Mas marami ang tanong kesa sagot
pero di naman kailangan
Basta ang puso ko'y magmamahal parin magmamahal ng walang kapalit

- Walang Kapalit

⚛-⚛-⚛-⚛-⚛-⚛

Lianna

"Mamaya kasi! Ang kulit eh!"

"Isa lang naman masyado 'tong praning."

"Kumuha na kaya si Vino tapos dadagdag ka pa."

"Para namang mauubos na!"

"Oo malapit na bwisit ka!"

I pursed my lips while walking with Kendric towards the group. I can hear Zack and Kath bickering. May hawak na barbecue si Zack habang si Kath naman ay malapit nang hampasin ng tongs ang kaaway niya. She just rolled her eyes and continued grilling the shrimp and some other seafoods left uncooked.

Umupo kami kasama ang iba at hinintay na maluto ang mga pagkain then we all ate together. Hinayaan muna namin yung campfire sa gilid malapit sa dagat, tutal katabi lang naman nito ang table. After that, isa-isang nagtungo ang lahat sa campfire at pinalibutan ito. Except lang kay Janine at ang mom niya na nauna nang matulog dahil pagod raw sa biyahe si tita while Janine accompanied her. Si Ivan naman ay naglalaro sa tabing dagat malapit sa amin kasama ang parents niya.

"Girl masarap mag sleeveless try mo minsan." Rinig kong sabi ni Mia kay Kath na nakalong sleeve. Kath simply hugged her knees and forced a smile.

"Sure. Kapag napagtripan ko. Ayoko nga lang talaga umitim kaya wag mo muna akong dinedemonyo. Katakot ang sun friend."

I stared at Kath. May mga pasa pa rin ba siyang tinatago?

"Bobo alas nwebe na." Singit ni Zack sa usapan.

"Shut up dickhead." She spat back. The girls cheered for her at halata ang pagkaasar sa mukha ni Zack.

"Mahirap walang head." Ani Wayne.

"Mahirap walang..."

Lahat kami napatingin kay Kath.

"Um? Di-"

"Don't say it sis." I gave her a look. She immediately covered her mouth and began laughing hanggang sa sunod sunod nang nagtawanan ang apat at tinapunan ng mga mapang asar na tingin si Zack. Sasagot na sana siya nang may lumapit sa aming lalaki na may hawak na small buckets na may takip at iba't ibang kulay.

"Good evening. I was wondering if you're interested in buying a truth bucket. These are from the souvenir store and I'm a worker from there."

"Good evening." Bati ni Jodie.

"Truth buckets?" Vino repeated.

Inexplain ng lalaki kung ano ang mga dala niya. Kaya pala truth bucket kasi there are questions written on a paper inside. It was made especially for games I think. We decided to buy one small bucket tutal cheap lang naman ang price.

"Now what?"

"We play." Sagot ko kay Wayne at binuksan ang box. "You choose guys, staring contest or rock paper scissors?"

"Staring contest!"
"Rock paper scissors!"

Nagtapunan ng masasamang tingin ang mga babae at lalaki. Then all of a sudden nagtatalo nanaman sila. Gusto ng mga babae rock paper scissors pero staring contest ang gusto ng boys.

They looked at me and Kendric. "Kayong dalawa ano ang gusto niyo? Majority wins." Kath said.

I looked at Kendric then we counted to three bago namin sabihin ng sabay para fair. "Staring contest."

"What?? Lianna are you for real?" Ani Mia.

"Sorry but I think walang thrill kung rock paper scissors lang."

"Tch. Sinasabi mo lang yan kasi komportable ka nang makipagtitigan kay Kendric."

My eyes widened at Phiara.

"..."

This is awkward. Gosh.

"Sure whatever." I let out a nervous sigh and tried my best to avert my gaze from Kendric. "Sinong mauuna?"

"Ikaw na."

I picked up a small rock. "Pagpasahan niyo and I will close my eyes. Once I say stop at kung kanino napunta ang bato, siya ang makaka staring contest ko. Okay ba?"

"Gameeee!" Zack clapped.

Ipinikit ko na ang mga mata ko at pinakinggan silang kumakanta ng Johnny Johnny yes papa. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit sa lahat ng kantang yan pa napili nila eh. Mga baliw talaga.

"Stop!" I grinned and opened my eyes. Vino showed me the rock on his palm with an innocent look.

We had a staring contest and I won. Umiwas siya at napakamot nalang sa ulo. "Masyadong matalim yung titig mo. Nakakatakot."

"Sorry." I smiled and picked a question. "Would you go on a date with me?"

"Well, no because Kendric will kill me." He answered confidently. Nagtawanan ang lahat at ako naman ay napailing nalang. Stay calm Lianna.

