Saturday, 4th of April
Napalingon ako sa orasan na nakasabit sa pader. It's 3:40 PM already. Kagigising ko lang. Inumaga na kasi ako sa trabaho. 7:00 AM na akong nakatulog.
This is it. The day I have been dreading has finally arrived. Yesterday, Lawrence told me how and where I'm going to get hit, and it won't be pleasant. I sighed.
It's my 18th birthday today, and I don't even have a cake. I guess I should buy myself one.
Suddenly, I remembered how my real 18th birthday was as the real me in real life. That day, no one remembered --- not even my father. No one greeted me. My lips curved into a bitter smile. At least today, on my 18th birthday as Mira, I received a greeting from Lawrence. He's the first one to greet me. For me, that's enough. One person is enough.
Kahit na medyo tinatamad pa, tumayo na ako mula sa aking higaan at dumiretso na sa banyo para magsipilyo at maligo. I'm staring at my reflection in the mirror as I brush my teeth. To tell you the truth, I used to hate how I looked, since my father told me that he hated me for looking so much like my mother. However, I don't care anymore. His approval no longer matters to me.
Pagkatapos maligo, magsipilyo, at mag-ayos ng sarili, lumabas na ako ng apartment at nagtungo na sa pinakamalapit na bake shop.
"Ano pong hanap niyo, Ma'am? Ano pong occasion?" nakangiting tanong sa akin ng sales lady.
"18th birthday po," I replied to her and smiled.
"We have just the right cake for that," she said. And then she went behind the counter to get something. I just patiently waited for her.
Nang lapitan niya na ako ulit, may dala-dala na siyang cake. It's a single tier round red velvet cake. It looks mouth-watering.
"I highly recommend this to you, Ma'am. It comes with candles, as well." She flashed me a friendly smile. "Is it for you, Ma'am? For a friend? For a relative?"
"For me po." I gave her a small smile.
"Oh. I see." She repeatedly nodded. "So, kukunin niyo po ba, Ma'am?"
"Sure," payak na tugon ko.
"Ano pong pangalan niyo, Ma'am? Isusulat ko po sa cake," aniya. And then she grabbed a piping bag with a fine tip behind the counter.
"Mira--- no, Gwen po. Gwen." I awkwardly smiled.
"Okay. Got it, Ma'am," aniya at isinulat na ang pangalan ko sa cake. She then carefully placed it in a beautiful red box. "Here you go, Ma'am. Happy birthday." Iniabot niya na iyon sa akin.
"Thanks," nakangiting pasasalamat ko at nag-abot na ng bayad.
BINABASA MO ANG
sucked in
FantastikGwen got sucked into a cliché romance novel and ended up playing the part of an ill extra named Mira. Despite all the efforts she made to avoid drawing attention to herself, she still caught the attention of Caleb, the male lead. And that's when the...
