It wasn't a big deal to Lena that Cyrus didn't know her birthday. She didn't think that he needed to know. Hindi rin naman niya alam ang birthday nito. But her family was upset, especially her dad. Unang boyfriend daw niya, hindi man lang inalam ang birthday niya. Kakausapin daw nito si Cyrus kapag nagkita ang dalawa. That's why she asked Martin not to call him.

"I thought he knew," Martin told her. "Ang aga nya pang umalis kanina. Bibili raw ng bulaklak. Akala ko--"

Hindi nito natapos ang sasabihin dahil siniko ito ni Lacey. Her sister studied her with concern.

"Okay ka lang, Ate?"

"Yeah," sagot niya. Iniisip lang niya kung para kanino ang mga bulaklak na binili ni Cyrus. Is he seeing someone else?

But surely, he would tell her if that's the case. Hindi naman niya ito itinatali sa kanya. Out of respect lang, kung may nagugustuhan na pala itong iba, e sana sabihin nito sa kanya para matapos na nila kung ano mang kasunduan meron sila.

Okay, so she's not totally being honest with herself. She was a bit disappointed when he didn't come. Si Julie nga, pumunta. Bakit ito, hindi? But he didn't know, she reminded herself. Pero hindi ba dapat ay inalam man lang nito? After the big talk yesterday about prioritizing her, she kind of expected more from him.

May kasalanan din naman siya. Hindi niya sinabi rito. She just didn't think that he needed to know. And a part of her wanted him to take the initiative to know. Ayaw kasi niyang siya pa ang nagsasabi sa ibang tao ng mga dapat nilang gawin para sa kanya. Pakiramdam niya ay pang-o-obliga iyon.

"Bakit kasi hindi mo sinabi, Lena?" Martin asked her.

"Nahiya kasi akong sabihin," pag-amin niya.

"Ate, pa'no nya malalaman kung hindi mo sasabihin? Hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon, dapat pinanghuhula na lang ang mga lalaki."

"Tama," Martin agreed. Inakbayan nito si Lacey. "Gumaya ka sa kapatid mo. She tells me what to do all the time."

Siniko ulit ito ng kapatid niya. Martin laughed and kissed Lacey's cheek. She had to look away. It was painful to watch.

"Ate!" Nikola called. "Can I open your gifts now?"

Hawak-hawak nito ang isang box ng regalo. It's from Lacey.

"Sure."

Tumabi ito sa kanya sa sofa. Nikola ripped the wrapper open. He then pulled Lacey's gift from inside the box. It was what she expected to get. A dress.

"I had that made by Rajo," Lacey told her. "Hindi na hand-me-down 'yan, Ate, ha. Sana naman isuot mo."

It's a long chiffon black dress with flowy straps that can be tied in different ways.

"Try it!" Kenna urged.

Agad siyang umiling. Sleeveless iyon. She'd have nowhere to hide her wrists.

"Isusukat ko na lang pagbalik ko sa bahay," sabi niya.

"Pero hindi namin makikita kung bagay. Sige na, Ate!" pamimilit ni Lacey. Sinang-ayunan ito ni Martin pati na rin ng parents niya. Ito ang hirap sa hindi madalas mag-ayos at magpaganda. Whenever there's a chance, people will surely force you out of your shell. She just wished that she had their confidence. Sa pamilya yata nila, siya ang pinakang-mahiyain.

Lacey and Kenna helped her inside Kenna's room. Doon daw siya magbihis. Mabuti na lamang at hindi nagpilit ang dalawa na ayusan pa siya. She was left alone inside for a while.

She studied the dress with curiosity. Nagagandahan naman siya sa pagkakayari. Hindi lamang siya sigurado kung babagay iyon sa kanya. Contrary to what other people think, she actually likes girly things. Maganda kasing tingnan ang mga heels, bags at dresses ng mga babae. Iyon nga lamang, madalas na hindi siya kumportable. So she contented herself with wearing jeans and sweaters. Comfort over style, anytime.

She had a hard time figuring out how she'd style the straps. Hindi naman iyon necessity. The dress could go without it dahil sweetheart neckline naman iyon at hindi malalaglag sa kanya kung sakali. But the straps were what made the dress interesting.

Grunting, she just threw them over her shoulder and walked towards the body-length mirror to check if she looks okay.

The hem of the dress was sweeping the floor. It was too long for her, barefoot. Lacey obviously had it made with the intention to force her into wearing high heels. Kasi mas maganda 'yong dress kapag naka-heels.

"Ate! Are you done? Nilamon ka na ba ng dress mo?"

"Sandali lang!"

Naghanap siya ng bangles o makapal na bracelets para maipantakip sa pulso niya. Thankfully, kikay din si Kenna katulad ni Lacey kaya napakarami nitong accessories.

Kumuha siya ng dalawang gold bangles na magkaiba ng style pero parehong makapal. Pagkasuot ay saka siya lumabas ng kwarto.

Her two sisters circled her, studying every angle.

"I think you should wear makeup," Lacey suggested.

"And tie your hair up," sabi naman ni Kenna.

"With these?" she joked, raising the straps.

Lacey took them from her. She made a crisscross pattern around and under her arms tapos ay itinali nito ang mga dulo sa batok niya. Pinaupo siya ng dalawa sa harap ng isa pang salamin (Kenna has two) at inayos ang buhok niya. They also put a little makeup on her face.

