"So, how school Snow?" Dad asked her habang hinihiwa ang pagkaing nasa plato niya.

 

Tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa usapan nila habang kumakain ng breakfast. Mostly, naman kasi ng usapan nila ay about the new business ventures na pinagpaplanuhan nilang umpisahan ni Tito Max kaya di ako nakikisabat.

 

"Okay naman tito. Magaling ang mga professors and welcoming naman din ang mga estudyante" nakangiting sagot ni Snow sa tanong ni Dad.

 

Snow looked at me with a smile on her face so I smiled back in return. Naramdaman kong bigla ang pag vibrate ng phone na nasa bulsa ko. Pasimple ko yung inilabas at chineck sa ilalim ng lamesa habang busy sila sa paguusap regarding Snow's course.

 

My lips automatically curved into a smile when I saw the name showing on the screen, no other than my girlfriend, Jennie Kim.

 

"Good morning, baby" laman ng text niya sakin.

 

I tried to lift my head up to check on them and when I saw them still busy talking to each other ay agad akong nagtype ng reply ko.

 

"Hi Baby! Good morning! I can't wait to see you. I miss you!"

 

Ilang segundo lang ay agad nang nagvibrate ang phone ko dahil mabilis na nagreply ang mahal ko.

 

"I miss you too, baby. I want to kiss and hug you now 🥺"

 

I smiled coz I can imagine her doing that emoji with her pouted lips pa. Ang cute talaga ng baby ko. I can't wait to go to school na tuloy lalo.

 

"Awwe... my baby misses me that much huh. Don't worry, bibilisan ko ang pagdadrive para makarating agad ako dyan so you can kiss and hug me na" napangiti lang ako before I hit the send button.

 

I waited for Jennie to reply kaso wala nang dumating. Baka nagpeprepare na siya to go to school. I promised her na susunduin ko siya ngayon kaya naglalambing to at malamang gusto na agad akong makita. I'm not complaining dahil miss ko na rin naman talaga siya. When I lifted my head up, I saw Snow looking at me. Tapos na silang mag usap nila Dad. She smiled again so I did the same.

 

"Mabuti pa Snow hija, sumabay ka na lang kay Lisa papasok ng school" Dad said that made me turn my head to him.

 

"What?" tanong ni Dad sakin.

 

"K-kasi Dad da-daanan ko pa si Jisoo. Baka malate si Snow"

 

Dad creased his brows that made me swallowed my saliva. Nakakatakot talaga si Dad kapag nagseryoso na ang mukha niya. He looked at his watch first before he turned his gaze on me again.

 

"Kung aalis na kayo ngayon, I'm sure di kayo malelate kahit daanan mo pa si Jisoo. Maaga pa naman" Dad insisted.

 

"Actually, Tito it's okay. Ayoko naman pong makaabala kina Lisa. Besides, my driver is just outside po" Snow looked at me and gave me an 'I got you look' then she smiled.

 

"Nonsense!" my Dad blurted out.

 

Sabay sabay kaming napatingin kay Dad.

 

"I'm sure Lisa won't mind. Right, anak?" he look straight into my eyes wearing his intimidating smile while holding my shoulder. Kahit nakangiti siya ramdam mo na hindi ka pwedeng humindi sa gusto niya kaya wala na kong nagawa.

 

"Yeah. I won't mind" I heave a deep sigh after saying those words.

 

Both my dad and Uncle Max smiled triumphantly with my answer while Snow smiled apologetically. I mouthed her it's okay bago kami tumayo at magpaalam sa mga tatay namin. 







 

 

"Bakit ka pumayag? I know labag sa loob mo" Snow asked habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kotse ko.

 

I smiled weakly before answering her.

 

"As if I have a choice. You know Dad, he won't take no for an answer" I heave a deep sigh and continued walking while Snow remained silent following me.

 

Nang makasakay na kami sa kotse ko ay agad ko nang pinatakbo ang sasakyan ko. Habang nasa byahe ay tumunog ang phone ko then Jennie's picture flashed on the screen.

 

"Hey baby! San ka na?"

 

"On the way, malapit na dyan"

 

"Okay! I can't wait to see you! Ingat sa pagdadrive ha!"

 

"Okay I will"

 

Then we dropped the call.

 

"It's Jennie, right?"

 

Napatingin ako kay Snow nang bigla siyang nagtanong.

