The Next Stage (COMPLETED)

THIRTY: Birthday

Julia

Hours have passed since Zach and I had our talk. A heart-breaking talk.

And I am here, sitting at our sofa, thinking about what happened.

Since the day na nakita ko yung story ni Charisse, up until the last moment that I've had with Zach.

It feels surreal. And I don't know that after what happened earlier, eh ayos na kami ni Zach.

Everything seems to be okay but it isn't.

Birthday ko na bukas, yet kinukulong ko parin yung utak ko sa lahat ng mga nangyari.

I was planning on having a simple salu-salo with my whole family in Batangas.

Kaso, biglang nagbago ang lahat eh.

May biglang kumatok sa pintuan kaya nagulat ako. Ako lang kasi mag-isa dito, and with that, mas lalong nadagdagan yung loneliness na nararamdaman ko.

Si CJ, may lakad daw. Si Kim, nasa friend niya ata. Si mama naman, as usual, nasa trabaho. Tapos na yung one week leave niya na tingin ko, hindi naman naging worth it dahil inalagaan niya 'ko ng two days.

I opened the door at napangiti ako nung nakita ko si Hana and Caitlyn na nakangiti din habang may dalang carbonara at isang box ng pizza.

God, I missed them.

Kaagad ko silang niyakap ng mahigpit. Halatang nagulat sila pero itinawa nalang nila 'yun.

"I miss you, Juls!" Sabi ni Hana habang yakap ako.

"Yeah, we missed you!" Sabi naman ni Caitlyn.

"Haaay, thank you guys." Sabi ko naman. Parang nabawasan yung mga problema ko dahil sa kanila.

"Tara na, baka lumamig na yung pagkain." Sabi ni Hana. Tinawanan lang namin siya ni Caitlyn at pinapasok ko na sila sa loob.

"So, how are you?" Tanong ni Caitlyn habang nag sserve ng carbonara sa mga plates namin.

"Hmm, feeling better since nandito kayo." No joke, but that's what I'm feeling right now.

"Wow! So sweet of you naman." Sabi ni Hana na kumakain na ng pizza. Ang cute niya.

Napangiti lang ako at kumuha narin ng isang slice ng pizza.

"By the way, what brought you here? Bukod sa, namiss niyo 'ko?" Pagbibiro ko.

"We wanted to check if you're okay na. Kasi Julia, one week mo kaming tinakasan." Sabi ni Caitlyn which I admit right. I feel more guilty kasi pati sila, nadamay.

"And also, we want to check your heart." Hana said na nagpatigil sakin. How did they know?

"Uhm, I'm sorry." Sabi ni Hana. I shook my head.

"That's okay. Besides, you two are my friends so it's no big deal." Then I smiled, but I'm curious kung paano nila nalaman.

"If you're thinking kung paano namin nalaman, you should check his Facebook account para updated ka." Oh. That post.

Yung post na narealize ko kung gaano siya ka sincere sa mga words na sinabi niya.

"Yeah, I know. Pinabasa na sakin ni CJ." I said. Si CJ na bigla nalang akong iniwan na nakaupo sa tabing dagat.