Chapter 1: Twenty-something years ago

It was a rainy afternoon that day. Hanggang dito lang ako sa bintana pinapanood ang ulan. Sabi ni mommy bawal daw lumabas ng bahay at mag-play sa ulan kasi magkakasakit daw kami. I didn't mind though, Zachary is coming over to play with me. That's better that getting sick and staying on bed.

Today is April 2, the second day of our summer vacation.

"Francis! Come down here, baby!"

That's my Mommy Fri calling. Ibinaba ko muna ang toy car ko at tumakbo pababa mula sa kwarto ko. Naaamoy ko na ang masarap na spaghetti niya. She's a award-winning chef, you see. Sabi ni dad, siya daw ang pinakamagaling na chef sa buong Earth! I can prove that because I've been eating her food since I was born!

Napahinto ako sa pagtakbo ko nang hindi ang mommy ko ang bumungad sa'kin. Hindi man lang din si Zach... Why does a stranger girl sitting on a bar stool in our kitchen and where is mommy?

Aalis na dapat ako kasi hahanapin ko na si mommy pero biglang humarap 'yung stranger girl sa'kin. Hindi siya nagsasalita pero nakatingin naman siya sa'kin.

She's wearing a red dress with flowers printed on it. I've seen mommy in that kind of dress before. Her hair is long like Tita Tania's, Zach's mom. She also has this biggest bow on her hair as her headband, I think it's heavy on her head. Her eyes are big and they are glaring at me like I stole her toy.

"I didn't steal anything from you so stop looking at me like that!"

"Wala naman akong sinabing may kinuha ka sa'kin ah." Tumaas pa ang isa niyang kilay habang sinasabi niya iyon. "Tomorrow is my birthday so better greet me now, you pimple!"

This stranger girl just called me pimple. She's the first and I'm not even mad. "Who cares if it's your birthday tomorrow and why would I greet you? I don't even know you. Ano bang ginagawa mo dito sa bahay namin? Sino nagpapasok sayo dito?"

Ngumiti siya ng sobrang ngiting-ngiti. She looks creepy. "I'm Felicidad Asinas and everyone in town cares that it is my birthday tomorrow. Nandito ako kasi sinama ako ni mame. At syempre si Manong Guard doon sa gate niyo ang nagpapasok sa amin. Duh. Alangan naman nag-akyat bahay kami, 'di ba?"

I hate the nerve of this stranger girl. How could she talk to me like that? She doesn't even know who I am and she's sitting on my favorite bar stool. I'm still not mad but I really hate her nerves.

"Oh there you are! Mukhang nagkakilala na kayo ah." Masayang sabi ni mommy mula sa kung saan. She just returned with a woman behind her. "Is my boy good to you, Feli?"

Tumango 'yung bata at hindi pa rin nawawala 'yung smile niyang creepy. "He's nice po, Tita Fri, but he doesn't want to greet me."

The woman behind mommy laughs. "Hija, tomorrow pa ang birthday mo kaya naman bukas ka pa talaga niya babatiin."

They continued talking but I focused on this Felicidad girl. She's looking back at me too and I don't care. Ang masasabi ko lang ay hindi naman siya gaya ng mga babae sa school na weird tumingin. This girl looks at me like she knows something I don't. The woman is talking to mommy looks like her. Maybe she's the stranger girl's mommy.

"Auntie?"

As if on cue, I saw my cousin, Zachary, walking towards us. Finally! I ran to him.

"Have you brought the new games?" I asked, excited.

Tumango siya at tinignan ang mga nasa kusina. "Hello po."

Mommy smiles and introduces everyone else in the room like she did a while ago. The woman beside mommy is Tita Euphemia and they are here because they invited us for a party tomorrow. Mommy nga siya ng babaeng nakatingin pa rin sa'kin. Hindi ko alam na nakikinig din naman pala ako.

Lumapit si Zach doon sa stanger girl at ngumiti. He even offered his hand! "Hi, Felicidad. I'm Zachary Napoleon. Pinsan ko si Francis. Happy birthday!"

That scene causes my forehead to crease and I watch them in confusion. How could my cousin just talk to that stranger girl? I could even sense the evilness on her. Am I the only one who senses that she would do no good?

Hihilahin ko na sana palayo ang pinsan ko ng si mommy ang humila sa'kin. "Come, baby. Help me serve spaghetti for them and then the three of you could play together. Tsaka mamaya aalis muna kami nila Tita Eu mo, okay?"

That day happened like a big blur. All I know is that a Felicidad girl entered our lives just like that. Mommy and Zach liked her a lot. Even dad when he got home and saw the stranger girl, he was glad. What's up with that kid that people can't stop liking her?

All I'm sure is that she won't be leaving my life any sooner... and she's stealing my cousin away from me.

× × × × × × × × × ×

"Hija, ready ka na ba? Nandito na sila."

