🌺 CHAPTER 8 🌺
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Two weeks gone by so fast just like how my Mom's recovery has been so far. She's doing great progresses, and we're looking forward to bringing her home soon.
As all of us were preoccupied about many stuff that has been going on lately, we almost forgot about Amber's birthday. Buti na lang at pinaalala sa amin ni Mama na bukas na pala 'yon.
"What are your plans?" tanong nito habang kumakain ng tanghalian.
"Wala akong planong magcelebrate, Mom," she replied habang abala sa kanyang cellphone. Kumunot ang noo ni Mama at muling nagtanong. "Bakit wala?"
She looked at mom lazily and said, "I just wanna bring you home, Mom. We can celebrate afterwards.
I smiled. One thing I love about Amber is no matter how she likes social gatherings ay never itong nagdemand ng party or throw her own social event. She rather have someone to plan it for her, or aattend siya sa party ng iba.
"Don't you want to have some party?" inosenteng tanong ni Mama habang sinisimot ang pinggan ng Palabok. Iniligpit ko ang kanyang pinagkainan matapos.
"We can't party like this, Mom!" she replied and walked towards us.
"When I was at your age, I used to have parties. Gustong-gusto ng Lolo at Lola ninyong nagpaparty kami. Well, they're politicians...what do you expect," paglalahad niya. "I loved the attention I'm getting back then. But if you say so..." pagsuko ni Mama at iniba na lang ang usapan. "Dumating na ba ang Tita Macy ninyo?"
"Hindi pa Mom. In three days pa raw ang dating niya," my sister replied.
I heard my phone ring. Chloe's calling. I answered the call. "Yes, babe?"
"Anong 'Yes babe?' ka diyan? Aren't we planning today for Amber's birthday?" bungad nito. I looked at Amber to see if she's heard Chloe ngunit nakatuon pa rin ang atensyon nito kay Mama.
I discreetly walk out of the room bago muling bumaling sa kausap. "Ang lakas ng boses mo, girl! Buti na lang hindi narinig ni Amber!"
"Sorry. So what's the plan?"
"I don't know! Ayaw nga niya ng party eh. Pagkauwi na lang raw namin–"
"What! Hindi pwede. Let's bring her some lowkey party in the hospital. Us five!" putol nito sa sasabihin ko.
"Five?"
"The three of you, ako, at si Sir Axiel," she plainly replied.
Hinilot ko na lang ang sentido ko dahil minsan hindi ko makuha ang mga trip ni Chloe. Hindi ko na nga alam kung ako ba talaga o si Amber ang best friend niya.
"Bakit kasama si Sir?" I asked her.
"Bakit ayaw mo ba?"
Natigilan ako. Of course, Crystal! You want him in this! Pero siyempre hindi mo sasabihin kasi ayaw mong may maisip na kung ano si Chloe. Ang takbo ng utak niya at ng kapatid mo ay hindi nagkakalayo kaya paniguradong tampulan ka ng asar 'pag nagkataon.
"Actually, alam niya na dahil tinawagan ko na siya. He said we'll meet at Cravenue to plan things out. So whether you like it or not–"
"Wala na akong magagawa. I know it!" pagsang-ayon ko na lang sa trip ng kaibigan ko. "What time are we gonna meet?"
"Lunchtime. Bahala ka na sa idadahilan mo but make sure Amber won't know about it..." bilin pa nito.
"Fine! See you later." pagsuko ko saka ibinaba ang telepono. Afterwards, I checked on my messages.
Sir Axiel Ricaforte:
Crystal. Has Chloe told you about her "plans"?
I'll be there later. See you.
I typed a reply for him.
Yes. She just called. See you later, Sir! 😊
Ibinulsa ko ang phone ko nang makitang nagsend na ang reply ko. I heard it vibrate once again ngunit hindi ko na ito pinansin at pumasok na sa loob.
"Who's that?" bungad ni Amber. Maging si Mama ay naghihintay ng sagot ko, so I made up a white lie to establish my reason for leaving later.
"Classmate ko. Need to go to school later to follow-up for my internship papers,"
"Anong oras ka aalis, anak?" singit naman ni Mama.
"Lunchtime, Ma. I'll be back before sunset," paalam ko rito at naupo sa beanbag sa tabi ng bintana. Binalingan ko si Amber "Padeliver ka na lang ng pagkain mo mamaya,"
After taking a quick bath sa CR ng private room, I dried myself thoroughly and applied some "girl necessities" bago nagbihis ng simpleng ripped jeans at fitted crop top T-Shirt. I put on some minimal make-up and sprayed my favorite scent.
Tanging maliit na bag lamang ang dala ko na naglalaman ng cellphone, wallet, lipstick, panyo, and my keys.
11:45am ako dumating sa Cravenue. Wala pa sila so I looked for a comfortable place to seat and talk loudly like how Chloe normally does. Maingay ang babaeng 'yon and that's what made me love her.
Umorder na lang ako ng mango shake at naghintay sa pagdating ng dalawa. I busied myself on my phone while waiting.
"Here's your order Ma'am,"
I looked up and saw Sir Axiel holding my order. He's so dashing with his laid-back outfit. I don't see him wearing that on normal days dahil palaging smart casual ang suot niya. He's a teacher and he's expected to wear decent clothes.
But even with this look, he still looks so decent.
"Kanina ka pa?" tanong ko rito at inabot ang hawak niya.
Naupo naman ito sa tabi ko.
"Hindi, kararating ko lang. Hindi naman ako late, 'no?" pagbibiro niya.
I chuckled. "No, you're just in time. But the mastermind of this is..." I looked at my wrist and saw my watch strike 12. "...running late,"
Five minutes later, Chloe finally arrived.
"And you're here. Anong nangyari sa 12pm?" pang-aasar ko rito.
"I'm sorry. Traffic," aniya habang hinihingal pa. Marahil ay tinakbo niya na papunta rito. "So what's the plan?"
"What do you suggest?" singit ni Sir Axiel na matamang nakikinig.
She laid down some papers with some "birthday proposals" in it.
I looked at them and was amazed at Chloe's creativity. She's really good at this stuff. She's even telling me how she wants to start her own event planning ang coordination business and invited me to be her business partner.
I silently enjoy my frrsh mango shake and let her do the talking.
"Since hospital setting, we have to come up with a lowkey party inside Tita Amelia's room. So–"
"You Crissy–" aniya at tinuro ako, "You have to lure her out of the room while Sir Axiel and I will start decorating the room. Bohemian-themed ang theme na naiisip ko. We'll make use of the beanbags in the room. We have teepees sa bahay, yung ginamit sa reception ng kasal ni Ate Elaine. Hihiramin ko yung isa para sa props natin,"
"You really had it all planned out, huh?" ani sir Axiel na natatawa. "Ako na sasagot sa food," dagdag pa nito.
"Yes! Make sure it's Bohemian-inspired, huh?"
Napailing na lang ako. Ano pang isasuggest ko? Wala na! Lahat planado na!
But I'm excited. I'm sure tomorrow's gonna be fun!
