Midnights to Remember

Memory: Twenty One

Twenty One

It was Saturday today at wala kaming meeting. Medyo late na ako nagising dahil alam kong wala akong schedule today. Bumaba ako at ang nadatnan ko lang sa sala ay si Nanay Esther.

"Good morning, Nanay. Pumasok na po ba sila Mommy?" tanong ko.

"Oo, iha. Kumain ka na diyan at nagluto ako ng bacon at itlog."

"I'm craving something sweet, Nanay." sabi ko habang nakapout.

Naglabas ako ng flour, baking powder, butter, milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and chocolate chip. Pinaghalo ko itong lahat at sinimulang iluto sa fry pan. After maluto ay inistack ko ang pancake then I put butter and mixed berries on top drizzling it with maple syrup.

Kinuha ko ito at sumalampak sa sofa bago binuksan ang TV. I opened Netflix and searched for my favorite series, Friends. I was busy eating while watching nang magsalita si Nanay Ester.

"Hindi ka ba lalabas ngayong araw, iha?"

"Nope, Nanay. Wala po kaming meeting today." I said.

Busy ako sa pagsimot ng kinakain ko nang biglang magbeep ang cellphone ko. I checked it and it was from the Pathfinder's group chat.

GUYS! THERE'S A FREAKING METEOR SHOWER LATER AT 12 AM- Ashley

Me as an astronomy geek was enthralled and felt excited.

Woah tara kaya? Sa dating pwesto boss?- Vince

Omg maganda ang view doon, super nice kung doon natin papanoorin ang meteor shower!- Cesha

Tara! Ano g?- Kaius

Lahat sila nagmessage na pupunta pwera lang sa akin na nagiisip pa rin. I sighed, Mommy and Daddy is here I don't think I will be able to.

Puro seen ang prinsesa natin- Vince

Guys me is sad. I don't think I can come *crying emoji* - Me

Cute- Kaius

Hala bakit?- Ashley

Mom and Dad's at home. Pakitakas ako please, magwawala ako kapag hindi ko nakita 'tong meteor shower *crying emoji* - Me

Woah looks like someone is an astronomy geek- Jansen

Hindi- Me

Hindi ka nagkakamali- Me

Humagikhik ako habang binabasa ang sinabi ko. Napatingin naman sa akin si Nanay dahil sa inasta ko kaya binalik ko na lang ang atensyon ko sa pinapanood. Napaisip naman ako, I was just kidding about itakas nila ako dahil alam ko namang Mom and Dad will kill me. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako habang nanlulumo, I would be missing out a once in a lifetime experience.

Narinig ko ulit nagbeep ang cellphone ko kaya binuksan ko ito.

HAHAHA aliw 'tong si Kadence- Vince

It's settled then. Operation: ITAKAS ANG PRINSESA SA TORE- Kaius

Sinong may hagdan diyan mga pre? Dalihin niyo ah- Vince

Exactly at 11:30 susunduin ka namin, Kade *evil emoji* - Ashley

Woah exciting 'to- Cesha

See you later, Aice *wink emoji* - Kaius

My eyes widened at what I read. Dali dali akong nagtype, hindi ko akaling seseryosohin nila ito.

Guys I'm joking for pete's sake!- Me

Ay wala nang bawian 'to, pinasok ko na sa mini van 'yong hagdan- Vince

Sayang naman effort ni Vince *sad emoji*- Kaius

Letse kayo!- Me

Nagulat ako sa tinype ko, I don't even curse at people.

Woah si Kadence ba 'to pre? Kung sino ka mang nanghack sa account ng prinsesa namin lumabas ka diyan!- Vince

Bwisit ka talaga, Vince. Ginawa mong nasaniban!- Ashley

Natawa naman ako sa mga pinaguusapan nila. I'm happy na makakasama ako but if I got busted I'm freaking doomed. But if I learned something from them it's that, make the best out of it at isipin na lang mamaya ang consequences.

