Lena was relieved when Nikola called them to the kitchen. Kahit pa alam niyang tutudyuin lamang siya ng mga kapatid at posibleng kausapin ng daddy niya si Cyrus, mas mabuti pa rin iyon kesa silang dalawa lamang ang magkasama sa sala.

Pinaupo siya ni Cyrus sa dining area. Nikola's arguing with Logan. Ayaw kasi nitong mamigay ng cake. Sila lamang daw dalawa ang hati. Ang mommy at daddy niya ay nag-uusap sa isang tabi habang nagtutuyo ng mga hinugasang pinggan at utensils ang mommy niya. Lacey and Kenna were giggling. Alam niyang siya ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito. They like Cyrus for her. Gustong-gusto nila ito because aside from his good qualities, he's also very good-looking. Ang sabi pa nga ni Lacey sa kanya, walang-wala raw rito ang iba niyang kilalang artista at modelo.

"Can we take that picture now?" Martin asked. Naupo ito sa kabilang tabi niya. Cyrus was sitting on her other side. Logan was readying the camera when Martin laughed and held up his hands. "All right. Saka na lamang siguro kapag maganda na ang panahon."

Hindi niya alam ang ibig nitong sabihin. Martin got up when Cyrus put his arm on her shoulder. She looked up to him for answers but he simply gave her a tight smile.

"Kayo na lang ang pi-picture-an ko, Ate," suhestiyon ni Logan.

Cyrus was already smiling at the camera. Sampung sunod-sunod na pictures yata ang nakuha nito dahil hindi nito tinigilan ang shutter. Parang bawat galaw nila ay nakuha. Hindi pa nakuntento si Lacey, na biglang nakisali at tinuruan pa sila ng iba't ibang pose.

"Kiss him!" her sister blatantly suggested.

Their father grunted loudly. Sinamaan nito ng tingin ang kapatid niya.

"For the camera," Lacey amended. Nginitian nito ang daddy nila. "Sa cheeks lang naman, Dad."

"I'll kiss you too!" sabat ni Nikola. He puckered his lips and suddenly, the mood turned light again. Even Logan was smiling when he took their pictures, Nikola kissing her on her right cheek (with cake crumbles on his mouth) and Cyrus on her left. Logan's scowl returned, though, when Lacey told him that it's his turn to kiss her.

Kenna and Logan then asked her to give them cake because Nikola's hogging it. But Nikola wouldn't listen to her so Cyrus stepped in. He promised that he'd bring Nikola another cake and he can keep that all to himself. Pumayag naman ito dahil napangakuan.

Habang abala silang magkakapatid sa paghahati-hati ng cake (Nikola wants the biggest slice), nakita niyang kinalabit ng daddy niya si Cyrus. The two headed outside to talk.

"He'll be fine," Martin assured her.

Well, at least she's confident that her father won't punch Cyrus in the face for not knowing her birthday. Hindi naman bayolente ang daddy nya. He talks a lot, though. Between him and her mom, ito ang madaldal.

--

The talk was surprisingly short. Pagbalik ng dalawa, dumiretso na kaagad ang daddy niya sa office nito. She's guessing that he'll be doing the pending works he left earlier because of her birthday. Si Cyrus naman ay tahimik lamang na tumabi sa kanya.

Hawak-hawak lamang nito ang kamay habang nakikinig sila sa pagkikwentuhan nina Lacey at Martin. The two are really dynamic. Hindi nauubusan ng kwento. Hindi nila katulad ni Cyrus na tahimik lang sa isang tabi. Mabuti na lamang at nandoon si Nikola. He's the ice breaker, constantly making jokes and making the atmosphere less awkward.

Everyone called it a night when the clock struck eleven. She and Lacey went outside to say good night to Cyrus and Martin. Hanggang sa labas lamang siya ng pintuan dahil ayaw ni Cyrus na pahirapan pa siya paglalakad hanggang sa gate. Si Lacey naman ay inihatid ang boyfriend nito hanggang sa kotse nito, na nakaparada malapit sa gate.

She momentarily forgot Cyrus when her sister cupped Martin's face and brought it down gently for a kiss. Parang bigla siyang nahirapang huminga.

