I Brought My Heart To Hong Kong

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Birthday

Chapter Thirty-Nine
Birthday

Malamyos na hangin ang bumungad sa akin pag-akyat ko sa rooftop ng building. My ears were greeted by the loud upbeat music and all I can discern is the brightness of the spotlight lighting over me. An usher assisted me in my seat as I heard people clapping from afar. I was wearing a lava red quinceanera gown; I almost found it hard to walk.

Nang makapwesto ako sa isang upuan sa harapan, hinanap ko agad ang mga bisita ko. They were all looking at me with such merriment.

"That's my girl!" I heard Al in the crowd.

"You're so beautiful, Hails!" Calli commented.

I smiled shyly. Hindi ko maipinta ang kaba. Nahagip ng titig ko sila Zywon at Jayden. In the table across them are my parents who were looking at me with proud eyes. Tapos sa tabi nila, I spotted Kingsley and his family. I can also see my other relatives! Then the unfamiliar others were, I guess, some of my parents' friends.

"Now that we've seen our lady here," the MC started. She went to me. Saglit akong kinabahang muli dahil alam kong tatanungin niya ako. "Let's ask her first. How are you feeling tonight, Miss Hailey? Ang ganda-ganda mo pala talaga!"

Pinagsiklop ko ang mga daliri ko. "I'm excited and nervous."

"That's usual!" she says. "Don't worry! This night is dedicated to you so your guests will do what it takes to make you happy, okay?" Humarap siya sa mga guests. "Tama ba 'yon?"

"Yes!" several shouted.

My gaze met Jayden's. Nakatitig siya sa akin. Hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa kaniya even though I ended up missing what the MC is saying.

I smiled at him.

How can he kill a simple black tuxedo? At bakit ang sexy niyang tingnan? I find it hard to look away when he smiled back at me, appreciating how I look.

Fine, I admit I really like how the stylist came up with this nice makeup and hairstyle. My hair is tied up in a crown braid and it was showered by tiny pieces of jewelry that made my hair glitter diamonds. I had soft autumn makeup that matched my whole dress.

"Let's give a round of applause to Mr. Zywon Priam Santos!"

Nasorpresa na lang ako nang si Zywon na ang magsasalita. Nagpunta siya sa stage at humarap sa'ming lahat. Binigyan siya ng microphone na agad niyang tinanggap.

Won polished himself well too. He's wearing a dark gray tuxedo that perfectly suited him. Ang buhok ay maayos na nakabrush up. Natawa pa ako nang kabado siyang nag-ayos ng necktie bago magsalita.

"Hey, happy birthday Hails," he started, looking away awkwardly. "You should listen carefully to me."

I grinned at the sight of him nervously trying not to get fazed by my other guests.

"Magkakilala na tayo pagkabata," panimula niya. "I've seen you cry about bullies, seen you smile when you make friends aside from me, seen you at your most vulnerable, on your weirdest, on your messiest.."

Sinimangutan ko siya. Nagtawanan ang lahat.

"I'm grateful to be part of it. Alam kong may pagkakataong sumusobra ako at may pagkakataong ding nagkukulang... and it came to the point I thought I couldn't afford it if you replaced me with someone else."