"S-Stop it." I lightly hit his arm before looking away. I can't believe we just got our first kiss right now, natalo pa kami ng ibang teenagers!
"I have to go now." He chuckled before twisting the doorknob.
I unconsciously followed him from behind, still can't recover from what happened. He turned to me when he was already in front of the gate, still inside.
"Happy Birthday, love." He greeted me before plotting a soft kiss on my forehead while holding on to my waist.
"T-Thanks, l-love." My smile went out awkward which made him chuckle.
"Good night." He waved at me before stepping out. I waited for his car to completely disappear from my sight before I went inside.
I leaned my back on the door when I felt my knees shaking, but I made the wrong move, really.. I just remembered what happened. I touched the both sides of my cheeks to cover its blush, my eyes widened when I saw Callia looking at me like she was silently commenting about what she just saw.
I took a bath to wash myself and laid down on my bed to sleep after blow drying my hair. I woke up around 7 AM, still feeling so sleepy since I slept for only about 4-6 hours.
Today's my birthday, but this is different from the past years.
To: Love
Good morning, I just woke up. I'm going to prepare now :)
I showered early because Dylan told me that we're going somewhere. He told me to dress in colors maroon and black so I just wore a maroon off shoulder jumpsuit and paired it with a black wedge heels. I wore the accessories set given by my grandmother and brought a black sling bag.
I tied my hair in a ponytail and left some hair strands falling on my forehead, and also applied a light amount of makeup before looking at my reflection from the vanity mirror.
When my doorbell rang, I was already walking down the stairs. I kissed Callia first before going out. He was already there, leaning on his car with his hands hidden inside his pocket.
"Good morning." I smiled at him after locking the gate.
He was wearing a maroon dress shirt, sleeves folded just above his wrist revealing the wrist watch that I gave him. He had three buttons opened revealing his silver chain necklace. He paired his dress shirt with gray slacks and black shoes.
"Good morning, birthday girl." He smirked before plotting a soft kiss on my temple.
He opened the front door to let me in before he walked around and sat on the driver's seat, then started the engine when he was ready. I still have no idea where we are going but I am excited.
"Where are we going, anyway?" I couldn't help but ask, I've been so curious since last night!
"We have somewhere else to go first before our house then your house." He glanced at me while driving.
Even though I knew that he was pertaining to his family when he mentioned 'our house', I still giggled from within, thinking that he was referring to 'us'.
After an hour or so, he parked his car in front of a.. two-storey building?
When we entered from the main door, it was just a lobby painted with green and gold. The staircase was curved and was painted with gold, too. It looks just like a studio apartment but it looks elegant because of the colors.
"May nakalimutan ako sa kotse, you can wait for me upstairs." He suddenly said, I just nodded at him before walking up to the staircase.
I was surprised to see that the second floor has no rooms nor doors, it maximizes the space. There was a cozy setting where a wooden platform was on the floor covered with some sheets and comforter. It also has some pillows, too.
I looked around and my eyes widened when I saw that a wall on the corner had a lot of fairy lights with clips where each Polaroid films were attached. The other wall had a huge bulletin board where sticky notes are glued. The other one had a 'Happy Birthday, Love' golden balloon, and the last wall had a wide black screen TV.
I went closer to see the walls. The filmed pictures are new memories to me, I think it was from Valentine's Day up to yesterday. There was a lot I felt like someone just touched my heart. I covered my mouth when I saw a picture of my side profile at the beach where Dylan confessed to me. I wasn’t aware that he took a picture of me that night.
I went to the other wall and stared at the sticky notes that come in different colors. I started reading some and I can't help but feel so special.
'I never truly know the meaning of love until I found you,'
'With you, I am always the happiest,'
'You are the newest person to my life but you already became one of the most special,'
"Wala ka pang ginagawa, makita lang kita, kinikilig na ako." I chuckled when I read the note he once told me.