"Don't look," she heard Cyrus say. Pero gustuhin man niyang umiwas ng tingin, hindi niya magawa.

Then suddenly, everything went dark. Tinakpan ni Cyrus ang mga mata niya. Iniurong siya nito hanggang sa mapasandal siya rito.

"I'm okay," she told him. But she knew she didn't sound convinced, herself. She'd seen them kiss dozens of times. And it hurt every time.

Maya-maya ay inalis na nito ang kamay sa mga mata niya. She saw Lacey walking towards them. Nakangiti ito at namumula ang mga pisngi. Magpapalipas din ito ng gabi sa bahay kagaya niya. She'd have to endure a long night again, listening to her sister talk to Martin on the phone. Siguradong hindi na naman siya makakatulog ng maayos.

"Good night, Cyrus!"

Cyrus nodded at Lacey. Her sister told her that she'll just be in the living room. Hihintayin siya roon ng kapatid para may mag-aalalay sa kanya paakyat sa kwartong tutulugan nila.

"Aalis na rin ako," sabi ni Cyrus nang makapasok si Lacey.

Tumango siya. "Ingat."

He stooped down to kiss her cheek. "Happy birthday ulit."

He waited until Lacey's on her side bago ito tuluyang umalis.

Nagpahatid siya sa kapatid sa banyo para maghilamos at magbihis. She didn't want to change her clothes with Lacey around. Her sister might freak out if she sees her scars. No one in her family knew about them and she intends to keep it that way.

--

The next day, Lena stayed at her parents' house until late in the afternoon. Wala rin naman kasi siyang gagawin sa bahay niya nang araw na 'yon. Nasa labas siya ng bahay, nakikipaglaro kay Bailey. She'd gladly stay until the weekend kaso ay mag-aayos pa siya ng gamit para sa out of the country trip kasama sina Julie.

The final plan was to go to HK and then Singapore. Sa Disneyland sila pupunta sa HongKong. Doon kasi nag-propose si Blake kay Julie. Sa Singapore naman, maghahanap na lamang daw sila ng gagalaan.

It would not be her first time abroad, but it's her first trip abroad without her family. Before Lacey became an actress, taon-taon silang umaalis ng bansa. Usually during summer. Ngayon, kung umalis man sila, hindi palaging kumpleto. Si Lacey, madalas si Martin ang kasama kapag mangingibang-bansa ito. Syempre, palaging kasama si Ramona, Lacey's stylist and friend. That's the agreement anyway. Pumayag lamang ang daddy niya na hayaang magkasama ang dalawa dahil doon.

She threw the ball again. Bailey ran to retrieve it. Kanina pa sila naglalaro sa harapan ng bahay. Nakaupo siya sa damuhan habang si Bailey naman ay takbo nang takbo, pabalik-balik sa kanya. Hinihintay nilang umuwi si Nikola. He made her promise that she'll wait for him before she go.

Bumalik sa kanya si Bailey, kagat-kagat ang bolang itinapon niya kanina. He dropped the ball and looked at her expectantly.

"Ayoko na," sabi niya sa alaga.

His face quickly changed from "tongue out smiling" to "you did not just say that". Kinuha nitong muli ang bola gamit ang bibig at saka iyon inilagay sa kandungan niya. Then he put his paw on her leg and whimpered.

"Buddy, we've been playing for almost an hour. Hindi ka ba napapagod?"

Kumahol ito bilang sagot.

"Masakit na ang braso ko kababato."

Bailey barked again. This time, it came with a lick in the face. Inilayo niya ang mukha sa alaga.

Mabuti na lamang at maganda talaga ang timing ng bunso niyang kapatid. Patakbong lumapit sa kanila si Nikola pagkababa nito ng kotse.

"Don't kiss me. Bailey licked my face," she told her brother when he attempted to kiss her cheek. Yumakap na lamang ito sa kanya. Saka nito tinanggal ang backpack at naupo sa tabi niya.

"Magbihis ka muna."

He thought about it for like two seconds before he said okay and ran inside the house. Sinundan ito ni Bailey. Siya naman ay kinalikot ang phone habang hinihintay na bumalik ang kapatid.

