SPECIAL CHAPTER
Z&S: how they celebrated Sath's birthday

"Ni hindi nga nag-ce-celebrate ng Christmas, 'te." untag ni Melay habang naguunat ng ulo. "Anong magiging regalo mo riyan? Siguro naman maiintindihan n'ya kung hindi super special ang birthday?"

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako sa sinabi n'ya.

"May regalo naman na ako. Baka lang kasi. . .sawa na ni Sath."

My gift was a car keychain with our initials on it. Sobrang random pero wala na talaga akong maisip. It makes me feel bad that I couldn't get him anything that's more fancy or something that's for a good cause.

I think about it constantly—sobrang hirap magregalo kapag nabigay mo na lahat. On the previous years, I got him hoodies and jackets—kumpleto na ang rainbow sa kulay pa lang. Pakiramdam ko umay na umay na siya sa creamcheese at blueberries dahil halos linggo-linggo siyang may blueberry cheesecake sa 'kin. Palagi ko na rin sini-search kung ano ang meaning ng mga regalo—I couldn't afford another mishaps about gifts. The last time that I gave him one made me guilty because it was a handkerchief; a sign that I would be making him cry.

Nagkikita kami ni Melay dahil iisang school lang naman ang pinapasukan namin. Bea was in a different institution so I had to be blockmates with Melay. Ngayong nasa kolehiyo ay mas naging mahigpit kami sa oras ni Sath. I feel bad but only an hour for our time together was allocated. Pangit man pakinggan pero binigyan talaga namin ng oras ang landian namin. Pareho kaming graduating na halos, we really need time management.

Sana talaga di na lang ako nagpagod no'ng senior high school. Nilandi ko na lang nang nilandi ang isang 'yon kaysa naging masyado akong competitive. Ngayon tuloy ay di ko na ma-enjoy ang bonding namin dahil palaging bitin.

"You want this to be special not because it's his day but because it's the only day that the both of you are available the whole day?" Melay cleared out, halos humihingal na siya dahil wala siyang tuldok sa pagsasalita.

Tumango naman ako habang nilalagay ang yellow pad sa bag ko. Goodness, weekdays pa ngayon kaya naman may pasok kami. Hindi pa nga whole day talaga ang oras na magkasama kami. Hati pa rin talaga.

Mas mabibigyan siya ng atensyon ng iba.

I still fight with inner demons most of the time. I fidget my fingers to divert it. No, I'm doing the best that I can and Sarathiel understands that. It is enough for him. Humugot ako ng isang malalim na hininga bago ito pakawalan.

Nabibigyan ko siya ng atensyon na hindi gaya sa iba.

I affirmed myself. You are trying, Zafirah. It is enough for now.

"Pupunta na ako sa building nila, Mel. Una na muna ako," paalam ko sa kan'ya.

"Magpapanggap ka ba na hindi mo alam na birthday n'ya?" tanong nito.

I shook my head. "No! Bakit ko naman gagawing masama ang loob n'ya ngayong araw? Late ko lang mabibigay ang gift ko dahil hanggang gabi pa naman kami magkasama."

"Ooh, Zafi. You're so naughty!" Melay giggled which boiled my head.

"Gaga! Walang gano'n! Kasama namin parents n'ya!"

It was a dinner celebration. Namumula ang pisngi ko habang papalabas ako ng classroom. Bago pa man 'yon, manonood kami ni Sath ng pinakabagong Marvel movie na nilabas. It was part of our relationship considering it was one of our firsts. We had our first date at a cinema. Kahit pa unofficial ang isang 'yon.

Zafirah:

Nasaan ka?

Sath:

CR.

Ikaw? Papunta ka na ba?

I stopped fidgeting my phone when I saw a familiar person standing right next to the signage of the comfort room. In his neat uniform, Iscalade Jance was texting someone on his phone. Bahagyang naka-bend ang isang tuhod n'ya at nakapatong ang paa n'ya sa pader.

"Iscalade!" I called as I rushed towards him.

Napalingon naman siya sa akin. He was sporting longer hair now, his hair reminds me of those models from girl's magazines. An eye candy, indeed.

Kumunot ang noo n'ya sa akin. "No, hanggang d'yan ka na lang."

I halted just in front of him. I mirrored his expression because I was genuinely confused. Napahawak ako sa sling bag ko at sa aking buhok. Pinasadahan ko gamit ng aking kamay ang buhok ko dahil sa hangin.

"Bakit? Ano'ng meron?"