 

"Siya yung susunduin mo at hindi si Jisoo diba?" tanong niya ulit.

 

"Yeah"

 

"Why don't you tell tito about her? Para di mo na kailangan magsinungaling"

 

I heave a deep sigh. Ilang beses ko nang sinubukan pero wala akong lakas ng loob.

 

"He won't like her"

 

Kita kong kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ko.

 

"Don't get me wrong, Snow. Jennie's awesome that's why she's my girlfriend but she's not the type of woman na magugustuhan ni Dad for me. You know Dad wants someone like you for me. Prim and proper and Jennie is... she's... Jennie is the opposite of that. She's loud, tactless, and carefree"

 

"But you love her, don't you?" tanong niya ulit and I can see on my peripheral how seriously she looks at me.

 

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Do I love her? Do I? I don't know.

 

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasagutin si Snow. Buti na lang at narating na namin agad ang bahay nila Jennie. I texted her of my arrival at agad agad ko namang narinig ang pagbukas ng gate. Siguro kanina niya pa ko hinihintay. Paglabas niya ay agad na bumungad sa mga mata ko ang gummy smile niya. She's really excited to see me. Napangiti ako seeing the beautiful smile on my girlfriend's face.

 

"Whipped" I heard Snow murmuring on the shotgun seat.

 

I rolled my eyes on her and focused my eyes on my girl. I got out of my car and our eyes met at halos mawala na ang mata ng mahal ko dahil sa lalong paglapad ng pag ngiti  niya ng makita ako. Sinalubong ko siya to get her things but I was startled when she abruptly throw herself on me. She hugged me tight as if sobrang tagal naming di nagkita samantalang kagabi lang magkasama kami.

 

"I miss you!" she said after pulling out from the hug.

 

"I miss you too" sagot ko bago ko hilahin ang baywang niya palapit sakin para halikan siya sa labi.

 

She closed her eyes and s her arms on my shoulders to deepen the kiss.

 

"Ehem"

 

Gosh! I almost forget that I'm with someone. Jen pulled out and looked at the person who interrupted us. Her brows automatically creased when she saw Snow on the shotgun seat wearing her cute smile.

 

"Good morning, Jennie" pagbati niya kay Jennie habang nakadungaw sa bintana ng kotse ko.

 

Jennie turned her head at me and glared. I swallowed the lump in my throat dahil nakakatakot makatingin tong jowa ko.

 

"What is she doing here? Why is she with you?" tanong niya habang nanlilisik ang mga mata. Walang pakialam kung marinig man siya ni Snow.

 

Napakamot na lang ako sa batok ko habang naghahanap ng tamang isasagot sa kanya. Mahirap na  baka magkamali ako ng sasabihin at bigla na lang akong kalmutin ng galit na pusa sa harapan ko.

 

"I ah... I..." I wasn't able to finish my sentence when Snow butted in.

 

"Lisa insisted na ihatid ako after we took breakfast together so sino ba naman ako para tumanggi diba?" nakangising sagot ni Snow.

 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko and I glared at Snow asking her what she's saying using my eyes. Jennie looked at me na parang gusto niya na kong sakalin. Nakakatakot!

 

"Ahhhh. Nagbreakfast kayo together? And you insisted pa ha" sarkastikong tanong niya habang humihigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa balikat ko. I can already feel her nails on my skin.

 

"No. No, baby. Hindi lang kaming da-dalawa. We're with my Dad and her Dad" nauutal kong paliwanag but my kitten doesn't seem to listen. Bagkus ang sama ng tingin niya kay Snow. Natatakot tuloy ako para sa buhay niya at buhay ko.

 

I glared at snow and mouthed her to help me explain to Jennie what truly happened when she laughed making my girlfriend look more annoyed.

 

"What's funny?" Jennie asked.

 

"Ang sarap mong pikunin Jennie. Andali mong maniwla eh. Nagbibiro lang ako. Kasama namin mga Dad naming magbreakfast and his Dad insisted na ihatid ako ni Lisa. Don't worry hindi nagpumilit si Lisa. Ayaw niya nga eh kaso she can't say no to her Dad" paliwanag ni Snow habang pababa sa shotgun seat para lumipat sa likod and to give way to my queen.

