Chapter 17

Outing  

"What is it, Rina?"

I asked my friends, Bianca and Kassie to meet me after class. Kasi may sasabihin ako sa kanila. At gusto ko na rin silang imbitahin sa plano ko for Kalyx.

"Uh, it's about Kalyx's birthday." I told my friends.

"Oh?"

Tumango ako kay Bianca. "It's his birthday this weekend. When I asked him he said that he doesn't have a plan yet." At mukha pa siyang walang balak na mag-celebrate ng birthday niya.

"So you want to surprise him, Rin? Awww. I think that's nice." Kassie smiled.

Ngumiti rin ako sa kaniya.

But we heard Bianca sighing beside us. "You really have become Kalyx Sevilla's girlfriend." She said.

And I just pursed my lips a bit.

"Let's just help Rina, Bianx. You want our help right, Rin?" Ngumiti pang muli sa akin si Kassie.

At tumango naman ako. "Pwede ba? If hindi lang din kayo busy na dalawa..." I said.

Umiling naman sila ni Kassie sa akin at ngumiti. "We have time." Kassie said.

Ngumiti pa ako lalo sa mga kaibigan ko and I thanked them. "Thank you!" And I got excited.

And I realized that I haven't felt this way before. Noon ang buhay ko ay parang sumusunod lang ako kanila Mommy at sumusunod lang din ako sa mga gusto nina Janine at ginagawa nila ni Ethan. Palagi lang din akong sumasama sa mga kaibigan ko noon kung saan sila pumupunta.

But being with Kalyx now, I realized that I was also starting to do things on my own accord. Na para bang this time ay gumagawa na talaga ako ng mga bagay na gusto ko.

"So what's your plan, Rin?" Bianca asked me.

"Uh, it's not really like a surprise. But I want to invite Kalyx on an outing on his birthday. Wala rin tayong class noon. And I will also invite his close friends. Okay lang ba sa inyo?" I asked them.

Agad naman na nakangiting tumango sa akin si Kassie. While Bianca wasn't hesitant but I guess she just still has her distance between the guys who used to bully a friend...

Pero matagal na rin naman iyon. And Kalyx said that he's now in good terms with Bianca's friend. At ganoon din ang mga kaibigan niya.

"It's fine." Bianca said.

I smiled to her. And then the three of us planned the outing carefully.

And then after na naming makapag-book ng place at lahat na, I invited Kalyx. "It's your birthday this weekend. Uh, gusto mo bang mag-outing tayo? I found a good resort not so far from Metro Manila. You can also invite your friends to join us. And, uh, can I also invite just Kassie and Bianca?" I asked him.

Tumingin sa akin si Kalyx at unti-unti naman siyang tumango. At hindi niya pa inaalis ang tingin niya sa akin. Ngumiti naman ako sa kaniya. And he returned my smile afterwards.

So on a bright weekend we went to the resort that I booked with my friends. Babalik din kami mamaya ng Manila and bawal din akong mag-overnight. Dahil kahit maayos lang naman akong kinausap ni Mommy last time ayaw ko pa rin na sagarin ang pasensya niya. And I should be home later after this. Kaya maaga rin kaming bumiyahe.

Dalawang sasakyan ang dala namin. I was in Kalyx's car at nasa amin na rin ang mga dala naming ilang gamit para sa outing na 'to and also the food that we brought. At sa sasakyan naman ng friend ni Kalyx na si Gelo ang mga kaibigan ko na sinundo lang din namin sa mga bahay nila. Bianca knows how to drive but tinatamad daw siyang mag-drive ng medyo malayo. While Kassie wasn't allowed to drive yet. Medyo overprotective din kasi si tito sa kaniya since Kassie's an only child at babae pa.

When we arrived at the resort it was relaxing. Matagal na rin pala since we all went to an outing like this. Ganoon din ang friends ni Kalyx since we're all busy at the university and since we're graduating students. Mabuti nga nasingit at nagka-time pa rin kami ngayon and it's also a holiday kaya sumakto lang din talaga.

"Wait, Kalyx. You and the guys can go swimming now if you want. Mag-set up lang kami nina Bianca at Kassie dito." I told him.

Hindi naman siya agad na umalis. "Let us help, then. It would be unfair kung kayo lang ang may aayusin pa rito."

Umiling naman ako sa kaniya. "It's not really like that. Tsaka tapos n'yo nang buhatin kanina ng mga kaibigan mo ang mga dala natin galing sa sasakyan. Kami na rito. It's just the decorations, anyway..." I said.

