While Atticus was busy thinking about his memory lapses, I went to the kitchen to quench my thirst.

"What am I really missing?" I heard him talking to himself. Napailing na lang ako habang umiinom ng tubig at iginala ko ang aking paningin sa kusina.

I halted from drinking when something caught my eye.

I approached the kitchen sink when I noticed two cups. May laman pa and mga ito, ang isa'y paubos na samantalang ang isa'y nangangalahati pa lamang. The first cup was filled with black coffee, while the other one was... I'm not sure. Parang kape na may halong ng gatas?

That's weird.

"Atticus?" I called him then walked back to the living room.

He lifted his gaze to me. "What?"

"Did you drink coffee?"

"Ah, yes."

"There are two cups. Kanino iyong isa?"

His coffee preference is black, so I assume that the first cup was used by Atticus. But the cup with the weird aroma, who drank from that? Could it be Aster?

He was just about to speak when his phone rang. Atticus excused himself to answer the call. Noong tumagal pa ng ilang minuto ang pakikipag-usap niya, napagpasyahan kong mag-ayos na para sa pagtulog.

When I was done getting ready for bed, Atticus was still on his phone. He seemed to be having a heated conversation with the person on the other line. Hindi ko na siya kayang hintayin kaya nauna na akong matulog.

"Stray Soul," Somebody tapped my cheek. "Wake up."

I grudgingly opened my eyes. Bumungad sa akin ang nakangiting mukha ni Atticus. "Masyado pang maaga para tawagin akong ligaw na kaluluwa. Please leave me alone and let me sleep in peace." masama ang loob na sabi ko.

He chuckled. "Bumangon ka na!"

"I'm still sleepy! Pwede ba?" naiinis kong sabi at tumagilid para bumalik sa pagtulog. Naputol tuloy iyong magandang panaginip ko!

My cheeks flushed when he hugged me from behind then planted soft kisses on my neck. "Get up, my brat!"

Inis akong napabangon. "Ano bang trip mo?!"

His grin grew wider. "Today is September 21!"

I grunted. "Who cares?!"

He spread his arms to initiate a hug.

"Happy birthday, Stellar!"

I was stunned by his greeting. The warmth of his tone, its affection and sincerity, almost melted my heart. Hindi ko akalaing may ganito palang side si Atticus. He seemed so carefree and childish.

That aside, I didn't even know that today's my birthday. After all, I don't remember anything. Besides, it was weird to celebrate the season of my birth while I was on someone else's vessel.

"Get up, Stray Soul. Today is your day!"

My lips waned into a thin smile. "How can you be so sure that today is my birthday, Atticus?" I queried.

"Oh, I've never been this sure." He cupped my right cheek with one hand. "I know that today's your special day."

Nag-ayos na ako dahil aalis daw kami ni Atticus. I couldn't contain my excitement in the bath. Ilang beses kong nilublob ang mukha ko sa bathub dahil sa sobrang kilig.

I'm looking forward on celebrating my birthday as Stellar. Masaya rin ako na si Atticus ang kasama ko sa kaarawan ko. Sa sobrang pagkasabik, binilisan ko na agad ang pag-aayos ng sarili. I settled with a floral dress and a white pair of stilettos. I applied light makeup and voila! Gaia looked like a goddess.

"Ready?" Atticus offered his hand to me, smiling. Kinuha ko naman ito. We left the condo hand in hand.

"Where are we going?" tanong ko pagpasok namin sa kanyang sasakyan.

Natawa naman siya. "There you go again. You sound like Dora everytime you ask me that. Want me to buy you a purple bag to complete the disguise?"

I didn't want to ruin the warm ambiance, so I laughed.

Una kaming pumunta sa isang boutique. Atticus told me that days from now, we will be attending a party. Kailangan daw naming bumili ng susuotin ko.

"Whose party, Atticus?" I curiously inquired.

"My brother will turn twenty-seven five days from now. He personally paid me a visit last night to invite us."

Hmm... Kung gano'n, sa kapatid niya siguro iyong isang tasa kagabi. Sayang at hindi ko siya naabutan. I wonder what kind of person he is.

