Ano pa ba ang wala sa kanya na pwede kong iregalo? Hindi ako mapakali sa mga suggestions ni Gale e.

"Wear pink lingerie. We'll put you inside a cake-shaped box and then you'll come out of it and do a lap dance for kuya. He'll love it!"

Walangya! Di kaya ng kahihiyan ko 'yun! Walang practice-practice? Bigla na lang sasabak ng ganun? Ni hindi man lang nai-prepare ang confidence ko? No way. Pagtatawanan nya lang ako, for sure.

And speaking of Kent, hindi pa rin sya nagpaparamdam. Tanghali na pero ni hoy wala pa rin akong naririnig mula sa kanya. I sent him a message asking where he was without implying that I knew it's his birthday today. Maya-maya'y tumawag sya.

"Hello, Kent?"

"Na kina mama ako," he told me.

"A... okay."

"Jazz..."

"Yes?"

He paused for a moment. "Never mind. Is that all?"

"Yep. Enjoy your day! Bye!" I hung up. Magtampo kaya sya kapag hindi ko sya binati ngayon? I know he's not really into events like this. Pero kahit naman siguro sinong tao sa mundo, malulungkot kapag hindi naalala ng taong mahalaga sa kanila 'yung birthday nila, di ba?

Having said that... mahalaga ba naman ako kay Kent? Siguro? Kasi mag-e-effort ba sya ng sobra para sa 'kin kung hindi ako mahalaga sa kanya?

I sighed. I guess there's really no guarantee. I just have to trust him and in the meantime, maghahanap ako ng regalo.

'Do you want to go out?' was the message I got from him after our talk. I said sure and told him to pick me up by 6pm. Nagpunta muna ako ng mall para maghanap ng pwedeng iregalo sa kanya.

I bought him a miniature figure of a guy na naka-toque at apron tapos may hawak na egg beater. It was butt naked. Naalala ko kung gaano sya kahalay kaya binili ko 'yun. I had no time to wrap it up dahil nag-ayos pa 'ko so pinaglagay ko na lang sa isang magandang paper bag.

Nagpakulot pa ako sa tiyahin ko para maayos ang buhok ko. Ang sama na naman ng tingin sa 'kin ni tatay. Nagmakaawa kasi ako sa kanya na pagbigyan ako kahit ngayon lang kasi birthday naman ni Kent. Pina-extend ko na rin ang curfew ko ng alas dose. Ang lakas ko lang maka-Cinderella.

I heard his car honk from outside so nagmadali ako paglabas. Pinaalalahanan pa ako ni tatay na umuwi bago mag-alas dose at baka raw maging kalabasa ang karwahe ko ng wala sa oras. I'm not sure if he just pulled out a fairy tale reference or if he meant something else.

Kent was leaning on his car, waiting. His arms were crossed and he was looking down, as if in deep thought. I hurried towards him, careful not to trip on my heels. Naka-dress ako ngayon. Red dress. Empire cut at may maluwag na skirt. Sana hindi ako lamigin. Tube pa naman 'yung itaas. Hindi na ako nagdala ng jacket kasi wala namang bagay. Kapag nag-cardigan ako na kulay black, hindi na sya magandang tingnan.

"Kent!" Tumunghay sya sa tawag ko. Kumawit ako sa batok nya and then I gave him a peck on the lips. "Happy birthday!" I said with a beam.

"Akala ko hindi mo alam e."

"I didn't know. Gale told me last night," pag-amin ko. "San tayo ngayon?"

He shrugged. "Where do you want to go?"

"Aba, ikaw ang birthday boy ngayon. We'll go wherever you want."

That made him smile. "Okay. Let's go to my house."

Nagtanggal ako ng heels para makaupo ng maayos sa carpeted floor nya. Pinatay namin ang ilaw sa sala, replacing them with inverted wall lamps na nakapagpa-cool ng ambiance. He poured champagne on my glass.

"Are you ready to eat?"

"Sure."

Tumayo sya at nagpunta sa kusina. When he returned, may dala-dala na syang takeout boxes. Nagluto kasi sya ng noodles kanina tapos nilagay namin sa Chinese takeout boxes para magmukha silang takeout. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng trip nya pero since birthday nya, pagbigyan...

"Here you go..." He handed me one.

"Out of all the food you can eat on your birthday, you chose noodles."

"It's for long life," he said.

"Okay," I said with a shrug. "Do you have cake?"

"Why would I have cake?" He frowned. "I'm 29."

"So? Hindi porket matanda ka na, hindi ka na pwedeng mag-cake."

"Matanda? Ouch!"

I touched his face with my free hand. "Don't worry. Hindi pa naman halata."

He held it and tugged at it. Tumayo ako at naupo sa harap nya.  Agad nya akong niyakap. "This is nice," he commented.

"Y-Yeah..." I'm having goosebumps. "Let's buy you a cake?"

He grunted. "I told you—"

"Please?"

He sighed in defeat. "Fine. Eat up."

We bought a simple chocolate cake with chocolate glaze and cherry toppings. Tapos ay bumalik na kami sa bahay nya.

