cloaked heart

18

NAGISING ako ng maaga. I decided to take a shower and visit Caelum in his room.

Pumunta ako sa walk-in closet para kumuha ng damit when I saw a huge box with a card on it.

    Happy Birthday, Celine
  
   This is for you, sana magustuhan mo.
     
   Wear them, may pupuntahan tayo.

   Have a great day ahead .  :))

                                     - Franco

I opened the box and saw a yellow dress. I saw another box, it was a set of jewelry and a pair of white heels.

I can't help it but to smile. Wala pa akong natanggap na regalo. It was Caelum who receives gift from people around us when we're still in USA.

Pagkatapos kong maligo, sinoot ko ang damit na bibigay ni Franco. Tinignan ko ang drawer sa closet, naisip kong nandoon pa ang nga make up ko noon, pero wala. Lahat ng make-up na nandoon ay bago.

I put a light make-up on my face. "Ma'am, mas okay ko ho kung ilulugay at ikukulot ang buhok niyo." A woman's voice. Napatingin agad ako sa pintuan. "Excuse me?" I asked her. "Ay sorry po, Ako po si Rhea, yaya po ni Caelum. Pasensya na po, mahilig po kasi ako sa nga kaartehan na ganyan." Ngumiti siya sakin at ganoon din ako sakanya.

"If that's the case, then, can you fix ny hair?" I asked her with a smiling face. "Sure po kayo? Kukunin ko lang ho yung pangkulot ko sa baba. Magmake-up na po kayo." Nginitian niya ko ay nagmadali pa siyang bumaba.

"Maam— wow, ang ganda ho nang makaka-make up niyo." Bati niya agad pagpasok. Mga kalahating oras din niyang inayos ang buhok ko. "Maam, tapos na." sabi niya. Nagkatinginan na lang kami sa salamin at ngumiti. "Wow. Ang ganda naman nang pagkakaayos mo." inukot ikot ko pa ang buhok at tinignan iyon sa salamin. "Ay Maam, sabi po pala ni Manang Alicia bumaba na at mag-almusal na kayo. Aalis ho tayong lahat sabi niya."

"Tayong lahat? What do you mean?" I look at her and asked. "Secret daw ho e. Eto na nga ho ang damit ko, kararating ko lang ho kanina." Tunawa siya at iniligpit ang mga ginamit.

"Maam bababa na ko." Paalam niya sakin. "You can wear this uf you want?" I picked her a pink turtle neck dress and nude color flat shoes. "Talaga po? Weh?" Hindi ko napigilang tumawa sa reaksyon niya. " I can't pay you with money but I can pay you with this." Binitawan niya ang dala at kinuha sa nga kamay ko ang damit. She's kinda tall and petite, babagay sakanya yung damit. "Hindi na ho ako tatanggi. Sige po Maam." At tuluyan nang lumabas.

"Angeline, nasan na ang maam mo?" tanong ko dito pagkababa niya. "Pababa na ho iyon sir, nako maiinlove na naman kayo sakanya." Agad itong umalis sa harapan ko. Kumunot ata ang noo ko nang marealize ko ang mga sinabi niya sakin. The hell??

I seated for breakfast, and then there's Caelum with me. "Let's pray na po." He asked me. "Let's wait for your mommy fi—Mommy!" Caelum shouted. Napalingon agad ako sa tinitignan ni Caelum.

And there's Celine, smiling. She looks so beautiful in that dress.

Mas lalo pa siyang gumanda sa make up at ayos ng buhok niya. "Anong ginawa mo Mommy? You're so gorgeous and pretty at the same time. Right, Daddy?" — "Y-yes. H-have a seat." I said as I stand and pulled the chair. "Thanks." she looked at me and smile. I barely ser her with that smile, is it because Caelum was there? Or is it because the gift that I gave her?

