Sadyang Mapaglaro Ang Tadhana (Feeble Love #2)

Kabanata 15

Secret

"Happy Birthday!"

I couldn't hide the shock on my face. Dumaan nga kami sa bahay pero agad  naman akong nakatulog sa tatlong oras naming byahe. Ngayon na kakagising ko lang at kakalabas ng sasakyan, gulat pa rin dahil sa bumungad sa harap. 

My mom was holding a cake and she look so pleased with my reaction. Nasa likod niya si Daddy at Kuya. Mark's family was also here. Iginala ko ang mga mata ko, nasa isang white beach kami. Is this an island?

"M-om." I stuttered.

My mom looks so elegant as usual. Her white maxi dress was giving her a fresh look. Nagmumukha na parang magkapatid lang kami. Kinuha ng crew ang cake na hawak ni mommy. She instantly pulled me with her to give me a warm hug. I didn't move. It just felt so, surreal.

To be this close with my mom, this is the first time after that day.

They say "Mother's knows best." Well, it's undoubtedly true. Alam ko naman ang dahilan kung bakit palaging nag papakabusy si Mommy. It is because of me. To avoid me. She doesn't want to deal with my stubbornness. She ignore so she won't have time to understand.

Pagkatapos ay humarap ako kay Daddy.
"Dad?" I said when he handed me an envelope. "What is this?"

"Open it and see." He whispered.

My jaw instantly dropped when I saw the thing inside.

'Danah Therese Martinez'

There was pieces of key and a paper saying that I owned this place. 

"Dad, Mom? This i-s" I couldn't any longer hold my tears. Dad hugged me when he saw it coming.

"You deserve this Therese. Don't be so hard on yourself. Breath. Be happy." He whispered. It was so calm that it made me cry more.

The place was breathtaking, beautiful. It was like a paradise. The fine white sand, clear blue sea, the nipa hut villas around,  the tall palm trees and the ocean breeze. Everything is just fine and perfect here.

Hindi pa rin ako makapagsalita masyado dahil sa gulat. Binati rin ako nila Tita Milla na kakauwi lang galing US. Ilang sandali ay huminto na ang isang motorbike sa harap namin. Sumakay kami roon, at natatanaw ko kung saan kami papunta ngayon.

In the middle of the resort, dadaan muna kami ng tulay sa dagat bago marating ang dulo kung saan ang pinaka malaking villa.

The skies are starting to turn pink and purple. Senyales na malapit na paglubog ng araw.

"Welcome to your paradise, Princess Therese." Ani ni Kuya Andrew na nauna nang bumaba.

I chuckled. Inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa harap ko kaya kinuha ko naman iyon.
Hindi ko na nakita si Mark, na saan na kaya yun?

May naka uniporme na sumalubong sa amin na babae. "This way Ma'am." she said.

Nauna akong sumunod doon sa babae. Sa kabila pa ang pinto ng villa pero hindi kami roon dumaan. May mga bulaklak at ibang halaman akong nakikita at sa garden siguro kami papunta.

"Oh my God--

"Surprise! Advance happy birthday Therese!!" Si Jessa, hawak pa rin ang confetti.

There was Mark, Lorraine, Jessa and Sophia. The garden has full of mint green and silver balloons. Madami rin na pagkain lalo na mga seafood. Sa gitna ay nandoon sila. Mark was holding a bouquet,  Lorraine with a heart balloon, and Sophia with a cute cake full of candles on it.

I couldn't explain what I feel, I burst out into tears instead. Their effort... being with the people I valued, I'm just really happy. As I've said, I don't usually celebrate my birthday like this. Kahit noong debut ko ay mas pinili kong tumulong na lang sa charity. 

"Videohan niyo! First time ko makitang umiyak si Therese!" Rinig kong sambit ni Lorraine kaya natawa tuloy ako.

Pagkatapos kumain ay nagkayayaan na rin kaming mag swimming. Hinayaan na kami nila mommy at nandoon sila sa kabilang villa.

"Thank you. Really." I said to my friends.

Gabi na ngayon. The sky was full of stars. The crescent moon was gleaming on the dark. Though it's half, but beautiful.

"Mark actually planned all of it." Lorraine said.

Nasa tabing dagat kami ngayon, nakahiga habang tanaw ang langit na puno ng bituin. While Mark was facing the dark ocean. Nakaupo lang habang tanaw ang alon na patuloy na hinahampas ang kadagatan. As if he was thinking, deep.

"Mom?"

Maya-maya ay may tumawag sa kanya sa phone. Napaupo ako at tiningnan siya. Tahimik siyang nakinig sa kabilang linya. Mabilis lang iyon natapos. He ended the call with a deep sighed.

"Is everything alright?" Tumayo rin ako ng tumayo siya. Pupunta siguro siya sa villa nila Tita dahil mukhang seryoso ang pinag-usapan nila kanina.

"Yeah." He said.

He seemed down. May nangyari kaya?  

"Tara. Pupuntahan ko rin sina Daddy." Sambit ko.

I was wearing a boarwalk short and a backless top. Natuyo na ang katawan namin dahil kanina pa at sa paghiga sa buhangin. Kinuha ko ang bathrobe sa gilid ng wine at isinuot iyon. 

"What about, them?" Tumingin siya kina Sophia na nakahiga pa rin.

They seemed to get along. Ganoon naman talaga kasi ang personality ni Sophia. She's friendly, the three of them are. Kaya hindi naman awkward at nagkakasabayan pa nga sila sa trip. Dito sila mag o-overnight ngayon. Bukas ay sabay sabay na rin kaming uuwi sa Quezon City.

"They're fine, I think."

Tumango lang siya at sabay na kaming naglakad. I can't help but to roam my eyes around the resort. It was peaceful. Hindi ko pa natatanong si Daddy kung paano niya nabili itong resort.

"Thank you, Mark. I heard you planned this." I said.

"No problem Therese. I only helped your Dad."

"I hope it made you happy." Inakbayan niya ako. And then he gave me a warm smile.

"Hindi Anthony. You could have told me but you choose to tolerate your son!"

Napatingin ako kay Mark. Nagulat din siya. Alam kong boses iyon ni Tita at mukhang hindi iyon maganda.

I turned my neck, pero hindi ko naman malaman kung saan nanggaling ang boses. Kami lang ang tao rito sa resort at madilim na rin. Hindi pa naman kami nakakarating sa villa nila. Maybe I was just mistaken? Hindi naman siguro iyon si Tita--

"Please calm down. This is your son's decision. We are his parents, and all we can do is to support him."

"No! Bakit mo susuportahan kung mali na siya! I know my son more than anyone and this is not what he wants. "

"He always wanted to become like me. To be a prominent engineer of the city. At hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit siya nag-aaral ng Psychology. Nababaliw na ba siya?"

"I only left the country for a year at naggawa niyong itago ito sa akin? You two are crazy!"

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