When he left, Manang Esther came in to my room to give me the gifts that I received earlier and placed it on my couch.
"Naiwan ito roon sa baba kaya ako na ang nag-akyat." paliwanag niya sa akin.
"Hala, nakalimutan ko pong isabay pala sa pag-akyat ko 'yan kanina," sambit ko habang inaayos ang vanity table ko. "Salamat, Manang. Pahinga na po kayo. Ang dami niyo na pong nagawa kanina."
"Hindi naman gaanong marami iyon dahil tumulong kayong makapag-ayos. At saka, ayos lang ako, anak. Para sa iyo naman ang ginawa kanina kaya hindi na baling pagod si Manang," sambit niya. "Masaya ka ba?"
Agad akong ngumiti sa kanya at tumango. "Wala po kayong ideya kung paano niyo po ako napasaya ngayong araw, Manang." lumapit ako sa kanya at niyakap siya. "Salamat po,"
"Deserve mo lahat ng ito, anak. Mahal ka ni Manang," sambit niya na nagpalambot ng puso ko. Kumawala siya sa pagkakayakap ko at ngumiti sa akin. "O siya, masyado nang ma-drama. Buksan mo na ang mga regalo mo't magpahinga na. Alam kong pagod ka rin," tumango ako.
Umalis si Manang Esther sa loob ng kwarto ko kaya nagsimula na akong magbukas ng mga regalo. Binuksan ko ang pinakamalaking bag na naglalaman ng regalo ni Kuya Ian. Halos tumalon ang puso ko sa tuwa nang makita ang isang pares ng designer heels. Inaasar ko kasi si Kuya no'n na kapag grumaduate akong may latin honors, ibibili niya sa akin 'tong sapatos dahil hindi kakayanin ng pera ko ang presyo. Hindi ko naman akalain na bibilhin niya 'yon para sa akin. Mahal na mahal na naman ako ni Doc.
Sunod kong binuksan ang box na naglalaman ng regalo ni Kuya Jordan. My lips curved a smile when I saw him bought me the limited edition designer bags. Isang shoulder bag at purse. Cute.
Sunod kong kinuha ang dalawang gold na bag. Magkakasama iyon dahil nakatali ang dalawang iyon ng gold na ribbon. Tinanggal ko ang ribbon at isa-isang binuksan ang mga box. Sa pinakamalaking box, tumambad sa akin ang isang projector lamp. May bago na naman akong lamp dito sa kwarto ko.
Zane knows how obsessed I am with lamps. Sa totoo lang ay ang daming lamps dito sa kwarto ko. Mayroon sa may side table, vanity table, pati sa study table ko. Iyong mga hindi na gumaganang lamps ay tinabi ko sa isang box dahil ayaw kong itapon.
Yung pangalawang bag ay may lamang skin care products. Lahat ng mga iyon ay ang mga paborito kong brand ng skin care. May masks, serums, lip scrub, eye patches at sunscreen.
Yung pinakamaliit naman na bag na binigay ni Maggie kanina ay may lamang bracelet na may maliit na diamonds na nakalagay. It has a heart design which made it look cute and classy at the same time. Mayroon din doong pares ng earrings which costs around hundred thousand based on the brand of the jewelry.
After kong magbukas ng mga regalo nila ay ibinalik ko 'yon sa mga lagayan at ipinatong sa may couch. Bukas ko na 'yon aayusin sa mga dapat nilang kalagyan dahil nakakaramdam na ako ng antok ngayon. Maaga akong gigising bukas dahil aalis ako. Hindi para pumunta sa after party kung hindi sa party ni Zane. Nagsinungaling lang ako tungkol sa after-party namin dahil gusto ko talaga siyang surpresahin sa birthday niya. Kinuha ko ang phone ko para mag-book ng flight kinabukasan. 11:40 na flight time ang kinuha ko para tanghali ay nandoon na ako sa Bora. Aagahan ko nalang talaga ang gising ko bukas para magkaroon pa ako ng maraming time para magready. I also opened my instagram to message Sabrina.
ariacg: hi, sab! hope you still remember me. favor lang. kapag nakarating na kayo sa bora tomorrow, tell me kung saan 'yung exact place ng pagiistayan niyo. i'm planning to surprise your brtoher kasi so please don't tell him about this. thanks! xx
I was surprised when she replied in a minute after I messaged her.
sabjimenez: hi, ate celine! of course i remember you. about your request, sure! i'll send to you the exact address. anong oras ka ba aalis from manila?
ariacg: 11 ng umaga. most likely i'll be there around lunchtime.
sabjimenez: that's perfect! makakasabay ka sa amin sa lunch. we'll see you nalang there, ate! love uu
ariacg: love uu see you
So the next morning, I woke up as early as 7 o'clock. I didn't bother to go to mall to buy gift for Zane because I already done that a few weeks back already. Nabanggit na niya kasi noong nakaraan pa na sa Boracay nga sila magcecelebrate ng birthday niya at dahil hindi ko pa sigurado kung makakasama ako no'n, sinabihan ko nalang siya na ibibigay ko nalang ang regalo ko sa kanya kapag nakabalik na siya rito. Pero since susunod naman ako sa kanya sa Boaracy, hindi ko na kailangang hintayin na makabalik siya para mabigay ko ang regalo ko.
