Love Beyond The Spotlight

Chapter 04

As the weeks passed, the memory of what happened slowly faded from my mind. My academic responsibilities consumed me. I balanced studies and worked just to maintain my grades. Ley was equally busy, so we barely had the chance to see each other.

One afternoon, while I was zoning out, Ley suddenly appeared outside our classroom, holding a small cake with a lit candle. The sight caught me completely off guard. My eyes widened, and a smile automatically curved on my lips.

"Happy Birthday to you!" she sang in her sweet, melodic voice.

No one had ever celebrated my birthday like this before.

I grew up in an orphanage in Pampanga until I was twelve. After that, I was on my own. I moved to Manila for high school, surviving through different jobs—selling sampaguita on the streets, cleaning windshields, and helping out at the palengke. Life was hard, but I had no choice. I had to endure.

I spent years searching for my parents, hoping for a miracle. But as time passed, I realized some stories don’t have happy reunions. I learned to stand on my own, and somehow, I accepted that.

But Ley, she always found a way to make my birthdays feel special.

The room echoed with my classmates’ voices as they sang "Happy Birthday." Their faces were lit up with joy, laughter dancing in their eyes. For a brief moment, I felt like I belonged, like I had a family.

“Happy birthday, Claire!”

“Mabuhay ka hangga’t gusto mo!”

“Happy 22nd birthday, Miss! Shanghai naman diyan!”

I laughed as I thanked them, even with their teasing and jokes. Mga loko talaga.

Then Ley leaned in and said warmly, “Happy birthday, my girl.”

I smiled at her. “Thank you, Azahlea.” We hugged, a brief but heartfelt embrace. I felt a deep connection, a sense of comfort I rarely allowed myself to feel.

She nudged me, reminding me to make a wish. I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and wished silently for something I dared not say aloud. Then I blew out the candle.

After the celebration, Ley invited me to go with her. Since classes were done, I agreed. As we walked toward the parking lot, I noticed a familiar figure approaching. Si Jerald. He looked a bit uneasy, but when he reached us, he smiled.

“Hey, happy birthday again. I got you something,” he said, holding out a small, neatly wrapped box.

I blinked, surprised. “Thank you, Jerald,” I said sincerely as I accepted the gift.

“No worries. Anyway, I’ll see you around. Ingat.” Then he turned and walked away, almost awkwardly. Ley and I exchanged puzzled looks.

I slipped the box into my bag, curiosity nagging at me, but decided to open it later.

“Let’s go,” I told Ley, and we continued walking.

When we arrived at Ley’s house, I was stunned. A cozy picnic setup waited in the backyard with colorful blankets, woven baskets overflowing with food, all shaded by a large tree.

“You did this?” I asked, overwhelmed.

“I wanted your birthday to feel special.”

I nodded, touched. I wasn’t great with words, especially in moments like this, but I hoped she could feel my gratitude.

“I may not say much, but I hope you know how thankful I am.” I gave her a small smile.

Ley beamed. “I’ve known you long enough, Claire. Almost three years now. I understand you just fine.” She chuckled softly. “You don’t have to say it out loud.”

We spent the afternoon eating, laughing, and basking in the sun. For the first time in a long time, I felt genuinely happy.

Then a man appeared with a casual smile.

Ley’s eyes lit up. “Hey! What are you doing here?”

It was Ysmael, her cousin. Before he could respond, his bandmates followed behind him.

I stiffened slightly when I noticed Asher among them. I remembered the time I accidentally followed his ig account. He never reacted, so I assumed he did not noticed.

I caught him looking at me and our eyes met. He looked away almost instantly, fading into the group.

Ugh. That look again. Nakakainis talaga siya.

I tried to focus on the others. Ley seemed thrilled to see her cousin, chatting animatedly as the group settled in. Ysmael had this calming presence, the kind of guy who didn’t seem to get mad easily.

“May okasyon ba?” Ysmael asked.

“It’s Claire’s birthday! Just a simple celebration,” Ley replied with a smile, then turned to me. “Is it okay if they join?”

The guys exchanged glances. “Okay lang ba sa’yo, Claire?” Josh asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, no problem.” There was more than enough food and space. Besides, the more, the merrier.

