Pag Mulat

VII. The Birthday Boy

"What did he say?" Pangungulit ni Kenzie.

"Sabihin mo na samin Ice." Si Maco.

"He said that we're invited. At aattend na nga tayo ngayon diba?" Ice answered sarcastically, he was looking straight at the road. Nag d-drive ito but I can definitely see his eyes smiling from the backseat. Magkatabi kami ni Kenzie at nasa passenger seat si Maco.

Since the day of the exhibit, hindi ko na nakita si Kristan. Hindi namin siya mahanap sa buong school. Kinabukasan na lang nakita namin si Ice and he handed me the 10k price from Kristan. Ayokong tanggapin yun not until I talk to him, and even kahit makapag usap kami, pero sabe daw ni Kristan pag di ko daw tinanggap yon di ako invited sa birthday niya. The nerve of that guy!

So now, we are asking Ice kung anong napag usapan nila ni Kristan.

"I'm sure that he did it because he feels guilty for Line." Nakasimangot na sabi ni Kenzie.

"Why? Anong nangyari kay Line." Nilingon ako ni Ice tapos ay bumalik ulit sa kalsada.

"Kasi gustong manalo ni Line sa contest for Kristan's birthday." Sagot ni Maco. "Hindi ka natiis ng kababata mo Caroline." Lumingon si Maco from the passenger seat tapos ay binigyan ako nito ng nakakalokong ngiti.

Nahihiyang napatingin ako sa rear view mirror kung saan nakatingin din si Ice. He pretended to look away pero since then tumahimik na siya at nag drive na lang.

We arrived at Kristan's. The party was very elegant, the garden setting made it more special with beautiful lights around. Parang mga importanteng tao ang nandito.

Papoging bumaba si Maco sa sasakyan at nag aayos ayos pa ito ng neck tie. I can say that minus the playful aura, he can be a good looking guy. Kenzie looks really cute in her violet cocktail dress. I can also say that any girl will be swooned by Ice's charms. Naka coat and tie ito na black at blue na polo sa loob.

I shyly made my way out of the car with my red flowy dress na may medyo mababang neckline. I wasn't gifted a lot in that area but I have a really small yet curvy body frame. I was holding onto my gift for Kristan, a drawing tablet.

I was still thinking kung bakit ako ginuhit ni Kristan. Does that mean he likes me? Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Or maybe.. Nag g-guilty lang talaga siya. I was lost in thoughts nang biglang may umakap sa bewang ko.

"Krystal!" I hugged her as well. She is Kristan's baby sister, she's already 13. Siya lang yung kaisa isang tao sa mundo na may favorite saakin, bwisit siya sa kuya niya whenever he ignores me. She wears a red ribbon on her hair and a small pink dress. Even though I know that she hates girly things, she obliged na magsuot ng mga ganto para sa kuya niya, and that's when I know she loves him kahit para silang aso at pusa.

"Ang tagal mong nawala ate!"

"I'm sorry, sobrang busy sa school, kuya mo din hindi nakakauwi diba?"

"Yeah, but I don't care." I laughed at her.

"Line! I've missed you!" A lady in her late 40's in a cream colored long dress greeted me with a hug. She is still stunningly beautiful with her hair in a bun. Kung anong pagkakaalala ko sakanya nung bata ako ay ganun pa din ang itsura niya ngayon.

"Hi Tita Kristy." I smiled at her and hugged her. "Uhm, mga kaibigan po namin ni Kristan. Si Maco, Kenzie and Ice."

"Hi children. Nice to meet you."

"You look beautiful Tita. Maco nga po pala." Tapos ay nakipag kamay si Maco dito. Hinampas ito ni Kenzie. Napailing lang kami ni Ice while Tita Kristy laughed at him.

"Kayo talagang mga bata. Here follow me, I prepared you seats. Nasa loob pa si Kristan, nagsusungit na naman." She whispered the last sentence. Natawa lang kami dito.