tw: mention of clubbing; if uncomfortable, kindly skip.
"Hello?" I speak through the phone.
It's just 10 AM in the morning of 12th of February, katatapos ko lang mag workout after jogging, when I received a call from Jane. Nakaupo lang ako sa sofa habang tumitingin sa magazine.
[Good morning Kath, did I wake you up?]
"No, no, kanina pa naman ako gising." I smiled even though she wouldn't see it.
[That's a relief.] I heard her sigh.
"Oo nga pala, napatawag ka?" I closed the magazine and placed it on the sofa beside me.
[Oh, right, it's Patrick's birthday on February 14. We're planning to celebrate tomorrow night just like Ysabelle's party, I hope you can come with us?]
"Sure, sure, wala naman akong schedule bukas and sa araw na 'yon. I'll be there." I assured her.
[Oh, really? Wala kayong schedule ni Dylan sa Valentine's Day?] She teased. I rolled my eyes at her, she chuckled when I sighed.
"Drop it, Jane. I told you countless times that there's nothing going on between Dylan and I."
[Okay, then. As you say so!] She mimicked a kiss sound. [I have to go na, see you there okay? Dylan will pick you up again.]
"Okay, see you there, too."
She hung up the call after that. I continued scanning through the magazine but stopped when my phone beeped, it was from my Instagram.
dylan.flynn, _barbiebb, its_andreyam, recently added to their stories.
I checked it out of curiosity.
Dylan's first Instagram story is just a picture of the view from his balcony. The other one was a picture of the carousel from DreamLand, the last one was just shadows at sunset time captured from the floor. Kung titingnan, parang dalawang babae ito na naglalakad.
Barbie's story, on the other hand, is a photo of a cozy coffee shop. Lastly, Andrea's story is a photo of a man's back while facing the streets. The back was somehow familiar to me, I'm just not sure if that's really him.
Umakyat muna ako sa kwarto ko para maligo na. I'm planning to buy gifts for Ysabelle, I totally forgot her present, Patrick, and Deila.
I already have an idea for Ysa and Patrick but I can't think of anything for Deila. Hindi ko pa naman alam ang mga likes and dislikes niya, I don't even have any idea if she would like stuff that most teenagers use.
"My sister likes to collect native souvenirs from different places,"
Right! Dylan mentioned that in Bicol!
I excitedly went to the bathroom but stopped midway when I realized something..
Saan naman ako bibili ng souvenir mula sa ibang lugar? I'm not on a trip right now.
I went back to my side table where my phone is placed and got it. I typed a message for Dylan on Instagram.
hei_katherine: good morning, Dylan!
hei_katherine: i just want to ask something
Ibinaba ko na ito at pumasok na sa bathroom. Naligo muna ako at nag-ayos bago lumabas suot ang pink bathrobe ko. Naglakad ako papasok sa aking walk-in closet at naghanap ng masusuot. I was searching for something casual since sa mall lang naman ang punta ko.
I just wore a silver silk tank top tucked inside a denim ripped jeans and white sneakers. I applied some brown powder on my face and neck, and a lip tint. I let my hair down to blow dry it.
I finished preparing after half an hour or so. Bumalik ako sa kwarto ko para kunin ang key holder, cards, some cash, and my phone. I kept it all inside a black sling bag.
I checked my phone first before heading out. Naupo muna ako sa sofa sa living room nang makitang may message si Dylan sa Instagram.
dylan.flynn: go ahead
It was sent right after I messaged him. Shit, I didn't notice his message!
hei_katherine: I just wanna ask what presents
do you think Deila would like?
He replied after a few seconds. Not busy, huh?
dylan.flynn: Well, nothing in particular. But she
likes pink, very much. Lately, nahihilig siya sa
stationery stuff like highlighters, sticky notes,
journals, mga ganon? She also likes toothless
from httyd movie. And she's a book lover, she
prefers english poetry books rather than tagalog.