Vino just shrugged and closed his eyes as we began to pass the rock around. Tumigil ito kay Jodie.

"Stop!"

So, Jodie versus Vino? Sana walang away na maganap. Vino narrowed his eyes while Jodie just stared calmly. Tumagal ang laban nila but at the end Jodie looked away.

"Okay!" Vino grinned at kumuha ng papel saka ito binasa ng tahimik. "What the- tarantado naman 'to." He looked at Jodie. "Malamang no ang isasagot mo!"

"Huh? Nauna ka pang nakasagot kaysa sakin."

"Tch. Do you think I'm good looking?"

"Pfft!" We covered our mouths at palihim na nagsitawanan. Malamang nga no ang isasagot ni Jodie.

"Yes."

Wait...

Huh?

"What?" Mia gave Jodie a confused look.

"What?" Jodie gave us all an innocent face. "Totoo naman."

"You're lucky Vino. Jodie doesn't like to tell lies." Phiara shrugged.

"Kaya pala umiwas ng tingin..." Kath gave Jodie a knowing smile and in just a snap iniinis na namin silang dalawa. Pero is this real like for real? Oh my gosh. I thought mag aaway lang sila ulit tulad ng lagi nilang ginagawa pero kabaliktaran ang nangyari.

"Yieee!"

Jodie tried to stop them at hinampas hampas si Kath at Mia na katabi niya pero ang nakakuha ng atensyon ko ay si Vino.

Iba ang tingin niya kay Jodie.

He has his arms crossed while staring at her deeply with a sincere smile on his face. Isang ngiting pilit niyang tinatago pero nahuli ko. I don't know if I'm just hallucinating or...

"You know... Vino never stares at girls." Kendric whispered. Sinalubong ko ang tingin niya nang may malaking ngiti.

"I knew it."

Biggest plot twist of the day! Pero wait, mahirap mag assume. I won't confirm anything hangga't hindi nanggaling mismo kay Vino.

Pagkatapos ng kulitan namin ay tinuloy na ang game. Jodie versus Kendric. Jodie lost for the second time around.

"What song line would you like to dedicate to me and why?" Pagbasa ni Kendric sa nakuha niyang tanong.

"Too shy to say, but I hope you stay." Diretsahang sagot ni Jodie sa kanya.

"Stay?" Kendric repeated.

"U-huh. Not for me, but for her." Jodie shifted her gaze towards me. I blinked twice and pursed my lips. Liningon ako ni Kendric and to my surprise, he held my hand.

"Of course." Kendric said while locking gazes with mine. "Of course I will."

H-He will?

Kahit pa kilala na niya ang bad side ko? Kahit alam niyang I have a temper? Kahit pa Celine's attitude is way better than mine? Kahit pa makita ulit namin siya sa pilipinas kapag umuwi na kami? He will still stay?

I hope so.

"Aba. Masyado na atang nagiging romantic ang gabing 'to ah." Kath spoke.

"Bitter mo."

"Tumahimik ka tubol." Saway ni Kath kay Hyen.

"Anong tubol??"

"Ikaw!"

"Ba't ba ang hilig mong makipag away?!"

"Nauna ka diba?"

"Punong puno na ko sayo ah!"

"Walang may pake pare."

"Holy shit." Hyen ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry but I'm out of here. Baka matapon ko sa dagat yan."

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Baka ikaw ipakidnap ko sa shokoy!" Tumayo rin si Kath kasabay ni Hyen at ngayon nagsasagutan na sila habang nakatayo. Buti nalang hindi ganun kalapit yung ibang taong nasa paligid namin pero nakakahiya pa rin!

"Guys tama na!" Pilit na saway ng iba. I slapped my forehead and stood up.

"Ba't ako magpapakidnap sayo?"

"Ano?? Gago ka b-"

"Isa pa at ipapakasal ko talaga kayo sa isa't isa."

Everyone fell silent. Kath and Hyen looked at me in horror. Then they both walked out of the scene after throwing glares at each other

"So I guess the game is over." Wayne shrugged. "I'm out!" He grinned before leaving too. I just sighed.

Haay Lianna. Bold of you to assume that the relationship of the two groups can be improved just by playing a game. Kath and Hyen is definitely something too. Hindi sila pwedeng pagsamahin. Unlike Vino and Jodie... hehe.

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"WAYNE! NO!"

"HAHAAHHAHA THERE'S A SHARK BEHIND YOU!"

"DAMN GET ME OUT OF HERE YOU MOTHER FUCKER!"

Patuloy kaming nagtatatalon dito sa huge trampoline na nakalutang sa gitna ng dagat. And yes, Wayne tossed Phiara into the water.

