Chapter Text
“Ate! Paki labas na po yung cake!” Stell said after catching the attention of one of the servers.
“Cake?” Josh asked quizzically. “Sino may birthday?”
“Anong sinong may birthday?” Jah said with a laugh.
“Ganon ka na ba katanda na di mo na agad maalala?” Ken also said while laughing.
Pau looked at Josh and chuckled when he continued looking confused. He bumped his knuckles gently over Josh’s left temple, before leaning closer and saying affectionately, “Ikaw, tangek.”
“Oh.” Josh scratched the back of his head. “Oo nga, birthday ko nga pala.”
Pau smiled contently as he watched Josh happily wait for their friends to finish lighting the candles on the cake. He felt his heart warm at Josh’s smile as they all sang him a happy birthday.
“Grabe! Kung alam ko lang na birthday mo, eh di sana nag-bake ako ng cake!” Stell said once Josh finished serving all of them a slice.
“Kaya nga eh. Di tuloy ako naka-handa ng regalo.”
Ken looked at Josh then back at Justin, “Ah, ako ang regalo ko ay… libre ko na tong cake na to gamit ng card ni Justin!”
Justin slapped Ken in the arm, “Wow ha.”
Josh just laughed. “Okay lang, ano ba. Di ko pa nga maaalala if di niyo to ginawa eh.”
“Si Pau di nakalimot, pero di din naman nag-share! Nagulat na lang ako nung nagtanong ‘tong boyfriend mong sweet san daw masarap na cakeshop. Eh hindi naman ‘to mahilig sa cake or kahit anong matamis di ba?” At Stell’s statement, Josh turned to look at Pau who was sitting beside him. He couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“Sweet ka pala, akalain mo yon?” he told Pau who just stuck his tongue out at him. Josh turned back to their friends. “Thanks talaga, guys, ha.”
“Asus, pa-soft hours pa!” Jah exclaimed.
“Wala yon, dre. Masaya din kami ni Stell at Jah na mag-celebrate with both of you.”
Pau slung his arm around Josh’s shoulders. “Hala, tama na yan. Kain na.”
Josh smiled. “Oo, let’s eat.”
After saying their goodbyes to their friends, Pau and Josh decided to just walk back to their shared condo unit. It’s a little bit of a walk from where they ate, but the weather was nice. It was cloudy without the danger of rain, and the wind was cool to the skin. It’s been a while since they had weather like this; and it’s nice to just walk hand-in-hand.
As they reached their building, Pau stopped Josh from going inside with a gentle tug. Josh turned around and just looked at Pau with a raised eyebrow. Josh was standing on the sidewalk so he and Pau were eye-to-eye for once, not that he minded their height difference.
“Ano, pinigilan mo ko pumasok para lang titigan ako?” Josh said jokingly.
Pau laughed, “Siyempre hindi, tanga.”
“O, so?”
Pau just smiled, leaned in, and planted a chaste kiss on Josh’s lips. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
Josh felt the warmth rush up his neck and onto his face. “Sweetheart ka diyan, kadiri!”
Pau chuckled and kissed Josh again. “Arte neto, gusto mo naman. Pulang pula ka nga eh. Sweetheart.”
Josh could feel the blush on his face intensify. “Ewan ko sa yo, John Paulo.”
Pau couldn’t help but laugh again. He took Josh’s hand and started to walk towards the entrance, but was tugged backward when Josh didn’t move from his spot. It was Pau’s turn to look at Josh with a raised eyebrow.
Josh walked up to Pau and looked at his face quietly for a few moments. Pau just waited patiently for Josh to get out whatever it was he wanted to say.
“Thanks, Pau, ha.” Pau just smiled softly. “I mean it, Pau. I know you know what I mean. Thank you. Sa lahat.”
Pau cupped Josh’s cheek with one hand. “I know, sweetheart. Di mo kailangan mag-thank you. It will always be my pleasure.”