𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 [Herero Series #2]

Chapter 25: Birthday Wish

Malaya's POV

"Me and Harm..", nagsimula s'yang magsalita habang nakayakap parin ako sakan'ya. "It's our birthday today.. it's my birthday today.." dugtong n'ya na sinundan ng sunod-sunod na hikbi.

Nanlalaki ang mata kong napabitaw sa yakap sakan'ya. She's still crying and it hurts seeing her like this, hindi ako sanay.

I cupped her face, using my thumb to wipe her tears. "B-bakit hindi mo sinabi agad? I'm sorry.. hindi ko alam. Hindi ko talaga alam." I hugged her again, tightly. Naluluha na rin ako, pakiramdam ko, ang bigat ng nagawa kong kasalanan sakan'ya.

She's still sobbing. Tumingin ulit ako sakan'ya, I wanna see her face habang nagsasalita.

"Yesterday.. I was about to say it kaso nauna si Niks.." she paused a bit. Naalala ko 'yon, 'yon 'yong time na biglang nag-iba 'yong mood n'ya. "And I don't want to steal your attention to her because she's your bestfriend and I'm just your professor."

"You're not just my professor.." mahinang wika ko while still caressing her soft cheeks na kung saan kanina pa tumutulo ang mga luha n'ya.

She breathe deeply. "I saw how happy you are while telling me that her birthday's today. Your eyes are so happy while we buy gifts for her. You know everything about her. Your mom baked a cake for her, and.. and.." she can't continue talking because she's really crying hard now.

"Magiging gano'n din ako kasaya when you just told me it's your birthday today. I would be that happy too to buy you gifts even if I don't know what else you need because you already have everything. I can also tell mama to bake a cake for you.." I said in a calm tone.

I'm doing this para pakalmahin din s'ya. It's breaking my heart seeing her like this. Mas gusto ko pang sinusungitan n'ya ako kaysa ganito.

She turned her beautiful eyes on me. Unti unti nang humihinto ang pag-iyak n'ya. "No.. you're wrong. I don't have everything I need and want." She bitterly said.

I look at my wristwatch. It's just 9:30PM, may 2 and a half hours pa before the days ends, I can still buy her gifts, kahit maubos allowance ko sa gusto n'ya, I'm ready to spend it.

"Let's go, then. We'll buy what you want." Hinawakan ko ang kanang kamay n'ya para makababa na kami pero hindi s'ya gumagalaw kaya napatingin ulit ako sakan'ya.

"You can't buy it; it's priceless." She firmly said with dried tears on her eyes.

Sandali akong natahimik. Thinking of what else can I do. Wala akong regalo sakan'ya, sinama ko pa s'yang mamili ng regalo for Niks, gosh I'm so heartless.

"Ano ba 'yon? Ano bang gusto mo? I'll try to get it?" Pati ako ay hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko.

Biglang binawi namaman n'ya ang kamay n'yang hawak ko. "Gosh, Ibañez! You're so slow and manhid-argh!" She exclaimed and walked pass by me nang hindi lumilingon sa'kin.

"Ano ba kasi 'yon?!" Sigaw ko mula sa kinaroroonan ko. Hindi s'ya lumingon, tuloy tuloy lang s'yang naglakad palapit sa pinto. "'Pag 'di mo sinabi, tatalon ako!" Sigaw ko pa ulit.

She immediately stopped and turned her face at me. Sinamaan n'ya lang ako ng tingin. I took that chance para lapitan ulit s'ya. "Joke lang", I said while smiling.

Nagsimula nanaman s'yang maglakad, binuksan na n'ya ang pinto kaya nakasunod lang ako sakan'ya. "Miss Herero!" Tawag ko pero hindi s'ya lumingon. "Miss Avi!" Tawag ko ulit pero wala parin. "Avi!" Akala ko lilingon na s'ya pero hindi, huminto lang pala s'ya sa tapat ng elevator.

"Baby.." bigkas ko sa mahinahong boses. I saw how her body stiffened, her jaw clenched but still not turning her gaze at me.

"Baby.." ulit ko. Sa wakas ay humarap na s'ya sa'kin. I'm smiling kahit 'yong mukha n'ya ay hindi na maipinta.