Nagkatinginan pa kaming dalawa. "All right then..."

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya, and then after that he already went with his friends to the beach.

Naiwan naman kaming tatlo nina Bianca at Kassie roon para maglagay ng decorations na sinasabi ko. It's for later when Kalyx would blow his birthday candle and para na rin sa mga pictures namin mamaya. I still post our pictures but just on Instagram. Pero hindi rin naman talaga gumagamit ng social media sina Mommy. Kahit nga si Ate Eris ay hindi na rin ganoon ka-active ngayon sa social media account niya dahil busy na rin sa work niya as lawyer.

But, anyway, I'd also tell Mommy about me and Kalyx soon...

Nilabas na namin ang mga balloons and balloon pump. And started pumping air into the balloons. It's just the usual birthday balloons set, too. May mga lobo at letters din na balloons. And it just says happy birthday. Pagkatapos ay isa-isa na rin namin dinikit ang mga iyon sa dinding ng nakuha naming cottage.

"Ang effort mo, Rin." Kassie smiled at me. "And you look really happy now." She said.

Medyo natigilan naman ako sa sinabi niya pero napangiti na rin.

"Where's the cake, Rin? You baked, right?"

I nodded. "Uh, yeah. But I'm not sure kung magugustuhan nina Kalyx. Naisip ko nga na sana pala ay bumili na lang din ako sa bakeshop." I said.

"Ano ka ba! Ang swerte na nga ni Kalyx at pinag-bake mo pa siya. Kassie's right. Sobrang effort mo na, Rin." Bianca said.

Nilabas na rin namin iyong cake na ni-ready na rin doon. For our food nagdala si Kassie ng desserts like cookies and some more sweets na ginawa rin niya sa bahay nila. While Bianca just ordered food. At ganoon na rin sina Kalyx and his two guy friends na dumaan lang din kami kaninang bumili ng dagdag pa na food namin. Although I wanted to cook at home, pero baka magtaka na si Manang na ang dami ko nang hinanda at dadalhin ngayon. So I only made Kalyx's birthday cake at home.

Nang makabalik na ang boys, we had Kalyx blew his birthday candles after we also sang him a little birthday song. Mukhang nagulat pa nga siya kanina sa simpleng decorations lang naman namin pagkabalik nila. Mukha rin siyang medyo nahihiya, but he also looked happy as he smiled and made a wish before blowing off the candle on his cake.

After that ay kumain na rin kami sa mga dala at baon naming pagkain.

"Happy birthday." I told Kalyx when we're already out there swimming. I bought two-piece swimsuit for this outing. Which Kalyx looked a bit worried earlier when he saw my swimsuit but then after he asked me if I was comfortable and I nodded at him ay hinayaan na rin naman niya ako.

Now we're here swimming with our friends. Medyo napalayo rin kami nang konti sa mga kaibigan namin. Nasa medyo malalim na rin kami na parte pero marunong din naman kami pareho lumangoy ni Kalyx. But he was holding and assisting my waist. While my arms were wrapped around his shoulders as well.

"Thank you." He smiled at me. "And thank you for the birthday cake as well. You made an effort to bake one for me."

Umiling naman ako. "It's fine. It's just a simple cake, too."

"And it's good." He said.

Ngumiti na ako sa kaniya pagkatapos.

Pagkatapos ay nagkatingin pa kaming dalawa. At nagtagal din ang titig namin sa isa't isa. I kissed him gently on his lips. I felt a little more confident and I initiated the first one. Nang bumitiw naman ako ay sinundan niya ng isa pang halik sa labi ko. And then another one. And another peck on my lips. Mabababaw na halik lang din naman iyon. It was only quick and sweet peck on the lips because we were still out in the public.

Pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na muna ako kay Kalyx na pupuntahan ko lang ang mga kaibigan ko. At naiwan siya roon sa dagat kasama ang mga kaibigan niyang sina Gelo at Patrick.

Umahon ako at naupo na lang din doon sa buhangin habang pinapanood ko sina Kalyx na nag-s-swimming pa rin. And beside me were my friends.

"I'm planning on telling my Mom about Kalyx..." I told them.

Parehong bumaling din sa akin sina Kassie at Bianca.

"Ipapakilala ko siya kay Mommy." I said.

Both Bianca and Kassie gave me an encouraging smile. Ngumiti rin ako sa mga kaibigan ko.