An hour away from Livonia and the surroundings just became green and calmer. I could feel exhaustion slowly drift away from my mind, as my lips stretched into a smile while appreciating the beauty of the scenery in front of us.

"We should have lunch if we see a restaurant near here," ani Eustace sa tabi ko. He settled in the passenger's seat while gazing at me from his sunglasses. The first two buttons of his shirt were opened and it was being blown by the wind, like my hair, revealing a portion of his chest. Which I really really tried not to gaze at.

When he caught me giving him a confused look, his smile even grew bigger. Nang-aasar.

"Eyes on the road, Lienna," aniya.

Ngumiwi ako. "Oo naman."

"Puwede mo naman akong titigan pagkarating natin sa cabin."

"Hoy, bastos 'to! Magkaiba naman tayo ng room sa cabin dahil mapaghinala ka."

Inalis niya ang sunglasses na suot at isinabit iyon sa harapan ng kanyang shirt. Nagkatitig na tuloy kami directly sa mga mata ng isa't-isa.

I don't know kung dahil ba may kasama ako ngayon at natatawa paminsan-minsan, pero pakiramdam ko kontento na ako sa kung ano'ng nangyayari. Ngayon na sinusubukan kong kumita on my own, while also enjoying the little moments of life with a friend—si Eustace, na katulad ko ay siguro wala ring ibang magawa kaya ayaw umayaw sa gala.

Kaya heto kami ngayon.

Biglang tumango-tango si Eustace. Parang may napagtanto at kailangan iyong ibroadcast. "I can't be sure why you've been staring at me since earlier."

"'Wag ka mag-assume."

"I am making use of facts. You have been staring at me."

"Luh," I gripped the steering wheel with my right hand and the other covered my lips.

"Lienna, do you see something wrong with the way I look?"

Umiling ako agad. "No, Eustace. Hindi sa ganoon."

"I looked for a shirt that could somehow match yours," aniya tapos ibinalik ang tingin sa harapan, his voice came out low with a hint of shyness. "I was bad at trying that, should have just worn jeans and a leather jacket."

Sa unahan ay namataan ko ang highway, for sure my i-ilang restaurants kaming madadaanan doon.

"Eustace, you don't look bad or strange or funny," saad ko. Bakit ba iba ang naiisip niya?

Bumaling siya sa akin pero hindi nagsasalita.

"Yes, I must have been staring at you. Okay, I admit." I gulped. I couldn't help but admire how cool he was with the way he carried himself from the moment he followed me to the car with a smile on his lips even when his eyes were covered with sunglasses.

My heart seethed with emotions I couldn't name; siguro I am just grateful for his company. Yes. I am grateful that I have someone to laugh with in moments when the friend that I had been really close to is caught up with her own life.

Danica and I talked, but she was somehow distant—maybe ashamed too, for keeping it a secret from me that she had been arranging plans with Rhyl behind my back.

Huling pag-uusap namin ay iyong nagpaliwanag siya para sa akin tungkol sa trabaho. I want to be there for her but I felt like she wanted to deal with things alone, and so I accepted that.

Hindi ko inakalang makakahanap ulit ako ng isa pang kaibigan kay Eustace.

"We'll have lunch at the first resto we will find," aniya, parang hindi satisfied sa isinagot ko sa kanya kanina.

"I am grateful, Eustace," saad ko nang tumigil na ang sasakyan. "I kept staring at you because I couldn't believe that we could be friends like this."

He paused while staring into my eyes. Looking for something. I blinked once and twice like challenging him... but turned out laughing after several attempts.

Then he slowly nodded, "I am grateful like you do, Creslienna."

Lunch was served and we enjoyed the first seat near the window where we could gaze the car from the inside of the restaurant. It was a simple one compared to the luxury restaurants situated in downtown Detroit. Dito mararamdaman mo talaga na malayo ka sa busy na syudad. Payapa ang paligid at panay vintage models ng sasakyan ang maya't-maya kong nakakikitang dumadaan sa kalsada.

I enjoyed the pesto pasta on my plate and nilatakan ni Eustace ang steak na inorder niya.

He took a slice of the steak and a spoonful of mashed potatoes to his mouth. Then he gazed at me with wide eyes. Emotions displayed in his eyes—a mix of fascination and amazement. "That was fire," he commented then nodded his head repeatedly.

I stared at him then a smile registered on my lips. Nakakatuwa siyang pagmasdan.

"Well, you made a great choice to have that order."

"Walang duda."