Also, she loves dogs, she has three of them.
hei_katherine: thanks, I'm about to
buy a gift for her kasi e :)
dylan.flynn: anything's fine, I guess,
what's more important is that you're
present on her day, she's not that
picky after all :)
hei_katherine: i will be
present, rest assured :)
dylan.flynn: Okay, stay safe, miss :)
hei_katherine: you, too. And thanks
for the help. I have to go now :)
He sent me a sticker with a waving emoticon. Hineart ko na lang 'yon at saka ibinalik ang cellphone ko sa aking bag. I put my sling bag on the passenger seat before maneuvering the car.
The mall was like half an hour away from the village, kasama na ang light traffic. I parked it on the ground floor before heading out. Sa department store ako unang nagpunta. I went to the men's section to look for a gift for Patrick.
"Excuse me, Miss." I called for the saleslady. She turned to me and walked closer.
I was looking through their summer polos that come in 10% off. I picked up two, one with a navy blue color and leaves design, the other one is black with the same design. It's suitable for beaches and I think, bagay ito kay Patrick since very masculine siya.
"Do you have a larger size of these?" I showed her the two. It's medium size but I think Patrick goes for large size because of his body build.
"I'll just get it for you, Ma'am." She bowed a little.
"Yes please, thank you."
Umalis muna siya para pumunta sa stock room nila. Ilang minuto rin ang lumipas bago siya bumalik dala ang kaparehong polos pero mas malaki ang size. Ibinalik ko na sa pinagkuhaan ko 'yung dalawang mas maliit at kinuha na ang dalawang bago mula sa kanya.
"Thank you." I smiled at her before heading to the women's section to look for a gift for Ysa.
I was roaming my eyes around the place when the clothes from the mannequin caught my attention. It's a maroon terno of an off-shoulder tube top and flare pants. I immediately got two from the folded ones, one with maroon color and the other is mustard yellow. Paniguradong magugustuhan ito ni Ysa at babagay sa kanya.
Binayaran ko na rin 'yung mga 'yon sa counter at pinaghiwalay ng lalagyan ang dalawa. I went out of the department store to look for a gift for Deila. I can't really decide what kind of gift so I think I'll just buy her plenty.
Sa isang book store muna ako nagpunta. I asked the counter for some new English poetry books so a staff from them led me to the area. I saw some familiar names of English authors and some books that I have read.
I end up having two journal type of books for her, one is entitled I Love My Love and the other one is Love Looks Pretty On You. Binayaran ko na rin pareho kaagad at lumabas na para pumunta naman sa isang stationary shop.
I bought her a set that comes with a brown string, brown clips and fairy lights. I don't know what it's called but it looks cute, I think she will like it. Binayaran ko na rin ito kaagad at lumabas na ulit para pumunta sa huling shop na pagbibilhan ko ng regalo.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am." The attendant greeted me.
"Good afternoon, I'm looking for some pink dresses." I politely said as I roamed my eyes around the dress shop.
"This way, Ma'am." She gestured to me in a corner of their store.
Tiningnan ko muna ang mga dresses na nakasampay sa dingding ng shop nila. Actually, all of it are nice. I can't decide what to buy.
"Excuse me." I called her attention.
"Yes, Ma'am?" She turned to me with her hands clasped together.
"Ano po bang mga bagong hilig na dress ng mga teenagers ngayon?" I needed help, though.
"Ito po, Ma'am, marami pong bumibili nito aged around 16-18 years old." She showed me a pink off-shoulder bodycon dress ending above the knee, the dress is somehow revealing.
I immediately shook my head at her. I'm pretty sure Dylan will not allow Deila to wear revealing clothes like that.
"Ayan lang po ba?"
"Meron po kaming bagong design for teens, Ma'am kaso terno na po, hindi na dress." I nodded in an instant.
Sinundan ko siya papunta sa katabing corner ng kinatatayuan namin kanina, mga terno naman ang narito. She picked a hanger with a pastel pink turtleneck long sleeve that comes with white wide leg trousers and black belt. It looks cute and I think it will look perfect for Deila.
Plus the fact that, papayagan pa siya ng kuya niya suotin 'yan, unlike the other one.
"Okay, I'll get that." Magsasalita pa lamang siya ay inunahan ko na.
