18th
Manang prepared breakfast for all of us. It was actually very extra and she said dahil birthday ko, I deserve the best. "Babe, alis muna ako after breakfast ha. I just have to finish something para sa school. Balik ako in time for dinner. Just relax here, okay?" Paalam ni Tristan while we were eating. "Oh, okay kasi naman babe, you didn't have to do this. Masaya naman na ako basta nandito ka lang mamaya." I replied assuring him.
"Btw, shantal. May plano ako para sayo." Panimula ni daddy habang kumakain parin. "Hmm?" I replied chewing my food. "Ngayon summer, ayokong lage ka lang gumagala at nag shoshopping. I want you to work in our office and check on our malls. Gusto ko na as early as now, matuto kana kung paano ang pag handle nito dahil ikaw lang naman ang taga pag mana nito. You're going to manage it soon, tsaka malapit kana mag college." Dad replied and my mouth dropped into a perfect o shape. "Dad! Ang bata bata ko pa para jan!" I protested as I dropped my fork on my plate and I looked at Tristan who was speechless as well. "The younger I train you, the better. My decision is final anak, para sayo din to. Now let's just enjoy our food peacefully." He replied smiling at me.
Parang ayaw ko nalang maging 18 jusko, ano ba to? After breakfast umalis na si Tristan and dad went to his office so ako nanaman isa. I was just scrolling through facebook and replied to some birthday greetings. I decided to go out nalang. I'll go to church then I'll treat myself to the spa before I left nagpaalam muna ako kay dad and I texted tristan also.
It was a long relaxing day at the spa and it's 4:30 now and kanina pa tawag nga tawag si Tristan and daddy sakin telling me to go home na. Ano bang problema ng dalawang to'? ang aga aga paman for dinner. Pagdating ko sa bahay, naka abang na si manang sakin at pagkalabas ko ng sasakyan hinila nya na ako agad papasok ng bahay at nagulat ako ng ang daming tao sa loob at parang may hinihintay.
"Ano to manang?" I asked confused. "Sila yung mag aayos sayo para sa dinner mamaya." She replied and she told everyone na sa kwarto ko na dumiretso. "Ano? hindi nanaman kailangan nyan manang." I replied dahil wala to sa usapan namin but okay fine. I'll let this go. Birthday ko naman and I love being dolled up.
It was exactly 6 nang matapos akong ayosan at may photographer pa talaga. Hindi ko alam to, ah. Tristan talaga. I wore a long red halter dress with a slit and such beautiful details. Ang ganda ko naman at sobrang formal for a dinner.
"Knock, knock" I heard daddy's voice and I saw him enter my room as the make up artist did her finishing touches before I go down. Hindi ko na talaga alam kung anong nangyayari sa labas dahil hindi na nila ako pinalabas simula kanina. "Hi, dad! how do I look?" I replied spinning around showing him my dress and he just smiled looking at me. "Beautiful, simply beautiful." He replied and hugged me tight. "Sir, excuse me but let's go down na po." Someone said interrupting us.
Who is this girl? She was wearing a headset with a mic.
Ano ba to?
Dad smiled at me and bumaba na kami at wala namang tao sa living area namin. "Dito ka na muna, ha." Dad said leaving me in the living room. Now, I am really confused. Wait, asan na nga ba si tristan? I totally forgot to call him. I turned around to go back to my room to get my phone when I saw tristan was already behind me with roses on his hands. He was smiling at me. He looked so handsome with his white polo, three buttons open and sleeves rolled up to his elbow. My heart skipped a beat again. Damn, I still can't believe that his mine.
"Wow.. Just wow." He said looking at me and I couldn't help it but smile at him. I can feel myself blushing. "Tristan! ginulat mo ko." I replied as he walked closer to me and gave me the flowers and without a word he placed a soft kiss on my lips.
"Happy birthday to the love of my life. Three years na tayo babe, ikaw at ikaw parin ang mahal ko. Ikaw lang ang mamahalin ko hanggang sa dulo ng walang hanggan." He said leaving me speechless and I was tearing up already.
Ano ba to! Paiiyakin pa ako!
"Tristan, ano ba, wag mo nga akong pa iyakin. Masisira yung make up ko, babe!" I replied but laughing as I held back my tears and he laughed at me. "I know I know, I'm sorry!" He replied still laughing as I admired the roses he got me and he took something from his pocket then I saw a box bigger than a ring box. He opened it and revealed a Barbada interval gold necklace with a medium size heart diamond necklace that shined brightly against the light and my eyes widened.
"Tristan.."
I called when he removed the necklace from the box placed the necklace on my neck.
"Only the best for the love of my life." He said after locking the necklace on my neck and I hugged him as tight as I could. "Thank you, Tristan. I love you so much." I replied still hugging him.
"Excuse me, pasok na po kayo sa garden." We were interrupted by the same girl kanina sa room ko. Tristan and I laughed dahil masyado ata kaming na dala sa moment. We nodded and I held Tristan's arm as we walked outside and I noticed that the glass door to the garden was closed and may curtains pa blocking the view outside.
"Ready?" Tristan asked smiling at me and I nodded smiling back. The girl smiled at me and opened the door slowly and revealed what's outside slowly and my mouth dropped open.
"Surprise.." Tristan said sweetly and guided me outside.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Everyone greeted as a classical music started playing and I couldn't stop smiling as I waved to everyone. All my friends are here, our relatives and many more. Our garden was full. The set up is beatiful! I wasn't expecting this at all!
"Tristan! Sabi ko dinner lang" Natatawa kong sabi habang pinapa upo ako sa separate table ko. Tristan just smiled at me and left me to go to his parent's table kasama si daddy.
At nag simula na ang party ko.
After the short program Tristan prepared for me we started eating and I asked tristan to eat with me. "Babe, hindi ko inexpect to lahat. Wala naman to sa plano ko, eh. Kaya thank you for making my day extra special." I said holding his hand while we were eating and everyone else was busy eating too. "Basta para sayo, lahat gagawin ko." He replied kissing my hand.
"Ehem, excuse me. Good evening everyone." We were interrupted when we heard daddy and I saw him standing near me with the mic on his hand. "I just have few words for my daughter." He said looking at me as everyone cheered especially my friends, especially Irene! Dahil alam nya na masaya ako dahil ganito si daddy sakin ngayon.
"To my one and only daughter, my baby pero dalaga na." Dad joked as we all laughed with him. "Happy birthday, anak. I hope masaya ka ngayon, thanks to tristan for planning all of this out. Anak, I know I'm not the perfect father, in fact always akong absent pero I hope you know na lahat ng ginagawa ko ay para sayo. You are the best thing that ever happened to me anak and I'm sorry kung hindi ka namin nabigyan ng pamilya ng mommy mo pero anak, kahit anong mangyari mahal na mahal ka namin. Patawarin mo si daddy sa mga pagkukulang nya." He continued and that's all it takes para lumabas lahat ng luha ko. Tristan wiped my tears away and I smiled and ran to daddy to hug him. "I love you so much, daddy. I understand po." I said while hugging him. He kissed my forehead and smiled. "Now, for my only princess' gift." He added and then took out a box from his pocket.
Let me guess, jewelry?
He showed the box to the crowd and they all cheered. "Since 18 ka na, pwede na sayo to'." Daddy said handing me the box then without second thoughts I opened the box but before I could focus on it I heard a loud engine and when I looked up I saw the new Honda civic from a far, our garage and my mouth dropped open, eyes widened and when I looked at the box I saw the car key. "Happy birthday again, anak." Dad said as the crowd cheered again leaving me speechless.
Ang daming surprises ng araw na to'.
I couldn't ask for more.