Gone Forever (1/4)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"What's your plan for your birthday, Da?" Yela asked. "Sleepover ka ulit sa condo ni Kuya Miko." Bahagya siyang natawa. "I didn't expect that the next time you'll spend a night at his condo, you two are together na. I really had no clue." She looked at me teasingly and even chuckled.

Natatawa na lang akong nailing. "Ewan ko, matagal pa naman eh."

"Really, Da?" She looked at me like I was a mad person. "Hello? It's already December 5 today. Sa 8 na ang Birthday mo, Da."

"Oo na, oo na. Let's just celebrate it together."

"So sa condo ni Kuya- Eherm. I mean sa condo ng boyfriend mo?" Mapangloko siyang ngumiti.

Mahina ko siyang tinampal. "Stop teasing me already. And will you please just call him what you have been used to? Before he became my boyfriend, he was your cousin, Yela."

"Opo. Sorry, madam," aniya at ngumuso.

"Good," sabi ko at tumawa.

"So, sa condo na ni kuya tayo magce-celebrate?"

"We'll ask him first," sabi ko.

Tumango siya. "Let's do that kahit it's most likely that he will let you crash without giving a word."

"But that's not the right thing to do. We need his permission."

Tumango si Yela. "By the way, Da, I've already found an apartment."

"Are you moving out again?"

Tumango siya. "My father suggested. My parents realized that it's not good to co-habit with a bachelor. Baka raw hindi na makapangasawa si kuya," aniya at tumawa. "I agreed so that he'll have his own privacy in his own home."

Tumingin siya sa akin. "Para you know," she teased. She even rose her brows.

"Stop it, Yela."

"Oo na, madam." It was what she said but she didn't stop teasing me for the rest of the day.

I received a call from Yela the day before my birthday.

"Nagsimula ka ng maglipat?"

"Yes, in fact, most of my things are here na."

"Really? So, when are we going to have a home warming party?"

"Now that you have mentioned it, why do it now?"

"Sure ka?"

"Sure na sure. Then I'll text kuya to buy food on the way."

"Alright," I said before hanging up.

Speaking of my beloved Miko, it's been a week now since we last met. He was kind of busy and I understand that as he was to me when I was too busy with schoolworks. Just the thought of meeting him later was enough to make my heart pound faster.

"Nasaan ka, love?"

"Dito sa street food section."

"Okay. Nandito na ako, love," aniya bago pinatay ang tawag.

I quickly roamed my gaze aound the place to look for him. But I couldn't find him. Instead, a guy with a silver hair waved at my direction. I didn't dare to check if he was waving at me or to anyone else. I don't care since he is not Miguel Keiou Elizalde.

I just paid the food I ordered and left the stall. Tatawagan ko na lang si Miko. Baka naligaw lang siya.

I walked towards the exit without looking at the faces of the people at the place. I was about to walk past the guy with a silver hair when I saw a familiar ring. It was on his pinky finger on his left hand, just like where I put my ring on Miko.