The Devirginizer's Lady (COMPLETED) (TDL SERIES #1)

Chapter 48

Chapter Forty Eight

"Lovebirds"

"Happy birthday, Eleven!"

Binati si Eleven ng bawat bisitang kakarating lang. Birthday party niya ngayon sa kanilang ancestral mansion kung saan nakatira na rin ngayon ang kanyang dad.

"Ang laki." Ani Zara habang sabay kaming tatlong pumasok, nakasunod sa amin si Rickzyn at Jahziel. Moses and Dishon were already there before we got there.

There were a lot of people. Nahagip ng mga mata ko si Eleven na ngayon ay napapalibutan ng mga taong kumakausap sa kanya, mga bumabati siguro at nangungumusta.

Hindi niya napansin na nakarating na kami. Hinayaan ko muna siya. Mamaya ko na siya kausapin.

Rui and Zara went somewhere else, habang si Jahziel at Rickzyn ay lumalapit kina Dishon. Naiwan ako mag-isa muna.

"Ath." Biglang may pamilyar akong boses na narinig. Nilingon ko ito.

"Kalyx?"

"Surprised to see me?" He smirked. Uminom siya ng kanyang hawak na cocktail.

"Kilala mo pala si Eleven?"

"Sort of... My dad and his dad are friends. Mr. Adanza is back in Manila after so many years, so I bet everyone here is here to see him too."

"I see." Tumango ako.

Nandito nga ang dad ni Eleven. I've never met him before.

"How's Mishael in Dumaguete?"

"Hm?" Tumango-tango siya. "He's doing great. Well, actually I think he met someone."

Napaawang ang aking bibig. "Talaga? Wow..."

"I know you two just broke up. My bad."

"No, it's okay..." Ngiti ko. Tumingin ako sa malayo. "I just want him to be happy. He deserves someone amazing."

Kumirot ang aking puso. It was a complicated feeling.

"Is that your gift? Pwede mong ilagay yan doon sa table." Ani Kalyx, tinutukoy ang hawak kong gift para kay Eleven.

"Ah, hindi, okay lang. Plano kong ibigay ito sa kanya sa personal."

Umigting ang panga ni Kalyx at seryoso ang tingin niya sa akin. I can't tell what he's thinking.

"Cool." Aniya. "I'll leave you two alone."

"Huh?" Kumunot ang aking noo. Tumango lang si Kalyx sa likuran ko at naglakad na siya paalis.

"Hey my lady." Narinig ko ang boses ni Eleven mula sa aking likuran.

Nilingon ko siya.

"I was looking all over for you. Why didn't you want me to come pick you up?" Tanong niya.

"Hey birthday boy." Ngiti ko sa kanya. His hair was clean-cut at bagay na bagay sa kanya ang shape-up ng kanyang facial hair. He wore an all black suit na naka unbutton ang dalawang butones na malapit sa kanyang leeg. He was unbelievably handsome. "Birthday mo ngayon. Tsaka, medyo late akong nagclose ng clinic. I also had to get ready and everything. Isa pa, you can't just leave your dad here to take care of things. Diba?"

Bumuntong hininga na lang siya. Unti-unti siyang ngumiti.

"Well, you look stunning." He glanced at my teal dress na sleeveless at medyo fitting. Nakatali din ang buhok ko sa isang bun at pinakulot ko ang buhok ko sa front. Bumagsak ang tingin niya sa aking hawak na gift. "Is that for me?"

"Para kanino pa ba?"

He smiled. He held my hand and we walked carefully through the crowd of people in their huge living room. He made sure hindi ako magagalaw ng ibang tao kaya nililingon niya ako palagi.

"Ang laki ng bahay niyo." Sabi ko habang nakasunod sa kanya. "Saan mo ba ako dadalhin?"

He just answered me with a playful smirk.

We ended up climbing upstairs to his room. I could tell immediately. It looked like it was his room from when he was a 11 or around that age.

"Baka hahanapin ka nila doon. Don't forget it's your birthday." Sabi ko habang naglalakad ako at pinagmamasdan ko ang mga pictures at laruan niya sa kanyang kwarto. We could only hear the distant music and noise from downstairs.

Umupo ako sa kanyang kama. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang siya rin ay pinagmasdan ang kanyang dating kwarto. I bet it's been a long time since he's been in this room.

Nilingon niya ako. Tinabihan niya ako sa kama.

"Why'd you bring me here?" Tanong ko.

"I wanna see what you got for me." He smirked. Uminit ang aking mga pisngi.

Tumingin ako sa aking dalang kahon na nakabalot sa brown na gift wrapper. Nilahad ko ito sa kanya.

"Heto."

He gently took it. Tumingin muna siya sa akin bago niya binuksan.

He gently ripped the wrapper off. Pagbukas niya ng kahon ay nakita niya ang mga paint brushes, watercolor, acrylic, at oil paint sa loob nito.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng paint ba ang prefer mo kaya..."

Nakatitig lang siya nito. Unti-unti siyang ngumiti at bumaling siya sa akin.

"I love you, Athalia."

Natigilan ako.

I chuckled. I felt my cheeks were on fire. "I love you, too."

He leaned towards me and kissed me softly.

"Hey, lovebirds." May kumatok bigla sa pinto. Boses ni Dishon. Napahinto kami't napalingon kami nito. "Tito's looking for you, El. He says he wants to meet Athalia, too."

Kumabog ang aking puso.

Narinig rin naming naglakad na palayo si Dishon.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Eleven at pareho kaming natawa.

"Will your dad like me?"

"He'll love you."

He kissed me once more. Maingat niyang nilagay ang gift ko para sa kanya sa bedside table ng kanyang kama.

Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay at sabay kaming lumabas ng kanyang kwarto.