Flowing Through Pages

Chapter 16

Chapter 16.

Birthday

I am alone in the living room, reading my book and eating cookies. I have no idea where Nay Flor, Ugo, and Flare have gone. Si Yael ay nagpaalam na pupunta sa trabaho kaya naman pagbaba ko ay wala na akong naabutan.

Napalingon ako sa pinto ng bumukas ito. Walang imik kong binalik muli ang paningin sa libro nang makitang nakangising si Ugo lang 'yon. I suddenly feel like going back to my room.

"What's up, Ma'am!" saad niya bago umupo sa harap ko at kaswal na kumuha ng cookies. Tinapik ko ang kamay niya. He looked at me in shock. "Grabe? Ang damot, ah?"

I rolled my eyes. "Why are you here?"

"Ay? Bawal ba ako rito?" sarkastikong aniya.

"Don't test my patience," inis kong saad.

I thought he was with Yael. Why did he come back alone?

He quickly grabbed the cookies and shoved them into his mouth, raising a hand to signal me to wait. Nakakainis talaga 'to.

Pinanood ko siyang medyo iritado. Binilisan niya ang pag nguya nang makitang nakatitig lang ako sa kaniya. He swallowed hard, his hand gripping his throat, clearly under pressure because of me.

"Mag de-decorate ako," he said as he slowly grabbed some cookies again, looking at my reaction.

My forehead creased. "Decorate for what?"

His jaw dropped and the cookies fell from his hands. He stared at me, wide-eyed, covering his mouth.

I poked the inside of my cheek in annoyance. Kaunti na lang ay babatuhin ko na 'to ng baso.

"Ano ba?"

"Hindi mo alam?" gulat pa ring sinabi niya.

"Ang alin?!"

He gasped, shaking his head dramatically in disbelief. "I'm so disappointed, Ma'am. Hindi 'to deserve ng tropa ko. Redflag ka."

Sa inis ko ay tumayo ako at hinampas ang ulo niya ng newspaper na nasa tabi. Ano bang pinagsasabi nito? I don't have any idea.

"Just spit it out," I gritted my teeth.

"Birthday niya!" parang naiiyak na sigaw niya. Iling-iling pa siyang sumandal sa couch at mukhang dismayado. "Kawawa naman tropapits ko."

I stiffened. Yael's birthday? Is it today? Bakit parang ang bilis naman?

"Grabe, ganiyan pala ang true colors mo," pilit niya pang pinarinig ang marahas niyang buntong hininga. Nakakabwisit lang, e.

I glared at him. He immediately pressed his lips and slowly reached for the cookies again.

I really forgot it's his birthday today. Kaya pala tinanong niya ako kanina kung may sasabihin ako. But since I'm clueless, I didn't even bother to answer him.

"Where are Nay Flor and Flare?" I asked.

He took a bite of his cookies before answering me. "Bumili ng regalo."

I bit my lip. So, that's the reason why they're not here. I really have no idea.

I sighed as I sat down. Is he expecting me to give him a gift? I did tell him not to expect anything though because I'm not the type to give gifts. Mahirap mamili ng regalo kaya hindi ko ginagawa.

"Did you also buy him a gift?" I asked.

He nodded while chewing.

"Ano?"