The Story of Us

07: Seth

We went to eat outside with Dad. Dimsum lang. Fishballs, siomai and rice cake. Hindi na sumama pa si Tita Faith, may inaasikaso.

"Sino yung naghatid sayo kanina?" Tanong ni Daddy habang nasa elevator kaming tatlo kasama si Kuya Enzo.

"High school friend po."

"Anong pangalan?"

"Luke po."

"Gusto mo pa bang pumasok?"

With that question, may face lit up.

HELL YES!

Napatingin bigla ako kay Dad. Tapos I grinned widely pa.

"I'll be enrolling you for the second quarter?"

"Yes yes yes!"

Omg. Ang tagal ko nang namimiss ang school, my friendships, Gail, opportunities and the responsibility I had let go: being the Vice President of the Student Council.

Dad just smiled.

"Thanks, Dad!" Sabi ko sabay yapos kay Dad.

"Advance birthday gift."

"Hihi, dapat bukas niyo na lang po ako sinurprise. Joke. Thanks po!"

Yeeeey! Finally, I'll be stopping from self-studying!

Sa pagkain namin sa labas, kung anu-ano na ang pinagsasabi at pinagkekwento-kwento ko kina Dad at Kuya Enzo. Mga plano, goals, evil plotted plans, etc.

After nun, umalis na si Dad.

Natira na lang kami ni Kuya Enzo.

"Ang saya mo ah?"

"Siyempre 'no?" Sabi ko kay Kuya.

"7:34 pa lang. San mo gusto pumunta?"

I grinned evilly at Kuya.

"Alam ko na." Kuya responded na parang nag-mental facepalm siya.

Nagpunta kaming MOA at tumambay sa Fullybooked.

Everytime na nagu-good vibes ako, dinadala ako ni Kuya Enzo dito sa MOA, particularly sa Fullybooked. Eto talaga ang bookstore na gusto kong tambayan eh. Medyo may kalayuan pero gora.

Pagdating namin, umupo muna ako sa floor (kung saan carpeted) after I grabbed Roth's Divergent. Iniwan muna ako ni Kuya Enzo.

Nasa half na ako nung book nang tawagin ako ni Kuya Enzo.

"Wait lang Kuya Enzo. May titingnan lang ako."

I took a glimpse of the books I always wanted to have. Hindi ako makabili eh, ipon-ipon muna.

Lumabas na kami ng bookstore at dumiretso sa Gloria Jeans. Nag-chill lang kami ni Kuya plus nilibre niya ako nang coffee. Heehee.

May nilabas si Kuya sa lap niya at pinatong sa table. 2 Fullybooked plastics. Hindi ko mapansin yung books eh.

"Wow. Book haul ah?" Comment ko.

Nilabas ni Kuya yung books.

"Para sa'yo. Advance happy birthday!"

"OMG! Ignite Me and Unite Me! Complete na ang Shatter Me series ko!"

"Tapos Divergent book set! Thanks, Kuya!!!"

I stood up from my seat and hugged him.

"Best bro ever!" I said as I went back to my seat at nakipag-fist bump.

"Ops. Hindi pa diyan natatapos ang kaligayahan mo. Tingnan mo yung paperbag." Sabi ni Kuya, grinning.

I looked at the things inside the bag. My eyes widened.

"Oh no you didn't." Sabi ko, at tumingin kay Kuya habang umiiling-iling.

"I just did." Kuya grinned widely.

"No way! THAT'S LANG LEAV." Sabi ko.

"Advance happy, happy birthday." Kuya chuckled.

Tiningnan ko ulit yung paper bag.

Shet. Love & Misadventure tapos Lullabies. May TFIOS DVD pa at X album ni Ed Sheeran.

"Super thank you Kuya!"

"Ano pa't naging kapatid ka na din sa 'kin?"

"Yes naman." Sabi ko. Teary-eyed nako.

"Oh, wag kang iiyak." Tatawa-tawang sabi ni Kuya E sabay abot ng panyo.

After nun, umuwi na kami. Ilang oras din bago makarating sa condo from Mall of Asia.

Pagkarating namin, dumiretso kagad ako sa kwarto ko at tinawagan si Gail.

"Hello, babe?" Pagsagot ni Gail.

"Hi!"

"Ang hyper ah?"

"Birthday ko na bukaaaaas~"

"Alam ko."

"Papasok na ulit ako. Sa school. Einsteinian na ulit ako." Sabi ko, waiting for Gail's reaction.

Silence.

1 second. 2 seconds. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6.. 7.. 8.. 9...

"OHMYGAHD BABE!!! I sooooo love you na!" Hindi lang yan ang reaction niya at may aftershocks pa.

Nagkwentuhan pa kami, sa advanced gift ni Dad at ni Kuya Enz and et cetera.

What more could I ask for? Feeling ko sobra-sobra na nga eh. My education back, plus good books, music and movie. I mean, the heck is going on? It's TGTBT. (too good to be true)

Hindi ako makatulog, which is a bit unusual. Kasi kanina pa akong pa-soundtrip nang pa-soundtrip, my eyes just don't feel sleepy.

Tumingin ako sa orasan. 11:48 p.m.

Ugh.

I stared at the ceiling, thinking of what may come on my birthday.

30 seconds... 60... 5 minutes... 10...

Naramdaman ko namang biglang nag-vibrate yung phone ko. May message. I looked at the name.

Seth

Feeling ko, lahat bumalik sa 'kin. I squeezed my eyes closed.

Babasahin ko ba message niya? Oh, 12:02 na.

I read the message and it goes...

Hi, Allison. Kamusta ka na? Agh. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko. Uhm, hello. Thank you for the times we shared. Hinding-hindi ko yun makakalimutan. You taught me too many things that have changed my life. Thank you sa pag-intindi kahit na ang gulo-gulo ko.

Thank you sa love. You've always been there eversince nagkakilala tayo. Sana hindi mo yun makalimutan. Sana hindi mo ako makalimutan.

Sorry if ngayon, it looked like I treated you badly kasi hindi ko sinabi sayo na may nililigawan/girlfriend na ako. Ewan ko. Feeling ko I don't want to know that you're going to hurt.

Look, I loved you very very much and you'll always have this space in my heart, scarred or whole. Hindi ka mwawala.

Nung nakita kita nun sa mall nung ksama ko si Joey, iiwasan kita nun but then our eyes met and then I thought, ang sama naman kung I'll snob Allison. Kaya I waved Hi.

I m very sorry.

Now, i just wish and hope you'll find the right one for you. Be happy as always. And smile. :)

Happy birthday, Allison.
-Seth.

Aaaaand, that's Seth's message. Nobela ah.

Naspi-speechless ako. Shet. Gusto kong maiyak pero hindi ko magawa.

I closed my eyes. And I knew in that moment, I slept.