Josh plopped down beside me. “Happy birthday, Claire!”

His boyish smile and two-block haircut gave off a playful vibe. He seemed like the type who never ran out of jokes.

The others echoed his greeting, filling the space with warmth and energy. I watched them, smiling quietly. The sunshine, the breeze, the laughter, it was so perfect.

While eating, I noticed a stain on my shirt. “Seriously?” I muttered, trying to wipe it with tissue, only making it worse.

“Ley, pahiram ng shirt.”

“Ang clumsy mo talaga!” she burst out laughing. “Wait, kukuha ako.”

Before she could stand, Asher tossed a navy-blue hoodie at me.

“Go and change. Ang dugyot mo,” he said flatly.

I glared. “Excuse me? I’m not dugyot!”

Everyone turned to us. Ysmael chuckled while Aki grinned. Even Asher’s serious expression twitched into a small smile.

“Just wear Asher’s hoodie. Tamad akong kumuha,” Ley said with a grin.

“Traitor,” I muttered at her, taking the hoodie and heading inside.

As I pulled it on, I caught a whiff of Asher’s scent—fresh, clean, familiar. The hoodie was oversized, hanging loosely on me.

When I came back out, our eyes met again. For a fleeting second, I saw something soften in his gaze, but it quickly vanished.

“Balik ko na lang kapag nalabhan ko na,” I said as I sat beside Josh.

“Okay. Happy birthday ulit,” he said with a smirk.

“Thanks,” I replied curtly.

He chuckled. “Ang sungit ni boss.”

Ley teased, “Alright, alright, tama na ‘yan. Mamaya na kayo maglambingan.”

Laughter erupted around us. I glanced at Asher, who was already looking at me. I rolled my eyes, and he smiled—just a little.

I let it go. Ayoko masira birthday ko.

As we continued eating and bonding, I was surprised by how easy it felt to be around them. Their energy was loud but comforting. It felt like we’d known each other longer than just today.

When it was time to leave, they offered to drop me off. Ysmael’s van was spacious. Ley sat to my right, Asher to my left. Josh rode shotgun, and Aki and Cloud took the back.

“Selfie tayo!” Josh said.

As we gathered for the photo, Asher leaned in closer.

“Tumingin ka sa camera, hindi sa akin,” he said, pointing.

Ang kapal talaga.

Ley nudged me. “Baka matunaw si Asher, Claire,” she teased.

“Tarantado,” I muttered under my breath.

Asher narrowed his eyes. “Your words, woman.”

I smirked. “Your words, woman,” I mimicked, dripping with sarcasm.

“Love birds, enough!” Ysmael called. “Wacky naman!”

Asher turned to the camera with a sigh, just as Cloud cracked, “Di mo na kailangan, pre.”

Ysmael threw him a glare. “f**k you, Cloud!” flipping him off.

So this is how they really are. Off-cam, they’re even wilder than I imagined.

“Wacky!” Josh shouted again. I posed with a peace sign. Asher poked my cheek and smiled at the camera.

I shot him a death glare, but he simply pointed his lips to the camera, signaling me to look.

Nagtaas lang ako ng kilay, but he didn’t budge. He's still smug, still annoying. Pagod na akong makipagtalo. I just gave in, letting out a soft sigh as I turned my head toward the camera lens.

I forced a half-smile, but I could feel Asher beside me subtly shifting closer. Hindi ko alam kung sadya o hindi, pero ramdam ko ang init ng balikat niya malapit sa akin.

“Ang damot mo sa ngiti,” he murmured under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.

I glanced at him, narrowing my eyes. “Ang kulit mo talaga.”

He just laughed and moved back to his place, putting a little distance between us.

When we arrived at my apartment, they dropped me off with cheerful goodbyes. I watched the van disappear down the road, my heart full.

It was an unexpected day. A day that left me smiling.

Aside from Ley, these people made me feel something I didn’t expect. I feel safe. Welcomed. One thing about them that amazed me the most is that hindi ka nila tatratuhin base sa estado ng buhay mo.

Perhaps family isn’t defined by blood after all.