Chapter 25

Our birthday continued despite what happened. Of course, we didn't tell it to them. Hindi na nila kailangang malaman. It's a matter between Hillary and his ex-best friend, Clarkson, also I and Lucas. Darating din ang panahon na magtutuos kami. And if that happens, I'll make sure, victory will be on my hand.

"Kanina pa 'yan tahimik," said Veia.

"She's eating," I replied. "Tsaka baka gutom na gutom."

"Weird, ha. Napapadalas ang pagiging madaldal ni Hillary kaya nagtataka ako super tahimik ngayon," she uttered again.

Yeah. She's been quiet since we came back. I don't know what's in her mind right now, but I know she's muddled.

"Oh, kain lang kayo, ha," Dad said.

"Tito, kumain na rin ho kayo," Veia responded.

Dad just smiled, "mamaya na kami ng Tita mo, kami muna 'yong maliligo. Enjoy lang kayo riyan," he said. "Oh, Hillary," I thought he's gonna leave, but he just called Hillary's attention.

"Yes po?" she said, trying to show off a genuine smile.

"Kain ka lang, ha, ayaw ni Tito-Dad na magutom ka," Dad replied, sincerely.

Hillary nodded, "sige po, noted," she said and Dad finally leave.

"I still can't believe that you two are so close, Hillary," Sun uttered. Well, Dad also told Sun about it and he shared it to Veia. Ganyan ka tsismoso si Sun. Kidding!

Hillary smiled again. I thought she'll give a response, but no, she remained quiet.

After eating, Veia and Sun decided to have a walk. Ako naman naiwan kasama si Hillary na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagsasalita.

"Cheer up," I uttered.

She looked at me and finally, she speaks, "sorry, ha."

With confusion, I ask, "for what?"

"Dapat masaya ako, birthday niyo, eh, but I really can't," she replied.

I caressed her back and said, "it's okay. Your liveliness will be back any time soon."

"Hindi ko lang talaga inaasahan, Sky, na magkikita kami ulit tapos gano'n pa rin siya kung umasta. I no longer really know him," sadness can be seen on her eyes, "I miss him, honestly. I miss my best friend, pero kasi instead of hugging him nang nagkita kami mas gusto ko siyang sapakin. Ngayon ko lang kasi napagtantong hindi pa ako nakakaganti," she seriously said.

"But, I just want to remind you that vengeance isn't a good thing and it's not a solution for every problem," somehow gave her a reminder.

She looked at me with those pair of playful eyes, "ang bait mong tao, no?" she's teasing me, I'm certain, "alam ko naman 'yon, pero kahit isang sapak lang, Sky, masaya na ako," she said.

"With that skinny arm? Lol, Hillary, sinasabi ko sa'yo para mo lang siyang sinundot," I said it with seriousness, but I am just pulling a joke, to be honest.

"Hoooy!" she literally exclaimed. "Are you looking down on me?" she said with the arched up brow.

"I'm just stating the fact," I replied.

"Ang sama mo, 'no? You should encourage me instead of dragging me down."

I laughed, real ones, "I'm just joking, okay?" I uttered. "You knew that I am always here, Hillary. Do I need to remind you about that?"

"You just did," and this time, she's the one who let out a genuine laugh. She's back.

I stood up, then I said, "I heard meron ditong nagtitinda ng mga souvenir, tara let's buy some," inaya ko na siya and we went there immediately.

We bought a lot of souvenirs. Halos lahat naman kasi maganda.

"Here, Sky," she handed me two broken heart key chains and she also gets two for herself, "as of now, ito tayo," she raised one of it, "soon, gan'to na," she joined it together, forming a heart, "of course, we also deserve a real happiness," she said, smiling, at napangiti rin ako agad.

"Sky?"

I roamed around, looking for that person who called my name with that cute tiny voice.

"Chandria!" oh, I am so happy to see her again. She's Tita Shiela's daughter, my Mom's friend.

"I missed you," she uttered again. I bent down to hug her. "You didn't tell me it's your day, I haven't bought you a gift, sorry," she looked down.

"Chin up. It's okay," I said and her smile appeared so soon.

