Hideaway [Completed]

Chapter 14

The penthouse elevator opened to reveal Aspen in just a white polo and slacks. Nakapatong na sa balikat nito ang necktie nito at halatang pagod na pagod. Naghabol kasi ito ng trabaho dahil matagal siyang nawala sa opisina. His dad was a bit disappointed at his sudden disappearance to which he blamed an emergency at kinailangan niyang tulungan ang isang kaibigan.

As soon as he arrived ay nadatnan niya sa balcony ang mga kaibigan niya kasama si Katrina at ang best friend nitong babae whose name he can't remember.

"Here comes the birthday boy!" hiyaw ni Gio na halatang kanina pang umiinom.

Miguel stood up when he saw him come out to the balcony and offered him a glass. "Cheers!"

Inabot niya ang glass at nakipag-cheers kay Miguel. Then, his eyes searched for Katrina. There she was, wearing a simple baby blue dress that was off the shoulders and was freely flowing to hug her body.

Kanina pa siya nagtitimpi simula ng mapag-isa sila sa sasakyan pauwi ng Pampanga. But he forgot that he had plans with his friends para isalubong ang birthday niya.

Food was laid out on the table, all his favorites. Crispy pata, steak, pesto pasta, buffalo wings and more!

Niyakap siya ng mahigpit ni Gio to which he hugged back. "Thank you, bro. Ginulat nyo ako! You shouldn't have prepared that much. I was gonna order in for the evening anyway. But thanks for this."

"Happy birthday, Aspen," masayang bati ng best friend ni Katrina sa kanya.

"Thanks," he replied.

"This is Selena by the way," pakilala muli ni Katrina. "Siya ang ikinukwento ko sayong best friend ko."

"Nice meeting you," he answered.

"Katrina prepared all this," Miguel said and pointed to Katrina. "Ang sarap ng steak niya, bro. You should try it."

Aspen went to sit beside Katrina at hinalikan ito sa pisngi.

"Happy birthday," she whispered to him.

"Thanks," he said and smiled at her. This was the first time in a long while that someone else prepared something special for his birthday. He's always been far from home lalo na kapag birthdays niya. He's always either traveling or abroad for studies kaya usually ay puro pagpa-party lamang ang ginagawa niya tuwing birthday niya. But it's nice to actually sit down and be with important people in his life.

"May kukunin lang ako," Katrina said and smiled. Umalis ito sandali at pagkabalik ay may hawak hawak na birthday cake with so much lighted candles on top. Nagsimula nang kumanta ng happy birthday song ang mga kaibigan niya.

And when they were done, Gio shouted. "Make a wish!"

"Pray for divine intervention in your life," biro ni Miguel.

"Alam naman natin na approval lang ng dad niya ang only wish niya in this lifetime," another joke from Gio to which he just laughed.

He blew the candle and smiled at everyone. "Thanks for being here, guys. It means a lot."

Inilagay na ni Katrina sa gitna ng table ang cake at umupo na ulit sa tabi ni Aspen. Everyone was happily talking around the table.

"You look beautiful," Aspen whispered to her ear.

"Thanks," tipid na sagot ni Katrina.

"How did you know?"

"I bumped into Gio this afternoon sa coffee shop sa baba. Tradition nyo daw palagi na magbirthday salubong mo. I didn't even know it was your birthday." May konting hinanakit noong sinabi niya iyon.