Mere Words

Chapter 21

My birthday celebration was simple... yet the happiest.

Akala ko, 'yong panahon na kasama ko ang mga kaibigan ni Gretchen sa Siargao ang pinakamasayang nangyari sa buhay ko. I wasn't expecting that, that simple dinner with my parents at a five star hotel would be the happiest.

There was nothing much that happened, but the whole night was remarkable. Nag-usap lang naman kami tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay, tinanong pati ang balak ko sa kinabukasan.

"So have you made up your mind of what course you'll take? Ito na ang huling semester mo bilang senior high student, 'di ba?" it was Papa.

Hinukay ko ang ano mang posibleng ideya na maaaring mahukay ko sa utak ko, para masagot siya. Kahit na sa totoo lang, hanggang ngayon ay 'di pa rin ako tiyak sa kukuning kurso.

Napakamot ako sa sentido ko. "I'm still thinking, Pa."

"How about AB Literature, anak. Since you like reading alot naman," Mama suggested.

Naisipan ko rin iyon, pero sa huli ay parang wala roon ang loob ko. I don't know. I mean, I really love reading. I love anything related to literature. But I just can't imagine myself going that path.

I shook my head. "Hindi pa po talaga ako decided."

Mama and Papa looked at me with clear disbelief plastered on their face. I sighed. Ilang buwan na lang ga-graduate na ako. I really have to made up my mind.

Pero ayoko rin magsisi sa huli, so I'll think thoroughly of it.

"Anyway, you still have months to think." Papa shrugged.

10:00 ng gabi ay umuwi na kami. Kahit wala naman talaga akong hinihintay pa na babati ay gising pa rin ako. Wala lang. I just want to cherish the night... the moment.

Eighteen na ako. Legal na. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na ang tanda ko na. Feeling ko kasi, ako pa rin 'yong 14 year old na Laurie.

Ten... Nine... Eight...

I was counting with the time, cherishing what's left of my day, until the new day comes.

Five... Four... Three...

And then I heard my phone rang.

Napabalikwas ako mula sa pagkakahiga. Kunot-noong tiningnan ang cellphone ko, 'di makapaniwala na may tumatawag doon.

May nakakaalam ba ng number ko? Wala naman akong maalalang napagbigyan ko.

Ilang segundo ko pang tinitigan ang cellphone, bago mapagpasiyahan na sagutin.

"Hello? Sino 'to?"

Pero walang sumagot sa kabilang linya.
Muli kong tiningnan ang cellphone at nagtaka sa kakaibang kombinasyon ng mga numero.

"Hello? Who's this?" muling tanong ko. Baka mamaya international call tapos 'di ako naintindihan kaya 'di sumagot.

Ngunit nagdaan na ata ang isang minuto o higit pa na wala pa ring sumasagot.

"Ibababa ko na-"

"Happy birthday."

I was stunned with the calming voice coming from the other line. Binati ako. Ibig sabihin kilala o kakilala ko?

I was about to ask him who he was, when the phone call ended, right after he greeted me. Naiwan akong tulala sa kawalan. The voice sounds familiar. Pero 'di ko naman matumbok kung kanino.

That's how the night ended.

The next day, we did a feeding program like what we had planned. I was as much thankful to my parents for making the whole week my birthday. Pagkatapos kasi ng simpleng dinner namin ay nasundan pa iyon nang nasundan. Hanggang sa nakagawian na namin.