Birthday ngayon ni Alfred Beet kaya naman isosorpresa ko. Kami lang dalawa ni Demi ang may alam. Para masurprise ko rin si Ryn Do.
I dialled Alfred's number and listened to his corny ringback tone. I finally rolled my eyes when he answered.
"Yoh bebe ko?" Again hindi po kami, ok? Tapos na kami. Finish na.
"Bakit may pa-ringback tone ka pa?"
"Maganda naman ah? Havana oh nanana?"
Narinig ko siya tumawa and I just shook my head. "Anyway, punta ka dito."
"Ano meron?" Ngumiti ako.
"Basta! Bilisan mo! Sama mo si Ryn Do."
Bago pa siya makasagot pabalik, binabaan ko na siya.
I looked at what I've done to my dining area in my room here at The Kingdom.
Sa laki ba naman ng room na pina-okupa sa akin ni boss, pwede ko na palagyan ng sarili kong dining area. Wala nga lang kitchen.
May sala set. Yung kusina nasa tapat ng dining hall. Doon na ako naglalagay or kumukuha ng food. Pinapalagyan na rin sana ni boss itong room ko ng kitchen area pero hindi na ako um-oo kasi baka magka-sunog.
Umupo ako sa mahabang sofa at hinintay sila Alfred. Nang may nagtext sa aking cellphone, tinanguhan ko si Demi.
The lights were off when I opened my door.
"Uy bakit ang dilim?"
Unti-unti kong binuksan ang mga ilaw ng kwarto ko at pinlay ko ang Happy birthday song sa radyo sa isang tabi with a remote.
Pinasabog ni Demi yung mga party poppers.
She used Dimitri as a helping hand.
I upgraded Dimitri's feature to be able to crank four tiny poppers with his hands.
Each of hands has two party poppers. Kaya dami confetti na pumutok sa taas nila Alfred and Ryn.
"Happy Birthday Bebe ko!" Just this day sasakyin ko ang tawag niya sa akin.
Hindi niya alam kung ano gagawin kung iiyak ba or tatawa. Sa huli, niyakap na lang niya ako. "Thanks, bebe ko." Humalik pa sa may side ng ulo ko. Jeske!!
"Yieee! Magbabalikan na yan!" Asar ni Ryn sa amin. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Ryn pero winala ko rin at tinungo na namin ang lamesa na puno ng pagkain.
"Ikaw nagluto?" Tanong ni Alfred.
"Nope, the kitchen staff did." Umupo na ako sa place ko sa lamesa. Since siya ang may kaarawan, he has the honor to sit on my chair.
"Wow! Nasaan ang pary hats?"
Naglagay na ako ng isang scoop ng kanin sa plato ko. "Wala, kain na tayo."
"Buti wala kasi baduy yun eh." Natawa sila Alfred sa sinabi ni Ryn. Ako lang ang pokerface. "Why so serious again?"
"Kain na kayo." He just shrugged and happily scooped rice for himself.
This is the most intimate and quiet birthday surprise yet. Kami lang apat ang nandoon and I feel warm.
"Nga pala, I have a party with our batchmates tomorrow, punta ka ah?" Oh I almost forgot na hindi nga lang pala ako ang friends ni Alfred.
Tumango ako and continued eating. Napansin ko yung tingin nila Ryn.
"Talaga?" What? He did invite me right.
"I will go. Is there something wrong?"
Tumikhim si Alfred, "Akala ko kasi tatanggi ka kasi you always seem like you don't like to be in a huge gathering."
Tinapos ko muna nguyain ang kinakain bago magsalita ulit. "I do pero for experience and it's your birthday, pupunta ako, just don't expect me to mingle with our batchmates."
Ryn sighed, "Ok, you won't be the hot seat."
Nagtawanan muli sila. I rarely react when someone else laugh. Maybe because I have long accepted that I'm different.
I do laugh, pero on things na ikakabaliw ng mga taong nasa paligid ko.
I think after living through my career and other extra curricular activities here at The Kingdom, I became more reserved and focus.
So, when I react, they are all weirded out and I can see it in their eyes: What a crazy girl!
But, I just shrugged it off. Ako ang may-ari ng feelings ko kaya naman ako rin may karapatan kung ano ang ilalabas kong reaksyon.
"Ate Quelly!" Ooops! Forgot to lock my door.
"Why're you having a celebration without inviting us?" The sibling twins' of my boss are here.
"Didn't I tell to knock before you enter my room?" I lifted an eyebrow.
"I got curious and opened the door." I smiled at her and his twin brother.
"Upo na kayo at kumain na rin." I pulled two chairs for them to sit. These kids are ao cute and well behaved. Sino ba kasi nagturo?
Edi ako. Hindi lang kasi nila ako Nanny kungdi ako rin ang tutor nila sa good manners and right conduct. Nag-aral ako through online kung paano turuan ang mga alaga ko.
Kaya naman ang turing nila sa akin ay parang Ate with respect. I earned their respect and they also earned mine. They are like my two favorite kids in this lifetime of mine.
"Birthday mo Kuya Alfred?" Tanong ni Renz.
"Paano mo nalaman na birthday ko?"
Tinuro ni Renz yung ginawa kong banner sa may wall. "Happy Birthday Alfred!"
"Awww!! Quelly bebe ko!!!" Hahagkan niya sana ako pero nilayo ko ang mukha niya gamit ang isa kong kamay.
"Stop!" Tumawa-tawa siya.
Nagsikainan na muli kami at tinignan ko angga taong nakapaligid.
They are all my special people. I went through a lot. Good and bad times.
And I'm thankful for that.