Chapter 12-III
" It's a Happy Birthday for you, Sheena."
"Don't start the party without us! "I thought I'd be alone this Saturday. Just me and my newly cooked and sweet pancakes. But then Ellie burst through the doors, surprising me. Halos kakalagay ko lang ng whip cream and prutas sa pancake ko! "Who's full of chaos and doom on her birthday?!
Natatawang nakasunod si Ralph." Let her have her breakfast in peace, El."
"Ang aga niyo naman bumisita," I chuckled before shoving a slice of pancake in my mouth. I chew every bit of its taste while remembering the melancholy I have the whole night and early morning. Everything felt bitter; the sweetness and bliss are not enough." Naparami ang gawa kong pancake batter, baka pwedeng huwag na lang tayong lumabas."
Ellie pouted." Planadong-planado na ni Ralph excuse letter niya!"
"Oo na! Planado na ang absent kami ni Ellie sa klase namin, kaya wala nang bawian yun." Sagot ni Ralph at inilahad niya ang dala niyang boquet ng bulalak. My hands was trembling as I reach out for them. Parang double meaning na naman siya." It would be fun to go past your castle; there's a lot to see and forget. But sorry---baka may naabala kaming plano niyo ni Perci---"
"Uy! Tayo muna! Puro na lang si Percival!" Elli rebutted.
"Ah. Akala ko sinundo ka niya Shin kahapon. Wala ba kayong plano?" Tanong ni Ralph.
Gloom melancholy and gloom still in my eyes as I heard that name again. Then Ralph and Ellie sang a badly tuned happy birthday for me, I was holding their gifts tightly in my arms as I watched their big smiles.Nararamdam ko na yung lamig ng Ber months at paghina ng kabog ng dibdib ko." T-thank you for coming; I love you two."
This life could be better----so why does replica have to ruin it?
Pagkatapos naming tatlo lutuin at pagsaluhan ang gawa kong pancake, naghanda kami agad para umalis. My friends are early birds so when got out of my street there's still barely people around, and only Ellie and Ralph's merry voice filled the path. Nakangiti lang ako minsan lang nakakasabay sa energy level nila, pero tuwang-tuwa din ako.
Not until I saw a familiar face--- naninigarilyo na naman siya.
"Sheena, is he your friend?" I snap out of my thoughts when Ellie nudge me as she talk in a hush voice, she must have notice I wasn't paying attention to her and clinged to me harder." Kanina ka pa nakatingin sa kanya kahit nakalayo na siya. Ah! Is he the boy who stole my job of giving you advice?"
Ralph squinted his eyes of curiousity."He does look mature."
"I-I talk to him a lot but I'm not sure if I can call him a friend. Kahit sino naman pwede magbigay ng advice. Si Ralph nga, si future attorney palagi din ako nanghihingi ng advice sa kanya! Huwag mo na lang pansinin si Ronald."
"Bakit ako nadadamay? Sige, may consultation fee na ako ngayon." Ralph smirked as he spin around his car keys." Aamin na ako, ako talaga yung magaling sa ganto."
"Araw-araw kang magdadala ng tao sa korte, ganun ba Ralph? Hindi pwede! Ako lang dapat ang wise bestfriend!" Pagmamaktol ni Ellie na parang bata, na mas nagpalala ng tawanan namin. Nagpipigil lang silang mag-ingay. But then Ellie's eye in back on somebody else. She ran off! " More and more guys keep stealing you from me! But then on, the more the merrier!"
El ran after him. "Ron! Hintay! Sumama ka samin to celebrate!"
Parang hindi naisip ni Ellie na estranghero lang sila sa isa't-isa kaya napakafriendly at casual ng pakikitungo niya. Only Ronald's sharp eyes communicate with us, when I reach Ellie's side. I tried to pull her away. " El, he doesn't need to be bothered. Magagalit yan sayo."
Even Ralph just sighed." Ang pasaway neto ni El."
"By the way I'm Ellie----Alam mo bang birthday ngayon ni Sheena? Unless, ay hindi papayag? Gusto maging makilala rin ang friends niya. Tatlo lang kami, mas masaya kung marami."
"Birthday mo?"
I was startled when he replied, we haven't talk since our last fight. I notice how his nonchalant statement seems to only piss Ellie; her eyes look like they're going to fall out of their sockets after whatever she realizes. Mautal-utal na nagsalita si Ellie." Ilang taon ka na, uh, Ronald?"
"Hulaan mo mag-isa." Ronald sarcastically said.
Ellie was taken aback." Are you even eighteen?"
"What are you asking. El? D-don't ask too much. Don't treat him like that." I nudge her then, awkward na nga ang sitwasyon namin ni Ronald baka lumalala pa. Ellie pouted her cheeks." Bale, since natanong na din. Pwede ka ba sumama samin kahit ngayon lang? Malapit lang naman."
Ralph was lagging behind us." Mas matutuwa si Sheena pag marami tayo dun."
I raised my hands to stop the two." Ah, its fine. Kung ayaw niya ayo----"
At napaatras nga si Ronald, saka siya umiling. Naiintindihan ko naman. Kinawayan ko na lang siya dahil hindi na ako makapagsalita. I thought he's just going to leave like that, but he stared at me with hesitance." Happy Birthday---Bye"