1 Prologue
"Happy birthday dear Ade happy birthday to you."
Rinig kong kanta nila Mommy at ilan pa naming kasambahay nang pagbuksan ko sila ng pinto.
Dad's holding the cake and Mommy gave me a bouquet of white roses. While Manang Sita and the rest has white and red balloons on their hands.
"Happy birthday my dear Ade." Mommy greeted me with her tearful eye. She's still in her night dress and Dad's still wearing pj's, it's around 5 am I guess. It's a tradition in the family to greet the celebrant before the sunrise. So here they are barging in my room.
"You're now officially a lady. Time flies so fast, I can't believe this hon our baby is now a lady." Mommy added, now her tears were on her cheeks.
"Honey, I just want to remind you that it's Ade's birthday not yours. Mas madrama ka pa sa birthday girl natin." Dad said that gain him a slap on his arm. Natawa naman sila Manang.
"Mom. I just turned eighteen, 'di pa naman ako magaasawa. I wasn't even finish my college." I tried to console my mother.
"Happy birthday Adelaide. Always remember that no matter how old you are, you're still our baby." Daddy said then kissed my forehead.
"Thank you dy, mom. Love you both, i will always be your baby kasi ako lang naman ang anak niyo." I said while hugging them.
Naisipan ko nalang mag-jogging since di na ulit ako dinalaw ng antok. I wear maroon raceback, black running short and my nike.
Napatigil ako sa tapat ng bahay ng mga Del Rosario para batiin si Tito Roy. I saw him on their veranda reading news paper while sipping his coffee. Del Rosario were a family friend. Tito Roy and Dad were great friends and Tita Vina, Tito Roy's wife used to be my mother's classmate back in college.
"Good morning tito." I waved up at him.
"Morning Ade! You're so early. Let me guess." He said then sip on his coffee.
"It's your birthday, happy birthday Ade." He happily greeted me.
"You got it Tito, thank you po."
"Of course, it's your day."
"Morning Tita Vina!" I saw her went out from their room, she sat beside Tito Roy.
"Morning Ade, happy birthday! Why so early?"
"Just doing a morning workout and they wake me up early, you know the tradition. Anyways thanks Tita Vi."
"I thought you're just excited for tonight?" She asked then sipped on Tito's coffee, sweet.
"That also." I laughed. "I'll go ahead Tito, Tita, don't miss the party. Bye po."
"We won't miss it for sure." She merrily said before I continued my jog.
I ran for about thirty minutes hanggang sa makarating ako sa park ng village. Nang makahanap ako ng magandang pwesto, there I do some stretching.
I was doing side lunges when Thor suddenly popped from my side. Napaupo ako sa damuhan nang tumalon ito sakin.
"Oh! Hey there Thor, what a cutie little Thor doing here, hmm?" I tried to pep talk as if he would understand. Thor is a white chow chow owned by the Del Rosario's. He kept licking my face while I was rubbing his soft fur. I can't help my laughter.
Nageenjoy pa ako habang nilalaro si Thor nang marining ko ang boses niya mula sa likod ko.
"Com'on Thor" he said in cold voice.
Binaba ko na si Thor at tumayo mula sa damuhan. I saw Greg, he's also a bit sweaty probably just done jogging. I know he always come here in the park every morning to workout, kaya hindi na ako nagulat nang makita dito si Thor kanina. And one of the reasons rin kaya ako nagja-jogging papunta dito para makita siya. Pero bihira ko lang siya masaktuhan kagaya ngayon, at minsan rin ay umaalis siya agad kapag nakikita ako.
"G-Greg." Hindi ko maiwasang mautal kapag siya ang kaharap ko. Sobra rin ang kabog ng aking dibdib kapag ganito siya kalapit. "I-I just played Thor"
"I know"
Natameme naman ako. Oo nga nakita niya nga naman. Adelaide ano ba come to your senses, make a good conversation. Kausap ko sa sarili ko.
Ilang segundo akong tinitingnan lang siya sa mga mata. Hinihintay ko kasing batiin niya ako. But it never happened. Nasanay kasi siguro ako na siya lagi ang unang bumabati sakin tuwing birthday ko.
