Behind That Mellifluous Melody

6

"You'll help me, right?" I asked Ivor. Tomorrow will be my parents' 20th anniversary and I'm planning to surprise them.

"Nope, may kulang." He smirked which made me raised a brow.

"Ano?"

"Magic word."

"Gago, ano tayo elementary?"

He did not reply, he shrugged. I sighed, can't believe he thinks like that.

"Fine. Can you help me, please?" I tried my best to look sincere.

"Okay." He replied. I smiled and hugged him.

Since it was Saturday, we don't have classes to attend to. I called Astra to help me, too. She agreed naman since it wasn't hard to convince her. It will just be a simple surprise that involves confettis, flowers, balloons and foods.

She came here and discussed the plans. I took notes on the thing we need to buy. Dumiretso na rin kami sa mall. I need to focus sa mga bibilhin and I'm trying my best to avoid the bookstore.

Good thing wala pa sila mama at papa, may trip sila kahapon at bukas ng hapon or gabi pa raw sila uuwi kaya we still have our time to prepare. Madali lang namin nahanap yung mga kailangan, the problem was...sobrang haba ng mga pila.

"Punta ka na sa bookstore, alam kong kating kati na yang mga paa mo na tumapak doon." Astra whispered, Ivor heard it at tumawa siya.

"Kami na bahala rito, don't take too long though." He said and I thanked them.

I searched around the Mystery/Thriller section. 'Get Even' and 'Get Dirty' by Gretchen McNeil caught my attention. I felt like history just repeat itself. Putangina... not again please.

I didn't look at the person at walked to the other section. Baka mairapan ulit ako, bakit ba kasi laging ganoon? Malas naman. I just grabbed some Nicholas Sparks' novels at nagbayad.

Pagkalabas ko ay andoon na rin sila Astra and Ivor. Kinuha ko na rin yung ibang buhat nila at pumunta sa may fastfood. My treat because they deserve it. I was not expecting them to order a lot of foods.

While we were eating, Astra suddenly talk. "Sa tingin niyo ba iniisip ng mga scorpions na mermaid yung mga lobsters?" I almost choked, that question was kinda weird but I'm curious now.

"Itanong mo, Scorpio ka diba?" Ivor teased.

"Bobo mo. By the way, paano mo alam? Crush mo ako, no?" Astra grinned, here we go again.

"What if my answer is yes?" Astra and I stopped eating. Holy shit my ship is sailing.

"Sorry hindi kita type." I looked at Astra.

"Joke lang. Asa ka naman, 'di rin kita type." Ivor surpassed a laugh, akala ko ba naman lalayag na ship ko.

After eating, umuwi na rin kami. Dito matutulog si Astra. Sakto dahil Ivor's parents are here kaya pwede raw nila kaming tulungan. Tita said she'll help me cook, thank gods dahil hindi ako ganoon kagaling.

Sabay na rin kaming naligo ni Astra, she was kinda quiet tonight. I asked her if there's something wrong. May iniisip lang daw siya. She has gut feelings na this will not turn out well, that made me confused.

"Everythings gonna be fine, I'll make sure na successful 'tong surprise."

"That's not it, hindi ko lang alam kung ano 'yon pero hayaan mo na. Tulog na tayo, maaga pa tayo gigising bukas." She said sabay higa sa kama kaya tumabi na rin ako. We were so tired that's why we both fell asleep easily.

"Val, gising na." I opened my eyes and checked my phone, it was six in the morning.

I did my morning routine and wore a cyan oversized shirt and shorts. I bunned my hair na rin since magluluto na kami. I let Ivor and Astra designed my parents' bedroom.

I let Tita Stell handle the carbonara, it'll be a waste of time kapag tinulungan ko pa siya, I don't know how to prepare that. Nagbake na lang ako ng cookies at macaroons.

After kong malagay sa oven yung cookies, I checked Astra and Ivor. They're doing just fine, it's good to be honest. Umalis na rin agad ako dahil gagawa kami ni tita ng lasagna.

I arranged the layers while tita makes the sauce. Tumunog na yung timer kaya inalis ko na yung cookies at sinunod yung macaroons. Buti na lang tapos na rin ni tita yung sauce kaya nilagyan na namin ng meat and sauce per layer.

It was already 3 p.m. nang natapos kami. Ang ganda rin ng kwarto, they used the rose petals to form a heart in the bed, it was cute. Yung pictures nila mama and papa ay nakasabit na rin. The balloons are everywhere, sana magustuhan nila.

"Val, yung cake?" Ivor approached me. Shit nakalimutan ko. Kinuha ko kaagad yung wallet ko at hinila si Astra. Buti na lang nakapag-reserve kami kahapon kaso nakalimutan ko lang kunin kanina. I hope saglit lang kami.

Mama messaged me na they're on their way na raw. Ito ata yung sinasabi ni Astra. Nakasakay na kami sa jeep and sobrang traffic, I'm not panicking...just a little bit. It took us thirty minutes bago nakarating.

Madali lang naming nakuha yung cake. Ivor called and I answered it.

"Wala pang drinks." He reminded.

I heard some people talking, I just don't know if dito 'yon or sa call. I just didn't mind that. I ended it na and then bought some soft drinks, the problem was, paano namin 'to mabubuhat?

"Ate Val, sorry nung last time." Luvian which I don't where he came from, talked.

"Oh, okay lang 'yon. Why are you here? May kasama ka ba?"

"Tumakas lang ako... Can I?" He pointed sa buhat namin. Yung cake na lang pinabuhat ko. Astra invited him na sumama sa surprise at tinanggap naman niya. I tried to call Ivor but he didn't answered. I texted him but he didn't replied. Maybe they're busy, kaya we rode the jeep again.

"Val, natatandaan ko may drinks naman tayong binili kahapon. Baka hindi lang nakita ni Ivor? Ngayon ko lang naalala."

I tried to reminisced and she was right, si Ivor pa nagbuhat. Baka nakalimutan nga lang niya. Tinignan ko yung kasama namin, marunong pala 'tong tumakas. Unlike kanina, hindi kami inabot ng traffic kaya nakarating agad kami.

Nauna na si Astra and I gestured Luvian to come in. He's kinda shy around other people kaya siguro kinakabahan. I saw my parents' car in the garage which means they're here.

We went towards their room, did they surprised them? It was quiet, I started to feel nervous for an unknown reason. Every step feels so heavy. When Luvian opened the door, I felt my whole world crumbled.

My knees weaken and I just let it fell on the floor.