Moving Into My Brother's House

Chapter 47

18th birthday. Ano nga ba talaga ang magbabago sa isang babae when she reaches her 18th birthday? Some people say, it's the time when a girl turns into a lady. But does it really have something to do with the age? Because for me, it's not just about that. 

Maturity doesn't come with a certain age. It's about the attitude of a person. A girl can be mature even if she's not yet 18. Another girl can be immature even if she's already 40. So I really can't understand why girls have to have grand celebrations for their 18th birthday.

I was inside the hotel room that Lola reserved for us to prepare for the party. Kanina pa akong mag-isa rito and I'm dying from boredom already. Kanina ko pa kinukulit si kuya na pumunta rito pero hindi man lang ako sinasagot. Feeling ko, busy kay Nicole or something. Bago pa ako mabaliw sa kahihintay na dumating yung mga mag-aayos sa akin, biglang may kumatok sa pintuan.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday! Happy birthday to you! Surprise!" Sabay sabay na pagkanta at pagsigaw nina kuya, AJ and Nicole. Kaya naman pala mga hindi sumasagot!

"I hate you!" Sigaw ko sa kanila tapos hindi ko na napigilan ang pag-iyak ko. Nag-panic bigla sila kuya kaya siya na yung naghipan sa kandila at pinatahan niya na agad ako. AJ was about to hug me as well pero mas hinigpitan ni kuya ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin. I should be laughing about this kind of scenario but I just couldn't. I'm becoming an emotional mess and it's not something that I could even laugh about anymore.

"Tahan na, Kat. Si AJ talaga nakaisip ng kalokohan na 'to e. Sabi ko sa kanya, huwag na naming ituloy pero pinatuloy niya pa rin." Sabi ni kuya and after a while, binatukan agad siya ni AJ. 

"Anong ako? Ikaw 'tong may sabi na huwag pansinin si Lauryn buong umaga e. Ang gusto mo pa nga, buong maghapon para sa party umiyak e." AJ countered kaya napahiwalay ako bigla sa pagkakayakap ko kay kuya.

"Kuya..."

"Don't believe him. Sa tingin mo ba, kaya kong gawin sa'yo 'yon?" Tanong niya sa akin and I didn't even have to think about the answer.

"Knowing you, yes."

"Lauryn Katreena!" Sabi ni kuya na para bang gulat na gulat pa sa naging sagot ko. I immediately stopped crying and punched him instead. Pilit sinasalag ni kuya yung bawat suntok ko but that didn't stop me from punching him. Sinamahan ko na rin ng sipa yung ginagawa ko sa kanya. Instead of stopping us, AJ and Nicole were even cheering for me. It was as if tuwang tuwa pa sila sa ginagawa kong pagpapahirap kay kuya. Nung sinamaan sila ng tingin ni kuya, doon lang sila pumagitna sa aming dalawa.

"Ang cute niyo talagang kambal! Kung hindi ko lang kayo kilala nang matagal, mas papasa pa kayong magjowa e." Nicole said kaya sinamaan din siya ng tingin ni AJ. Hindi naman nagpatalo si AJ and he immediately pulled me towards him. Hihirit pa lang sana siya ng kung ano nung biglang dumating yung mga mag-aayos sa akin.

"Happy birthday Liam and Kat! We're sorry to break your bonding moments but we'll have to prepare Kat for the party already. We'll see you later okay?" Sabi nung baklang mag-aayos sa akin sabay tulak palabas ng kwarto kila kuya. Kung makatulak naman 'to akala mo kasal ang pupuntahan ko. This is just a freakin' party. Why do I need to be treated this way pa?

Bago pa man ako makapalag sa ginawa nung make-up artist, hinila na ako ng team niya papunta sa upuan. Nagpaikot ikot sila as if trying to imagine the look that they would be giving me. Honestly, it's kind of creeping me out already but what can I do? Kasama naman 'to sa kalokohang magaganap ngayong araw. 

After a few minutes of analyzing me and my whole being, binuksan na nila isa isa yung mga dala nilang make-up kits. Inilabas na rin nila yung mga curling iron and straightening iron pati yung iba pang mga gagamitin para sa pag-aayos ng buhok ko. It's kind of overwhelming for someone na hindi naman talaga nag-aayos kahit na sa harap pa ng boyfriend ko. 

Dahil wala rin naman akong alam sa mga gagawin nila, I just kept my mouth shut and went with the flow. Bahala na kung ano man ang maging itsura ko mamaya. I just hope that I wouldn't look someone older than I really am.

"Oh my god. You're so perfect!" Memey exclaimed the moment I went out of the bedroom to change into my gown. I didn't dare to look at my reflection yet since medyo natatakot din ako sa posibleng makita ko. And I wouldn't really believe what Memey has said baka kasi buhat sariling sofa lang siya.

After taking some pictures and short videos care of the photography team that Lola hired, we heard a soft knock on the door. Sinilip ni Memey through the peephole kung sino yung kumakatok and we he squealed like crazy, I just knew who was on the other side of the door. It was no less other than AJ. Inamin din kasi ni Memey na gwapong gwapo siya kay AJ. Kung hindi ko nga lang daw boyfriend, baka inagaw niya na e.

"Uhh, Tita Georgina said I can pick Lauryn up already?" AJ seemed like he wasn't really sure with what he's saying. It's either he's nervous or he's getting uncomfortable with the way Memey's looking, rather ogling, at him.

"Memey, wag mo ngang takutin si AJ." Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. I called Memey's attention para makahinga na nang maluwag si AJ. After a few seconds, sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Memey.

"Bakit ba ikaw lang ang pinagpala ni Lord? Maganda mommy mo, gwapo ang daddy mo. Gwapo yung kakambal mo, gwapo pa pati boyfriend mo. Tapos ikaw mala-dyosa sa ganda! Ano bang ginawa mo para pagpalain ka nang ganyan?!" Pagda-drama ni Memey and I just shook my head in amusement. I couldn't even contain the smile that I had then. Hindi pa ako nakaka-recover sa kalokohan ni Memey when AJ opened the door widely and at that moment, I just felt my heart beating so fast.

"Wow." AJ said the moment he saw me. Ang dami pang kung ano anong pinagsasasabi ni Memey but everything seemed inaudible to me. AJ and I were just looking at each other's eyes and we were trapped in our own little world. I didn't know he would look better while wearing a suit. Ganito ba talaga kapag in love ka? Palagi na lang gwapo sa paningin mo yung taong gusto mo?

"Hoy, gising! Debut lang 'to, hindi kasal!" Sigaw ni Memey and we were brought back to our senses. Natawa na lang kaming dalawa ni AJ dahil doon. He then offered his hand to me which I gladly accepted.

Right now, I just hope that AJ won't notice how nervous I am right now. Feeling ko kasi, lalabas na yung puso ko anytime from now dahil sa lakas ng pagtibok noon. When we were in front of the elevator, AJ held my hand tightly and gave it a little squeeze. I looked up at him because of that.

"Relax. I'm just here beside you all night long." AJ said with a reassuring smile.

"Easy for you to say. Hindi naman ikaw yung pagtitinginan at pagtitripan ng mga tao ngayon." I told him and I swear. It took all his might na pigilan ang sarili niya na guluhin ang buhok ko ngayon.

"Well, just be the same adorable Lauryn that I like and for sure, you'll take their breaths away." Like lang? I was about to say but I just kept my mouth shut. Baka lokohin lang kasi ako ni AJ buong gabi kung humirit pa ako.

"Okay, let's go. Pasabugin na natin yung eardrums nila." I told him na sumakto sa pagdating ng elevator. Ay ewan. Bahala na talaga si Batman!