Chapter 1

Sonata's POV

"Why are you crying?" someone asked from behind.

"You look ugly when you cry," aniya na sinubukan pa akong itayo but I push him away.

"I know that even if I'm not crying, I'm ugwy," ani ko na mas lalo pang humagulgol ng iyak.

"No. You're not. You look fine to me. You're pretty," aniya sa akin kaya nilingon ko siya.

"Talaga?" He nodded twice.

"Then you'll marry me when we're older ba?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Umupo naman siya sa tapat ko.

"That's why you're crying?" Tumango ako.

"My crush doesn't want to marry me!" ani ko na napasipa pa sa aking paanan. He was so choosy! My mom said that I'm cute but that stupid guy doesn't want to marry me!

"You'll marry me, right?"

"You're asking me because you're rejected by your crush?" tanong niya.

"I'm not rejected!" sigaw ko. Kita ko ang ngiti mula sa kaniyang bungi-bunging ngipin.

"Promise me that you'll marry me," ani ko na tinapat pa sa kaniya ang pinky fingers ko. He really did promise me.

"Fine, we'll marry each other." Tumango pa ito.

"I want kids! So many!" ani ko.

"You're still a kid?" patanong niyang saad.

"When we get older! I want to have six kids!" ani ko na ipinakita pa sa kaniya ang ngiting hindi naman pantay-pantay ang ngipin. Tumawa lang naman ito bago napakibit ng balikat.

"Ano ka ba namang bata ka? Anong pinagsasabi mo na naman diyan?" Lumapit na si Manang na kanina lang ay tinatawanan ako kaiiyak.

"Why po? I just want to marry someone lang naman, eh! And one more thing he said that he will naman!" ani ko kaya naiiling na lang siyang hinawakan ako at pinasakay na ako sa kotse.

"7 ka pa lang, aber!" natatawang saad sa akin ni Manang subalit nginusuan ko lang.

"Then when I got older 3 times my age!"

"Bara ka pa rin niyon," aniya pa sa akin but I ended up not even wanting to hear from her.

"We'll marry each other, huh? Once I was 3 times older!" paalala ko pa kay Gael na siyang naiiling na lang habang nakatingin sa akin.

Manang ended up telling it to my Lola that's why Lola's really happy to hear that because all along she wanted the two families to merge. Past forward to the future mas napadalas pa ang pagtungo-tungo ng pamilya nina Gael sa bahay. Walang kaso 'yon sa akin because through years that I got to know the real him. I just can't help but like everything about him. He became my first love as I turn 17.

"Do you really like Gael so much?" Mama asked when she saw me making a hand-written letter for Gael. My body had already memorized what my answer is. Isang ngiting malapad ang ibinigay ko bago tumango.

"Yup, My, he was the only person I want to marry someday," ani ko kaya naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin.

"Really? Then what do you think if we engage you both?" tanong niya sa akin.

"We're already engaged," I said while smiling. Well, I still remember how we ended up being engage kahit na gaano na katagal ang nakalipas. I just really like him damn much.

"Hmm, then do you want to marry him when you're already legal? Aware naman ako na ayaw na nilang patagalin pa ang pag-memerge between the two airlines but I still want to stay true to my words.

"No, Mama. I'll marry him when I turn 21," ani ko kaya naniningkit ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin. Naiiling na lang itong tumawa.

"Fine then, if that's what you want." Natapos na rin naman ako sa sulat na pinag-isipan ko pang mabuti. I just also bought expensive things that I think he will like. He's not a materialistic person pero why not? I have money. Anong gagawin ko sa pera kung hindi ko rin gagamitin?

"Good morning, Hames!" Nakangisi pa akong bumati sa kambal kong bagong gising at naka-boxer boxer lang na pakalat-kalat dito sa bahay. 

"Where are you going again?" Isang ngisi naman ang ibinigay ko sa kaniya.

"I won't go anywhere," ani ko kaya agad niya akong pinaningkitan ng tingin.

