[Happy birthday, Dan-Dan!] Mama said excitedly as I answered the video call. She even has cake.
"Thank you po, 'ma." I smiled, blowing the candle on the screen.
[Oh siya, basta pag-uwi mo, ah? Celebrate tayo!]
"Opo, 'ma, I'll get going."
[Okay, ingat. Love you!]
"Love you too!"
Sinuot ko ang sapatos and naglakad papalabas ng dorm. Today's the midterms and I can't believe na natapat pa talaga sa birthday ko. Ang gara, magdudusa pa nga sa kaarawan ko.
Sumakay na ako ng cab nang makarating ito. Natagalan kami sa intersection, naabutan pa kami ng stoplight. I looked around, only to see a familiar-looking car.
Fuck it. Why can't I stop thinking about that prick? Pati sa kotse naaalala ko siya? It does look like his car. I hate it.
Dali-dali akong naglakad papasok ng campus nang makarating. I frowned nang madaan ko ang parking lot. I saw a familiar prick walk past me. The hell?
I tried looking back to check if it was really him, but I was left flabbergasted when I truly confirmed 'cause he did the same, revealing his annoying face. Bakas sa mukha niya ang gulat pero sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin. Tsk.
Nadatnan ko ang mga classmates ko na busy pagpasok ng room. It's like they all have their phones and notes in their hands, trying to still review. Literally everyone, but Theo, who's now smiling at me.
"Happy birthday, dude!" He greeted me.
"Hala, happy birthday!" Lea heard, and then greeted.
"Happy birthday!"
"Guys, birthday ni Darrell! Happy birthday, Darrell! Happy birthday..." Paul started to sing, followed by everyone.
I faced-palm. Embarrassing. I heard them laugh, Umupo na lang ako sa tabi ni Theo and binuksan ang reviewer ko.
"Review mo'ko." I heard him say.
I sighed and left with no choice. He surprisingly can answer most of the questions, nag-review naman pala.
"Handa na ba kayo?" our prof asked once he entered the room. Lahat ng classmates ko ay nagsigawan na parang mga sira.
The test was surprisingly... hard. Hard as hell! Akala ko magiging madali na lang, but what the fuck was that?
"Ayoko na, ano magandang shift course?" Wala sa sariling sinabi ni Lea nang makalabas kami ng room.
"Ang hirap, 'di ba?" Hannah said, almost crying.
"Dali naman!" Paul exclaimed.
"Daling hulaan!" Theo smirked. Parehas silang tumawa sa kagaguhan nila.
Wala kaming midterms sa FITT kaya uwian na namin, but we wanna have lunch first. Naglakad lang kami palabas ng building to shrug what the fuck the test was.
"Saan tayo?" walang ganang tanong ni Hannah.
"Uh, kina Paul na lang!" Lea suggested.
"'Yoko nga!" tutol agad ni Paul.
Inakbayan siya ni Theo. "Sige na, dude! Ta's inuman tayo para celebrate birthday ni Darrell!"
The hell?
Nagsigawan naman sina Hannah and Lea. I left with no choice, but to say yes. Hinila pa nila ako papunta sa gate 2 kung saan ang daan papunta sa dorm ni Paul.
"Teka, ano lunch natin?" Lea asked.
"Mag-buldak tayo!" Hannah exclaimed.
I don't like it. I looked around. I smiled when I saw the only thing I've craved for these past weeks.
BINABASA MO ANG
Sincerity's Sanctuary (Siren Avenue #1)
RomanceYOUR SINCERITY, MY SANCTUARY. Darrell and Rowan weren't the closest growing up, despite them always being forced to be each other's company as their moms happen to be best friends their whole life. Their families have been insufferable ever since as...