 

Jennie turned her gaze on me again as if asking me kung nagsasabi ba ng totoo si Snow and I just nodded my head. Dahan dahang lumuwag naman ang pagkakahawak niya sa balikat ko at hindi na nakabaon ang kuko niya rito. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil mukhang naniwala na ang baby ko. I opened the door for her at saka ako tumakbo papuntang driver seat. Pagpasok ko sa loob ay nakita kong nagtatagisan ng matatalim na tingin ang dalawa sa rearview mirror. Jennie has this look na parang handa na siyang patayin si Snow anytime soon samantalang itong si Snow ay pangisi ngisi lang at nang aasar. I heave a deep sigh bago ako naglakas ng loob na hawakan ang kamay ng mahal ko na nakapatong sa hita niya. Thankfully, di naman siya tumanggi ang she let me be. I kissed the back of her hand habang pinipisil ito. Sa tingin ko naman nakatulong yun dahil unti unting nag soften ang mukha niya at tuluyan ng nawala ang kunot sa noo niya when I kissed her lips. I smiled at her and she did the same. Salamat at humupa na ang bagyo.

 

I looked at the rearview mirror and saw Snow shaking her head and mouthing me whipped. 






 

---

 

"Hey Jen! Jennie!" Chaeng shouted my name while holding my shoulders to help me stay still.

 

"What?" I asked giving her a deadly glare.

 

"Pwede ba pumirme ka nga. Kanina ka pa pabalik balik dyan, nahihilo na ko sayo. Kumalma ka!" utos niya but I just rolled my eyes on her.

 

Sino ba namang hindi maaasar eh kanina ko pa tinatawagan tong si Lisa pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin niya ko sinasagot. I messaged her sa lahat ng social media accounts pero ni isa walang reply.

 

"Paano ako kakalma kung nag aalala ako sa kanya? Simula pa kaninang umaga hindi na siya nagrereply sa mga text at sumasagot sa mga tawag ko. Baka kung ano nang nangyari dun" I sad as I run my fingers through my hair out of frustration.

 

"Jen, kalma. Baka busy lang sa office. Teka, I'll try to call Jisoo to check on her" sabi naman ni Chaeng habang hinahagod ang likod ko para pakalmahin ako.

 

"How did you get Jisoo's---" she cut me off

 

"Ssshh! Nagriring na" saway ni Chaeng sakin na busy sa phone niya.

 

Hindi ko alam kung paano siya nagkaroon ng number ni Jisoo pero saka ko na lang aalamin pag nasettle ko na ang issue ko kay Manoban. Humanda talaga sakin yang babaeng yan. Sobrang pinag aalala niya ko.

 

"Hello Jisoo... Yeah, you're with her---" hindi ko na pinatapos si Chaeng sa pagtatanong at agad ko nang inagaw ang phone sa kanya.

 

"Jisoo give the phone to Lisa, now!" utos ko na agad namang sinunod ni Jisoo.

 

"Baby..."

 

"Don't baby baby me Manoban! Asan ka na ba? Ni hindi ka man lang nagpaparamdaman sakin. Alam mo bang sobrang nag aalala ako sayo" naiinis kong sabi sa kanya.

 

"I'm sorry baby, sobrang busy lang talaga dito sa office di ko maiwan ang trabaho ko but I'm fine babe. Don't worry about me"

 

Pinipigilan ko yung pagpatak ng mga luha ko pero di ko na napanindigan at tuluyan na itong umagos mula sa mga mata ko. Sobrang nag alala kasi talaga ako sa di niya pag paparamdam. At isa pa dun yung mukhang nakalimutan niya talaga kung anong meron ngayon.

 

"Don't you remember something?" I asked trying not to sound like crying.

 

"Huh? What do you mean? Teka di naman natin anniversary diba?" she's clueless.

 

I shook my head bit my lower lip as I felt a pang in my chest coz she forgot about it.

 

"Nevermind. Take care. Bye"

 

Agad kong pinatay ang phone at binalik yun kay Chaeng. Chaeng looked at me with a very sad expression on her face.

 

"Tara inom" 





 

 

----

 

"Seriously Chaeng, here? I want to be wasted on a bar not on my house"

 

"Jen, Lisa wouldn't be happy to know that---"

 

"The hell I care! Wala nga siyang pakialam sakin eh. She doesn't even remember that it's my birthday today!" I cut her off. I don't want to hear her name for now.

 

"Don't say that"

 

I rolled my eyes and went stright to the door. I opened the door and switched on the lights.

 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!" I almost jumped out of fear dahil sa ingay ng mga kaibigan ko at dahil s pagputok ng party popper.

