MY BIRTHDAY ACCORDING TO MY FRIENDS
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MY BIRTHDAY ACCORDING TO MY FRIENDS
J
an 29, 6:00 am. My phone wouldn’t shut it. Driving through the skyway yesterday afternoon felt like just minutes ago. My feet were still aching. But today was my day. I got my green dress pressed, nails polished and my hair trimmed the way the boys like it. Today was going to be perfect. Nothing was going to ruin it. Not even WFD’s flat tire or that snotty girl from across the floor in the office.
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MY BIRTHDAY ACCORDING TO MY FRIENDS
Yes, WFD did have a flat tire. So what? My yoga body changed that in a jiffy. I got in my green slip-ons and drove off. Oops, I forgot to say goodbye to Andro. Not a worry, I’d just get him some peanuts on my way home later. Traffic was moving slow so I checked my phone. (Yes, while driving. Never do that.) Not a single text. Pffft. Maybe things would get better when I get to the office. “Happy birthday!” right on cue, as I entered our building. I heard it from my back. Could it be one of my admirers? Nope. It was Dean. Wait, he could be. I thanked him and ran off.
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MY BIRTHDAY ACCORDING TO MY FRIENDS
Sobrang tindi ng sikat ng araw. Dali-dali akong tumakbo papunta sa pinakamalapit na suking tindahan para bumili ng coke- yung malamig, yung hindi diet coke. “Makabalik na nga sa opisina!� ! At bagaman kebs ang umaga, andaming trabaho sa opisina pagdating ng hapon. Heto ang research notes mula kay boss - kelangan irevise today. Heto and patulong mula kay Gem Arbo - deadline daw at 4pm! Okay, chill. Maya-maya pa habang nagsisimula na kong ma-stress --- KRING!!! KRING!!! Biglang nag-ring ang telepono. Tumatawag pala ang kapatid kong si Andro. Pasundo daw sa UP Town. Now na. Inom ulit ng coke.
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MY BIRTHDAY ACCORDING TO MY FRIENDS
Make that a gulp. Midday. I have a deadline at 4, and somehow in between I would have to drive up to UP Town and bring my brother home. Without thinking I jet past the office doors to my car. Crap! The keys fell. Phone’s buzzing again. I reach for the keys and drive for EDSA. Damn these high heels, this manual car, and this build-up along Magallanes! Beep, beep! Thank God for my Samsung tablet and I’m still able to work! 2:30pm. I’m still in the North! No way I’m making it home and back to the office. “Andro, you’re gonna have to wait for me at the parking.” I’m so tired! I check the clock. 8 minutes left. Where do I park? Will they get my e-mail from my tab? Time’s ticking, ever so slowly, ever so close to 4. 4
MY BIRTHDAY ACCORDING TO MY FRIENDS
It was 29 minutes past 4. I couldn’t seem to focus on work anymore. I wasn’t sure if it was the sugar or the coffee or the old building but there was something about today. I was looking forward to driving home, the familiarity of the congestion in the south. I was looking forward to dinner. I was looking forward to spending time elsewhere. Another country perhaps? Alone? In my idle time, I checkedmy facebook account. I had 57 notifications. But I already knew that. I scrolled down post after post, while I sipped on my Coke. “It must be my birthday.”
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