Love Above It All

Chapter 18

For Connor's birthday this year, I decided na susurpresahin nalang namin siya ni Astrid sa bahay nila. Papasok kami sa kuwarto niya ng alas dose ng gabi na may kasamang cake at balloons.

I wanted to make effort so Astrid and I tried to bake his cake. And we're miserably failing. Thr first one's burnt. The second was soggy. The third doesn't taste like cake!

Now we're on our fourth try, finally asked help from Tita Ariela, Astrid's mother. Kami na lamang ang pinaggawa niya ng coating at frosting. She laughed at us when she saw out pasts works. Sumimangot si Astrid kaya nilambing niya ito.

I can't help but admire their relationship as Mother and Daughter. Ganito rin kaya kami ni Mama ko kapag buhay pa siya? I smiled on that thought.

"Halika, Solanna sumali ka!" hinila ako ni Tita at sinama sa yakap niya kaya napatawa ako at gumaan lalo ang pakiramdam.

It's a simple homemade two layer vanilla cake with sprinkles and berries on top. Sa gabing 'yon ay pinick-up ko na rin ang regalo pinag-ipunan ko para sa kanya. It's from my work, I made sure not to touch the bank account. Hindi ko rin naman kasi ginagalaw ang pera roon. I just don't want to.

Connor kept on texting me. He wanted me to cook kare-kare for him but I just replied that I'm sleeping over a blockmate's house.

From: Bb Connor

Lalaki?

Tumaas ang kilay ko.

From: Bb Connor

Sundo kita after that. Please cook for me, it's my birthday tomorrow.

Napangisi ako sa pagpapa-awa niya. May emoji pa na papaiyak na. I chuckled and replied.

To: Bb Connor

We're busy.

Pinatay ko na ang phone ko para hindi na siya makapangulit pa. Kawawang Connor, walang ulam. May cook naman sila roon ah? Lagi nalang siyang nakikikain! Minsan nga binabaunan ko pa.

I excitedly entered their home, sabi ni Tita Caroline ay mamayang tanghali pa siya makaka-uwi. Siguro binati lang ng personal ang isa pa niyang anak na si Calvin na nasa New York. Tinusok ko ang happy birthday stand sa cake at ang kandila bago sinindihan.

The clock strikes midnight and we started singing him the birthday song as we enter his room. Hawak ko ang cake habang si Astrid naman ay nagvivideo at hawak ang balloons. Mabilis na bumangon si Connor na mukhang nagising namin, his hair is disheveled and he's in his matching pajamas. He looks so innocent when he smiled and saw us.

"Happy birthday dear Connor.." we sang.

"And Calvin," he added, not forgetting about his twin brother. He even made a hand gesture. Nakita ko ang pag-irap ni Astrid.

"Happy birthday to you!"

"Woow a cake!" inayos niya ang butones ng suot niya bago ako hinalikan sa sentido.

"Make a wish," I whispered, copied what he said to me the last time. Pumikit siya at ngumiti bago hinipan ang kandila. Pumalakpak si Nana Sylvia at Astrid.

"Thank you! Thank you! Akala ko ba nag-aaral ka? 'Di mo pa ako nilutuan!" reklamo niya pa sa akin pero niyakap naman kaming dalawa ni Astrid.

"E'di hindi ito natuloy!"

"Wow, homemade. Walang lason 'to ah?" Sinamaan namin siya ng tingin ni Astrid kaya tumawa siya. He got the fork and carelessly cut a portion after we took pictures of it. Tinapat niya ang tinidor sa aking bibig. Ako tuloy ang unang nakatikim kaysa sa kanya.