The Story of Us

08: Birthdays, Hidden Stories and Friendships

I woke up facing the ceiling. Tumingin kaagad ako sa orasan ko. 6:23 a.m.

Hinanap ko din kaagad yung phone ko.

23 messages.

21 messages galing sa mga dating classmates at friendships tapos yung isa kay Gail na "Happy birthday, Alli. x See you." lang ang laman. Nag-expect pa naman ako ng nobela. Tapos yung isa, galing sa unregistered number.

In-open ko kagad.

Hi, Therese. Si Luke to. happy bday. :))) punta ka sa music store. Morning, enjoy your day!! ;)

Ay, si Luke pala. Ayos ah.

Nagstay muna akong nakahiga. Soundtrip. Yung puro feel-good songs. I just tapped my hands with the beat to my lap.

"Allison!" Pagtawag sa 'kin ni Tita Faith sabay bukas ng pinto.

"Po?" I said, sitting straight.

"Maghanda ka na ng sarili mo. Happy birthday." Tita smiled.

"Opo, thank you po." The corners of my mouth twitched in return.

I looked at my phone's watch. 7:38 a.m.

I opened my closet and took out a grey sweatshirt printed on it Q U I E T and a black skater skirt plus my undergarments.

After taking a shower, I immediately tucked in my sweatshirt sa skirt ko at kumuha ng socks with my Chucks.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto ko by 8:00 while combing my hair.

Tita Faith just smiled at me. "Ipaghahanda na kita ng breakfast mo. Punta ka sa living room, may bisita ka." I went to the living room.

"MAMA!" I ran to her and hugged her.

"Allison." Mama said calmly.

"Napadalaw po kayo?"

"Hindi ko naman siyempre makakalimutan ang birthday ng unica hija ko." I smiled. "Happy birthday, anak."

"Thank you po."

"Oh, regalo mo." Sabay abot ng box.

Binuksan ko ito and found a new phone.

"Ma, hindi mo na kailangang magbigay nito. Okay na po yung nandito kayo."

"Nako, nakakahiya naman. Ang Daddy mo may regalo sayo, samantalang ako wala." Paliwanag ni Mama.

Nakatitig lang ako kay Mama. I've always wanted to ask that one question...

Mama, bakit kayo naghiwalay ni Daddy?

But I can't. It's been three months and I still feel that it's still fresh and raw. I think, I can never ask that question to neither of them.

"Sige, anak. Aalis na ako. May dadaanan pa ako eh." Pagpapaalam niya.

"Ah, sige po. Thank you po ulit Ma."

"Happy Birthday, 'nak." Tapos niyakap ako ni Mama at hinalikan sa noo.

I smiled.

Inaccompany na ni Tita Faith si Mama palabas.

Ngayon ko lang napansin. Wala si Kuya Enzo. Nakapagbigay lang kahapon ng regalo, 'di na nagpakita. Tsk.

Pumasok ako sa kuwarto niya. Wala naman. Pero may napansin ako na picture plus sticky note sa may computer desk niya.

Wacky picture naming dalawa sa Instax tapos may note: ALLISON. Hinahanap mo ko no? Happy 16th birthday! See you mamaya! Lake Garden, 7:00 p.m. :)