Chapter 16
The anonymous sender of the anklet still bothers me. Nakaupo ako ngayon sa living room habang nakapatong ang mga paa sa coffe table. Tinitingnan ko ang anklet na para bang bigla na lang lilitaw ang mukha ng nagbigay nun.
I was thinking that maybe Jairus gave me this. But imagining his dark and menacing face when we saw each other at the elevator, that's just impossible. He's angry at me for unknown reason and I am so angry at him for cheating on me. Enemies don't give each other a gift, a bomb maybe.
Natutulog si Jarrick ngayon sa kwarto niya dito sa condo ko dahil kailangan niya raw ng beauty rest para sa party mamaya. Parang siya pa iyong may birthday sa amin ngayon.
Nakatulala pa rin ako sa anklet nang biglang mag ring ang doorbell. I absentmindedly walked towards the door and opened it.
"Surprise!! Happy birthday, Caia!!!" I got startled because of it. Napatili pa ako nang kaunti.
Mommy, Daddy, Manuella, Rome, and Hanna are in front of my door with paper bags in their hands. Daddy is holding a cake.
Tears trickled on my cheeks. I haven't realized that I miss them so much until I saw them in front of me. Niyakap ko si Daddy and the other joined the hug.
"I miss you guys." Sabi ko habang naluluha pa rin. Hanna is also crying at the back of my dad so I came near her and hugged her tight. I miss my best friend so much.
"I'm sorry for being MIA this summer, Hanna."
"It's okay!!" Umiiyak na siya ngayon sa balikat ko. Natawa naman si mommy sa aming dalawa.
"Nakailang balik din iyan sa bahay nung summer. But I can't just tell her what happened because you said so." Mommy said. They really respect my decisions in life and I am so grateful for it.
"Pasok kayong lahat." Iminuwestra ko sila sa living room.
"Where's Jarrick?" Tanong ni Daddy.
"Sleeping, Dad."
"Jarrick is here?!" Si Hanna, na halatang nagulat sa nalaman. Jarrick is our common friend so she knows him, too.
"Yes, Hanna. He's also with me in Spain." Hindi ko nasabi kay Hanna through social media ang tungkol sa pagsama sa akin ni Jarrick. Yung nangyari lang sa amin ni Jairus ang naikwento ko sa kanya.
"Gustong gusto ko na talaga magtampo. Mas pinili mo yung babaerong iyon na makasama kaysa sa akin." She pouted. Jarrick is known as a playboy in Davao because he truly is. Karamihan ng mga babae na nakakasalamuha niya, nilalandi niya. I don't know if they end up on bed though, knowing Jarrick's gender orientation right now.
Nilapitan ko rin si Manuella na kumakain na ng cake sa isang tabi. "I miss you Ella." Sabi ko at niyakap siya nang mahigpit.
She pushed me to get away from my hug and tried to look annoyed kahit na nakita kong naluluha na siya.
"You didn't come to my birthday." Sabi niya sa nanginginig na boses. Her teary eyes are now looking down.
" I'm so sorry. I love you." Niyakap ko ulit siya at doon na tumulo ang kanyang luha. Pinugpog ko siya nang halik dahilan ng masama niyang tingin sa akin kahit na lumuluha pa rin.
"I love you, too, Ate but I don't want my cheeks to be filled with your saliva."
"Arte!"
"Mana sa'yo!" She said that made me laugh.
These people made me feel so special. Their presence is enough to make me happy on my day. Kahit si Rome na parang laging takot sa akin, nagpunta dito at nagbigay ng regalo. Hanna and me talked about a lot of things and about what happened to me while I am at Spain.
