Eh Yung Hindi Naman Tayo? DATI (COMPLETED)

EYHNTK- 23rd

A/N: Time out muna sa pregnancy scare. We're going to have a little time jump for this mini Birthday series. Thank you. 😊

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March 2, 2018:

I looked at my family's faces one by one as we gathered around the dinner table and they sang The Birthday Song for me and Ate Niki. It was an advanced one for me since my birthday won't be for a few more hours.

With everyone's warm greetings and applause, we blew the candles on the cupcakes then thanked everyone.

I must admit that in my once monotonous and suddenly tempestuous life, I have a lot to be grateful for and these people whose symphony of voices fill my ears and smiles touch my heart tops the list.

They who have loved me unconditionally since I was young. They who have bravely stepped into this crazy world I suddenly found myself in two years ago. They who have supported me... supported us from Day 1 until the days to come. They whom I undoubtedly know will continue to love me no matter what. I will always be grateful that I was blessed to have them as my family. My Tatay, Nanay and siblings are not perfect but they are the best family for the imperfect me.

So if my family tops the list of things that I am grateful for, where do you, Richard Faulkerson Jr, fall on that list, you might ask.

As I read your message apologizing for not being to make it to dinner tonight because of work, extending your birthday greeting to Ate and regards to the family, promising that you will make it up to me tomorrow, I decided on the answer.

You, RJ, are not on that list. Shocked? Don't be. Because you, my love, are on an entirely different list and so far, you are the only one on it.

You are in the 'Wonderful Blessings I Still Can't Believe I Have But Actually Do And Thankful For Every Second'.

Two years now and I still can't help but wonder how I got to be chosen to be blessed to have you. Over 3.7 billion girls in the world and I was given the privilege to be with you in the most phenomenal way, to love you and be loved by you. I don't think that will ever change. I will forever be in awe of the miracle that is you that I have in my life.

As the hours drew closer to my 23rd birthday, I wished to always have you in my life and I promise to keep fighting for us.

I know it won't be easy, that what we have gone through so far could either be the deepest pothole or the smallest bump on our road together, but I know that I will always choose to go through the worst with you that have it easy with someone else. You, Richard Faulkerson Jr, will always be worth every tear, every smile, every laughter and pain, every fear and prayer and if it won't be for you, I wish for my heart to stop beating.

After dinner, we went our own ways, Kuya. Coleen and Dean decided to continue the celebration with a few more drinks. Ate and Kuya John took Matti home. Yaya Pe went with them. While Tatay and Nanay volunteered to drive me home.

"Sasama pa po ako kina Dean, Nay." I said.

"Hindi na at may trabaho ka pa bukas." She answered.

"Tanghali pa naman yun, Nay, tsaka di naman po iinom ng madami." I reasoned.

"Hay naku, Menggay. Wag nang makulit. Magpahinga ka na. Kailan ka lang nilagnat tapos diretso ng trabaho, buong araw pa ang taping mo kahapon, tuloy sa baranggay kanina tapos eto ka ngayon? Gusto mo bang mag-birthday ng may sakit?" Nanay told me.

"Hindi po." I answered softly, submitting to the fact that I will not win this argument.

"Oh, ayun naman pala. Halika na at baka gabihin pa kami lalo sa daan ng Nanay pauwi ng Bulacan." Tatay said.

"Opo, Tay." I muttered and followed my parents to the car with a long face.

And so we drove on to the direction of my condo.

"Tay, lagpas na po tayo sa condo ko." I said when I saw that we were crossing the borders of Pasig to Marikina.

"Oo, nak. May dadaanan muna tayo ng Nanay mo sa may kumare niya sa Antipolo." Tatay answered.

"Okay po." I said but I was starting to get suspicious.

If I didn't know you were in a meeting with a potential franchisee in Imus, I would think that you put them up to this. I shrugged that thought out of my head but still wondered which 'Kumare' they were referring to. I don't recall Nanay having any friends from there. Could you have told me a white lie to pull a surprise for my birthday? That was highly unlikely or was it?

To keep myself from thinking too much about it and end up disappointed, I put my earphones on and played some music in full volume then closed my eyes as I listened to the words of the song.

🎶 You know I want you
It's not a secret I try to hide
I know you want me
So don't keep saying our hands are tied
You claim it's not in the cards
But fate is pulling you miles away
And out of reach from me
But you're here in my heart
So who can stop me if I decide
That you're my destiny?

What if we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine
Nothing could keep us apart
You'd be the one I was meant to find
It's up to you
And it's up to me
No one can say what we get to be
So why don't we rewrite the stars?
Maybe the world could be ours
Tonight 🎶

I didn't know how long I was asleep or that I was too tired that I dozed of along the way until I felt Nanay shaking me awake. "Gising, Menggay ko, nandito na tayo." She smiled.

The cool draft the blew as Tatay opened the car door told me we were somewhere in Upper Antipolo. I checked my phone for the time. It was 11:50 pm, ten minutes until my 23rd birthday.

To be continued...

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Ano nga kaya? May surprise or wala? 😄 Alamin natin mamaya. 😊

Happy 23rd Birthday sa Menggay natin. 💛

Thank you for reading.