All right. Galingan niyo!- Me

Aye aye, princess- Kaius

*salute emoji* - Vince

~

Nanood lang ako hanggang sa sumapit ang lunch. Nagprisinta ako kay Nanay na ako ang magluluto, I asked her what she wanted and she said anything's fine with her. I craved Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo kaya tiningnan ko ang fridge kung meron kami ng mga ingredients.

I love cooking so lahat ng klase ng pasta ay may stock kami, I went straight to the pantry and looked for fettuccine pasta. Nang makuha ko ang pasta ay nilabas ko ang butter, parsley, italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, garlic, heavy whipping cream, salt, pepper, and chicken breast.

I began by boiling the pasta then making the alfredo sauce. After it's cooked, I seasoned and seared the chicken breast. I gently plated the pasta then I added some parsley on top together with the chopped chicken.

Since I still have the time I baked a blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream on top.

Sabay kami ni Nanay kumain ng lunch. Tuwang tuwa naman ito dahil ngayon ko na lang siya nalutuan ulit. I was busy the whole semester since I have to focus on my study while fulfilling my duties on our organization.

I have always love cooking ever since I was kid, I thought Mom and Dad would be against it but surprisingly they are not. Magagamit ko daw kasi ito para makakain pa rin ako nang maayos despite of my demanding course.

During the afternoon ay wala akong ibang ginawa kung 'di manood sa living room. Naisipan kong mag padeliver ng starbucks at pizza for meryenda habang nanonood ako.

My whole day passed by just like that. Bandang 9 pm ay dumating na sila Mommy and Daddy galing sa work. Sinalubong ko sila para humalik sa pisngi, I greeted them before they went to their room.

Pumanhik na muna ako sa kwarto ko sa taas at bumaba na lang nang tawagin na ako to have dinner. Exactly at 10 pm kami kumain, it was late because nagpahinga muna sila Mommy at Daddy. Tough day at work they said.

Tumikhim si Daddy."Kamusta ang finals mo?" tanong niya.

"Pasado naman po lahat, Dad." I answered.

"Pasado lang?" sabi niya. Inangat ko ang paningin ko dahil sa narinig ko.

"Pasado pero hindi mataas?" tanong niya ulit habang nagsisimulang magalit. I don't get them I thought it's alright as long as I passed.

"Yes, Dad. I think macocompensate naman po ito ng mga past exams ko so I don't have to worry." I said casually. Nagulat ako nang pabagsak niyang nilapag sa mesa ang utensils.

"Is that your excuse?!" galit na sabi niya."You're mark should always be high hindi pwedeng pasado lang, Kadence." hinawakan naman ni Mommy ang braso ni Dad para pakalmahan ito.

I just stared at him coldly."Paano kung hindi enough ang grades mo para manatili ka on top?!" sigaw niya.

"I don't get you, Dad. You said I could've atleast got a passing mark noong bumagsak ako. Pero now that I passed everything, you're still questioning me?" nakakunot ang noong sabi ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"But that doesn't mean na hindi mo na gagalingan! I swear if you're not on top this school year, I will send you abroad!" he said.

Nanlaki ang mata ko."No, Dad! You can't do that to me." naguumpisa na akong magalit.

"You know damn well that I can." nagbabantang sabi nito.

Tumayo ako at kinuha ang plato ko bago ito nilagay sa sink kahit kaunti pa lang ang nakakain ko. Pagdaan ko sa harap nila ay parang wala nangyari at nagpatuloy sila sa pagkain. I immediately ran upstairs and locked myself in my room. After that I ran to my bed and there I cried silently.

They can't do that to me, I can't leave.

I silently cried while thinking about what my Dad said.

Why do I have to be the perfect daughter? It's like I'm completely losing myself while maintaining my reputation as the little miss perfect.

~

Hindi ko namalayan ang oras pero patuloy pa rin sa pagagos ng luha ko. Hikbi ko lang ang maririnig sa buong kwarto ko. Umupo ako at sinandal ang ulo ko sa headboard. Nagpatuloy pa rin ako sa pagiyak nang may marinig akong kumakatok.

My gaze immediately followed where the sound was. It was from the window, lumapit ako dito at laking gulat ko nang tumambad sa harap ko si Kaius.

