You Belong With Me

Twenty Three.

The cold wind brushed my cheek. Uulan pa yata.

"Hi, Lala... how are you?", I knelt to the grass and lit up the candle. Nailagay na ni Manong ang mga bulaklak kanina.

"I brought you your favorite flowers, La. Daisies."

I then uttered a prayer for her soul. Kinwentuhan ko rin siya ng lahat ng pangyayari sa buhay ko.

"And I was so mad, Lala, because he lied. I sound like a broken record now but I can't help it. You know I hate liars, right?"

Kahit walang sumasagot ay nakuntento na ako. Lala might be beside me, listening, and I'm comforted with that.

"But I'm not in love... yet...", I sighed.

"Anyways, Lala, I'm having a tea party tomorrow. Wear your best dress, alright?"

If someone can hear me right now, they'd be frightened. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay nagpaalam na ako sa puntod ni Lala. Mabuti nalang din at hindi umulan.

"Michelle, please check the weather forecast for tomorrow."

"Yes, Miss."

Nakabalik ako sa opisina bago mag-alas sais. Russo was waiting for me with his team. We will have a meeting tonight regarding the event tomorrow.

"Michelle, order food for us all. Kasali ka at si Manong. Also, file for an overtime tonight. Is that okay?"

"Yes, po. Uh, saang restaurant, Miss?"

Agad pumasok sa aking isipan ang 'unli wings' na gustong-gusto ni Chandler. Whatever.

"Italianni's nalang. Thank you."

Nagpatuloy ang diskusyon para bukas. Everything is settled and Russo is just asking for my comments. Gusto ko ang lahat ng ginawa nila dahil umayon iyon sa plano ko.

"The white canopies are already set up in your garden, Portia. The tables and chairs, too," tumango ako.

Nakikinig ako ng mabuti nang tumunog ang aking phone.

"Excuse me, its my Mom," tumayo ako at pumwesto sa harap ng glass window.

"Hi, Mom."

"Darling, its your birthday tomorrow! Handang-handa na kami ng Dad mo. We also have a gift for you!", she sounded so giddy. Napatawa nalang ako at nagpasalamat.

"And, by the way, I think Michelle forgot to send an invite to Chandler! We bumped into him kanina sa Shangri-La and I asked him if he'll come tomorrow but he said he didn't know there's a party! So, I told him to go and gave him my invitation. I also called Ben and Don pero may natanggap naman daw sila. Poor Chandler, nakalimutan!"

Okay... what?! I purposely told Michelle not to invite him! She also asked me why wouldn't I include Chandler but I just dismissed it. Hindi ko nalang inalintana ang pagtataka niya.

"R-really, Mom? Uh, wow, okay. Thanks?", I rolled my eyes.

"No problem, dear! Okay, I'm gonna hang up now. Rest well, birthday girl! We love you!"

"Bye. I love you too."

Napasinghap nalang ako nang matapos ang tawag. Great. So, he'll be there tomorrow, huh?

Natapos ang meeting around 8:30 in the evening.

"Russo, thank you very much. A two-week preparation would be impossible if it weren't for you."

"Oh, dear, you deserve only the grandest! And the best! Which is me!", he chuckled.

Ngumiti ako at nagpasalamat. Every time people praises me like this, I wonder what good have I done to deserve it.