The One That Got Away

Chapter Twelve

"Aligaga 2012 talaga ang drama mo te" Liah said.

"Could you just shut up and help me find a good gift for dad?"

We're here at Calvin Klein store. Im thinking kung ano pwede ireagol kay dad.

"Kasi naman alam mo naman ang gusto ni tito nag iisip ka pa ng kung ano jan!"

"duh? Last year brief na niregalo ko ngayon ganun nanaman?" Yes. Dad loves briefs and not just briefs yung briefs na may tatak! Kaya nawiwindang ako ngayon kasi may chance na magkulang ang budget ko.

"boxers naman kaya?" I asked holding out a Calvin Klein boxers. "what do you think? But this one will cost me a lot, sa bench na lang tayo? Tutal last year CK naman gift ko sa kanya, maiintindihan na ni dad na naghihirap ako ngayon"

Liah nods and we both head for the Bench store, I bought a white boxers na may red linings. Birthday ni Dad bukas so I have to buy a gift, ayoko na nag bibirthday si dad na wala akong gift or kahit ano para sa kanya. Kahit wala akong budget ipupush ko basta kailangan may gift ako!

I went straight home after we shopped. Gumawa na din ako ng card for dad ganun din si Lexy. Si Gian he's doing some sort of mold sa white clay, well obviously yun ang gift niya kay dad. Saming 3 si Gian ang pinaka kuripot at pinaka matipid pag dating sa gift gift nayan, while Lexy is always on top! Laging galante yang si Lexy I remembered one time she gave dad a pants from Levi's, si Lexy kasi nakakapag ipon ng todo dahil meron siyang "human bank" which is our mom, hindi nya na kami sinusuportahan ni Gian kay Lexy na lang siya nagbibigay ng pera kasi daw si Lexy lang ang pumupunta sa kanya every week.

"I'm home" someone shouted outside. Nasa kwarto kami ni dad and if he saw us doing this? C R A P!

"that's dad" Lexy whispered, nagpapanic na siya sa pagliligpit ng card niya.

Natataranta naming nilagay sa paperbag lahat ng mga pinag gagagawa namin and hurriedly went outside and greeted dad, thank God yaya Winey picked na somethings up, siya yung kumuha nung bag and placed it in my room.

"El tell Jacob to come over tomorrow" dad said with a smile.

November 21. if my memory serves me right birthday ng kapatid ni Jake yan yung bunso.

"uh.. dad.. I think kahit wag ko na imbitahin si Jake hindi din naman makakapunta yun kasi birthday nung kapatid niya, si Charm yung bunso."

Dad shrugged. "just try. Kung hindi siya makakapunta okay lang, atleast nag invite ka"

I grabbed my phone and texted Jake.

Hey. Dad's birthday tomorrow. You goin'?

He won't go right? After a minute my phone chirped, its from Jacob.

Yeah. Won't miss it.

Huh? 'Won't miss it?' e birthday ng kapatid niya! Baka naman nakalimutan?

I replied with..

Its Charm's birthday tomorrow douche -,-

*phone chirped*

I know. HAHA! Hindi naman all day celebration yung birthday ni Charm noh. Kakain lang kami sa labas. Dinner.

Ugggh! Sometimes iniisip ko kung bakit ko ba naging illegal boyfriend tong lalaking to!

Jacob, dad's birthday celebration is dinner time too. Duh! 6pm kaya uwi niya. Its okay if you can't come if you're worrying about that.

"Dinners ready, kainan naaa!" Yaya Winey said. I left my phone on the table sa tapat ng sofa.

We ate dinner then after I checked my messages. All 3 messages from Jacob.

I can leave early you know, kahit batiin ko lang sa tito Rom ng happy birthday in person.

Or I can tell my mom to move the dinner for Charms birthday o kaya pwede din namang hindi na ko pumunta dun? ; )

Hey. Are you asleep? Tagal mo magreply >,<

I replied

Yeah I'm still up. Kumain lang ng dinner, read this text carefully Mr. Jacob "YOU WILL GO TO YOUR FAMILY DINNER"

Sent. I waited. *phone chirped*

And to your dad's birthday celebration. Come on Elliah kahit saglit lang.

Okay I give up. Haay ano ba namang kapatid tong si Jake! Kung ako si Charm isusumpa ko siya!

Fine. If that's what you want.

But before I could press send an idea popped into my head. I deleted my message and changed it to..

Okay baby : ) but I'm sorry your visit tomorrow? Hindi siya counted sa 30 days challenge mo. So sad. Changed your mind already? ; )

There siguro naman yun lang ang habol niya kaya siya nagpupumilit pumunta diba? Kaya ayan! Siguro naman pag nalaman niyang hindi counted pupunta na siya sa birthday dinner niya with family. Pang 27th time niya na kasi, 3 days to go and we will be official. Hindi na aabot ng December yung kalokohan ni dad. I started to wash my face and finished my almost-finished-card for dad, nasa kwarto na siya kaya pwede ko na gawin to.

When I'm about to go to bed, my phone's screen is blinking, so that means may nagtext. Why did'nt I hear it chirp? I shrugged and opened the text, it was from Jacob, 20 minutes ago.

Did I say I care about that 30-days-challenge? Birthday ni tito bukas I'm not hoping na counted yun if pupunta ako. the reason I want to go there? You love your dad so much, 101% daddy's girl ka nga diba? alam ko yun, gusto kong nandun ako sa birthday ng dad mo, support. Alam ko mahalaga siya sayo kaya dapat pahalagahan ko din siya, yung kay Charm? Makakapunta ako dun trust me, kapatid ko yun ano ka ba natural pupunta ako. I love you so much, please go to sleep it's getting late. Wag ka na magreply. Sleep!

I stared at his message. I felt a tear escape in my eyes. Jacob Eric Castillo, what did I ever do to you, for you to love me that much? I really hope I can repay that as much as you can.