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“What do you want to do for your birthday, anyway? We can start planning it now!” My best friend, Pepper, kicks at the ground and swings, her brown hair trailing behind her.My hand reaches for the locket on my chest as I start to answer Pepper, but I grasp air instead. I never take the locket off except to shower—I can't believe I forgot to put it back on this morning. It was from Dad. Unlike Ate Nadine, I value his gifts and actually use them. I let out a long sigh. "Birthday brunch at Lola Cordia's Garden Resort would be great."Pepper stops swinging. "Your dead grandma's resort? The one your papa inherited?""Yeah." I wince. Maybe it's a cultural thing, that Pepper's more blunt and honest than any of my Filipino classmates. So, I just try to understand her."Your papa's there. And Wendell. Ate Nadine–""I know." I follow her lead and slow down my swing. Ate Nadine would rather drop dead than spend a second in Dad's company. But Pepper's brilliant. Nothing is impossible with her. "Can you come up with a plan to make it happen?""That's a tall order, Sab. Your sister's really stubborn." Pepper takes a lock of her hair and twirls it around a finger. "Don't worry. I'll think of something."Great.Pepper's biting her lower lip. I don't see her do that often, but when I do, it worries me. Because it almost always means she's worried too.I force myself to smile as my sister heads our way. If Pepper isn't sure she can come up with a plan, I might as well accept this birthday reunion isn't happening. Ate Nadine will never speak to Dad, and it's just the way it is.
