After All This Time

Don't Be Like Me.

Patrice's POV

"Pakisuyo mo na nga yung lasagna, Angelica."

"Sure."

It's Ryle's birthday today and we're busy preparing. Dumating na rin dito sa Singapore si Angelica and si Bryan nung isang araw.

"Ryle!! Happy birthday!!"

"Tito!!"

Biglang sumulpot si Bryan na may dalang mga balloons at isang malaking gift. Napangiti ako when Ryle ran to his tito at niyakap ito.

Konti lang naman yung hinanda namin. I cooked lasagna, garlic bread, and fried chicken. Bumili na lang si Angelica ng cake.

"Oo nga pala bestie, si Ricci?"

I smiled at her.

"He left Manila 3 hours ago. Padating na siguro siya. Mag-grab na lang daw siya papunta dito."

"It's a good thing he'll be here. Alam kong namimiss na rin yun ng anak niya."

"Oo nga eh. Buti na lang wala siyang game this weekend."

"Kailan ang balik niya ng Manila?"

"On Tuesday night. 7 pm daw ang flight niya. Bale three days and two nights lang siya."

"Eh where is he staying?"

She smirked and looked at me meaningfully.

"Dito."

"Hahaha! Uy, ang saya niya!!"

I rolled my eyes at her and laughed.

"Of course I'm happy... for our son."

"Eh for yourself?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"He's my friend."

"Friend lang?"

"Y-yeah."

"Okay, sabi mo eh haha!"

Tinakpan ko ng foil yung lasagna para hindi agad lumamig. I checked my phone and read Ricci's new message on Viber.

Ricci Rivero
active 5 min ago

I'm here! I'm just waiting for my Grab. See you in a while. ☺️

I quickly replied.

Ingat ka. See you! Chat ka kapag naka-baba ka na. I'll go down sa lobby para masundo kita.

I walked inside the bedroom to change my clothes and let my hair down para naman hindi ako masyadong haggard. I applied a little bit of lip and cheek tint tapos lumabas na ko ng kwarto. It's only a 15 minute drive from the airport to here kaya lumabas na rin ako ng room and waited for his chat.

"Malapit na si Ricci? Prepare ko na yung table?"

"Yeah. Dagdagan mo ng isa kasi kasama niya daw si kuya Marco."

"Okay."

Naglakad si Angelica at naglagay na ng plates sa table. After a couple of minutes, tumunog ang phone ko.

Viber:
Ricci Rivero: Nasa lobby na ko 😀.

I stood up and went to the kitchen.

"Anj, nasa baba na si Cci. Sunduin ko muna."

"Sige."

Lumabas na ko ng condo at sumakay ng elevator. Hindi ko maexplain yung nararamdaman ko. I was excited or something.