Maui's POV

Ryner and his team suddenly had their practice for basketball. May ibang grupo ring nagpapractice. I don't know kung bakit pa sila nagpapractice, as far as I remember, tapos naman na yung PE class namin.

"Hi." Bati niya kina Xianny at Maxi bago siya naupo sa tabi ko. Katatapos lang ng practice nila. Kasalukuyan kasi kaming nakatambay rito sa may damuhan. Masarap lang kasing tumambay rito tapos mahangin pa.

Ryner rested his chin on my shoulder when he sat beside me.

"Tired?" I asked him and I felt him nodding his head.

"Para saan 'yang basketball Ryner? Diba tapos naman na PE class natin?" Tanong sa kanya ni Xianny.

"Preparation for the sports fest." Napatango naman si Xianny.

"Kailan daw ba yun?" Dagdag tanong niya. Umayos naman ng upo si Ryner pagkapunas niya sa pawis niya.

"Coach didn't inform us yet." He said casually.

Maya-maya lang ay nagpaalam ulit siya dahil pinapatawag ulit sila ng coach nila. Tumango na lamang ako and I told him na hihintayin ko siya para sabay kaming uuwi mamaya.

Ryner is half sweet, half mean man. You know, madalas siyang nagsusungit but he can be sweet in his own ways. Minsan nga magugulat na lang ako sa mga pinaggagawa niya. He's bipolar, too. Minsan mabait pero madalas pa ring nagsusungit. Daig pa niya ang babaeng merong PMS.

"Baks, matunaw 'yang si Ryner, e." Usal ni Maxi. Napailing na lang ako.

"Hindi yan matutunaw 'no!" Kontra ko.

"Kasi naman kung makatitig, e." Sabat din ni Xianny.

"Huwag nga kayo! Mga kontrabida!" Saad ko at sabay kaming nagtawanan na tatlo.

"Pero seryoso, kumusta naman kayo? How is he being your boyfriend?" Naging seryoso ang tono ni Maxi.

"We're okay naman." Tipid kong sagot.

"Okay, hindi na lang sana ako nagtanong. The way you look at him and the way you smile, obvious na obvious naman na masaya ka." I heard him say and I just smiled at him.

"Hey. Diba malapit na birthday ni Ryner? Have you already think of a gift you want to give?" Napamaang ako sa sinabi ni Xianny.

"Birthday ni Ryner?"

"Don't tell me hindi mo alam ang birthday niya? Oh! What a sweet side of you Maui!" Sarcastic niyang sabi. Napanguso ako. Hindi ko naman kasi talaga alam ang birthday niya e.

"Next week na ang birthday niya, December 5. Naku, tuktukan kitang babae ka!" Sabat ni Maxi. Hindi ko talaga alam. Haaays. Been busy kasi this past few weeks. Ni hindi ko nga alam na December na next week e.

"Pwede niyo ba akong samahan sa mall kapag may free time kayo?"

"Sure sure. Bibili na rin kami ng gifts namin for him." Maxi said. We stopped talking about Ryner's birthday when he's heading now in our direction.

"Mauuna na kami ah?" Paalam ko sa kanila. Tumango naman sila.

Sabay kaming naglalakad ni Ryner ngayon papunta sa kotse niya. I thought we're going home already pero we stopped in a mall.

"What are we doing here?"

"I'm already hungry. I hate those foods they were selling inside the university." Sagot niya. Ang arte talaga! Ang sasarap nga ng binebenta sa cafeteria e.

After eating in a fancy restaurant, naglibot-libot muna kami ni Ryner sa mall. Naupo ako sa may bench mag-isa dahil nagpabili ako ng ice cream. Masakit na rin kasi yung paa ko kaya nagpaiwan muna ako.

While sitting alone, I look secretly to those wrist watch na nakadisplay. I guess, yun na lang siguro ang ireregalo ko sa kanya.

"Your eyes kids. That girl you were looking is my girlfriend." Agad na napukaw ang atensyon ko dahil sa sinabi ni Ryner.

I looked at him at may kausap siyang grupo ng mga kalalakihan. We're ahead siguro ng two years sa kanila. Agad namang nagsipagtakbuhan yung mga grupo ng lalaki kaya nilapitan ko si Ryner.

"Bakit mo naman ginanun yung mga bata? Baliw ka talaga!"

"Kanina pa ako nakatingin sa kanila at kanina pa silang nakatitig sa'yo. I felt jealous." He handed me the ice cream.

"Seriously Ryner? Pinagseselosan mo ang mga bata?" Natatawa kong sambit.

