Chapter 111

"...Mr. Waylen Larracas."

Hindi kami close, bakit naman inimbita pa nina Daddy 'to? 18 roses pa! Pero, two na lang and matatapos na rin ang 18 roses, hay thank God.

"Happy legality, Sabyn," he said, smiling.

"Thanks, Waylen." Almost 2 inches lang siguro ang tangkad niya sa'kin, kaya medyo pangit kami tignan. Just kidding. We went to the same school before nung Junior High kaya medyo kilala ko siya, pero we're not close. Super awkward!

We danced for a minute-ish, then bigla na lang tumango si Waylen sa'kin at umalis. Huh? I didn't hear the emcee mention any name para umalis siya. I looked behind and tinatapik tapik ng emcee 'yung mic niya kaya nagkakaroon ng feedback. "Who's next?" I whispered.

"I'm next," a familiar heart-stirring voice said. I'm getting goosebumps. I diverted my attention to the man standing in front of me. The man I've been dying to meet.

"Russel?"

"Sasha," he mentioned, offering his hand. "May I have this dance?"

I smiled and nodded, accepting his hand as he pulled me towards him by my waist. He wrapped my arms around his neck and placed his hands on my back. We heard some coughing, causing both of us to react. "Too intimate raw," he chuckled.

He, instead, held my right hand and placed my left hand on his shoulder. We fell in step, letting the rhythm control our movements. All the tables, people, and lights around us dissolved. It was him and I, alone.

"Russ?" I called his name as I rested my head on his chest. He's so tall na hanggang shoulders lang niya ako.

"Hmm?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"Then it wouldn't be a surprise, lods," I smiled. Lods.

"Alam ni Ate Rachel?" I felt him move, kaya, I'd just take that as a yes.

"Bak-" I was about to say one more thing when he cut me off with his soft voice. This is heart-stopping, nakakakilig masyado.

"Shh, maya na tayo mag-usap," I giggled, tumango na lang ako as a response. "..Sasha?"

"Yes?"

"Happy birthday."

We slow-danced for a minute and a half before the emcees called my last dance, the first guy I've ever loved.

"Happy birthday, hija. I saw that ha," my dad teased me. Alam niya kasing crush ko 'yun, but 'di 'yung super!

"Who invited him here? Kayo naman eh," I laughed.

"I just want to give you everything you want on your special day. Your life begins here, Sasha. As much as we want na i-baby ka, kailangan mong matutong tumayo sa sarili mong mga paa, anak. Kaya sulitin mo na 'tong araw na 'to."