KOI NO YOKAN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Before we left the house I was actually asking him to get and tell me what his favorite flavor of cake is, para makabili ako para sa kanya.

"Madaming magbibigay ng cakes sa akin, ithiel. Maniwala ka man o sa hindi, mauumay ka kapag nakarating na tayo sa bahay," and then he chuckled as he turned the steering wheel to the left.

"Talaga?" I scrunched my nose as I watched him nod.

"Yup, save your money, and besides, you already gave me my gift." he used his lips to point at the canvas I was sitting in the backseat, umiling na ako habang tumatawa.

"Okay, ikaw bahala."

"Oo nga, mamaya makikita mo na 'di ako nagsisinungaling, why do you suddenly like to give me a cake anyway?"

"It's kind of my thing every time were about to celebrate a birthday, gusto ko lahat ng sasamahan ko mag-birthday may cake."

"Para?"

"So they can wish," I saw that he glanced over at me through my peripheral vision, and I just shook my head and smiled.

"Pero since marami naman nagbigay ng cake sa 'yo ngayong araw—"

"I have a lot of cakes from lovable people, Ithiel. Mauubusan na ako ng hininga 'di pa rin ako tapos magblow ng candles, makita mo." tumawa na ako sa sinabi niya.

When we arrived at their house alam ng andito na halos yata silang lahat, different colors of six cars were parked around the street, we both got out of the car and I was just staring at him as he didn't have any cover on his face and walked comfortably inside.

Okay? 'Di ba siya takot na baka may magpicture sa kanya?

Looks like not.

'Di pa kami nakakapasok ng mismong pintuan rinig na rinig ko na agad ang boses ni Deroo, they sounded like playing a game or something, but if I didn't know any better, they're just simply talking.

"BIRTHDAY BOY!!"

Agad na sumigaw si Croxell since siya ang unang taong malapit sa front door, Jathen's hands fell to his side as the boy hugged him whole body, natawa na lang siya habang ako naman tumabi.

"JATHEEEEEEN!"

"Happy birthday! Birthday Happy! Happy birthday! Birthday Happy! Happy birthday!"

"Inuman na! Inuman naaaa!!"

"SHOT MO NA, MAD!"

"TEKA, SAKIT NG PAA KO!!"

"BOOOOOY SA'N KA GALING?"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!!"

The boys mobbed him for a hug and all he could do was to catch them as much as he could without falling, but they didn't let him fall anyway.

"Unang cake!" sigaw ni Scalsky habang may suot suot na party hat sa ulo niya.

He was carrying a strawberry milk carton-looking cake na may tatlong candles, the boy laughed when they gave way for him.

Jathen scoffed but his smile was wide when he saw the first cake. He stood there and then our eyes met. I nodded and smiled at him. He scrunched his nose and then suddenly scratched his left eye using the back of his palm as he stared at the cake.

"'WAG KANG MAINGAY!" sigaw ni Deroo kay Madrous na pumapalakpak sa may side.

He stopped clapping and then he sulked kaya agad siyang niyakap ni Deroo.

"YEHEEEEEY!"

Kanya kanya kami ng palakpak when he blew the candle and then clapped on his own as he tried to greet everyone in front of him.