A/N: We're done with Lorelei's entry. Now it's Jamie's time to shine!

JAMIE

ALAM N'YO ba kung anong season ang l-in-o-look forward ko kada year?

Come on, take a guess! What? Wala kayong maisip na sagot? O baka tinatamad kayong mag-isip? Ang boring n'yo namang kausap. Hindi man kayo nag-e-effort!

Sirit na ba?

Ding-dong! The answer is summer season!

Sino ba naman ang may ayaw sa summer? We don't have classes. Ang sarap sa feeling kapag hindi mo kailangang mag-set ng alarm at magising nang maaga. We can go to the beaches. Sino bang gustong magkulong sa bahay? We can flaunt our well toned bodies! Kung meron kang maipagmamalaki, bakit 'di mo ipagyayabang, 'di ba?

But summer was still a couple of months away. We're in the third quarter of the year. Matagal-tagal pa ang hihintayin ko. Gusto ko nang mapunta ulit sa beach! Inaamag na yata 'yong two-piece ko sa baul. Nakukulangan na rin ako sa Vitamin Sea.

Mabuti na lang, meron kaming one week na school break sa Clark High. Thank the admins for giving us time to breathe! The opportunity's so perfect for a trip to the beach. Wala kaming academic requirements na aalalahanin. Mae-enjoy namin ang ilang araw na pahinga!

So what did I do? Sinuggest ko sa friends ko sa QED Club na baka pwede kaming mag-outing. Alangan namang palalampasin namin ang pagkakataong 'to, 'di ba? That's gonna be a complete waste of our break.

This is the story that I wanna share with our fans.

My Loki dear was against the idea. Mas gugustuhin pa raw niyang magkulong sa apartment at magbasa ng libro instead na lumabas at magpainit nang ilang oras sa ilalim ng araw. I admire his ideas most of the time, but that sounded so boring. Magkukulong sa bahay? For one week? Really? Who on earth would think that's an awesome idea? Only Loki.

Thankfully, I have Lorelei and Alistair with me. Akala ko nga, tatayo silang kontrabida sa suggestion ko. I imagined either of them telling me, "But we still have some schoolwork to do. We're so boring. Blah, blah, blah." I wasn't sure kung ano ang nakain ng dalawa, pero walang sawa akong magte-thank you sa kanila.

I thought Lorelei would be against my brilliant suggestion. Ayaw ko siyang i-judge, pero she doesn't seem to enjoy fun stuff. Okay, jinudge ko na siya. I sometimes think na masyado siyang serious sa buhay. Imagine my surprise nang um-agree siya sa idea ko. She even said it's a good one!

Game na game naman itong si Alistair sa awesome suggestion ko. He also believed na we deserve a break from everything that happened so far. Ilang cases na ba ang sunod-sunod naming na-solve? Nevermind! I lost count already. Kailangan daw naming mag-unwind. Kailangan naming mag-chill. And I have no objection to that!

It's three against one, so majority wins!

Outvoted, my poor Loki dear had no choice but to come with us. Kinuntsaba ko pa nga si Lorelei na i-make sure na hindi siya tatakas sa araw ng outing namin. I know him. Scratch that! We know him. Ita-try niyang makahanap ng palusot para magpaiwan.

On the day of our beach trip, una muna akong sinundo ni Alistair sa amin. Thank God na isang gaya niya ang sumali sa club namin. I wasn't just talking about his deduction skills. I was also referring to his wheels! Malaking advantage na may sasakyan ang isa sa amin. Imagine commuting from here to the beach in a public transport. So much hassle!

Our next spot was the apartment. Kaagad kong tinext si Lorelei na papunta na kami roon. I don't wanna waste any unnecessary minute sa paghihintay. Time is gold, you know. Nadatnan namin silang dalawa ni Loki dear na naghihintay sa may gate. Lorelei looked like she really prepared for this outing. Loki only wore a V-neck shirt and brown shorts. Nakapinta sa mukha niya ang pagkayamot. How cute! Para siyang bata na pinilit na pumunta sa birthday party.

