The Unnoticed

Trust Issue

SOMEONE from his group say something that made him turned his attention away from me. Pairap. Malamig, mas malamig pa sa panahon ngayong gabi ang titig niya sa akin kanina. May kalakip ding pagbabanta na kung hindi mo siya kilala ay iisipin mong galit ito. Pero hindi ako malilinlang noon. Nagsinungaling siya sa akin. Bakit? Bakit hindi niya maaming may kinalaman siya sa nakaraan ko?

"Why don't you ladies sat with us?"

Margot is quite entertained by the Montmeyer boy. She initiated to join with them. Wala akong nagawa kaya nagpahila na ako. May pinag-uusapan ang mga boys tungkol sa lakad nila. Hindi ko 'yon masyadong pinagtuunan ng pansin dahil nawala sa puwesto niya kanina si Frank.

Nasaan na siya?

"Sama ka na Juls!"

I snapped back and glanced back at Clifford. "Ha?"

"Hiking at Mt. Peru, cousin. Sasama ako, sama ka na rin," sagot ni Margot.

Hiking? Bigla ay bumilis ang pintig ng puso ko, kasabay ang pamilyar na kaba. Clifford lean a little closer before he whispered, "Tradition ng pamilya namin 'yon. Huwag ka mag-alala. Mga professional hiker kami."

Hindi ko alam pero hindi ako napapanatag. Kinakabahan pa rin ako. Suddenly I felt distinct goosebumps along my spine. As if someone is looking at me. I could feel it from behind but I control the urge to check on it. No. Don't fall on his presence.

Ipinakilala ang birthday celebrant. Gandang-ganda ako sa suot niyang ball gown. Ang nakapalibot sa kanyang naniningning na mga kandila ay dumadagdag sa aking rikit niya. She's a full grown woman too, just like me. I just wonder if she's single. If yes, for sure men at our age would swoon at her too. She walked into the aisle and smiled beautifully. Look at that curves. Do I still have that?

Napahaplos ako sa aking belly. Mabuti nalang at hindi hapit itong suot kong dress. Feeling ko ay nananaba ako.

The party went through. Si Montmeyer ay inaya si Margot para sa isang sayaw. Ganoon din ang iba. Napansin ko si Clifford at Mr. Villareal na panay ang sulyap sa akin. May kutob na ako kung saan patungo iyon. Kailangan ko silang tanggihan parehas, lalo pa at nasa paligid si Frank.

When I saw them both stood up, immediately I go away and pretend interested in the food. Hawak ang puting plato ay nilingon ko ang four layered cake. It's color beige, but in my eyes, it replaced with white and pink. It was decorated with pink tulips. At the center was a princess captioned, princess Julienne.

The original noise replaced with the synchronize voice of children singing happy birthday of me. I'm in the middle, standing beside my birthday cake. Surrounded by mixed male and female kids. All of them had a birthday hat on their head.

"Make a wish before you blow your candle, my princess!"

My young version giggled, closed her eyes for her wish before she blew all of the candles. She giggled once more before she turned around.