Suddenly

CHAPTER TWO

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." they gathered all the staff on that floor for this annual occassion. Today is May's 27th birthday. He saw his cousin embraced the teary-eyed woman. Six years na nilang ginagawa iyon. Pero taon-taon pa rin itong umiiyak kapag kinakantahan ng birthday song. Today's quite different from the past five years. Before kasi, it's obvious na may celebration because it's her birthday. Ngayon lang nila naisipang i-surprise ang kaniyang EA. Pati ang buong staff ay kinutsaba nilang kunyari ay hindi naalala ang birthday ng dalaga. As usual, it's Tito Ramon's idea. Nakita niya nang alalayan ng tumatawang si Bernard ang luhaang si May. His cousin is as protective as his Tito Ramon when it comes to May. Everyone greeted her with hugs and kisses. May mga nagbigay din ng regalo.

"Happy birthday, Maya!" he saw her hugged Tito Ramon.

"Thank you po." She said while still on his Tito Ramon's arms. Kahit umiiyak ito, she's also smiling at the same time. Cute...

"Sir, thank you." and he felt her. He can't help but smile. He wrapped his arms around her. She's so delicate. Well, that' what he felt hugging her.

"You're welcome." He said. It's almost a whisper.

"Ang daya niyo po. You pretended not to know." He laughs with that.

"Surprised?" he asked. He felt her moved away from him. His arms don't want to let her go. But he released her anyway.

"Thank you po ulit." She's smiling. "Oh, I almost forgot." Iniaabot nito sa kaniya ang box na ipinakuha niya sa sasakyan.

"That's yours."

"But, Sir?"

"Open it." She obeyed him. Nang mabuksan nito ang box nanlalaki ang mga mata nitong muling tumingin sa kanya. Bago ito makapag-protest, inunahan na niya ito. "That's your key for your new car."

"Sir, I know it's a key... of a new car, but I can't..."

"You're welcome." Pinutol niya ang sasabihin nito. Narinig niyang nagpalakpakan ang lahat doon.

"But, Sir..."

"Look what I've got here!" it's Bernard. Hawak nito ang isang bucket ng fried chicken from Jollibee. "Kainan na!" the woman suddenly forgot about the key she's holding. Lumapit ito kay Bernard at muli itong niyakap ng kaniyang pinsan. Nagsimulang magkainan.

"Worth it. Isn't it?" ang Tito Ramon niya. He smiled.

"Yeah, she's happy."

"I heard you cancelled all your business appointments." Napatingin siya sa kausap. "That's good." The old man added. This is the first time he did this. Dati, two-hour celebration will do. Tapos back to work ang lahat, including him and his EA. "And the car, do you think she'll manage to drive a car alone?" napatawa siya sa huling sinabi ng kaniyang Tito.

"She's grown-up, Tito. She's very smart and brave too. What would be the reason why she wouldn't manage to drive her own car? Matagal na rin siyang may license and marunong siyang mag-drive..."

"And she's very pretty too." The old man uttered.

"What?"

"And she doesn't have any idea how lovely she is."

"Tito..."

"Parang mas okay pa rin kung ihahatid at susunduin siya ng company driver kahit saan siya magpunta."

"Tito, now that is nonsense."

"Nonsense na kung nonsense, pero ngayon pa lang nagsisimula na akong mag-alala sa kaniya."