"I don't like that smile in your face," aniya na masamang tingin ang ibinigay sa akin. Tumawa naman ako dahil do'n.

"Are you going to hang out here?" tanong ko. He's friend with Gael.

"No. We're going to their house later," aniya kaya agad akong ngumiti.

"Can I come? I miss Tita na," ani ko kaya agad niya akong nginiwian.

"You miss Tita o you just miss Gael?" tanong niya pa sa akin.

"Both." Humalakhak pa ako. Sinamaan niya ako nang tingin dahil sa sinabi.

"You should stop chasing after Gael. He's not even giving you attention kung hindi mo lang sinusubukang kunin," aniya pa sa akin. I just make face. Well, cold lang naman si Gael but he's really nice kaya. Cold but deep inside sobrang sweet din naman talaga.

I'm always welcome to Tita's house and of course in Hames' tropahan, kaibigan ko rin naman ang mga kaibigan ni Hames dahil halos lahat kami'y sabay-sabay na lumaki.

I also called Gael's younger sister that I'll be visiting.

"Omg! Alright, Ate! I won't go out then! See you! Miss na kita super!" Hindi ko naman mapigilan ang mapangiti. Sobrang kasundo ko ang kapatid ni Gael na si Ciane. She's nice and she's also do vlogging din kasi. Super like namin na magshopping and of course dress up.

"You're going to Gael's house? Pupunta rin tayo roon bukas, ah?" tanong ni Mama sa akin. Bukas ang grand celebration ng birthday ni Gael but still I want to be the first to greet him.

When things like this. I always want someone's birthday to be special for the whole day. Hindi pupuwedeng pikon sila sa buong araw. Well, I don't know if it's just me but when people act like they don't know my birthday for a whole day just to annoy me and to make a surprise at the end of the day, my mood is already ruined. Hanggang buong araw na 'yon. If you won't greet me, that's fine pero please lang, panindigan mo na lang because it will just annoy me even more.

"Wait, I think I don't like this pumps," ani ko kay Hames kaya nilingon niya ako.

"Nat! Bago pa tayo makarating, napalitan mo na lahat ng damit mo!" reklamo niya sa akin kaya hindi ko maiwasan ang mapairap.

"OA, I just changed my dress lang naman. Just wait lang kasi." Napailing na lang siya sa akin at sa huli'y hinayaan na rin ako. Wala rin naman siyang magagawa at lagi rin naman talaga akong pinagbibigyan. Nang naupo ako sa backseat katabi niya'y agad niya akong nilingon habang naniningkit pa ang mga mata.

"Ano? Baka may gagawin ka pa? Baka gusto mo pang bumalik sa kwarto mo at palitan 'yang hairclip mo." Sarkastiko ang tinig nito nang sambitin 'yon.

"Should I?" Isang masamang tingin lang ang ibinigay niya sa akin. 

"Iiwan na talaga kita." Nag-make face lang ako dahil hindi niya rin naman magagawa. Hindi nga niya ako matiis kapag nagtatampo.

When we get there, nagmamadali na akong naglakad palabas ng kotse.

"Good morning!" bati ko sa mga kasambahay nina Gael.

"Good morning, Ma'am. Blooming po, ah. Ganiyan po ba kapag may Sir Gael sa buhay?" Humalakhak naman ako sa pagbibiro ng mga ito. Ni hindi na rin ako nagtagal pa sa pakikipagchikahan dahil tumakbo na agad sa gawi ko si Ciane.

"Here's Ate Sonata, she's here!" Naka-video na agad ito kaya hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti at makipag-usap sa camera. Natural na sa aming dalawa 'yon dahil na rin part na ng buhay namin ang pag-vvlog.

"We'll continue later, for now, we'll just going to have chikahan with each other. It's been really a while since we saw each other." Nagpaalam na rin si Ciane sa camera bago ako nilingon.

