Missing the Wildwaves [Province Series #01] ✓

Prologue

I don't know what exactly happened that day. All I know is that the emcee called my escort who was supposed to be my brother but the moment the door opened, almost everyone was stunned as other guest thought it was my boyfriend who entered the door with a grin on his lips as the two dimples were exposed.

"Ohh, I thought your brother was your escort. Hindi mo sinabi na boyfriend pala," the emcee said with a sly smile on her lips.

I have no boyfriend. I mentally spoke to myself.

I immediately noticed my aunt running fast towards our emcee's place before whispering to the girl. Nakita ko naman na tumango ang emcee bago muling nag salita.

"I'm sorry, hindi pala boyfriend ng ating celebrant ang kaniyang escort," the emcee said before smiling hard.

I laughed softly at the emcee's apology. "Soon to be girlfriend."

I almost jumped because of what the man next to me said. Did he say 'soon to be girlfriend' or was I just deaf for a while?

Napailing na lang ako bago huminga ng malalim. 'Breath in, breath out. Lahari, calm down. Its your birthday, bawal mainis,' I said to myself before forcing a smile.

"Put your hand on my arm, birthday girl," the man said before winking.

I secretly rolled my eyes at him before carefully wrapping my hand around his arm. Narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa pero hinayaan ko na lang iyon. Tinungo namin ang upuan at maingat niya akong inalalayang umupo.

"Happy birthday, Lahari." He greeted before winking again.

Mahilig ba talaga siyang kumindat o may sakit lang? Ohh, Nevermind!

"Thank you," I replied before I rolled my eyes. His face is literally annoying especially when winking.

"Don't get mad at me, I have a hello kitty mug gift there." He said before pointing to the table where the gifts were.

The heck! I mentally hissed to my self.

Mahina ko siyang kinurot sa tagiliran bago muling ituon sa harap ang atensiyon nang marinig kong nag tatawag na ang emcee para sa eighteen treasures.

"Happy birthday, Lahari." My aunt said before releasing a necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. "This I'm holding is not just a gift, it's a treasure that I want to give you. So the heart-shaped pendant I chose to give you because I want to remind you that many people love Mamang's first grandchild. Always treasure your heart, it's just one so take good care of it. I love you," I cried at what my tita Lia said.

"I love you too, tita. Thank you," I said between my sobs, before hugging her.

I love my family so much, I'm literally thankful dahil sila ang naging pamilya ko. Wala na akong hihilingin pa dahil sa kanila palang ay solve na ako, napaka supportive nila at mapagmahal. Hindi sila nag kulang sa bagay na iyon.

The event continued hanggang sa pina-ready na ng emcee ang mga lalaking mag sasayaw sa akin para sa eighteenth roses.

"Ethan Kelvin Rivera for the first dance with our birthday celebrant," the emcee said before the guests applauded.

Inililibot ko ang paningin sa lahat ng aking bisita upang hanapin sana ang taong tinawag ng emcee when the person next to me touched my arm so I turned my eyes to him. "What?" I said with a low voice.

"Lets dance," he said before smiling slightly.

So, siya pala si Ethan?

Agad akong tumayo bago kami mag punta sa harap, binigay niya sa akin ang bulaklak and then he himself put my two hands on his shoulder before he put his hand on my waist then we slowly danced.

"Come on, Lahari. Sumakay kana sa sasakyan" My tito Liam said.

Nag madali na akong sumakay sa sasakyan bitbit ang aking laptop. Naka-ugalian namin na tuwing ika-labing dalawang araw ng disyembre ay nag pupunta kami ng Nueva Ecija para maki-fiesta, doon din kasi naka tira ang napangasawa ni tito Liam.

"Palagi ko atang napapansin ang pagkatulala mo, Lahari. Maybe you have a....boyfriend?" Pa-birong saad ni tito.

My eyes widened at what he said. Tipong mag sasalita na ako nang maunahan ako ni tita Lia. "How can she have a boyfriend, we are too strict with her," sunod-sunod akong tumango sa sinabi niya.

Mukhang ayaw naman mag patalo ni tito. "Tama lang iyon, eighteen pa lang siya," he said while focusing on the tension of driving.

Jusko! Ayan na naman sila. Pag tatalunan ang edad ko.

"Let her decide, she will not learn in life if we do not let her decide for herself. Alam niya ang tama sa mali, kaya chill lang kayo." Mamang said before smiling at me, "basta ipapakilala sa atin bago sagutin, para pag niloko ang maganda kong apo ay mabilis nating ma-hunting." Dagdag pa niya bago tumawa, napailing nalang ako sa 'so called genius suggestion' ni Mamang.

"Alright, we'll let you have a boyfriend. Basta ipangako mong mag kukwento ka samin ng totoong nararamdaman mo at kung may problema---"

"Advance mo. Wala pa ngang sinasabi si Lahari kung may nanliligaw na ba," putol na anas ni tita Lia kay tito.

I just laughed at what they were talking about. Dinaig pa nila ang mga magulang ko na walang alam tungkol sa mga nangyayare sa buhay ko... buhay namin ng kapatid ko.

"Tito, mag drive thru tayo sa jollibee at mcdo. Kayo ba saan n'yo gusto bumili?" I said after a little silence.

"A-Ate ako gusto ko ng banana bread," my little brother said beside me.

I immediately covered my mouth because of what Levi had said. "Grabe naman ang kapatid ko, naka-rinig lang ng restaurant ay nagising kaagad." I chuckled.

He immediately frowned because of what I said, "I feel like the worms in my stomach are already fighting."

Napailing na lamang ako. Hindi natuloy ang pag drive thru namin sa mcdo at jollibee dahil starbucks din naman ang choice ng tito at tita, maski si Mamang hindi nag pahuli at ang gusto pa ay 'caramel frappuccino at glazed doughnut'. I have already received my monthly allowance kaya ako nanlilibre.

While on the way to Nueva Ecija we were just quiet, tita Lia and Mamang were asleep while my brother was busy eating. Ako naman ay tutok lamang sa laptop, nag a-advance reading about sa human anatomy.