LIKE I NEVER LEFT °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

25. Birthday

While the others enjoy swimming, I settle with helping mama and tita Demi in our outdoor kitchen who are preparing our lunch. Not long after a few minutes, my phone rings. It's Ethan.

"Hey, birthday girl." He greets as soon as I answer the call.

"Ethan!" I chirp happily. I haven't heard from him since the last time he's here.

"Can I see you?"

"Yeah! Of course! Sure. Sure."

"Well, I'm outside."

"Oh boy. You're badly missed. Wait for me." After ending the call, I storm out to welcome him in.

"Happy birthday, Amara." Bati niya kaagad paglabas ko ng gate. May dala siyang bouquet ng bulaklak at isang maliit na kahon.

"Ang sama mo." Naiiyak na sambit ko. "Hindi ka na nagpaparamdam."

"It seems to me that you no longer want me in your life." Seryosong tugon niya.

"I would always want my bestfriend around. Mattina misses you too." That woman, maaga yatang umuwi kanina o baka sinundo siya ni kuya kagabi na hindi ko lang alam. I didn't even know diba na nakauwi na sila mama at papa.

"I guess that's what I'm just going to be in your life, isn't it? Your bestfriend."

"Ethan."

"Come on. This is a beautiful day. Let's not talk about us." Nakangiting sabi niya saka inabot sa'kin ang dala niyang bulaklak at regalo. Hindi ko 'yon tinanggap dahil pinili kong yakapin na muna siya. Papasok na sana kami ng bahay ngunit may kotseng dumating.

"Oh. Kuya and Tina are here." I tell him after recognizing kuya Theo's car. Umibis nga mula roon si Mattina na nagtatalon-talon muna bago kami lapitan.

"Wow. Buti naman at di ka MIA ngayon, Durian." Ah. 'Yan nga pala ang tawag ni Mattina sa kanya. She loves pissing him off since we were in highschool. According to her, Ethan's head looks like a durian although I couldn't picture that out in my head.

"Sorry babe. Di na kami nakapunta ng kuya mo kanina." Sabi ni Tina matapos akong ibeso. "Napasarap sa ano. Alam mo na." Napakapilya niya talaga. Napairap tuloy si Ethan samantalang tumawa naman ako. Pero seryoso, iyon ba ang dahilan kung bakit wala sila kanina? Haha. Aw.

"Tara na nga sa loob." Yaya ko.

Pinauna ko na silang dalawa mayamaya pa dahil pinagbuksan ko pa ng gate si kuya. Hindi naman kasi kami kasing yaman ng mga Palmer. Wala kaming guard. Wala rin kaming katulong sa bahay maliban kay ate Nancy na gumagawa ng laundry namin at si kuya Jonel na hardinero namin. Ate Nancy just comes around twice a week and Kuya Jonel doesn't come that often especially when mom has a lot of time to pour out for her garden.

"Happy birthday pangit." Bati ni kuya pagbaba niya ng kotse. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin ngunit hindi niya 'yon pinansin. He just draws closer and gives me a quick hug. "Late na ang gift namin ni Tina sa'yo."

"Ano ba kasing pinaggagawa niyo?"

"Gawain ng mag-asawa ano pa ba?" Si Mattina ang sumagot sabay pulupot ng mga kamay niya sa bewang ni  kuya. "Di ba hon?" Kuya chuckles. He's still not used to his naughty wife. Kahit nga ako e. Minsan, nasa-shock parin ako sa mga panghaharot niya kay kuya.

When the two get in the house, I am left standing with Ethan. This time, I take his gifts when he hands them to me.

"Thank you. I'm happy you're here."

"You do?"

I pout. How could he question how much I value him as my friend? He's so special for me. He's my bestfriend. Sa dami ng taong nakilala ko, sila lang ni Tina ang mga tunay kong kaibigan. Exclude the Palmers because they're family, you know.