Parati nalang akong naghahanap ng perfect timing para makausap siya... Pakiramdam ko, pinapalayo na talaga siya sakin. I rarely see Yndra. And then... Kapag magkakasalubong naman kami, medyo umiikli na ang usapan namin.
Damn this... Mahirap!
Yeah... Tama naman ang gjnagawa niya! Dapat naman talagang iwasan niya ako.
Pinaghirapan niya rin ang rank niya eh... Nang ilang taon. Ayaw kong nakikita na nagigiba ang mga pinaghirapan niya.
Hanggang sa pinatawag ako sa office ni Sir. Yung nagalit kay Yndra.
Wait papagalitan rin ba ako?! Nakakakaba talaga!
I swear, I thought I was dreaming when I opened the door.
Like who visits at 9AM unannounced, nakabihis pa silang dalawa ha?
“Gucci, anak!” Mom surprised, arms open. “Surprise!
I didn't respond to her hug.
“H-huh?” I blinked. “Wait, why are you guys here? Hindi pwede ang visitor dito, mommy. Ang unfair naman sa mga kasama ko if ever malaman nila 'to.”
“Of course not! You have a privilege here. I convinced your tito.” Dad laughed.
They pushed their way inside the office like they owned the place. Mom even took off her shoes and sat on the white couch.
May parents are here.
But why am I not happy?
“So,” Mom started, fixing her hair habang iniikot ang mga mata sa office, “we were thinking… umuwi ka na.”
“Uwi?” I repeated, confused.
Dad nodded. “Sa bahay. This weekend. We'll celebrate your birthday properly. Because we didn't celebrate it last time kasi nandito ka."
“You mean like... a lunch?” I asked, still standing, still weirded out.
“No, no,” Mom said quickly. “I mean, grand. As in may band, may caterer, balloon arch kung gusto mo. Baka nga magpa-fireworks ang daddy mo.”
I stared. “Okay… bakit mommy?”
Kasi ang weird. We never celebrate naman talaga ang birthday ko. Nakatatak na sa utak ko na normal day lang ang birthday ko.
Dad laughed again, placing a hand on my shoulder. “We’re serious. You deserve it. We’ll grant everything you want this year, anak.”
My brows furrowed. “Guys. You literally forgot my birthday last year.”
“That’s different,” Mom said, brushing it off. “This year is special. We want to make it up to you. Baka gusto mong ng bagong car? Or that Maldives trip you keep posting sa IG stories mo?”
This was… a lot.
I mean, yeah, I’ve jokingly asked for those things. But they never cared before. Usually it’s just a text. Or minsan, not even that. No gifts and no cakes too. Just “Happy Birthday, Gucci. Be good.”
And now they’re offering me a party na pang-pulitiko? What’s going on?
“Are you guys okay?” I asked slowly. “Like, mentally?”
“We miss you, anak,” Dad said.
Mom nodded, smile tight. “We just want you home.”
Home.
That word suddenly felt heavy. Sticky. I looked at their faces. The way they were forcing sweetness through their teeth. Something about it made my skin crawl.
BINABASA MO ANG
if guns can cry (bittersweet #5)
RomanceSpoiled, wealthy, and used to getting her way, she traded her luxury life in order to join a brutal military training. She has only one goal, find out who murdered her sister during the war. All clues point to one person: the Female General, the co...