"I could make a better-tasting, better-looking cake," sabi nya pagkabukas ng kahon.

"Yes, but it will take a lot of time. We don't have a lot of time," I reminded him. We placed a candle on the top of the cake and lit it. "Make a wish."

He obliged and closed his eyes for a moment. And then he opened them and smiled at me. "I'm not going to tell you my wish," he said.

"I'm not going to ask," I replied with a smile. Instead of asking, I pulled his face close and kissed him.

And he was smiling like an idiot after. "That was fast."

"What was?"

"My wish."

"You wished for my kiss?" Now, I'm smiling like an idiot.

"Yeah, why not?" he said with a shrug.

"But you can just ask for it. It's nothing special. You could've wished for something special."

"It is special to me."

Now he's just being cheesy. "It's not special if you do it often."

 "Try me," he said as he cupped my face.

"Okay?" I'm not sure what he meant.

There's this glint in his eyes again. It's like he's planning on doing something bad but he knows I'm gonna like it. And then it happened so suddenly. Yumuko sya para halikan ako. "One."

Then he did it again. This one's longer. "Two."

Tumitig sya sa 'kin pagkatapos noon. God, I'm melting! He smirked as if satisfied. And then he kissed me for the third time. I had to hold on to him when it's done. Nanghina ang tuhod ko.

"Now you get my point."

"I really have to go."

"No, you don't."

Dinaganan nya ako lalo. We're lying on his bed because he insisted. Kanina pa nya inaabuso ang mga salitang 'Birthday ko naman'.

"Alam mo ba kung anong oras na?" pag-iiba ko ng topic.

"Yes, but what's the relevance of that?"

"May curfew ako, remember?"

He arched his eyebrow. "So?"

"So... alas onse na."

"We still have a few minutes. I could take you there in 15 minutes. Wala na namang traffic."

"Ipipilit mo pa rin talaga e, ano?"

Tumawa sya. "Come on, Jazz. Birthday ko naman."

I grunted and rolled my eyes. He grinned at me before proceeding on kissing my neck. Gumagala na naman ang kamay nya. One's hiking up my skirt already.

"K-Kent—" I managed to catch his hand before it could go any further. "Remember our deal."

Bahagya syang natigilan. "So that deal applies even during birthdays?"

Tumango ako.

"What will happen if I break the deal?"

Teka, I didn't even go to that part yet. Ano nga ba ang mangyayari kapag nasira 'yung deal namin? Haynako. Nag-isip ako ng deal pero wala namang consequence.

Nagkibit-balikat ako.

"Wait, there's no consequence?" natatawa nyang tanong.

"Give me time." I frowned. "I'll think about it."

Hinalikan nya ulit ako. "But there's no time, Jazz."

"K-Kent, the deal!" I struggled to free myself as he unzips my dress.

"I'll take my chances," sagot nya. Oh my God, Jazz! I told you! You can't be alone with him like this! Distractions. I need to distract him. Ah! Right...

"W-Wait!" I pushed him. "Y-Yung regalo ko."

He grunted. "Fine. Make it quick."

He got off me so I could get up. I zipped up my dress though not completely. Ayaw ko lang malaglag ito ng wala sa oras. Dali-dali akong lumabas ng kwarto papunta sa sala. Kinuha ko 'yung regalo ko saka ako bumalik sa kwarto.

He was sprawled on the bed, waiting for me. Iniabot ko sa kanya ang regalo ko saka ako naupo sa gilid ng kama, patalikod sa kanya. Maya-maya'y narinig ko syang tumawa ng malakas.

Paglingon ko, hawak-hawak nya 'yung regalo ko tapos tawa sya ng tawa. Halos mamula na ang mukha nya katatawa.

"Hindi mo ba nagustuhan?" nakasimangot kong tanong. Smiling is okay. Pero sobra naman yata 'yung pagtawa.

"I love it! It's hilarious!" Tumabi sya sa 'kin at umakbay. "So you're imagining me like this? Gusto mong gawin ko one time?"

Sinapok ko sya. "Adik! Ano, nagustuhan mo ba talaga?"

"Oo nga," sagot nya.

"Good! Then let's go," ngiting-ngiti kong sabi sa kanya. Sana umipekto 'yung segwey ko.

"Not yet. We still haven't done it yet." He nipped on my neck.

"But the deal—"

"I told you I'd risk it."

He gently laid me to the bed. Unti-unting nawalan ng hangin ang lungs ko. Mukhang itutuloy nya nga! Pesteng birthday 'yan! Nakangisi na naman ang loko. Halatang walang gagawing maganda. Distractions please! I need another distraction!

And just then... my phone started ringing.

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon. Napasapo naman sya. Gusto kong matawa but I suppressed the laughter. Baka magalit lang sya sa 'kin. Worse, samahan pa ng tampo at guilt-tripping.

Tumakbo ako pabalik ng sala para kunin ang phone ko sa bag. Si Tatay ang tumatawag.

"Hello tay? Pauwi na po ako," sabi ko agad.

My father cleared his throat. "Sige. Anak, bumili ako ng alak."

