Tumambay lang kami ni Elmo sa condo habang naghihintay ng oras kasi alanganin rin na pumunta pa kung san man. Nasa living room lang rin siya habang nagready ako. Sobrang weird nito kasi last time na ganito lang kami sa condo, kami pa nun.
Before pa lang mag 7:30, umalis na kami to go to the restaurant to meet my parents. Ayaw rin kasi namin malate sa dinner.
Unconciously I check my phone. Kasi naman! Hindi pa rin ako ginigreet ni Richard. Ni wala siyang paramdam. Hindi ko alam kung nananadya ba or ewan. Pero seryoso, napakadali lang mag type ng happy birthday at isend eh. Hindi nga ako choosy diba. Ilang hours na lang at magtatampo na ako nang mas grabe pa sa teens na tampo.
"Have I told you you look really beautiful tonight?" Elmo suddenly said, taking me away from my thoughts.
"Yes Elmo, before we left remember? Thank you again."
He just smiled and rushed out to open the door for me. We were already here. Just standing outside the restaurant, natatawa na ako kasi naalala ko nanaman yung Valentines eat out namin ni Kenneth. Feeling ko hindi ako makikilala ng waiter this time kasi sobrang mas maayos na yung suot ko ngayon compared to last time.
Elmo led me inside. Then we asked for the reservation. Sabi nga nila andito na daw parents ko. So we went in and I found the two of them in a round table somewhere in the middle.
Elmo walked behind me as I rush to greet both my parents.
"Happy birthday anak. Menggay namin, big girl na."
"Thanks ma, thanks dad. Love you. Kanina pa ba kayo? Nga pala." I pulled Elmo to come closer to my parents. "You remember Elmo, right?" Nagulat lang sila for a second. I guess they didn't expect si Elmo yung kasama ko. Well kahit naman ako but yeah.
Nagbless naman si Elmo sakanilang dalawa. "Hello po. Sorry nag gate crash po ako sa dinner niyo. Kamusta po kayo? Nice to see you."
I guess nung nakarecover na sila, sumagot na rin finally. "Upo kayo." Pinaupo muna kami nila daddy. "Iho. Kamusta? Sorry nabigla kami ha. Nagulat lang kami, andito ka na pala ulit. Kailan ka pa bumalik dito satin? Dito ka na ulit for good?"
Tapos nakatingin lang si mommy sakin with a questioning look. It was my fault, I haven't mentioned yet na I was working with Elmo again. Bakit nga ba hindi ko nabanggit?
"Hindi po. For work lang po. Pero iniisip ko naman po, pwede rin naman ako bumalik for good." Sabay tumingin siya sakin. Tapos tumingin na ulit siya sa magulang ko, "Pero depende pa po lahat. I guess hindi pa po namention ni Maine na we were assigned to work together again on the same case. Nanggaling na po ako dito siguro mga 2 months ago."
"Menggay talaga, wala ka man lang nabanggit."
"Sasabihin ko rin naman po eventually."
Biglang siningit ng mommy, "Nga pala iho, pasensya ka na ha. Hindi kasi namin alam dadating ka ngayon eh."
"Para san po? Wala po yun."
I got confused too by what my parents were saying. Tatanungin ko pa lang sana sa parents ko what they meant when I heard someone right behind me clear their throat. So I turned around and looked up. Oh my god.
"Happy birthday Menggay." Dimple agad niya ang nag hi sakin. Napatayo ako tapos hindi ko na alam pero I just hugged him. Nagulat siya at first tapos nag ease up na rin.
"Chard! Anong ginagawa mo dito!" Tapos pinapalo ko likod niya. "Kaya pala di ka nagpaparamdam ha. Akala ko nakalimutan mo na birthday ko."
"Aray naman. Pwede ba yung makalimutan ko birthday mo? Tsaka sabi mo huwag ko sabihin diba, gawin ko? Kaya here I am. Happy birthday." Tumabi na siya sakin tapos dun lang niya napansin na may iba pa pala kaming kasama sa dinner.
Tapos inabot niya sakin yung paflowers niya, yellow carnations. Shit dun ko lang rin narealise how awkward yung situation nanaman that I am in. Tangina naman Maine o, kahit kailan ang malas ko sa ganito ah. Richard was on my right and Elmo on my left.
"Nga pala uhm. Ah." Shit hindi ko alam pano sila iintroduce. Sobrang fail ko. I just looked from Elmo then to Richard. "Uhm."
Tapos buti na lang si Elmo na ang nagreach out. "Elmo pala bro. Me and Maine are colleagues."
Nakipagshake hands naman 'tong isa, "Richard. Nice to meet you."
Shit. Kailangan ko na nang alak. Kahit ano kasi hindi ko kakayanin 'to. So I called the waiter. Pero hindi ako maglalasing. No way. Kailangan ko lang ng pampakalma.
"Yes maam, what can I do for you?" He was just looking at me and me at him, then shit familiar. He smiled wider. He recognizes me. Tangina. "Oh, madam it's so nice to see you back here, what's the occasion if I may?"
"It's actually my birthday."
"Why happy birthday." Then he looked at everyone in the table one by one. "But where's the boyfriend? Is he just running late?" Right away, everyone looked at me including my parents.
"He's not really feeling well since yesterday so he won't be able to make it." I just smiled and focused on the waiter. I will deal with everyone after.
"That's so sad to hear, of all days. But don't worry, I have something special just for you. I will be right back."
"Thank you." Umalis na yung waiter and I looked at everyone and raise both my hands in defeat. "I can explain."
BINABASA MO ANG
The (not so) Sweet Serendipity
RomanceTiming - a particular point or period of time when something happens. In all things, be it in love, career, academics, sports, name it. It is usually timing that makes all the difference. Yeah hard work pays off and all that but it's really a...