After having my breakfast, I started packing my things in my mini-luggage. Maliit na maleta ang dadalhin ko dahil hindi naman siguro magtatagal doon ng ilang araw. May classes pa si Zane na kailangang attendan dahil hindi pa tapos ang semester nila. Habang nagtutupi ng mga damit, narinig ko ang pagtunog ng phone ko kaya kinuha ko 'yon para tignan.
itszane: good morning, mahal ko. pa-board na kami.
itszane: chat kita kapag nakasakay na kami sa plane. i love you
I bit my lower lip and typed my reply.
ariacg: good morning, mavy ko! have a safe flight. love u!
He replied in an instant.
itszane: aga mo nagising ah? anong oras ka aalis?
I laughed to myself. He really bought the excuse that I said yesterday.
ariacg: mga 11 siguro.
itszane; okay. ingat ka roon ha? chat kita kapag nakarating na kami don. mahal kita
ariacg: okay love. i love you most
Pagkatapos kong mag-impake ay dumiretso na agad ako sa banyo para maligo. 11 ang flight ko pero nakasanayan na kasi namin na nasa airport na kami at least three hours before our departure time kaya aalis na ako rito by 8 am. After taking a bath, I brushed my teeth and did my skincare. Dinala ko 'yung mga gamit nang skincare at iniwan ko rito 'yung mga bagong skincare products na binili ni Zane for me.
I went back inside my room and entered my walk-in closet to dress up. I chose to wear white colored criss cross croptop and beige trousers. I went out of my closet and sat on my vanity table to blow-dry my hair and put on make-up. I sat on the edge of my bed and wore my Hermes heels before I stood up and walked in front of the mirror to check myself for the last time. I took my luggage and left my room.
"Ngayon kaaga ang biyahe mo?" tanong ni Tita Lydia pagkababa ko. She's having her tea on the couch while working on her laptop.
"Actually, 11 pa po but I'll go to the airport three hours earlier," I answered while fixing my luggage.
"Kailan ang balik mo?" tanong niya.
"Bukas po," sagot ko.
"Oh, okay. Have a safe flight then. Uwian mo ako ng souvenir ha?" she joked.
I chuckled. "Sure, tita,"
I bid goodbye to her and went outside our house and rode ou car which was drove by Kuya Vince, of course. Hindi naman gaanong malayo ang bahay namin sa airport kaya nakarating din kami doon, five minutes before nine in the morning. Kuya Vince helped me carry my luggage out of the car and I thanked him for that.
"Ingat sa biyahe. I-text mo ako kapag pauwi ka na para masundo kita," paalala niya sa akin.
"Thank you, Kuya. Ingat sa pag-uwi," sabi ko bago hinila ang maleta ko papasok ng airport.
I stayed in the waiting area and waited patiently for my flight. Medyo matagal pa ang paghihintay ko kay nagphone muna ako para libangin ang aking sarili. After a few hours of waiting, narinig ko na ang flight number ko kaya dumiretso na ako sa security inspection. Nang makapasok na, hinanap ko na ang gate ko at naghintay ng boarding announcement. I was kind of surprised when I was transfered to business class but my best friend is the son of the owners of this airport, there is nothing to be surprised of, to be honest. While I was on the plane already, waiting for take-off, I received a message from Sabrina.
sabjimenez: hi, ate celine! I don't know where exactly we are in boracay right now so I told one of our cousins that we'll pick you up at the airport once you get there. don't worry, Kuya don't know anything about this. so hmu when you finally arrived at the airport. have a safe flight! xxx
The plane was about to take-off so I just reacted on Sab's message and switched my phone to aiplane mode and closed it. Isang oras lang naman ang biyahe from Manila so Boracay so nakarating ako sa GRP Airport in Malay, Aklan, around 12:45 in the afternoon. When I finally went out of the plane, I stayed at the waiting area and took my phone to message Sabrina.
ariacg: hey sab i'm already here at the airport.
sabjimenez: omg okay wait for us there.
So I did. I sat on the chairs and patiently waited for Sabrina and her cousin to come and fetch me here at the airport. Around thirty minutes after, I looked up when I noticed someone standing in front of me. My brows furrowed a bit as I examined the girl. She was wearing a cropped top and jeans, hair was in high ponytail, and she has soft yet bold features which made her look gorgeous.
"Ate Celine?" she asked in a soft voice.
"Sabrina?" I asked back.
"Oh my god, it's you! You are so beautiful like oh my god!" she said and went in for a hug. I was slightly shocked with the sudden action so it took quite sometime for me to return her hug. "Kuya's right, you are indeed an angel! It's so nice to see you, finally!"
