Home where the heart is

Chapter 8

YANNE

Kahapon palang ay nandito na kami sa hotel sinadya talaga namin na pumunta dito sa hotel the day before my birthday. Halos hindi ako naka tulog kagabi sa sobrang excited ko ewan ko ba, it's like there's a butterfly on my stomach.

I'm currently here at my hotel room with the two make-up artist that mommy hire. They're gay, actually.

"You're so maganda naman" The make-up artist said.

"Thank you po!" I said politely.

"Nako ang galang naman" The other make-up artist said.

"Nakaka intindi ka ba ng tagalog?" Tanong ulit ng isa.

"Yes po," Sagot ko at naka hinga naman sila ng maluwag.

"Buti naman, makaka hinga na kami ng maluwag akala ko naman uuwi akong duguan ang ilong" Tawa naman ako sa sabi niya. Mukha ba akong hindi nakaka intindi ng tagalog?.

"Teka po hehe kanina niyo pa po ako inaayusan but i still don't know what's your name po" Agad naman silang nagpakilala dahil nga hindi sila naka pag pakilala saakin kanina.

"Ay sorry ako Den tapos ito namang kasama ko siya si Namy" Sagot ni ate Den, ang nag mamake-up saakin. Is it okay to them if i call them ate? kasi diba there's a gay na ayaw sabihan ng ate but i guess it's okay to them?.

"Ohh ate Den kung pwede sana hindi gaano makapal 'yong make up is it okay?" I asked ate Den just nodded as her answer.

Habang inaayusan ako ay bigla namang pumasok si mommy at may dalawang tatlong bottle water.

"Here, tubig just in case na nauuhaw kayo" She said and put it on the vanity table.

"Nako salamat ma'am" Ate Namy said mommy just smile at her.

Hindi din nag tagal si mommy dahil kailangan din niyang mag ayos. Halos dalawang oras nila akong inayosan at pagkatapos ko ay hindi muna ako nag suot ng gown ko nag suot muna ako mg robe kasi medyo maaga pa naman ng kaunti.

Nang malapit nang mag alas-sais ay nag suot na 'ko ng gown ko dahil pinapa baba na nila kami. Medyo nahirapan din ako sa pag lalakad because my gown is quite heavy.

"Titiisin mo yan kasi maganda ka" Biro ni ate Namy na ngayon ay tinutulungan ako sa pag buhat ng gown ko.

Nang maka dating kami sa venue ay hindi muna ako agad na pumasok dahil may sinasabi pa ang emcee bago ako mag entrance.

"Please all welcome our debutante!" The emcee said and all of the guest here at the venue look where am i right now. My two kuya is also with me they're my scoart.

"Happy birthday Tine" Kuya Alfonso whispered while we're walking.

"Thank you kuya" I whispered too.

"You're already st legal age no boyfriend muna please" Kuya Luis also whispered that made me chuckled. I know the guest saw that the three of us are whispering.

When we reached my chair kuya Alfonso guide me to sit while kuya Luis also help me to arrange my gown so that i can sit comfortable.

"Good Afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I am Mr. Mark John D. Velasquez and I will be your host for tonight" The emcee said as he introduced his self.

"And may i also request everyone to stand-up for our prayer before we start may i call on Senator Imee for the prayer?" The emcee said. Agad namang tumakbo si kuya Alfonso papunta saakin para tulungan akong tumayo.

"Let's bow our head and feel the presence of the Lord, Lord we're all gathered here to celebrate the 18th birthday of our beloved Yanne and to witness how this young girl turn into a fine lady. Nawa'y maging maging mayasa at mapuno ng kasiyahan ang gabing ito. Ito ang aming samot dalangin sa pangalan ni Jesus, Amen." As tita Imee finish her prayer nag simula na ulit ang ingay.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please sit back and relax because now, we're going to witness on how this young girl turn to a fine lady who's now in front of us. Eyes on the screen" The emcee said. I didn't know na may pa video pala sila.

While watching the video, napa tawa naman kaming lahat nang lumabas ang picture ko nong three years old ko, na medyo ma dungis at punong puno ng chocolate sa bibig. Ang sumunod ay video naman kaya medyo humina ang background music.

"No na anak that's for kuya Alfonso kasi" Ayan ang sabi ni mommy sa video. Birthday yan dati ni kuya Alfonso.

"That's a gift for kuya anak, para kay kuya yan damit pang lalaki yan bakit mo kukunin?" Natatawang sabi ni mommy sa video kaya napa iyak ako sa video. Everyone laugh.

When the video ended the emcee speak again.

Nag simula na ang program habang ako ay hindi maka focus dahil may hinahanap hanap 'yong mata ko lingon ako ng lingon sa kung saan. I can't still see him!

Remz sent you a message

Napa kunot naman ang noo ko.

Remz: Looking for me huh? don't worry I'm just here malapit lang sa table nila tita.

Tumingin naman ako sa table nila mommy at nakita kong nasa likod siya ni mommy naka ngiti lang. Tingin ko'y namumula na 'ko. Umiwas naman ako ng tingin dahil alam kong nakikita ako nila kuya't ang mga pinsan ko.

Nagulat nanaman ako nang mag vibrate nanaman ang cellphone ko.

Borgy sent a video on kabagyan

Binuksan ko naman ang group chat naming mag pipinsan at binuksan ang video. It's a video of mine, video ko kanina lang na lumilingon lingon.

Borgy: Hinahanap na nga

Ayan ang sabi niya sa nang ma send na niya ang video. Pinatay ko nalang ako phone ko at nag focus na ulit sa program.

". . . We would like to acknowledge the key persons who took a great part inmaking this joyous affair possible. Let us all give a big round of applause to honor allthe people whom she truly loved. Sabi nga, marami tayong mahahanap na kapuso,pero iisa lang ang ating kapamilya. Mr. and Mrs. Araneta" Tumayo naman si Mom at Dad sa upuan nila para kumaway sa mga guest.

"Roses signify the debutant's coming of age. We have now come to the part of our program that the guys have been waiting for. A chance to hold the hand of our lovely debutant for a short dance so let us not keep them waiting. Each bachelor after giving Yanne a rose will dance with her for about 1 minute with the backgroundmusic dedicated by each guy to the debutant. Ladies and gentlemen, the 18 roses with our beautiful debutant. Starting off with, Atty. Michael Manotoc" Kuya Michael give me the rose that he's holding and we started to dance.

"Wala munang boyfriend Yanne ha" He said.

"Grabe namang bakod yan kuya" I said before i chuckled.

After kuya Michael dance me sumunod na 'yong mga walo kong kuya na sinundan naman ni Remz at ng mga iba pang 18 roses and syemre my last dance, si Daddy.

"And for the last dance, may i call on the father of our debutante. Mr. Gregorio" Daddy walk towards me while holding a white rose. Bakit iba?.

"Why white rose? because gusto ko" He joked.

"No seriously, kaya white kasi white rose represent enternal love. Because eternal love is a love that never ends." He said that made me pouted.

"I love you daddy" I whispered as i hug him.

"I love you too, my love" He said as he kissed my forehead.