I placed the flower over Mama at Papa's grave. I took a deep breath and left the cemetery. I went to my Aunt Maya's house.
She was just there very eager to know what Ate's baby girl looks like in Canada. Pinapakitaan ko siya ng mga pictures niya. I also had lunch there. I spent my time talking with her. She was always there for us. Kahit minsan, ipaparadam niya sa amin noon na papalayasin kami— she didn't actually mean it. Para lang tumino kami lahat.
She was there when we needed help and when we needed a mother. I'm grateful for having her in my life. Aunt also is a generous person. Ayaw niyang tumanggap kay Ate nang kahit isang piso— kahit na noon ay minsan gumagastos siya para sa amin.
In the afternoon— I excused myself and went to Salon. I dyed my hair black again and then went to the School's Office. Kung saan ako nag-graduate. I decided to apply for a job here and I think it's a good choice after all.
Tapos na din naman ang interview ko and I am already accepted as a full-time faculty here. A college instructor for Humanities and Social Sciences.
I processed my papers for a few minutes at school. Then, I went home sa apartment ko.
Pagkarating ko roon ay napansin kong hindi pa umuwi si Zadist at Maro. They're having a league champion and I don't know what is. Sobrang tagal nilang nag-laro as a practice. Dami nilang plans and strategies for god sake naririnig ko sila all night. At dahil alam kong mga gutom na ang mga paborito mga bata. Mga baby ko— I decided to cook a lot of side dishes para i-heat lang anytime kapag kakain next time.
I made kimchi out of radish and cabbage. I also packed a lot of vegetables. Ino-organize ko na din ang mga Jar for Spices para alam ni Maro kung ano ang kaibahan ng White sugar at Iodized salt.
And then, I cooked food for dinner.
Nagluto ako ng Kimchi Stew, Ramen with a lot of egg, Fried Chicken, Bibimbap, Egg Roll, at ang Grilled Pork Belly.
Na-display ko na din naman lahat ng mga plates at ano pa sa table and then I checked the time. It's already quarter to 8. Bakit hindi pa sila dumating?
Kumain ako ng kaunti sa grilled pork. Kasi nagugutom na din ako. Hindi naman ako bwisit na late sila pero sana sasabihin nila if dito ba sila magdinner or not.
I sighed.
Hinigop ko ang maanghang na sabaw ng Kimchi Stew. Napapikit ako sa sarap at nang binuksan ko ang mga mata ko ay nakita ko si Zadist na may dala-dalang Cake at si Maro naman na may hawak na Flower Boquet at saka Birthday hats.
As soon as I grasped the situation, napakanta kaagad sila.
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Happy birthday to you!" Kanta nila both. Napangiti ako ng sobra.
"Pakita nga ulit anong mukha ng nag-aantay?" Sabi ni Zadist.
Napakunot ang noo ko.
Maro laughed. "Ate, we set up cameras here to prank you sana pero effort na effort ka sa pagluluto e. We decided to stay na muna sa room ko and wait for you to get pissed waiting for us."
Napanganga ako.
"So wala palang league championship?" Sabi ko.
Nagkatinginan ang dalawang nilalang. Bumalik ang tingin nila parehas sa akin at saka ko sila kiniliti isa-isa.
Zadist immediately placed the Cake over the table and Maro also take a seat there. Z on the other hand hugged me and kissed my forehead.
"Happy birthday, Beautiful." Sabi niya sabay taas ng kamay niyang may hawak na paper bag. I saw that he is wearing the wristwatch I gave to him as a gift before. Napangiti ako.
"What's this?" Sabi ko matapos matanggap ang gift. I opened the paper bag and my jaw dropped.
"Seriously?"
Zadist nods and pulls a chair for me to sit down.
"It's where you can take down all of your notes or could be your diary you know for your thoughts— reminders— Happy birthday again. I love you." Sabi ni Zadist.
"Thank you, Z." Sabi ko habang napangiti ng todo sa mga eco-notebooks na bigay niya.
When I sat down, everyone was so busy eating.
"So the practice last night was also part of the prank?" I asked habang kumakain na kami.
"Yeah." They replied in chorus, how adorable.
Matapos naming kumain— kung saan ang daming beses na nagcompliment ang dalawa sa mga niluto ko.
"Ate." Maro said as I wiped my lips with the table tissue.
"Here."
Maro handed me a Rectangular shaped Gift. A cute one. I opened it and I saw Maro was kind of... shy.
Napatingin ulit ako sa gift.
I smiled, "Thank you, Maro."
He gifted me a Pen.
He is so sweet.
This birthday will also serve as a Post-Celebration for I got the job at school as an Instructor.
"Thank you, guys." Sabi ko.
I looked at Maro— he'll be graduating soon enough. And Zadist— he is working at an IT Company already.
And I am so proud of what we have become right now. I mean, a lot of things changed. At isa na ako dun.
YOU ARE READING
Thorns After Everything (Completed)
Romance"Bakit tayo iniiwan ng mga taong nagsabi sa ating 'wag natin silang iwan?" - Zadist Thorns After Everything follows the story of Maris, a young girl who has always looked up to her sister as her role model in life. But as Maris begins to discover h...
