Change [Ricci Rivero, Completed]

Kabanata XXXV

"Okay, thank you sa 19 sunflowers and the only rose who danced with our birthday celebrant tonight! Now, we're off  to the next part of tonight's program which is the 20 things you remember the most about me." Jastin narrates as the audience listens. I looked at Ricci and saw him rest his chin sa shoulder niya. I smiled ever so bitterly and knew na everything he did kanina was just a friendly gesture at talagang pambawi lang. I ignored it anyways and nagpasalamat nalang na umattend siya at part parin siya ng gabi na 'to. "We'll be having a game, you will be grouped into three and each group will have a representative. You will be picking from the 3 strips of paper I have prepared and you'd have to guess the 20 things, atleast, that comes into your mind about that topic related kay Alex." I cheered Jastin on as this will be one heck of a night. Malalaman kung magiging magkapareho kami ng mga sagot tonight ng mga taong ininvite ko dito.

"Si Ricci ang samin! Para sure win!" sigaw ni Jean. I don't even know why she's pushing me kay Ricci when she's the one he wants now. I know she knows that too, nakakapagtaka lang talaga kung bakit since we haven't really gotten the chance to sit down and chat over that topic. "Sakin si Elliana! Ay mali! Samin pala!" sigaw ni Donny. Binato ko si Donny ng decor na flower and he laughed hysterically. "Okay, samin si Kuya!" sigaw naman ng nanay ko na game na game dun sa gitnang table.

Nagbunutan na sila and when they showed their groups kung anong nabunot ng representatives, nagsigawan yung mga kagroup ni Ricci and was hysterical. "Sagad na 'to! Woooh we love this night!" sigaw ni Brent as he shouts ecstatically. "Ano bang nabunot mo na nakapagpasigaw sa mga kasamahan mo ng ganito?" tanong ni Jastin at pinakita ni Ricci ito sa kanya. He looks so embarassed as he does it.

"Shit. Akala ko kasi, walang chance na mapatapat sa inyo 'to." sabi ni Jastin at nagfacepalm. "What is it?" I asked. "20 rules you set when you date a person. We have to sets for each representative. Huhulaan ni Alex ang sayo then you'll guess kung ano yung sa kanya." Nanlaki ang mata ng lahat nung sinabi niya yon, pati ako, natahimik because of that but nevertheless, mageenjoy ako.

"Anong consequence if we don't get it right?" tanong ni Elliana. "If either of you gets it wrong, then may shots tayo dito and yung nagkamali ang magshoshot." I looked at Elliana and the rest, they were nervous for minutes while Jastin was telling them the mechanics.

Nauna ang Kuya ko and ours was our habits and the kind of persons we want them to be around with. My kuya got 3 wrong answers so he gets to take 3 shots. Sobrang saya ng portion namin since dun sa tatlong yon nadefine ang pagiging magkapatid namin. Kay Elliana naman was 20 things I hate and love, mapahabits man yan or mannerisms. Dito rin nadefine ang friendship namin ni Elliana for she got 6 answers wrong at sa anim na yon, kinocoach pa siya ni Donny. "Pambihira ka, you've always hated my nail biting diba!" sigaw ko sa kanya. As a good friend and sibling, so far, wala pa akong mali at sumasala na sagot. Nakakatawa isipin na ganitong klaseng mga tao ang nasa paligid ko, but I've always been so thankful na I have them in my life.

"Okay, Ricci's turn!" sigaw ni Brent at dinala sa unahan si Ricci. Inabutan ko siya ng white board; ni hindi nanaman niya maiangat sakin ang tingin niya. "Galingan mo! Sayo nakasalalay ang lahat!" sigaw nina Jollo from their places dun sa likod. Hindi rin makibo ang facial expression ko for this game would definitely bring back so much of our memories together.

"Mananalo yata ako dito ah." sabi niya sakin while playing with the marker. "You look so highly of yourself." sumbat ko naman sa kanya and chuckled. Its been months, naaalala niya pa kaya lahat yon? "Don't belittle me, Ms. Gumabao. I know every single bit, every little secret." pagmamayabang niya sakin at tumingin sa malayo. "I'm not belittling you, Ricci Paolo. I'm just saying na ang asta mo, parang alam mo naman lahat sakin." biro ko sa kanya at binato siya ng flower decor. "Bakit, hindi ba? I even remember when you had to poo in the mid----"