MY BOYFRIEND AS A GIFT TO MY BESTFRIEND’S BIRTHDAY
“Please? Just this once? After my birthday hindi ko na kayo guguluhin, kahit pakikipagusap sa kanya hindi ko na gagawin. Promise.” I saw her pleading eyes.
“Kahit ito na lang pa-birthday mo sa akin,” she added.
I sighed heavily. It’s hard for me to decide, even before I know that she’s into my boyfriend. She likes Kin, I saw it… the way she looks at him, I know it because I am a woman at ganoon din ako tumingin sa boyfriend ko.
Pero kung pagbibigyan ko siya na makasama at makausap niya si Kin… after no’n hindi niya na guguluhin ang boyfriend ko. It will calm me, pabor din ‘yon sa side ko.
“Okay. You can do whatever you want to him only on your birthday.” I saw her wide smile and she hugs me tight.
“Thank you… for always understanding me as your bestfriend.” I just nodded silently.
And her birthday came.
We’re here on my bestfriend’s apartment.
“Dali na, kakausapin mo lang siya sa kwarto niya. And it’s her birthday, pagbigyan mo na. Saka bibili pa ako ng cake, kaya iiwan muna kita sa kanya,” I said.
“But you know that she likes me right?” he asked.
I gave him a small smile. “I know, and I trust you…” makahulugang sabi ko.
I heard him sighed on defeat. “Okay.”
“Bibili lang ako ng cake niya, iwan ko na kayo dito, babalik ako kaagad.” I gave him a pecked on his cheeks.
Tuluyan na akong nakalabas sa apartment nang makita kong umakyat na sa kwarto ni Maya na kaibigan ko.
Nasa kalagitnaan pa lang ako sa pupuntahan ko nang maalala ko na nasa bag ko ang wallet ko at nandoon ‘yon naiwan sa apartment ni Maya.
Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at bumalik ulit para kunin ang wallet ko. I don’t have money with me.
Nang makabalik sa apartment ni Maya ay kinuha ko kaagad ang wallet ko.
At palabas na sana ako ng apartment ni Maya nang may marinig akong kalabog sa taas.
I am afraid what’s happening there, but I should trust him. When he told me that he loves me, I should trust him.
I gripped to something that’s close to where I am standing, when I heard their conversation.
I stopped in the hallway close enough to hear and eavesdrop them.
They are still inside of Maya’s room, at naiwang nakabukas ang pintuan kaya narinig ko lahat.
Maya’s trying to seduce Kin— my boyfriend.
Natatakot ako sa maaring gawin ni Maya dahil alam kong may gusto siya kay Kin. Alam kong may mga tao na hahamakin ang lahat para sa taong mahal nila… but I still trust my boyfriend.
And I know my bestfriend wouldn’t do such desperate things—
Napahinto ako nang tumahimik sila sa loob, I can’t see them. But then I...

heard a thud again.
“Please, let me. Kahit ngayon lang… I swear hindi ito malalaman ni Sha. Pagkatapos nito, aakto na ako na parang walang nangyari sa atin. Please…” I heard her begging.
Matagal muling katahimikan ang namayani sa kanila.
Sumilip ako at papasok na sana pero nanlaki ang mata ko nang mismong si Kin ang humalik kay Maya.
I saw how intense they kissed.
I diverted my eyes away from them when they started undressing each other… na parang uhaw sila sa isa’t-isa.
Tinigil ko ang pagsilip sa kanila at napasandal sa pader ng kwarto ni Maya.
Tears started to flow freely down to my cheeks. It just keeps on falling.
I clenched my fist and bit my lower lip to stop my sobs, so I wouldn’t disturb them.
And that sound…
It’s a sound of pleasure… pero bakit sobrang sakit sa pandinig?
Iyon na ata yung pinakamasakit na narinig ko sa taong mahahalaga at mahal ko.
I heard them calling each other’s name because of pleasure.
And I already covered my mouth. Sobrang sakit na, ang sakit-sakit na gustong-gusto ko na sumigaw.
I felt my hands trembling while covering my mouth.
Ramdam na rin ng mga kamay ko ang walang katapusang luha na panay lamang sa pagtulo.
I got my phone on my sling bag.
I texted my boyfriend.
“I am breaking up with you.”
And I also texted my bestfriend.
“You can have him all you want. I hope you love my gift for you, because you can be with him as long as you want… not just on your birthday, but it can be for a life time as much as you want. I hope you’re happy being desperate just to have the man you like. Happy birthday BESTFRIEND.”
Then I didn’t finish watching them betraying me.
I left them there pleasuring each other.
I will never beg him to stay with me, and be a desperate like my bestfriend.
And I should be thankful to my bestfriend’s birthday, dahil nalaman ko kaagad na yung lalaking NASA akin ngayon ay hindi pala talaga yung PARA sa akin.
He cheated and that’s all. Kasi kahit wala ako sa tabi niya, kahit maraming babae ang nakapaligid sa kanya, kahit maraming tukso, kahit maraming magkagusto, magkandarapa at maging desperada sa kanya… hinding-hindi siya bibigay, because he already have a girlfriend. I am already here, and I am enough for him not to cheat and taste other girls.
Nang mag commit siya sa relasyon namin, nang sinabi niya sa akin na mahal niya ako… he will never do stupid things to hurt me.
Even if I love him, I will never beg and chase a man who don’t see my worth, not just as his girlfriend… but as a woman.
So I hope all the girls out there, will always know their worth
– Hartley Roses