"Who's with you?" she asked, pertaining to Hillary, who's been smiling.

"Oh, she's Hillary," I replied.

Hillary also bent down and extended her hand, "hi, I'm Hillary," she said.

Chandria stared at her for a moment before she accepts Hillary's hand, "I'm Chandria, Sky's girlfriend," she muttered, the reason why Hillary ended up giggling.

"You're so cute!" Hillary said out of herself.

"Sky, does this girl trying to steal you away from me? We're not seeing each other, but it doesn't mean we broke up," she said with knitted brows.

I chuckled and said, "chill, I'm all yours."

"Really?" she made sure.

"Of course," I replied. "No one can ever replace you, Chandria."

"I know," oh, so confident.

"How old are you?" Hillary asked after coming back to herself.

"I'm 8 years existing and still counting," she replied. Yes, she's that young, but mind you, this young girl thinks so maturely.

"Chandria!" Tita Shiela called her, catching her breath. Mukhang kanina pa niya hinahanap si Chandria.

"Why?" she asked as soon as her Mom caught her.

"Anong why? I told you to just eat there kasi magbabanyo lang si Mommy and when I came back you're gone. Akala ko kung sino nang kumuha sa'yong bata ka," may halong kaba at inis na sabi ni Tita.

"I'm done eating. I get bored, so I'd decided to have a walk. I saw Sky with that Girl-no scratch it, with...hmm, Ate Hillary? Should I call you by that?" she asked.

"Sure, you can," Hillary replied. Sincerity can really be noticed in her voice. She's longing for someone to call her 'Ate', that's why she's happy, no doubt.

"So, as what I've said I saw Sky with Ate Hillary, we had a small talk," she continued. "But, Mom, why are so nervous that I was gone? You knew I can handle myself-"

We all looked at Hillary when she laughs so hard, "ay, sorry," she apologized.

"Handle yourself, ha. Tara rito at papaluin kita-Chandria!" well, she just runs off, waving her hand at her Mom. She's an only daughter, no wonder others called her a spoiled brat, but Chandria is kind, sometimes, "haynako, batang 'to," Tita complained. "Sky, habulin ko muna," she said and chased Chandria.

"Ang cute niya, sobra!" Hillary uttered.

"Always," I replied.

We started walking back to the cottage, but we're still conversing about Chandria.

"Ba't ba sinabi no'n na kukunin kita sa kaniya?" Hillary asked again.

I chuckled, "that kid likes me," I replied.

She gasped and said, "kaya pala. Mind if you share how your story started?"

I nodded, "she was six years young when we met, she talks a lot. I like kids and so we had a never-ending conversation on that day. And, before she bid her goodbye she said, 'wait for me, I'm gonna marry you soon' I laughed so hard at that time," I uttered, smiling, as I am remembering that moment.

"Ang cute naman," she replied. "Eh, ba't ikaw lang nagustuhan? Si Sun, hindi? Magkamukhang-magkamukha pa naman kayo."

"Sun was there when she went to our place for the first time. Kaya lang 'di kinaya ni Sun ang pagkapilosopa kaya nag walk out."

"Natalo ng bata."

"Indeed. Kaya, in the end, I became her boyfriend, as a reward of talking with her till the end. Siya mismo nagsabi niyan kaya wala na akong nagawa, but to accept that I am that kid's boyfriend and she's my little girlfriend."

"Aw, mukhang madami ang pusong mamatay kapag napubliko 'yan, Sky."

We both laughed. We reached the cottage still laughing out loud.

"You two are so cute," Mom said, puppy-eyed.

"Stop it, Mom," I complained.

"Mukhang any time, ikaw naman ang magkakagirlfriend nito."

"Ha?"

"I just want to update you, Sky, that Veia said yes to Sun earlier when both of you were nowhere to be found. Sayang you didn't witness it. Your Twin even cried, he's really happy, no doubt," Dad said.

Nagkatinginan lang kami ni Hillary. No one dares to talk. Sun's birthday gives mirthfulness. Mine? Nevermind, let's not talk about it.

And, I ended up sighing while Hillary slowly walked away.