 

"SURPRISE!!!" sigaw ulit nila.

 

I couldn't help but smile coz I didn't expect them to plan something like this. Kahit papano nakalimutan ko si Lisa at yung sama ng loob ko.

 

They started to sing happy birthday at nagulat ako when I saw Jisoo and Seulgi singing together with my friends holding a cake on their hands. I looked around for a certain person but she's not here. Siguro mas mahalaga talaga yung trabaho niya kaysa sakin. I shook my head and forced myself to smile. Pipilitin kong kalimutan muna si Lisa for the sake of my friends who made all of this for me.

 

"Make a wish" Chaeng said.

 

I smiled and closed my eyes.

 

Isa lang ang nasa isip ko ngayon but I know this wish is impossible to come true.

 

Hinipan ko yung candles and when I opened my eyes I couldn't help but to cry.

 

I wished for Lisa to be here celebrating with me kahit na alam kong malabo but I couldn't believe that it will be granted immediately. There I saw the love of my life holding a bouquet of flowers in her hands wearing her beautiful smile that I love so much.

 

My friends gave way and she walked towads me.

 

"Happy birthday, Baby. I'm sorry I made you worried. Chaeng told me you cried because of me not texting you the whole day. I'm sorry. I just don't want to spoil my surprise for you" she caressed my cheeks and wipe the tears on it using her thumb.

 

"You planned this? All of this?" I asked and she nodded her head while smiling lovingly.

 

I pouted my lips and began to cry even more. I am touched. So touched and couldn't believe it. I couldn't express what I am feeling right now. Kanina lang gusto kong magpakalango sa alak but now yung puso ko gusto nang sumabog sa sobrang saya.

 

I cupped her cheeks and pulled her down so I can capture her lips. I can hear our friends squealing and shouting but I don't mind. I just want to kiss her so bad. After I kissed her I pulled her for a tight embrace.

 

-----

 

"Thank you" I said after I snuggled beside her and put my head on top of her chest.

 

Andito na kami ngayon sa kwarto ko. Tapos na ang party at nagsiuwian na ang mga friends namin. Sobrang saya ko. I can say that this will be my most memorable birthday kasi I get to celebrate it with the special people in my life.

 

"For what?" she asked.

 

"For making this surprise birthday celebration, for making me happy" I said before stealing another quick peck on her lips.

 

"Your welcome baby" she answered kissing the top of my head.

 

I smiled and closed my eyes feeling her warmth against my body.

 

"Pero di pa dun nagtatapos ang lahat"

 

I creased my brows and sat on the bed.

 

"What do you mean?" 

 

She smiled at me and sat on the bed as well. Nakita kong binuksan niya ang drawer ng bedside table ko and she took a small rectangular box inside.

 

"Syempre hindi matatapos ang birthday mo nang wala akong regalo" she smiled first before she opened the red rectangular box in front of me.

 

My mouth went agape when I saw a beautiful necklace inside. It was a gold dainty necklace with a petite diamond as it's pendant. Sobrang ganda.

 

"Do you like it?" she asked.

 

"Are you kidding me? I love it, baby! Thank you!" I said before I throw myself on her again. She chuckled and kissed my cheeks.

 

"Tara suot ko sayo" hinila ko siya papunta sa vanity mirror ko so I could see how it looks on me.

 

I opened the lights and sat on the chair in front of it. 

 

Hinawi ko ang buhok ko sa kanan and slightly tilted my head so she can wear it on me.

 

"It suits you" Lisa complimented me and I can't help but blushed.

 

"Thank you, baby. I love you!" I said while smiling and looking at her in the mirror.

 

"I love you" she answered without breaking her gaze on me on the mirror.

 

My mouth went agape with what I have heard and tears automatically run down my face. This is the first time she told me those three letter words and I am very happy. She bent her body and kissed my cheeks from the back. I reached for her face and caressed it then I closed my eyes feeling her kisses on my cheeks down to my jawline to my neck. I bit my lower lip to supress a moan but I failed when Lisa started the pulse point on my neck. I can feel my body getting hotter just by her kisses.

 

She stopped so I opened my eyes to check on her. Our eyes met and I can see the burning desire on her eyes. Her eyes darkened and she held me up from my seat. She turned me around to face her and she started claiming my lips hungrily. This will be a long night indeed.

 

Happy birthday self.