Chapter 13
Continuation of Birthday Party
I let the thought aside and approach my siblings who already come down.
"Happy birthday Ate Tat and Kuya Tobias." I happily greeted them.
Kuya smiled at me. "Thanks lil sis."
Niyakap ko si ate at nagpasalamat rin siya sa akin.
Tinawag si kuya ng mga kaibigan niya kaya iniwan niya kami rito.
"Happy birthday Tat." Hindi na ako lumingon sa likod ko sapagkat alam ko kung sino ang nagsalita.
Tumingin si Ate sa kanya and her smile went stiff pero bumalik ito sa dati. "Faye, you look... different."
Lumapit siya sa amin at nagflip hair. "I know I'm different from you merlat. Kabog ka sa ganders ko." Sabi niya in a gayish tone. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Papunta na daw sina Ken."
Ako lang ba o sadyang iba lang talaga ang tono ng boses niya tuwing kausap niya ako. Kung sina ate ang kausap niya, baklang-bakla siyang magsalita at kumilos haban ako naman....wait, hindi ko na dapat isipin ito baka isipin niya na feelingera ako.
"I'll better get going ate." Paalam ko sa kanya at tumango siya sa akin. Tumingin ako kay Felix, nakatingin siya sa direksyon ni kuya na nakikipag-usap sa isang babae. Yun ba ang babae na nililigawan niya? She's gorgeous in her black shimmering dress.
Muli kong ibinaling tingin ko kay Felix, napansin ko na kumislap ang kanyang mata dahil sa luha.
Nakaramdam ko ang kirot sa aking puso dahil naawa ako kay Felix. Ipinilig ko ito at niyakap ang braso niya.
He looks at me surprise while I smiled at him sweetly. "Sasamahan pala ako ni Felix. See you later ate."
Aalma sana siya pero hinatak ko siya ng malakas. Wala siyang nagawa kundi samahan ako.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nasa kokote ko na ginawa ko ito, is it pity or sympathy?
Nasa gate na kami at wala pa sina Ken. I let him go and silence surrounds us.
He gaze outside the gate while I'm staring at him. Well, this is awkward.
To break the awkward atmospeher between us, I open up the conversation. "The night...uhm..." I gaze at him. His looks you look beautiful tonight."
Napatingin siya sa akin na may halong gulat.
Wait... Did I say what?! Napatakip ako sa bibig ko. I suppose to compliment the night but instead I compliment him.
I wave my hand frantically at him while shaking my head. "I- I mean the--the night is b-beautiful not you. I-I mean your beautiful but uhh... ugh!!" I'm so frustrated! I'm smart but why would I get caught without explaining it correctly!
I covered my face, ashame of what I said.
Narinig kong tumawa siya pero hindi ko pa rin siya tiningnan. I don't know why but when I heard him laugh, my heart feels ticklish.
He hold my hands and gently lift it. I see his face close to mine. He softly smile at me and said. "Thank you, but you are more beautiful to me."
I got stunned. His words and our distance are getting me close to heart attack!
Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong sabihin. "Y-You're too close."
Mukhang natauhan siya pero ngumiti siya ng nakakaloko. "Ano naman kung malapit ako sayo." Mas lumapit pa siya sa akin. Isang maling galaw ko lang ay mahahalikan ko siya! I can smell his sweet and vanilla perfume. I can't help but smell his scent. He stare into my eyes as if he stare at my soul. He smiled playfully and said. "Hindi mo ba gusto? You can see my everything, my flaws, imperfection. So you can paint me accurately, my dear artist."
I felt my heart beats faster than normal. Is he trying to give me a heart attack?!
"Elara, Faye! We're here!"
Napatingin kami sa direksyon kung saan galing ang boses. Cheska is waving at us , Riri is getting something on the trunk and Ken is getting out of the car.
He let me go and I hurriedly compose myself. After that, I greet them enthusiastically.
"Hi guys, welcome to my home. Nasan ang sina Janice at Ada?" Sila lang kasi ang dumating.
"They can't come kasi, Ada is getting ready for their quiz and Janice is helping in their shop. They want to say sorry dahil hindi sila makadalo. Babawi daw sila next time." Explain ni Ken.
Ngumiti ako at mahinang umiling. "It's alright, I understand. Hali na kayo."
I guide them at the banquet. Habang naglalakad kami ay panay compliment sa akin si Cheska. I thank her at sumulyap kay Felix na kausap si Riri at Ken with his gay lingo. I really notice that iba ang kilos niya unlike the way kung kami ang magkasama. It made me curious. Napansin niya na nakatanaw ako sa kanya kaya sumulyap siya sa akin. I hurriedly look the other way around. I felt my cheeks are burning up.
"Ayos ka lang Elara? Ang pula ng mukha mo." Tanong ni Cheska.
"Ahh, ga-ganito lang kasi ang balat ko... gluta... oo, gumagamit ako ng gluta." Nagmamadali kong palusot.
She seems she buy the excuse. I exhale.
I got this intuition that this feeling of mine is not just a mere infatuation.
................
Natapos na ang birthday party.
Well the party turn out great. Late na duamating si Kuya Ed with his girlfriend. Felix and I haven't talk after our last conversation on the gate. Hindi man kami nag-usap ay hindi ko mapigilan na mapasulyap sa kanya. His smile and laugh made my heart beat so fast. This feelings of mine made me want to know him more.
Dumeritso ako sa kwarto ko para magbihis, matutulog na ako. It's already 11:30 pm at maaga pa ang klase ko bukas. Nasa higaan na ako nang may kumatok sa pintuan.
"Sino yan?" Binuksan niya ang pintuan at bumungad sa akin si Ate Tat. She is still in her birthday dress.
Pumasok siya at umupo sa tabi ko. "Matutulog ka na pala. But anyways, Faye want me to give you his contact number."
Napataas ang kilay ko. What's in his mind at bakit hindi na lang siya nagbigay sa akin kanina?
Kinuha ko ang phone ko at kinopya ang number niya sa cellphone ni ate. Pagkatapos kong kopyahin ay akala ko na aalis na si ate but her next sentence caught me off guard.
"May...something ba kayo ni Faye." Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.
"H-How could you say that ate?" Nauutal kong tanong sa kanya.
"It's just the way he treat you, it's just... different. And he let you call him Felix. Eh kami nga mga kaibigan niya ay sasampalin niya o kaya bugbugin kung tatawagin namin siya sa guy name niya."
Natulala ako sa sinabi niya. I slowly try to came up with an answer. "He... Baka ganyan lang siya ate. He maybe want to take it easy on me kasi hindi ko pa siya ganoong kakillala."
She looks convince at my reason. "Baka nga. O sige matulog ka na. Goodnight by the way, thank you for the dress is totes snatch." I smile at her as a response.
Paglabas niya sa kwarto ay humiga ako at napatingin sa kisame.
Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. Pero reasonable naman ang dahilan ko.
Yeah its reasonable. I should better sleep now maaga pa ako bukas. When I close my eyes his thoughts flooded up my mind.
"Thank you but you are more beautiful to me."
"Hindi mo ba gusto? You can see my everything, my flaws, imperfection. So you can paint me accurately, my dear artist."
"I'm interested in taking a part in your life."
*Badump*
*Badump*
Napamulat ako at napabunting hininga. I guess this will be a very long night.
BINABASA MO ANG
My Adamant Elara
Teen Fiction"Elara, you are the most adamant woman I have ever met. I don't regret everything I did just to make you happy. Even if that means helping you to have him."
