A GIRL WHO HATE BIRTHDAYS
"Thalia, what do you want for your birthday?" Mom asked.
"Nothing" tipid kong sagot.
Humalukipkip si Mommy at mariin akong tinitigan.
"Okay, we'll throw a party"
"Mom! I'm not a kid anymore" angal ko.
"Whatever you said sweetheart"
I let out a deep breath while staring at myself in the mirror. I hate celebrating birthdays, pero wala akong magawa lalo na't uuwi si Dad ngayon.
"Sweetheart, are you done? Bumaba kana riyan, marami nang bisita sa labas" rinig kong sabi ni Mom.
Bumaba na ako ng sala. They greeted me a happy birthday and gave me some gifts they bought. I just gave them a simple smile and thank you.
"Lia! Happy 15th birthday my dear best friend" bungad ni Chelsea sabay yakap sa'kin at abot ng dala niyang gift.
"Thank you Chels"
"Hey, hindi ka yata masaya. Enjoy your day, aba!"
"Yah, I'll try"
How can i really enjoy this day huh? It's Grandma and Grandpa's death anniversary, and tomorrow will be kuya Nathan's death anniversary.
Stupid right? Grandma died on my 9th birthday party, inatake siya sa puso no'n. And on my 13th birthday, Grandpa died because of car accident. While kuya Nathan died on my 14th birthday,which is last year, natamaan siya ng ligaw na bala, nasugod pa siya sa Hospital pero hindi na niya kinaya.
"Mom, anong oras na ba't wala parin si Dad?" tanong ko kay Mommy nang makapasok ako sa kusina.
"Parating narin 'yon, baka bumili lang ng gift para sa'yo" nakangiting sagot ni Mommy at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.
"Happy birthday my sweetheart"
"Thanks Mom"
"Nadia! Si Erick." rinig kong sigaw ni Tita, bakas sa mukha niya ang pag alala at takot.
"B-Bakit?" nauutal na tanong ni Mommy.
Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang makita ang isang butil ng luha ni Tita. Agad na lumabas ng kusina si Mommy at nagtungo sa sala.
Nanginginig ang tuhod ko habang sinusundan si Mommy. Wala akong alam sa nangyayari pero masama ang kutob ko.
Someone open out television at bumungad sa amin ang balita na nagpaguho ng aking mundo.
Bumagsak ang sinasakyang chopper ni Dad---for pete's sake?
Para akong sinakluban ng langit at lupa lalo na't lumakas ang hagulhol ni Mommy at bigla nalang siyang nag collapse.
"Sweetheart, I can't live without your Dad" hagulhol ni Mommy habang yakap-yakap ako.
Nasa labas kami ng morgue habang inaantay ang mga nag inspeksiyon sa labi ni Dad. Wala na akong luhang mailabas, the pain swallowed me big time pero kailangan kong magpakatatag para kay Mommy.
Tanging hagulhol ni Mommy at ng mga Tita ko ang maririnig sa apat na sulok ng kwarto. I'm standing in a doorway of the room, watching my family shedding from tears and pain.
It's awesome right? Celebrating my 15th birthday with tears and pain. Celebrating my birthday in Dad's death? Celebrating my birthday in morgue? Damn.
If this is a dream i want to wake up right away. If this is a cursed, I'll beg the witch who created it to stop.
It is my 16th birthday. I wake up early in the morning to do some morning routine. Pagkauwi ko galing gym, naghahanda na ang cook namin at nandito narin ang mga Tita ko. A simple celebration for my 16th birthday, nothing's special.
