"Happy birthday, Zein. You're already fifteen, but you still look like a baby." Asar sa 'kin ni Tita Cecil.
"I agree with you, Tita! Actually, all of the students on our campus adore Zein's cuteness." Krisha added while putting some dishes on Gellian's plate.
I bit the inside of my cheeks. "Hindi naman po masyado, Ate Krisha."
Krisha stopped what she was doing and rolled her eyes secretly, but I still noticed it. "Zein, a-anong sabi mo? Tinawag mo ba akong Ate Krisha?"
Ngumiti ako nang pilit. "Opo, ate Krisha. Mukha ka po kasing matanda–"
Mom covered my mouth and awkwardly smiled with Gellian's parents. "Pasensya na. Baby pa kasi itong anak ko kaya niya siguro nasabi 'yon."
"Anak, Gellian, and..." Dad questionably stares at Krisha. "What's your name again?"
"Krisha po," she answered, bowing her head.
Mom tapped my shoulder to get my attention. "Baby, balik ka na sa table niyo nila Kyle. May pag-uusapan pa kami nila Tita Cecil mo. Isama mo na rin sila Gellian at Krisha," She softly uttered it in my ear.
Tumayo naman ako kaagad at niyaya sina Ate Krisha na sumama. Ang malakas na tawanan nila Levi ang una kong narinig nung makabalik ako sa table nila. Hindi rin nagpahuli si Manang Fe at Mang Noel na masayang pinakita ang mga baby pictures ko.
"Sino naman po itong espasol na katabi ni Zein?" Aaron pointed at Gellian beside me in the picture.
"That's your rival with your crush," Kyle whispered in the air.
I sat beside the seat of Aaron, pouting my lips. "Nanny Fe, please don't show them my embarrassing pictures," I shyly pleaded.
Sinara naman ni Nanny Fe ang photobook at ngumiti sa 'kin. "Anak, masaya lang ako na... malaki ka na. Wala man kaming anak ni Noel, nandyan ka naman para iparamdam sa 'kin ang pagiging ina."
Tumayo ako at binigyan siya nang mahigpit na yakap. Gumaya naman sila Kyle, Levi at Ezra kaya napatingin sa amin ang ilang bisita. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi umiyak dahil sina Manang Fe at Mang Noel ang nandyan para sa akin kapag wala sila Mommy at Daddy. Sila ang aking pangalawang magulang.
I shrugged when Aaron wiped my lips with his thumb while I was eating. "Ang kalat mo namang kumain, tsk."
I rolled my eyes and wiped his lips as well. "You too, Aaron. Please be gentle when eating since you're wearing white. It will be hard to wash the stain." I mumbled, tapping his white tuxedo.
"Gellian, are you okay? The cake has already crumbled." Rinig kong ani ni Krisha.
Matalim ang tingin ni Gellian kay Aaron nung sumulyap ako sa kanya. Nagkalat ang chocolate cake sa lamesa na galing sa kanyang plato. Umiwas naman siya ng tingin nung makita ako.
Is he mad again? Why? Don't tell me... he likes Aaron now? But he already had Krisha. Arghhh! Gellian's making my brain delirious.
"Kay Kyle... mocha. Kay Ezra, chocolate, kay Levi hmmm... vanilla, strawberry naman for me and Aaron," I murmured as I put various flavors of cupcakes on my plate.
Nahihiya daw kasi silang kumuha kaya ako na ang nagkusa. Ayoko namang iasa kila Nanny Fe ang lahat.
Alam kong abala din ang mga staffs ng resort sa pag-aasikaso sa mga bisita.
"Can you please put the strawberry cupcake on my plate, Zein?" I heard a familiar voice behind me.
I darted my eyes at him. "Sorry Kuya Gellian, ubos na." I said in a monotone. I missed hearing him call my name, but I'm still mad.
"Wait, w-what?" His forehead creased.
I smiled flatly. "I said, ubos na po. Wala na. It's gone, Kuya Gellian."
He bit his lower lip and brushed his hair up with his fingers, looking very stressed. "You're calling me K-kuya now? I heard you call him Aaron and not Kuya. W-why is that?"
"Well... Aaron doesn't want me to call him Kuya. That's why–"
He cut me off. "How about me, Zein? Have you ever asked me if I want you to call me Kuya?"
My face was stiff, but I was already laughing in my mind. I always like it when Gellian makes a frown face. He must be taking my words seriously.
"Are you... jealous?" I asked with my playful voice.
Gellian grabbed the cupcake that was supposed to be for Aaron and bit into it instead of answering my question. He walked away holding his empty plate with his shoulders down. I was about to look away when I saw that he had purposely elbowed Aaron, causing Aaron to fall into the swimming pool.
"Oh my god!" singhap ko kasabay nang ilang bisita na napasigaw din sa gulat.
Binitawan ko ang aking hawak at dali-daling tumakbo sa pool. Narinig ko ang boses nila Mommy at ng aking mga kaibigan pero di ko na ito pinansin. Di na ako nag-atubiling tumalon para iligtas si Aaron pero bigla akong may naalala...
HINDI PALA AKO MARUNONG LUMANGOY!
"H-help!" I shouted between my gasps.
Nang sumisid si Gellian sa pool ay agad akong hinila ni Aaron palapit sa kanya. I wrapped my arms around Aaron's neck, breezing from the cold. His hand instantly rubbed my back to give me comfort. I was so scared and I really thought I would die on my birthday.
"Shhh... you'll be fine, baby." Aaron whispered as he got close to my ear.
Marahan akong tumingin sa kanyang mukha at nakita kong nakakunot ang kanyang noo. He's throwing death glares at Gellian, who's now on my back. These two guys have been haunting me, even in my dreams, for the past few weeks. Something is off, but I can't determine what it is.
Inabutan naman ako kaagad ni Mommy ng tuwalya nang makaahon ako mula sa pool. Si Dad ay tumawag ng doktor habang sila Kyle ay kinamusta ang aking pakiramdam. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mag-alala nung makita ko si Gellian na umalis palayo habang nanginginig sa ginaw.
His friends tried to call him, but he didn't look back. No words are coming out of my mouth, no matter how much I want to shout his name. I'm just tired, and I don't have the strength to even open my lips.
I feel worried, but I'm hesitating on whether I should follow him. My heart wants to keep him by my side, while my mind tells me not to. I'm afraid that my presence is not what he needs and that he might push me away.
Alas-8 na ng gabi natapos ang party at umuwi na ang lahat ng bisita. Maging sila Kyle ay sinundo na rin ng mga parents nila. I was almost done unwrapping the birthday gifts that they had all given me when I noticed a small red box. Curiosity hit me, so I grabbed it and surveyed if it was really for me. It doesn't have my name and it makes me wonder if someone must have dropped it.
"This can't be true," I muttered under my lower lip.
Tears formed in my eyes when I saw a promise ring inside. It has the initials "G" and "Z" engraved on it. There's no need to clarify. This ring came from someone special in my heart. I really thought he had forgotten about me.
Gellian, how could I save myself from falling too hard on you?
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🌈💅