18: Happy Birthday

"Good morning, birthday girl,"

Mom greeted me while I was just on the stairs, rubbing my eyes. It's my birthday? I come across the calendar downstairs and a red circle marked on the number. It's my birthday!

"Good morning, Mom," I smiled, stretching my arms.

My mind keeps popping up with a lot of ideas I can do after classes. I can't contain the excitement I'm feeling. Though I'm not asking for an elegant celebration today, my family and friends are enough.

I sat beside Mom after she finished settling the table, "What are your plans today? Did you come with plans?"

I pouted grabbing some ideas popped in my mind, "Maybe dinner tonight? Or let's go to Dad?... Or let's go to Grandma?"

"Okay, let's see today," she said, taking a spoonful of rice into her mouth.

"Why? Are you busy?"

She chews her lower lip, looking down at her plate.

"Sort of?" she answered, unsure.

I dropped my spoon and fork on the plate after hearing those words from her. Then, I felt Mom's hands on top of mine.

"Hey, promise!" she raised the one she used to hold mine a while ago, "I'll make it up to you tomorrow, and you have me the whole day. I'll file for one day's leave, and you don't have any classes tomorrow, right?"

"Promise?" I assure, squinting my eyes on her.

Her hand remains in the air, "Promise!"

"It's too early, and you're making me cry already, " I cried, pouting.

"I can't believe you're turning 18, " she said, stroking my hair.

I nod at her, resuming from eating. I had a few more spoons left on my plate when my ride came knocking outside. I left the table to open the door since Mom was frantically running over the house.

"Too early,"

I complained at Mark, walking back to the table and leaving him with the door to close.

He goes straight to the kitchen cabinet, "Of course, I haven't had my breakfast," he said, sitting on the other side of the table.

He came here more often to fetch me at first he felt a little embarrassed of Mom until he got used to eating breakfast here. And come early over time. One time, I saw him watching in the living room at the same time as Mom started cooking breakfast, I'm just going to get a glass of water by that time.

"Happy birthday, by the way," he said, busy feeding himself, "Do you want to go out after school?"

"Maybe Pete and I have plans,"

"Yeah, right, I'm single,"

"Why don't you take the waiter girl? Double date? We saw her last week, and I think she's being taken, tsk," I shake my head.

I'm waiting for his eyes, but he looks unbothered but hungry. He's eating like a pig. Maybe he needs his breakfast before I can get down to his temper.

But I don't know if we have plans, but I hope we do. He hasn't even done anything for me. I always let him go on his excuses as if I were the one who had done something with both of us.

I left him at the dining table after and took my bath to prepare myself. I took my time preparing myself since it was too early, I was supposed not to catch Mom at the table a while ago, but I got up way too early.

"Whose shirt is that?" he started asking as soon as I landed my foot on the last step.

I stand in the mirror beside the stairs, "Why?"

"It doesn't look like yours, new collection?"

I saw him walk up from the couch from the mirror, "I don't know," I said, finished tucking in the shirt into the jeans.

I followed him to leave the house and to his car.

I saw this shirt lying on my cabinet, and it's the last one. I think I piled up my laundry only after a week. And it's maybe from Pete I don't have any white shirts in my cabinet. I can't wear white shirts.

[PETER PAN: DINNER TONIGHT?]

HIS text. I almost think he forgot about me. I didn't see him around the campus since I came to enter the gate.

Someone came running back to me with two sticks of cotton candy in his hands. He was with a smile on his face.

"There's no other color?"

I take the other stick from him after placing my phone back in my pocket.

He shook his head, "The vendor gave it to someone else just because they're a couple," his voice seemed annoyed while his eyes wanted a fight at where he bought this.

"You should have fought for it... it's ours,"

"Childish," he looked back at me.

I messed up his hair, "Is this your birthday treat for me already?"

"You said you have a plan with him, right? But it's ok I'll just eat alone at the buffet later,"

"Or maybe you have someone else," I elbowed him.

And there are his eyes that I've been waiting for since earlier. He's pissed. I chuckled at his reaction minding my food.

I only waited for this cotton candy. He can't either drive me home since he said he has something else to do. And Peter already texted me where are we having dinner, so I'll go straight.

"Happy Birthday!"

I look fresh even though I'm bath under the sun. And I can't contain it to waste another minute, besides it's nearly 5 pm. I can wait for 5 minutes for him. I know he'll always come late to everything.

