I'll Be There ✔ (I Will Series 1)

18. Letter

Kabanata 18
Letter

LIZA woke me up by her phone call, it's already 11:45 in the morning. I slept so late last night; I didn't even ate my dinner and just stayed in our room thinking about random things. My friends even teased me kasi daw nagpapaka-emo ako. I also took that time to wrap my gift for Loey's birthday which is today.

I quickly took a shower and change into a floral printed white dress ending just above my knee, both of the straps are drawstring and the collar is V-shaped. I also paired it with a white a sandal. I took my phone, my wallet and Daeyan's film camera which she asked me to bring, I placed it inside my round rattan sling bag  and I left our hotel room. 

Mabilis naman akong nakarating sa restaurant dahil nasa ground floor lamang ito ng hotel. I saw my friends and Liza pointed the vacant seat next to her, inireserba nila ako ng mauupuan. That made me smile.

Naglakad ako palapit sa kanila pero agad din namang nawala ang ngiti ko nang makitang nasa iisang table pala kami at ang pamilya nila, kasama ang mga pinsan nito. Nakadating na pala sila dito. 

Naupo ako sa katabing upuan  ni Liza, mabuti naman at hindi pa sila nagsisimulang kumain dahil hinihintay pa ang celebrant.

"Nadala mo?" tanong ni Dae sa akin.

I nodded and I gave the film camera to her. A few minutes later, nakita kong pumasok sa loob ng restaurant si Tita Vanessa at nasa likod nito si Loey k-kasama si Steff. Everyone stood up and greeted Loey. He was looking around and when our eyes met he gave me a smile before glancing back to his tito habang nakikinig sa mga sinasabi nito. Nang matapos magsalita ng tito niya, agad itong nagpaalam. Tinapik ito sa balikat ng kanyang tito at naglakad palapit sa akin. 

Ilang lakad nalang at malapit na ito sa akin. I felt someone pulled the chair next to me, it was Caitto.

Caitto gave me a smile, causing for his chinito eyes to grew smaller. "Hey, Angel." I just looked at him. Hinatak nito ang upuan palapit bago siya naupo, nakaharap pa sa akin.

I looked away, that's when I remembered Loey. I looked back and he was still standing few meters away from me. Pabalik-balik ang tingin nito sa akin at kay Caitto, not paying attention to his cousin that is talking to him.

"Psst," Caitto was gently tapping his fingers above the table hindi ko nalang ito pinansin. 

"Ange-"

"I have a name, you know," I cut him off.

"Chill," He chuckled, "You're always so cold to me," he added.

"That's because you're getting into my nerves," I grinned.

"Papainitin kita." he wiggled his eyebrows and he bit his lower lip to suppress a smirk from slipping out onto his face.

"Woah, the prince of speed is back." Ani ng isang pinsan nilang nakarinig sa sinabi ni Caitto. 

My eyes widened, narinig pala nila 'yon. Napalingon ako kay Daeyan nang mahina nitong kinurot ang tagiliran ko. My friends were half smirking. Jati pouted her lips at pasimple nitong tinuro ang direksyon kung nasaan naka upo si Loey. He was already sitting infront of me, his expression pinched and his jaw clenched.

When he noticed my stares, he glanced away and sighed.

"Happy birthday to you," Napalingon kami sa pinanggalingan ng kanta. Steff was holding a birthday cake, nasa likod nito si Tita Vanessa at Liza na nakikisabay din sa pagkanta.

Tumayo kaming lahat at nakisabay nalang din, when the song ended, Steff asked Loey to blow the candle and he did.

Bumalik din naman kaagad sa katabi kong upuan si Liza. "That bitch," she whispered.