Elizabeth Ramos Williams has a normal life growing up but everything changed when her beloved mother died. Napilitan siyang sumama sa ama dahil walang gustong kumupkop sa kanya sa takot na matulad sa sinapit ng ina.
Lizzy's life turns upside down wh...
Kasalukuyan kaming nasa reception ng kasal ni Herlene, ang anak ni Mang Fidel. The newly weds looks good together. Simple lang ang kasal nila pero mababakas mo naman ang kasiyahan sa mukha nilang dalawang mag-asawa. Minsan mas maganda nalang maging ordinaryong anak ng magsasaka gaya nila. Their life seems less complicated. Nakakatuwa silang pagmasdan na magkakapamilya, masaya at magkakasama.
Suddenly, I was hit with a strong feeling of sadness. Nagpaalam ako kay Rosalie na uuwi na bago pa ako maiyak at magtaka ang mga tao doon, nakakahiya sa mga bisita nila. Malungkot na pinagmasdan ko ang sarili ko sa maliit na salamin na naroon pagdating ko sa munting kubo na pansamantala naming tinutuluyan, Happy Birthday Lizzy, bati ko sa sarili ko. Happy 18th Birthday.
Napangiti ako sa pagitan ng pagluha nang maalala ang mga plano sana namin ni Amara para sa araw na ito. I was supposed to have 18 roses and stuff, Ara was thinking of ways para mapapayag namin si Trevor na maging escort ko pati nadin si Daddy. Exited na nga pati si Mommy Almira para sa debu ko, then Tita Eula happened. I wonder how things turns out for them pati narin sa mga maldita kong pinsan na sina Bethany. Maldita parin kaya siya?
Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako. Hindi pa ako nakakapagpalit ng damit. Lumabas ako ng kwarto to check kong nakauwi na si Trevor, may kasalanan siya sa akin. Malaki! Ni hindi niya manlang alam na birthday ko? Debu actually.
But then again, I was wrong.
" Happy Birthday Lizzy!" masiglang bati niya. Hawak ang isang pink na Cake, may nakasinding kandila doon.
" Wow!" hindi makapaniwalang sambit ko.
" Sorry ginabi ako. May mga ipinadalang regalo ang Daddy mo na ibangan ko sa Bayan. " kaya siya hindi sumabay sa amin pagkatapos ng kasal sa simbahan.
Napansin ko ang isang malaking Box katabi ng pintuan.
Then, may inilabas siyang cellphone. May pinindot ito doon saka ibinigay sa akin. " Ang Daddy mo."
[" Lizzy anak, Happy 18th Birthday. "] dinig ko ang boses ni Dad.
[" Dad, naalala mo?] " napaiyak na ako.
[" Para namang makakalimutan ko ang birthday ng bunso ko. 18 kana agad anak, para kay Daddy ikaw ang baby bunso ko. Sorry sa sitwasyon mo, you supposed to have a normal celebration like any other debutant kasi deserve mo yon, kasama namin pero nandiyan ka. I'm sorry Lizzy. You know, I love you, right?"] pinigilan ko ang tuluyang paghikbi.
[" Daddy naman, pinapaiyak mo naman ako. A general shouldn't be emotional right?"] natatawang biro ko.
[ " Exempted ako today kasi birthday mo naman. I love you anak. This will be over soon. I promised. Pinapaabot din ng mga kapatid at ni Mommy Almira mo ang pagbati sayo, anak. Miss na miss kana nila. ] masaya akong malaman na hindi nila ako nakakalimutan.
[ " I love you too, Dad and tell them namimiss ko na din sila."] muli kong binalik kay Trevor ang cellphone.
Pinahid ko ang luha ko. " Is it safe though? Having that call?" tanong ko.
" It was arrange by your father kaya oo, safe ang tawag na yon." nakita kong pinatay niya lang ang cellphone at hindi sinira gaya ng dati.
" Thank you for doing all this, I thought no one remember this day." I was wrong about him.
" Ang plano naman talaga sorpresahin ka but I did remember your birthday from that time your Dad handed me your file." siya na ang may amazing memory. Sabagay, Agent nga pala siya.
" Magdinner na tayo, may binili akong Litsong manok sa bayan saka nakasabay ko si Mang Fidel may binigay na ulam. " agad kong hinanda ang lamesa.
Masaya kaming kumain ni Trevor my labs. Nagtulungan din kaming magligpit pagkatapos namin kumain. Saka ko excited na binuksan ang box na dala niya.
My Dad send me a lot of Foods. Pati mga damit saka toiletries. May ilang books ding kasama sa package.
Nagawi ang tingin ko kay Trevor na hindi alam kong lalapit o hindi sa akin.
" What is it? You know, I can see you right?" he chuckled. He seems nervous.
" Gusto ko lang ibigay to." iniabot niya sa akin ang isang box. Did he? " Pasensiya kana, that's the best they got sa bayan."
Tinanggap ko iyon saka binuksan. It's a necklace na may pendat na crucifix. He did buy me a gift.
" Ang ganda., thank you." hindi parin ako makapaniwala na may regalo siya sa akin.
" Let me.." kinuha niya sakin ang kwentas, ito nadin ang nagsabit sa leeg ko.
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" It looks good on you. It will also protect you all the time." wala sa sariling niyakap ko siya.
I'm just thankful for everything he did today. I felt loved. For once I forgot where I was and even the chaotic situation we're facing.
" Thank you so much.. " I felt like crying again.
And then, there's this magnetic power that pull our faces together when we broke the hug.
His eyes are locked on mine
I was holding my breath
His lips seems inviting me. I unconsciously lick mine.
We both lean forward.
His hand on my waist tightened.
He took a step closer.
I never thought my heart would ever pound so fast in my life.
Not even as fast when some bad guys are chasing us.
Still centimeters away from his lips, my eyes closed as I could already sense the overwhelming pleasure.
Time froze as our lips touched, the soft lips against mine met.
I lost myself in the kiss. I wrapped my arms around him.
My breaths were heavy and deliberated.
That feeling sent shivers down my spine.
The kiss was brief and my heart is hammering on my chest.
He smiled after, I did too.
It was amazing as I always imagined my first kissed to be.
" Happy Birthday Lizzy." I was granted another kiss on my forehead.
