This Is Me Trying

Chapter 23: Come Back

"Eli, paki-ayos naman ng table 3. May uupo na."

"Sige po."

Agad kong sinunod ang manager namin kahit on-break ako. It has been almost a week since Tyler and I went on that date. Mag-iisang linggo na rin simula noong nakita ko siyang umiiyak sa harap ng puntod ng ex niya. Sa totoo lang alam ko na wala namang masama sa ginawa niya e. He misses her, and that's okay, pero hindi ko talaga mapigilan ang sarili ko na mag-selos.

Simula rin noon, napapansin ko na masiyado na siyang malamig sa akin. He still treats me the same way, pero parang lalo siyang lumalayo. It felt like he had drawn an invisible line that I could never cross between us.

"Let's go, Eli."

Inabot niya sa'kin ang helmet habang nakasakay na siya sa motor niya. This is one of the few changes that I mentioned, dati siya nagsusuot sa akin. Ngayon inaabot niya na lang.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He was about to leave, but I held onto his arm.

"Do we have a problem? Sorry, pero pakiramdam ko kasi biglang nagbago lahat after natin mag-date."

He stared at me for minutes before sighing.

"When you're not comfortable opening up to me, I did my best to understand. So, please, do the same."

That hit me like a ten wheeler truck.

"Bye. Good night."

"I don't think this night will be a good one, Ty."

I whispered, watching him get further and further away. The day that followed, Tyler seemed lost in his thoughts even more. He was no longer the caring and attentive boyfriend that I had come to know and love. He was distant, cold even. But I tried exerting effort because I thought that maybe he was only having a bad day, and it would pass.

"Ty, malapit na birthday ko. Do you want to have dinner at my house? Sama mo si Lily."

Aya ko sa kaniya nang maihatid niya ako sa apartment. I wanted to break the ice between us. I don't think I could live like this any longer. Ayokong mag-tagal pa kung ano man ang problema sa pagitan namin.

"Sure. What's the exact date ba?"

My heart felt happy seeing how he looked so excited upon hearing about my birthday.

"Sa Sunday."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero biglang sumeryoso ang mukha niya. Kakabahan na sana ako pero bigla naman siyang ngumiti kaya lumawag din ang pakiramdam ko.

"Hmmm, Sunday? May pasok ka kinabukasan, baka ma pagod ka kung gabi tayo magc-celebrate. Lunch na lang. Birthday lunch. Para makatulong din ako sa paghanda."

My smile grew bigger. I tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"I'm excited."

"Sige na. Rest ka na. Good night."

He kissed me on the forehead before leaving.

I have never been excited about my own birthday because after my mother died, I never really celebrated it again. My dad never came into my room singing a birthday song with a birthday cake anymore. After my mom died, my birthday just became a regular day.

But that wasn't the case for this year. Who would've thought that I would be excited for my birthday more when I am struggling with money, instead of when I still have a lot.

Tama nga ang sabi ng iba na "time flies when you're having fun." Sobrang saya ko this past few days dahil sa excitement para sa birthday ko, na hindi ko namalayan, saturday na pala.