Our favorite place (Book 1 and 2)

Twenty-Five

The conference went on and we were on the first seat as we were remained undefeated.

When the finals arrived we were set to face Chocomucho as they defeated Banko Perlas on Semifinals. We just defeated Motolite and we are waiting for the winner of the other team.

"That was a good birthday gift right Jema?" Ate Den said as we were on our way to the dug out. "Oh and by the way, here you go. Happy Birthday." She gave me a sunflower that I didn't noticed she was holding the whole time.

"Thank you." I hugged her. She opened the dug out door and all of the players and the coaching staffs are holding a sunflower. They start to sing Happy Birthday and gave it to me one by one.

I was getting emotional. There were tears in my eyes. I look like shit when I cry but it doesn't matter. I was crying and laughing with them.

Jia was holding the cake, she approached me and when I was going to blow the cake she stopped me.

"We-.. wo-wo-woah. Wait lang. Excited naman. Meron pang babati sayo noh?"

"Huh?" She pointed the door behind me using her mouth.

"Heypi birthday Coach J!!!" I rolled my eyes on who it was.

"Thank you Bea." She helped me with the individual stemmed sunflower and handed me a small bouquet of sunflower. I turned to Jia and smiled at her. I was going to really blow the candle when they stopped me.

"Woah woah." They all said in unison.

"Okay, is this cake really for me? Or..."

"Meron pa kasing isa." Ate Den tapped my back to I looked at her in askance.

Deanna was standing in the door, and holding a paper bag and a much bigger bouquet of sunflower.

"Happy birthday. Sorry I was late. I got caught up with the players stretching." She said. All my team mates jeered and poking my side. She handed a paper bag.

I looked at Jia and asked her. "Pwede na? Pwede nang i-blow?"

"Excited mag blow."

Bea snickered. Jia had to elbow her side and Ate Den looked at her shaking her head in disbelief.

I blew the candle and they all clapped.

After the stint in the dug out, we prepared and went to coaster. We went to the team dinner that looked like my birthday celebration. There were tarpaulin and cake with my name in it.

Afterwards, Bea offered her place in Makati for some drinks. We went cause we don't have training tomorrow and game until next Wednesday.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUU!!" We sang and clinked our beer bottles.

They jumped to the pool and even tried to throw me. They couldn't. Takot lang nilang mapag-initan sa training.

"Hey." Deanna called me when I was sitting on the side of the pool.

"Hey. Thanks pala sa gift and sa bouquet."

"Sure. Have you seen the gift?"

"Hindi pa."

"I see. Sana magustuhan mo."

I smiled at her and sipped my beer. "Did you plan the whole thing?"

"Yes. Sorry kung mejo korni tsaka simple lang. I was actually planning a bit more, pero I get caught up in the things at the hospital and coaching. I thought it's easy pero..." I cut her.