Don't worry, my Loki dear. I'd make sure that this trip's gonna be worth your while.

"Beach, here we come!" I watched as the vast green fields blur past my sight. How refreshing! "Parang napa-advance ang summer season sa atin, 'no?"

"Technically, there's no summer season in the Philippines or in any tropical climate country," said my Loki dear who settled himself beside me at the backseat. "Only temperate regions like in northern Asia, Europe, the United States and Australia have summer season. What we experience in this country is called dry season."

I so love it when he shares random trivia. Do you think I was offended? Nah! He may be correcting me, but that meant he's listening to what I was saying. As long as I got his attention, that's what matters to me.

"I still don't understand why you three thought that going on a beach trip is a good idea." Nakapangalumbabang tumingin si Loki sa labas ng kotse. I look forward to wiping that bored look from his face. "It isn't April or May yet, but it has gotten much warmer than it used to be around this time of the year. Have you heard of heatstroke?"

True! Sa mga ganitong buwan kasi, dahil malamig na at may mga bagyong nagpapaulan sa amin. Not that I was hoping na magically manalasa ang Bagyong Asyong sa norte. Ayaw kong masira ang trip namin. But thanks to climate change, I guess? The whole weather system became so messed up.

Lumingon sa kanya si Lorelei na nakaupo sa passenger's seat sa tabi ni Alistair. "As long as you remain hydrated and don't stay too long under the sun, you'll be fine. Hindi naman tayo magbibilad na parang daing doon. You're just trying to think of an excuse para hindi ka sumama sa amin."

Walang dapat ikabahala ang aking Loki dear. Jamie's here to the rescue! Lagi akong magdadala ng bottled water para hindi siya ma-dehydrate.

"I can be doing something much more exciting than this," paghihimutok niya. "I can read my unfinished mystery novels or watch true crime documentaries on Netflix. Those are definitely worth my time."

Pwede naman niyang gawin ang mga 'yon kahit hindi school break. He should be doing something else! Mabuti nga't pinilit namin siyang sumama rito. Baka nasanay na siya sa mga boring na activity kaya wala siyang appreciation sa mga ganitong trip? Well, we're gonna try to change that!

"Think of this as a break from your regular routine." Sumulyap si Alistair sa amin sa rearview mirror. "This is gonna be worth your time if you're going to enjoy it. Kung hindi mo kasi e-enjoy-in, talagang maiisip mong nagsasayang ka ng oras."

Tama! Nasa tao naman kung paano niya maa-appreciate ang mga bagay-bagay. Parang isang litrato. Kahit gaano pa kaganda ang nasa picture, kung hindi 'yon trip ng tumitingin, hindi niya magugustuhan. Kaya ngayong araw, itotodo ko ang aking effort para mabago ang isip ni Loki dear. I wanted to make him smile today. Genuine smile, ha? Hindi 'yong napilitan lang.

"Dapat enjoy-in mo itong outing natin!" pangungumbinse ko kay Loki dear. "Minsan lang tayo makapagbakasyon kaya dapat nating sulitin! We're gonna enjoy the beach! We're gonna enjoy playing under the sun! May dala akong sunblock lotion dito kung 'di ka nagdala."

"The only thing that can make this trip worth my time is if there's gonna be a case in it," he muttered.

"No!" Lorelei and I groaned in unison. Alistair only smiled. Ano ba naman 'tong si Loki dear? Balak pa yatang bigyan ng sumpa itong trip namin?

"We're here to enjoy the outing, not to solve cases, okay?" Muling lumingon tuloy sa kanya si Lorelei. Amen to that!

"And we already had enough of those cases at school!" Ayaw kong masira ang araw namin dahil sa isang tao na sinadyang lunurin sa beach o nalason dahil sa ininom na pampalamig.

We sometimes joked about us being cursed—or at least, one of us—because cases keep on following us wherever we go.

