Her Stormy Seasons (Vitality Series #1) | ✓

18

No one asked me but I don't like parties, and that's the reason why I chose to celebrate my debut exclusive only for my close friends.

Ano nga ba ang maitutulong no'n? Gastos lang 'yon at magiging sakit pa sa ulo ang pagpili ng sa mga 18 roses, 18 candles and such. I mean, yes, I'm not against those people who celebrate their birthdays by having fancy parties. Walang masama sa gano'n. Once a year lang ang birthday kaya dapat talagang pahalagahan. As they were saying, live your life as if it's your last. Maganda ang gano'n kung alam mong marami kang maiimbitahang mga kaibigan.  Pero, sa situation ko, that won't help. I'm not that friendly compared to others. Yes, I'm approachable but I really can't approach someone that I'm not comfortable with.

I also have this thought that I want to celebrate my birthday so I could invite my elementary batch mates, so I could catch up with them. But, after that day, what will happen? Wala rin, 'di ba? Makakasama ko lang naman sila dahil birthday ko. Babalik din sa dati ang lahat. Baka nga sumama pa ang loob ko kung tanggihan nila ang invitation ko. There will be long normal days after my birthday that means there will be long days without them. Besides, you couldn't be close with those people who couldn't let go of that one phase of you they met many years ago.

Dismayado ka pa kapag may nasabi silang hindi maganda about sa venue or sa handa. Like, hindi talaga maiiwasan ang mga taong mahilig manlait, right? May mga ganoon talagang tao. Pupunahin talaga nila ang lahat ng mga hindi magaganda.

Hindi mo kailangang gumastos para lang makausap at makasama ang iba. Hindi mo kailangang hintayin ang birthday mo para lang magpakita sila sa 'yo at maiparamdam na mahalaga ka. Why? Because, to those people who really loves and value you, knows how to communicate with you even to those days that you felt like you don't have the energy to talk, and especially to the days that you think you're alone. Right friends will stay with you no matter what.

Remember, right people can make the normal days special. Special than your birthday.

"Happy birthday, Geneva!" I greeted her.

I handed her a paper bag, just a simple present for her. I brought her a Gucci bag. Hoping that she'll like it, though.

Lumapit siya sa akin kasama ang photographer.

"Thank you! Can we take a picture together?"

I nodded as response. "But.." I trailed off. My friends weren't here. Nagpaalam ang dalawa kanina na pupunta ng comfort room at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nakakabalik.

"No, we'll be having a separate picture with them." she told me.

We faced the photographer. We smiled as he started counting. Then there! He took three shots.

I smiled at her before I turned around to go back on our table. Nagulat ako nang makita ko si Gino sa tabi ng upuan ko. Nakatitig sa screen ng phone at nakangiti. I chuckled as I sat down beside him.

I leaned closer just so I could take a glance on his screen. Nakita ko roon ang picture namin ng kapatid niya. He also took photos. Nasa side ang angle, it means narito siya sa table namin kanina noong nag-picture kami.

"Your sister's so damn gorgeous." I told him. That's true, I'm older than her, pero mukhang mas dalaga pa siya sa akin.

Gulat siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. Hindi niya yata alam na nandito na ako sa tabi niya.

I stared at his face. I couldn't stop but to compare him with her sister. They really look like each other. Para silang kambal ni Geneva. They both have tanned skin, na siya namang bagay sa mga mata nila. Their eyes were almond shaped, it really compliments their thick eyebrows and long eyelashes.