NO ONE has noticed how Nowi has been hiding by the garden's entrance. He wasn't hiding because he felt lonely. It was nothing like that. Gusto lang niyang makita nang buo ang ambiance ng bakuran nila.

        Every year on his birthday, his dads would set up a picnic in the middle of their small garden – just like today. Tall trees hovered over his parents, Natnat, and Karson. Presko naman ang hangin. Gayunpaman, nakalulusot pa rin ang mangilan-ngilang sinag ng araw sa siwang ng mga sanga.

        Tuloy ay parang umiilaw ang girlfriend niya sa paningin niya. Nowi couldn't help but fish his phone out. He secretly snapped a picture.

        Karson was talking with Natnat. She crouched slightly, meeting the child's eyes. "Ay, ang galing naman. May talent ka rin pala sa cartooning, e," Nowi overheard her exclaim. Isang bond paper ang hawak nito. "Do you want to try two categories? Alam ko kasi, p'wede 'yong gano'n. Nag-Feature nga ako before, saka News."

        Natnat's eyes sparkled. "Really? P'wede po ba 'yon, Ate?"

        "Bakit naman magiging bawal?" nakatawang tanong ni Karson. "Ask mo muna siguro adviser niyo if p'wede, tapos kung gusto mo talaga, ask mo sina Daddy and Kuya mo. May MTAP ka pa kasi, 'di ba?"

        Tumango lang ang bata habang marahang tinatapik ni Karson ang ulo nito.

        Umingay ang mga dahon kasabay ng pag-ihip ng hangin. The paper with Nat's illustration flew toward Nowi's direction. Karson gestured at Nat before running after it.

        Nang mapansing malapit na sa kanya iyong papel, mismong si Nowi na ang kumuha niyon. Binagalan ni Karson ang paglalakad. "Naks," pumapalatak nitong sabi habang papalapit sa kanya. "Ang tangkad naman pala ng boyfriend ko."

        Nowi blushed at the compliment. He kept his cool anyway. "Oh, come on. As if that wasn't the first thing you noticed when we met." Nakangiti niyang ibinigay sa girlfriend ang drawing. It was a cute illustration of Miffy. Karson was right. May talent nga si Natnat.

        Maingat na itinupi ni Karson ang papel. "Hindi naman talaga," pagtanggi nito sa ibinibintang ni Nowi. She placed her hands on her waist. "How was I supposed to notice na matangkad ka? The first time na nag-meet tayo, nakaupo ka sa may coffee bar, tapos umiinom ka ng iced Americano."

        Smiling, Nowi reached for her hand. Nang tuluyang mahapit palapit ang girlfriend ay siya mismo ang nagpatong ng mga kamay nito sa batok niya. "But baby, even I don't remember what I was drinking that day. Are you sure you weren't attracted to me from the beginning?"

        "Hindi, a. Sure, sinabi ko kina Mon na cute ka pero hanggang do'n lang. Sinira mo laptop ko, e."

        Ngumuso siya. "I already apologized kaya. Besides, you gained something more valuable than your laptop naman." Nowi batted his lashes, attempting to charm the fake frown off of Karson's face. "Me," he said proudly.

        His charms didn't work, though. Bilang sagot ay pinaikot lang ni Karson ang mga mata. Ikinatawa niya iyon. "Bakit ka pala nandito? Nagseselos ka na ba sa 'min ni Nat kasi parang mas marami kaming common interests?"

        Natatawa siyang umiling. "It's not that naman, Babe. I'm happy nga that you have something to talk about na."

        "So ano nga?" She properly placed her hands around his nape. Napalabi si Nowi nang maramdamang nilalaro na ng babae ang buhok niya. "Okay ka lang ba? Do you find all this triggering? If you want, sa loob na lang tayo ng bahay kumain para 'di mo nakikita 'tong garden."

        "What? No, I'm really okay. I'm not sulking naman, e."

        "E, bakit ka nandito? Bakit ayaw mo kaming samahan do'n?" Ngumuso ang babae sa direksyon ng mesa.

        Nowi smiled softly. "Babe, I really enjoy it when you're concerned but I'm okay naman. I'm here lang because I wanted to take a step back and take this all in."

        Ilang metro rin kasi ang layo ng kinatatayuan niya doon sa mga mesa. His parents went overboard with decorating the garden, too. Maraming fairy lights sa paligid. Mayro'n ding mga poster ng mukha niya kahit na lilima lang silang nagse-celebrate.

        Karson brushed his hair with her fingers. "Sure ka, 'ha?"

        "Mm-hmm."

        "Sorry nga pala ulit about sa regalo mo." Bumuga ito ng hangin. "Sorry kung paulit-ulit ako ng 'sorry' kahit sinabi mong okay na. 'Di lang din kasi ako makapaniwala na sa dami ng p'wede kong maiwan sa Manila, regalo mo pa."

