PORTION 04

TJ's POV

Nandito ako ngayon sa classroom at ito namang isang tao na ‘to ay hindi matali kaka-lakad, pabalik-balik pa.

"Nathan, could you please stop?"

"So, what's happening now?" he asked about me and Zack, trying to change the topic.

"Under my control. You're making me dizzy, Nathan. Tumigil ka na nga kakalakad!" sambit ko pa.

Jusme Nathan, nakakahilo ka na!

"Where's Jaybi, by the way?" I asked.

"I'm h–here!" while catching his breath.

"Speaking of the devil, ano na'ng balita?" singit ni Nathan.

"Saglit! Let me breathe for a second."

I looked at him from head to toe and went back up again as I watched him catch his breath. When I reached his chest I saw a violet rounded-like that was about to show because of his messy wearing of uniform.

I think Nathan noticed it too, "Ano 'to, Jaybi?" while pointing at it.

"Nabugbog ka na naman ba?" I asked.

"Okay lang ako," he murmured, "so ayun na nga, ganito kasi. 7 am first class ko, right?"

"So, nabugbog ka nga?" tanong ko ulit.

"Hindi na 'yon importante."

Isang kotong ang natamo niya kay Nathan, "Anong 'di importante? kotongan kita, eh."

"Paki-kotong na rin ako, Nathan," biro ko pero nagulat at napatawa rin ako ng ginawa nga niya.

"Aga-aga niyo, tigilan niyo nga ako. Sabing okay lang ako, eh," rinig sa boses niya yung pagka-inis, "So, what I was trying to say is they said this coming wednesday, it's Zack's birthday," Jaybi explained.

I stood up, smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up, "Okay! We will celebrate it!"

I told Jaybi and Nathan that I want to talk to Tom for Zack's birthday, so I requested to meet him up.

"Tom, he wants to ask about Zack." Jaybi while pointing at me.

"Sure, ano ba 'yon?" confident na sabi Tom.

"So, they said this coming wednesday—"

"You want to know what you should do about Zack's birthday, right?" he cut me off.

I nod.

"Actually, we're best friends for almost 5 years, pero ni minsan hindi ko siya nakita na nag-celebrate ng birthday niya."

The three of us, Jaybi, Nathan and me, looked at one another, "Huh? Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"I knew it, and even me I was shocked. Sino ba naman kasi ang 'di nagse-celebrate ng sarili niyang birthday, 'di ba?"

"Maybe he has his own reason," Nathan came up with something.

Jaybi looked at me first before Nathan. Putting his back of palm on Nathan's forehead, seems like trying to know if he is hot or something, "Nathan, are you sick?"

Nagbabagong buhay na ata 'to, eh.

"`Wag kang ganyan kay Nathan, Jaybi," after I said that, I immediately looked at Nathan, "Are you okay?"

"Isa ka rin naman Tj, eh!"

Tom just laughed at us first, "Yeah, may reason talaga siya."

Napatingin na kaming tatlo sa kanya, at piliin na seryosong makinig sa kaniya.

"And what is it?" tanong ni Nathan.

"I don't know if I have the right to say this to you guys but . . ." he stopped for a second, "fine, I'll say it."

After knowing the reason, it excites me more to celebrate his birthday.

This past few days medyo naging busy ako sa school at the same time sa paghahanda kung ano ang gagawin sa birthday ni Zack.

Wednesday...

6 p.m. at tapos na ang klase namin. I rented a place to celebrate his birthday.

"How's the balloons?"

"It's okay now. Nakadikit na sila sa ceiling ta's 'tong iba ikakalat ko na lang," Nathan answered.

"How about the cake?" I asked once again, but this time to Jaybi.

"Inside the ref, sabihin mo na lang kung kukunin at sisindihan ko na," Jaybi replied.

"Happy 21st birthday Zack, okay na ba 'to?" ani Tom, the reason why I nod. Binasa niya yung nasa wall.

It was all set now.

