I had a hard time choosing what to wear since I called Ranna the night before yesterday. I couldn't think of any of my clothes that she hasn't seen yet so I ended up mixing two of my usual clothes. And the way she told me that she's dressing up for the occasion because she doesn't want to get 'mapahiya' only made me feel pressured even more.

I came late, again because I had to meet up with Jules that afternoon and because of Menchie's call telling me that she's waiting for me outside the Mapua gate just right after Ranna texted me that she was there, too at the very same time. I told Mench to follow me at SM and told her I can't stay for long with her because I had to go to the CE night. As the kind person she was, she understood and she went home. I met with Ranna at 8 pm with my still damp hair. I just came from Irene's place and took a shower and changed my clothes. (She gave me the keys to her room that afternoon because I told her I need a place to change that night)

We went first to the Cafe Adriatico in Baywalk at Roxas Blvd. (the very same place where I took Mench a week before) because I didn't have a ticket to the C.E. (Civil Engineering) night so we had to go there really late in the hope that the organizers won't notice. It was the first time we drank liquor together and that's where I learned that the paparazzi bureau in the CE department calls me the 'black man'. No, not because I'm dark, but because I usually wear black.

The lady singer I was bragging the place about wasn't there and another male singer (who didn't have a very good choice of songs) replaced her. A large boat shimmering with lights passed by the Manila Bay behind me and Ranna had me noticed it. She asked me to remember that very moment when I watch the Before Sunrise CD she'd lent me.

At around 11 pm, we've decided it's time we go to the Metro Bar. We took a taxi and found the place in no time. The two guards who'd inspected made me a little nervous but I was able to get through the reception. It took me a few moments before it finally sank in me that I was already there. The candidates for the Mr. & Ms. CE-ENSE 2004 lined up the stage and one of them was Macy, the SK chairperson in our place.

We found our seats in the thin crowd while Ranna kept telling me "Eto na yun, ganito lang CE night namen.." And honestly, it didn't seem to be that fun, indeed. Not everyone in the crowd seemed to be happy with what their watching. I think the ME night gets a lot better than that, I've never actually been into one, but I surely can tell, we're ME y'know. The CE's were a little too decent and sophisticated that it sometimes get in the way of having fun while the ME's, oh need-I-say-more?

The stand-up comedians in between the segments of the pageant gave the night's comic relief. They were the ones who roused the drowsing audience. I almost laughed my head out with the things they do to themselves on stage only to find out that Ranna, who was sitting beside me, is not very much into green humor, which was the main thing the comedians did.

We left right after the winners were announced. I don't know, but the way she looked, I guess she enjoyed the night less than I did. So the trip back home was really uneventful, I've been killing myself, thinking if it was me or the place we had just been. We went down of the taxi in Monumento together and there we parted ways.