The Beginning and the End #Wattys2017

011. Yesterday

Yesterday
10th of January, 2014

I don't like birthday parties. Kapag birthday ko, madalas sina Alex at Paulo lang ang bisita ko. Nanonood lang kami ng favorite movies ko habang kumakain ng white spaghetti at pork barbecue na niluto nina Mom and Dad. Minsan naman, nagpupunta lang kami sa amusement park at sumasakay sa kahit anong rides na gusto ko. Kuntento na ko dun, basta kasama ko sila.

Today's my 16th birthday.

Mom woke me up with a kiss on the forehead. When I opened my eyes, I saw her with Dad, smiling down at me. Bumangon ako at nginitian ko rin sila.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," bati nila sakin.

"Thank you," sagot ko.

Bigla akong inabutan ni Dad ng isang paper bag. "Regalo namin."

"What's this?" I asked habang tinitingnan yung paper bag. Usually books or DVDs lang ang nireregalo nila sakin. Yun lang naman kasi ang palaging hiling ko sa kanila. This time though, I know it's different. The paper bag is light, and there's something soft inside it.

"It's for you to find out," sagot ni Mom. "Open it."

Nginitian ko sila, then binuksan ko na yung paper bag. I gasp nang makita ko kung ano yung nasa loob: isang knee-length dress na kulay blue, and a pair of white slippers.

"Thank you," I said, smiling. Their returning smiles made my heart swell with joy. "Where are we going?"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa. "Where you do want to go?" Dad asked.

"Anywhere," I answered, but my mind changed. "Actually, I want to stay at home today." This day is special enough, kuntento na ko na makasama na lang sila buong araw.

"Okay, honey," Mom said. "It's your day. Enjoy it." She smiled and hugged me tight. After a moment, sumali na rin si Dad sa amin. Moments like this are the ones worth treasuring. Kapag nakikita ko silang masaya, masaya na rin ako. I have the best parents in the world, and I'm very grateful.

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Right after Mom and Dad left my room, tumawag si Paulo para batiin ako. He said na pupunta daw siya mamaya, at may ibibigay daw siyang gift sa akin. Nagpasalamat ako sa kanya, then I hung up.

Nahiga ulit ako sa kama at tumingin sa wall clock. It's already ten o'clock, pero wala pa rin akong natatanggap na message mula kay Alex. Tulog pa kaya siya? Siguro nga. Wala namang dahilan para hindi niya ako batiin, diba?

Kinuha ko yung laptop ko at nag-log in sa Facebook. Ang dami nang birthday greetings sa wall ko. Yung iba may mga pictures ko pa na kasama. Pero yung kay Alex, wala pa rin. Pumunta ako sa profile niya and looked at his timeline. May post siya just an hour ago: Can I really do this?

Natigilan ako nung nabasa ko iyon. Ewan ko pero bigla akong kinabahan at nanlamig yung buong katawan ko. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? Is it about our relationship? Hindi na ba niya kaya na ituloy?

No. Napa-paranoid lang ako. Alex won't do this to me. I know he's better than that. I've known him my whole life. Every aspect of his personality, alam ko na. Mabait siyang tao.

Is he?

I logged out of my Facebook account. It's my day, hindi dapat ako nag-iisip ng mga ganito. Dapat masaya lang ako ngayon. I need to make this day a positive one. Mamaya lang, sigurado ako, babatiin ako ni Alex. There's no need for me to feel this way.

Tumayo ako at lumabas ng kwarto. Sa stairs pa lang, naaamoy ko na yung pork barbecue na iniihaw ni Dad sa front yard. Naririnig ko rin si Mom na kumakanta sa kitchen habang niluluto yung white spaghetti na specialty niya. I smiled, at nagmadali akong bumaba sa kitchen.