Chapter 34 | News

My morning was horrible.

Maaga akong nagising dulot ng aking kalagayan. I cleaned myself and called my brother after. Naka-ilang tawag muna ako kay kuya Trojan bago niya itong tuluyang nasagot.

"Bakit? Ang aga mong manggising," he picked up.

"I'm hungry, buy me foods," I demanded.

"Wow?" naiirita niyang sabi.

"Dali na. Hindi ka naman gwapo para magreklamo," I ranted.

He ended the call without assuring me.

I lay back on my bed and waited for my brother. I was staring at the television when someone knocked on my door. I immediately stood up and opened it.

My brother looked like a zombie. He was wearing a casual white sando and khaki shorts. Halatang hindi pa ito nagsuklay at tila hinahabol pa ng kanyang kama sa antok.

He handed me my foods and I let him in. He immediately went on my bed and made himself comfortable.

I sat at the edge of the bed and started opening my foods. I was silently enjoying my breakfast while watching an episode of a series when kuya Trojan spoke.

"Anong nangyari sa inyo kagabi ni Math?" he asked.

"Nothing, we just talked," I answered honestly.

Umayos ang aking kapatid sa paghiga. Kanina ay nakadapa ito ngunit ngayon ay na sa tamang posisyon na at nakatingin sa akin.

"About?" he asked.

"The past," sagot ko.

"Alin doon?"

"About the fraternity. He explained what happened," I answered.

"Mabuti naman. We knew what happened but we chose to stay silent about it. Gusto naming siya sana ang magsabi, tutal ay siya naman ang..." he said and shrugged off.

"I'm fine with him naman na," I said.

"Minah, be honest with me..." panimula ni kuya.

"What?"

"Did you... like him before?" he asked.

I stayed silent for a while. I tried to recall if I ever liked him.

"I honestly don't know... I mean, I was so young back then. I only wanted to be happy, free and you know, appreciated. I wanted a real friend and I somehow thought back then that it was already Math," I answered.

"So, you only treated him as a friend?" he asked to make sure.

"Yes, something like that," sagot ko.

He laughed making me confused.

"Buti nga sa kanya, na-friend zoned pa nga," ani kuya.

"Pinagsasabi mo?" I asked.

"Wala. Matutulog muna ako," he excused and went back in his first position.

Such a weirdo.

Nang nag-alas syete ng umaga, napagpasyahan kong maligo na at magbihis ng panglabas. I decided to roam around the resort this morning. I wore a comfortable floral slip dress and a pair of beige sandals.

"Saan ka pupunta?" kuya Trojan asked as I went out of the bathroom.

"Mag-iikot lang, huwag kang sasama kung balak mo man. Naiirita ako sa 'yo," I joked.

"Wow, ha?" he was about to argue with me again when someone knocked on my door.

"Did you expect someone?" he asked me.

"None. Ikaw na ang magbukas, maybe just one of the staffs. I'll fix my hair," I said.

Kuya Trojan opened the door and the man from outside shocked me.

It was Math.

"Si Minah? Bakit?" kuya Trojan asked him.

I couldn't hear him properly so I had to come near. I was combing my hair as I approached.

"-sana," tangi kong naabutan.

"Ano iyon?" I asked.

"He wants you to invite for a walk and for breakfast," kuya Trojan answered.

Was this serious?

"Uh, why not?" I said lightly.

"So, I'll just wait here..." Math said.

"Sure, mabilis lang 'to," I said and went back infront of the room's mirror.

Nang naayos ko na ang sarili ng tama, kuya Trojan hugged me and caged in his arms. He again squeezed my cheeks, making me mad.

"Epal!" I hissed as he let me go.

The devil was laughing as if today was the last day of his life.

"Sungit!" he said to me.

"Lagi mong ginugulo mukha ko!" I yelled at him annoyingly.

"Sige, kiss mo na lang ako para hindi na ako mangulit," he pointed at his right cheek.

"Hell, no! I bet you haven't washed your face yet!" I said.

"Sige, aasarin pa rin kita," he said back.

Nakasimangot akong lumapit sa kapatid at mabilis siyang hinalikan sa pisngi. I immediately let go and walked away.

I went outside where Math was waiting. Buong minuto pa lang nakabukas ang aking pinto kaya siguro ay narinig at nakita ni Math an gaming bangayan.

"I'm sorry for my brother, kahit ako kay naiirita sa kanya," I said as I approached.

He looked piss kasi and his eyes were sharp.

"Gano'n talaga kayo ka-close?" he asked.

"Hindi, feeling close lang siya," I answered and started walking.

Sinabayan ako ni Math sa paglalakad. Mayroong mahabang hagdan patungo sa pinakataas na bahagi ng resort. This was a hill before kaya para ka na ring nag-hiking sa pag-akyat.

"Sobrang ganda ng resort, ano?" puri ko nang pansamatalang tumigil upang makita ang tanawanin sa ibaba.

Wala pa kami sa kalahati ngunit gusto kong malaman kung gaano na kami kalayo mula sa pinagmulan.

"Yes, your cousin's imagination is beyond of anyone else's," Math complimented.

I smiled, being proud of Contessa for managing this big resort.

"Lahat sila, actually," I said and started to walk up again.

"Lahat ba ng mga pinsan mo ay business?" he asked.

"No but maalam sila roon. Ako kasi, hindi ko nagustuhan ang business world. I find it hard talking and convincing people," I reasoned.

"It's good, actually. You started something different from them," he said.

I only nodded and paused to take pictures of the place.

"Kunan kita," alok ni Math.

