Nagising ako sa amoy ng mantikilya at kape. Sandali, inakala kong nananaginip lang ako—hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang marahang paglubog ng kutson sa tabi ko at ang pamilyar na init na dumadampi sa akin. "Maligayang kaarawan," bulong ni Cairo. I opened my eyes. He was there, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a wooden tray filled with things that felt impossibly thoughtful: toast cut into triangles, fresh fruit arranged neatly, a small vase with a single flower from the garden, and a candle flickering softly beside it all. Tinitigan ko siya. “Naalala mo,” sabi ko, na may kakapalan ang boses. Halos maluha-luhang tumingin. “Of course I did,” he replied, almost offended. “You think I’d forget the day you came into the world?” Mabilis na tumaas ang emosyon ko, na ikinagulat ko. Itinulak ko ang sarili ko, hinila ang kumot paikot sa akin habang maingat niyang inilapag ang tray sa kandungan ko. “This is… too much,” I murmured. “It’s exactly enough,” he said. He leaned in, press
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