Maniniwala talaga akong lapitin kami ng mga case kapag may nangyaring incident sa beach. Fingers crossed, sana wala! Tinatawagan ko ang gods of cases! Please give us a break today until tomorrow! Pwedeng ceasefire muna habang nandoon kami? Gusto kong ma-enjoy ang time na 'to kasama sina Loki dear, Lorelei at Alistair.

Sa sobrang haba ng biyahe, nakatulog na ako. I rested my head on Loki's left shoulder. Siyempre, pasimpleng galawan tayo rito! Tinantiya ko muna kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya. When I felt like it was nothing to him, tinuloy-tuloy ko na.

"We're here!"

Nagising ako nang ipinark na ni Alistair ang kanyang sasakyan. Nag-unat-unat ako ng braso at tinakpan ang aking bibig nang mapahikab. Kailangang may poise pa rin lalo na't nasa tabi ko si Loki dear.

We got off the car and grabbed out bags from the trunk. Pagkasara ni Alistair sa trunk lid, the four of us stared at the beachfront building.

Para feel na feel namin ang outing, pinili namin ang isang beach resort sa Pangasinan. Why would we go to a cheap resort in Pampanga, right? Kung gagala na rin kami, dapat sa malayo na at sa pinaka-best. Yeah, I'm aware of using double superlatives, but I couldn't put enough emphasis on it!

I spent the whole night yesterday researching kung aling beach ang may pinakamagandang view ng sunset. Seeing the sun disappear below the horizon is a breathtaking sight that everyone's gonna die for. Well, maybe except Loki. He might not appreciate the sunset unlike most people.

Don't worry. I'd make sure that he'd love the view lalo na't kasama niya ako... pati sina Lorelei at Alistair.

Habang naglalakad kami patungo sa entrance, nagkunwari akong nabibigatan sa bitbit kong bag. Kung acting-an ang labanan, number one tayo riyan. I was hoping that Loki dear would notice me and volunteer to help me carry my bag. Nagawi nga ang tingin niya sa akin at napasulyap sa aking bag. But he only cut his gaze away and continued walking.

I understand, Loki dear. Mabigat din siguro ang dala niya. Ayaw ko rin siyang mas mahirapan pa. Maybe he's bringing the books that he wanted to read the whole day.

Hindi talaga gano'n kabigat ang bag ko, ine-exaggerate ko lang. Pero habang tumatagal, nangawit ang kanang kamay ko. Medyo naparami ang dala kong gamit. Siyempre nagbaon ako ng ilang set ng two-piece swimsuits, mga lotion para maiwasan ang sunburn at products para sa skincare routine ko.

"Tulungan na kita," alok ni Alistair sa akin. I thanked him before handing over my bag. Backpack ang dala niya kaya free ang kanyang mga kamay na magbitbit pa ng iba pang gamit. Maging ang bag nga ni Lorelei, kinuha na niya. What a gentleman! Kung sinuman ang magiging girlfriend nitong si Alistair, sure akong sobrang suwerte sa kanya. Rare species na kaya ang mga gaya niya.

Pumasok kami sa may reception area ng beachfront building at nag-meet muna sa isang bilog. Hindi talaga siya circle, pero parang gano'n na rin. Basta nagharap-harap kaming apat na parang may emergency meeting. Oras na yata para mag-ambagan.

"This is gonna be my treat and Lorelei's," Alistair announced to us. Ilalabas ko na sana ang wallet ko nang marinig ko siya. Napanganga ako, pero slight lang. 'Yong tipong kahit kuhanan ako ng stolen shot, maganda pa rin ako sa picture.

"I can spare some cash from my savings dahil 'di ko naman ginagalaw 'yon," Lorelei added. "This doesn't happen very often. Memories are more important than money, right?"

"Ta-Talaga?" pasorpresa kong tanong. Nag-ipon pa ako para sa outing na 'to tapos ililibre nila kami? Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining! Masarap kaya ang libre. Nanghihinayang lang ako kasi kinailangan kong basagin ang piggy bank ko para makakuha ng pera.

Sabagay, may pagka-rich kid nga pala silang dalawa. Alistair drives a car and Lorelei uses a Macbook and an iPhone. Not every high school student enjoys those perks.