"Omg, Ate! Want to go shopping today? Do you want to go to Paris? Tara?" patanong na anyaya niya.

"We can't, Ciane. Next time na lang. It's your brother's birthday tomorrow," ani ko kaya napanguso siya.

"He doesn't even care if he will celebrate his birthday." Napasimangot pa si Ciane kaya natawa naman ako.

"But I like celebrating his birthday." Agad naman napatawa si Ciane doon bago siya nailing.

"Does it feel good, Ate? To be inlove?" tanong niya sa akin.

"You're too young for that, Ciane. 15 ka pa lang," ani Gael na siyang nadaan sa gawi namin. Hindi talaga uso sa kanila nina Hames ang magdamit pang-itaas kapag nasa bahay.

"Want to go to Paris with us after your birthday? My treat," ani ko bago siya nilingon.

"No. I'll be busy studying," aniya. Napanguso naman ako roon, agad na nagreklamo si Ciane at inasar-asar ang Kuya niya but I looked at him while smiling.

"Mabuti 'yan, para sa future natin," ani ko na tumawa pa. He just ignore what I said. Ganiyan naman lagi ang isang 'yan. He always seem so cold but deep inside he cares.

Mayamaya lang ay dumating na ang iba pa naming kaibigan. We all spend time together. Napagpasiyahan na rin naming dito na matulog hanggang bukas. Well, our parents are also close to each other kaya hindi naman na kami nahirapan pang magpaalam.    

"Nat, what's your gift again this time?" tanong ni Hereth sa akin. We're the only three girls in our room, kasama namin si Ciane while the boys are in the room next to us. Si Kyst and Reed ay naroon na rin.

"Hmm, hulaan niyo." Tumawa pa ako kaya agad na naningkit ang mga mata ng mga ito.

"Don't tell me it's a jaguar?" Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Hereth nang mapatingin sa susi na hawak ko. Napatawa naman ako roon bago napakibit ng balikat.

"Wow. Gusto ko ring magkaroon ng fiancee na Sonata."

"Omg! Kuya is so lucky talaga! Just tell me if he hurts you. I'm always here for you, Ate!" nakangiting saad sa akin ni Ciane.

"He won't. Cold lang 'yon but he remember every single things I say to him." Ngumiti pa ako kaya tuwang-tuwa ang mga ito.

I didn't really sleep waiting for the 12 o'clock to come. I'm not kidding when I said that I wanted to greet him first. Super excited ko pa nang lumabas.

"Hi," bati ko sa kaniya nang lumabas siya ng kanilang kwarto because I texted him.

"Happy birthday, Gael!" Malapad ang ngiti mula sa aking mga labi habang nakalahad ang maliit na cupcake sa harapan niya.

"Thank you, Nat. You don't have to do this." Ngumiti lang siya ng tipid.

"Duh! I'll always be the one who will celebrate with you, no! No matter what happen," ani ko na malapad pang ngumiti. Pinilit ko pang pahipan ang kandila bago siya kinuhanan ng litrato. He hates taking pictures at madalas na pinapa-delete sa akin ang mga post kong litrato niya but I just really like taking pictures of him. Kung hindi siya ang mag-popost edi ako na lang. 

"What is it again, Nat? I told you that I don't like surprises."

"It's not a surprise kaya! Everyone knows about it." Ngumiti pa ako sa kaniya bago siya dinala sa tapat ng bahay nila. Iniabot ko pa sa kaniya ang susi ng sasakyan.

"Happy birthday, Gael!" He looked at me with disbelief.

"Nat, I can't receive that. That's just expensive." I know that he doesn't really like luxury things but he likes to stroll a lot so why not?

"You're 18 na. You can use it na. Magtatampo ako kung hindi mo tatanggapin," ani ko na pinaningkitan pa siya ng mata.

"Just say thank you. That's all I want to hear." Isang malapad na ngiti pa ang pinakawalan ko.

I would always want to give him the best of everything.