Lumabas si Lacey sandali. May kukunin daw ito. When she returned, she was holding a shoe box. She opened it to reveal a pair of black velvet shoes with silver heels na may design na silver vines wrapped around them.

"This is Martin's gift for you. I made him buy them to go with the dress," Lacey explained.

The shoes looked expensive. They probably were. Kenna removed her foot brace and carefully slipped her feet on the shoes. Lacey took one quick final look at her before motioning her to stand up.

"Masakit pa rin ba, Ate?" tanong nito nang makitang nakangiwi siya.

Nang tumango siya ay ibinalik ni Kenna ang foot brace at tinanggal ang sapatos sa kabila niyang paa. Inalalayan siya ng dalawa pabalik sa sala. Nang makaupo na siya sa sofa, saka uli nila inilagay ang heels.

"You look beautiful, Anak," her dad told her. Nilapitan siya nito at hinalikan sa pisngi.

Her mom picked up a small rectangular box from the table where her gifts were laid. Binuksan nito iyon at kinuha ang isang kwintas. It was a silver necklace, with a little shimmering snowflake as pendant. Inilagay nito iyon sa leeg niya.

"Happy birthday ulit," sabi nito.

"Thanks, Mom."

"I'll take your picture," Martin offered.

Kinuha nito ang dala niyang camera at saka sila pinapwestong mag-anak sa sofa. Her dad and Logan positioned themselves at the back. Lacey and her mom sat on either side of her. Kenna sat next to her mom and Nikola sat on the floor in front of her.

"Smile!"

Ngumiti siya sa camera, kay Martin. The camera flashed a few times. Nagpalit-palit din sila ng pwesto. She had a picture with the guys. Then with the girls. Tapos ay isa-isa naman.

Marami na silang pictures kanina, pero ngayong naka-ayos siya, sinamantala ng mga ito ang pagkakataon. They had to keep her formal self immortal somehow. Kasi mamaya, magpapalit na rin siya ng damit.

Logan was about to take her picture with Martin when the maid interrupted. May tao raw sa labas. Cyrus daw ang pangalan.

Agad na lumayo sa kanya si Martin at ngumiti. Saka nito sinalubong sa may pintuan si Cyrus nang papasukin ito ng katulong. He's wearing a baby blue dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, tucked in a pair of dark denim jeans. Wala itong salamin sa mata. He kinda looked like Superman with that clump of hair on his forehead, just above his eyes.

Agad na natuon ang tingin nito sa kanya. There's something about that look, something weird and inexplainable, that made her shiver.

"Cake!"

Nikola broke the trance. He ran to Cyrus and took the  small box of cake from his hand. Then, her brother ran back to her, excitement written all over his face, and asked, "Ate, bibigyan mo 'ko, ha?"

She smiled and ruffled his hair. "Of course."

"Yehey!" He was already opening the box when their mom took it from him. "Let's open this in the kitchen, okay?"

Sumunod sa mommy niya ang mga kapatid, kasama si Martin. Only her dad was left there with them.

"Glad you can make it," he told Cyrus, sarcasm evident in his tone.

"I'm sorry I was late, Sir," Cyrus replied, not taking his eyes off of her.

Her father nodded. "I'll be in the kitchen, Lena," paalam nito. He was gone before she could complain.

Napatingin siya kay Cyrus. Nakatayo pa rin ito. He's probably waiting for her to say something.

"W-Would you like to sit?"

Tumango ito at naglakad palapit, each step making her heart beat louder. Maraming pwedeng upuan pero sa tabi nita ito naupo. She was aware that he was still looking. Ramdam niya iyon dahil sa init ng pisngi niya. Bakit ba bigla-bigla itong ganoon makatitig?

"Happy birthday," bulong nito.

"Thanks," mahina naman niyang sagot.

"You look beautiful, by the way."

Nagyuko siya ng ulo. The bangles on her wrists suddenly became very interesting. She felt his fingers near her ear. Inilagay nito ang nakakalat na mga hibla ng buhok sa likuran ng tenga niya.

"Are you mad at me for not knowing your birthday?"

Should she say yes? But she's not mad. Nalungkot lamang nang kaunti. But she couldn't tell him that. That would be like admitting to him that he's special to her and that she needed his attention. So she shook her head.

"It's not your fault that I didn't tell you." But Julie knew. Even Blake. Because they cared enough to ask.

"Kahit na. Dapat inalam ko. I'm sorry I suck at being your boyfriend." Ikinulong nito ang kamay niya sa mga kamay nito. "Anyway, did you have a good time?"

"Yes. Until they made me wear this dress." She made a face and raised her good foot. "And these heels."

Cyrus laughed. The sound reverbirated down her spine.

"They look good on you. Mabuti naman at napapayag ka nilang magpaayos."

"Ngayon lang naman."

"Did they see them?" His hand went to her wrist. Inililis nito ang bangle. Then he traced her scars.

"No. I was careful." Binawi niya ang kamay. "Kumain ka na?"

Bigla itong nag-iwas ng tingin. "Ah, yeah."

She was itching to ask where. Did he have dinner with another woman? Iyon ba ang binigyan nito ng bulaklak? But as always, she kept her questions to herself.

"It's Joanna's birthday too," maya-maya'y sabi nito. "I was with her family earlier."

At the mention of Joanna's name, she felt a sudden surge of guilt. Namayapa na nga 'yong tao, pinagselosan pa niya.

She was surprised with her own realization. Me? Jealous?!