Rhian's POV
"Halika kana!!!!" Sigaw ni Joel na nakaakyat na sa peek ng mountain. It is not actually high, I am just extremely tired.
Hindi ko naman ineexpect na ganitong klasing birthday ang gusto niya. Papa akyatin niya pala ako nang bundok. Eh kung natulog nalang kami? Is this day off? Crap him.
I climbed up to the top...
"Fuck you! You made me so tired." I said slapping his broad arms.
Laughing he said, "Look around and stop being mad."
I look around and I can now see the entire place. Wala kang ibang makikita kundi mga bundok and forestry. Ang tamang lamig nang hangin ang siyang tila nagpapasarap lalo na pamasdan ang tanawin.
"See. Nawala na ba pagod mo?" He asked.
Tumingin ako sakanya nang masama at sinabing, "Thank God for creating this wonderful creation kung hindi pinatay nakita."
Maya-maya pa ay meron pang blanket sa kabilang side at may mga pagkain. Hindi heavy meals rather most of them are finger foods. On the top of the picnic basket is a bottle of wine.
"Halika..." He said nang nakaupo na sa blanket.
Umupo ako sa tabi niya at sinabing, "Sana sa bahay nalang tayo diba? Nagpakahirap kapa."
"Maghintay ka lang kasi." Sabi nito nang binukbuksan ang laptop niya. Aba mag movie marathon pa ata kami.
Hinahayaan ko lang siyang magpili nang movie na gusto niya.
Hindi ito ang ineexpect ko sa birthday plan na sinasabi niya. More on party and bars kasi ang naiisip ko na ipprepare niya. At napaka random na ganito ang naisipan niya.
"Game nakapili nako." Sabi nito at pumwesto na.
Hindi ako naglilingon kasi mas gusto kong tignan ang paligid. Ayoko namang manuod lang nang movie at magubos nang oras although parang yon ang gusto ni Joel.
"Okay, mukhang ayaw mo naman manuod may surprise pamandin ako sayo." He said.
Tumingin ako sakanya nang nagtataka at bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba.
"Manuod ka muna." Aniya.
Sinamahan ko siyang manuod nang may bigla tumawag sakanya sa skype and she is GLAIZA DE CASTRO.
Tumingin ako sakanya at pinatabi niya ako.
"What the fuck Joel." I blurted.
"I don't know. Okay?" He said.
"Don't answer it." I said.
"Tumabi ka yung hindi ka makikita." He commanded and answered the call.
"Hey Glaiza! What's up?" He said.
What?! Are they this close? Really?
"I'm good and fine, ikaw?" She said.
God knows how much I miss her, her voice. Gusto kong humarap sa camera at kausapin siya but hindi ko alam anong mangyayari pag ginawa ko yun.
"I'm okay. So for sure may sasabihin ka kaya tumatawag ka." Joel said.
"I want you to extend my greetings to Rhian. Is she there?" She asked.
I mouthed 'no' to Joel.
"No. Pero pwedeng favor?" He said.
"Ano yun?"
"What would you like to say to her if she's here?" He asked.
I amost slap him knowing na andito lang ako. Ni hindi ko na alam ang mararamdaman ko if I should be happy na naalala niya birthday ko or sad knowing she's not mine anymore.
Then he's asking her to make a novel for me?
"Uhm... Okay, here. Hi Rhian, Happy Birthday! You are just... Ano ba? You're getting old? Hahaha." Her angelic laugh made me shivers.
I folded up my legs, covered my self with my own arms and rested my head on my knees.
"I am sorry, I guess. For hurting you several times. For not loving you more enough not to hurt you."
I love her that I should be hurt like this. Why am I even listening? I am just wasting my tears again.
"But thank you, thank you for setting me free. Thank you for letting me go that I found myself - with Wade."
Joel looked at me feeling guilty...
I smiled instead - knowing she's happy with what I did. But tears won't stay away from me.
"I hope someday, you'll find your own Wade. Someone who'll make you feel loved and cared. A person who'll show you what's ahead and not what's behind. A woman or man - it doesn't matter. Just someone who you will love and love you back. Someone who will not take your love for granted like what I did."
"I loved you." She paused.
"I love you." She said.
Then I whispered, "I love you too."
"I loved you Rhian, and I still do. It might not be the same as I used to but I still do. You are my greatest love and Wade is aware of that. He knows how I loved you. I loved you so much and from that I learned not to love that much."
"I love Wade because he is the man who love me more than I do. I love you because you showed me what true love is."
"But I will not take you again just to hurt. I'm hoping to see you - happier and lovelier... One day, we'll meet each other - both happy and with someone else."
I smiled on what she said, in three years I never love someone. And now she's looking forward on that? How is that possible?
"Happiest birthday is my wish for you."
Neither Joel or I talked after.
"Sayang no, sana andito siya." Joel said.
"Yeah, but I know she heard me. Osige I gotta go may taping pako. Please let her know that I greeted her. Bye." She said.
I bursted my tears after and Joel hugged me.
"I'm sorry. This should be a happy birthday. I didn't plan that trust me. I just made you watch the movie." He explained himself.
I let go of the hug and said, "No it is okay. It hurt me again but this should be the last one. I am happy knowing she's thanking me for what I did and that she is more than fine."
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Happy Reading! 😍
