Xyla’s POV

Nagising nalang ako na parang ang gaan-gaan ng pakiramdam ko. Nag-unat-unat ako’t minulat ang mga mata ko. Kumunot lang ang noo ko. I look around. Kinusot-kusot ko pa ang mga mata ko.

“Nananaginip ba ako o nasa kwarto ko talaga ako?”Tumakbo ako sa banyo at kwarto ko nga ‘to. Naligo ako sandali at nagbihis at lumabas. Bakit andito ako sa palasyo? Saka… di ko na suot yung braces sa likod ko. Mabilis akong bumaba at tumungo sa dining. Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa nakita ko.

“WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU ALL DOING IN OUR MANSION?!” Napatingin silang lahat sakin. Wala sina Mama at Papa. Bel and Yaya was here same as Creature, Mey, Treshia, Karren and Nerdy. Xylo and Xytee nor Xylene wasn’t here also. Lumapit ako sa kanila na nakakunot ang noo ko. Pinaghila ako ng upuan ni Madame Felestija at ipinaghain.

“Waaah~ Gising ka na pala Xandria! Ang ganda pala ng palasyo niyo ano? Sobrang laki!” Paghyhysterical ni Mey.

“At sobrang dami ng pagkain!” Dagdag pa ni Treshia na kasalukuyang lumalamon kasama si Nerdy.

“At may gym pa kayong napakalaki! Parang gusto ko na tuloy tumira dito!”

“Hoy Karren. Anong tumira dito? Wag mong hawaan niyang kapangitan mo ang mga taong nakatira ditto.” Sabat ni Creature.

“Just shut up Kuya! You’re so mean e mas pangit ka nga sakin e!”

“That’s enough.” I said to Madame Felestija and she stayed behind me. I look at everyone and they were all smiling at me. Their weird you know.

“Good morning Xand.” Bati sakin ni Nerdy.

“Hindi ako buhangin Nerd. What I want to know is what are you all doing here inside the palace sitting in front of the table?” Seryoso lang akong nakatingin sa kanila. Nagkatinginan lang silang lahat.

“Uhh… Xylo invited us. You know?” Sagot ni Bel.

“I don’t know.” Kumain nalang ako’t tinapos agad at lumayas sa harap nila’t pumunta sa sala. I sit comfy at the sofa as I put my feet on the small couch. Binuksan ko nalang yung TV at nanuod ng Teletubbies. Sa lahat ng pambata, ito ang pinakaenjoy kong panoorin. Favorite ko sina Laa-Laa at Po. Natatawa tuloy ako ng bahagya.

“Haha…” I keep hugging the throw pillow while holding the remote. Di ko alintana yung mga umupo sa tabi ko.

“Xyl, till now pinapanood mo parin yan?” Tumango lang ako sa tanong ni Bel.

“Kiddo.” I look at Creature at sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin.

“Mind your own business Creature.”

“Your highness, your Tito Zhayne and Tita Sab were here.” Napatayo ako agad sa sinabi ni Butler Saff. Patakbo akong pumunta sa pintuan at halos mapatalon ako’t niyakap sila agad.

“Tita, Tito…” Bati ko sa kanila. Kumalas ako sa yakap at nakangiti silang nakatingin sakin.

“Napabisita po kayo?”

“Uhh… we just want to give you something hija.” Bigla nalang may binuhat na malaking kahon yung mga body guards nila at ipinasok sa loob. Pumunta kaming lahat sa sala. Nakita kong napatayo lahat.

“Oh, what was the middle class students doing here?” Tanong agad ni Tito.

“Good morning Sir, Ma’am.” Bati ng lahat sa kanila. Nilapitan ako ni Tita Sab.

“Honey, open it.” She said giddily.

“Tita, Tito… tomorrow was my birthday, why you’re present’s so early?” They both chuckled.