Nakangiti kong inabot sa kanya ang aking camera. I did several poses and he would change angle every shots. I didn't knew before that he had a potential in photography.

"Buti ka pa maayos kumuha. Naiirita ako kapag ang mga kuya ko ang kumukuha, e," I said.

Natatawang nagtanong si Math, "Bakit?"

"Laging blurred, ginawa akong Japanese. Kung hindi ako blurred, 'yong daliri nila naka-block sa half side ng lense," I dramatically ranted.

He laughed because of my statement.

"Sa 'yo libre na, maganda pa," puri ko.

"Wow, I never heard you compliment me," gulat niyang utas.

"Pasalamat ka't nagbago na ako," mayabang kong sabi.

Sa aming pagtaas, mas lumalaki sa paningin ang mala-Hollywood sign ng resort. This was the landmark of the place kaya gusto kong puntahan. 

The view from above was mesmerizing. I could clearly see the blue sea, the white warm sand, the cottages, the pools and the decorations. I looked up and felt total ecstasy. The sky was blue, I reached for it and I could almost feel the clouds near my hands.

"Now, this is what we call life," nasisiyahan kong utas.

"I'm happy that you found out what you want," Math casually said.

I smiled at him and continued walking. Ang huling pagsubok upang makarating sa letter signs ay isang mahabang hanging bridge. I didn't fear heights or anything kaya madali ko itong tinawid.

"Tigil ka sa middle part," bilin ni Math.

Of course, I got what he meant. I excitingly walked until the middle and did a pose for the shots.

Math did a thumbs up after several clicks. I continued walking until I reached the end. Math was behind and nearing. Bago pa man siya makalapit sa dulo ay sinalubong ko siya.

"Diyan ka muna, I'll take a photo of you too," I commanded and he didn't get the chance to say no.

I clicked the camera as he did a pose. He didn't need to do anything though because the way he stood looked perfect.

"Hi, miss. Do you want me to take a photo of you with your boyfriend?" a foreigner asked me from behind.

I wanted to say yes but his claim bothered me.

"Sure!" I just answered.

I didn't want to waste this moment.

"Sino 'yon?" Math asked as I approached him.

"He offered to take a photo of us. Dali," I answered.

Math and I smiled for the camera. 

For the last shot, he hugged me from the side that stunned me.

It felt warm yet wrong at the same time.

I immediately went at the foreigner after that shot. I thanked him and Math did so too. I silently walked the remaining distance. No words could explain how I felt when we already reached the top.

For a minute, it seemed like all my problems disappeared and my heart came back from being pure.

I looked up at the skies, of course it was aesthetic. It had the euphoria feeling everyone wanted. I realized that Math personified the skies.

He was the man I wanted to reach yet like the skies, he was close at sight yet far away to hold.

Sabay kaming bumaba at tumungo sa restaurant. Wala roon ang aming mga magulang at madali rin kaming nakakuha ng lamesa. A waiter came near us as we sat. I ordered an usual breakfast at gano'n din si Math.

Habang nagsasabi si Math ng kanyang orders, I took out my phone and saw how many messages from an unknown number notified me.

The person introduced himself as Ryan, one of my old classmates back in sixth grade. He told me to reply as soon as I saw his message so I did.

Couple of minutes later, my phone lit up. Ryan was calling me and it caught Math's attention.

"I'm going to pick this up," pagpapaalam ko.

"Yes?" I said as I answered the call.

"Lierre! Mabuti naman at tama ang binigay sa aking numero ni Trojan."

"Why? Anong mayroon?" I asked.

"May biglaang reunion ng batch natin. Sa isang water park kami nag-book. Imbitado lahat ng classmates natin," he announced.

Oh... really.

"Kailan ba?" I asked.

"Lunes, next week. Whole day iyon at kasama overnight," he answered.

"Really? Maganda sana kaso I'm currently at our province and isang week kami rito. Probably by Sunday pa kami bumalik or Monday ng umaga," I said.

"Gano'n ba? Gawan mo ng paraan. Sayang naman kung ikaw lang ang wala," ani Ryan.

"I will. I missed our batch too," I said.

"Sige, message mo na lang ako sa balita, ha?" aniya.

"Sure... by the way, paano sa gastos?" I asked.

"Okay na sa entrance at sa water park mismo. Sa pagkain na lang, pinag-uusapan pa naming ang hatian," he answered.

"Sagot ko na ang buong pagkain. I'll provide a cater sa venue."

"Wow! Seryoso?" he asked, shocked.

I chuckled, "Oo nga. Sakaling hindi ako umabot, at least may naambag," I said.

"Sige, sasabihin ko sa kanila pero sana makapunta ka," he said.

"Okay, bye na, Kakain na ako ng almusal," sabi ko.

"Good bye. Salamat muli, Lierre at kita kits," ani Ryan.

I ended the call and Math had the curious look.

"Reunion lang," sabi ko.

He nodded and didn't say a thing. Our foods got served. Inayos ko ang pwesto ng mga ito nang biglang dumating si tita Molin sa aming lamesa.

"Good morning po," bati ko.

"Good morning, Minah... kaso hindi ninyo magugustuhan ang ibabalita ko," tita said.

Math gave her a seat and tita sat down before continuing.

"What is it po?" I asked.

She sighed.

"He wants the wedding after this week," tita Molin announced that made us frown.

"You two worked out well, really. He wants it before this month ends," she said the news again.

This time, we both understood what it meant. It seemed to beat me to reality.

🎀

Clarifications:

I used the famous Hannah's Beach Resort as a reference of Cosmos Isle. I described the place as how I personally seen and experienced it. I encourage everyone to consider the place for a vacation because it is worth coming for.