I Met a Guy Whose Name is Lucas

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Present

Tuesday, July 24, 2018, 19:00 PHT

"Hoy nandyan na 'yon jowa mo—ay ex jowa na pala," Sofia laughed at me and patted my left shoulder. "Happy birthday, Ate!" She continued laughing.

"Sira ulo talaga 'to! Huwag mong asarin si Ate Ceska kahit nandito 'yong ex boyfriend niyang si Javi sa 18th birthday niya." Paula and Sofia had a high five, obviously annoying me.

"I'll talk to all of you later, pupuntahan ko lang si Mommy—"

"Ceska! Nandito na si Javi! Come here!" I heard her calling me.

Hay! Nandyan na! Tsk. I had a subtle eye roll while walking into their direction, beacuse I could feel my heartbeat pounding really fast, and I was hoping na ako lang talaga ang nakakarinig nito. I was not sure kung ninenerbyos ba ako kasi nandito siya o dahil ngayon lang ulit kami magkikita after three months na walang usap kahit saang messenger apps.

Tangina, I can't even say his name without cracking my voice.

"Sandali lang anak ha? She's still talking to her cousins—oh ito na pala siya!" Mommy smiled at Javi then glanced at me.

"Thank you po Tita for inviting me here." Javi smiled at my Mom while I stood behind her.

He is really here.

"Ano ka ba, hijo! We are like families—"

"WERE like families." I corrected my own Mom while I was staring at Javi.

Oh great, he wore the necklace I gave him last Christmas.

"Anyway, have a seat there. Let's catch up, son. I'm sure you have many stories—"

"Mommy, stop. This is so pathetic. Javi and I are not the same anymore." I stopped her before I could feel the acid air in my eyes.

No! Don't fucking cry, Francesca! I castigated myself by mentally slapping my own face. You have cried enough for the past three months—I told myself and gulped the ball that started to harden in my throat.

My mom fell mute for a moment before she realized that I just snapped a matter of fact. She sighed and looked at me. "You know I just.. I just want you to talk to Javi, sweetheart," she whispered.

Thank God, halos lahat ng tao na invited ngayon ay nasa garden at kami lang ang malapit sa likod ng bahay kung saan dumaan si Javi. Yes, he knows this house. He was always here. He was even loved by all my sister's pets.

Sana nga hinabol man lang siya ni Maxi, ang American bull ni Daddy, at ni Laz ang Japanese dog ni mommy, kaso they loved Javi as well.

Kingina lang, kaasar.

"It's okay, Tita. I think Babi and I need to talk now—"

Sarcastically, I laughed at him, cutting him off. "Funny. Stop calling me 'babi'." As if nothing happened, the audacity of this guy.

He really makes me forget my manners and hospitality.

"I'll leave you two—and oh honey, please be nice to your ex lover." My mom winked at me, kasi alam niyang asar na asar na ako.

Akala ba niya nakakatuwa?

To be honest, hindi ko alam kung anong purpose ni Mommy sa pag-imbita kay Javi, kahit alam naman niyang break na kami nito three months ago. Nakakainis lang kasi birthday ko ngayon tapos parang pinagtitripan ako ng sarili kong nanay. Additionally, I already told her na ayokong magcelebrate ng birthday ngayong taon.