"Kane, is Vino really coming tonight?" Brian asked me as he looked around the resto-bar.

Brian, Jeff, Miguel, Bianca, and I were already waiting for Lily's band to perform for the night.

I glanced at my phone and stared at the lock screen.

As Brian had requested earlier, I texted Vino to ask where he is. Vino's reply was ten minutes ago saying he was on his way and driving.

"He said so," I answered. "For the last time, Brian, I'm telling you he's on his way already."

He nodded before grabbing his beer bottle.

I looked around the bar, and it was jam-packed with its regulars, and I could hear the clinking of glasses, the chattering and laughter from the groups of friends, and most of all I could smell the scent of alcohol.

If I was being honest, I think the scent alone can intoxicate me. I was just thankful that this bar doesn't allow customers to smoke inside.

This was one of the bars where Lily and their band regularly performed. It was one of my favorites too. Aside from the no-smoking inside rule, I liked the fact that even all the tables were occupied, there was still a decent space. Other bars were too cramped. I also liked the neon lights lining the ceiling.

Lily and her bandmates were still setting up their instruments on stage, and I tore my eyes away from them. I couldn't help tapping my foot and looking around, waiting for a familiar face to enter the door. I blamed all these on Brian.

I knew I had just spent time with Vino this morning, but knowing he would be here tonight just made the night sound more exciting. I wanted to spend more time with him. Besides, he might fly back to Australia anytime soon.

A few minutes later, Vino arrived, and I felt relieved like a lost five-year-old girl finding her mother at aisle 5 in the supermarket.

He walked over to our table and high-fived all three guys. Brian immediately transferred so Vino could sit next to me.

I watched him take the seat next to me as I tried to figure out what was different in him. I couldn't point it, but there was something new.

"Why did you shave your beard?" Miguel asked. "I thought you wanted to grow it."

Ah, that was it. The beard was gone, and his face looked so bare. When he had driven me home in the morning, he still had his scruffy facial hair.

"I changed my mind," Vino simply replied.

"Let's give it up for Stardust," the gig host announced, and everyone applauded.

Three spotlights pointed on the stage, focusing on the four-piece band. Their drummer, Basti, was sitting on his throne with his drumsticks at the ready. Josh was standing on the left side of the stage with his bass guitar. Lily and Mike were standing in the center, both with their guitars. Two mic stands were in front of them as well.

After introducing themselves one by one, we all gave them another round of applause, giving way to their performance. I had seen them perform before, but I was always amazed watching them on stage, especially Lily.

***

Their band had just finished their sixth song and they went off stage to give way for the next band's set.

Everyone was laughing about something Miguel had said when Lily approached our table.

"Hey..." Lily greeted. "Enjoying the night?"

We all answered simultaneously, expressing how much we're enjoying.

"I told the guy's I'm going to stay here for a while because if I'm not mistaken, this is the first time all of you are here to watch me."

"Oh yeah, this is definitely a first," Bianca agreed. "By the way, tonight's the first live performance of your third song, right?"

"Yup, it is." Lily nodded.

"Why do you write the saddest of songs?" Brian asked, referring to the Stardust's songs performed for tonight.

"It's the product of a broken heart, baby," Lily replied in a playful manner before pulling a chair to sit on.

They started talking about Lily's band life and some random life stuff, and I picked up my beer bottle and took a sip as I listened to them. I kind of liked fading in the background as I watch my favorite people just talk about their lives.

"Hey Vino, how do you tell a girl that you want her to be your girlfriend without asking if you may court her?" Brian asked out of the blue. Dating wasn't the current topic, but it was typical of Brian to ask something out of the blue.

"What?" Vino asked, leaning back on his chair. "Well..."

Vino laughed when he noticed all six of us gaping at him, waiting for his answer.

"Why does it feel like I'm being interrogated?"

"I'm just asking, man," Brian replied. "Help a dude out."

"Really, Brian? Aren't you the dating expert among the four of you?" Bianca asked, and Brian just shrugged.