I smiled at the mirror one last time before leaving my room with mame. "Ma, is everyone that we invited came?"

I'm turning seven only once in my life and I want it to be special. Suot ko pa nga ang regalo ni dade na dress sa'kin para sa araw na 'to. Makati siya sa likod pero okay naman. Ni-pony din ni mame kanina 'yung hair ko. My favorite number is seven and since my age is turning in my favorite number, this has to be special!

Naririnig ko na ang ingay nilang lahat sa baba at habang pababa kami ni mame sa staircase, unti-unti nawawala ang mga ingay na 'yun. Dapat lang! Nakikita na nila ngayon ang pinakamagandang bata sa lahat.

"Happy birthday, baby girl!" It's my dade to greet me first.

Then everyone greeted me next. Kinantahan nila ako, nagsimula ang party, they've been giving me gifts. Lahat din ng mga tita at tito ko nandito na.

My titas and titos are very... I don't want to talk about it yet. I love them and I know why sometimes I find them very weird. Mame and dade explains everything to me so I'm thankful they are here even though I find them weird sometimes.

Masaya naman na sana kaya lang may kulang pa bago ko masabing perfect na nga ang araw ko. Nasaan na ba kasi siya at sinong nagsabing pwede siyang ma-late? Nakakainis naman 'yun. Napakapa-VIP e hindi naman siya ang may birthday. Kapag talaga hindi siya nagpunta, gugutabin ko 'yung kilay niya kapag nagkita kami.

"Happy birthday, Felicidad!"

Si Zachary! Ni-hug ko siya tapos tinanggap ko 'yung gift niya. "Thank you! Nasaan 'yung magaling mong pinsan?"

"Happy birthday."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko na ang hinihintay ko. Suot ang tuxedo niya, mukha siyang partner ko ngayong gabi.

Ngumiti ako at kinuha ang hawak niyang regalo. "Thank you! Ang epal mo, akala ko naman hindi ka na dadating. Let's go! Kain na tayo!"

We started eating but the truth is I'm merely touching my food. Pinapanood ko lang silang kumain at paminsan minsan kunwaring susubo para hindi mahalata.

Both of them are talking about their other cousins. The others are like three or four years younger than them but some of them are only a year younger, few were older. They all seem nice and I like Zachary. He's so nice and I think he is gonna be my favorite among all the Montelvaros.

Nang matapos na lahat ng surprises nila mame at dade, nagsimula na ring magpaalam ang mga bisita. Zach also left early, may emergency pala si Tito Napoleon. This is the time I should kidnap Francis.

"What ar--"

Hindi ko na siya hinayaang matapos at hinila ko na siya papunta sa garden kung saan wala ng masyadong tao.

Hinarap ko siya at hindi binitawan ang mga pulsuhan niya para 'di siya makaalis. He's taller than me but I think I could take him down if he tries to escape me.

Naka-poker face na naman siya. "What do you want?"

Nginitian ko siya. "You're stuck with me for the rest of your life."

Umiling siya pero wala namang sinabi sa akin. We just stayed there, looking at each other. For while, I thought he looks handsome. Kaya lang bigla kong naalala si Zach na mas gwapo sa kanya. I really like Zach and his looks.

Binitawan ko na ang mga pulsuhan niya.

"Ahmm..." Kinamot niya ang batok niya at nag-iwas ng tingin. Umiling ulit siya at tinignan ako. "Uuwi na ako. Baka hinahanap na rin ako."

"Hindi pa kaya." Sabi ko naman at itinuro ang kinalalagyan ng mga magulang naming nag-uusap pa. "Ano pa lang gift mo sa'kin?"

Sa unang beses sa gabing 'to ay ngumiti siya. "Secret at walang clue."

Ang arte nito. "Siguro si Tita Fri lang din naman ang namili kaya 'di mo rin alam ang laman ng regalo mo."

Umiling na lang ulit siya. But this time, pinatong niya ang kamay niya sa ulo ko. "Aalis na kami."

Tinalikuran na niya ako at umalis na. Sumunod rin naman ako pero hindi na sumabay sa paglalakad sa kanya. Our parents were still talking but they were already bidding their good byes.

"Good bye po."

Tita Fri kissed my cheek, Tito Cinder patted my head, and Francis just waved goodbye. I said thank you and let my parents escort them outside.

Hindi na ako sumama kasi tumakbo na ako papunta sa kwarto ko. Nai-akyat na pala ni Ate Ann, isa sa mga kasambahay ni mama, ang mga regalo sa'kin. Agad kong hinanap 'yung gift na lalaking iyon para sa'kin. Hindi siya maliit at hindi rin naman sobrang laki 'yung size noon. Medyo mabigat.

Excited ko iying binuksan at tumambad sa'kin ang isang... tea set.

Tea set.

Tea set.

Tea set... I like it!