"Hindi ka man lang nag-invite sa birthday mo..." someone said Lee Ann turned her head in surprise.
"Nicko!" she said laughing. "Akala ko kung sino. Nakakagulat ka naman."
She was sitting on one of the benches just outside the Science Education Complex to read a book while waiting for her driver. Nickolai had called her earlier to tell her that there was an emergency meeting that he needed to attend and he couldn't fetch her himself.
"I waited for your invitation for the whole week. I didn't want to sound overeager by asking one from you. Pero, grabe lumampas na lang 'yung birthday mo at napanuod na lang namin sa T.V. 'yung balita tungkol doon ay hindi ka man lang nag-imbita. Tinanong nga ako nina Nanay at Tatay kung bakit hindi mo ako inimbita, eh. Akala nila nag-away tayo."
"Grabe naman 'yung nag-away talaga tayo. Besides, mag-i-enjoy ka ba kung ikaw lang ang kaedad kong nand'un?" Lee Ann asked her friend. "Nakita mo naman siguro sa news na puro mga empleyado namin ang bisita ko. And the only reason why my party was even newsworthy was because they found it unique that I was celebrating it with our employees and staff instead of throwing a party at a club for people my age."
"Oo na, magaling ka nang rumason."
"I am not even making an alibi, 'yun naman talaga ang totoo."
But your boyfriend was there...Nicko had wanted to say but opted to keep quiet. He knew that Lee Ann considered the Sandovals as family.
"Why such a celebration anyway," he asked for lack of better things to say.
"Just to honor the people who raised me and who remained loyal to us even after Daddy died..." Lee Ann briefly explained her tone taking on a somber on.
"Sorry..." the young man mumbled.
Lee Ann laughed. "Ano ba, masyado kang seryoso."
"Sinong masyadong seryoso?" Nicko commented before he grinned. "Pero, totoong nagtampo ako sa'yo. I would have attended the party had you invited me."
"Ilibre na lang kita kahit saan mo gusto."
"Kahit sa ibang bansa?"
"Sino ka? Hindi kita kilala. Bakit mo ako kinakausap?" Lee Ann kidded and Nicko laughed. "Grabe ka naman. Talagang sa ibang bansa pa ang gusto mo. Dito lang sa Republic of Katipunan."
"Ang yaman mo, eh, tapos ang kuripot mo."
"Kuripot pa ako sa lagay na ito, ililibre na nga kita eh."
"Sige, kape na lang mamaya o kaya ay pizza. Mababaw lang naman kaligayahan ko. May sundo ka ba?"
"Oo."
"'Yung boyfriend mo na naman?" He couldn't keep the bitterness of his voice and he prayed that Lee Ann was not able to detect it.
But, he was wrong for the young woman immediately frowned. "Malamang. Sino pa bang ibang susundo s akin kundi 'yung boyfriend ko lang o kaya ay 'yung driver ko?"
"Tanong lang naman, sumimangot kaagad..."" he nonchalantly said. "Over na ako sa'yo, ano. H'wag ka kayang assuming," he added.
"Ang guwapo mo naman kung talagang mag-a-assume ako. 'Tsaka kahit ano pang sabihin ay 'di hamak mas guwapo naman 'yung boyfriend ko sa'yo, ano."
"Aray naman."
"Natural boyfriend ko 'yun kaya wala nang ibang guwapo sa akin kundi s'ya."
"Gan'un pala kapag nasa relasyon, ano? Nagiging bulag."
"Nicholas de Jesus, excuse me lang talaga. Mas guwapo naman talaga si Nick sa'yo, ano. Mas matangkad, man manly ang features, mas charismatic..."
"Ginayuma ka n'un."
