Lena was relieved when Nikola called them to the kitchen. Kahit pa alam niyang tutudyuin lamang siya ng mga kapatid at posibleng kausapin ng daddy niya si Cyrus, mas mabuti pa rin iyon kesa silang dalawa lamang ang magkasama sa sala.
Pinaupo siya ni Cyrus sa dining area. Nikola's arguing with Logan. Ayaw kasi nitong mamigay ng cake. Sila lamang daw dalawa ang hati. Ang mommy at daddy niya ay nag-uusap sa isang tabi habang nagtutuyo ng mga hinugasang pinggan at utensils ang mommy niya. Lacey and Kenna were giggling. Alam niyang siya ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito. They like Cyrus for her. Gustong-gusto nila ito because aside from his good qualities, he's also very good-looking. Ang sabi pa nga ni Lacey sa kanya, walang-wala raw rito ang iba niyang kilalang artista at modelo.
"Can we take that picture now?" Martin asked. Naupo ito sa kabilang tabi niya. Cyrus was sitting on her other side. Logan was readying the camera when Martin laughed and held up his hands. "All right. Saka na lamang siguro kapag maganda na ang panahon."
Hindi niya alam ang ibig nitong sabihin. Martin got up when Cyrus put his arm on her shoulder. She looked up to him for answers but he simply gave her a tight smile.
"Kayo na lang ang pi-picture-an ko, Ate," suhestiyon ni Logan.
Cyrus was already smiling at the camera. Sampung sunod-sunod na pictures yata ang nakuha nito dahil hindi nito tinigilan ang shutter. Parang bawat galaw nila ay nakuha. Hindi pa nakuntento si Lacey, na biglang nakisali at tinuruan pa sila ng iba't ibang pose.
"Kiss him!" her sister blatantly suggested.
Their father grunted loudly. Sinamaan nito ng tingin ang kapatid niya.
"For the camera," Lacey amended. Nginitian nito ang daddy nila. "Sa cheeks lang naman, Dad."
"I'll kiss you too!" sabat ni Nikola. He puckered his lips and suddenly, the mood turned light again. Even Logan was smiling when he took their pictures, Nikola kissing her on her right cheek (with cake crumbles on his mouth) and Cyrus on her left. Logan's scowl returned, though, when Lacey told him that it's his turn to kiss her.
Kenna and Logan then asked her to give them cake because Nikola's hogging it. But Nikola wouldn't listen to her so Cyrus stepped in. He promised that he'd bring Nikola another cake and he can keep that all to himself. Pumayag naman ito dahil napangakuan.
Habang abala silang magkakapatid sa paghahati-hati ng cake (Nikola wants the biggest slice), nakita niyang kinalabit ng daddy niya si Cyrus. The two headed outside to talk.
"He'll be fine," Martin assured her.
Well, at least she's confident that her father won't punch Cyrus in the face for not knowing her birthday. Hindi naman bayolente ang daddy nya. He talks a lot, though. Between him and her mom, ito ang madaldal.
--
The talk was surprisingly short. Pagbalik ng dalawa, dumiretso na kaagad ang daddy niya sa office nito. She's guessing that he'll be doing the pending works he left earlier because of her birthday. Si Cyrus naman ay tahimik lamang na tumabi sa kanya.
Hawak-hawak lamang nito ang kamay habang nakikinig sila sa pagkikwentuhan nina Lacey at Martin. The two are really dynamic. Hindi nauubusan ng kwento. Hindi nila katulad ni Cyrus na tahimik lang sa isang tabi. Mabuti na lamang at nandoon si Nikola. He's the ice breaker, constantly making jokes and making the atmosphere less awkward.
Everyone called it a night when the clock struck eleven. She and Lacey went outside to say good night to Cyrus and Martin. Hanggang sa labas lamang siya ng pintuan dahil ayaw ni Cyrus na pahirapan pa siya paglalakad hanggang sa gate. Si Lacey naman ay inihatid ang boyfriend nito hanggang sa kotse nito, na nakaparada malapit sa gate.