        May kalakasan ang dumaang hangin. Nahulog ang ilang hibla ng buhok ni Karson at tumabing sa mga mata nito. Gently, Nowi tucked them behind her ear again. "You can make bawi pa rin naman. We have until tomorrow pa," he mumbled, wiggling his brows suggestively.

        "Sira." Karson shook her head, smiling. "Next year na lang ako babawi."

        Nalukot ang noo niya. "Next year?" he asked despite knowing exactly what she was insinuating. "What do you mean?"

        "I know we're taking things slow. Bago tayo pumunta dito, nagkasundo na tayo na 'di tayo magpapadala sa pressure ng parents mo. 'Di naman ako nagpapadala. Sarili ko namang desisyon 'to."

        "Babe, what exactly are you saying?"

        "I'm saying that as early as now, nakikita ko nang babalik ako dito next year."

        "Really?"

        Karson nodded with a smile. "Siguro, nasa honeymoon phase pa tayo kaya ganito na ka-advance 'yong utak ko pero wala, 'di ko mapigilan. Ayoko na rin namang pigilan kasi again, normal lang naman 'tong ganito."

        "Babe," tumatawa niyang sabi. "Stop intellectualizing your emotions muna, ha-ha. Let's feel things muna, yeah?"

        Natatawang tumango si Karson. "Okay. Your wish is my command, birthday boy."

        "Since we're on the subject of feeling. . ." Parang batang ngumuso si Nowi. Slowly, he inched toward her. He grinned when she closed her eyes, anticipating a kiss. Ilang segundo ang pinalipas niya. Mahina siyang natawa nang hindi nagmulat si Karson. Unti-unting nalukot ang noo nito. Only then did he kiss her. "There we go."

        "Salbahe ka," ungot nito.

        Just as Nowi was about to tease her more, he caught a glimpse of his dad. Kumaway ang Papa Clark niya, pinalalapit na sila sa mesa. Tumingala si Nowi. Mukhang malapit nang dumilim. There were already orange and pink streaks of clouds decorating the sky.

        Mindlessly, he intertwined their fingers. "I think Papa's calling us na to eat. We're watching the fireflies pa later, e."

        "Okay," was all Karson could say. Hinila na kasi niya ito nang marahan.

        Natnat was already sitting down. Excited nitong inurong ang katabing upuan, pinauupo roon si Karson. Saglit na sumulyap sa kanya ang girlfriend, waring nagpapaalam kung ayos lang na hindi sila magkatabi. Ngumiti nang maliit si Nowi. He, then, plopped on his sister's right side. Pinagitnaan nila ni Karson ang bata.

        On the other side of the table were his dads. Before filling their own plates, his parents took his and Natnat's. Pinagsandok sila ng mga ito ng kanin. Matapos maibigay ang para sa kapatid niya, iyong pinggan naman ni Karson ang kinuha ng Daddy Japs niya.

        Nowi caught Karson smiling softly at the gesture. Nang magsalubong ang mga mata nila, sumenyas ito sa kanya. Sabay silang nagtago sa sandalan ng upuan ni Natnat habang sinisindihan ng Papa Clark niya ang cake.

        Karson beckoned him to move closer. "I love them," she whispered before sighing.

        Nowi's dads began singing "Happy Birthday". Tulad ng nakagawian, mas mataas ang key ni Papa Clark habang mababa ang kay Daddy Japs. Kung sa loob sila ng bahay nagkantahan ay baka tumugtog pa ang mga ito ng gitara. All Nowi could do was nod and smile.

        "Birthday wish mo, 'nak?" Si Papa Clark.

        Napamaang si Nowi. He had no idea what to wish for.

        He looked around. Their small backyard garden held lots of precious and vicious memories for him. At the moment, however, all he could think about was how Karson was there with his family, unconsciously overwriting a bad memory. Hindi niya napigilan ang paglawak ng ngiti nang mapalingon ang babae sa kanya.

        Wala nang maihihiling pa si Nowi.

        Muli siyang ngumiti kay Karson bago hipan ang kulay pulang kandila. "Thanks, dads. Let's eat na po."

        The sun began to set. Unti-unti nang nagiging mahamog sa garden. Mabuti na lang at masinop na gumawa ng bonfire ang Daddy Japs niya. Nagluto rin ito ng champorado para sa kanila. Nowi and Karson sat beside the fire, their socked feet brushing.

        "Babe," paglalambing sa kanya ni Karson. "Pahiram naman ako ng hoodie mo."

        Nowi bit his lip. On a normal day, he would have given in to her request. Ang kaso, hindi normal ang araw na iyon. Ibinalot niya sa girlfriend ang kumot na dapat sana ay pinaghahatian nila. After that, he stood up. "I'll go get you a warmer jacket, yeah?"

        Karson's eyebrows knitted in confusion. Hindi naman ito masisi ni Nowi. Weird naman kasi talaga. Nakadagdag pa iyong nagmamadali siyang lumakad papasok ng bahay.

        Feeling slightly guilty, Nowi inserted his hands in the pockets of his pullover, not minding the ring box he had in the left one.

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