Tinawag niya na si Thor and they started walking.
"Greg" tawag ko dito, tumigil naman ito at humarap sakin. "Pupunta ka diba?" Lakas loob kong tanong kahit alam ko na ang sagot. Kahit alam kong masasaktan na naman ako, kahit aasa na naman akong baka ngayon yung sagot na gustong kong marinig ang sabihin niya.
"I'll try" he said before turning his back and continued walking.
Napayuko nalang ako habang pinipigilan ang pagbuhos ng luha. Ade, you should be happy right kasi it means there's still fifty percent na pumunta siya. Pagkumbinsi ko sa sarili kahit alam ko na kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin doon.
For the past three years after he learned the plans of our parents to us, he started to become distant and cold. And for those years everytime I invited him, he would always tell he will try. And I knew better what he meant.
It's already 5:30 pm, and in just thirty minutes the party will start. I was looking in the mirror wearing my red halter neck balloon gown. It was full of swarovski crystals and sequins, very elegant. It was so beautiful. I saw earlier the decorations of the hall where the party will be held, and all I can say is it was magnificent halata mong ilang daang libong pera ang binayad para magawa ng ganoong kaganda.
I should be happy that I have this grandest debut, it's a dream come true of every debutant. Not all can experience what I have. I should be grateful because I'm lucky to experience it.
Pero kahit ano pang gawin kong pagkumbinsi sa sarili ko at humanap ng ibang rason para maenjoy itong araw na 'to, alam kong isang tao lang ang kokompleto ng araw ko.
"Andyan na po ba siya mommy?" Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses ko nang tinanong iyon kay mommy.
I saw a pity on her eyes. Bata pa lang alam na nilang may gusto ako kay Greg kaya na rin siguro naisip nila ang plano nila saming dalawa
.
"I already talked to Vina, she said they're still convincing Greg. So smile Ade, it's your day you should be happy." she console.
"I am happy mom. Thank you for this. You and dad are enough reason to make me happy" I hugged her.
"Why am I not invited in the hug?"
Dad emerge from nowhere. He come near and closed us in a tight hug.
"Dad my hair" angal ko ng medyo nagulo ito.
"Aww my baby is now indeed a grown lady. Ayaw nang nagugulo ang buhok niya"
"Dad naman eh, syempre sayang naman ang effort ng hair stylist kung magugulo lang" biro ko dito.
Dad was just looking at me before he let out a deep exhale.
"You're beautiful anak, just like your mother. I wasn't surprise by the numbers suitors you have. I only have one thing I want you to promise me. Date a responsible guy, the one who'll respect you as a woman and will protect you" Dad said and kissed my forehead. I can't keep my tears from flowing. "And one more thing, whoever that guy is he needs to beat me first in basketball before I'll give him my blessing to court you"
"Dad naman, pa'no kung di marunong magbasketball?"
"Greg knows"
Ayan na naman pinaalala na naman, makakalimutan ko na sana eh. Kahit ngayon lang.
"He's not even here yet" mahina kong sabi. Mukhang 'di naman ito narinig nila Dadddy.
"Thank you for everything mom, dad" sabi ko nalang, I don't want to think Greg kahit ngayon lang. I hugged them one more time.
The event organizer remind us that in ten minutes the party will start. Bumaba na sila mommy at naiwan naman ako para i-retouch muna ang make up.
"And finally, for the last dance Gregory Carlos Del Rosario" the emcee called.
Darn. I forgot to tell to dad na papalitan yung last dance.
"Gregory Carlos Del Rosario" the emcee again called after almost a minute na wala pa ring lumalapit.
Nagsimula na ang bulung-bulungan sa paligid. At gusto ko nalang sa mga oras na ito ay maglaho, tumakbo mula sa naaawang tingin ng mga tao sa akin. But then dad came. He hugged me and began to sway our body.
"It's alright honey, it's alright" he whispered.
And that very moment I feel pity for myself. I feel the lowest.
"I'll try" I remembered he said.
I'll try means, no. Hindi. Wala talaga.
It was his indirect way of saying no.
Bakit ba ang hirap tandaan nun?
