Chaoter 14
Faith, Love and I were born on the same day Mama Mary was born. Kaya lahat kami ay may Mary sa first name namin.
My parents are busy people but whenever the first week of September comes, nasa bahay lang sila. Kaya our birthday is special not only because we were born that day, but also because we get to spend the longest time together with the whole family.
"Happy birthday sa Tres Marias ko!" Masiglang bati ni Daddy nang magising kami. We have this 'tradition' kasi na night before our birthday ay sa iisang kwarto lang kaming triplets matutulog. This year, we decided to sleep in my room.
May bitbit na cake si Daddy habang kasunod niya naman si Mommy at Manang na parehong nakangiti. They were singing the Happy birthday song. Natatawa pa kami nina Faith and Love kasi nangibabaw ang boses ni Daddy na pumipiyok pa.
After finishing the song, the three of us blew the candles altogether and did a group hug with our parents. We also took some photos of us. Ang cute pa ng kuha ni Manang because it was taken candidly. My parents and my sisters are smiling at each other at lahat ay nakapantulog pa.
Like what we always do, nagsalo-salo kami sa munting handa namin for breakfast. It's our special time together kasi kami lang. Sa dinner kasi ay kasama na ang ilang relatives and friends namin. Buti na lang this year ay saktong Friday ang birthday namin kaya pwedeng magpuyat later. We're also allowed to drink now kasi 19 na kami.
"Don't forget to invite your friends later ha?" Mommy said in the middle of our breakfast.
"Can we invite our Instructor?" Biglang tanong ni Love na katabi ko sa upuan. Agad akong napatingin sa kanya. Naramdaman niya ata 'yon kasi lumingon siya sa akin and grinned at me. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata.
"Of course. You can invite whoever you want," Mommy replied.
"Pati boyfriend?" Tanong ko bilang ganti kay Love. Siya naman ngayon ang tumingin sa akin at pinanlakihan ako ng mga mata. Sila na kasi ni Lay and our parents still don't know about it.
"Why? May boyfriend ka na ba, Hope?" Asked Dad. Nanlaki ang mata ko at agad na umiling. Narinig kong natawa sina Faith at Love. Sa akin pa nabato ang sinabi ko.
"I'm okay with you having boyfriends. Para naman ma-experience niyo namang kiligin," natatawang sabi ni Mommy. "As long as you know your limitations lang ha? Tapos hindi makakasagabal sa studies. Okay ba?"
"Hindi talaga magiging sagabal, Mommy. Baka nga lumaki pa ang grades eh," nangingiting sabi ni Love. Sinipa ko ang paa niya pero nailag niya na agad. Buti pa si Faith, tahimik lang. Ewan ko ba dito kay Love, lumalabas ang pagka-makulit.
"Basta dadaan muna sa akin, maliwanag ba?" Dad murmured.
Since it's our birthday and Dad's just at home, siya ang naghahatid sa amin papunta sa school. Siya rin ang susundo sa amin after. So no car for me today.
"Later ha? Tell your friends to come," Dad said to Faith and Love when he stopped the car in front of the steps. Ako lang 'yong natira kasi sa Science and Math building pa ang klase ko.
"Sino ba sa kanila ang may boyfriend na?" Dad asked when he started driving to our building. Medyo natawa ako saka nagkibit-balikat. "Ikaw ha, pinagtatakpan mo mga kapatid mo," he kidded.
"Daddy, hindi ako ang dapat nagsasabi sa 'yo. Magsasabi naman sila. Just wait and hear it from them," I mumbled saka uminom sa tumbler kong may calamansi juice na gawa pa ni Mommy.
"Eh ikaw, may boyfriend ka?" He asked. Ito si Daddy talaga feeling ko takot na takot na magka-boyfriend kaming tatlo, as if we're replacing him. Kahit hindi naman. No one can ever replace him in our lives.
