MALAKAS ANG TILA NG ULAN. Ang tunog nito ay rinig na rinig. Drops of heavy rainfall when it meets the roof made a sound; a sound that childrens like to listen to. Sometimes, it even lulls them to sleep.

But not today, I guess.

Lahat yata sila ay nagbabantay na mas lumakas pa ang ulan para makaligo. Ayaw kasi silang payagan ng mga magulang kapag hindi gaano kalakas ang ulan.

"Oh, lumalakas na, lumalakas na!" one of the kid exclaimed, her tone beaming with excitement. "Dalia, ambala na si Mama!" utos nito sa kapatid.

Napasimangot ang isang bata - si Mary Khoney. "Bakit ako pa? Ikaw na kaya," sagot nito.

Nag-buntong-hininga ang nakatatandang kapatid niya - si Zyndy. "Sige!" ang sagot nito. "Ma! Lakas na ng ulan! P'wede na ba kaming maligo?!" tanong nito sa malakas na boses, enough for her mother to hear.

"Ay, bahala kamo da!" pasigaw na sagot ng kanilang Ina. "'Wag lang kayong padalas, huh? Bilisan niyo lang!"

Nagtinginan ang dalawa at ngumisi. "Okay!" sabay na sigaw nila bago lumabas ng bahay nila.

Masaya silang napatalon nang unti-unting nabasa ng ulan ang mga ulo nila. And when they're already, totally soak, they ran towards their neighbor. Tinawag nila ang pangalan ng mag-kapatid.

"Yan! Rick!" malakas na tawag ni Bait. "Ligo na ta!" aya pa nito.

Naghintay sila ng isang segundo bago marinig ang boses ni Marianne na nagpapaalam sa Ina. "Ma! Dasig lang bi?" aniya sa nagpapa-cute na boses. "Kasama ko naman sina Bait at Kulit, eh, tapos sina Khia pa. Mabilis lang, pramis!" The two could even know - even without seeing it - that Marianne is raising her hand in I-promise sign.

"Pagusto ka da, Marianne Eve, ah," pagpayag ng nanay niya. "Mabilis lang, ah? At 'wag lumayo."

"Roger!" Marianne Eve saluted before running towards the outside of their house - to meet her friends. Then they all ran to fetch their other friends - Khiazel, Nene, and Vhanelie. Others didn't join because their parents didn't allowed them.

They have their rule; never stray away from their homes, and just be quick. But they did neither. And so the next day, all of them catch a cold. Coughs and sneezes.

*****

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. It has been over two months. It's already Ber months. It means one thing; Christmas is coming, lots of fun is coming! Includes money. Or pocket money.

"Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!" sabay na pagkanta ng lahat. Lahat sila ay nakangiti habang nakatingin sa birthday girl. "Make a wish and blow the candle!" everyone urges.

Maria Ericka, the birthday girl, giggled and make her wish. She closed her eyes, folded her hands into praying, and mumbled a soft wish no one heard. And then blow the candle.

"Ye-hay!"

Masayang kumain ang lahat ng mga bisita. Ang mga bata ay nasa iisang mesa lang, nag-uusap ng mga plano nila sa buhay. Kagaya nalang ng kung ano ang gagawin nila bukas.

"Kasi, diba, birthday ni Khia?" Marianne Eve stated. Lahat sila ay tumango. "Edi, pagkain nanaman?!" Nagningning ang kaniyang mga mata. "Tapos birthday din mamaya ni Bait?!"

"Ngayon, oi, anong mamaya?" Bait glared at her, though only joking. "Mamaya lang ?magc-celebrate kasi ngayon kay Ericka!" dagdag pa niya.

Napatangu-tango si Marianne at tinaas ang kaniyang hinlalaki sa kaibigan. "Okay, okay!" Ngumiti siya ng malapad. "Edi, ano hinanda ni Tita Kat?" tanong niya.

Nagkibit-balikat ang kaibigan. "Okay lang naman wala, ah, basta makapag-blow lang ako ng candle ko," she truthfully answered her friend. "At basta masaya. Tapos healthy, tapos, uhm, mag-thank you kay Papa Jesus para sa pag-add ng new year sa life ko! Okay na 'yon."

"Oo nga naman!" all of them agreed.

Everyone wished for a lavish birthday party, but Mary Khoney only wished that everything is fun, or happy, in her birthday party. It matters not if there is no food to celebrate her birthday, or even if there is no cake and candle for her to blow, it's okay. As long as all of them are happy. And they are healthy.

Because, honestly, I think that's what matters. Be thankful to God for everything He has offered to give us. And that's life. And adding bliss in it. Good friends, family, and love.

*****
a/n: this update is for my friend, my good friend, who's celebrating her birthday today. and my younger sister. guys, i love you both so much !!!!! ♡

and, the last part ... I mean it. we should be thankful for what we currently have now. lavish things, things you wanted, just everything. be thankful enough you have it. not anyone has it. but, at least, they have the best gift ever. a life. we all have. so, let's be thankful to God for giving it to us - for giving us chances to live our lives to the extent. and be contented with it.

yeeeaaaahh, that's random lol but yeah. that's my insight for today - for my whole life hihi ~

maireve ♡