"Okay. Nathan, ikalat mo na yung balloons. And Jaybi, the cake."

I smiled at them, I'm really grateful to have this kind group of friends. And now, it's my time. I'm starting to dial Zack's phone number now.

"Zack, I will tell you something." After answering the call, nagsalita na agad ako na parang medyo naiiyak, syempre para pumunta agad siya rito.

"What's wrong?"

"Come at XXX." And I hung up.

Kinuha ko na yung cake na may sinding kandila. Sila Tom at Jaybi naman may hawak ng confetti poppers at nakahanda na sa gilid ng pinto.

After 10 mins...

May biglang kumatok sa pinto, baka nandiyan na yung tao na inaasahan namin. Nagkatinginan muna kami bago ni Nathan hinawakan ang door knock, malakas ulit na katok ang nangyari eh bago tuluyang binuksan niya ang pinto.

*Pung*

"Happy birthday, Zack!" We greeted him.

There was a small pause, he was just standing there and looking around, processing what was happening. But when he saw me, and our eyes met, I saw the unease plastered on his face.

"Tj!" he angrily shouted, "don't you know how worried I was? Para kang umiiyak kanina nung tumawag ka."

This is not what I expected.

"I'm sorry, okay?" I apologized.

"And who said you can celebrate my birthday?" Then he looked around and stopped when he saw Tom, parang na-gets na niya agad, "So it's you?"

"Zack, no," I forbid. "I asked Tom about it. 'Wag mo siyang sisihin."

I looked at those three and nodded to them, giving them a sign to get out and they got it right away and went out.

He looked down and sat on the floor, shaking his head. "You don't know anything."

"I know, Zack. I know."

"You knew it!? Maybe Tom again. . . . but still ginawa mo pa rin, bakit!?" And he started to break down, that's why I went after him.

Flashback...

"I don't know if I have the right to say this to you guys but . . ." he stopped for a second, "fine, I'll say it."

We didn't say anything. We are just doing nothing, but waiting for his next word.

He took a deep breath first, "Zack's birthday. It was the day that his grandfather passed away. From that day, hindi na siya nag-celebrate ng birthday niya."

End of Flashback...

The three of us were shocked to hear that but I realized it was also the day my Papa died.

Hinipan ko yung kanta para mamatay na yung sindi, and I put the cake inside the refrigerator again.

I'm walking towards him, "It hurts, right? But we need to face it, it's life, wala tayong magagawa."

"Don't come!"

Pero hindi ako nakinig sa kanya, nag dire diretso lang ako ng lakad. I am now in front of him and gave him a hand, "Will you come ? I want you to see it."

He hesitated first, but still accepted my hand.

.

"Who is this?"

"It's my Papa."

Nasa puntod kami ngayon ni Papa.

"Really?"

I looked at him and nodded.

"You see, my Dad's 10th death anniversary. Kaya 'wag mong sasabihin na wala akong alam, 'cause I know how hurt it was."

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Pa, did you miss me? Sabi ko sa 'yo babalik ako, eh. Pa, I'm sorry, I can't still find that person but I won't stop because I promised, hindi ako titigil hanggat hindi ko siya naghahanap."

Lagi akong bumabalik dito, like every year just to visit my Papa.

"What are you talking about? Anong promise?" he asked with that look.

"I promised to look for the person whom he had given his heart so I would take care of it."

"I'm sorry, I don't know," he apologized.

"No, it's alright." And smile at him, "It was a serious accident, kaya mas pinili niya na ibigay ang puso niya sa nangangailangan."

"Are you okay?" he handed me a handkerchief and then I realized that I was crying all this time.

I accepted the handkerchief, as I smiled and wiped my own tears, "I'm okay."

To be honest, ako dapat yung nagko-comfort sa kanya ngayon eh, kay Zack, pero ano ba 'tong ginawa ko ngayon. Tsk!

After 10 minutes, we chose to leave the cemetery.

"Want to have some drinks?" alok niya.