“That wasn’t our present for you for tomorrow. That was just a gift for you for those two years that we haven’t been in your birthdays.” Napatingin ako sa napakalaking kahon. Malaki pa yata sakin ‘to eh. Sobrang laki talaga. Nilapitan ko yon at hinila yung ribbon. I start removing the wrapper. Nilingon ko sina Tita at Tito and they just smiled at me. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan yung kahon at nang maalis ko na lahat ay bumulaga sakin yung dalawang pinakagustong-gusto ko. Umaapaw na kaligayahan ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

“WAAAAH! LAA-LAA AND PO!” I screamed and jumped in glee as I hug both of them. Tita and Tito give me a life sized Teletubbies stuffed toys. I’m dreaming to have these two and now I have them. Nilingon ko sila’t patakbo akong yumakap sa kanila.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you very much Tita and Tito… I love your gift.” I kiss their both cheeks and they just mess my hair.

“Oh, we forgot, we still need to attend a meeting. See you tomorrow honey.” They bid goodbye at hinatid ko sila hanggang makaalis sila. Patakbo akong bumalik sa sala at nakita kong hahawakan sana nina Nerdy si Laa-Laa at Po ko.

“NO! DON’T TOUCH THAT!” Nagulat yata sila’t parang natakot kaya napalayo bigla. Niyakap ko lang ulit si Laa-Laa ng bigla nalang magsalita yon.

“Hey Xandria Laurene, Zhay here… uhh… happy birthday cousin… I know you hate me. I know we’re not in good terms but… just wanna say that uhm… happy birthday and I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you. I swear, I pay for that every day. Laur, I love you… I hope you can still forgive me. If it wasn’t too late, I want to know you more and can bond with you and Xylo. I love you cousin! Happy twenty first birthday! Mwah!” It was in British accent. Napaluha nalang ako. I hug Po and it talked same as Laa-Laa.

“Hey there Laurene… Kuya Zhab here. First of all, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I wish you can forgive us. I know it’s hard but… I wish we can at least be friends. We love you Laur. Kuya Zabby loves you so much. Be a good girl that you always do. I’m very proud of you. I love you cousin, happy twenty first birthday!”Akala ko tapos na pero may nagsalita ulit.

“Woi! Xandria Laurene! You know what? I hate you so much. I hate you because you were the one whom everyone sees. I hate you so much because you’ve became my cousin. *chuckles* I hate to admit this but… I’ve hated you because when I saw a little girl when I was young, I said… ‘I like her’ but when I met that little girl again, it happens to be you. Sayang… sayang dahil pinsan ko ang first crush ko. And I hate it. I really don’t hate you baby… I hate that we were cousins. Forgive your Kuya for hating you… If we’ll see each other, I hope we can bond and I can say sorry personally to you. Don’t forget me okay? Kuya Zhayb your poging-poging Kuya in the world. I love you very much Xandria! Happy twenty first birthday!” I smiled as tears flowing. Pinunasan ko nalang agad yon at niyakap ng mahigpit yung dalawa.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY XANDRIA LAURENE! GET OUR PRESENT IN THE POCKETS!” It talked again. Napabitaw ako’t kinapa yung mga bulsa ng teletubbies. May nakuha akong malaking picture sa bulsa ng bawat isa. The first photo was me and my three cousins. This was shot at our first and last family reunion. I was smiling here. Ang liit ko pa pala dito. The other photo was us again but it was a stolen shot. I was looking at the sunset while holding my hat. And at my back were my three cousins looking at me.

“Lala is that you? You’re so cute when you were little.” Sehun said and I looked at him. Ngumiti lang ako’t ipinasok ko sa dibdib nila Laa-Laa and Po yung mga pictures. Now that’s perfect. Nakakagaan ng kalooban na kahit papaano ay narinig ko ang mga sorry’ng yon mula sa kanilang tatlo. Now I understand Kuya Zhayb. I chuckled for what he confessed. Kaya pala… who would thought that I’m his crush when we were little? Tsk. Tsk. Ang ganda ko talaga.