HURRICANE

Birthday (part 1)

MAINE's POV

"Totoo ba yung sinabi mo Meng, nung birthday surprise mo sakin sa EB?"

"Alin, Rj?"

"Yung, 'ni ex-boyfriend ko, di ko pinagbake ng cake'?"

"Ha? Uhm. Oo. Haha"

"Talaga?"

His eyes lit up.

"Oo nga. Totoo yun."

"Eh bakit ako, pinagbake mo?"

"Uulitin ko? Uulitin ko talaga?"

"Oo dali, gusto ko marinig yung sinabi mo kahapon Meng."

"Kasi, special ka."

"Yun oh. Yun and sinasabi ko. Payakap nga!"

"Oh, Rj mag-ingat ka nga. Nagddrive ka oh!"

"Di ko mapigilan sarili ko, pinapakilig mo ko eh."

"Gross. Cheesy mo, Rj! Umayos ka nga, focus on the road."

We were driving to Rj's home in Laguna to go to his little birthday celebration with his family.

"Oo na eto na po. Matanong ko lang ulit, kelan ka pa naging singer?

My eyes widened.

"Rj naman eh! Stop teasing me. Alam mo namang hindi ako kumakanta in public. I just did that, FOR YOU!"

I said, poking his side.

"Eh maganda naman kasi boses mo. Kantahan mo pa ko dali. Acapella, para rinig na rinig yung boses. Yung sa EB kasi, hindi minus one."

"Ayaw."

I said, playfully, like child.

"Sige na please, Meng. Request lang, birthday ko naman."

"Ikaw ha, sobra na yang requests mo sa birthday mo."

"Nilulubos ko lang naman. In a few hours matatapos na rin. Sige na, please. Yung 'The Closer I get to You' ulit."

"Fine. The closer I get to you..."

I sang the whole song to him, then to my surprise, he pulled over the car. He then looked at me while I was singing, blushing and dimples showing. I finished the song and said,

"Oh, eh bakit ka ganyan makatingin."

"Inaappreciate ko lang naman yung pagkanta mo. Ganda mo talaga, Meng. You're incredibly beautiful when you sing. Can you do that more often, please?"

"Ay, wag ganun. You know naman my fear of singing in public."

"Not in public, Meng. Just to me."

"Ayoko nga! Baka ijudge mo pa ko, with your double platinum album, and all."

I said, crossing my arms.