EVERYTHING
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CYRUS!”
Popping of confetti surrounded the entirety of the studio when I entered. These bunch of idiots really know how to surprise me. All these colorful confetti scattered all over the floor.
Lumapit silang lahat upang salubungin ako. Inakbayan ako ni Adrian at Jonas. “Thank you, guys!” sambit ko habang pilit na kinakaya ang bigat nilang dalawa.
“Bukas na lang ʼyung regalo mo.” ani Seven.
“Bukas na lang din ʼyung kanta ng happy birthday.” sabi naman ni Andy na may hawak na walis.
“Bukas na tayo mag-usap-usap.” sabi ni Primo habang hawak naman ang dustpan.
Inabot nila sa akin ang walis at dustpan sabay sabing, “Bukas ka na namin pagsisilbihan.”
This was all a set up?! The look on my face came from excited and now turned to devastated. How could you all do this to me?
“Uuwi na kami!” sabay-sabay nilang sabi. “Bukas pa naman ʼyung handaan e.”
Pagkatapos nilang ibigay sa akin ang mga panglinis, iniwan na nila akong mag-isa rito sa loob ng studio. Akalain mo nga naman. Mismong kaarawan ko, ginawa ba naman akong tagalinis ng kalat nila.
...
“DOES MY HAZEY NEEDS SOMETHING?” I asked, speaking through phone call.
“Iʼm at the first floor of your building. Could you meet me here?” she asked.
“Of course.” I replied.
I didnʼt need to know first what her reason is. If she calls me, Iʼll be there. I was beaming with excitement. Wala naman na kasi akong plano bukod sa umuwi at magpahinga dahil alam kong tapos na ang klase ni Haze. But look how the universe is giving me a great time.
“Pupunta ako sa library.” saad ni Marcus habang nakatanaw sa malayo. Nang lingunin niya ako, napansin ko ang malapad niyang ngiti. This is about Frankie, and Iʼm sure of it.
Nang mapansin niya ang pagngisi ko, nag-iba ang pinta ng mukha niya. “Donʼt come with me.”
“Oo alam ko. May pupuntahan din naman ako.”
“Happy birthday again.” he greets then he finally turns his back. “See you tomorrow, Bastien.” I just watched him disappear from my sight.
Nang makababa na ako sa pinakaunang palapag ng building namin, agad kong nilibot ang paningin sa paligid para hanapin si Haze.
“Cyrus!” tawag niya sa akin habang kumakaway.
“H-Haze...?” tinignan ko siyang mabuti bago ko siya lapitan. Iʼm missing her so much that I might be hallucinating at this point. “Kanina pa tapos ang klase mo ah? Why are you still here?” I then asked.
She tiptoed towards me, closing the distance between us. “Hinintay ko matapos ʼyung klase mo kasi may ibibigay ako sa ʼyo.”
“What is it?”
After the question, she took something out of her pocket. It was a small pouch made with blue silk. I was moved with how special it looked like. It was the color that I really like. She then holds the pouch from its ribbon. With a wide smile and rosy cheeks, she sings, “Happy birthday dear Cycy, Happy birthday to you...”
Umiwas ako ng tingin matapos kong marinig ang kanta niya. I couldnʼt help but to chuckle. “Kaya pala magaling kang sumayaw.”
“Whatʼs that supposed to mean?” sinamaan niya ako ng tingin.
I need to keep up with the laughing act. “Youʼre better a dancer than a singer.”
“Hey...!” napaatras siya. “Just be thankful that I even sung for you. I donʼt do it to other people.”
I kinda lied. I wasnʼt making fun of her voice. Actually it sounded good and calm. Pero oo, mas bagay sa kaniya ang pagsasayaw pero siguro may potensyal din siya sa pagkanta. Actually, I didnʼt laugh because something was funny. Tumawa ako para hindi halata na kinikilig ako. Would I admit that to her? Never. But I would definitely let her guess and if she gets it right, I wouldnʼt deny it.
Iʼm so down on my knees after getting the pouch. “Thank you.” I muttered. Ang tingin ko ay nasa loob ng pouch. Inangat ko ang tingin pabalik sa kaniya. “A bracelet?”
She nodded and a hint of embarrassed look painted her face. “Wala na akong maisip na regalong magugustuhan mo. Iʼve ran out of ideas because Iʼve been giving gifts to you every year.”
Tila ako wala sa sarili habang nakangiti. The girl that I really like gave me a birthday present and even waited until my classes ended just to give the present to me. Who wouldnʼt love that?
“Iʼm so weak on my knees, do you know that?” I squinted my eyes as I leaned down to match her height and meet her eyes.
She poked me from both of my side. I immediately felt an electric shock from there. “H-Haze!”
Malakas siyang tumawa, “Ang cute mo!”
With great embarassment that hovers my body and mind, the moment I realize, my head is already buried between her neck and shoulder. I canʼt help but to smell her scent. How strange that I find it addicting?
When sheʼs finally stopped from giggling and teasing me, I couldnʼt even bring myself to look at her. “Stop making fun of me.” I rebuked.
“Alright.” she gave up, finally.
I sighed in relief, recovering from that electrifying sensation. “Tara na, iuuwi na kita.” I volunteered. Hmm, it was out of guilt for not knowing sooner that she was waiting for me. “You couldʼve just give it on some other day.”
“It canʼt wait.” she pouted. “Itʼs called birthday gift for a reason.”
“It can wait.” I caressed her hair. “I, on the other hand, donʼt want you waiting.”
...
“YOUʼRE STILL NOT WEARING IT.” Haze mumbles after we both got off the car. She didnʼt want to look at me, I could feel it. “You donʼt like it, donʼt you?”
“What do you mean?” Natawa na lang ako dahil ang tanging naririnig ko sa boses niya ay pagtatampo. “I love it.”
She taps her toes to the ground, impatiently. “Then why are you not wearing it?” From her back, I could see that sheʼs now crossing her arms.
Nilapitan ko siyang dahan-dahan, hindi pa rin napapawi ang ngiti sa labi ko. Mas lalo pa itong tumatamis habang sinusuot ko na ang bracelet na regalo niya sa akin kanina lamang.
Nang mapansin niyang hindi ako nagsasalita at sumasagot sa tanong niya, humarap na siya. “How dare you leave—” She bumped herself on my chest.
“But I stayed.” I smiled. “Iʼll never leave you, Haze.” I cupped her rosy cheeks. “If youʼre wondering if I donʼt like the bracelet you gave me, trust me, I love everything from you.”
“Sinuot mo lang nung sinabi kong suotin mo.” she frowns. Just how much time would it take to pour oil on troubled waters?
Such a short tempered lady. “Itʼs getting late and I needed to take you home already.” I said. She remain unconvinced. “Promise, I was gonna wear it as soon as I got you home.”
“Really?” Instead of hearing it in a positive tone, I heard a hint of doubting.
I nodded in an instant. “It looks good on me.” I uttered, dropping my gaze on the bracelet on hanging on my wrist. It was a gold cuff. I turned it around and notice a tiny detail. The letter C was engraved in the middle. I smiled with my eyes a little teary. “Thank you for making this day more special.”
