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16

The event was doing great. Yang Hyun Suk, Sanghyun and Se7en were visiting each table, trying to make small talk with the guests to see who among them were worthy to reach out to and invest in while Dara was with her cousin - Bom, eating their full.

It was a few minutes before 12 when Gray walked towards both women.

"Boo Bom!" Tawag ni Gray sabay upo sa upuan ni Sanghyun na katabin ng kay Dara.

"Jusko! Ba't andito itong lalakeng to?!" Naiinis kunong sabi ni Bom as she reached in to give the man a friendly hug.

"Gwapo ako eh." Natatawang sabi nito sabay kuha ng isa sa mga macaroons ni Dara.

Bom laughed as Dara glared daggers at the man.

"San banda?" Naiinis na sabi ni Dara sabay hablot sa macaroon na kinuha ni Gray.

"Ang buraot mo sa macaroons."

"Talaga!"

"Hoy Buhangin, ako nagdala niyan sayo ah?"

"Kaya nga, kaya akin to."

"Pucha! Hanep ng reasoning natin ah?"

"Talaga! Alis nga diyan Abo!"

"Aba! Kung hindi ka lang talaga babae Buhangin nakatikim ka na sa akin!"

"Sorry ka, babae ako!"

"Hindi kaya! Maton ka! Maton!"

Before their banter escalated, Bom stopped them and glanced meaningfully at Gray.

"Psst. Buhangin."

"Ano?!" Naiinis na bulyaw ni Dara dito.

"Marunong ka pa naman mag-piano diba?" Makahulugang tanong nito. 

Dara turned to the man and immediately had a bad feeling about his words. 

"Ano nanamang kabalastugan ang plinaplano mo Lee Seonghwa?"

"Wala naman." 

And at that moment, Sanghyun's voice was heard as he talked through the microphone in his hand. 

"Let me disturb everyone for a while." He said smiling. "Alam kong nag-eenjoy kayo with the company of people you knew and people you just met tonight but please allow us to say a few words before we get on with the party." 

"I think everyone was informed that the event would end early the next day." Gray said into the microphone that he was skillfully hiding behind his back, making Dara's eyes widen as the guest's eyes turned to the man who was talking. "Hindi po iyon prank. Totoo po na the party would end early tomorrow."

"Sa sobrang early, you'd be leaving the venue at about 2 or 3 in the morning." Napatingin naman ngayon ang mga tao kay Se7en who also had a microphone in hand. "The reason? Simple lang." He grinned and walked towards the stage, along with Sanghyun. 

"Our family's information has always been kept secret and only a few people who know us personally know things about us that even our business partners don't." Sanghyun was grinning from ear to ear as he pressed something. "So do not take it the wrong way when I say, you have been blessed for attending today."

In no time, the presentation playing on stage changed from their parents' pictures and videos, to Dara's. 

What?

"In our City, it's normal for us to hold an event from 9 in the evening to early the next day. And the answer is quite obvious when you know." Se7en continued still smiling. 

Jiyong, CL and Seungri then realized something. 

"What day is it today?" Seungri asked the person next to him. 

The man looked at his watch and turned back to Seungri.

"November 11. In a few minutes, it'll be the 12th."

Dara's birthday. 

"So if I may request the birthday girl to please spare us the honor of hearing you play the piano." Gray said with a gentle smile before handing Dara his hand. 

"I'm so going to kill you." Dara whispered, enough for only Gray and Bom to hear, making them chuckle. "After this, make sure magtatago ka ng napakabuti Abo, papatayin kita."

Despite her threats, Dara accepted Gray's hand and stood up. She turned to look at her grandfather who was with his friends, smiling from ear to ear. 

Matagal na din since he heard Dara play kaya when Gray suggested they do a double event like they always did in their City and have Dara play the piano, he immediately agreed. 

Dara sat in front of the grand piano and took a deep breath. It has been 6 years since she last played the piano. 

She never once glanced at a piano's direction after the break up dahil she was planning to compose a piece for Jiyong and give it to him as an anniversary present. 

She wanted to say no. Pero hindi niya kayang hindian ang mga ngiti ng pamilya niya. 

She then played the slow and steady melody of the first part to Tchaikovsky's November from his the Seasons Op 37a. She chose the song mainly because it was her birth month. Yes, it was considered the most challenging out of the 12 short character pieces that made up the Seasons, but she loved it. 

It was calm and slow at first na para bang walang excitement, but it quickly changes to a fast, rapid moving melodic flow that seemed playful to her. Gaya ng tadhana na parang palagi nalang siyang pinaglalaruan. 

The guests were mesmerized at the woman playing the piano. Hindi lang pala siya maganda. She was also talented. They became even more impressed when Dara reached the part of the piece where the tempo increases. 

Dara - without any tinge of difficulty, played the fast piano chords beautifully. 

She finished the song and smiled. 

Na miss ko din pala ang tumugtog. 

A few seconds later, the guests burst in applause but it immediately turned to gasps when all the lights in the ballroom turned off. 

Nabahala din si Dara.

They made extra sure that there won't be any hitch with the event. So why were there no lights?

The guests were panicking but when they saw glimmering lights from an 8-tier birthday cake, they almost cried in envy. 

"Happy birthday to you~" 

Dara turned around to see Minho pushing a cake towards her direction with Donghae and Eunhyuk following behind with microphones in hand as they sang her the birthday song. 

"Happy birthday to you~" 

Eunhyuk grinned at the woman who had tears forming at the corners of her eyes. 

Donghae and Eunhyuk became famous idols, their schedules were always in a mess so when Dara invited them to the event, they had to say that they'd get back to her on the invitation. They tried so hard to finish all their schedules just to make time and eventually they did, but chose to surprise her with Minho - who also made excuses of not having the time to go, instead. 

"Happy birthday dear Dara~ Happy birthday to you~"

Minho stopped the trolley - where the cake was, near Dara and grinned. 

"Yo Dar! Surprise!"

Dara was on the verge of crying when two idiots made their way towards them holding bouquets.  

"Are we late?" Youngbae nervously asked Minho who rolled his eyes at them.

They planned on appearing together but TOP and Youngbae just had to be late. 

"I told you to change quickly!" Youngbae hissed at TOP who smiled awkwardly at the men with him. 

"Happy birthday Dara." TOP said as he handed the bouquet of pink roses to the woman. 

"Happy birthday." Youngbae repeated as he handed her his bouquet of purple hyacinths. 

Watching the scene unfold, Seungri, CL and Jiyong were loss for words.

"Those bitches!" Seungri couldn't help but hiss, feeling betrayed.