Life Of Yesterday (Only a Mémoire)

Chapter 5

"I have a birthday to attend to tomorrow."

My parents and I were having breakfast. Tomorrow na ang birthday ni Kai. They didn't even notice that I didn't sleep here the other night. It was already Monday nang makita ko sila rito sa bahay. Hindi rin naman nagtanong 'yung helper namin kung bakit hindi ako umuwi. Hindi rin naman nila ako sinumbong, so I'll take that to my advantage.

"Okay, pahatid ka na lang kay Mang Luis." Dad said.

Umiling ako. "No. May kasabay naman ako." I said because I remembered, Marco said na sabay na kami if ever man na pupunta ako.

"Sino?" Mom asked.

"My friend," I replied.

"Okay." Mom nodded. "Take care, Beatrice."

"Is it 18th birthday, Ate?" Calynn asked and I nodded. "What about you? What are your plans? Next year na po debut mo, right?"

"I don't have plans." I replied.

She pouted. "You won't have a debut party, Ate?"

Umiling ako. "Ayaw ko no'n."

Siguro siya, magde-debut siya pero ako, mas gusto ko pang mangibang-bansa na lang mag-isa kaysa gastusin ang pera para sa isang gabi lang.

I stood up. "I'll go. Baka ma-late ako."

"Take care, Ate!" Calynn energetically said. I just smiled at her.

Pagpasok ko sa school, wala pa si Marco. Usually ay nauuna siya pero late siya ngayon kaya medyo naninibago ako.

"Beatrice!" sigaw ni Kai nang makita ako. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya bago umupo sa upuan ko. Nakita ko na lang siyang lumalakad palapit sa akin. She sat on the arm of my armchair. "Bukas na 'yung debut ko. You'll come, right?"

I nodded. "Blue, right?"

Tumango siya. "Yes. Huwag kang mawawala, ah."

"Okay." I replied.

Sabay kaming napatingin sa pinto nang biglang bumukas. Marco came with his forehead creased. He looked so problematic. Umupo siya sa tabi ko, 'di man lang ako binati.

Kai stood up from my armchair and then looked at Marco. "Marco, pupunta ka ba bukas?"

Gusto kong awatin si Kai dahil mukhang wala sa mood si Marco pero pakialam ko ba? They could flirt all they want, ano ba ang care ko?

"Tomorrow?" Marco asked.

"Yes. My debut. You're one of the 18 roses, right?"

Tumango si Marco nang ma-realize. "Right."

"Are you coming?" Kai asked him. Tipid na tumango si Marco. "Yay! That's nice."

Bumalik na rin si Kai sa likod. She was giggling while running towards Ivy and Risa. Lumipat ng upuan si Risa sa tabi nina Kai, hindi ko alam kung paano naging pwede.

Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Marco na tahimik na nagce-cellphone. He didn't even notice that I was staring at him. I quickly stole a glance at his phone and saw that he was chatting with someone. Babae 'yung picture kaya sure ako na babae 'yon. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at tumalikod na lang.

"Beatrice," pagtawag ni Rafael na kakapasok lang ng room. Bakit ba kasi late ang teacher namin ngayon?

"Yes?"

"Are you going to Kai's debut? Sabay na tayo?" he asked.

I almost rolled my eyes because of his audacity. I was about to say no but I already heard a man who refused.