The Ravages of Time

Kabanata 18

Kabanata 18

Back to Reality

"Your presence is enough. I don't need expensive gifts or anything, I'm full of those. Alam mo ba kung anong kailangan ko?" I asked him.

Our eyes met as he looked me straight in the eyes.

"Ano?" he asked. I let out a deep sigh first before I answered.

"Kiss mo," I answered and gave him a teasing smile.

I looked down and turned my gaze back at the night view. Silence enveloped the two of us as we looked up at the blue pitch glaze sky together.

"No stars..." I whispered.

The sky was a blank page. But despite that, my feelings and emotions were colorful pages of a book. It was all colored mostly yellow.

"Ako..."

Bigla akong napatingin sa kanya nang magsalita ito.

"Huh?"

"Pera nalang ang kulang sa akin. Bagay siguro tayo 'pag naging mayaman ako," wika niya.

A sudden glimpse of sadness slides down my chest. He tried to smile at me. I lightly hit his shoulders.

"Kahit wala ka pang pera bagay tayo!" singhal ko sa kanya at mahina naman siyang tumawa.

Why does he say such things? Is he sad because he didn't give me a gift for Christmas? Naapakan ko ba ang pride niya?

"Tariq—I mean, Ori," I began.

He raised both of his eyebrows.

"Ibalik mo sa 'kin 'yang regalo."

Inilahad ko pa ang kamay ko sa kanya.

"Huh?" His forehead wrinkled as he slowly handed me the small box and well-gift-wrapped gift of mine.

"I'll take this back. When's your birthday?" I asked him.

He felt sorry because he didn't bring anything for me. So, para equal kaming dalawa and para 'di siya malungkot, babawiin ko na lang. Para wala akong binigay sa kanya, wala rin siya sa akin.

I'm an alpha kid talaga.

"February 29," he casually answered.

My eyes widened when I realized his birthday.

"Leap year day!?" He nodded at me while smiling a mile wide.

A leap year is a year that occurs once every four years. Usually, in a year, there are 365 days. But leap year has 366 days! This is mind-blowing.

"This year doesn't have February 29! So, your age won't increase!?" I was gasping in wonder as I tilted my head to the side.

"Hindi, February 28 ako nagse-celebrate," he replied.

"Ah, 'kala ko hindi nadadagdagan ang edad mo. That's kind of sad, you only celebrate your birthday date every four years. But how do you celebrate your birthday?" I curiously asked.

"Wala lang, iihaw lang si Nanay ng manok. Iyon lang naman, kung my pera, bumibili rin ng cake sa bayan," pagkukwento niya.

"That's kind of simple."

"Minsan, nag-b-boodle fight din kami kapag nakakaluwag," he added.

"Boodle fight? I haven't experienced that yet. But I know that you all were eating on a banana leaf, right? There's plenty of food on a long table, am I right?" I asked.