"Not funny Mauricy." Sabi niya. I purposely dipped my pointing finger in my ice cream at nilagyan ko siya sa mukha niya. Then I run away from him dahil for sure, hahabulin niya ako at yun nga ang nangyari. He also put an ice cream on my face.

"Tama na Ry. Ang dami ng nanonood sa 'tin." I whispered to him. Whenever I am with him, kung anu-anong kalokohan ang nagagawa namin without thinking those people around us.

I looked around and I felt embarrass because of what we did.

"Sorry for the... trouble?" I make a peace sign to those people who were looking at us now.

"Ang sweet niyo nga po ate e." A cute girl commented. Inakbayan naman ako bigla ni Ryner.

"Gano'n kasi maglambing girlfriend ko." He said to the cute girl. Unti-unti akong naglakad patalikod to get out of the crowd. Geez! Nakakahiya! Kaso si Ryner, hinila ako sa kamay.

"Guys! Girlfriend ko nga pala. May topak kasi 'to kaya pagpasensyahan niyo na lang." Saad niya kaya nagtawanan yung mga taong malapit sa amin.

"Everyone, girlfriend ko. Hindi siya sweet pero mahal na mahal ko 'to!" Nanlaki ang dalawa kong mata dahil sa sinabi niya.

Hinila ko siya sa damit niya dahil ako 'tong nahihiya sa mga pinaggagawa ni Ryner. Paano kasi, lahat ng nadadaanan namin, kahit nga yung hindi naman kilala sinasabi niyang girlfriend niya ako.

"Kuya girlfriend ko po. Maganda siya diba? Ang brutal lang kasi minsan." Sabi niya ro'n sa grupo ng mga boys. Tinakpan ko na lang ang bibig niya dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya.

I may feel embarrass because of what he did but I can't help but smile. Hindi siya nahihiyang sabihin na ako ang girlfriend niya and he's proud na ako ang girlfriend niya. Well, I am more than proud and happy because he was my boyfriend.

"Guys, anong mas maganda? Itong blue or itong red?" Tanong ko kina Xianny at Maxi. We're here in front the wrist watch stall.

"I prefer that blue." Maxi pointed it. Xianny agreed. I also prefer the blue kaya yun yung kinuha ko. Two days from now birthday na ni Ryner. Ang bilis ng araw.

Habang naglalakad kami, napatingin kami ro'n sa second floor dahil ang daming media roon.

"Nando'n si Jecca sa second floor. Tara tignan natin!" Rinig kong sabi nung mga babae.

Out of curiosity, pumunta rin kami sa second floor. Ang daming tao. Tapos nakita ko yung babaeng pinagkakaguluhan. She's so gorgeous. She looks like a model.

"She's familiar." Wala sa sariling sambit ko. Parang nakita ko na siya sa isang magazine!

"Baks, model yan. Malamang nakita mo na siya sa teen magazine." Tama nga ako.

"Puntahan natin!" Pag-aaya ko sa kanila.

"Naku, h'wag na! Tsaka ano... hindi naman natin siya kilala e." Maxi said and looked away.

"O-oo nga! Napadaan lang siguro yan or baka may photoshoot siya. Uwi na lang tayo." Xianny looked away too.

Bakit pakiramdam ko'y nagsisinungaling sila? At bakit pakiramdam ko'y parang kilala nila siya?

Pagkauwi ko sa condo, buti na lang wala si Ryner sa sala kaya kaagad kong dinala sa kwarto yung gift ko. Ayoko munang makita niya. Asan na yung surprise do'n kapag nakita niya diba?

"Where have you been?" Tanong niya pagkababa ko sa kitchen. He's done cooking our dinner.

"Friend date with Maxi and Xianny." Sagot ko. "Two days nalang, birthday mo na. What do you want?"

"Makita lang kita sa birthday ko, kuntento na ako." I pinched his cheek.

"Ang corny." Sabi ko. Niyakap niya lang ako ng mahigpit.

"Corny it is but I am more than enough kapag makita kita sa birthday ko. You know, special girl with my special day." Kumalas siya sa yakap pero nasa bewang ko pa rin ang dalawa niyang kamay. "I told Mom not to throw a party for me but she keeps insisting." Inis nitong saad. Ayaw niya siguro ng party.

"Ano ka ba! Maybe gusto lang siguro ni Tita Grecie na maging memorable ang birthday mo." Napalabi lamang siya sa sinabi ko.

"Mauricy, I want to tell my parents that you're already my girlfriend on my birthday." Muntik ko ng mailuwa ang kinakain ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Bakit ba siya nambibigla?

"You're kidding, aren't you?"

"Why would I kid you? Come on! I want everybody to know that you're mine already." Harujusko, ang puso ko na naman.