"WHAT THE!"

"PARA YAN KAY PHIARA! BLEEEH!" Sigaw naman ni Jodie matapos sipain si Wayne papunta sa dagat. Tinawanan lang namin sila at walang nagbalak na tumulong. Ngayon dun na sila sa tubig nagbabangayang dalawa.

"Thank you Jodieeee!"

No problem!"

"Come on!" Ivan dragged me towards Kendric. Hinawakan rin niya ang kamay nito at saka tumalon talon. "I want to jump too!"

"Are you sure?" Nakangiting tanong ni Kendric at tumango si Ivan.

"Okay! Ready? In three, two, one!"

Sabay kaming tatlo na tumalon papunta sa tubig. Ivan giggled and clapped his hands habang nakipag apir naman ako kay Kendric. We played with him on the water and began to swim around.

I wore my goggles to take a look to the corals. Nang makakita ako ng isang starfish ay dali-dali kong tinanggal ang lifevest ko para lumusong pababa sa tubig at kunin ito. I swam towards the two and showed what I got.

"Baby, look at this."

"Where?" Sabay na sagot ni Ivan at Kendric.

...huh?

I got silent at tinapunan ng gulat na tingin si Kendric. Phiara suddenly cleared her throat.

"Sinong baby ba kasi? Dalawa ata yung baby mo dyan."

I glared at her. Bwisit na babaitang 'to kanina pa pala nakikinig.

"Is that a starfish?" Ivan's eyes sparkled. I smiled and handed it to him.

"Careful. That one's alive."

"Look tito! A starfish!"

Medyo lumayo ako mula sa kanila para kunin ang lifevest ko. After wearing it, I just stayed on my place and watched them having fun together.

Ang cute niyang tingnan na may kasamang bata...

"Hinay hinay lang sa pagtitig miss baka malusaw ang bespren ko."

I faced Wayne and let out a laugh. "Sorry. I'm just amazed."

"Same. Sa lahat yata ng unexpected na mangyayari ito yung pinaka hindi ako makapaniwala."

"Me too. Kaya nga medyo natatakot ako eh."

Nakakatakot na baka mamaya hindi ito magtagal. Nakakatakot kasi baka sa kabila ng lahat ng saya ko ngayon, naghihintay na pala yung araw na babawiin sa akin lahat yun. There are times when deep, sad thoughts would haunt me at night and all I can do is wish and pray that all of those thoughts will just stay in my mind and not happen in reality. Kasi ayoko talaga siyang mawala.

"Iba talaga sa pakiramdam kapag naiisip mong mawawala yung favorite person mo."

"Alam mo Lianna, hindi tayo ganun ka-close pero sana hayaan mo kong sabihin 'to sayo."

"Ano yun?"

He floated on the water and stayed still beside me, staring at the blue sky above. "Hindi kami magkasundo nila Phiara, Mia, Kath at Jodie pero kung ikaw ang gusto ni Kendric, I can assure you that the four of us will happily give our support."

Happily give their support? Is he sure of that? I mean... they're friends with Celine right? At ang alam ko they hated me as much as how Kendric hated me before.

"Nandito lang kami para tulungan kayo kung magka problema. Um, yun lang ang masasabi ko para sana mabawasan yung takot mo."

I didn't know Wayne is this nice. I never talked to him about matters before kasi I admit, I was a complete snobber. Well I still am, pero depende nalang sa taong makakaharap ko.

"Thank you." I smiled. Pero nagulat ako ng bigla siyang magpanic sa pagffloat niya dahil sa paghampas ni Phiara sa tubig, causing for the water to get splashed on  his face and drown a little. Tuwang tuwa si Phiara sa nakita at napapalakpak pa.

"PHIARA!" Wayne shouted out of anger and began chasing her. Nang mahuli niya si Phiara ay pa ulit ulit niya itong nilubog sa ilalim ng tubig habang yung isa naman ay sinabunutan siya. I just laughed at their silliness.

"Ow! Stop it ow!"

"I... C-CAN'T... BREATHE! ASSHOLE!"

"AHAHAHAH! Kaya mo yan strong ka diba?"

"Tita Liannaaaa!" Liningon ko si ate Dristine mula sa trampoline. "Picture daw kayo ni baby Ivan at ni tito Kendric!"

"Ay okay!" I nodded at nilapitan sila. We all grinned at the camera and did a peace sign.

"One, two, three!"

I'm scared but I'm thankful to Wayne for cheering me up earlier. Pero kung ang takot ko na umalis ka sa tabi ko isang araw ay hindi matatanggal sa dibdib ko, gagawin ko nalang ang lahat para sulitin ang masasayang oras na kasama ka, Kendric.

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