Her Aya - Chapter 1

Just a month from now, it will be her birthday. I'm sure that everyone is looking forward for it. Our little sister turning sweet sixteen. Our clique's little princess.

We have been together since childhood. Yes, we have been childhood best friends. Our parents have been friends since their college years and I guess you can say, we are the next generation of their group. We lived and grew up together in an exclusive village just outside the metro. Our families have been a tight knit that our parents are like siblings, and so are we.

Our clique started with a bunch of little boys, and then she arrived, the youngest member of our pack. She is just a few years shy from the youngest guy in our group. We have Jeric and Jeron and Tyrone 21, Aje (me) 20, Marcus 19 and our princess Mika 16. Growing up with guys, Mika turned out to be one nerdy-geeky girl. She has the brains and street smarts and she is one of the boys.

"Mika, I just arrived, where are you?" speaking over my phone
"Kuya Aje, wait lang. I just got out of the shower room from swim practice." I heard her shouting back, I guess I'm on speakerphone again
"Hurry or we will miss your appointment." I responded "I'm at gate 2."
"Please go nalang sa gate 3 Kuya, mas malapit ako dun." she said
"Fine." I hung-up and drove off to gate 2

As soon as I arrived, I saw her running towards the car in her usual gym clothes and bag. I opened the door for her and she flung her gym bag on the backseat and she hopped in on front and popped her glasses on.
"Tara! Let's go!" she exclaimed "And I thought Aya will pick me up today."
"Hay, as usual, do I need to explain?" I retorted
"Sorry, I just thought, well, I was expecting... never mind." she mumbled as she unconciously straightens her glasses and puts on her seatbelt

We arrived at the tailorshop after an hour, and Tyrone was already there.
"Where have you two been?" he greeted us
"Sorry, got stuck in traffic going here, had to take a detour." I responded
"Sorry Aya." a yawning voice from behind "I didn't answer the phone, I guess I slept all the way here." and she sleepily hugged him "Are we late?"
"Almost, I asked the owner to wait until you arrive so you can have your fitting. After this, I'll drive you home." Tyrone replied
They both went inside and I turned towards my car.
"Kuya Aje, thank you!" she shouted back "Bukas po, don't forget!"
I turned around and smiled in response "Sige, I'll see you tomorrow."

The days continued and Mika's 16th birthday party preparation became an all hands on deck affair for the 6 of us. The five of us taking turns to pick up Mika from school and drive her to which ever appointment she needs to be at.

"I never knew sweet sixteen parties could be this tideous." I sighed one afternoon
"Don't worry Aje, it's for her naman yung ginagawa natin, right?" Marcus replied "Minsan lang naman ito."
"Anung minsan?! Meron pa siya debut in 2 years time! I can't believe my mom suggested this! I remembered when I turned 18, I only had a small house party with some booze and a few friends." I complained
"Don't be such a whiner, what can we do? All our moms wanted a girl and she is the only girl in the family."
Which is true, being that she is the "only" girl in our big family.
Her brothers, Jeric and Jeron, are taking the most toll in this fiasco. They have to juggle through college, office work and birthday errands since my mom suggested this celebration. The rest of us decided to help out and we got more than what we bargained for. Our little miss Mika isn't hitting it well also, as we found out that she doesn't know who to invite from class. She cried it out to us when Marcus and I picked her up from her university after swim practice.

"Marcus, have you had problems like this before?" she asked
"Problems like what, Mia?" Marcus asked in return looking at her from the rear-view mirror
"Well, for some reason, Mommy Rae wanted to know who my escort is for the party."
"My mom asked you?! When?!" I blurted
"Well, Kuya Aje, it was when she read the invitation that mom showed her about a week ago. She said that there should be an escort on the invitation. My mom laughed it off, but I felt Mommy Rae was serious about it." she replied
"Since I know that Marcus will be inviting his new girlfriend to the party, I thought I could ask him about, you know, getting a boyfriend." she added
A slap on my face. I looked at her in disbelief.
"Oh! bat ka natulala, Aje?" laughed Marcus "My mia has a point, I think I should be the one answering such questions." And he turned his attention to Mika, "First off mia, do you know what guys look for in a girl? For guys to notice you, you must put a little more effort on how you present yourself. Wear cute clothes, not your kuya's shirts. And fix your hair once in a while. Have it done. You have nice hair but it's always tied up. Ask your kuya for some advise on how girls should look, especially your kuya Jeron, his girlfriend is really hot!"
And Marcus continued with his lecture as Mika attentively listens on.

Marcus' talk went on as we drove to the seaside hotel where Mika will have her party. Mika's mom was already there when we arrived alongside my mom and the event coordinator. We all took a tour around the hotel and found out that the event included several perks. With Mika's mom and my mom contented with what has been discussed by the event coordinator we decided to go home. Marcus offered to take Mika and her mom home and I drove with my mom.
"Mom, the guys and I have a plan after Mika's party. I don't know if we still need the other things the coordinator showed earlier." I started
"Why didn't you say so, miho. We could have made the adjustments earlier at the hotel." she said
"I don't know, I guess I don't want to sound like I'm intervening or something. And it's Mika's party anyway."
"Well, I can talk to your tita and tito so we can make plans on what to do after the celebration."
"Does that mean I can borrow the keys to the vacation house?" I asked
"Wait, kelan ka nagpaalam about that?" she looked at me
"Please? I miss the house there. I'm planning to take everyone there the day after the party."
"Oh! Akala ko plan nyo?" she asked
"Yes, plan namin kasi mag out of town, but I felt it will be better to take them sa bahay natin doon. As soon as mahiram ko yung keys from you and I can have it cleaned and prepared for our arrival." I answered
"Let me think about it."
Finally! I got to ask my mom. I was smiling the rest of the way home.