"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." Atticus hoarsely sang as soon as I answered his video call.
I laughed and shook my head at his antics. "Thank you."
"You're most welcome," he exclaimed. "It's 12 there, right?"
"Yup. Sakto. It's six in the morning in Manila. Maaga kang nagising?"
He slightly pursed his lips. "I set an alarm just to greet you."
I noticed the headboard behind him. He's wearing a white shirt. His eyes were a little chinky from sleep and he had a bed hair that looked like the hairstyle of a male model. Ibig sabihin kakagising niya lang talaga.
"Kakagising mo lang?" I asked.
"Yup. I saw your IG story. You celebrated early?"
Napangiti ako. I just posted that video an hour ago. I grabbed it from Kuya Zeno. The camera showed me at first and then turned to Kuya Hadeon who was carrying a cake with sparkling candles and Ate Laurene who's holding a popper. They were singing happy birthday as they approached me. The rest of the family sang along. Nakita sa video ang gulat sa mukha ko.
I wasn't really expecting anything because it was not my birthday yet but they surprised me with it.
I shook my head. "They just surprised me with a cake."
"I saw. Nagulat ka." He chuckled as if he remembered something funny.
"Are you laughing at me?" I grumbled.
"No," nakatawa pa rin na sagot niya. "It's just you were so cute."
Imbis na magalit ay napangiti na lang ako. I was about to ask him for his plans for today when a notification popped up in my screen. Halos lumuwa ang mga mata ko nang makita ang pangalan ni Ali.
I tapped on the notification. Lumiit ang video namin ni Atticus sa upper right corner ng screen.
You missed a video chat with Ali Santiesteban.
Ali Santiesteban:
Happy Birthday, sweet Hyon.
Parang hinabol ang puso ko sa nabasa.
He called me! Maybe to greet me? But he called me!
"A-Atticus," I called. My nervousness and excitement radiated in my voice kaya medyo nanginig pa.
"Yeah?"
"I-Is it okay if we just talk tomorrow?"
"Huh? Why? Matutulog ka na?"
"Uh. Hindi pa. May gagawin lang."
"Oh. Okay." He nodded. "Happy Birthday again. I miss you."
"I miss you, too," nakangiting sabi ko. I waved my hand. "Bye."
Atticus ended the call. I feel bad, cutting my conversation with Atticus so briefly but the guilt didn't last. It was overpowered by excitement. Birthday ko naman. Baka pwedeng iregalo ko na lang ito sa sarili ko?
Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago pinindot ang video call. I held my breath as it rang. On the screen, I can see how bare and pale my face was. My hair suddenly looked to wild for me and I looked constipated.
Mag-ayos muna kaya ako?
With that thought, my thumb flew to press the end button. Ibinaba ko ang phone sa kama at nagsuklay ng buhok gamit ang kamay. My hair is so long now. Halos umabot na ito ng dulo ng likod ko. It's curled a bit on the end.
I bit and suck my lips to give it a bit color. Inayos ko rin ang kilay ko. All of that happened in less than a minute.
If my heart could scream, it would have already did that to match the sudden ringing of my phone.
Ali Santiesteban
Video Messenger
Sobrang kinakabahan ako! I've never been this nervous before. He's the only person who can make me feel this way and I feel like it will always, always be like this. All of my senses automatically heighten whenever he's around.
I swallowed down my anxiety and pressed the accept button. My heart jumped and a smile stretched widely on my lips when I saw Ali's face plastered on the screen.
I'm beginning to think that maybe my heart is a magnet and it's not really skipping whenever he is around. Maybe it wants to cling to him. And to be honest, I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet in the most literal sense.
"Hi," I shyly greeted and brushed my hair over my ear. It was an unconcious gesture. Nang matapos gawin ay tsaka ko lang napansin na ginawa ko 'yon.
I nearly fainted when he smiled. Lubos na nakakapanghina. Paanong hindi? His eyes gets tender and a little sleepy whenever he does and he looks very... tempting.
"You were in another call," he began.
Tumango ako sa kanya at umayos ng upo para kumportableng sumandal sa kama. "Atticus called to greet me."
Sumeryoso ang mukha niya at matapos ay tumango. I took that time to observe him. His background looked like a living room. Hindi ko masyadong kita dahil sa anggulo ng phone.
He's wearing black sleeveless shirt, like what he usually wore on their basketball trainings before. He looked lively, like he'd been awake for an hour or so.
I cleared my throat when I realized that I was staring too much and that he knows that I'm staring too much because he was quietly staring at me, too.
"B-Bakit ka pala tumawag?" Nag-init ang mukha ko sa hiya.
Naalis ang pagiging seryoso niya. Now he's back to the playful looking Ali. Kapag ngumingiti siya nang ganito ay nakikita ko ang resemblance nila ni Atticus. Maybe because he looks younger when he's in a cheerful mood?
"I wanted to show you something."
Kumunot ang noo ko pero hindi mapigilan ang mapangiti. "Ano 'yon?"
