Faded Love

20

XX.

"Birthday na ni Ela," I whispered as I went out of my bathroom tapos na ako magshower, magbibihis na lang at aalis na din kami for the dinner.

"Gago, anong Ela, Donny di ka sure!" At sinapok ko sarili ko.

Para akong tanga dito kinakausap sarili ko. Kinakabahan na ako para mamaya eh!

"Hoy! Kuya! Ang tagal mo ikaw na lang iniintay!" Kinakalabog na ni Hannah yung pinto ng kwarto ko.

"Just a minute! Nagbibihis na ako!" I shouted.

"Bilis! Wag mong pinag- aantay ang taong gusto mo!" She said kaya nagmadali na ako.

Wait, di ko naman gusto si Janina bakit ako magmamadali. "Sira ka dons" Sabi ko sa sarili ko.

"Yon! There he is! After 10 years" Benj said and they laughed, ako naman halatang kabado, pinapawis kamay ko.

"Don't be nervous, she'll be happy to see you" Mom tapped my back and umalis na din kami.

"Aba huy kalma!" Hannah whispered habang tinititigan ko yung text message ni Janina.

From: Janina Vela

Hey babe, (masanay ka na sa babe hehe ganon naman ako sa lahat) will wait for you and the Pangilinan's ah! Please please be there!

I clicked the reply box to type a reply of course!

To: Janina Vela

Wow babe, haha of course we're on our way na nga eh! See you Janina!

And I sent it.

Huminga ako ng malalim and I told myself to calm down and everything will be fine.

After an half an hour, we already arrived here at the venue, woah, Janina has a lot of friends pala, I thought di siya mahilig makipag- interact.

"Let's go inside," Akit ni Hannah kaya sumunod na din kami.

"Breathe in, breathe out kuya!" Solana said while I'm carrying her.

Once again, I calm myself.

"Omg hi tito! Hi tita! Good thing you guys came!" The jolly Janina greet us. And beso one by one.

Ako pinakalast, "Happy birthday, Ela"

"How did you know that?" She asked, takang takang tanong niya.

"H- huh? W- wala sabi ko Vela" What an excuse donny.

Tumango na lang siya, "Ah okay, but thank you, thank you for coming even though kakagaling mo lang sa ospital kagabi," Ngumiti siya sa akin at hinawakan yung kamay ko,

"Tara po dito," Sumunod na lang kami.

Tinitigan ko yung kamay namin na magkahawak pa rin hanggang ngayon, ang lambot ng kamay niya,

Umupo na kami sa designated seats namin. The party's already starting kanina pa, umupo din sandali si Janina kasama namin to have some chika, "After ilang years finally nagpaparty ka na uli--" Janina stopped Hannah.

Hindi ako nagtaka doon dahil ayun matagal na nga silang magbestfriend, wait, their bestfriends nga! So, Hannah knows her more than I do? Oh damn. I should talk to Hannah but as if she'll tell me, hay Hannah loves Janina more than me, I know.

"You've got a lot of friends pala ano?" Sabi ko sa kaniya.

"Of course I do! Ano ko walang kaibigan?" She joked.

Tumawa naman kami lahat, "Akala ko kasi di ka maalam makipag- socialize like you're always on your condo" I teased.

Hinampas na naman niya ako, ang sakit pa mandin nitong humanpas, "Just kidding!" I said habang tumatawa sina Solana sa amin.

"Aray naman!" I pinched her cheeks again hehe ang cute talaga. "Ganti lang boss" sabi ko sa kaniya.

Nag- pout siya, "Cute na cute ka na naman sa akin"

"Luh, cute daw," I said sabay inom ng juice. "Sus kagabi nga sabi mo, ang ganda mo pala no--" I almost spit the juice amp, tf.

"Oo na!" Sigaw ko kaya nagtawanan na naman sila.

After that, umalis na si Janina to meet some friends.

"Kuya do you like her noh?" Solana suddenly asked while I'm eating a piece of cake.

"Na- ah baby, we're just friends, close friends," I defended.

"Ang hirap maging defensive kung halata naman" Ate Ella suddenly speak.

Akala ko kakampi ko si ate Ella! "Pinagtutulungan niyo na naman ako," Sabi ko kaya natawa ako.

"You look more happy this past few days with Janina compare to the days when you and Alliah are still together," Dad said kaya natuon ang atensyon naming lahat sa kaniya.

I smile. Yup, a lot of things changed. Janima changed me, better than the old me. Beyond grateful for that.

"I do, Dad, I am happy" I said and sipped on my juice.

Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas, Janina will blow her candles na,

"Kuya tara" Hinigit ako ni Hannah palapit kay Janina sa gitna. "Hannah ano ginagawa mo? Nakakahiya" Sabi ko nang makarating ako sa gitna,

Kami lang ni Janina ang nasa gitna, "Ano 'to?" Hannah handed my the cake, "Cake, di ba halata? Hold it for her"

Hindi na ako nakaimik pa

"Happy birthday, Janina!" They all shouted after singing the birthday song.

She mouthed thank you to them and blowed the candles.

And they all clapped at bumalik na din sa mga upuan nila.

Pero one candle hasn't blowed yet, I took it as an opportunity to greet her, "Again, happy birthday Ela, make a wish for this one candle," Sabi ko.

She smiled at me, nagtititigan na naman kami,

"Stay, just don't leave me again, stay with me, that's my wish for that one candle"

As she blows the candle, isang patak ng luha ang kumawala sa mata niya.

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A/N: Nag- eenjoy ba kayo? Hehe tomorrow is another day, another update! Thank you guys for waiting and reading! xoxo,

cass 💥