"At first, yeah." I nodded. "But when you always do it, you'll be used. It'll not be hard anymore. It'll be so easy for you to hide how you deel." I smiled at him, falsely.

"How do you do that?" he suddenly asked again.

I almost rolled my eyes in annoyance. He asked a lot of questions.

"Well, if the world left you no choice but to pretend just to save your self from all the embarrassment in this world, you just found yourself doing it," I answered again.

He nodded at what I said as if he was impressed by what I just answwered.

Tsk! If you only know how hard it is Sean, you can't smile like that.

"You sound like you perfected the art of it, don't you?"

"I did," I proudly said and smiled bitterly.

Yes, bitterly. Because who will be happy if you perfected the art of pretending? Just no one! Pretending isn't a good attitude but most of the people needs it.

"Why? Are the things you've been through too painful for you to perfect it?" he asked me.

His question reminds me of how broken I am inside. I maybe don't show it but that's because I am a pretender. It choked being a pretender.

I nodded. "You have no idea." I laughed bitterly, again.

"Then give me a clue." He smiled like he's assuring me that he can answer it correctly.

" Nevermind." I stood up and fetched water from the refrigerator but he complied.

"Come on, dude. Just one clue, please?" I turned to him and gave him a glass of water.

"I can handle this. I am strong!"I smiled at him but he just stared at me.

"I maybe don't know how broken you are inside but always remember that I'm here for you, always." He put the empty glass in the table and hugged me.

His hug is warm and overwhelming. He's my guy bestfriend that even he forgot about me sometimes because of our other friends, I still treat him as my best friend. I hugged him back.

"That's what dude are for," I joked that made him laugh.

He left me and went back to the couch.

I was about to enter my room when Sean's cellphone rang. He took his cellphone out of his pocket and answered the call.

"Hello? Yeah, I'm with her. What? Okay, we're coming," he said and hung up the phone. He looked at me.

"Who was that and why are you looking at me like that?" I curiously asked.

"It's Mia and if you already forgot, it's Jully-ann's birthday today. So get dressed and make yourself pretty because we'll be late." I can see the worry in his face.

"Shocks! Why did you just say that now? If we'll be late, it's really your fault," I blamed him before finally entering my room and getting dressed.

I just wore simple. High waist black pants and fitted gray crop top with large W written.

I tied my long and straight hair to the top of my head. I put powder and liptint only because I'm not into make ups. I only put polbo and liptint if I have something important to go.

I feel like when I put on thick make-up, my face looks like a coloring book. I don't know but I just hate the feeling. And for the last thing, I'm going to wear my new white sneakers.

I'm ready. I went out of the room and found Sean on the couch talking someone over his cellphone. Only now did I also notice that he was dressed.

I wish I had noticed it earlier so I wouldn't have to taste Jully-ann's sermon later because I was late for her birthday party. Why did I even forgot? Ugh!,

"Let's go?" He asked me.

He was standing in front of me and I didn't even notice it. He walks fast.

"Yeah." I smiled.

We were just quiet on the way to Jully-ann's house. Sean was driving because it was his car. I was just looking out the window of his car when he broke the silence.

"It looks good on you."

"What?" I asked in astonishment.

"The bracelet I gave you the other day," he said while the look was still on the road.

I was wearing the bracelet he gave us the other day. He gave me, Mia, Jully-ann my cousin Winlab a bracelet as a sign that we are important to him.

It's unfair of him because he didn't give our male friends, too. But it's okay with our male friends because they'll call Sean gay if he gave them one.

They are really crazy.

"Yeah, it's beautiful. Thank you for it, hm?" I sincerely said.

"How many times did you repeat that the other day. Isn't it over yet?" He joked and laughed

I laughed too. He joke so corny sometimes but at least he's with me when I need him. So unlike our other friends.

"And I'm declaring you as the MOST OF THE MOST SWEETEST FRIEND, dude." I laughed loudly.

He laughed. "You're funny as always."

I went silent. I felt a slight pain in my heart because of what he said.

I don't think so, dude. No one even appreciates my presence.

At last we're finally here. Sean was driving so fast in the car that it was only 15 minutes from our house that we arrived immediately. Usually it takes 30 minutes when you run just right.

"You look tense, "Sean suddenly commented as we were about to enter Jully-ann's house.

"Nah. I'm cool."

He laughed. "Don't worry we're not late," he said before we finally went inside.

We saw Winlab, Mia, Jully-ann, and our guy friends on the sofa, laughing. They were mumbling things and then laugh.

If you look at it from a distance they look crazy but beacuse I know them I know they are just talking nonsense.