Earlier, Cyrus called her to ask kung pwedeng ito na ang maghatid sa kanya sa bahay. Kumain daw sila sa labas para makabawi naman ito. He really didn't need to, but she was glad that he's making an effort. May isang oras pa siya bago ito dumating.

Bumalik si Nikola na naka-sando, shorts at tsinelas, at may hawak-hawak na papel. Ibinigay nito iyon sa kanya.

"What's this?"

"A list," he answered. "Mga gusto kong pasalubong."

Tiningnan niya ang listahan. It has 10 items in it. One made her raise an eyebrow in amusement.

"Hello Kitty na stuffed toy?" She gave her brother a confused look. "You like Hello Kitty?"

"No!" mabilis nitong sagot. His cheeks reddened. "It's for my friend. She likes Hello Kitty."

"Aww... my baby bro has a crush."

"I don't have a crush on her!" mariin nitong tanggi. "It's just for her birthday. Everybody's getting her one."

"Pwede ka namang magpabili kina mommy, di ba? Masasamahan ka pa nila pamimili."

Nikola gave her a pleading look. "Gusto ko sa 'yo," sabi nito sabay yakap sa kanya.

"Wala akong pera, e."

"I'd give you my money. I have some on my piggy bank."

"Why not just ask mom? Sayang naman ang ipon mo."

Umiling ito. "I don't want to tell them about it."

"Why not?"

Sumimangot ito. "Ate naman, e!"

Natawa siya. "You obviously have a crush on this classmate. Come on, admit it. I promise I won't tell anyone."

But she didn't need his confession. Nikola's face was already burning red. It's not hard to know that her conclusion was correct.

"I just find her cute," Nikola admitted. He went on to tell her about how this girl, Tamina Abdul Latif (he said the full name while figting the urge to gush) also known as Tammy, looks. Kulot daw ito at maganda ang mga mata, probably because of her Arabian descent. She's pretty popular with the boys in his class.

"Don't worry. I'll look for a good gift for her," she couldn't help but promise.

"Thank you!" He hugged her again, tighter this time.

--

Nang dumating si Cyrus para sunduin siya, nilapitan ito ni Nikola at sinabihang ingatan siya habang nasa ibang bansa sila. He was also carrying his piggy bank pero hindi na niya iyon tinanggap. Siguro naman ay may sosobra sa pera niya. Iyon na lamang ang ipangbibili niya ng stuffed toy.

"Don't leave her alone on the street. She might get lost," paalala ng kapatid niya.

"I won't," Cyrus assured him.

Hinalikan siya ng kapatid sa pisngi bago inalalayan papasok ng kotse. Bailey won't be coming with them. Next week na niya ito kukunin doon.

Pagkasarado ng pintuan ng kotse ay may kinuha si Cyrus sa backseat, a bouquet of daisies.

"Sorry kung na-late 'yong flowers."

"You didn't have to."

He smiled. "Martin told me that you love daisies," sabi nito sa kanya habang nagmamaneho palayo. "Dapat talaga tinatanong kita kung anu-ano 'yong mga gusto mo. I didn't even know that you like flowers."

She looked at the bouquet on her hands and sighed. "I don't," she told him.

"What?"

"I don't like flowers." Mas interesado pa siya sa mga dahon at sanga kesa sa mga bulaklak.

Cyrus looked surprised. "But Martin said--"

"Akala lang nya gusto ko kasi tinanggap ko 'yong pinitas nyang daisy sa garden nila dati. He put the flower on my ear and told me that it looked good on me. So I told him that I love daisies. It became our thing. Kaya never syang nagbigay ng daisies sa iba. Kasi para sa 'kin lang 'yon," she explained. That was one of the fondest memories of her childhood, noong mga panahong akala niya'y siya ang gusto ni Martin.

Maybe she shouldn't have said that. Biglang natahimik si Cyrus. Nakonsensya tuloy siya bigla. She wasted his time and effort again.

"I'm sorry..."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. With eyes still on the road, he said, "Is there something that you like that doesn't remind you of Martin?"