A SMALL SMILE played on her lips as she tread her way towards her friends. Naka-upo sila sa iisang mesa lang, nag-uusap at nagtatawanan. She couldn't help but to feel the warmth building inside of her whole being.

Ilang taon na ang lumipas, hindi na sila ‘yong mga batang hindi mabubuo ang araw kapag hindi nakakapag-laro at kumain ng spaghetti kapag may birthday.

"Oh, here she is!" one of them exclaimed as she saw her sauntering towards their direction. Isang malaking ngiti ang ibinigay nito sa kaniya nang huminto siya sa direksyon nila. "Tagal mo, ah? Kanina pa kami naghihintay," sabi nito.

The lady gave all of them a glance and smiled as she realized they are complete — we are complete. "I could see that." She nodded. "And fear not, my friends, I am here!"

Lahat sila ay nagtawanan dahil sa sinabi ng kaibigan. Umupo siya sa tabi ng isa niyang kaibigan, kung saan iyon lamang ang bakante.

"Akala ko hindi ka pupunta," said by the lady wearing a bloody red dress while sipping on her drink.

"Ha! Ako? No way in Earth would I miss Zyndy's best day for something I could just do the next following days," she replied with a grin. "At isa pa, tagal na nating hindi nagkikita-kita, eh."

Napatango ang babaeng naka-kulay black na dress. "Tama nga naman," was her agreement. "Simula noong nagkaniya-kaniya na tayong buhay, we rarely go on a bonding."

Lahat sila ay napatango. "And it's nice being here with you, guys, again!" sabay na sigaw nila at itinaas ang mga hawak na baso at nag-toast.

They all laughed and reminisced all the things they did on their nonage. How much fun they had when they're still the younglings their parents used to spoil. And how much they want to return to the days where nothing could stop them from playing under the shiny, glittering sun.

And how much euphoric was the Sweet Mist of Yesterday.

***