II

who got an invite?

Lunch on the steps of the Mets

"How cute!" Blair Waldorf said, pleased at the box of invitations on her lap. Sitting with her were friends Kati Farkas and Isabel Coates. All three were wearing stylish oats and cute headbands.

"They should be framed or something," said Isabel who was admiring her invitations like Kati.

"Not bad work," Blair said approvingly to Jenny Humphrey as she handed her an invite. "Here's yours, as promise."

"Thanks," Jenny said, beaming as she accepted the invite Blair had promised for her, in return for making the rest of invitation for Blair's Kiss on the Lips party.

Clad in pink coat beside Jenny was Kaye Emerenciana. Standing beside each other in front of Blair and her friends, it was evident they have the same height—5'0''. Kaye has heavy-lidded, dark brown eyes and straight jet black hair just brushing the shoulder.

I was sitting just behind Jenny and Kaye, Wuthering Heights in my hand; but my attention was in this group of girls—observing and listening to them.

Kaye caught Blair's eyes. "I've never seen her before, is she your friend?" she inquired to Jenny.

Jenny was happy and obliged to answer. "Yes she's my friend; and actually living with us. Her uncle, who's a nurse here, is a good friend of my Dad. Since her Uncle saved Dad when he had an accident, my Dad felt indebted. So my father offer our home for Kaye while she's schooling at Constance Billiard—"

"You looked Asian. Or are you Mexican?" Blair asked Kaye, more interested in my friend than Jenny's boring babbling.

Kaye shook her head. "No, I'm not Mexican. I came from the Philippines."

"Why are you here then?" Blair's voce was laced with interest.

"To study; I believe that academics here abroad are more superior than we have in our country. With the help of my uncle, I was able to apply a scholarship here in Constance Billiard. Fortunately, I passed the test."

Blair looked impressed. "And you didn't waste time and flew all the way here . . ."

Kaye smiled. "Precisely."

"Then you must be smart?" Isabel asked bluntly.

Didn't know how to answer this without appearing conceited or proud, Kaye was silent for a moment. And Jenny saw this as an opportunity to intercept, she quickly said, "Actually, Kaye is on the top of our class. Our teachers even said that—"

"Wow, you're . . . brilliant," cut Kati, who spoke for the first time.

"You're like a mini-me then," Blair remarked, her brows lifted together in admiration, her eyes scrutinizing Kaye's face. "I adore your face. Especially your heavy-lidded eyes—very . . . interesting. And your hair, you wear it very well . . . I would love to put my hands on you."

"Oh, well, thank you," Kaye said for the obvious compliment. But there was confusion in her eyes, and seemed to be saying: "What the hell does she mean?" referring to Blair's last line.

Unexpectedly, Blair's eyes suddenly turned to my direction. Startled, I immediately put my attention on my book, pretending to read. "What about him? Is he also with you?" I heard Blair asked the two.

Jenny answered, "Yes. Like Kaye, he also lives with us—"

"You have the same skin color . . . " Blair observed to Kaye.

"We came from the same country," Kaye informed her, smiling." He is my bff. He insisted in coming with me; claimed he couldn't live without me."

"So you are . . . inseparable?"

"More or less, yes," Kaye said with a slight laugh in her voice.

"How sweet." Blair smiled. "Bff--Bestfriends forever. Just like me and Se—"

Kati and Isabel cleared their throats in unison that cut Blair off; realizing what she was about to say, she quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, Jenny, make her an invite. I like her. Oh, and her guy friend, too. Looks like he has taste in books; Wuthering Heights—we both read Bronte." She smiled at Kaye. "I like people with brains and tastes. So pleased be at my party on Saturday."

"Thanks. We would love to attend," Kaye said with a smile; on the other hand, Jenny, just like me, looked utterly shocked. She seemed cannot believe it. Aghast, she told Blair, "I'm sorry Blair. Did you just say I'll make invitations for my . . . friends? I—"

"You heard me Jenny," Blair said with finality, her forehead creased. "What's the problem with that?"

Jenny blinked several times, and then shook her head. Quickly, she said, "Nothing."

Jenny's words puzzled me. But before I started to analyze them, a tall, beautiful blonde, approached us. She said something to Blair that hinted me that they are acquainted. Then she turned to Jenny, "Oh. Hi. I'm Serena."

Jenny looked star-struck. "I know, I mean, hi, I'm Jenny."

Blair rolled her eyes heavenward. Because of Jenny or the blonde with the name Serena, I have no idea.

Serena noticed Kaye and me, and she also introduced herself to us.

Jenny said, "They are my friends, Kaye and RJ."

Kaye smiled politely while I nodded in acknowledgement.

As I studied Serena's face, the familiarity of her features struck me. She looked so damn familiar in my eyes. The color of eyes and hair . . . where did I see those before?

"So," Serena reached for an envelope beside Blair. "Where's the party?"

Uneasy silence fell. The air was suddenly charged with potent electricity. Everyone seemed waiting for someone to answer. Blair did.

"Saturday," she answered indifferently; then paused a little, contemplating how to say the next words. "And you are kinda not invited."

Serena was stunned, and barely hiding it.

"Since 12 hours ago, everyone thought you're in boarding school," Blair explained. "Now we're fulled. And Jenny used up all the invites."

Jenny tried to counter this. "Am, actually—"

"You can go now," Blair said, dismissing her.

Embarrassed, Jenny lowered her gaze for a second. Then made an apologetic smile for Serena.

I could feel that there was a tension building in the group; Blair and Serena were exchanging cold looks to each other. Sensing trouble, I was more than grateful when Jenny descended the steps; Kaye and I followed her, wanted so badly to get away there.

For the last time, I glanced over my shoulder. My eyes on Serena, have I seen or met her before? I asked myself. Another question was about to pop out of my mind when I was interrupted by my friend, tugging my sleeves.

"Why?"

She looked pointedly on Jenny, who was walking fast and several steps ahead of us—obviously in a bad mood.

We caught up with her and matched her strides. "Problem?" Kaye asked, she was at the left side of Jenny while I was at the latter's right.

Without any preamble, she madly blurted out, "I worked hard for Blair to give me an invite. But the two of you got it so easily! I can't believe it! It's so unfair . . . !"

Kaye and I glanced at each other, though we were both surprised with Jenny's words, we perfectly understood her reactions, frustrations and envy.

"We won't go if you don't want us to," Kaye said softly in a gentleness a teacher often uses to a three-year-old child.

With a shrug, I said, "I'm not a party-person anyway . . . "

It took a moment before Jenny absorbed what we have said. And when she finally did, she replied in an apologetic tone, "I'm . . . I'm so sorry. I know I acted childishly. Forgive me, it just that I didn't expect that." She met Kaye's eyes.

"That's okay. We understand you," Kaye said, then looked at me, "Right?"

Jenny's eyes turned to me, expecting the same answer. I nodded. "Yeah, that's right. I would react the same if I were in your shoes."

These were enough assurance for Jenny, she said with a smile on her face, "Thanks for being s understanding, guys. Believe me, I appreciate it so much."

"It's nothing." Kaye returned her smile.

I swallowed a yawn. "Yeah, Jenny, it was nothing."

-R-