Chapter Seven:Part Four

Aldo rented Louie’s beach resort for Dana’s birthday. Up to this point, she doesn’t have

an idea on what the group has prepared for her.

They arrived in the afternoon on that day.

While everyone was enjoying themselves in the beach, Leni stayed on the tent preparing the food.

Dana approached her and asked

“Leni, why don’t you join us?”

“I don’t want to get darker. Sayang naman yung mga glutathione capsules na ininom ko ng apat na buwan.”

“Hello?! It’s five o’clock in the afternoon. Hindi na nakaka-itim yung araw.”

Leni joined the group playing patintero. It was girls versus guys.

She was always the’ it’ because she was running slowly. Leni came up with a strategy.

As she invaded her opponents, she paused for a while. Aldo smiled, winked at her, and said.

“O lumapit ka.”

Leni smiled back, moved forward, and stepped on his feet.

Aldo got hurt and grabbed his left foot.

“Aray! Ang sakit nun!May bakal ka ba sa paa?”

“Aldo, style mo bulok. Hindi ako nakukuha na ngiti. Alam mo naman na ayokong kinikindatan ako.”

“Leni, pilya ka pa rin pala.” Mong added.

Everyone laughed.

After eating dinner, Leni approached Aldo who sat one corner, trying to put a bag of ice on his left foot. She approached him and said.

“Aldo, ako na. Sorry pala kanina.Hindi ko talaga sinasadya na apakan ka. Dapat kasi, hindi mo na ako kinindatan.Alam mo naman na ayokong kinikindatan ako.Nakaka-irita. ”

“Hayaan mo na yun Leni. Wag mo na lang uulitin kasi hindi ka na bata para umasal ng ganun.”

“Okay, sige. Kailangan mo na bang tumayo?”

Aldo nodded as she helped him to stand up.

“Aldo, how’s the cottage? Would you know if they placed all the balloons there? Nandoon na ba sila lahat?”

“Yes, they were already there so were the balloons. You don’t have to worry about it; everything has been taken care of.”

Leni asked Dana to change into her white dress, the one that the two of them bought from the town. She asked her to close her eyes until they reached the cottage.

When Dana opened her eyes, she was serenaded by her cousin and the rest of the guys there. Out of joy, she broke into tears.

“Sino ang may pasimuno nito?”

“Si Leni!” All of them said as they pointed her.

She blew the candles and opened her presents. The last one that she opened was from Leni. It was a charm bracelet made out of clay beads and crystals that was similar from the one that Red gave her. Dana wore it and embraced her.

“Thanks, this is the best birthday I ever had. I never thought that this would happen, mahirap lang kasi kami.” She said to Leni.

“You’re welcome. I’m so grateful to have you as my friend even if we just met this summer. I would never forget that time when you shared your baon with me. Not all people would be sincere enough to do that. By the way, you should also thank your cousin because he’s the one who was able to get our reservation here for free.”

Afterwards, the group had their ‘videoke’ session. It was Aldo’s turn to sing and he picked “Please be careful with my heart” by Regine Velasquez and Jose Mari Chan.

“Dapat may ka-duet si Kuya Aldo” Dana said.

“Sino?”

“Siyempre, si Leni.” One of them said

“Ay, ako ba? Bakit ako?” Leni asked them chuckling.

“Siyempre, kayo ang love team dun sa play.”

To stop the people from teasing, Leni sang with Aldo. She used to love this song while she was still a kid. While they were singing, everyone was saying,

“Uy, parang totoo.”

Leni just laughed.

After the celebration, they went inside their rooms. The girls were separated from the guys.

“I heard that you’re going back to Manila. Is it true?” One of them asked Leni.

“Yes, I’ll be leaving next week.” Leni replied as she told them how much, she’s going to miss them. Then, someone brought up about her dance with Aldo during Louie’s wedding.

“Leni, let me ask you something?” Dana asked.

“Kahit ano ha, wag lang Math.”

“Did you ever felt attracted from my cousin? Kahit konti lang? Kasi lagi kayong magkasama dahil sa practice dahil palagi kayong magka-eksena.”

“Tayo-tayo lang, hindi ito makaka-labas.” One of them added.

Leni’s eyes popped as soon as she realized that she was on the hot seat.

“Wait, Dana should be the one who should be asked with questions like this, not me. Besides, it’s her birthday.”

“Eh, gusto namin ikaw. Malapit ka na kasi umuwi eh.”

“Honestly speaking, I never felt attracted to Aldo because he’s Ate Agatha’s boyfriend.Lahat ng type ng pinsan ko, ayaw ko.”

“But, you’re cousin is out of the picture. Kuya Aldo, already moved on. I’m sure; Agatha would like him to be happy.”

“I know, but I haven’t gotten over my ex. That’s why I don’t see myself getting attached to someone else. Aldo is just like my best friend Adam.Ganon lang ang tingin ko sa kanya.Kaya kahit ilang beses niyo ako tuksuhin sa kanya, dedma lang ako.”

“Talaga lang ah, tignan natin sa future.” Dana replied.

After having chatting with them, Leni excused herself and stepped outside the cottage to breathe some fresh air.