Friends With Benefits

C19

Chapter 19

"Ma, I told you hindi na kailangan ng engrandeng party. I just want to spend my birthday with you and my friends. Go to some places like beaches." Marahang saad ni Nicole.

Kumakain sila ngayon ng dinner nang biglang inungkat ng papa niya ang tungkol sa debut niya. Her mother wants to celebrate the common way in celebrating a debut. And she doesn't want that. No need for the gowns and dances to celebrate her legal age.

It's too boring. She wants simple and happy celebration. No outsiders, just her friends and family.

"Are you sure? Your brother will be here to celebrate your birthday." Her father said and that makes her eyes widened.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. And he will bring his fiance."

Napaamang siya. "Since when did he got himself a gilrfriend?"

Her parents chuckled at her reaction. What's funny? Her Kuya is busy with his business for a decade! Wala na itong oras sa lovelife! Sinong hindi magugulat doon? Tapos...fiance?  Oh my god! She's been waiting for a long time, ito na siguro ang oras para magkaroon siya ng pamangkin. She can't help but to squealed in excitement.

"Ngayon lang din namin nalaman ang tungkol do'n. Buti nga nagka-girlfriend pa ang kuya mo. Akala ko pakakasalan na niya yung kompanya." Pagbibiro ng dad niya. Humalakhak naman si Nicole.

"Akala ko nga hindi na ako magkakaroon ng apo. Pero mukhang paparating na," dagdag ng mama niya.

"I hope it's a girl!" She said, giggling.

"Btw, saan mo gustong i-celebrate birthday mo, nak?" Her mother asked.

She shrugged. "Maybe in Cebu? Para mabisita na din natin si Lola."

"Okay then it's settled, we're gonna go to Cebu and celebrate your birthday there." Napatango siya sa sinabi ng mama niya.

That's better. Makakasama niya ang Lola niya at mga pinsan niya. She invited Stef and Ion sa Cebu. Agad naman niyang napapayag ang dalawa. It's their first time daw pumunta doon. She promised to them na igagala niya ito sa Cebu. They will stay there for three days, sumakto kasi ang birthday niya sa weekend.

And of course, she invited Josh. She was having a hard time though. Gusto niya itong iwasan pero ang sama naman siguro niya kung hindi niya ito iimbitahan sa kaarawan niya. They're still friends. Maybe.

Nang magkaroon ng lakas ng loob, agad niya itong tinext.

Nicole:

Do you want to come with us in cebu? Just a simple celebration for my birthday.

She turned her phone off and throw it on her bed. Later nalang niya titignan ang reply. Masyadong mabilis ang tibok ng puso niya sa sobrang kaba. Paano kung hindi ito papayag? Well, that's fine. She will not force him to come. After all he's busy with his girlfriend. She filled her lungs with air. Medyo sumikip ang dibdib niya do'n ha.

"Nicole, someone's looking for you." Her classmate, Violet, approached her. Tumango siya dito kahit nagtataka kung sinong naghahanap sa kanya. Buti nalang vacant nila ngayon dahil absent ang prof nila.

Paglabas niya ng room ay bahagya siyang nagulat nang bumungad sa kanya ang isang bouquet of roses. She tried not to smile when she saw Ion hiding behind the roses.