"Happy birthday my Ryner! I love you so so so much!" Bati ko kay Ryner. He hugged me tight and whispered thank you.

I already gave him my gift. Hinintay ko talagang mag-12 o'clock para ibigay ko yung gift ko sa kanya because I want myself to be the first person who will greet him and give him a gift on his special day.

His birthday is in formal theme that's why I am wearing a long maroon gown paired with killer stiletto heels. Ayoko sanang suotin kaya lang yun yung ibinigay sa akin ni Tita Grecie. Nahihiya naman ako kung hindi ko yun suotin.

"Are you comfortable with your gown? We can change it if you feel uncomfortable and besides, I hate the way it reveals your back." Puna ni Ryner. Open kasi yung likod niya e kaya kitang-kita yung bare back ko.

"It's okay. Your Mom gave it to me. Nakakahiya naman kung hindi ko siya susuotin." I just heard him sigh.

Sabay na kaming lumabas sa condo. Sa bahay kasi nila gaganapin yung party. Yung mala-mansion nilang bahay.

Maraming bisita na yung nasa loob nang makarating kami roon. Most of the girls are wearing glamorous gown kaya siguro ganito ang ipinasuot sa akin ni Tita Grecie.

People greeted him a happy birthday. Some of the visitors were dancing on the center aisle since hindi pa naman nagsisimula ang party.

Iniwan ko muna si Ryner sa mga bisita niya. Hindi ko kasi kilala yung ibang mga bisita. Just by looking at them, halatang mga anak sila ng businessman and businesswoman. Basta, mga mayayaman.

Umupo ako sa table nila Maxi and Xianny together with our classmates. Malalaki kasi yung tables. Xianny's wearing a black fitted gown tapos Maxi was wearing a gray tuxedo. Para siyang hindi bakla dahil sa pormahan niya. Ang gwapo niya lang.

"Everyone, settle down because the party is about to start." The MC said.

Ryner went on my direction kaya lahat ng mga tao'y napatingin sa gawi namin.

"Why?" Naiilang kong tanong.

"You'll stay on our table. My Mom and Dad keep on asking you." Sagot niya. Pagkatapos kong magpaalam sa mga kaibigan ko, Ryner escorted me hanggang sa makarating kami sa table ng family niya. I greeted them all.

"You're so gorgeous with that gown hija." Tita Grecie commented while smiling at me.

"Thank you po." I answered shyly.

After that, nagpaalam na sila sa akin dahil magsisimula na raw ang party. I was left with Ryner's relatives and I felt so awkward.

The MC said something. Tapos lumabas si Tita at Tito sa mini stage na ginawa nila. They delivered their speeches and thanked us all dahil nakapunta kami sa party.

"Let us all welcome and call the presence of our birthday celebrant, Mr. Ash Ryner Adam!" The MC said and we all clapped our hands nang lumabas si Ryner.

"Thank you everyone for coming. I am so glad to see all of you here to celebrate with me my birthday. I won't say long but I wanna thank my parents for throwing up a party even though I felt like I was a kid for having a party such like this." He said kaya nagtawanan ang mga bisita. "And to the girl I love, thank you for the gift baby. I love you so much." Sabi niya habang nakatingin ng diretso sa akin. I felt my cheeks burning. "Anyway, enjoy the party everyone!"

The party was then started. Bumalik na rin si Ryner sa table namin with a big smile on his lips.

"I didn't know you look cuter when you blushed." Puna niya at kinurot yung magkabila kong pisngi. Nahihiya tuloy ako dahil pinagtitinginan na kami kaso wala siyang pakialam sa mga nakakakita sa amin.

"If you're not comfortable here, you can go to Xianny's table. I will just approach the visitors, alright?" Tumango ako and he kissed me on my forehead bago siya umalis.

Nakaupo lang kami dahil sobrang dami ng bisita. May mga nagsasayaw na rin sa gitna. Nagulat na lang ako nang may mga kamay sa harap ko.

"Can I have this dance?" Tinignan ko ito and it was AJ. I looked on Ryner's direction and he's still busy approaching his visitors.

"Don't worry, ipinaalam kita sa kanya." AJ said while smiling.

Nang tignan ko ulit ang direksyon ni Ryner, he's now looking at me and smiled. That's when I took AJ's hand and we went on the center area.

"Ryner must be very lucky with you." AJ started a topic.

"We're both lucky for having each other." I said.

"Sayang, I came late. Kung nauna lang siguro kitang nakilala, I should have courted you." He said causing me to hit him on his shoulder and then I laughed.

"H'wag ka ngang magbiro! I didn't know you're good at joking, too." Natatawa kong sambit but his face stayed serious.

"I like you Mauricy and I am not joking." I almost gasped. Is he for real?

