At Her 18th | ✓

Fifteenth🌹

"Congratulations!" There was a pop of confetti that greeted me as we entered the mansion.

"I thought we'd celebrate it along with my birthday?" Tanong ko sa kanilang lahat na isa-isa akong binati.

"Nonsense, your debut is a different occasion." Vaughn said as he hugged me.

"Tama siya, ang i-celebrate natin ay kung ano ang meron ngayon, which is ang graduation mo." Tugon naman ni kuya Gab na pumalit sa kaniya.

"Whoo! Isla is entering college!" Kahit na sinigaw niya ito ng parang nagch-cheer, alam kong tinutukso lang ako ni Yael kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

Natawa naman si Xavier, "Good luck for a hellish experience!"

"Hindi na siya baby!" Dugtong ni Nathan, walanghiya talaga.

"She's finally gonna get boyfriends!" Nakisawsaw pa si Blake.

"Not yet!" Halos panabay na sita nina tito at Dad kaya nagtawanan naman ang mga asawa nito.

"Don't mind those idiots." Ani Blair na nasa tabi ko.

"Hayaan mo na, alam mo naman. Lalaki." Katherine gave me a you-know-how-it-is look.

"Dalaga na si Nicole!" 

Mahinang binatukan ni Kath si Kim dahil sa sinigaw niya, "Isa ka pa." 

"Graduation pa naman, wala pang debut. Excited ka?" Kim gave Sean an insulted look.

"Is that how you talk to your ate?" Nakapameywang pa ito.

"One year lang ang agwat natin."

"Kahit na, mas matanda pa rin ako."

"So inaamin mo na matanda ka?" Tukso ni Sean kaya halos may usok nang lumabas sa ilong nitong si Kim.

"Tama na nga 'yan." Sita sa kanila ni Vince, "Hindi niyo araw 'to, kay Nicole."

Nagulat ako ng lumapit si Ivan sa akin at hinalikan ako sa noo, "Congrats."

"Thanks." I smiled at him in which he returned with a small curve on his lips.

He headed back to the sofa immediately, with the book he's been always holding. Napailing nalang ako at mahinang napatawa.

"Yael, Xavier." Rinig kong tawag ni tita Xandra sa dalawa, "Where in the world is your brother?" 

"I think he's still in our room?" 

She clicked her tongue at Yael's answer, "I can't stand that boy's addiction to his video games." 

"And where do you think he got that from?" Tanong naman ni tita Veronica—nanay ni Vaughn—sa kaniya.

"Hey! I only went to the arcade during weekends!" Depensa naman ni tita Xandra.

"Hmm," Tango ni tita Veron, "Whatever makes you sleep at night." Tawa nito at kinawayan si tita Xandra habang nagtungo sa labas.

"It's the truth." She mumbled while heading upstairs to fetch her son.

"Come on, we set up a long table backyard." Hinila ako nina Kim at Blair papunta sa likod ng bahay.

Mabuti nalang at naka-civilian na ako kanina pagka-alis namin mula sa school kaya hindi ko na kailangang magbihis. Naka puting dress lang ako at kulay beige na wedge. 

I felt something warm touch my heart seeing the effort they put into preparing the place. A long table was at the center of the lawn and there were no seats. They prepared for our traditional boodle fight, kasi may nakalapag na banana leaves sa buong lamesa at nakapatong na rin dun ang mga pagkaing hinanda nila.