A/N: Dapat hanggang chap 20 lang muna tayo, hindi lang busy kanina kaya nakapagsulat pa. Syaka syempre, may pa-sobra dahil special kayong lahat for me hehe.

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A month went by, leading up to the night before my debut.

This morning, I was still eagerly awaiting a call from Mommy and Daddy, or even Kuya Mark, as I didn't expect anything from Ate Grapes due to her busy schedule. Some of my junior high classmates had been messaging and greeting me. It was already eleven o'clock at night, yet here I was, wide awake.

Sovie and I had just concluded our video call; the boys were absent as they claimed to be occupied with clearance tasks, although the deadline had been a week ago. As my phone rang, I hurriedly answered, hoping it might be Mommy. I couldn't imagine celebrating my birthday without them by my side, as I was accustomed to their presence. Hence, I awaited a call from my family. I hoped Mommy would call and mention they were picking me up the next day for my birthday celebration, even without an extravagant feast, though they wouldn't agree to that.

I had grown accustomed to lavish birthday parties every year, often with Mommy and Daddy, who are well-known politicians, attending. Perhaps, they made such arrangements to avoid any embarrassment.

Unbeknownst to me, I had dozed off while anticipating a phone call. I had vowed not to sleep early since it was my birthday, yet I couldn't continue waiting alone. Ate Grapes wasn't beside me; she was the only one who consistently showed care towards my birthday celebrations.

Pero kahit siya, wala sa tabi ko ngayon.

Upon waking up, I promptly retrieved my cellphone, which was running low on battery. Numerous notifications from Mommy's acquaintances' children greeted me. I held my breath in surprise; they still remembered my birthday well.

I scrolled through the notifications, searching for Mommy's name, but she wasn't among them. Instead, I found a message from Ate Grapes. She had sent it right at twelve o'clock.

Ate ko
Happy birthday, Aphle! Enjoy your day. Nabati ka na ba nina Mommy at Daddy? O kahit man lang ni Kuya Mark? Kung hindi pa, tawagan mo sila. Baka nakalimutan na naman na birthday mo ngayon. Basta, kahit anong mangyari, mahal ka ni Ate. Madalang ko lang sabihin ito, kasi ang cringe. Hindi bagay sa 'kin.

Honestly, hindi ko alam kung may birthday party ba para sa 'yo, pero kung meron sabihan mo kaagad ako para masundo kita sa airport. Happy birthday ulit. 🍇

Even though she greeted me, something seemed to be missing. She is not by my side.

I was about to set down my cellphone and head to the bathroom when it suddenly rang, and the chat head of our group chat in grade 11 popped up.

Sovie
Guys, birthday ngayon ng panganay natin. Happy 18th birthday, Aphle!!

Nix
Happy birthday po.

Zade
Happy legality.

Thank you po.

I put down my cellphone and went to the bathroom. I turned to face the mirror, taking another deep breath. Regardless of who greeted me, if it wasn't from Mommy and Daddy, I still felt saddened and adrift. I couldn't comprehend why I loved them so deeply, even though they only showed me the bare minimum of care and love.

Following a change of clothes and a shower, I exited the room. At that moment, my room door opened, and Aling Nita entered. "Nasa labas ang mga kaibigan mo, silipin mo riyan sa iyong bintana," sinabi niya. Umalis din naman kaagad siya dahil may ginagawa pa raw siya sa kusina.

I furrowed my brow and walked over to the window, drawing back the curtain. The sun's rays greeted me as I peered outside our gate. Six individuals caught my eye. A faint smile tugged at my lips as they resembled eager puppies awaiting their owner's appearance.

Daniel, Sovie, Janser, and Yhael were engaged in laughter, while Kuya Zhack and Juniel stood quietly in front of the gate, their gazes fixed as though expecting it to open with their mere stares.

Bakit hindi sila pumasok? Nahihiya pa rin ba sila hanggang ngayon?

I retrieved my cellphone and opted to capture a picture of them. One advantage of the phone that Kuya Mark gifted me for my previous birthday is that it doesn't produce blurry images when zoomed in.

Following a few shots of them, I charged my cellphone before exiting the room. I met up with my driver downstairs. "Ayaw pumasok nung mga kaibigan mo. Ikaw na lang mag-yaya sa kanila," aniya.

I nodded at him before heading straight to the gate. As I opened it, they halted upon noticing me. Daniel and Sovie promptly waved in my direction. "Happy birthday, Aphle!" Pangunguna ni Janser. "Age mo nadadagdag, height mo hindi."

"Matangkad ka lang," sinabi ko. "Let's go inside. Why are you shy, only two of you are shy."

"Shy daw. Ako 'yung isa sa shy," sinabi ni Janser.

"Tapos ako 'yung isa," sabay na sinabi ni Daniel at Sovie. Nag-away pa talaga sila kung sino ang isang mahiyain habang naglalakad kami papasok ng bahay.

I seated them on the sofa and quickly made my way to the kitchen to fetch them something to drink and eat. I was taken aback to find Aling Nita baking a cake. "Aling Nita," I called out, a hint of surprise in my voice.

I had expected her to be shocked by my presence, but she greeted me with a sweet smile. "Pinagba-bake kita ng cake mo. In case na hindi ka bisitahin ng mga magulang mo dahil may gulo sa inyo. Ito na lang ang pagsasaluhan nating tatlo ni Miren."

I walked up to her and embraced her. "Thank you so much. Thank you for looking after me, Aling Nita," I expressed sincerely.

