"Anak, bumangon ka na."
Minulat ko ang aking mga mata nung marinig ang pamilyar na boses. Napaupo ako nang masilayan ang mukha ni Nanny Fe na siyang gumising sa 'kin. Dali-dali ko siyang niyakap. I miss her so much that it makes me feel emotional.
"N-nanny, a-akala ko po... h-hindi ka na po babalik," I said between sobs.
She caressed my back. "Maari ba namang hindi ko balikan ang tinuturing kong anak? Bumangon ka na't papasok ka pa."
I wiped my tears streaming down to my face. Hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi bago ako pumasok ng banyo para maligo. I was already wearing my uniform when I went down to our living room.
"Zein! Kumusta, anak? Tumangkad ka, ah?"
I was jumping for joy when I saw Mang Noel sitting with my parents at the dining table while eating their breakfast. I sat beside Mang Noel enthusiastically. I greeted my parents and said "Good Morning" before I looked at Mang Noel, who was wearing his full suit uniform.
"Hindi naman ako tumangkad, Mang Noel, eh. Ihahatid mo na po ba ako... ulit?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.
My dad put a pancake on my plate. "Oo, anak. Hindi na ulit aalis sila Nanny Fe and Mang Noel para di ka na umiyak tuwing gabi."
"Dad! Aasarin na naman po ako nina Nanny Fe na baby," My mouth was hanging wide open from the sudden embarrassment.
Mom chuckled. "That's fine, anak. You're still a baby, so no need to be shy, right Mang Noel and Manang Fe?"
"Oo naman. May pasalubong nga kaming rubber duckies para sa baby nating lahat na si Zein," Pang-aasar ni Mang Noel.
Napapangiwi nalang ako habang pinapakinggan sila. Mabuti't maganda ang gising ko kaya't hindi na ako sumabat. Hindi mawala ang ngiti sa aking labi habang pinagmamasdan si Mang Noel na nagmamaneho nang muli ng aming van. Ang iba naming sasakyan ay naibenta na ni Dad noong nakaraang linggo kaya't ito nalang ang natira maliban sa kotse nila ni Mom.
"Gellia–"
Napatigil ako nung makitang nakahawak sa kamay niya si Krisha pagbaba ko ng van. Marahil ay hindi niya ako narinig dahil malayo sila sa akin at napakaraming estudyante sa paligid. Nagpaalam naman ako kay Mang Noel bago naglakad papunta sa aking klase.
I was surprised that my classmates didn't badmouth me like last week. Some of them avoided my gaze, and the others apologized for their rude behavior from last time. I just smiled at them awkwardly before I sat beside Ezra and Kyle.
"Mabuti naman at natigil na ang tsismis," Kyle facepalmed while writing his notes.
Ezra nodded. "We're so happy that the issue has been resolved, Zein."
They abruptly hugged me, which made me shrug. I just tapped their arms when I noticed our classmates were looking at us questionably. I'm so grateful that all of my friends are with me during my hardest time.
"Hindi ka ba sasabay sa 'min, Zein?" tanong ni Kyle nung oras ng recess.
Ezra put his things in his bag. "You'll go with Gellian, right?"
I pouted my lips before I raised my brows twice. "I need to thank him personally."
Napag-alaman kong nag-invest sa resort namin si Tito Allen at nagpahiram pa ito nang malaking halaga. That could be the reason why Mang Noel and Manang Fe came back. Our debt rumors have also stopped spreading. Somehow, it made my heart calm with the sudden escape from anxiety.
"Oh, Zein! Anong ginagawa mo dito?" bungad na tanong ni Krisha sa 'kin nung makita niya ako sa labas ng kanilang classroom.
"I'm looking for–"
"Krish, let's go?" Gellian uttered to Krisha when he went out of their class, making me pause on what I'm saying.
"Gellian, your friend is... here." She mumbled, her hand now intertwined with Gellian's.
"Why are you here, Zein?" Gellian asked in a cold voice.
Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad. Pilit kong iniisip kung masama ba ang loob niya dahil sa tono ng kanyang boses. I bit my lower lip, trying to hold back my emotions. I felt a pang in my chest. I blinked twice to stop the tears forming in my eyes.
"I'm l-looking for..." I stuttered.
"Zein's looking for me!" Malakas na bulyaw ni Aaron at inakbayan ako.
Gellian let out a heavy sigh. His brows were furrowed while looking at the arm of Aaron that was wrapped around my shoulder. I can't fathom the emotions in his eyes when he met mine.
Nagulat ako nang yakapin ni Krisha si Gellian sa harap ng maraming estudyante. Bakas ang pagkabigla sa mukha ni Gellian pero hinayaan niya lang ito. Umiwas nalang ako ng tingin nung makaramdam ng paninikip ng dibdib.
"Zein, what do you want?" Aaron whispered in my ear when we sat on the chair in the pantry.
I pouted my lips as I look at the menu hanging on the food stall. "Hmmm... I want–"
"Gulay!" Sigaw ni Gellian habang nakatingin kay Krisha.
Isinandal ni Krisha ang kanyang ulo sa balikat ni Gellian. "Gellian, 'di ba sinabi ko sa 'yo kanina na ayoko ng gulay?"