"W-what?"

"I like you." He repeated. I don't know what to say. I didn't know na may gusto siya sa akin. Kailan pa? I mean... Parang bigla tuloy akong natuyuan ng lalamunan at hindi ko talaga alam kung anong sasabihin ko sa kanya.

"AJ, a-alam mo n-naman na—"

"I know and I'm not expecting anything in return. I just want you to know it and I hope you'll still treat me the same." Sabi niya so I nodded. Should I forget what he said? Naiilang tuloy ako sa kanya.

As the music changes, I saw Ryner on AJ's side.

"Can I have her now?" AJ gave my hand to Ryner and we started swaying our body.

"Are you okay? What did she told you?" Nakakunot ang noo ni Ryner. I'm still shock at unti-unti pa lang na nagreregister sa utak ko yung sinabi ni AJ.

"Wala naman. He just told me na ang ganda ko raw." I joked, trying to lighten my mood. Ayoko naman kasing sabihin na nagconfessed si AJ sa akin. It would be a trouble for sure.

"So, anong sinabi mo?"

"Syempre, nagthank you ako." Pagsisinungaling ko pero natawa kami pareho. We continued dancing and Ryner is now hugging me.

"Hoy alien! Umayos ka nga! Ang dami kayang nakatingin sa atin!" Bulong ko sa kanya.

"I don't care. I will tell them that you're mine anyway." Nagsimulang tumambol ang puso ko. So, totohanin niya nga? Seryoso ba talaga siya roon?

"Tara!" Hinila niya ako bigla kasabay ng sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

Kinuha niya ang microphone sa MC and he started talking to get the attention of the visitors. Tinignan niya muna ako at nginitian. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko at yun lang ang sigurado ako.

"Everyone, especially to my Mom and Dad. Before this party ends, I want you to know that this girl I am holding right now is my—"

"Ryner..." He suddenly stopped from talking when someone called his name.

Napatingin ako sa gawi nung tumawag sa kanya and I was shocked. It was the girl we saw in the mall! Yung model!

I looked at Ryner and he seemed shocked too. Para siyang nakakita ng multo and seems like he never expected that girl to be here. Teka, magkakilala rin ba sila?

Naramdaman kong unti-unting binitawan ni Ryner ang kamay ko at nilapitan yung babae.

"I missed you so much!" Saad sa kanya nung babae nung makalapit si Ryner sa kanya and she hugged him so tight. Nakita ko naman ang unti-unting pagyakap ni Ryner sa kanya pabalik.

I narrowed my eyes as I felt the pang inside my heart. What are they?

I don't want to look embarrass at my spot kaya nilapitan ko sila. Nando'n na rin sina Tita Grecie at Tito Greg. They even hugged the girl.

"How have you been hija? You've grown already Jecca." Tita Grecied asked her.

"I am good Tita." Tugon niya at tipid na ngumiti rito.

Pakiramdam ko'y isa akong hangin o 'di kaya'y isa akong bula rito sa kinatatayuan ko. Gulat pa rin ako sa mga nangyayari and my mind was filled with so many questions.

"Hija, you're there pala." Noon lang nila napansin ang presensya ko gayong kanina pa akong nakatayo rito. Naging pilit ang ngiti ko.

"Ano nga dapat ulit yung sasabihin mo anak?" Tanong ni Tito Greg kay Ryner.

"I want to tell that—"

"Who is she Ash?" The girl who named Jecca asked while looking at me. Sinalubong ko rin ang mga tingin nito. I want to ask her who is she, too.

Agad siyang nilingon ni Ryner.

"She's Mauricy. Mauricy Dela Peña, my..." The girl turned her gaze on Ryner until their eyes were locked on each other... and I hate that feeling. Nakatitig lamang sila sa isa't isa. I'm waiting for Ryner to look at me pero hindi man lang iyon nangyari. "...my friend."

...my friend...

I run out of breath because of what Ryner said. Ramdam ko rin ang paninikip ng dibdib ko. I also bit my lower lip to control myself not to cry.

"I'm Jecca Marie Tuazon." Tsaka ako nilingon nung babae at inilahad nito ang kanyang kamay sa harap ko habang nakangiti sa akin.

"I'm... Mauricy Dela Peña, Ryner's... f-friend." Halos hindi ko mabanggit ang salitang iyon and I felt a painful pinch in my heart.

I tried to hide the pain I'm feeling. Pinilit kong ngumiti sa harapan nila bago ko in-excuse ang sarili ko.

"S-sige po. B-balik na po... m-muna ako sa t-table namin." Hindi ko na tinignan pa si Ryner dahil ramdam ko na ang paghapdi sa sulok ng dalawa kong mata.