MONTGOMERY 1 : Caught (Published under PSICOM)

Kabanata 23

Kiss

"Happy Birthday, Tul!"

Napangiti ako nang makitang halos mangiyak ngiyak siya. We rented Hotel Monticello's restaurant to celebrate her birthday. Dinecorate namin 'yon at nag presinta si Uno na siya ang susundo kay Tulip mula sa pagtulog.

Lumapit siya sa amin. I was holding the cake and she looked at me. I saw her eyes brimming with tears. Napaawang bahagya ang labi ko.

I don't understand them when they say that I have special powers. Natatawa pa ako pero ngayon.. baka maniwala na ako. Kita ko sa mata ng pinaka malapit na pinsan ko na nahihirapan siya.. her eyes is not crying for happiness.. hindi dahil sa surprise. It was more than that.

Huminga ako ng malalim. "Happy Birthday, Tul. We love you so much. We will always be right behind you. We will never let go of your hand. Isa lang naman ang wish namin para sayo.. it's for you to be happy."

Lalo siyang napahikbi. May problema siya.. I know.

Sometimes.. even the greatest smile can have the greatest tears. It's not just about what you see outside.. it's what you'll see through the eyes.

"Make a wish, uhugin." Natatawang wika ni Simon at napahalakhak naman kami.

Pumikit siya at kita ko ang panginginig ng katawan niya. Nagmulat siya at ngumiti. Hinipan niya ang kandila at sabay sabay na pumalakpak ang mga pinsan ko at mga kaibigan na naroon.

"Happy Birthay Tulip Montgomery!" Sigaw namin. Binaba ko ang cake at mabilis siyang yinakap.

"I'm here for you.. I love you." I just felt the need to say that.

"Thank you.." aniya at yinakap din ako ng mahigpit.

"Let's eat!" Masayang sigaw ni Clyde. Napahalakhak ako at bumitaw kay Tulip. I smiled at her to make her worries away.

Hinayaan ko siyang batiin ng iba. Pumunta na ako sa buffet at kumuha ng pinggan ko. I can hear my cousins making fun of her crying moment.

"Goodmorning Ms. Montgomery." Napangiwi ako sa tawag sa akin ni Osiris. What's with my surname?

"Can you please stop calling me that?" Saad ko habang nag lalagay ng pagkain at ulam sa pinggan ko.

Sumunod siya sa akin. Siya rin ay kumukuha ng pagkain. I can still remember our talk.. it was helpful but also hurtful. I never thought that I will have that conversation with him.

Hindi ko pa rin hinahayaan ang mata kong dumapo kay Evander. I was avoiding him all this time.

Making him say the truth is wrong.. yun ang na-realize ko kagabi. He should be the one to appreach me and tell the truth. Making him admit.. will only make things worst.

"Adrianna then?" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at tsaka marahang tumango. It's better that Ms. Montgomery.

Natapos ako at pumunta sa isang table. Tumabi ako kay Agatha. Pansin kong sumunod din si Osiris sa akin at umupo sa tabi ko. Kita ko ang pagsimangot ni Agatha kay Osiris.

Oh they hate each other.

"I heard.. dumadalaw ka daw palagi sa Broadcasting?" Tanong ko sakanya.

Kita kong natigilan siya pero agad din 'yong nawala at napalitan ng ngisi. The same smirk when we first had our lunch together. Nung oras na kinamumuhian ko siya.

"Oo ate! Trespasser 'yan!" Inis na inis na saad ni Agatha sa tabi ko.

"Well.. you don't own that place. I can go there Agatha Joan." Aniya habang seryosong kumakain.