At Her 18th | ✓

Fourteenth🌹

"Kuya Gab!" Sinalubong ko ng isang mahigpit na yakap si kuya Gabriel nang makapasok ito sa bahay.

"Diba sinabi ko na sayong 'wag mo na akong tawaging kuya?" Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo pero niyakap niya pa rin naman ako, "Nakakatanda kaya 'yon."

"Matanda ka naman talaga." I heard a comment from behind him. Sinilip ko ito at nakita ko si Nathan na nakangisi.

"Shut up."

"Hey, Nics." He opened his arms for a hug kaya binitawan ko si kuya Gab at tumugon dito.

"Graduation mo na next week, right?" Bigla niyang tanong, "Naikuwento sa amin ni Sean."

I nodded, "Yup."

"Congratulations!" Biglang nagpakita si Vince sa likod nito at niyakap rin ako.

"How's my favorite pamangkin?" Nakita ko si tita Alondra, ang nanay ni Nate at kapatid ni Dad.

"Patay ka kay Katherine kapag narinig niya 'yan." Natatawang wika ni Nate sa mama niya.

"I'm fine, tita. Pasok na ho kayo." I chose to greet them sa entrance kasi wala sina daddy—nasa office pa sila ni mom—and it didn't sit right with me if our relatives would just be greeted by the house helps kung nandito na rin naman ako.

"Nasa pool sina Blake." I told the guys.

"Ayos!" Sabay nagtungo sina Sean at Vince doon para batiin ang iba ko pang mga pinsan, and for sure Sean is specifically aiming to see one person.

Napatawa naman ako ng mahina.

"Same rooms lang po ang ipinahanda ni Dad para sa inyo para hindi na kayo mahirapang hanapin 'yon." I told them, "Manang please help them with their luggage."

"Ivan, get your nose off of that book and come greet your cousin." Sita sa kaniya ni tito Antonio, Dad's older brother.

Despite being the eldest, tito Antonio didn't want to take over the Hidalgo's family business because he knew that his passion was to be an architect, kaya si Dad ang namamahala nito kasama si tita Arabella, their youngest. Si tita Alondra ay may sariling jewelry business.

Ivan just lifted his head and nodded at me, "Nicole." Nakahanap na agad siya ng puwesto sa isa sa mga sofa, ni hindi nga namin namalayan.

"Hello to you too, Van." Mahina akong napatawa ng napa-iling lamang ang mga tao sa palibot namin.

"Oh siya, magpapahinga muna kami, ha? Malayo rin kasi ang binyahe namin." Pagpaalam sa akin ni tita Alondra na tinanguan ko naman.

"Of course. Ipapatawag ko nalang po kayo kina manang kapag dinner na." Ngiti ko sa kanila.

They drove all the way here to Quezon from Batangas, doon kasi naninirahan ang family nina Dad. We only live here in Quezon because of their expansion and they eventually moved the head office here in QC.

It's still early pa naman, it's only 3 in the afternoon. Abby won't be reachable because she has a date with Zenon—amusing how he actually agreed—and the girls are busy with personal stuff too kaya I'm free for the entire day... dito sa bahay.

"I'm bored." Sabi ko sa kabilang linya.

"Sabi ko naman kasi sa'yo na pwede kang pumunta dito." Nakarinig ako ng paggalaw ng upuan sa kabilang linya. Was he working?

"I can't. Kakarating lang nga mga pinsan ko, remember? Hindi ko naman sila puwedeng iwanan dito sa bahay."

"Why don't you invite my sister over?"

"She's on a date with my other cousin. Naalala mo 'yun kinuwento kong inisnob si Abby nang nagpakilala ito?" I heard him laugh at the other end.

"I have to meet that guy." He said in a laugh, "I think we'll be really good friends."