"If I love someone, I will tell her. I don't believe I need to ask for permission to court someone. But when I'm in love, I show it in my actions..." Vino paused, cracking into a tiny smile. In a softer voice, he added, "And I tell it directly to her."

***

6 years ago

We were on the way home. Vino had promised to give me a ride home instead of Mommy picking me up from the venue. During the car ride, we had talked about our junior prom. It had definitely been one of the highlights of our high school life.

Vino had removed his suit jacket and offered it to me, but I had told him I didn't need it so he had placed it on the seat of the car instead. He had also loosened his tie, and somehow it made him look more attractive.

I had felt the car slowing down to a halt, and I looked out the tinted window and noticed we were two lots away from my house.

"Can you please drive around for a couple of minutes?" Vino asked their driver as the latter stopped the car.

Vino then asked me if it was okay for me if we would just walk from there, and I agreed.

We climbed out of the black SUV, and it took off and left us standing on the curb near a lamp post. It was past one in the morning, and there was no one else out on the street.

Vino was holding the bouquet of roses that was given to me along with the Star of the Night sash awarded to me.

A light wind blew, and I regretted on that instant that I didn't accept Vino's jacket. I shivered and came to the realization of how much skin my gown shows. It was a backless halter top and was cropped right above the navel.

I'm not wearing anything like this again, I reminded myself.

"You cold?" Vino asked.

"No," I replied, blowing a puff of air.

"You're cold. I should've insisted on my jacket."

I shook my head. "No, it's alright."

"Sure?"

I gave him a reassuring thumb up, and he gave me a small nod.

"Hey, are you upset you weren't the Princess of the Night?" he asked me all of a sudden.

"Duh? Of course not," I answered, chuckling.

I wasn't really after winning an award anyway. Besides, Bianca did look like a princess during the prom.

"Good. Because why would you even dream of being the princess of the night when you can be the princess of my life?" he quipped and looked away from me with a sheepish smile on his face.

I bit the insides of my cheeks to suppress a smile.

"But you still won an award though. Star of the night..." he trailed off as if he was thinking of something else to say. "It means you outshine everyone."

I chuckled.

"Can we please stop with your corny pick-up lines?"

"Okay. That'll be the last one." He sighed. "Uh... I have something for you."

He took out a small black box from his pocket and handed it to me. I looked at him questioningly, and he just nodded so I accepted the box and opened it.

In it was a silver chain bracelet with a crown charm. He handed me the bouquet, took the box from me, and asked me to raise my hand a little so he could put the bracelet on my wrist.

I was still staring at the bracelet on my wrist, and I hadn't said anything to him. I was overjoyed not because he bought me what I assume was an expensive gift, but because he was thoughtful enough to give me something this memorable.

He cleared his throat, prompting me to look at him.

"I—wow, I don't know what to say, but thank you."

"Do you like it?"

I shook my head.

"What?" he asked, and the dismay was evident on his face.

I remembered the past few weeks when he would wrap his thumb and pinky finger around my wrist and tease me that my wrist looks like a little girl's. Then I remembered Lily showing me and Bianca pictures of sterling silver bracelets, asking if we were to buy one, which one would we buy. And this was the exact bracelet I had picked. I just loved how dainty it looks.

I had no idea Vino was planning to surprise me with it.

I paused for a moment before finally saying, "I love it, Vino."

He let out a sigh of relief and flashed me a smile—the same kind of smile when we had held hands while watching a movie in their house.

We remained standing under the lamp post and an awkward silence ensued. He took a step forward and caressed my cheek.

He was more than a foot taller than me, so even on 4-inch heels, I still needed to raise my chin to look him in the eye.

He gently touched my chin, so we could look into each other. For a second there, I had thought he was going to kiss me the way people kiss in romance films, but I sensed his hesitation because he didn't lean in any closer. He moved his hand to the back of my head, sending shivers down my spine when his finger touched my nape. He pulled me closer to him and kissed my forehead instead.

It was a soft kiss and his lips lingered on for a couple of seconds before he pulled away. I gripped the bouquet of roses tighter as I held my breath.

"I love you, Kane," he murmured, prompting me to look up at him with wide eyes.

