𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗧 [𝙴𝙽𝙷𝙰𝚂𝙴𝚁𝚈𝙴 #1] 𝙹𝙰𝚈

31.

Christine's

I let out a deep sigh and smiled at the thought of today. Ang daming nangyari ngayong araw. Too many good things. Feeling ko, hindi ko deserve. Masyadong malaki naman ata ang regalo ni Lord sakin para sa eighteenth birthday ko.

It's been ages since I celebrated my birthday again. Mula nang umalis si Papa para mag-work sa Canada, parang nawalan ako ng will na magcelebrate. I think it's just too cruel for me na malaman na aalis siya sa mismong birthday ko.

Now, he's here. I wasn't really expecting this kasi I also told him na sa birthday ni Ni-ki na lang siya umuwi every year. It's not that I don't want him to be on my birthday, pero mas magiging okay sa akin if he will be on Ni-ki's.

And of course, after ilang years, I've celebrated this special day with Jay. I feel bad for him when I told him that day that I will not be celebrating my birthday anymore and he can celebrate his, alone. I expected him to throw a tantrum or will be mad that time but he just smiled at me and said,

"If it will make you okay, I will be happy with it."

After that I always make sure that I can give him the best gifts on his birthday. Until that one time, instead of thanking me, he suddenly get mad and told me to stop treating that day as if it's not also my day.

Now I realized what he meant that time. Today, I was the happiest because I faced that one thing that keeps me from being one on my birthday. My fear not to be the happiest that I can be. And Papa being here made this day better.

Seeing my friends and family being so happy today is the best thing.

I felt the night breeze as I stare at the sky. Nasa balcony ako ngayon. The view is so nice despite the temperature freezing me.

"It's full moon." Yes. The moon is beautiful, isn't it? He's now standing beside me.

"Ang ganda no?" Komento ko at ibinalik muli ang tingin sa langit.

"Sobra." I heard him responded. I can't take my eyes off of the sky. I can't clearly the view mula dito sa balcony, but still, I can't help but to be awestruck.

"Uhm." He cleared his throat. I waited for the words that he's going to say. "I know a place where we can have a better view of the moon." Dugtong niya.

I knew it.

"Tree house." We said in unison.

It's been ages na rin mula nang huli kaming nakaakyat doon. Siguro nga, we've grown so much kaya hindi na rin namin nagagawa ang mga nagagawa namin nung mga bata. We took a leap of path. Mas maraming seryosong priorities.

We aren't kids, anymore.

"I missed this place so much." Sambit ko. Nakaupo kami ngayon sa pasa-mano ng bintana ng tree house. I remained my gaze above para hindi ako malula.

"There's so much memories in this place." Saad niya.

This is where we first met.

"Yes, dito ako muntikang mahulog." Natatawang sambit ko. I felt his arms behind me, probably to prevent me to be out balanced.

"I was so confused that time why you did that." He looked upward as if thinking. "I told you to leave. Pero umakyat ka dito." Umiiling na sambit niya.

Hindi ko rin alam. I was not even sure that time kung bakit iyon ba ang naisipan kong gawin. But one thing is for sure, I will not leave just like what he told me to.

"Maybe, I don't want to do what you said? I mean, sino ka para utusan ako." Sagot ko.

The space was filled with our chuckles.