'I tried searching for the definition of "love" on the internet but I got nothing as an answer. When I searched in my heart, I found out that it is named "Katherine".'
'I'm not a fan of cheesiness but when it comes to you, I'm more than willing to be one,'
'I do not believe in 11:11 but if it means I could be with you for a lifetime, I'll do it all the time,'
'I love my love, and it'll always be you,'
Halos lahat nabasa ko na at natatawa pa rin ako. I never expected him to be this cheesy! Sobrang saya ng puso ko dahil sa lahat ng ito. Ang saya-saya ko na sa ginawa niya noong Valentine's pero mas lalo akong sumaya sa kanya dahil dito.
I felt the corner of my eyes heating up, and I couldn't stop it when my tears ran down my cheeks. It was full tears of joy.
I am so happy, so happy with him.
I was already walking towards the next wall where the balloons are attached when the screen TV opened. My brows furrowed when I saw myself. I sat down on the comforter as I watched. The music was just instrumental.
It was me.
In Bicol.
He had some montages of the surroundings but I was always the highlight of it. Nakatalikod lang ako halos, naglalakad, nagpapaliwanag, kumakain, at maging 'nung nag sports kami sa tubig ay kinuhanan niya.
A video clip showed up, it was taken inside his car. I can still clearly remember everything.
"Hey, I'm driving." It was me.
"Wala naman akong ginagawa ah?" He was not seen in the frame, siya kasi yung nagvi video.
I tried to put his camera down but he still pointed it on me.
"Interview Miss, few questions lang po please!" I scoffed.
"How old are you?" He asked.
Natawa pa rin ako, katulad ng sarili ko sa video.
"Is that even serious?" That time, he answered me by a nod behind the camera.
"I'm 25, ikaw?" I glanced at him
"I'm Dylan," He answered.
"I mean, you? How old are you?" I rolled my eyes before chuckling.
"27," He simply answered.
"Oh.. Kuya Dylan!" I teased.
Ibinaba niya 'yung camera niya nito nang maasar siya sa sinabi ko.
"Eh! Ayoko nga!" Sabi niya. The view from the outside showed up, he recorded it instead of me.
"Kuya Dylan!" I heard my voice from behind.
"Katherine!"
"Bakit ba? Kuya ka naman talaga ah?" His heavy sigh was heard.
"One sister is enough, I can't take another one,"
"Oh, so you have a sister?" I asked before chuckling.
"Yup, Deila. She's turning 18 on February." He answered. "Teka nga, ako dapat ang nang-iinterview sa'yo eh! Madaya ka!" The camera even shook a little because he pointed at me that time.
"Okay, ask away." Sa akin na ulit nakatutok ang camera.
"Kailan birthday mo?" Tanong niya sa likod nito.
I looked at him in disbelief in the video.
"What the?! Is this a slam book?"
He shook his camera together with his head innocently.
"Ano ngaaaaa?"
"April 6, 1992" I answered.
Kaya pala siya natahimik 'nung time na 'to, it was the same day of his twin brother's death anniversary. The day he lost David.
"May nasabi ba akong masama?" My question sounded so sensitive.
"Ha? Ah, wala wala." He pointed his camera to the window.
"Wala ng next question?"
"Sino favorite mong singer?" Sa akin na ulit nakatutok.
"David Archuleta!"
I can now understand his reactions from my words. My birthday was his brother's death anniversary and my favorite singer holds the same name as his twin. It must've been hard, you know, keeping all your emotions inside. I can imagine his pain, it's saddening.
"Love." I flinched when I heard Dylan's voice. I looked around and saw him standing there, holding a bouquet of roses. We walked closer to reach each other.
"Katherine Heilie Flores." My name sounded so perfect when he said it.
"I hope you won't find me as a creepy stalker who takes pictures and videos of you anytime anywhere." He chuckled while staring at me.
Silly, I can never think of him that way.
"I was never this cheesy, not even once. I somehow find this exaggerating but Google told me that girls feel so special when they are surprised like this. And I want you to know how special you are to me." In a blink, his chuckle made my heartbeat so fast.