"Oh, I should be thanking you two." Kinakapa ni Loki ang kanyang bulsa. "I didn't bring my wallet so I don't have any cash with me."

"You two are the best!" I exclaimed sabay hug sa kanilang dalawa. "Don't worry. Kapag naging artista ako in the future, i-invite ko kayo sa premiere night ng movie ko. Wala na kayong babayaran, nasa front row seat pa kayo!"

Natawa si Alistair habang mukhang ayaw maniwala ni Lorelei. Aba, wala ba siyang tiwala na pwede akong maging artista in the near future? It's a big mistake to underestimate the Jamie Santiago

"We'll be looking forward to that," nakangiting tugon ni Alistair. Mabuti pa siya, supportive sa pangarap ko.

Muli naming binitbit ang aming mga gamit—ay, bitbit pala ni Alistair 'yong akin. Rumampa na kami na parang nasa red carpet patungo sa reception area. Just when we were just a few meters away from the end of the line, may apat na biglang umepal.

"Tingnan mo 'tong mga 'to. Akala mo masasaraduhan ng pinto," bulong ko kay Lorelei. Nagngitngit ako sa pagkainis. Sinadya kong hininaan ang aking boses para hindi marinig ng apat na teenager na nagmadaling unahan kami sa pila. I don't want my Loki dear to see me lose my poise just because of those brats.

"Pabayaan mo na," pabulong na sagot ni Lorelei. Bilib din ako sa pagiging pasensyosa niya. "Baka excited silang makapag-beach kaya sumingit sa pila."

"No."

Loki shook his head. Naghihintay siya sa likod namin ni Lorelei. Nakakrus ang mga braso niya't seryoso ang tingin. Usually kasi, walang kaemo-emosyon ang mukha niya, kasing blangko ng malinis na papel. But I could clearly tell that he's annoyed by the four people who cut in the line. "The reason why those bastards have the guts to cut in the line is because people tolerate their behavior."

I'd be hurt kung sa akin niya sinabi 'yon. Medyo harsh ang mga word na ginamit niya. But he got a point, right? Kaya namimihasa ang mga mapanamantala dahil hinahayaan sila. Loki's only being his usual self. Straightforward. 'Yan ang gusto ko sa kanya!

"Hindi naman gano'n ka-big deal—" Bakit ba dinedepensahan ni Lorelei ang mga sumingit sa amin sa pila? If I were her, I'd be badmouthing them. Silently!

"Bastards?" Lumingon ang isa sa apat na teenager na nasa harapan namin. Uh-oh. Mukhang napalakas ang boses ni Loki dear. But they deserved to be slapped with the truth. "Are you talking about us?"

That one had his bangs down, a pair of glasses sliding down his nose kay paulit-ulit niya itong pinu-push pataas. Let's call him glasses dude. I don't know his name and I don't care who he is. Kahit siya pa ang anak ng presidente ng Pilipinas, hindi siya dapat sumisingit sa pila.

"If the shoe fits, wear it," Loki sneered.

Pumikit ang mga mata ni Lorelei habang ako nama'y napatakip ng bibig. That's a sick burn! I didn't expect that comeback from him. Sa lahat ba naman ng pwedeng awayin, ang Loki dear ko pa talaga? Only those who have strong guts would dare!

"Kasalanan ba namin na ang babagal n'yong maglakad?" sagot ni glasses dude. "Kung sanang binilisan n'yo, e 'di sana kayo na ang nasa puwesto namin ngayon?"

"If you had any shred of respect, you'd know not to cut the line," Loki fired back. Siyempre hindi siya basta-basta magpapatalo. Go, Loki dear! I got your back!

"Sukatan na pala ng respeto ngayon ang pagpila?" natatawang sabi ni glasses dude. Wow, ah? Parang napakaliit na bagay sa kanya. Pigilan n'yo ako kasi tutusukin ko ang mga mata niya!

Ang lakas ng loob niyang sagut-sagutin ang Loki dear ko. Porke't nakasalamin ang apat na matang 'to, feeling niya, matalino na siya. Feeling niya, kaya na niyang makipagdebate sa club president namin. He's making a stupid mistake here.