"You're gorgeous, too. It's nice to finally meet you," I said and smiled.
"Anyway, this is Ate Yuri, one of our cousins that were with us today," she introduced me to the girl she was with. The girl is wearing a hoodie and maong shorts. She's tall, has a pale-complexion, soft features, chinky eyes and her hair was brunette. It looks like she has some kind of Japanese blood running through her veins.
"Hi, nice to meet you," she said and shook my head which I gladly accepted.
After ng naging usap namin doon ay napagpasyahan na rin naming umalis ng airport at bumiyahe papunta sa resort kung saan nila icecelebrate ang birthday ni Zane. Mga kalahating oras ang binyahe namin papunta roon. Nang makarating kami sa resort, hindi muna nila ako pinababa ng sasakyan. Kahit nagtataka ay sinunod ko nalang si Sabrina at hinintay nalang siyang makalabas. Maya-maya, lumabas si Sab, na may dalang box at naglalakad palapit sa sasakyan. Kinatok niya ang bintana ng passenger seat kaya binuksan ko ang pintuan nu'n.
"Usog ka muna ng kaunti doon, Ate. Tatanggalin lang natin 'to," sabi niya na agad ko namang ginawa.
Ipinatong niya ang box sa pwesto ko kanina at binuksan iyon Tumambad sa akin ang isang cake na may dedication para kay Zane. Maingat na inalis ni Sabrina ang cake mula sa box at dahan-dahang iniabot sa akin.
"Ako dapat 'yung magdadala ng cake ni Kuya para sa celebration maya-maya pero since nandito ka naman, ikaw nalang ang magdadala niyan doon," sabi niya sa akin at inihagis ang box ng cake sa may driver's seat. "Kaya mo ba, Ate?"
Tumango ako. "Oo. Kaya ko,"
Maingat ako bumaba ng sasakyan habang hawak hawak pa rin ang cake sa kamay ko. Pumasok kami ni Sabrina sa loob ng resort. Bago kami tuluyang makapsok sa isang room ay pinahinto muna ako ni Sabrina at sinabihang maghintay muna bago siya naglakad dire-diretso papasok sa room na 'yon. Lumabas siya ulit at inalalayan akong maglakad papunta roon sa room kung saan sila magcecelebrate.
Pagkapasok doon, agad na nagtama ang tingin namin ni Zane nakaawang ang labi ngayon na para bang nakakita siya ng kung sinong multo. Kita ko rin ang pamumula ng pisngi niya habang naglalakad ako papalapit sa kanya, dala-dala ang cake niya. Todo tilian at kantyawan naman ang mga pinsan niya na kasama nila habang patuloy pa rin sa pagkanta ng "happy birthday" sa kanya.
"Happy birthday to you," I sang in a low voice as I stood in front of him. I met with his eyes and smiled. "Happy birthday, love. Make a wish,"
Nanatili lang ang tingin niya sa akin, tila sinusuri kung totoo ba talaga ako. After sometime, he closed his eyes and opened it again as he blew the candle. His cousins cheered because of that which made us chuckle. I placed down the cake and everyone started eating. Zane, on the other hand, held my hand and pulled me out of the resort so we could have alone time together.
"Sabi mo hindi ka makakasama? Liar ka, mahal," sabi niya sa akin at pinisil ang pisngi ko.
"Edi kapag sinabi ko sa'yo na makakasama ako, hindi ko na nagawa 'tong surprise ko sa'yo 'di ba?" sabi ko naman sa kanya. "Are you happy?"
"You are here with me, of course, I'm happy," he replied while made me smile. We just kept on staring at each other and he was admiring me as if I was the most beautiful thing in the world. I saw how his gaze went down on my lips back to my eyes again. "You're so damn beautiful. I wanted so bad to kiss you right now, baby," he chuckled.
"If you want it so bad... then do it," I confidently said.
He seemed to be taken aback by my remarks. I thought he wouldn't do it, but I was surprised when I felt his hand on my cheek. He looked at me again as if he was asking for my permission, so I gave him a slight nod. He licked his lower lip before he slowly leaned forward and angled his face for a kiss. It was just a quick one because he let go of me after a few moments and looked at my reaction. I don't know what was running through my mind, but I held his nape and made a move. In an instant, his soft lips touched mine again, but this time, he didn't held back and went along with me. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck while I felt his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I could feel my knees weakening and my heart throbbing against my chest with that kiss. I parted my lips and angled my face so he could kiss me better. We shared soft and feathery kisses for a few more minutes, which made me completely lose my mind. We let go of each other, both breathless. He rested his forehead on mine while the tip of our noses were touching.
"You always make everything special, baby. You have no idea how much you made me happy and loved today," he uttered. "I don't know where my life will wind up if you're not with me,"
I smiled. "Don't worry, you won't lose me, love,"
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