I Know You

Chapter Twenty

"Hey! Wake up sleepyhead!"

Crap! Ang sakit ng ulo ko. Napuyat kaka-computer. Ang lakas kasi ng signal kagabi.

She threatened me that she'll throw away my Rubik's cubes kung hindi pa ako babangon at magbibihis.

Fuck that threat!

Itapon na lahat, 'wag lang Rubik's ko!

"Are you sure, Tita? Is it okay to leave Deinah with you?" - Ate Haille

"No worries, Haille. Just enjoy your day! Happy birthday." - Venice

"Let's go." My sister pulled me to her car.

Lagi kaming ganito tuwing birthday n'ya. We will dine to a fine dining restaurant or in a fast food resto, dipende sa ma-trip-an n'ya. Dapat kasama namin si Deinah pero bawal nga ang bata magpalabas-labas kaya kami na lang dalawa.

"Sing me a 'Happy Birthday' song, bro. Dali!" She's so demanding while driving.

"Stop this nonsense---"

"You'll sing here or I will make you sing in McDo?"

"Childish."

"Choose wisely, bro." She enjoyed teasing me. Damn it! How I wish na nandito si Deinah.

"Happy birthday to yo---"

"Ganahan mo naman! It's a birthday song not a damn funeral hymn."

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday... Happy birthday Ate Haille. Happy?"

"Super!" She laughed and that made me rolled my eyes. Minsan lang sya maging ganyan, natural na natural ang saya. "Where's my gift?"

"'Wag na. Pinakanta mo na 'ko eh."

"Hey! You should give me my gift!"

"H-Hey! Eyes on the road."

"Don't worry, bro. I'm a professional driver." Pagyayabang pa nito.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makarating kami ng maayos sa McDo. Sya ang o-order kaya ako na ang humanap ng table for two. Katabi ito ng glass wall.

While waiting for Ate Haille, I just played my Rubik's cube then I noticed a girl with an angelic face. She's not wearing a face mask, so I can clearly see her bright smile. She seems to be talking to someone but no one was with her.

"What are you looking at?" - Ate Haille

"Nothing."

Dala na n'ya ang mga pagkain at tinulungan ko itong ilagay isa-isa sa table namin.

I looked again on the other table, she's gone and the table is empty. Para bang wala naman talagang nag-occupy ng table na iyon. Weird.

"Tapos alam mo ba---" I cut her off. Parang hindi na ito humihinga tapos 'di kumakain ng maayos kakasalita.

She's so talkative when she's happy. Kaya mapapansin agad na malungkot ito or malalim ang iniisip kapag tumatahimik.

"Here. Happy birthday." I slide a not so huge black box on the table.

"I knew it! You have a gift for me." She smiled. Ate Haille resembles our mom's sweet smile.

I gave her a simple gold bangle bracelet with her initials on it and of course, our surname.

'DH Francisco'

"Dapat 'DH De Luna' na ang ipinalagay mo."

I want to say something but I stopped myself and just continue eating. I don't want to ruin her day.