"Hey, don't make patol na to them." Tinapik siya ng kasama niyang babae na naka-pigtails ang buhok. "We're here para enjoyin ang beach, not to stress ourselves sa ibang tao."

My eye twitched as I listened to her. Let's call her conyo girl. Wala naman siyang sinabing masama sa amin, but I got irritated by the way she spoke. Feeling sosyal. May pagkamaarte rin ako minsan sa pagsasalita, pero hindi umaabot sa point na may maiirita sa akin.

"Tama," may pagtango kong sabi, kunwari agree ako sa sinabi ni conyo girl. "We should not make patol lalo na sa mga walang displina. They're not on our level. Why stoop so low?

Shots fired! Pasensya na, hindi ko na napigilan ang bibig ko. They started the fire so they should be prepared to be burnt by it. We're just gonna stand here and watch them be roasted!

"Jamie..." bulong ni Lorelei, but I ignored her. I know, she'd scold me for adding fuel into the fire. Hindi naman kami ang nauna, ah? Hindi naman kami ang biglang sumingit sa pila. Justified ang reaksyon namin.

"Calm down, guys!" Namagitan ang isang lalaking naka-bowl haircut. "Pasensya na kung naunahan namin kayo. Mabibilis talaga kaming maglakad kaya lagi kaming nauuna sa mga pila. Kung gusto n'yo, mauna na kayo sa amin?"

I tried to control myself from laughing kasi mukha siyang may suot ng bao ng niyog sa ulo. Why do some people have ridiculous hairstyle? Let's call him coconut dude.

May alam pa siyang "pasensya na" pero nase-sense kong insincere siya sa mga sinabi niya. He wasn't sorry. He was mocking us! Only a few people know this, but I could tell from looking at a person's face and listening to that person's voice if he's being genuine or if he's faking what he said. That's one of the skills that I learned from being a theater actress.

"Thank you, pero okay na kami rito," nakangiting sagot ni Alistair na pumorma sa unahan namin. That's right, Alistair! Don't play right into their hands!

He shielded us from the view of the four. If there's someone who could diffuse the tension here, it's definitely him. Idadaan niya sa diplomacy para hindi na lumala ang sitwasyon.

These four should consider themselves lucky dahil may kasama kaming gaya niya. Kung wala siya, baka binunganga ko na ang apat na 'yan. With poise, siyempre!

"Tch..." Pumalatak ang isa pang babae na kasama ng apat. She had a bob-cut hair that swayed whichever direction her head turned. How dare she rolled her eyes at us! Mas nairita pa ako sa kanya kaysa kay conyo girl.

"Pinapauna mo na sa linya tapos tatanggi rin pala," pabulong na hirit ni glasses dude.

"Kaya we shouldn't make pansin them," dagdag ni conyo girl. "Our oras is only sayang if we do."

Tumingin lang sa amin si rolleyes girl na parang hinuhusgahan ang pagkatao namin. I also did the same to her. Ano'ng akala niya? Magpapakabog ako sa kanya?

Umusad na ang linya at pinauna na namin ang apat. Tumigil na ang parinigan. Alistair made sure that we kept distance from them to avoid escalating our brief conflict. Baka kung ano pa ang marinig namin mula sa kanila, o marinig nila mula sa amin.

Umagang-umaga, nasisira na agad ang araw ko. Pasalamat sila, nakapagtitimpi pa ako. I had to smile. Hindi dapat ako ma-stress sa mga ganyang tao. Hindi ko ikagaganda 'yon.

Nang dumating na ang turn namin, sina Lorelei at Alistair na ang kumausap sa babaeng nasa reception desk. They gave us a brochure of the beach resort, a card key, and a receipt of the transaction. May isang attendant na nag-escort sa amin sa naka-assign na room namin sa second floor.

Muli kong ni-remind ang sarili ko. We're here to relax, not to get stressed! I can't wait to get to the beach and wash away all the stress in my body!

q.e.d.

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