My heart was pounding like a jackhammer, and I was out of breath.

Did Vino just tell me he loves me?

He was staring down at me, his hand still holding the back of my head, and I was beginning to feel light-headed.

Was this the part of romance films when the lead passes out?

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to speak.

"Thanks," I croaked.

He furrowed his eyebrows, cleared his throat, and asked, "Thanks?"

I definitely killed the moment in one word.

I let out a nervous chuckle and took a step back as I racked my brain for something to say to him. Anything would be good.

Literally anything.

"I mean, not thanks because you told me—"

"So, you heard me. For a second there I thought you didn't."

I took a sharp deep breath and glanced at the empty street.

"Thanks for—for your gift," I mumbled, raising my hand to show him the bracelet on my wrist. "I love it. I really do. And, uh, for making this night wonderful and just for everything that you did for me."

His lips were a thin line as he listened to me. He bobbed his head up and down and avoided my gaze for a few seconds.

"I understand, Kane. You don't have to feel pressured. I mean, you don't have to say the words back if you don't want to."

I looked down on the concrete sidewalk, feeling embarrassed and guilty for what I did. I shouldn't have told him thanks. But I wasn't ready to say the words to him either. Maybe I should've pretended not to hear him.

"I didn't say it to get you to say you love me. I just wanted to let you know how I feel. I mean it, Kane," he reassured me, but I still wished I didn't make our night awkward.

"Okay," I whispered, still keeping my eyes down.

"Come on, let's walk you home."

We crossed the street and walked home in silence. I knew I would be ruminating about what happened to us in the next few days or weeks.

Usually, saying 'thanks' was polite, but it wasn't the case when someone admits to you, they love you.

I heard an incoming car right around the corner just in time when we reached my front door.

"Here you go." Vino handed me the bracelet's box. "I guess I'll just see you on Monday."

"Yeah, I'll see you then. Thank you for giving me a ride home."

"Of course."

He craned his neck to glance at the Black SUV parking right across the street.

"Well, there's your ride home."

He nodded his head at me. "Good night, Kane."

"Good night, Vino."

He had turned his back to me, and I had watched him make his way towards the car. He climbed into the car without taking one last glance at me.

Who would've thought that one of the most memorable nights of my life could also be one of the most embarrassing ones?

Isn't it funny how quickly things change?

***

My phone vibrated on the table, and I picked it up to see who texted me.

Want to get out of here?

I glanced at Vino, and he raised an eyebrow at me, waiting for my answer. I glanced around our table. I had only finished a bottle of beer and didn't bother drinking another one.

Without thinking twice, I nodded at Vino.

"I think Kane and I should get going. I'm driving her home," Vino announced, and to me, it sounded like driving me home was something he always did.

Is this how it feels to be his girlfriend?

We said our goodbyes and walked out of the resto-bar. As soon as we were out in the parking lot, I inhaled some fresh air. It was already summertime in the Philippines but the air felt so cool. I relished the feeling knowing that the next nights would probably be not as cold as this one.

We walked towards his Chevelle, and I sat on the passenger seat and watched Vino start the engine.

I sat waiting as he connected his phone to the car's stereo via Bluetooth.

"I thought that's a vintage radio," I said in astonishment.

"No. It's just an exact replica of the original radio, but it has modern features," he stated as a matter of fact.

I always liked it when he starts to geek about the things that he's interested in.

"So, you get the best of both worlds."

"Exactly."

"What are we listening to tonight?" I asked.

"Make a guess."

The first thing that came to my mind was Lonestar, and I wasn't mistaken. "Let's Be Us Again" began playing before I even got to say the band's name. I was glad to know he still liked listening to the band's songs.

Some things never change.

He gazed at me before smiling, and my breath caught in my throat as I held his gaze. Then he slowly turned to the steering wheel and backed out of the parking lot.

If someone were to ask me, what is one mundane thing that ever made my heart skip a beat, I would tell the person it was that few seconds inside a vintage car and staring at a boy's sweet smile.

Staring at the first boy I ever loved.