"Hindi porke't girlfriend ka, mauuna ka na bumati sa best friend." he dramatically sighed. "I knew him first, Zafi."

"Gago?!" I blurted out then laughed. "Best friend ka lang, girlfriend ako."

"We were close until you came!" he held on his chest. "I had him first, Zafirah. That's a fact you can't deny."

"Kaya ka ginawang best friend ng dalawang taon e," I sneered.

Napangiwi si Iscalade at umirap. "Bagay nga kayo, parehong masamang ugali."

I laughed heartily. "Ang drama mo kasi! Bakit ba gusto mo mauna ka bumati sa 'kin?"

"Pangarap ko kasi unang bumati kay Sarathiel, okay? Let me live that dream, Zafi. Huwag mong putulin ang mga pakpak ko."

Is this the result of watching a lot of dramas? Pakiramdam ko tuloy babad si Iscalade mga mga ganito. He really is dramatic!

I shrugged and placed my arms across my chest.

"Bati di mo siya binati sa Facebook nang pumatak sa alas dose ang orasan? You could have done that."

He winced. "NagF-facebook ba boyfriend mo? Hanggang ngayon nga wala pa rin siya sa group chat namin! Akala mo naman may hinanakit, ayaw lang pala talaga sa notifications. Ayaw n'ya ba ng mukha mo sa notifs n'ya?"

"He replies to me." saad ko dahil 'yon ang totoo. He really does reply to my messages, minsan nga lang siya ma-late reply sa 'kin.

"Yabang po," he retorted.

Natawa ako. "I'm sorry! But he does!"

"You know how whipped he is to you. Kahit nga pirma mo baka naka-tupperware pa sa sobrang ingat n'ya."

Napangiti na lang ako. Sath does make me feel special. Oftentimes, I feel overshadowed by how he makes me feel. Alam ko naman na hindi competition ang isang relasyon pero pagdating sa kan'ya—I don't want to lose either. I want him to feel as special as he makes me feel.

Lumabas na si Sath ng comfort room. His eyes widened in bewilderment as it landed on the both of us.

"Happy birthday!" Iscalade greeted and embraced him.

Pumalag naman si Sath. "Tang ina, galing ako sa cr!"

"Okay lang, nakita ko naman na 'yan! Tagal-tagal na nating magkaibigan?!"

Sath cussed silently. Mahigpit pa rin ang yakap sa kan'ya ni Iscalade.

"Let go!"

"Binata ka na talaga, di ka na nagpapayakap!"

"Gago!" Sath gently removed himself from Iscalade's grip. Tumawa lang si Iscalade habang unti-unting tinataas ang dalawang kamay at lumalayo.

"Happy birthday, bro. I got you your present pero next year pa darating." Halakhak ni Iscalade. "It's the thought that counts!"

"Alam mo, do me a favor, huwag ka muna magpapakita sa akin kahit ngayong araw lang." Sath snarled as he rolled his eyes.

I laughed amidst their banters. "Tara na nga, Sath. Baka mawalan pa ako ng role bilang girlfriend mo kasi kayang-kaya pala palitan ni Iscalade ang role ko sa buhay mo e."

If enemies-to-lovers were indeed our trope, it was better for the both of them.

"Saan kayo punta?" ani Iscalade.

I shrugged. "Date."

Sabay kami ni Sarathiel lumabas ng building nila. Pupunta lang kami sa condo n'ya para magpalit ng damit saka diretso na kami sa mall. He lives near the school now, sabi n'ya kasi kaysa raw mapunta sa biyahe ang oras na p'wede n'yang ibigay sa 'kin ay mas okay na raw 'yon. It was efficient, he claimed.

Matapos namin makapagpalit sa condo n'ya. We went ahead to the mall. Sath was wearing a black fitted long sleeves partnered with denim pants while I was sporting a more modest white dress. Natuto na ako ngayon na hindi mag-off shoulder dahil baka turukan na talaga ako ni Sarathiel sa braso.

"Kapag natulog ka mamaya sa sinehan, huwag ka na magising." sarkastikong ngumiti ako kay Sath.

Sath chuckled as his eyes turned to slits. "You have to blame your hands—they're too soft for me."

"Connect?!" I sneered.

He usually does it whenever we watch. Hinahawakan n'ya ang kamay ko sa dilim at ilang segundo lang ay tulog na siya sa balikat ko. Minsan nga tinataniman na kami ng mga masasama na tingin dahil PDA naman talaga. I couldn't blame the glares so I scolded Sath after the movie wrapped up.