"Hindi ka naman mahirap alagaan. Sobrang bait mong bata. Ang swerte swerte nga sa 'yo ng mga magulang mo," aniya.

"Swerte po sila sa akin?" inosente kong tanong.

Tumango siya bago ako bumitaw sa pagkakayakap ko sa kaniyang likuran. "Kahit anong sabihin nila, ikaw ang swerte sa pamilya ninyo," nakangiti niyang sinabi. "O siya, doon ka na muna sa labas. Matagal-tagal pa naman itong ginagawa ko."

I scratched the back of my neck. "I'm sorry if I can't assist with that, Aling Nita. I don't know how to bake or even cook," I admitted shyly.

"Ayos lang. Syaka birthday mo ngayon. Dapat ikaw ang pinagsisilbihan," aniya. "Lumabas ka na roon, dalhin mo na 'yung juice sa ref para sa mga kaibigan mo. Kung aalis kayo, mas mabuti para makakapagluto pa ako ng handa mo."

"Thank you po talaga," malaking ngiting sinabi ko. She nodded in my direction before I set my sights and left the kitchen.

I discovered Sovie kneeling at the Japanese table, engrossed in writing something in a small notebook. Four men seated around her, with Juniel the only one seated on the sofa, observing as his friends found themselves in a predicament. Upon noticing me, he offered a slight smile.

I was slightly taken aback as he seldom smiled at anyone, unsure why he befriended Daniel, who was quite boisterous.

I approached the group of five engrossed in their commotion. My surprise peaked when Yhael unexpectedly shot Janser due to his suggestion. "Anong scoop? Mayaman ka ba? Kamay na lang. Bibilugin lang naman 'yon," sermon niya kay Janser.

"'Wag mo namang batukan," sermon ko rin sa kaniya.

Upon seeing me, Yhael promptly rose to retrieve what I was carrying. Sovie took her paper from the table and situated herself on the floor. "What are you up to? Working on a business?" I inquired.

"Handa mo. May mga nakalimutan pa pala kaming bilhin bago ka puntahan dito e," sagot ni Daniel.

"Bakit?" tanong ko ulit.

"Ayy, malamang birthday mo," sinabi ni Janser. "Alangan paghandaan ka namin kung hindi mo birthday. Ano ka, special?" Muli na naman siyang binatukan ni Yhael. "Kanina ka—"

"Putangina ninyo, kung tinutulungan niyo 'kong mag-compute rito mga tanga!" sermon ni Sovie.

"Wala ba kayong calculator?" tanong ko.

"Nandito." Napatingin ako kay Yhael at nakangisi siya sa akin habang nakaturo sa kaniyang sentido. "Masyado na akong matalino para gumamit ng calculator sa basic computation."

"Kaya pala nakahanda na ang scientific calculator kapag basic calculus at Stats," komento ni Daniel.

"Bobo talaga 'to," sinabi ni Yhael kay Daniel. "Basic computation nga. Ikaw mag-compute nung mano-mano ng mga equation na hindi ko alam kung saan kinukuha ni Sir."

After completing their tasks on the computer, we bid farewell to Aling Nita and Kuya Miren to head out. My birthday gathering was set to take place at Sovie's house.

As we exited the gate, we noticed that the only vehicle present was Yhael's motorcycle. We could walk to Sovie's house from there. "Sinong sasakay sa 'kin?" tanong ni Yhael nang mapa-andar na niya ang makina ng motor.

"Ako!" sabay-sabay na sinabi ni Sovie, Daniel, at Janser.

"Ayoko, 'yung birthday girl ang sasakay," sabi ni Yhael.

"Tangina mo ka, nagtanong ka pa talaga, e alam naming favoritism kang hayop ka," singhal ni Janser.

"Halika na, green Aphle," Yaya ni Yhael.

I walked up to him before taking my seat. It felt awkward to be next to him as I hadn't bathed yet. Why did it feel like it was becoming a habit to be with them without having taken a bath?

The engine started up, moving slowly as we followed Sovie. It only picked up speed when the three of them began chasing each other. Para silang mga bata.

Upon arriving home, we took a short break before Kuya Zhack and Juniel departed to purchase the remaining ingredients. Janser and I remained in the living room while Sovie, Yhael, and Daniel occupied the kitchen, preparing graham balls, a type of food I was unfamiliar with.

Janser was pleasant company, despite his unpredictable nature.

We joined them in the kitchen, where Janser struggled to recount details about the girlfriends he had in the past, from grade school to senior high.

"Haluhin mo pa kasi, parang bakla naman," sermon ni Sovie kay Daniel.

Daniel operates the mixer, Yhael pours the condensed milk from the can, and Sovie supervises them.

"Uyy, uyy, unang halo, nasaan na ang mga pangako?" pangingisali ni Janser.

"Anong unang halo? Tangina mo, maghalo ka na rito," sambit ni Daniel. "Nakakangalay dito, tangina."

"Sila naman mamaya ni Aphle ang magbibilog-bilog niyan," ani Sovie.

Hindi sila pinansin ni Janser. "Unang buhos ng condense milk, tamis na hindi na maibabalik."

"Bobo, mauubos na 'to," singhal ni Yhael. Ngumiti siya nang mapansing malapit lang ako sa kaniya. "Hi, green Aphle. Mamaya ka sa 'kin."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya. "Bakit? Anong ginawa ko?" inosente kong tanong.

"Wala lang. Babatiin lang kita," aniya. Ngumisi siya sa akin pagkatapos. "Legal ka na 'no? Pwede nang ligawan?"

-iamlunamoon