Shoot. I totally forgot about our plan, I immediately unlocked my window. Tumambad ang seryosong mukha ni Kaius, nagulat ako nang pahiran niya ang luha ko.

"Umiiyak ka nanaman." pilit na ngiting aniya.

"I'm sorry. My mind spaced out, I totally forgot our little rendezvous." pilit akong tumawa."Let me just change."

I slipped into my hoodie. Wala akong kahit na ano mang sapin sa paa kaya kinuha ko na lang ang indoor slippers ko na si grizzly bear ang design. Napaisip ako pero pwede na 'to kesa wala.

"Paano ka nga pala nakaakyat dito?" tanong ko kay Kaius habang nakakunot ang noo. Ngumisi siya at tinuro ang hagdan na pinagakyatan niya. Sineryoso talaga nila ang sinabi nila kanina, I smiled.

Habang lumalabas mula sa bintana ay nakita ko ang iba pa naming kaibigan. Ang ingay nila kaya I told them to shush dahil baka mahuli kami. Naunang bumaba si Kaius ng hagdan para maalalayan ako sa pagbaba ko. Sumunod naman kaming umakyat sa bakod namin kaya nilipat namin ang hagdan.

We successfully cross over the wall without no one noticing. Nakahinga kami ng maluwag at dali daling tumakbo sa mini van. Pagpasok namin sa van, nagtinginan kaming lahat and we bursted out laughing.

"You're a bad ass, Kade!" sabi ni Ashley. Natawa naman ako at nagsimula nang paandarin ni Vince ang sasakyan.

"Vince daan tayo sa convenience store." Ashley said.

Tumango si Vince at huminto sa pinakamalapit na convenience store na nadaanan namin. Sabay sabay kaming bumaba at nagtaka naman ako nang tumawa sila. They are all looking at my feet then I realized I was only wearing my fluffy slippers.

"Cute." narinig kong sabi ni Jansen.

Pumasok kami at nagkanya kanyang pulot ng mga pagkain at inumin. After naming magbayad ay nagmadali kaming bumalik sa van dahil 11:40 pm na.

After a 10 minutes drive ay naramdaman kong huminto na ang mini van. Lumabas silang lahat kaya sumunod na rin ako. Napatigil ako sa nakita ko, I was in awe. We're here sa isang cliff at rinig na rinig ang paghampas ng alon sa ibaba. The whole place was covered in blue led lights that is soothing to the eyes. The waves crashing the sand is like music to my ears, it was so calming.

Nagset up si Vince ng camera sa likod ng van at sinet ito to time lapse.

Nagulat ako nang isa isa silang umakyat sa taas ng mini van. Kaius carried me kaya wala akong nagawa kung 'di umakyat na lang din. We helped Kaius and we lifted him up para makaakyat siya. Umupo kami habang nakahang ang paa namin, Kaius leaned closer to me.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" tanong niya. Ngumiti ako bago tumango sa kaniya para hindi siya magalala.

"Narinig kita kanina habang umaakyat ako sa bintana mo." malungkot na sabi niya."Anong problema?"

"Same old shit." sabi ko. Nagulat naman siya because I cussed kaya natawa ako sa itsura niya. Natawa din siya at ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Hindi ba mapapansin ng magulang mo na nawawala ka?" seryosong tanong niya.

Umiling ako. "We argued earlier, I doubt they will check on me after what happened. They never do, news flash is they don't give a damn about what I feel." pilit na ngiting sabi ko.

He stroked my hair. "You did your best, princess. I'm proud of you, always." the sweetest smile was plastered on his face. I can't help but to tear up, this is my first time hearing from someone that they are proud of me.

Natinag lang kami nang magabot si Vince ng root beer. It's almost 12 am and we are all now looking at the calm sky. Habang hinihintay ito ay wala kaming ibang ginawa but to goof around and nagbabatuhan ng mga junk foods sa isa't isa at todo saway naman si Ashley.

Exactly at 12 am falling stars showed up and we were all silent because we're in awe. As the stars keep falling I can't help but to look at them while they stare at the calming night sky.

I love this five weirdos. When I'm with them I'm at ease.