"Happy Birthday Mommy." Caelum also stand and gave her a kiss. "I've received my baby's birthday kiss. Yey!" She baby talked to him. "Happy birthday." I said and kiss her on the cheek. "Thank you. Let's eat na." Aya nito samin.

After we eat, nagpaalam sakin si Franco na may aayusin lang sa itaas at aalis na kaming lahat. May dalawang sasakyan ang nakahandang aalis. Manang Alicia, Caelum's yaya and the others are ready to go. "Caelum wag kang mag-dumi, pababa na si Daddy mo." Saway ko sakanya na panay ang takbo dito sa pool area.

"Celine, Caelum, tara na." Sigaw ni Franco, he was there standing infront of the car. He was wearing a gray coat partnering black slacks and  white long sleeves. We walked towards him. Binuksan niya ang pinto sa harapan at doon ako pinaupo habang kinalong slniya si Caelum sa likuran. Umikot agad si Franco papuntang driver's seat. "Saan ba tayo pupunta?" I asked him but he just smiled at me. Pinaandar na niya ang sasakyan at nagmaneho.

Lucauco  Brand   Shoe

"W-hat?" I look at him in disbelief. We're all infront of a store. It was named Lucauco Brand Shoe. That was my dream, to name a shoe shop.

"Matagal ko na dapat tong naibigay sayo. Happy birthday again, my love." Mas lalo pa akong nagulat sa huli niyang sinabi. My love, that was first.

"Pasok na tayo." I held Caelum's hand as we enter the shop. Someone approached me, "Ang tagal mo namang bumalik." he whispered. "Sino ka?" I asked. "Classmate naman, you dont remember me? I'm Ken, the one who made those shoes you designed." Bati nito sakin, he kiss my cheek to congratulate me.

"Those shoes are ny designs?" Naguguluhan pa din ako sa mga nangyayari. "May we invite Mr. Franco Montellano and Mrs. Enaiah Celine Lucauco-Montellano here on stage as they welcome us." The emcee said. "Go." he said.

The emcee handed the microphone to Franco. "Good morning everyone.  Thank you for coming, I was about to opened this store along time ago as a gift for my wife. And now that's she's here, this store belongs to her."

He stop for about a minute and continue on what he's saying, "Celine likes arts. She designed shoes and bags. That's when I knew at the very first time that she deserves this kind of gift. Happy birthday, Celine, my wife." He ended and gave me the microphone.

Umiiling ako dahil ayokong magsasalita sa harap ng mga tao and then he whispered, "Just thank them for coming." And that, I grab the microphone. "I'm not used to say a lot of things specially infront of big crowd like this but, thank you for coming enjoy." kukuhanin na sana ni Franco ang mic sakin but I refused, "uhm, I just want to say thank to Franco, thank you for giving me this as a gift. I appreciate." Franco looks so shock. He doesn't expect me to say those things.

"And with that, let us grab our glass, and cheers." It was a small party inside the store. Mga isang oras din ang itinagal noon bago natapos. Nang nawalan ng tao sa loob, nilibot ko ang buong shop. I saw a lot of shoes, yes, Ken is righg, it was all ny design. "Did you like it?" Franco ask me from my back. I turned around and immediately hug him. He stand still, "thank you" I whisper as I cry in his shoulders. "Stop crying, you must enjoy your day." He said and caress my back. "It's just that I'm so happy." Humiwalay ako sa pagkakayakap ko sakanya at tinignan lang siya. "I didn't answer your question last time," I paused. "I loved you. Natabunan lang yon ng galit at sama ng loob. But I know, inside, I.. I still love you." he hug me tight. "Let me join!" Caelum shouted. Franco signaled him to come and he run towards us.

"Ay Maam, picture, picture! Wala ho akong nakitang family picture sa mansion." Caelum's maid yelled. "She's Angeline by the way." Franco looked at me. "Here's my phone. Gandahan mo ha." Biro ni Franco.

Franco, Caelum and I looks so good in the picture.