Kabanata 20:

Birthday Surprise

Mahimbing na natutulog si Devon bandang alas onse ng gabi. Rinig na rinig ko ang paghilik niya. Pinalitan ko ng malaking unan ang puwesto ko.

Panay balik ko sa sala at kwarto dahil wala ni isang anino ng mga Ninja turtles ang nagpakita.

Malinaw ang usapan namin. Dapat bago sumapit ang alas dose ay handa na ang lahat.

I was biting my nails instinctively, walking back and forth. What if we couldn't make the plan well?

Bumalik ako sa kwarto sa pang-limang beses.

If the four idiots wouldn't make it. Then I should make it happen uniquely.

It's payback time!

I spread the red lipstick to his pouting one. He was still sleeping peacefully. I couldn't hide my childish gaiety and excitement.

Ginuhitan ko ng bilog na blush ang dalawa niyang pisngi pati ang tungki ng kanyang ilong para magmukha siyang clown.

I made it sure to be visible as possible. I added another layer of foundation, and blush to give a complete vibe of Joker.

Sa pagsuot ko sa kanya ng rainbow wig, narinig ko ang mga yabag ng mga paa sa sala.

Palihim akong bumaba. Naibigay ko sa kanila ang spare key kahapon.

Ngumiti ako dahil nadatnan kong maayos na ang lahat. The party hats, chocolate moist cake they brought for Devon, the ready-made foods, and the happy birthday banner.

"Natutulog pa ba si boss, ate?" usyosong tanong ni Leo.

Masigasig niyang inaayos ang pagkakahanay ng mga kakanin.

They didn't disappoint me. I had an intimidating presence, in which maybe the reason why they followed me.

There were black and gold balloons in a spiral, heart shape, and his Polaroid stolen pictures with the group.

"He's still sleeping soundly. Baka mahirapan tayo. Paano natin siya gigisingin? Wait- kukunin ko muna ang strawberry cake." Lumiko ako sa kusina at maingat na nilabas ang cake sa refrigerator.

"Sabuyan ng kumukulong tubig," rinig kong sagot ni Rafael. Tinatali niya ang party hat sa ilalim ng kanyang sihang.

"Sindihan ang puwet..." mapurol na mungkahi ni Michaelangelo.

They weren't that party-poopers' to ruin the preparations, right?

"Ang sama niyo naman kay boss. Birthday niya dapat maging mabuti naman kayo sa kanya. At saka ngayon lang ito. Hindi na iyon magagalit dahil nandito si ate Eirene," mala-anghel na pagtutol ni Leonardo.

Bumalik ako sa sala. I placed the strawberry cake beside the chocolate one.

"Magpatug-tog nalang kaya tayo sa speaker ng weng weng weng." pag-iiba ni Mikey.

Kumunot ang noo ni Rafael. "Anong weng-weng-weng?"

Nagdugtong ang mahugis niyang mga kilay.

Sumipsip si Mikey ng soda at hinabhab ang isang malutong na chiken wings. Kinain niya ito ng buo at dinurog sa bunganga. He was truly a monster when it comes to food.

Nainip si Rafael sa maingay na pag-nguya niya. Sumadlak siya ng upo katabi ni Donatello Charles na tulala at wala sa sariling nakatingin sa kawalan. Halatang hindi pa siya nakakaahon sa panaginip niya.

Bago sumagot si Mikey dinilaan niya muna ang mga daliri niya. "Hahay. Tunog ng ambulansiya. Ang SNBP mo naman."

"Anong SNBP? Ano naman ang ibig sabihin niyan?" Lumiit ang isang mata ni Rafael sa kuryosidad.

He tsked. "Kaming matatalino lang ang nakaka-alam niyan. Mag-aral ka muna Rafaelo," mapagmataas niyang wika.

"Donatello.." siniko niya si Donatello nang hindi nag-atubiling ipaliwanang ni Michael Angelo ang nalikha niyang abbreviation. "Unsay SNBP?"

"Sabog na baog pa." tulalang sagot ni Donatello.

Rafael's eyebrows met in one line. Hindi parin natitinag si Donatello. His eyes were drowsy. He looked like he only had one-hour sleep. Bakas na wala siya sa kondisyon para makisabay sa kakulitan ni Mikey.

"Okay, boys. I agreed with Mikey's suggestion. So, here's the plan I have in mind, while the ambulance background music is playing. I will scream at the top of my lungs for help. The light must be turned off, and everyone should gather in a one place for the surprise birthday song. Dahil wala ako sa tabi niya ngayon, I know he would find me around the house. Sa pagkakataong hahakbang siya sa sala, si Rafael ang mag-bubukas ng ilaw at sabay-sabay tayong kakanta ng birthday song. Papasabugin naman nina Donatello at Michaelangelo ang confetti habang hawak-hawak namin ni Leonardo ang mga cakes. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Sumaludo sila at sinuot ang mga party hats nila maliban kay Rafael.