Anyway, we decided to purchase a black gown embroided with silver beads. Pagkatapos naming bumili, napagpasyahan naming maglakad-lakad muna sa mall.

I brought him to the arcade.

Napangiwi naman siya. "I think I'm too old for this."

"Tara na." Kinindatan ko siya. "Pagbigyan mo na akoako

Hindi na siya umapela nang hilahin ko na si Atticus papasok. Honestly, he looked so out of place. To think that someone in a formal suit would wind up in the arcade.

Una kaming naglaro ng basketball at tawang tawa naman ako dahil talagang hindi makapasok si Atticus ng bola.

I exploded into laughter. "You suck at thAtti

"In my defense," He frowned. "I was never athletic."

"Really?" Kinurot ko ang biceps niya. "You're ripped, though."

"Working out and being athletic are two different things."

Sunod naman kaming pumunta sa mga laro kung saan pwede kang makakuha ng stuff toy... kung kaya mong makuha.

"Move a little bit to the right." I instructed. Sinunod naman ako ni Atticus. He pressed the button then watched the hook in anticipation.

Malas nga lang dahil nahulog iyong stuffed toy na pikachu.

"Bullshit," inis niyang sabi. "Ang daya naman nito!"

Oh, it was such a view. Minsan ko lang makita si Atticus na frustrated. Anyway, we played some more until we decided to eat dinner. Bago kami umalis sa arcade, pumunta muna kami sa photobooth.

"To commemorate your special day, Stellar."

Hinila niya ako papasok sa loob. I giggled when he grabbed two party halo then put the other one on. Sinuot ko rin ang isa at patawa-tawa akong tumingin sa camera.

"Say cheese!"

Click!

And I was the happiest girl that time.

The sun had set and Atticus yanked me out of the mall. Hindi pa raw kami tapos at meron pa kaming pupuntahan.

"I saved the best for the last, of course." pagyayabang niya habang nagmamaneho siya. Napangiti naman ako.

In the middle of our trip, the car suddenly stopped. Mabuti na lamang at nasa gilid kami dahil nasa highway kami. For the first time today, Atticus frowned.

"Sandali lang," aniya at lumabas ng sasakyan. Upon checking his car, I heard him cursing under his breath.

Lumabas na rin ako ng kotse. "What's wrong?"

"Damn it. Nasiraan tayo." naiirita niyang sagot at halos sipain na niya iyong sasakyan niya. Nilapitan ko si Atticus.

I caressed his shoulder. "Calm down."

He sighed. "Sa dami ng araw na pwedeng masiraan, hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon pa. Why does it feel like they don't want you to be happy?" His dander was obviously down.

Napaamang ako sa sinabi niya. The gloom written on his eyes moved my heart. Kaya naman ngumiti ako at hinaplos ko ang kanyang pisngi. "I am happy, Atticus."

"I prepared a fine dinner for us! We should be in a hotel right now, dancing! Iyon ang plano ko. Fuck it, this car ruined everything!" Sinipa niya ang gulong ng sasakyan niya. Sa halip na manghinayang, natawa na lamang ako.

"It's okay." I assured him.

"It's not okay" he childishly retorted.

I savored the moment and watched him while he's throwing a fit. The feeling was contradicting... I was happy and sad at the same time.

Happy, because I was given the chance to be with him.

Sad, because I knew that he's in love with somebody else.

"Atticus?"

"Hmm?"

I smiled to him. "Can I ask for a gift?"

He held my hand. "Of course. What is it?"

For once, I wanted to hear those words, even if they don't speak of the truth. I wanted to feel his fake love.

"Can you say that... you love me?"

Ako... Hindi si Gaia Venice.

He was astonished by my request. For a moment, he was at a loss. Ater a few seconds, he pursed his lips then held both of my cheeks lovingly.

Atticus whispered the words I've been longing to hear.

"I love you, Stellar."

And when his lips touched mine, tears streamed down to my cheeks. Because to me, no matter how wonderful it sounded, it was the most heartbreaking lie.

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