Letting Go

Sixty-One

August 4, 2014

"Everything's ready!"

Excited akong kinuha ang regalo ko para sakanya at nilagay 'yon sa dulo.

Everything's set.

Lumabas si Chill ng sasakyan, akay-akay sya ni Kuya Luxe. His looks never fail, wearing a polo shirt and pants, he smiled as they head towards me on his wheelchair. I smiled too. Hindi 'to sobrang espesyal. Simpleng party kasama ang mga kaibigan namin.

He has been with his family yesterday and they celebrated his birthday party, kaya ngayon, alam nila Tita na may surprise ako. Pinahatid sya kay Kuya Luxe sa bahay.

Akala nya, kami lang dalawa ang mag-ccelebrate ngayon. He doesn't know any of the plans. I smiled as we walk towards the door.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHILL!"

Lahat sila nagsigawan, gumawa ng ingay, at nagtalunan. It made things successful. Alam kong pinipigilan ni Chill ang mga luha nya. Ngumiti sya sa lahat ng tao.

Si Ella, Elle, Neon, Kyle, Dara, Axl, Tim, Humprey, at iba pang naging blockmates namin ang nandito. Lumapit sakanya si Neon, and smiled. Nagulat ako ng they made a bump.

"Salamat sa lahat, tol." Neon nodded and smiled as he say his thank you.

Lumapit naman si Elle at si Ella. Umiiyak na niyakap ng kambal si Chill.

"Thank you, and happy birthday!" Habang umiiyak, ay natatawa rin sila. They smiled to make things lighter.

Pero nagulat ako ng lumapit si Humprey kay Chill.

Nagtanguan silang dalawa. They even shook hands.

"Alagaan mo si Autumn, and always be at her side." Ngumiti si Humprey kay Chill ng sabihin ni Chill 'yon.

"I will."

Pagkatapos naming kumain, pumalibot kami sa sofa. Oras na para ipakita kay Chill ang video.

I cut the videos into two seconds and combined it. Video sa tuwing kasama ko sya. Though, this is not all. Hindi ko palagi na-vvideo ang mga oras na kasama ko sya. Naglast ang video for three minutes. And after the video, nagsigawan ulit sila. Pwedeng, umiiyak yung iba, but still they try to make everything lighter.

Isang surprise pa ang ginawa ko para sakanya, actually, lahat pala kami ang kasama dito. Unang pumunta si Tim and Axl sa harap,

"Ah, Chill..." Bati ni Tim.

"Happy birthday, and God bless you! Pagaling ka." Pagkatapos sabihin ni Tim 'yon, binigay ni Axl ang regalo nila kay Chill.

Sunod na pumunta Sa harap si Rina, si Ruth, si Kaizee. Sumunod naman si Gwen, si Lean, si Diane. Hanggang sa kami-kami nila Elle ang natira. Tumango ako kay Ella, at pumunta sya sa harap.

"Chill..."

"We have always been friends. And I'll treasure it forever. Salamat sa lahat. Promise me you'll get well soon! I love you! Happy birthday!"

Lumapit si Ella kay Chill and she hugged him. Kitang kita ko ang patak ng mga luha nya. Sunod naman na pumunta sa harap si Elle. Hindi pa sya nagsasalita, but her eyes speak more. Umiiyak sya ng sobra. Tahimik lang kami sa loob. Walang kumikibo.

"To Chill, my heart binder!" She laughed a little.

"Sobrang unusual nito. Actually, ngayon lang ako magsasalita ng ganito sa'yo. Naiiyak ako." Tumigil muna sya, umiiling habang pinupunasan ng tissue yung mata nya.

"You know how thankful I am that God has given me you, as my friend. Lagi kang nanjan, sa t'wing kailangan kita. Salamat sa lahat." She smiled.

"Get well soon! Happy birthday, Chill." She smiled.

Tumango na ako kay Neon.

"Happy birthday Chill," He smiled before completely saying his message.

"You've took the place when I was gone. Alam kong alam mo 'yon, kaya, thank you. Magpalakas ka, magkikita pa tayo nila Mark! God bless!" He mentioned Mark, who's their friend which stayed long in America.

Pumunta naman si Dara sa harap. Nginitian nya 'ko, I know she's getting emotional too.

"Hi Chill!" Kaway nya. Tumawa naman kaming lahat. She continued her message,

"Thank you for being at my bestfriend's side. Always! Thank you talaga sa lahat. Hindi ko alam. I got mad at first, you know why. But, as you prove your love to her, I knew you love her deeply." Nagpunas sya ng luha.

"Happy birthday, Chill! Magpagaling ka na. God bless!" She smiled.

Pumalit naman si Kyle kay Dara,

"Chill. Unang una sa lahat, 'wag mo na 'kong tatawaging bading. Dahil babatiin lang kita, may girlfriend na 'ko pare. 'Di kita crush."

"Pangalawa, happy birthday pare. S-Salamat sa lahat." Umiyak na ng tuluyan si Kyle.

"Bakla ka talaga." Chill said while smirking.

"Hindi ako bakla pre. Pero salamat talaga sa lahat. I love you tol! Happy birthday! Pagaling ka." Niyakap ni Kyle si Chill at tinapik ang likod. Sunod na pumunta si Humprey sa harapan.

"Happy birthday, and don't worry. My promise will be a promise. Aalagaan ko si Autumn. I'll always be there. God bless." Hump smiled in half.

Tumingin ako kay Chill at seryoso ang mukha nya. They already met before Hump and I met each other again?

Pumunta ako sa harap, at this time, ako naman ang nagsalita.

"First of all, thank you." I smiled.

"Thank you for everything. Hindi ko kasi talaga alam kung paano ko ieexplain lahat. I like this feeling when I can't describe my feelings within words, it's like the world is ours and we both can understand each other."

Tinignan ko silang lahat. Ngumiti ako sakanila, Dara nods her head.

"Thank you for the feeling that can't be described. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for understanding the things no other people can. Thank you, Chill. Thank you for giving me too much memories."

I cracked my voice. I broke down. I cried aloud.

Pataas baba na ang balikat ko. Naramdaman ko nalang na niyakap ako ni Dara. Tumingin ako sakanya, she told me to continue. I nodded.

"I love you, happy birthday!" I smiled and walks toward him. I hugged him tight. I hugged him as if this was the last time. Our last minute.

Pumunta sya sa harap, controlling the wheels of his wheelchair. Humarap sya sa lahat and started giving his message.

"Thank you for making this day beyond memorable," He smiled in half.

"Thank you sainyong lahat. But, before you all leave, may gusto akong ibigay sa isang espesyal na tao para sakin. Way beyond special." He smiled.

May kinuha syang kwintas sa bulsa nya.

Ang kwintas na nawala sakin.

He even took my diary with him.

Gulat na nagkatinginan kami ni Dara. Lumapit ako sakanya at pinilit nyang tumayo. Tim and Axl helped him up. Sinuot nya sakin yung kwintas and he handed me the diary.

Napaiyak akong niyakap sya.

They all smiled.

"I know that this is the time to give back. I love you, Autumn Serene."