"Do you want me to drop you off at the venue?" Tito Dons asked me before wearing his backpack.
"Huwag na po, tito Dons. Baka sumabay na lang ako kila Gyin." Tanggi ko habang nakatingin sa salamin.
"Sige, greet your friend for me. Don't forget the gift na rin." Aniya, kissing my cheek before rushing out of the house.
I watched tito Dons ride the taxi he booked for himself until my vision couldn't see it anymore.
Supposedly, kasama dapat namin si tito Dons sa birthday celebration ni Jinx. Nasakto lang talaga na may errands siya sa Sanseria. Kasama ko pa nga siya bumili ng gift.
It's not like I can do something to change his mind. Baka nga may good news siya pagbalik niya rito. Maybe...he's going back here with someone I haven't seen in a while.
Nakangiwi akong tumingin sa phone ko.
Ang totoo niyan, I lied to tito Dons. Wala talaga akong kasabay papunta sa venue.
Nauna na si Jinx sa venue, that's a given, siya ang may birthday e. Naka check-in sila ng family niya sa hotel na katabi ng venue, and those people includes Neo.
Everyone must be so busy that no one is even messaging in the group chat. Hindi lang talaga ako sanay na ang tagal nang tahimik sa group chat, lalo na ni Ayi. It's very unusual, it's like there's something going on.
Parang noong nakaraan lang, birthday ko pa at nag-iingay sila rito sa bahay. That's also the day when we were complete for the first time in a while. Makokompleto rin naman kami mamaya. In fact, nasa iisang table lang ang buong circle namin.
Something just feels off---or maybe I'm just imagining things. It's almost been a month, after all.
I tried to smile it out before letting go of a heavy sigh.
I do know why some things are a bit off with our circle, kasi I'm one of the reasons.
Remember how excited I am when Rue got back on my birthday? Well, after that, I kinda avoided him a little.
Nakakatawa nga dahil baliktad. Jinx who thought he'll be the one na iiwasan ko, siya pa ang mas madalas ko kausap ngayon.
Wala namang nangyari na away or awkward event between Rue and me. I just realized how it made me almost insane when he was away for a week. Which obviously isn't good. I even remember myself describing with feeling something shallow, which was my teeny tiny crush for Rue.
But, during that week, especially when he came back, I couldn't even feel the shallow part.
Is that shallow feeling here with us in the room right now?
Wala, because it's not shallow anymore.
That's why I've been avoiding Rue a little. Sinisigurado ko namang hindi sobrang obvious. Kaso nga lang, medyo tampuhin pa naman siya. Imposibleng hindi niya mahalatang iniiwasan ko siya, kaya nga parang iniiwasan niya rin ako.
An hour early from the said time of the event, nasa labas na ako ng venue. Bigla tuloy akong nagdalawang-isip kung papasok na ba talaga ako.
Marami na kayang tao? Nandoon na kaya sila Ayi?
I miss them.
"Ulla!" Narinig ko ang boses ni Gyin mula sa hindi kalayuan.
When I looked around, I saw Gyin running with her long yellow dress. Halos makaladkad na si Neo na hawak-hawak niya sa kamay.
I guess they're not even trying to hide it anymore.
I took another glance on their hands before smiling at them. Mukhang si Neo pa ang nahiya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Meet me Again in December.
Teen FictionEdiviar Series #1 Ulla Nolany Sanabria wanted to prove to her uncle that she can do better, especially in academics. That's why in her last year of high school, she goes all out. That's how she works on her self validation, with a dream of finally l...
