Lahat kami pinaggalitan ng makabalik. We we're all soaking wet at kanina pa pala daw naghihintay ang aayos sa amin. Kaya naman ay paunahan kami ng ligo.
The girls were separated from the boys. Kaya heto kami, sitting infront of a vanity mirror at isa-isang inaayusan.
We all wore the same color. White and gold pero iba-iba ang design. Some settled with jumpsuits and some with semi cocktail dress at ang iba naman ay naggown din.
Tumakbo si Gucci sa akin and she hugged me. She was wearing a mini dress. She had s crown on top of her head.
"Appy Birth-ay mo na?" I nodded then i caried her to my lap.
She giggled when she saw me.
"Bakit iba po eyes niyo?" I laughed when she pointed my eyes.
She was talking about the contacts I'm wearing. It was gold too. I smiled and kissed her cheeks again.
"That's contacts, baby. You can wear this when you're older." She nodded.
Nagpatuloy ang pag-ayos sa amin while Gucci was on my lap. She was eating gummy bears. Sinusubuan niya din ako.
Siguro ay matagal ko pang susuotin ang braces ko. Hindi parin pantay ang ngipin ko. And i really want it to be straight.
"Hey, baka madumihan si Tita mo." I saw Ate ada go near me. Gucci stuck her tongue out at mad sumiksik sa akin. Kaya napatawa ako. Even the girl who fixed me, laughed.
"Hayaan mo na, ate." I said. Ate smiled and nodded.
She went near gucci and kissed her cheeks.
"Behave, okay?" Tumango naman si Gucci.
It took a couple of minutes bago kami natapos. She sprayed something on my face before she called it done.
I smiled when I saw my reflection, I really looked like someone else. I smiled when i saw gucci give me a thumbs up.
"Ganda." She said.
When everyone was ready ay sabay-sabay na kaming lumabas. The facilitators told us to be seated. At dahil ako daw ang debutant ay kailangan kong bumalik sa taas.
They placed a red carpet on the staircase. Sa gilid naman ay pawang nakabalot ng paru-paru at bulaklak na disenyo ang mga handle.
I was nervous at tulad nalang ng mga nakaraang kaarawan ko. The mother i wanted stood beside me.
"Okay ka lang, anak? Malamig ka." I smiled and just gave Tita Yvonne a hug.
"Okay lang po. Medyo kinakabahan lang po." She chuckled with what I said.
I shaked my hands at ng marinig kong nagsisimula na, I gave a sigh.
Before we started the annual debut we prayed. Tita looked at me and gave me a thumbs up.
"Be ready, princess." I gave a nervous laugh and nodded.
"And now let's welcome our debutant, Miss Gaia Iris Valuencia!"
I heard a familiar song play at dahan-dahan kaming bumaba ni Tita.
The spotlight was on us. There were neon lights too. I focused my eyes and saw everyone clapping and smiling at us.
My eyes went teary. Hindi pa nga nagsisimula ay naiiyak na ako. Hanggang makarating ako kami sa pinakababa, they let me sit on a couch on the stage.
Tita told me she'd be staying near me kaya tumango ako. With shaky hands i sat on the couch.
Hindi lang pamilya ang narito. I even saw Indigo here with ate Violet and some of their cousin. Pastel even waved at me and I did wave back.
Unang ginawa ang 18 candles. Maiyak-iyak na ako ng matapos iyon. Their messages were really overwhelming. Sobrang nakakatuwa, lalo na kina Tito, Tita and Lola.
Sumunod ang 18 treasures. Halos mga pamangkin at kaibigan ang naroon.
And lastly was the 18th roses.
Syempre dahil sa magpipinsan, bawas na ng 13 iyon. Sali na sina Tito. Kaya naman there were three extra slots where Nike, Indigo and Tyler fitted in.
Nalaman ko rin pala na kaibigan ni Kuya Bryan si Tyler. Best-friend pala.
Hanggang sa umabot kami sa ika-18th rose. At alam niyo na sino ang namanay-ari ng rosas na iyon. Just like every birthday I celebrated.
A familiar voice suddenly was heard. Kasabay noon ay ang pagstrum ng guitara. Then the piano and the drum. Then the bass came next.
Napangiti ako when I saw him. Nasa balcony sila sa taas ng bahay. Nakadungaw siya sa amin. I had to turn around to see him.
They sang Lovely. At halos pumutok ang puso ko ng marinig siyang kumanta.
His voice was so cold. Tatayo talaga balahibo mo pagnarinig mo ang boses niya. He had an earpiece on his ear. Tila ba may pinapakinggan.
He sang and slowly walked to me. Let me rephrase that, he jumped to me.
He had the same style. As in, he has the exact same design and color as mine.
He was still singing when he reached where I was. He held my hand at inilagay iyon sa balikat niya. Then his hand snaked on my waist. His other hand was holding the mic. We swayed and dance to the tune.
And when we reached the last phrase of the song, he gave me the flower.
"Happy Eighteenth Birthday, Babe." I smiled. He kissed the side of my head, my forehead, my cheeks, then my nose and lastly, my lips.
Everyone cheered. Halos magkagulo kami. At hindi matatapos ang birthday if I didn't say anything.
"So let's hear, the debutant for her speech."
The Emcee gave me the microphone and I gladly accepted it. I didn't really giving speech lalo na at ganito. It makes me emotional.
"So first of all, Thankyou everyone for coming to my debut. This would be impossible if not for you all. Lalo kina Mamita and Tito and Tita. Napakalaking utang na loob ko po ang nagdaang taon sa inyo. For mamita." I looked at mamita who is starting to cry now.
"Thankyou for accepting me as your own. Salamat na tinanggap niyo ako. Thankyou for letting me in the moment i knocked on your door." I saw mamita smile and wipe her tears. Saka ko naman nilingon sina Tito at tita.
"And to Tito and Tita, salamat po at tinanggap niyo ako. Hindi ko po alam kong hindi sa patnubay at gabay niyo. I wouldn't be the woman I am. I wouldn't reach my dreams. Despite na hindi niyo po ako talaga kilala o kadugo ay tinanggap niyo ako ng buong-buo. Mahal ko po kayo."
I saw tita cry at ganoon din si Tito. Sunod kong nilingon ang mga pinsan niya.
"And to all of you guys, thankyou for being there for me and for supporting me, mahal na mahal ko kayo."
They all cheered and raised their champagne glass kaya ganoon din ang ginawa ko. Moie stood by my side.
"CHEERS FOR LEGALITY!" I shouted and they did the same.
Finally, I'm 18!
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So hi again guys,
Sorry for the slow UD. Medyo masama kasi ang panahon dito samin and i really had things to do. But don't you worry dahil this upcoming week I'll be posting three chapters a week.
Dont forget to like, vote and follow.