"Reservation by Mr. Selviro?" I asked the woman standing in front of the restaurant at her desk.

She starts checking every paper she has at the desk, "What's your relation between Mr. Selviro, Ma'am?"

It took a bite inside my mouth before I answered, "His girlfriend,"

Her empty face a while ago lit up after my words to her, "This way, Ma'am, " she said, removing the rope that blocks the entrance.

I followed her from behind until we reached our table near the window.

"You can start your dinner in 10 minutes, Ma'am," she said, bringing with her the number 4.

We both leave a smile on each other. Our spot captures every building standing nearby the restaurant, even the running vehicles outside. I think this is perfect.

I take a glimpse at my watch 15 minutes left.

10 minutes...

5 minutes...

"Ma'am, you can start now," the woman a while ago approached me.

"Thanks, I'll just wait for my boyfriend," I said, all hands resting on the table.

I knew he was coming late. That man will never change. I pick up my phone in my pocket to remind him about the time.

[Susan: I'm here already]

[Susan: Text me if you're near <3]

5 minutes. I let 5 minutes go by my hopes are still high on waiting for him.

Until it drops to 15 minutes. I'm waiting for him for 15 minutes already. Maybe there's traffic. He already made me wait one time for 15 minutes. He's coming

30 minutes.

Even though I count with the time, neither his figure nor shadow isn't showing. I felt like the people are watching me already. I can sense their eyes on me, but I think they aren't looking. Even the waiters going around.

[Susan: Wru?]

[Susan: Traffic?]

45 minutes.

At least, he messages if he's coming or not. I'm just burying my face above my arms, feeling like crying already.

An hour and a half...

People I watched being assisted by a waiter a while ago have gone out of the restaurant with faces and stomachs filled.

I left two words waiting to be sent, but a tear dropped on the screen that distracted me from sending those.

"Sue..."

I faced the window while I wipe the tears at the edge of dropping when a familiar voice approached me.

"I'm going home," I slide out of the seat with my eyes focused on walking out before I shed tears in front of everyone.

"Sue!"

He manages to catched me outside where the parking lot stays, holding my arms. He shoves those hairs blocking my face.

"I'm late, I know, I'm sorry!"

I threw away his hand from mine, walking away from him, but he caught me again, pulling him inside his arms, but I pushed his chest.

"I should have told you about it but--"

A slap hit his cheek from my palm.

"You made me look stupid, and yes! You should have told me because I'm waiting. I kept waiting for you," I pointed out on his chest, making him step backward.

"Sue..."

"You keep saying sorry. You said you'll make it up to me, but I'm still waiting. It's always me, Peter!.... I thought you liked me or maybe you're just... toying me," I broke down in his arms.

"I'm trying, Sue. I'm trying, I always try but I fail, I kept failing than proving to you myself. And you know I always love you, always, and playing around isn't my thing, especially to you," I saw how a tear left his eye, pointing out himself.

I pushed him away, making a far distance from us, "I'm also tired, you don't own it. I have my limitations too, and making me stupid, making me wait for you! You're not my Peter he'll never let me feel this way, either his best friend or girlfriend,"

Tears were streaming down my cheeks while I was walking away from him, hugging myself.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

The light in the living started to appear when Mom showed up with a candle lighted on the cake she was holding.

I can't help but smile at the effort Mom showed. She only has a cake on her right now, but the joy she gave me is countless.

"Thanks, Mom," I walked towards her, hugging her.

"I told you, I'll make it up to you, okay? I kept my promises and there's still for tomorrow," she said between our hugs.

"I know,"

I let her go after a few minutes, "I'm going to my room,"

"You don't want to eat the cake?"

"I... already had enough sweets, Mom,"

Cotton Candy. She smiled at me as if she knows what am I pointing out.

"Goodnight...happy birthday!"

"Goodnight!"

I dropped my body to my bed upon reaching my room. I tried reaching out for my phone but I give in. I started crying in front of my phone.

A message appear on my phone, and even though I can't see through the tears in my eyes, I tried reading it.

[Peterpan: I know I left you crying in your room and I'll make it up to you. No more excuses, promise]

It made me bury my face on my bedsheet, sobbing, and another message beeped. I flipped to the other side of the bed after finding it hard to breathe on my current position.

[Peterpan: Goodnight, I love you]

[Peterpan: always <3]