usagi looks at Haruka. "Hey Haruka. Tell me stories."
Haruka turns her attention to Usagi. "About what?"
"Anything. About your life, if you have siblings… those things."
"I don't have one." Haruka turns her head away from Usagi. "I'm alone. My parents separated when I was young."
Usagi looks blankly at Haruka.
Haruka looks back at Usagi with a puzzled look on her face. "What? You told me to tell stories. How about you? Do you have siblings?"
"Yes I have. A boy. He's a special child."
"Special child?"
"Yes, special because God made them different."
"That's why you're taking up your Master's in Special Education."
"Shingo's therapy is expensive. Another thing is we can't afford it. That's why I want to study that… so I can take care of him the right way."
Haruka shakes her head with disbelief. "I don't understand. Why are you working as a waitress when you're a graduate of Education?"
"My class is in the morning and I want to have a longer time with Shingo. So I can take care of him more. When he's asleep, that's when I go out and go to work."
"Is that the reason why you danced at the stag party?"
"You know what? To tell you the truth, that's my first time. The only reason why I did it is because I needed money."
"You know what? You're impressive. You're very young and yet you're very responsible." Haruka stares at the starry night sky. "Not like me. I still don't know what to do with my life."
"It's because you're rich. That's why you don't have to do things you don't like." Usagi also stares at the night sky. "But me, I have to do those things because my family depends on me."
Haruka turns her head back to Usagi. "You know what? Mamoru is right. He's lucky for having you."
Usagi turns her head to Haruka. "Are you really in love with Setsuna?"
Haruka nods. "Of course."
Usagi nods and looks at Haruka straight in the eyes. "Okay, I promise you this. From now on, I will help you bring back Setsuna. I promise you that."
Haruka smiles at Usagi. Usagi extends her hand to Haruka. Haruka shakes Usagi's hand.
Usagi is wearing Haruka's jacket over her dress. She walks towards the front door of her house while Haruka follows her.
Usagi stops, removes the jacket she is wearing, and gives the jacket back to Haruka. "Thanks for everything Haruka."
"You're not going to invite me inside your house?"
"Do you really want to come in?"
"Why not?"
"That's your call."
Usagi opens the front door and walks in their house first. "Bear with us. This is our house. We're poor."
Haruka follows Usagi inside. She sees the living room of Usagi's house. The living room is simple, composing of brown wooden sofas and a simple coffee table made of bamboo.
Usagi searches for her mom. "Mom?"
Haruka sits on the wooden sofa. Usagi's mom, who's wearing a white duster, comes out of the room together with Shingo. Shingo, wearing a yellow T-shirt and brown shorts, is tossing a small basketball back and forth between his hands. Usagi's mom notices Haruka.
Haruka stands up. "Good evening Ma'am"
Usagi's mom smiles at Haruka. "Good evening to you too."
"Mom, this is Haruka. She is Mamoru's bestfriend." Usagi says to her mom.
Usagi's mom's cheeks turn pink. "Oh… I thought she was a guy."
"It's okay Ma'am. I get that a lot." Haruka smirks.
"My apologies. By the way, nice to meet you Haruka." Usagi's mom extends her hand to Haruka. Haruka shakes Usagi's mom's hand.
Usagi points at Shingo. "That's Shingo. My brother."
Haruka looks at Shingo. "Hello Shingo."
"He might ignore you. He's a special child." Usagi says.
Usagi's mom sits Shingo beside Haruka and turns her attention to Usagi. "Usagi, get Haruka something to eat or drink."
"Mom, she's not going to stay long. She'll go in a while."
"You seem like you want me to go now." Haruka has a sarcastic look on her face while looking at Usagi.
"I-it's not like that. I thought you wanted to go home early." Usagi goes inside her room. "Just a minute. I'll just change my clothes."
Haruka looks at Usagi's mom. "You might want to rest, Mommy. It's already late." She then looks at her watch. "I'll take care of Shingo."
"Is it okay for you?"
"Yes, Mommy."
"Thank you." Usagi's mom leaves.
Haruka looks at Shingo straight in the eyes and smiles at him. "Can I borrow it? Let's play."
Shingo ignores Haruka and continues to toss the small basketball between his hands.
"Pass me the ball. I'll get the ball. I'll borrow it." Haruka extends her hands and tries to get the ball from Shingo but Shingo wouldn't give the ball to her. She tries one more time to convince Shingo to give her the ball. "Pass it to me."
Shingo finally passes the ball to Haruka.
"Look." Haruka shows off to Shingo by spinning the ball on her index finger.
Shingo grabs the ball from Haruka and tries to imitate Haruka. At first, the ball falls from Shingo's hand but after a few more attempts, Shingo finally makes the ball spin on his index finger. Haruka finally sees Shingo smiling and enjoying doing the trick she taught him. Usagi, now wearing white t-shirt and black shorts, gets out of her room and sees that Haruka and Shingo gets along very well. Haruka turns her attention to Usagi and smiles at her. Usagi smiles back at Haruka. Haruka then turns her attention to Shingo and pats Shingo's head.
To be continued…
Author's Notes: Happy 2013 everyone! Sorry for not updating for almost 8 months. This chapter is really lengthy (around 12 pages) so it took a really LONG time to have it proofread/edited. By the way, in this story, Setsuna works at a 5-star hotel, Haruka is a rich bum, and Usagi is a working student pursuing her Master's degree. To everyone who recently added this story to their favorites and story alerts, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I really appreciate the love and support. Anyway, thank you for reading and hope y'all stick around for the next chapter. It's still 7 more chapters to go before "My Bestfriend's Girlfriend" ends!