"Gising na Charles Darwin maghahanap pa tayo ng chimpanzee sa kalibunan," Mikey slapped Donatello right to his left cheek, waking him up to his senses.

"Sakit kaayo ba!" reklamo ni Donatello.

He caressed the skin he slapped. Gusot na gusot ang mukha niya dahil sa inis.

Tumakbo ang tumatawang Michaelangelo at tumago sa likuran ni Leo.

They were too loud to wake up Devon.

"Stop the fuss, boys,"

They all went back to their designated task. Both Mikey and Donatello positioned at the end of the stairs. It was the desirable corner to blow the confetti. Rafael switched the lights off quickly. The living room was enveloped with complete darkness.

Winagawayway ni Leo ang maliit na flashlight ng phone niya, para bigyan ako ng madaling palatandaan upang simulan ang plano.

When the clock strike at 11: 58, I screamed with my most dramatic and miserable pitch which made them cover their ears. Kasunod namang niyang pinatugtog ang serena ng ambulansiya na naka-kawing sa Bluetooth speaker.

"Dev! Help!" I shouted in urgency.

We heard his hasty footsteps within few seconds and not long enough, he was moving down the stairs. Ang paglapag ng mga paa ni Devon ay siya ding bilis ng pagpapaputok nina Donatello at Mikey ng confetti. Huli ng nabuksan ni Rafaelang ang ilaw.

Small trimmed pieces of colored papers were flying down. Devon's skittering cat made the atmosphere a bit caught over as we got a clear sight of his comic and amusing clown hair and make-up.

He was in his leopard boxer shorts that brought us to the rim of laughing. The amount of his skin on display was actually pretty obscene.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you." We sang even though we wanted to laugh out loud so bad.

Bumungisngis kaming kumakanta papalapit sa kanya.

"Babe naman. Akala ko may nangyaring masama sayo..."

His face broke into a huge grin when he recognized our preparation. I expected he wouldn't like it, or he would be upset at the very least because he doesn't want to celebrate his birthday anymore. Since it brought back the sorrow he had for his mother. In contrast to my instinct, all I could see was joy in his eyes.

"Did you prepare all of this, babe?"

Tumango ako.

"They helped me."

He rubbed his eyes, clearing his eyesight. The green eyeshadow smeared his hands.

Devon observed the controlled giggles of the ninja turtles. "Mga ugok anong nakakatawa?"

His raccoon eyebrows almost overlapping his nose.

"Na-touch lang kami boss..." Mikey clutched his chest as if he was emotionally happy.

Donatello yawned. "Tears of joy."

"Ang tanda-tanda mo na." komento ni Rafael at pinadausdos ang isang kamay sa black jogger pocket niya.

"Bakit ang cute mo boss?" puri ni Leo, sinusubukan niyang hindi kami mabuking.

"Anong cute!?"

Devon's face contorted, looking him like a wrinkled old clown.

"I'm hotter than the sun!" saad niya pa.

"Pagbigyan nalang natin dahil birthday niya." Rafael considered.

"Birthday ko man o hindi palagi akong hot. It's already stated in my birth certificate."

It was very of him.

"Oo na, Dev. No need to vent further," pag-sang ayon ko at kinindatan niya ako. "Blow the candles."

He closed his eyes, and murmured his wishes under his breath.

We couldn't understand what he was saying. I wondered what his wishes.

He blew the candles off and beamed at me like a child had received his anticipated medal

"Happy Birthday!" We chanted in unison.

"Ngayon lang namin na realize boss rainbow na pala buhok mo." Mickey revealed, swirling a strawberry icing to his face.

He ran off outside before Devon could catch a curly strand of his hair.

Ang pagdiriwang na dapat ay maayos na salu-salo naging magulong habul-habulan. Devon caught me by the waist and pinned me down the sofa.

The ninja turtles were happily and cheerily running around the living room.

I inched forward to his ear. "I hope you like our surprise. Happy Birthday again, Dev. Ti amo..." I whispered.

I giggled under the domain of his arms.

That surely caught him off-guard.

He didn't expect me to say it. He wasn't that impatient to receive the love from me. Wala akong nakikitang kabalisahan tuwing sinasabi niya ang mga salitang iyon at walang bakas ng pagkainip namang naghihintay na sagutin ko siya ng parehong tugon.

"We're not yet in that phase to say it. I feel this is the right time to say it. It just feels upright. Maghihintay pa ba ako ng isang taon para sabihin iyon sa'yo?"

"It's one of the best gifts ever I ever received."

He perched kisses on my forehead, on my right cheek, and lastly to my lips. His ardent gaze didn't leave me when he briefly gripped the pillow below my head out of the scene and smacked it to Rafael who was about to have a slice of my strawberry cake.

"That's only mine."

"Hakog. (Madamot)"

Periedot Spiels