Falling Unexpectedly (Ongoing)

Chapter 18

"Surprise!"

They all shouted along with the party poppers as Nero walked in the room. Napalakas pa ang sigaw nina Andrei at Rex dahil naisipan ng tatlo na malapit sa tenga iputok ang mga ito. Isa sa gitna at tag-isa sa magkabilang tabi.

Humagalpak naman sa tawa ang mga nakakita sa reaksyon ng dalawa while Nero was speechless and motionless at the same time. He didn't expected anything from anyone for today because he thought that no one remembered.

Maya-maya naman ay tumigil sila sa pagtawa at nakisabay sa pagkanta habang hawak ng ina ni Nero ang cake nito. The cake just came a while ago before their classes ended.

Some parts of the cake like the lower part were made out of styrofoam but not the two layers above. The top layer was plain white with rings on it's black bottom part. The middle part was black with zigzag-like strips of white. The bottom part was another plain black with rings on top of it. There were also some edible leaves on the top and bottom part of the cake. There was a lighted candle on the bottom part of it.

"Happy birthday... to you..." Sabay-sabay silang kumanta at pumalakpak nang may malawak na ngiti sa mga labi. Si Nero naman ay bahagyang nakabukas pa rin ang bibig ngunit walang salitang lumalabas mula rito.

"Happy birthday, Nero..." Sabay-sabay nilang tinapos ang kanta at lumapit ang ina ni Nero sa kaniya upang ilahad ang cake.

"It's time to blow the candle, anak." She called out as Nero kept speechless. He snapped out of his surprised feeling and bended a bit down.

Pumikit ito at nagsimulang mag-isip kung ano ang gusto niyang hilingin ngunit wala itong maisip. 'I have almost everything now and I couldn't ask for more. So I'll just wish to receive the things that I truly deserve.' Pagkamulat ay hinipan na niya ang kandila at sabay-sabay namang nagpalakpakan ang mga tao.

"Time to eat!" Masayang ani ng ina niya na agad naman nilang sinundan nang maglakad ito papuntang hapag-kainan.

Masaya silang nagsalu-salo habang nakikipagkwentuhan lalo na ang ina ni Nero maliban sa ama nitong tahimik na nakikinig sa kanila.

"How are your studies, kids?" Panimulang tanong ni Nelia.

Ignacio smiled. "I'm pretty sure their doing their best."

"Yup, that's right po! We're doing great po, tita! Although hindi po gano'n katataas ang iba naming grades, pasado pa rin po." Nakangiting sagot ni Cass.

It made Nelia smile. "That's good to know. As long as pasado kayo, okay na 'yon. Don't pressure yourselves. Anyway, are you having fun ba?"

"Opo, tita! Totoo nga po na highschool ang isa sa pinakamasayang parte ng buhay." Sagot ni Christy habang nagsasalin ng juice sa kaniyang baso.

Her smile even widened. "Yes and you guys better enjoy your highschool lives because college is really stressful. Trust me."

Nagtanguan ang mga ito at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

Caeli suddenly remembered something. "Hey, Nixx. Three days ago was your birthday, right?"

Nixx nodded. "Yes, me and my family just went out after we finished making our project at Ignis' house."

"Birthday mo pala no'ng nakaraan but you made a project with your friends instead of celebrating it. Why though?" Nagtatakang tanong dito ni Ignacio.

A sad smile appeared on her face. "They know po na I don't like to celebrate my birthday."

Hindi na nila ulit ito tinanong tungkol doon dahil mukhang ayaw niya itong pag-usapan. Nagpatuloy na sila sa pagkain habang nakikipag-usap. Nang matapos naman sila ay pumunta sila sa sala at isa-isa nang nagbigay ng regalo.