"Okay?" banggit ko at nagtungo na.

Nang tapos na si mommy ay kaagad na itong nagtungo sa akin at tinanong ko naman kung anong gagawin namin.

"Mom what is it po?" kaagad na tinanong ko kay mommy.

"There'a a party kila tita Small mo mamayang hapon for it's her daughter's birthday. I just want you to come with me if that's okay with you" pag-aaya nito sa akin.

"S-sure naman po bakit ba naman ako aayaw" I said.

"That's good to hear anak, andun din si Ayisha" mom uttered. She also said noon na gusto talaga akong makilala ni Ayisha,ng mga panahaon naman kasi na yun ay masyado akong nag focus sa acads ko at minsan na lang lumalabas ng bahay.

"Okay po" I said at pinaandar na ang tv para manood muna kami.

"Let's try to watch this five feet part mom" I recommend mom and she looked at me curiously.

"We already watched it anak, but it looks like na nakatulog ka" she said.

I definitely believe that if we really watch it already. But I couldn't think of anything. So I just nodded and went on to watch something else.

"What about "The Notebook anak?" she said and I played the movie.

While we're watching, hindi ko namalayan na si mommy na naman ang nakatulog and I'm still trying to remember if we already watched five feet apart na.

I caressed mom face at mukhang nagising ko ito.

"Oh anak, sorry nakatulog ang mommy what happened na ba?" she asked.

"The movie's already done mom" sagot ko naman.

Then she hold my hand and pout.

"So sorry, I didn't witnessed what happened"

"It's fine mommy, perhaps you're just tired kahapon" giit ko, then she checked the time.

"Get dress na anak, we'll go to your tita Small na" tumango naman ako at nagtungo na sa room ko.

Minutes passed by at nakaayos na ako at bumaba na for mommy's already waiting me there.

"Oh anak you're almost done?, you really look ethereal" she said.

"Yes mom, so are you" sambit ko naman at kami ay nagtungo na sasakyan.

While we're on our way at tita Small house ay tinanong ako ni mommy kung bakit daw ang tahimik ko.

"I-I'm fine mommy" I uttered.

"You sure? Alam ko kapag hindi ka okay anak"

"Yeah mom, I'll tell you if everything's uncomfortable with me" sagot ko naman at nakarating na kami sa bahay ni tita Small.

Upon entering we were greeted by many there's tita Melba, Jane, Dawn, Pops and there are more mommy's friends.

"Hello Irene, long time no see. Oh my gosh! Is this Malia? You look so fabulous sweetheart, carbon copy mo talaga si mommy mo" tita Pops said and I greet them with a kissed on cheeks.

Then tita Small came to us.

"Nice to see you again Irene" she said to mom.

"Hello Lia! Come!" then we went to their dinning area at tinawag nito si Allison.

"Allison this is Malia, daughter of your tita Irene at magkapareho lang pala kayo ng edad" tita small uttered and Allison offered a shake hands at tinanggap ko naman ito.

"Happy birthday Allison" I said at ganoon din si mommy.

"Thank you it's nice to see you now, this is Ayisha pala. Daughter of tita Dawn" pakilala nito sa akin at kaagad ko namang nginitian.

"Don't be shy sa amin Lia. We want to be friends with you ni Allison" Ayisha said at tinawag na ni tita Small si Allison para makapag start na.

Then mommy came on my side.

"They're so starstruck on you anak, ganda mo kasi eh" mom said at napatawa lang ako sa sinabi nito.

"No one's can beat in your beauty mommy" sabi ko naman.

"Naku, ikaw talaga. Mukhang Allison and Ayisha are friendly on you ah"

"Yes mom, they're so nice" I answered at tinawag na kami ni tita Small para kumain.

Nasa gitna ako nila Ayisha at Allison umupo and they're asking me a lot of questions which is okay lang sa akin.

"Kayo ha baka ubusin niyo katatanung ang buhay ni Malia" tita dawn said.

"We're not mom, we're just curious ni Allison kay Lia. She's beautiful, smart and friendly kaya" Ayisha said.

"Oo nga pala sweethert, saan ka mag SHS?" tita Jane asked.

"Maye I'll stay at UP po" I answered.

"That's good, congratulations for being the class valedictorian pala hija" tita Pops and her other amigas said.

"T-Thank you po" sagot ko naman at nagpatuloy na.

Minutes passed by at natapos na kaming kumain and there's a lot of activities we had. It was fun and I'm glad na nakilala ko ang ibang friends ni mommy at mga anak nila.

Then it's time to go home na.

Nagpaalam na ako kila tita and kay Allison and Ayisha. I forget to give her gift pala, kaya nilapitan ko ito ulit para ibigay sa kanya.

"I forgot to give you earlier, happy birthday again" I said to Allison and she looked surprise.

"A gift from you? OMG thank you so much Lia" she said and hugged me.

"Welcome, I hope you like it mamaya kapag nabuksan mo na" sabi ko at nagpaalam na ulit sa kanya.

Then pumunta na ako kay mommy na nasa garage lang and then she said na mauna na lang muna ako sa may sasakyan for they still talking ng mga amigas nito.

"Ok mom, I'll wait na lang sa labas" giit ko at nagpaalam na kila tita na kaagad namang lumabas na.

While I'm waiting here sa labas ng sasakyan kay mommy, there's an old lady approached me.

"Hija, ang ganda mo. Maaari ko bang tingan ang iyong palad?" tanong nito at bibigyan ko pa sana si manang ng pera pangbili ng pagkain nito but she stopped me, then I offered my hand na lang. Wala namang masama at mawawala kung susubukan ko ito.

She traced the lines on my palm.

Sa una ay napangiti pa ito.

"Mahal na mahal ka ng iyong pamilya. Hindi nila kaya na naghihirap ka at isa kang bukal na loob at mabait, matalino na dalagita" banggit nito kaya wala na akong nagawa kundi ngumiti.

Then she suddenly looked at me na para bang may mangyayare na masama.

"Ngunit may masamang mangyayare sa iyo sa iyong kapalaran. Isang madilim na kapalaran na mukhang ikakalungkot ng buo mong pamilya" sambit nito at tinitigan ako.

"Manang ayan na naman kayo, ito po pagkain para makakain na po kayo. Pigilan niyo na po ang ginagawa niyong iyan, apo po yan ng dating presidente ang iniisturbo ninyo" pabiglang sambit ni manong guard sabay abot kay manang ng pagkain at binitawan na nito ang kamay ko.

"Mag-ingat ka" that's all she said and left.

Ako naman ay naiwang nakatunganga sa mga sinabi ni manang. Hahabulin ko pa sana ito and asked what does she mean. When suddenly-

"Hey honey, are you okay?" it was mom na at hindi kona nagawang habulin si manang pa.

"Mukhang nabigla ka, did something happened ba?" dagdag nito at magsasalita pa sana si manong guard pero inunahan ko na ito.

"W-wala po, let's go na mommy. Mauna na po kami manong guard" banggit ko at pumasok na ng sasakyan.


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