Kidnapped (A Romance Story for Filipino Wattpadders)

91: Casper, ipagpabukas mo na lang...

Amber

My birthday became one heck of a celebration. Right after everyone arrived, sinimulan na namin ang pagse-celebrate, but before that was a mind-bogling introduction ng mga taong ngayon pa lang nagkakilala.

We all sat comfortably in a circle on the living room floor. Di kasi kayang i-accomodate ng dinner table kaming lahat e. It was bothersome trying to get in the middle of Tris and Casper, kaya umupo ako opposite them so I can see them clearly kung nagbabangayan na naman sila. Jade sat on my left and Jeremy sat on my right. I begged Jairus to sit in between Casper and Tristan and Kristie gladly positioned herself beside Casper.

"Hi, I'm Kristie." Kristie said, introducing herself with a jolly smile. She waved her both hands. Just a while ago, she was going crazy dahil may celebrity guy na dumating. Tristan autographed the sleeve of her shirt for her.

Suddenly, Jeremy leaned sidewards to me to whisper something to my ear. I saw both Tristan and Casper tense up and narrow their eyes at us.

"That's a girl's name, right?" He whispered uncertainly.

"Yes, and you do realize you are being extremely rude." I told him with a hint of unpleasantness in my voice. Kristie and I are close friends now. Oo, Kristie does look like a gay at times, she even talks like one, and one might suspect that she's a transgender, but no one, I mean no one has the right to talk about her like that.

No one but me, perhaps...

"Sorry." Jeremy mumbled. "I guess I was being mean." He added.

"Guess?" I scoffed. He was being mean.

"I'm Jeremy." He told Kristie with a dazzling smile while extending one hand.

"Nice to meet you..." Kristie said dreamily. She shook hands with Jeremy, at kung hindi ko hinigit yung kamay niya, wala ata siyang balak bumitaw. Still, Jeremy gave her a polite smile.

"I think everybody knows who I am." Tristan said matter-of-factly.

"I didn't." Sagot ni Jeremy. "It's just thanks to one interview kaya naalala kita. Hindi ka naman masyado nababanggit ni Amber e."

Tiningnan siya ni Tristan ng masama. "I don't like you..." He said between gritted teeth.

"Nice to meet you too." Jeremy answered.

"Di pa ba tayo magsisimula?" Inip na tanong ni Jairus. "Ako na po magsosolve ng problema niyo, okay?" Dagdag pa niya.

Jairus cleared his throat and sat straight. He took a deep breath and said "Amber, Casper, Jairus, Jade, Tristan, Kristie, Jeremy." while pointing his hand at the person whose name he called. He smiled a satisfied smile.

"You forgot Bryan." A voice came from the window.

Nakalimutan naming isara yung bintana and there's Bryan outside, peeking at us. The uninvited guests just won't stop coming. Di na ko magtataka if the swordfish walks in.

We let Bryan inside. He gave me a box wrapped with fancy gift wrapper and golden ribbons. "Happy birthday, Amber. Sorry I'm sort of late." He greeted. "And this..." He continued while handing me a smaller box wrapped in deep pomegranate-colored wrapper and yellow ribbons. "Is from Denise. She says she wishes you a happy birthday and kahit wala siya with you physically, she's cheering you on emotionally."

"Thanks, Bryan." I smiled.

Then, Bryan and the others got introduced to each other.

Looking at them all shaking hands and exchanging 'nice to meet you's', I couldn't help but smile. I remembered my past self and compared it to my current self. I didn't know there will come a time when plenty of people would care for me. Kung nasa buhay ko pa rin ako na puro glamorous things lang ang meron, my birthday will just be another day of bathing in luxury. Just like how it always had been for me.