"Ikaw nalang kaya yung umorder? Ang dami mong arte, eh." Gellian suggested to Krisha.
Padabog na tumayo si Krisha at pumunta sa counter. Sinabi ko naman kay Aaron na kahit ano nalang ang akin dahil wala naman akong ganang pumili. Nakayuko ako habang hinihintay siyang bumalik.
"Z-zein, wala ka bang... sasabihin sa 'kin?" Gellian broke the silence between us.
I turned my head up with a blink of an eye. "You and Ate Krisha look perfect together."
"Salamat," He mumbled before he barged out of the pantry, leaving Krisha behind.
The past few weeks have been torture. It crashes my soul every time I see Gellian with Krisha. The real status of their relationship became the talk of the whole campus. They even became the cover models of our school newspaper. I remembered my promise that I would support him in everything that he does, so I couldn't help but to feel grateful, especially now that he's going out of his comfort zone.
"Happy birthday, Zein!" Bati sa akin nina Ezra at Kyle pagkapasok sa resort.
"Sabi ko wag na kayong mag-abala, eh. Thank you!" I told them when they handed me their gifts.
"Maligayang kaarawan! Nandito na ang mga palamunin." Mapang-asar na bati sa 'kin nina Gabriel at Leonard.
I pouted my lips while offering my hand. "Where's my gift? Ang yaman niyo tapos wala kayong dala?"
"Surprise!" Sigaw ni Levi nung makapasok sa resort habang hawak ang kamay ni Roque.
"Oh... my... gosh!" Kyle, Ezra, and I gasped in surprise.
Napaawang ang labi namin nila Kyle sa aming nakita. Alam kong nililigawan ni Roque si Levi pero hindi ko akalain na sasagutin siya nito. Roque is the flirtiest guy on the campus, so I'm really hoping that he will change for Levi.
Today is my 15th birthday and the party will start at 2 pm. I'm now wearing an embroidered diamond tuxedo, stretched pants, and a pair of loafers from a famous brand.
Sila Mom at Dad ay abala sa pag-aasikaso ng mga bisita. Marami akong kaklase na dumalo at mga common friends sa iba't-ibang organizations. May iilan ring mga businessman at kilalang personalidad ang inimbita nila Dad.
The whole resort was filled with colorful decorations, which I suggested. Balloon rainbows and cartoon lanterns are hanging from the trees. Of course, my rubber duckies, which come in different sizes, are floating in the exclusive pool. The poolside patio or pergola has festive bunting, banners, and tassels galore.
"H-hello po, Tita." Nahihiyang bati ni Aaron kay Mom nung makasalubong niya ito.
Mom tapped on his shoulder to calm him down. Aaron tends to bite his lower lip if he's anxious, and that's what he's doing right now. He's teasing me about being a baby, but he seems more like it when he's nervous.
"Are you a friend of... my baby?" Mom said, in a playful voice.
Aaron rubbed his nape. "O-opo, tita. I'm Aaron Delgado, 17 years old, nakatira po ako sa–"
Dad gave him a glass of water. "Hijo, relax. Ang mga lalaki, hindi dapat natataranta kapag kinakausap."
Lumapit na ako nung masamid si Aaron. I caressed his back to help him out. "Are you okay, Aaron? Your face is so red."
Inalalayan ko siya papuntang table ng buong tropa at gaya ng nakagawian ay inasar na naman siya nila Gabriel, Leonard at Roque. Hindi rin nagpahuli sila Kyle na sinabing mukha daw ikakasal si Aaron dahil nakasuot din ito ng tuxedo at may bowtie pa sa kanyang leeg.
There are only a few minutes left before the party starts, but I can't see a glimpse of Gellian. Hindi niya na ako muling kinausap simula nung nangyari sa pantry few weeks ago. Wala rin akong natatanggap na reply kahit ilang beses ko siyang i-text. Pakiramdam ko'y hindi ako magiging masaya sa aking kaarawan kung hindi ko siya masisilayan.
"Zein, kanina ka pa tulala. May problema ba?" Aaron worriedly asked.
I shrugged. "Wala. I'm just... waiting for someone."
"Is it... Gellian?"
I pouted my lips. "Oum, I think he f-forgot my b-birthday." I started to cry, which made my pals concerned.
At that, Levi, Ezra, and Kyle gave me a warm hug, assuring me that Gellian would come and I didn't have to feel anxious. I tried to stop myself from whimpering before my parents noticed it. I just sat straight when Dad greeted me a happy birthday to the microphone while standing on a customized stage in front of us.
"Zein, he's finally here." Bulong ni Kyle sa akin.
Agad akong napatingin sa aking likuran at suminghap nung makita sila Tito Allen, Tita Cecil, Gellian at si Krisha na nakahawak sa kanyang braso. My parents greeted them which I did as well.
He didn't look at me when I gave him a flashy smile. His eyes were focused on Krisha, and it's making me question my presence. I've known Gellian for ten years, but I feel like he's treating me like a stranger.
He changed. He's not the Gellian I know. The Gellian that I'm seeing now is not my shining armor, my sleepyhead, and not the one I love.
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🌈💅