Sa loob ng sinehan, mga advertisements pa lang ay nakahilig na sa 'kin si Sarathiel. He was playing with my fingers, kinakapa n'ya ang daliri ko at pinipisil ang kamay ko habang nanonood siya.

"Subukan mo talaga matulog, paglabas natin dito wala ka na talagang girlfriend."

"Asawa na, gano'n ba?" he lazily replied back.

"Wala ba akong kwentang kasama? Bakit mo ako tinutulugan?" biro ko sa kan'ya.

Napatingin siya sa akin. "I'm sorry, that isn't the case."

I cleared my throat. Goodness, this is awkward. "No, what I meant was—"

"You're focused when you watch movies, Zafirah. Kaya natutulog ako kasi mamaya gusto kong ikwento mo na lang sa 'kin. I want to hear your voice more than watch the movie. Sorry if I made you feel that you're boring to be with when in fact I really enjoy my time with you. . . "

I gulped and averted my gaze. Parang gago nga e, ipapakwento sa 'kin 'yong palabas na di naman n'ya pinanood. Kung di ba naman talaga nangaasar e.

"Sath," I called him as we walked towards the parking lot. Natapos ang palabas nang di ako makapag-concentrate, what he said made me feel giddy. Parang may sumasabog na puso na filter dahil apektado ako sa mga nasabi n'ya.

"Is it the time for the kiss?" he casually asked as he looked back at me. "Oh god, that was what I was waiting for the entire day."

Nangunot ang noo ko. "Ano?!"

"You usually kiss me after the movie and in the parking lot." paratang n'ya sa 'kin.

"No!" mabilis akong umiling. "I w-was going to ask something else."

"Hmm?" he tilted his head.

"Thank you. . .for coming to my life," seryosong saad ko. "We'll have dinner with your parents later so I won't have enough time to tell you this but even if it was the most embarrassing thing that happened to me—papasok pa rin ako sa maling classroom para makilala ka."

I saw his brown eyes widened and then he smiled. "If given the same chance, Zafirah—I'll do the same too. I'll pissed you off so you'll have lingering feelings for me even if it was hate at first."

Namula ako. "Crush kaya kita no'ng first day! So even if you weren't annoying, I would probably go to the STEM building just to take a glimpse of you!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Kung crush mo ako bakit parang ang init ng ulo mo sa 'kin noon?"

"Natatakpan po ng masamang ugali ang magandang mukha," I smirked. "But hey, what's your first impression of me?"

Papasok na kami ng kotse n'ya nang matigilan siya at napalunok. I saw how he wasn't able to move at all.

"Sath?" ulit ko. "What's your impression? Did you find me pretty?"

Namula ang tainga n'ya. "I found you. . .cool. That's all."

Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "Hindi ka nagandahan sa 'kin?"

"Zaf. . ." he grunted.

"Yes or no lang naman?"

"I. . ." Sath looked at me. "Birthday ko ngayon, okay? I don't want to appear like a lovesick guy who fell for someone during their first day."

"So, you did find me pretty?!" I gasped and accused him.

"Hot, okay?" he meekly admitted. "I found you hot that I wanted to get rid of my hoodie."

I gasped. "Talaga?!"

"Stop, you're making me feel awful."

"Edi patay na patay ka na sa akin no'ng first day?!" I accused him.

He looked at me, puzzled. "Not my words."

I clapped my hands and laughed. "Dahil d'yan libre ko na ang meryenda natin!"

Ngumisi siya. "Saan?"

"McDo!" I teased him. "Kasi Love Ko 'to!" Halakhak ko.

He groaned and pinched my cheeks. "Zafirah! May mga bagay na di na binabalik."

"Oh no, you don't!" I laughed harder. "Hanggang sa mga anak natin, dadalhin ko 'tong tagline na ito. Sasabihin ko na niligtas ng line na 'yon ang mundo."

"Zaf!" reklamo ni Sath at unti-unting lumapit sa 'kin upang halikan ako.

Our kiss lasted for seconds. I held on his face as our kiss deepened and he lifted my chin to guide me. His kisses always feel like he wants me to crave for more—and I do. . .more than I should. What a great kisser. Umabot ang halik n'ya sa aking baba. His fingers felt like feathers on my face—nakikiliti ako.

"And I'll tell our kids when they grow up that no matter what—keep it tinted," he teased as he moved once again to kiss me on my lips.

Happy birthday, indeed.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪✎❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜
HYA, COT, POF, EYA, BOC
see you on September ♡