Paradox [BoybandPH]

t h i r t e e n

I looked at the glossy paper with a picture of a boy wearing a basketball jersey, smiling from ear to ear while holding a ball in his right arm. I noticed he got his eyes from her mom. I was tapping on the table absentmindedly, when I felt a nudge on my shoulder.

"Oh, bakla. Hipan nang masamang hangin yang nguso mo, ganyan na yan forever sige ka." Pat said, sitting on the chair across me.

"I wanna attend Enzo's birthday kasi eh."

"Yun naman pala eh, bakit ka nakasimangot?" He asked, sipping his coffee.

"Beks, it's two days from now. Which means, I don't have a ride. Gagamitin ni Dad yung car papunta sa isang conference sa Rizal. Hindi ko kayang mag-commute that far and I'm positive hindi rin ako papayagan ni Dad."

Now I suddenly wished I knew how to drive and hope that Dad's offer to buy me a car still stands.

"Rich kid problems. Wala ka bang friends who can drive you there?" He suggested.

Napaisip ako. Why not?

I spent my next break trying to contact Tristan, Janella and Neil to ask them, since sila lang naman ang may sasakyan saming magkakaibigan. Well, Russell owns one but obviously, he can't help me. My mood deflated with their replies, the hope I had earlier thrown out of the window. Neil can't, since yun yung araw nang therapy ng Kuya niya. Tristan's Strada is in repair. Janella has an appointment that day and can't ditch it because it's for a big-time client's wedding. Did I mention she's a make-up artist?

"How about Joao, diba may car naman siya?" Janella suggested.

Oo nga, bakit di ko naisip yun? Pero nakakahiya naman. Aabalahin ko na naman siya. And it's not like we're close na, para mag-ask ako nang favor. Plus, it's gonna be a three-hour drive!

I sighed.

I am scowling the moment I ended the call. Janella is the last one on my list. Siguro iaabot ko na lang ang gift ko for Dara's son.

My phone started ringing. Siguro it's Janella, perhaps she found a way to squeezed me in her schedule.

"Oh, you can help me na?" I answered, not bothering to look at the caller ID.

I stiffened when I heard a familiar sexy chuckle.

"Anything for you, Stephanie."

***

After three hours and a half, my butt is already numb because of the long drive. We only made a couple of stops for bathroom breaks, para we can still arrive on time.

We stopped in front of a buffalo house na may malawak na yard. May fences pero it's low, it is painted in white. Kitang-kita mula sa labas yung mga colorful balloons and mga banderitas. I can even hear birthday songs from here.

I grinned. Alam mo yung pakiramdam na hindi mo naman birthday, pero excited ka?

Nasa children's party na ang utak ko kaya I slightly jumped in surprise nang bumukas ang pinto nang sasakyan, revealing Joao's smug face.

"Jumpy mo masyado." He said, wearing his signature lip-bite smile.

I can't believe di ko man lang namalayang nakababa na pala siya. Inirapan ko na lang siya, but the smile returned when I saw Dara coming out from the gate, carrying a kid in her arms.

That must be Enzo.

"Uy, Sef. Thank you sa pagpunta." She greeted me, kissing me on my cheek. Then she turned to greet Joao, too.

I didn't wait for Dara for the introductions. Atat na kung atat, but I feel so giddy and really hyper.

"Hi, Enzo." I cooed. I smiled, pero pilit niya lang sinisiksik ang mukha niya kay Dara.

"Don't scare the kid. You're creepy." I felt the hair on my nape stood up when his breathe fanned my ears. I elbowed him and he just chuckled, again.

"Nako, Sef. Sorry. Mahiyain talaga 'to eh. Tara pasok na tayo para makakain na kayong dalawa."

This one's different from the typical birthday parties I used to attend. I'm not sure with Joao but I prefer this kind of scene.

There's a long, rectangular table on one side with different foods - spaghetti, fried chicken, hotdogs with marshmallows pinned on a pineapple, fruit salad and some viands. Of course, with the lechon and Enzo's birthday cake in the middle. Beside it is a smaller table where you can find a jug of juice for the kids. May malaking ice box pa with a Coca-cola logo on it, sa side nung table na yun.

Dara introduced us to her family, which is quite big, mind you. Pati na rin sa mga childhood friends niya. I didn't miss the way their eyes sparkled when it landed on Joao's. I looked at him, and he was smiling at them, too. I scoffed.

Nang makakuha na kami nang food, she ushered us on the other side of their yard where round tables are placed. Saka ko lang naramdaman ang gutom ko when we finally settled. We ate in silence as I take in the whole environment.

Daming puno sa paligid. Puro damo yung yard nila Dara, unlike from ours na may landscape na and semento. Hindi din sementado yung kalsada which made it a little bumpy earlier. But you know what? I never thought that bukid feels is nice and refreshing pala.

Maybe I should visit here again, for vacation.

Nagkwentuhan lang kami after eating. Tahimik lang si Joao sa tabi ko. Di nagtagal, lumapit si Enzo.

"Mama.." He said. Ugh! Why so cute?

He looked tired and sleepy na. He raised his arms at Dara, mukhang nagpapabuhat. Kaya naman nag-excuse muna si Dara para patulugin siya, leaving only Joao and me sa table.

Why is this suddenly awkward?

I was just about to strike a conversation sa kanya when Dara's cousin walked into us. I think he said his name was Jerome? Di ako sure. Inaaya niya kami to join them, since tapos na ang mga games for the kids. So it's the adults' turn naman daw. Ayokong maging KJ kaya pumayag kami. Ako lang actually, pero napilitan na rin si Joao. I didn't really do these before so I wanna try it.

"Oh, by pair tayo ha. Magsimula tayo sa pinaka-basic."

Panimula nung isang babae, na nagsilbing emcee for the parlor games. May resemblance sila onti ni Enzo, so she must be one of their relatives. She's probably in her mid-thirties.

Sabay-sabay na nagsalita yung iba. Nasa sampu yata kaming maglalaro. Some of them are shouting games I'm not familiar with. Napailing-iling yung babae habang natatawa sa mga suggestions nila. I'm positive yung iba sa kanila, medyo SPG yung name. Or baka naman green-minded lang talaga ako, kasi I heard 'talong' eh.

"Paper dance!"