We returned back to the road and the Eustace told me he could now drive since we are now away from downtown Detroit. "No, Eustace. Kaya ko naman."

This was me giving back for his help when he drove me also countless times. Ayaw ko rin siyang maipit ulit, he recently got absolved by the violations imposed on him which I knew I was the cause.

For this trip, unexpected gala na ako mismo ang nag-aya, there were major spring celebrations in three different cities that we wanted to watch. Since there were no vacancies for a rental cabin in each city, we decided to book one with two rooms inside. It was near a national park—it was the closest one we could get that would let us see nature and enjoy the full bloom of spring.

We were almost there... 10 minutes to go.

The scenery showed more and more trees as we were near the cabin area. It was beside a national park kung saan ay mga camping grounds din. Maganda sana iyon pero I think Eustace wouldn't agree to book that place since it would mean less privacy for both of us. O siguro, ako lang ang nag-iisip no'n. Hindi niyo gusto ang masyadong matao na cabin.

"You got a great spot, Lienna."

"We actually did," I mumbled, I made a right turn and drove further towards the spot of the cabin.

In front of us, laid the scene of green, scenic, and peaceful nature. We could see tents assembled in the front space occupying the forest ground of the national park. Sa puwesto ay malapit lang ang cabin sa kalsada, sa harapan ay may mga tao.

"Are you ready to see the fireplace? Ang ganda sa pictures promise," I beamed with excitement. I went inside the driveway of the cabin and then parked the rental car with ease. Then I fished the cabin key inside my purse and I showed it to Eustace.

"Get your luggage now and let's get a tour inside!" I squeled.

"You didn't tell me you look this beautiful when you're genuinely happy."

I smiled at Eustace but didn't say anything back.

"Pasensya na," saad niya.

"Ako lang 'to." Panggagaya ko sa madalas niyang sabihin sa akin.

Natawa kami.

We both got our small-size luggages from the trunk. Sabay kaming humakbang paakyat sa maliit na hagdanan ng cabin. As I was carrying my luggage, purse, and phone napabaling siya sa akin nang mapansin akong mahirapan sa pag-angat ng bag, lumapit siya sa akin at inangat ang kabilang gilid noon.

"Thank you," saad ko at bumaling na sa pinto. He proceeded to unlock the door.

"Ready na ba ang mga plano mo para bukas?" he asked as he opened the door for me. Tiningnan niya muna nang mabuti ang loob bago ako inayang pumasok.

He grabbed both of our luggages at siya na ang naglagay noon sa tabi ng sofa sa mismong living room ng cabin. It wasn't that huge compared to the pictures that I saw online, but it was impressive enough to fit a cozy and elegant interior for just a normal-sized cabin.

"I made an itinerary," I said. "Sort of."

"How many destinations do you have in mind?"

"One." Actually, naiisip kong gumala sa natural park o magbasa lang rito sa cabin kapag walang mapuntahan.

I figured he has one also. 

"I have another in mind." 

Tumango ako. "Right."

"Sabay na tayong magpunta."

"You'd let me tag along with you?" tanong ko, hindi makapaniwala.

"Unless gusto mo akong iwan dito ngayong ikaw ang may sasakyan."

"Oh, right." Tumango ako at natakpan ang bibig dahil natawa.

"Perhaps we can explore the national park on the third day of his trip," he said.

"I would love that."

Itinaas ko ang susi ng kwarto ko at ganoon din ang ginawa ni Eustace. I gave him his room keys while we were inside the car earlier.

Magpapalipas lang kami ng gabi at kinabukasan, we would be going to our respective destinations—to both destinations that we agreed with.

The next morning arrived and I was greeted with the beautiful rays of the sun seething through the small glass windows of my room.

Sa isang kwarto ay may pang-isahang bed at isang upuan. It also has a bedside table and a lamp shade na ginamit ko kagabi dahil sobrang dilim sa labas. It was kinda cold towards midnight but around dawn, I heard birds singing and distinct nature sounds that just relax me again to sleep.

Naligo ako agad sa common bathroom ng cabin tapos ay tumingin na sa sala. Tahimik ang loob. Luminga-linga ako sa paligid at napansin si Eustace na nakadungaw sa may balcony.

"Good morning," I greeted him at tumabi sa kanya. Sa harapan namin ngayon ay ang national park kung saan ay nagsisimula nang mapuno ng tao. "Ang aga ah."

"Saglit lang" ani Eustace. Tumango ako at nanatiling nakatingin sa tapat ng cabin namin. This was one of the five cabins situated near the area. Magandang puwesto pala ang napili ko.

