Celestial Chords (Ciudad de Escalante #3)

Phase 48

XJVA:

We just had a mini celebration. The staff prepared a surprise for me. I'm sorry for coming late later. But I'll make it before this day ends. See you.

Ako:

Ayos lang! Ingat mamaya papunta. Don't worry. We are all enjoying ourselves here. Love you.

I sighed after sending the last text. Tinitigan ko ang aking cellphone habang naghihintay ang kanyang reply. I took a deep breath again when five minutes had passed, but I didn't receive any response from him.

"Nakasimangot ka na naman birthday na birthday mo? Come on! Smile, birthday girl!" Sena exclaimed beside me.

Nasa may second floor kami ng food park ngayon na dalawang buwan na matapos ang grand opening. It was renovated and everything has change. Mas malawak, mas maganda at magarbo. Ate made it more modern and lively.

Ipinagkuha ako ng baso ni Sena at tinabihan sa counter. She poured me a shot in my glass.

"Hindi ko na kaya birthday," mahinang sambit ko at kinuha ang shot at diretsahang ininom.

Sumulyap ako sa mga kaibigan namin na kasama si Ate na nagkakasiyahan ngayon. Kami-kami lang ang nasa second floor para sa kaarawan ko. We are almost complete except for him. It is my second celebration for my 26th birthday.

It was actually three days ago but Xandro didn't make it so we decided to celebrate it again tonight. He's been literally busy with his music video and a lot of mall tours. Kaya nag-set kami ng date kung saan siguradong makakapunta siya para makasama ko sa selebrasyon. Tatlong beses o minsan dalawang araw lang kami sa isang linggo nagkikita dahil tumutuloy siya sa condo niya na nasa Sebastian.

"Hayaan mo at darating na rin maya-maya si Kuya. It is his last day in shooting, right?" pagpapalakas ng loob sa akin ni Sena dahil alam niya na nangangamba na naman ako na baka hindi siya muli makapunta.

It's already ten-thirty in the evening. He promised to make it before this day end so I'll stick with that. Dapat kanina pang hapon matatapos ang shooting pero may scenes na kinakailangan kuhanin ulit kaya na-extend.

I thought dating him secretly is just easy but it is harder more than I thought. I am the one who requested to make everything privately between us and career come first. Maganda ang daloy ng trabaho niya kaya ayokong magkaroon ng problema kung sakaling ma-confirm na in a relationship siya.

"Hoy! Bakit nagsasarili kayo riyan? Join us here!" Sameera shouted when she saw us.

Pulang-pula ang kanyang mukha at kanina pa siya umiinom. Mabuti na lang ay papunta na rin si Shade ngayon at may inayos lang na trabaho. May maghahatid sa kanya ng maayos pauwi. Inaya na ako ni Sena na makisali sa grupo na nakapaikot sa mesa.

I should be having fun with them. Hindi dapat ako nagmumukmok sa isang sulok.

"Cheers, one more time!" Our drunk Sameera shouted and filled all of the shot glass with alcohol. Lahat nilagyan niya kaya napangiwi si Jael at napilitang lumagok.

"Damn, I can't drink anymore. May ihahatid pa ako. Huwag mo ng lagyan ang akin," Devan hissed and move the shot glass away from him. Inismiran siya ni Eera.

"Hey! Don't move it away. Ako ang iinom!" Rei, Devan's fiancee, mumbled.

I told him to bring her here. She's pretty, cute, softy and a licensed Architect. Mukhang mahinhin noong una pero ngayong nakainom na, kanina pa silang tatlo nina Eera at Iori na nagdadaldalan sa mesa. I glanced at Iori who's sleeping beautifully at Jael's shoulders. Kanina pa rin umiinom at dinapuan na ng antok.