"Iinom ka na naman?"

"Hindi ba't birthday ng boyfriend mo? Dalian mong umuwi. Mag-iinom kami."

"Po?" Tama ba ang narinig ko? Mag-iinom na naman sila? Wow, improvement. Noong unang araw na dinala ko si Kent sa bahay, nag-inuman sila nina tatay. Tapos may nangyaring drunk interrogation. Pero hindi ibig sabihin noon na close na sila. Nang umuwi ako sa 'min at nagsimulang dumalaw si Kent, ni pagkausap sa kanya, ayaw gawin ng tatay ko. And now my father's planning on drinking with him again. Hindi mahilig sa second times ang tatay ko. Pero naulit so ibig sabihin...

"Jasmine? Nandyan ka pa? Bilisan ninyo ha."

"O-Opo."

Nang matapos ang tawag, agad kong binalikan si Kent. "Pinapauwi na 'ko," I told him.

"Great," he said in dismay.

"Saka inaaya kang uminom ni tatay. Magdala ka ng bihisan. Hanggang umaga 'yun for sure."

Kent obliged and changed into a more comfortable outfit. Taps ay naghanda na rin sya ng bihisan as I had instructed. Nang makarating kami sa bahay, agad na inaya nin tatay si Kent sa likod-bahay. Pagkabihis ko, bumaba ako agad at pumunta sa may kusina. Naupo ako doon sa may lababo. Katabi nito ang back door namin na medyo nakabukas. It was already past twelve so tahimik na tahimik ang lugar namin. Rinig na rinig ko 'yung usapan nila.

Noong una, wala pang saysay 'yung mga pinag-uusapan nila. Tagayan lang yata sila ng tagayan. Kumuha muna ako ng librong babasahin para may magawa ako habang nakikinig sa kanilang dalawa. Hindi ako pwedeng matulog. Mamaya kung ano pa ang sabihin ni tatay kay Kent o ni Kent kay tatay.

Bandang ala una na nang medyo naging seryoso 'yung mga topic nila.

"Ano'ng plano mo sa buhay?" narinig kong tanong ni tatay.

"Plano ho? Uh... plano po namin ng pinsan kong mag-branch out. Medyo hassle na rin po kasi 'yung brunch and dinner in one restaurant so paghihiwalayin namin 'yun. Pero hindi ko pa alam kung kelan 'yun mangyayari. Saka plano ko rin na mag-travel sa ibang bansa, to learn about their cuisines. 'Yung tipong pangmasa."

"Wala kang planong mag-asawa? Magkapamilya?"

Naisara ko agad ang librong hindi ko naman nababasa kanina pa.

"P-Pamilya po?" kahit nandito ako sa taas, rinig ko 'yung takot nya dun sa tanong na 'yun. I'm sure he's racking his brain now for some answer. Will he lie to my father or will he tell the truth?

"Hindi naman sa ayaw ko sa 'yo ano," singit ni tatay nang hindi makasagot si Kent "kaya lang, unica hija ko 'yang si Jasmine. Hindi mo naman siguro mamasamain kung maging mahigpit ako. Nag-iisang anak ko 'yan na babae, bunso pa. Gusto kong kapag nakipag-relasyon ang anak ko ay magiging masaya sya, hindi masasaktan. Dahil kapag nasaktan ang anak ko, nasasaktan din ako.

"Siguro kapag naging ama ka na, maiintindihan mo rin ang sinasabi ko. 'Yun ay kung gusto mong magkapamilya." My father's last statement was left hanging. Wala agad nagsalita pagkatapos noon.

"Gusto ko pong magkapamilya."

Napamulagat ako sa narinig ko. Gusto kong sumilip sa kanila para makita 'yung mukha ni Kent. Seryoso ba sya or was he just trying to pull my father's leg?

"Talaga? Mabuti naman," kumento ni tatay. "Kung ang anak ko man ang papakasalan mo, sasabihin ko na sa 'yong hindi ko basta-basta ibibigay ang basbas ko. Gusto kong paghirapan mo ang anak. Gusto kong pahalagahan at alagaan mo sya kagaya ng pagpapahalaga at pag-aalaga ko sa kanya. Kaya mo bang gawin 'yon?"

"Opo," mabilis nyang sagot. Dapat ba akong matuwa? What if he's lying? Tama nga si Kent. There's really no guarantee. Dapat lang na magtiwala. Pero natutuwa ako sa sagot nya. I hope he's sincere.

"Kung masaya sa 'yo ang anak ko, hindi ko sisirain 'yon. Kung ikaw ang gusto niya, wala akong magagawa. May gusto lang akong marinig sa 'yo. Kapag kasi tinatanong ko sya, parang hindi sya sigurado sa sagot kaya gusto kong sa 'yo manggaling. Mahal mo ba ang anak ko, hijo?"

Agad akong tumayo para umakyat sa kwarto ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang bumagsak ang energy ko. Ayaw kong marinig ang sagot nya.

Nasa puno na ako ng hagdanan nang magsalita sya.

"Opo. Mahal ko po si Jasmine."