Find Peace In Pain

Kabanata 12

I pinched him at his back and he twitched. We haven't told our friends yet about our relationship because we were still on process to build it. Gabb and I preferred to let our friends discover our thing. Yes, we do have a thing and it wasn't just a friends anymore, it was more than that. It felt like we're doing a crime behind their back.

Nakauwi na sila Rojan at abala sila para sa swimming contest na sasalihan nila. Pupunta kami nila Mau dahil pagkatapos ng event didiretso kami sa camp site sa Alta Tierra. Malapit na rin ang pasko kaya kailangan naming makita-kita.

Pagdating namin maraming ng tao. Nakapwesto kami sa hindi naabutan ng sikat ng araw. Mayroong anim na lanes at individual event ang nauna.

I saw Gabb and Rojan fixing their swim caps ang glasses. Si Deo at Chris sa kabila naman ganoon rin ang ginagawa. They're preparing na para sa freestyle relay. Their event started and I felt nervous, parang ako ang kalahok, I looked away ang closed my eyes. The crowds were still cheering. Nang humupa ang sigawan binuksan ko ang aking mata, lumapit na sila kay coach Chard at kinuha ang kanilang puting tuwalya.

Lumapit sila sa gawi namin. Si Rojan puro bigay salita sa kanilang apat. Unfortunately, hindi kami makalapit ng husto dahil sa railings. Bumaba kami ng kaunti para makalapit sa kanila. Seriously, we looked like crazy girls here na sinusuportahan ang jowa.

"Congratulations... guys!" si Mau sumunod rin si Cheyenne at Lena.

Umihip ng malakas ang hangin at yung buhok ko nagulo, natakpan ang aking mukha at nakain ding iilang hibla. It supposed to be tied up in ponytail but I let my hair down. Gabb helped me to fix my hair, pilit niyang inabot kahit may railings na pagitan sa aming dalawa.

Naging busy kami sa bahay, my brothers were helping me to decorate the Christmas tree, put lights to our outdoor garden, inayos din namin ang living room, nag wrap ng mga gifts.

Gabb:

Merry Christmas.

Nag text siya madaling araw para batiin ako, just texting me Merry Christmas made my holiday complete.

We invited Ate Letty and her family para naman marami kami. After Christmas biyahe agad kami papuntang Dinagat Island, sila kuya ang nag-ayos ng itinerary namin. Nag stay pa rin silang dalawa hanggang bagong taon. Babalik din next month for my eighteenth birthday kasama na si Dad.

Gabb:

Have a safe trip.

We've been constantly communicating. Hindi niya nakakalimutang kumustahin ako, tanungin ng kung anu-ano. Every night he would call me to say goodnight. I loved his soothing voice, pakiramdam ko nag-iiba ang bose siya tuwing gabi. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam na may nagugustuhan. At first, the feeling was foreign to me as I learned to accept it parang nasasanay na ako.

Napag-usapan na namin ni Mama na normal lang ang gusto kung celebration kahit sa bahay lang. Dahil pagkatapos ng birthday ko may prom pa kami. Pumayag naman sila kasi gusto yun ang gusto ko. Medyo malawak naman ang garden namin pati ang living room.

Konekta ang living room at garden namin, may whimsical photobooth malapit sa entrance. It's a whimsical garden party. Tahimik lang si Dad na nakaupo kasama si Kuya Mirco si Mama naman ay busy kasama si Ate Letty. May mga classmates akong dumalo at ilang relatives. I welcomed my relatives and visitors. Simple celebration lang talaga. Si Kuya Malcolm was busy filming. Mau was hosting a who knows me better game.

"Happy birthday, bunso" Dad greeted me and kiss my forehead.

"Thank you, Daddy" I replied, his eyes became weary.

Dad hugged me tightly and said "I love you, anak"

"I know Dad"

Lumapit ako sa table ng aking mga kaibigan umikot pa ako sa harapan nila at nag flying kiss. Sabay sabay silang natawa.

"Happy birthday, beautiful. I am the Ate but your taller than me" Cheyenne then hugged me. Wala sila Rara at Lena dahil sa malayo nag-aaral pati rin si Migs.

"Tama na Chen, ako ang bestfriend" singgit ni Mau.

"Dahil birthday mo gagawa ako ng isang pang account para mag subscribe ulit sa channel mo. Happy birthday!" ang epal ni Deo

"Sapat na siguro yung doughnut cake na binigay ko?" Rojan meant it as a joke. But yeah he gave a cake nagulat nga ako dahil umuwi siya.

Matapos ang batian at asaran, kumuha sila ng food sa buffet table. Nagpaiwan si Gabb hindi niya pa ako binabati kahit sa text.

"Follow me" tumayo siya sa kanyang inuupuan at sumunod ako.

"Upo ka muna... may kukunin ako sa sasakyan"

Umupo muna ako sa photobooth. Bumalik naman siya holding a bouquet of 18 roses magkaiba ang mga kulay. Napasinghap ako. I smiled at him.

"Happy birthday... the more I look at you now, mas nahuhulog ako ng husto sayo" he swallowed hard and I saw his adam's apple moved.

My face heated, umupo siya katabi ako, I accepted the flowers " Thank you. I am happy that your heart beats the same as mine" I sniffed at the flowers, I'll keep it.

I hugged him. Nagulat pa siya. Kumalas kaagad siya.

"Wait... I have another gift for you" he showed me a small silver box and opened it the tiny rose earrings revealed.

My eyes widened. I can't wait any longer. Mahal ko na siya hindi ko na papatagalin to. Presensya niya lang sapat na dapat, hindi ko inakalala na may ganito. Dahil wala naman siyang plano na tanungin ako, kayo ako na ang gagawa ng paraan. I held his hand, my lips quivered a bit.

"Let's make it official" I closed my eyes and listened to my heartbeat.