Whatever We Had

Fifteen

#WWH15
15
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Gift

"What the hell?" I whispered as I stomped my feet to pick up the paper bag he left. Napakawalang modo.

Padabog akong umupo sa tabi ni Ari na nakasimangot din. I had kuya Diego kept the paperbag Lisle gave inside the car.

"Oh, anong nangyari?" I asked.

"Wala." She then crossed her arms.
I gave her an unconvinced look. "Ugh! Tell me what happened sayo muna!"

I shrugged. "It's just Lisle. The douche gave his gift in an ill-mannered way. Iwan ba naman sa sahig yung regalo niya?" Iritadong sabi ko.

Napahalakhak siya nang kaunti. "Nagwalk-out na naman? Ayos din ugali niyan." Natatawang tanong niya.

I rolled my eyes. "Definitely. So, ano?"

Her face automatically formed a frown again. "I hate your cousin!" Pagmamaktol niya.

I laughed. "Sino don?" I asked.

"LOML." Sabay ngiwi niya. LOML? "Love of my life, ugh, dumb." She said, frustrated.

"Hoy! Wag mo 'kong ma-dumb dumb. Birthday ko ngayon."

"Not literally." She then rolled her eyes. "Anyways, Primo and I saw each other at the dance floor. He walked out when he saw me, lol! I am pretty naman diba?" She asked dramatically.
"Hindi ako sigurado." Pagbibiro ko. "Kaya pala badtrip daw 'yon, umuwi agad. Ikaw pala dahilan, for sure nairita na naman sa'yo 'yon." She just rolled her eyes on me.

"I'm not even pansin-ing him." Ngiwi niya at bumulong-bulong.

"So how was it?" I asked Russ.
Andito kami ngayon nakaupo sa may gutter ng outdoor parking lot ng hotel. I already changed into my maroon fitted cropped top and ripped jeans. The party's over and the guests already left, well some of them are still preparing to leave. Pinaalam ako ni Russ na siya na ang maghahatid sa akin sa bahay. Dad seemed fine with it. Mukhang nalason ni Russ ang isipan ni daddy.

He smiled at me. "It went well. Nabola ko ata si tito." Sabay halakhak niya.

"Sure ka? Mas strict pa ata 'yon sa daddy mo."

"Well, yeah, he is. I dont know. I managed to let him approve of me." Agad na nalaglag ang panga ko.

"Seriously?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. Ang higpit higpit ni daddy. Paano niya nagawa iyon?

"Oo nga... By the way, I know it's still not yet your birthday pero let me give this to you already." He said and stood up. He then offered his hand to me.

We went to his car. "Here, Wraia. Happy Birthday." He said as he hand out a jewelry gift box. I took it. Wow! It's a gold- chained personalized necklace. Wrailette na nakasulat ang nagmistulang pendant nito. I took it out from the box at inangat para sipatin nang mabuti. This looks really expensive.

"I love it, Russ." I smiled. "Thank you so much." I said sincerely.

He gently took the necklace from my hand. "Let me put it on." I felt the cold chain of it against my bare neck. Bagay sakin! It complimented my upper body especially my collarbones. Agad akong humarap sa kanya para ipakita ang fitting noon. "Ang ganda... mo. Bagay ka sakin." Marahan at nang-aasar na sabi niya.

I bit my lip. "Ewan ko sa'yo."

He invited me to a near 24 hours-open coffee shop on our way home. Ayaw ko pa rin namang umuwi kaya hindi na rin ako tumanggi. Dahil maghahating-gabi na rin at malamig na ang panahon, hot coffee na lang inorder ko at isang slice ng mocha cake. Ganoon na rin ang inorder ni Russ except that he had blueberry cake.