Happy Birthday, Crush

46

"You're so spoiled talaga, my baby." I laughed softly, before leaning in to kiss Connie's head. Connie licked my chin as he set his paws on my chest as if saying, "whose fault is it, mommy?"

Without taking his eyes off the road, Creed reached his hand out towards Connie and rubbed his head. Bringing Connie wasn't part of the plan, but Creed was having so much fun with Connie, and I didn't have the heart to break them apart so I asked Creed if we could bring him. Nag-agree naman siya kaagad. Tuwang-tuwa pa nga.

"Saan na tayo pupunta? Maybe you can tell me na?" I asked in a teasing voice.

"We're going to Batangas," he answered.

"What are we going to do there? Kakain ba tayo ng lomi?"

"There's a good lomi restaurant near our place." He smiled. "Walking distance lang. We can go there for merienda."

A sudden thought occurred to me. "Wait, will your grandfather be there?! Wala akong gift!" Nagpa-panic na 'ko ngayon. Kaka-birthday lang ng lolo niya and here I was, empty-handed. Unacceptable!

He chuckled at my reaction. "Wala. And it's fine, I passed on your birthday greetings to him. He told me to send you his warmest regards. Ah, he wants to meet you nga pala."

I gaped at him. Creed's grandfather... wanted to meet... me?

"H-Ha, bakit daw? Is he gonna give me ten million?"

Napatawa siya ng malakas. "Papa wants to meet you because he's curious about you. It's because it's the first time I'm bringing someone else aside from Devin and the guys to the house. Akala nga niya gir—" he suddenly stopped. "Uh, oo nga pala, kailangan natin magpa-gas."

We arrived at the rest house aroud four o'clock. May sumalubong saamin na matandang lalaki at piangbuksan kami ng gate.

"Welcome back, hijo!" The old man exclaimed, obviously happy to see Creed once again.

"Hi, Manong Jude."

Manong Jude looked between the two of us. "May dala ka pang girlfriend at bagong alaga! Hello, hija."

"Magandang hapon, po." I greeted back, shyly smiling. "Nagkakamali po kayo. Magkaibigan lang po kami ni Creed."

Napatawa siya sa sinabi ko. "Gano'n ba?"

"Si Daneri, po. Sa kanya rin 'yong aso. Connie po 'yong pangalan." Creed informed him.

He opened the gate wider. "Do'n muna kayo sa veranda. Mamaya na lang kayo pumunta sa kwarto. Wala pang bedsheet ang mga kama."

"Okay lang, manong. Hindi po kami matutulog dito." Sambit ni Creed.

"Sige, sabihan niyo lang ako kung nagbago ang isip niyo."

He then left to fetched us some drinks, much to our protest that we could get the drinks ourselves. Manong Jude was full of happiness and energy. I smiled at the thought that Creed grew up with someone like him.

"So, you guys go here often?"

"Yeah," Creed replied. "It's our... escape."

"It's a nice escape," I commented, looking at the trees and plants surrounding the place. There were trees of different kinds: mango, jackfruit, calamansi, and flowers such as daffodils and orchids, and more.

Manong Jude came back carrying a tray that had a liter of RC Cola, two glasses, and two bowls. I stood up to pull the sliding door since manong's hands were occupied. When manong set the tray down, my eyes lit up. Lomi pala 'yong laman ng bowls! My mouth was probably watering by now.