Footsteps echoed near me once again and Eustace arrived with two cups of coffee. He extended one towards me.

"Let's get ready for the day afterward?"

"Sure," I grabbed the cup and sipped through it. Dinama ko ang payapang paligid at ngumiti nang unti-unting sumikat ang araw at dumantay ang init nito sa mga balat naming dalawa.

We both agreed that on the first day of this trip we will witness the tulip festival. Actually, ito ang celebration na gusto ko talagang puntahan. I may not be a fan of flowers but it intrigued me to witness spring and be around people who celebrate it with vibrance, entertainment, and fun.

Around 8 am in the morning, we left the cabin and hit the road.

"Truly a celebration of tulips blooming in spring," namamangha kong saad nang makarating kami ni Eustace. Ang nakakatuwa pa ay wala kaming kakilala doon kahit isa. We were just smiling habang naglalakad sa dagat ng mga tao at naririnig ang dutch music sa paligid.

Pagkarating agad ay naabutan namin ang parade. We've seen the parade of tulips, music, and basically people in costumes on the highways of the city. The sun was high up and the colors of the tulips and costumes illuminated the place. Namamangha kaming nanood ni Eustace sa mga sayawan at music na bago sa pandinig namin. The parade took hours and we settled at a bench as we bought food from the food trucks around the area.

Towards the afternoon, we explored the tulip immersion gardens in the heart of the city.

Panay ang ngiti ko. we were just roaming around taking pictures and sharing positive comments about how mesmerizing the city was during this spring celebration. I paused in my tracks when I saw Eustace going to a vendor of tulips—nag-usap sila saglit ng nagbebenta at saka may iniabot itong isang bouquet ng tulips na si Eustace mismo ang pumili. 

Agad akong lumapit sa kanya at nakitingin.

Nagbayad si Eustace at napansin akong nasa tabi niya na. "Ang ganda nila," aniya. I couldn't help but nod.

Sabay kaming naglakad paalis matapos magpasalamat sa nagbebenta.

Pero kumunot ang noo ko nang iniabot ni Eustace sa akin ang tulips na nabili. "Naisip kong baka gusto mo mag-uwi ng souvenir."

Napamaang ako sa narinig, nagpigil nang ngiti nang tanggapin ko ang bulaklak. "Thanks."

I saw him smiled a bit too.

It was pure joy to see the market filled with people—together with friends or their families. Towards the evening, we enjoyed the music performances. Siguro sa celebration na ito, hundreds of thousands na magkakaibang variety ng tulips ang open for public viewing.

The evening sky then was illuminated with fireworks, like how the arrival of spring was celebrated there with the vibrance of flowers.

We had dinner before we left the city both amazed by the fascinating celebration that we just witnessed.

Habang nasa byahe ay hindi kami matigil sa pag-uusap.

"Ang ganda ng araw kanina."

"Worth it iyong pinuntahan natin," komento ni Eustace.

Lumapad ang ngiti ko. I feel proud of how this trip was going.

"Bukas ako naman. Iyong balak ko namang puntahan," dagdag ni Eustace.

I agreed immediately. "YES! For sure!"

Natawa siya sa reaction ko.

"Ano ba, panira 'to," I said, teasing him a bit with hatred.

"I am glad you enjoyed the day."

"Actually, I am more than glad na pumayag kang sumama, Eustace. Medyo mahal kaya ang cabin at gas." Tumango-tango ako. Pero sa totoo ay natatawa na ako sa isipan.

"Oo na, ikaw na si Lienna na kuripot ngayon."

"Aba't ginawan pa ako ng bagong apilyedo! Kuripot mukha mo!"

"Gustong-gusto mong mang-away..." humalakhak siya.

"Freedom of expression 'to, Eustace," saad ko at pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata.

"I doubt it," panunuya niya. "Madalas mabilis umiinit ang ulo mo."

Umikot ang mga mata ko.

Humalakhak siya sabay tapik sa balikat ko.

Nang makabalik sa kabin ay pareho na kaming pagod at halos pumikit na ang mga mata. Agad na akong nagpaalam na magpupunta na sa kwarto ko na agad niyang tinanguan.

"This had been a great day," saad ni Eustace.

"Bukas will also be great for sure!" I said, smiling widely.

I saw him paused a bit, as if recalling something before he gave me a smile. Hinawakan niya pa ang ulo ko bago siya nagpunta sa kwarto niya.

Nakakabigla 'tong lalaking 'to, palaging pinagwawala ang dibdib ko sa hindi malamang dahilan.