He moved. The camera angle changed again. Hindi na siya nakatingin sa screen pero nakatutok pa rin sa mukha ang phone. I think he's walking because the background
Hindi niya ako sinagot. Bumaba ang anggulo ng camera pero kita pa rin ang mukha kahit may pagkalayo.
He was looking at something in front of him. I can see his other arm moving. I heard something click. His mouth twitched into a smile but he stopped it by biting his lip.
It got me even more curious but I kept quiet and watched him in amusement. He finally glanced at the camera and lifted it a bit to his face.
"Ready?" he asked.
I nodded.
Nahuli ko ang pagngiti ni Ali bago huminto ang screen at lumipat sa rear camera. My eyes widened when I saw an ombre of gray and blue circular cake with ruffles. It has a few decorations of glittery white flowers. It looked beautiful and expensive. A lit up candle was placed on top.
"Happy Birthday, sweet Hyon," he huskily said and chuckled after.
Hindi ako makapaniwala. Nakatitig pa rin ako sa cake. My mind wasn't processing what I was seeing.
"You bought me a cake?"
Nanatili lang ang camera sa harap ng cake kahit nang sumagot na siya, "I saw it last night and the color reminded me of you in that silver dress."
I couldn't contain my smile. He bought the cake because it reminded him of me. I crossed his mind. He thought of me. Posible pala yun? Akala ko ay ako lang ang nakakaisip sa kanya.
The new information made me feel greedy now though. I wanted to know. How often does he think of me? Am I constantly on his mind like how he's a permanent resident on mine?
"What are you thinking? Hindi mo ba gusto?" His voice sounded a little nervous in the end. I almost doubted that I heard his tone right.
"No!" I violently disagreed, even shaking my head. "I love it. Thank you, Ali."
I can't tell what he's feeling right now because he hasn't returned the front camera. It was still on the cake with the flickering thin candle. I bit my lip and pressed the two buttons to make a screenshot. Lihim ako napangiti.
"Make a wish."
Ngumiti ako at tumango. I closed my eyes and wished that time will fly and I'll be eighteen. Of course, I also quickly wished for my family and friends' happiness and good health, too. And Ali's.
"Done?"
I opened my eyes as soon as I was finished. Ngumiti ako at tumango sa kanya.
He chuckled. "Okay. Blow the candle then."
I frowned. "What? How?"
"Just do it, Hyon."
"Okay," nakatawa kong sagot at matapos ay humipan sa screen. The small fire on the candle went out at the same time.
Natawa naman ako. It's obvious that he blew it for me. Natawa rin siya sa sarili kagagawan at matapos ay ibinalik na ang camera sa harap. Now I can see him again.
There's still a ghost of smile on his face. He went quiet for a minute and gazed at the screen. Sa unang pagkakataon ay nagawa ko naman siyang titigan lang pabalik. Siguro ay dahil screen lang at hindi intimidating kagaya nang personal.
He licked his lips. Traces of his playfulness from earlier can't be seen anymore. He's all serious now. He licked his lips.
"You should sleep now," he softly instructed, as if he's lulling me to sleep.
I slightly pouted my lips. I don't want our conversation to end yet. Hindi siya mahilig mag-chat. Paano kung hindi siya tumawag ulit at pinagbigyan lang ako dahil birthday ko. "What are you doing today?"
"I need to finish up a few requirements. I have to study for finals, too."
"Ang busy mo pala," I concluded and paused. Bigla kong naalala na graduating nga pala siya. "When is your graduation?"
"June 11," he replied.
That's just a month from now! May 2 ngayon. He's graduating very soon and I won't be there to see it.
"Hindi ako makakapunta. August pa kami uuwi," I glumly proclaimed.
"It's okay. You can come after I get my master's."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Master's? Mag-aaral ka ulit? Hindi ka pa magwo-work?"
Hindi ko mapigilan mamangha. He has that kind of big plans. Meanwhile, my plan right now is to take Fine Arts major in Advertising Arts. Aside from the fact that I love photography and sketching, it will be a useful degree since I'm planning to work in our family's advertising company.
"I'll work while studying."
"Oh." I paused for a while. "You'll be very busy then?"
"Not too busy," medyo paos at mahina ang boses niya nang sabihin 'yon.
"But you'll have work, classes, study, plus your old routines," I enumerated.
Ali licked his lips. He moved the phone closer to his face now. His expression was similar to my father whenever he's negotiating with another business man. "I can make time."
Unti-unti akong napangiti. "Pwede tayong magkita kung ganoon?"
"Yes, Hyon," maamo nitong sagot.
I bit my lip. Mas lalo tuloy akong na-excite. Sana birthday ko na ulit. This is the best birthday I have ever had and I'm one hundred percent sure that the next one will be even better.
"Sleep now please," he coaxed.
I smiled and enthusiastically nodded. Masaya na ako sa pag-uusap namin ngayon. "Okay."
"Goodnight."
"Bye," I meekly waved before ending the call.
Hindi maalis ang ngiti ko kahit na itinabi ko na ang phone at humiga na sa kama. I covered my heated face with both hands. I fell asleep with a smile on my lips and Ali occupying every space on my mind.