Ayun 'yung pinili ko dahil una, bagay ito kay Deila. Pangalawa, sigurado akong ganon ang gusto ni Dylan na suot ng kapatid niya.
Binayaran ko na rin ito kaagad at naglakad na pabalik ng parking lot. Dumiretso na rin ako ng uwi dahil lagpas alas singko na rin ng hapon. I wasn't even aware of the time, akala ko saglit pa lang ako nasa mall.
Pag-uwi ko, nag-dinner lang kami ni Callia. Naligo na rin ako matapos 'yon at natulog na dahil wala na rin naman akong magawa.
The next day, I just literally waited for the night time to come. Matapos ko maghapunan kasabay si Callia, naligo na ako kaagad. Alas diyes ulit ang usapan namin nila Jane at same place pa rin. Kinukulit ko sila na hayaan na akong pumunta doon mag-isa pero nasabihan na raw nila si Dylan at pumayag na raw ito kaya nakakahiya naman daw, so basically, wala na akong nagawa.
I finished showering around 8 PM. Naka-bathrobe akong naglakad papasok ng walk-in closet ko at naghanap ng damit.
I ended up wearing a fitted black spaghetti strap dress ending inches above my knee, it hugged my curves perfectly. I paired it with a black knee-length boots and covered myself with a thick brown knee-length cardigan since it's a bit cold outside. I also applied a light amount of makeup, it means powder and lip tint only, let down my hair and blow dried it.
Around 9 PM, my doorbell rang at the same time that my phone beeped. As usual, right?
From: Dylan
You can take your time,
I'll wait here outside.
Nagmamadali kong inayos ang silver clutch bag na dadalhin ko at nilagay roon lahat ng valuables ko. Hawak ko naman sa kabilang kamay ang dalawang paper bags na regalo ko kina Patrick at Ysabelle. Tiningnan ko rin muna ang sarili ko bago ako lakad-takbong lumabas ng bahay. I kissed Callia goodbye first before locking the door, next was the gate.
"Good evening." I greeted Dylan after locking the gate.
He was just wearing a plain black shirt, denim ripped jeans and brown shoes but he still looks downright handsome and hot. His silver chain necklace and wrist watch are still there, too.
"Good evening." He said after looking at me with furrowed brows.
"You're wearing a cardigan." He tilted his head a little to the side. I looked down to see my outfit.
Hindi ba obvious?
"Ugh, yeah?" I awkwardly smiled. Is there something wrong with my outfit?
"But you'll take that off when we get there?" He looked away sounding.. what? Pissed?
"Yes.." I suddenly became nervous when he looked back at me with no emotions at all.
"You look better with cardigan." He said before opening the door of the passenger seat and gesturing me to get in. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat sabihin kaya sumakay na lang ako sa kotse niya. Ini-start na rin niya ang makina pagpasok niya sa driver's seat.
We were silent the whole ride. I can see his tight grip on the steering wheel, his veins are showing. Hindi niya rin ako tinitingnan man lang. May nagawa kaya ako? Na-bad mood ba siya bago ako sinundo?
Sabay kaming lumabas nang marating na namin ang club. Sinalubong kaagad kami ng malakas na tugtog sa loob. I was a little surprised to see them on the same couch at the VIP area, I guess they're here often.
"Kath, Dylan!" Bati sa amin ng mga kaibigan namin na ngayon ay nag-iinom na.
The three girls kissed me on my cheek before giving Dylan small hugs. Hinila nila ako paupo sa couch at pinapa-shot kaagad pero hindi muna ako uminom. I removed my cardigan first before sitting with them again.
"Wait, what's that, Kath?" Queenie pointed at the paper bags placed on top of my cardigan.
"Oh, right. For you, Ysa." I gave her my gift which surprised her. "And this is for you, Pat. Happy Birthday." I gave him the other paper bag.
Jane immediately got it from his hands with total excitement. Sabay nila itong binuksan ni Ysa, natawa pa kami dahil si Jane pa talaga ang nagbukas ng para kay Patrick. When I turned to him, he just gave me a nod while smirking.