"I don't know what will happen to us in the near future, love. But all I know is that I won't leave you unless you ask me to do so, and I pray that you won't ever ask me that." He gave me the bouquet.
"I will do my very best in every passing day just to make you stay, just to make you happy. I will give you my all since you deserve all the love and happiness in this world." He shrugged, even raised his hands up a little.
"I want to be the person you will first call when you get good news, or even bad one. I will help you carry your burdens, your pain, your fears, I will help you face all of them. Allow me to be your comfort zone, your home, and I will make sure to keep you safe and sound." He went closer to hug me, it was such a warm hug my eyes immediately closed.
"I can't totally assure you that we won't hurt each other because relationships come with ups and downs. There will be days that we will fight, we will argue about things that we cannot sleep because of it, but those are normal. Trust me on good days, but trust me even harder on our bad days. I will love you on normal days, but will love you even more on the difficult ones. I will love you still even when it hurts." He hugged me tighter and at that moment I just wanted to bury my face in his neck while sniffing on his perfume.
"This is the first time I celebrated my birthday, and yours, with you." He whispered in my ear.
"And I hope this won't be the last." He caressed my hair. It was the safest place I've ever been.
I hugged him back tightly, not wanting to let go because it was, I think, the least I could do to return all his efforts. Boys are not that materialistic after all, they prefer simple things like this, hugs.
He moved his head away to stare at me, but didn't let go of me in his arms. He just smiled before planting a soft kiss on my forehead.
"Happy Birthday, love. More occasions to celebrate with me?" After I nodded, he then aimed to capture my lips. I kissed him back on the same ferocity, gentle and sweet.
We stayed there for about an hour more. Kinuwento niya sa akin paano niya ginawa ito lahat at sobrang natuwa at na-guilty ako sa mga nalaman ko. Natuwa dahil syempre ramdam na ramdam ko gaano ako ka-espesyal sa kanya. Pero na-guilty dahil napagod siya ng ilang araw para tapusin ang lahat ng 'to.
"Happy Birthday, darling!" Tita Daniella approached me for a small hug. Next to her was Deila and her husband.
"Happy Birthday, Ate Kath!" Deila hugged me also.
"Happy Birthday, hija. I can assure you, you're in good hands." Tito glanced at Dylan before smirking.
I know, Tito.
I thanked them even more when they gave me their gifts. Sobrang nahihiya ako, nag-abala pa talaga sila! Tito Francis and Tita Daniella gave me a set of accessories that come with Amethyst stones. It looks so beautiful and expensive so I refused to accept it but they insisted, magagalit daw sila kapag hindi ko tinanggap. Deila, on the other hand, gave me a maroon designer handbag. She bought one for herself, too, only in different colors. It's a 'sister's thingy' daw kasi.
We ate after that, together with the grandparents. I felt so happy because I got to celebrate it with some family members, I felt at home.
Umalis na rin kami ni Dylan para bumiyahe papuntang Taguig. Sinusundan niya lang ang daan sa map na nasa phone niya. Bumili din muna kami ng bulaklak nang may madaanan kaming shop. Mahigit dalawa o tatlong oras, narating na namin ang lugar.
"W-Why are we.. Why are we here?" He looked taken aback when he realized where we were.
Ako na mismo ang nagbukas ng driver's door para sa kanya. Gulat pa rin siya pero napatingin siya sa kamay ko nang hawakan ko ang kanya para dahan-dahang hilahin.
His lips parted because of his sight. I placed their favorite flowers in front of their tombs before standing up and holding on to his arm. His brain still can't let it sink.
"Ba-Bakit-"
"Dylan, love." I called his attention, luckily, I was slowly able to.
"Meet my family." I said as I gestured to their tomb, looked at the four of them before speaking again.
"Mom, dad, Lola, Lolo, this is Dylan." I glanced at him.
"My boyfriend,"