Adventures

03.03.16

"Ilang minuto nalang, birthday mo na, tapos nakasimangot ka pa rin?"

I heard my older sister, Coleen, say as she entered the room we both shared at our Bulacan residence. 

As she said this, I looked at the white, wall clock we've had in our room ever since we were in high school. 11:55, it read, but I felt nothing. Nothing at all. 

Usually, I'd feel excited whenever special days in my life would arrive, but today, I just wanted my birthday to be over and done with. Siguro kasi, hindi kami okay ni Alden. Alam ko, alam ko.. ang babaw, pero anung magagawa ko? Sensitive ako eh.

Well, it all started with our conversation a few days ago. He had visited me in my condo after his shooting for a new endorsement. 

Though I was running on just 5 hours of sleep in 2 days, I hadn't seen him in a while, so I was willing to sacrifice some well-deserved shut eye just to spend time with him.

"So ano, tuloy na ba Bora natin?" I asked, my eyes glowing in excitement. We've been planning to go to Boracay for a long time now, and I was so excited that finally, this Sunday, we were flying there. 

"Um.."

My forehead creased in confusion. 

"Anung 'um'?" I asked. "Wag mong sabihing hindi tayo tutuloy." 

Alden breathed heavily as he held my hand. 

"Siyempre matutuloy pa rin ang plano." He answered, rubbing my hand with his thumb. "Pero hindi yata ako makakasama."

"HA?!" I almost jumped out of my seat. "Akala ko ba okay na ang lahat? Hindi ba inayos na ni Miss Carlites yung schedule mo para magkasama tayo?"

I was in total disbelief. It was so unlike Alden not to find a way for the both of us to be together on one of the most important days in my life. 

I knew this Sunday wasn't going to be my 21st birthday, but still.. celebration ko pa rin 'yun and I wanted him there. Pinlano namin 'to eh. Kaming dalawa. Hindi ako lang. 

"Oo nga, pero may event kasi ako na hindi pwedeng i-cancel on that day. Baka kasi mag-fifile yung organizers ng breach of contract 'pag di ako pumunta."

"Ano ba naman 'yan." I instantly let go of his hand, feeling more than betrayed.

"Ito na nga yung moment na hinihintay natin.. yung moment na makakapag-spend time na tayo with each other. Ang tagal tagal nating pinlano, pero on the last minute, sasabihin mong hindi ka makakapunta." I said. 

"Pinaasa mo lang pala ako sa wala."

And ever since that night, I was never in the mood to reply to his text messages nor answer his calls. I just felt so bad, you know. 

Because of our busy schedules, we haven't been seeing each other lately and I felt really sad because I missed Alden and I just wanted to spend some time with him. 

We both saw this coming Sunday as the perfect opportunity to just unwind and enjoy each others' company because we purposely told our managers to free that day up, but here comes another event na "kailangan niyang puntahan".

I've been so understanding of how demanding Alden's schedule can be. For one, ganun na ganun rin ang schedule ko, but seriously. We've been planning this Boracay trip for months now, tapos kaya niya lang mag-ditch on the last minute? Ano 'to?

"Alam mo, wag mo nang masyadong isipin si Alden." Ate Coleen said, sitting by my bed side. "Wag ka munang magpadala sa negative vibes dahil in 2 minutes, birthday mo naaa." She added, shaking me gently.