Dazed [Completed]

11 Unhappy Birthday

Unhappy Birthday

All she did on the weekend was to study the stuff Vico gave her. Sobrang hanga niya sa pagiging organized nito. Lahat ng topics ay detalyado. Nandito na nga lahat. Ang kailangan niya na lang gawin ay umayos saka mag-aral nang mabuti.

She was so grateful dahil nag-paid off ang pagpupuyat niya sa mga notes. First time niyang hindi kinabahan sa quizzes. And she actually aced everything. Kaya niya pala. Hindi talaga siya makapaniwala na nagagamit niya pa talaga ang utak.

Sa sobrang saya niya, she can’t wait to tell Vico. She went straight to him after class. Naghintay siya sa labas hanggang matapos ang klase nito.

“Hi,” bati niya.

“Why are you here?” pagtataka nito.

She handed him a plastic bag full of food.

“Siopao, you want? Thank you ‘yan para sa mga notes mo,” dagdag niya.

It was from the resto, the buy one take one flyer that took her there. Kinuha naman ito ni Vico saka binuksan ang laman. He got one bun and took a big bite on it. She was beaming, waiting for his reaction.

“Alam mo bang minsan pusa o daga ang nilalagay nila sa siopao? Naniniwala ka doon?” tanong niya.

Biglang nag-iba ang ekspresyon nito sa mukha.

“What the hell?” Inilayo nito ang pagkain.

Napahagalpak siya ng tawa dahil sa mukha nito. He almost gag.

Binawi niya din naman agad. “Joke lang! Syempre sa resto ko ‘yan binili. Di naman ako ganon ka-cheap. Or am I?” She’s teasing him.

“Itapon mo,” suplado nitong sabi saka binalik sa kanya ang half-eaten siopao. Mukhang nainis yata sa kanya. Naglakad ito palayo. Agad siyang humabol.

“Hoy, basura mo ‘to. Di man lang inubos.” She pouted and looked at the uneaten siopao and took a bite on it.

“Uhm... Ang sarap." She moaned while munching on it.

Vico clicked his tongue and walked away. Nakita niya naman agad ang classmate ng binata, masamang nakatitig sa kanya.

“What?” singhal niya sa babaeng may glasses na palaging nakasunod kay Vico. She hates this girl. She normally doesn’t hate girls. Pero ang isang ‘to ay parang may innate talent para initin ang ulo niya.

“I can’t believe someone like you hangs out with Vico,” she said as if disgusted with her.

“Ganda ka, girl?” sagot niya habang pinanlalakihan ng mata ang babae. Umiling lang ito saka nilagpasan siya. She rolled her eyes in annoyance. She hates having competition. Sana lang hindi pumatol si Vico sa babae ngayong mukha hindi ayos ang relasyon nito sa 'alleged girlfriend' na hindi niya pa rin alam kung totoo ba.

Her phone vibrated. A reminder popped up.

‘His birthday’

Tinago niya ulit ang cellphone. Hindi niya naubos ang pagkain. Nawalan siya ng gana. She sighed and her mood suddenly shifted. Does she really need to go there or not? She can always hide and postponed everything. Wala namang mawawala except that her friends will really get angrier with her.

Sa huli ay pumunta rin siya kahit may kung anong kirot ang nasa kanyang puso sa isiping kailangan niya nang harapin ang pagkawala ng kaibigan. She got down on his tombstone. It looks like someone had been here. There was a melted candle on the side and a withered flower. Nilinisan niya nang konti para makita ang pangalan nito.

Raiko Miguel Gatchalian.

Kinuha niya sa loob ng bag ang isang maliit na birthday candle. She lighted it up at sinandal ito sa gilid ng picture frame. This is his picture in junior high. He was so full of life, smiling from ear to ear. How did everything went this messed up?