"Magandang umaga Senyorita!" malawak ang ngisi nilang bati sa akin.
Inaantok akong napatango bago bumaba sa hagdan. Everyone was busy. Triple ang mga tauhan ngayon sa loob ng bahay maging mga trabahador sa labas.
Tumungo ako sa kusina at nakitang kumakain pa lang ng almusal sina Mamáng at Papáng. Papáng's face beamed upon seeing me walking toward them.
"Feliz cumpleanos hija!" He stood up and planted a kiss on my both cheeks. My heart melted when I saw his teary eyes. "I'm afraid to wake up one day without you in our house anymore."
My heart constricted with the thought of his words. I was also afraid to wake up one day without seeing them. I saw Mamáng gracefully walk near me and hug me softly.
"No puedo creer que tengas veintitres ahora!" (Can't believe you're twenty-three now!)
I heard Papáng's heavily sigh. "Time flies so fast."
Iginaya niya ako paupo sa harap ni Mamáng. Dumating si Rica at bitbit ang aking pagkain. Rinig ko ang mahihinang ingay ng mga tauhan.
I was glad that the weather was good this day. Natuloy pa rin ang nais kong simpleng salu-salo na gaganapin sa bakuran. They created a mini stage where would I sit and made mini tables scattered around. Mabuti na lang at hindi na umapela pa si Mamáng.
"At exactly six in the evening, your mini party will start," Mamáng informed me after a few minutes.
I stopped chewing my food and nodded at her. "Sakto po pala ang bilin ko sa mga tauhan kahapon." A smile crept on my lips when I remembered Simon nodding at me.
Mamáng's forehead creased. "Don't tell me—"
"Of course Mamáng. That's why I wanted it simple," putol ko sa kaniyang sasabihin.
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at hindi ako makapaniwalang tinitigan. "Ano na lang sasabihin ng mga amiga ko? We'll let our people party with us?! Cresencia!" Then she hysterically fanned her face.
"Wala namang problema roon Celistina," saad ni Papáng.
"Ano'ng wala?! They don't know how to behave in front of visitors! They'll look like stain—"
"Mamáng..." I cut her again in a low voice. "Give this moment to me, please. It's my day," ngumiti pa ako nang marahan.
She sighed dramatically before shaking her head. "Okay."
Natapos din nang matiwasay ang pang-umagahan na iyon. Hindi na ako lumabas pa dahil bukod sa tinatamad ako ay alerto rin ako sa pagsubaybay ng mga tauhan. I stood at our balcony, staring at our hacienda before looking down at our backyard where the simple party I requested would be held later on.
I closed my eyes and let the wind caressed my face. I thanked God for giving me another year to live... but I couldn't help feeling scared and sad. Ibig sabihin lang ng pagtuntong ko sa edad na 'to ay dalawang taon na lang, ay matatali na ako. Huminga ako nang malalim at napatitig na lang sa kuwadra.
There were times we wanted to just run and run until we could avoid our responsibilities. There were times we wanted to be selfish... to think of no one but only ourselves. But then, no matter how much we wanted to avoid the problem, the more it wouldn't leave us until we finally faced it.
Exactly five in the afternoon when Rica and Babet knocked at my door to help me prepare. I looked at the cream flowy dress until my ankle that was hung on the side of the mirror. This dress was Mamáng's gift for me and she wanted me to wear it tonight. It had a deep v-neck style in front and a crisscrossed strap on the back. It perfectly hugged my upper body.
