W A L D R I N

"Kunan mo ng picture sina Maxene, Marshan at Christian." I told Monique as I handed her the DSLR I brought with me.

"Okay!" She grinned and called the three of them. 

Andito kami ngayon sa Puerto Galera, I just wanted to give Maxene everything she wants kaya agad akong nagplano ng outing para sa amin. Iniwan na namin si Walrick sa bahay kahit na umiiyak na siya dahil gusto niyang sumama. 

I took out my phone and recorded a video of her. Kanina pa ko pasimpleng kumukuha ng pictures at videos niya. I don't know, I just can't get enough of her. You can call me creep 'cause I'm acting like a stalker right now, but I don't care, I'll always be her number 1 stalker and admirer. 

"Okay! One, two, three! Say cheese!" Monique said as she took a picture of them three. 

"Use the tripod para picture tayong lahat." Marshan said. Agad namang inilagay ni Raven yung DSLR sa tripod. Tumabi ako kay Maxene as I snake my arm around her waist before kissing her temple. 

"Are you enjoying this?" I asked her. Ngumiti siya sakin at tumango. 

"Thank you. The best ka talaga." She giggled. Napangiti na lang ako. Seeing her smile makes my heart flutter. Nakakabakla mang aminin pero kinikilig ako kapag ngumingiti siya. 

Something soft and warm touches my heart every time she looks at me with her twinkling eyes. 

We posed for the picture taking, we took some random shots bago ko utusan si Christian na kuhanan kami ng picture gamit ang DSLR at ang phone ko. 

"Hindi pa ba sapat? Nakakarami na kayo!" Christian chuckled. Narinig ko ang bahagyang pagtawa ni Maxene pero inirapan ko lang si Christian. That was not enough, I wanted to record all of her smiles, facial expressions at lahat ng anggulo ng mukha niya gusto kong mairecord. 

Napatingin ako sa gawi nina Raven, si Monique naman ang kumukuha ng picture nilang dalawa ni Marshan. 

"It's okay na Christian, kayo naman ni Monique." My forehead creased ng humiwalay sa pagkakayakap sakin si Maxene. She took the DSLR from Christian, lumapit ako sa kanya at inakbayan ulit siya while she's scanning the photos. 

"Okay! Closer! Wala na bang mas close diyan?!" Marshan said with a loud voice while holding Monique's phone. Namumula na si Monique habang nakaakbay sa kanya si Christian. I watched my girlfriend took some photos of them.

Nakatitig lang ako sa mukha ni Maxene and I can see real happiness from those innocent smiles of hers. These are the things I wanted to see for the rest of my life. Those eyes, those smiles, they are just for me. 

"Maligo muna tayo! Mamaya pa nila iseserve yung food." Monique said. Nauna na sila sa beach dahil inayos pa ni Maxene yung camera sa bag nito. 

"Okay lang bang iwan natin toh?" She asked me. 

"Just remove the memory card, mawala na yung camera wag lang yung memory card." I said. Kumunot ang noo niya at bumaling sakin. Tumawa lang ako and held her hand, I pulled her para makakandong siya sakin. 

"Mailolock naman natin itong cottage. No worries..." I told her. 

"Hindi pa ba tayo maliligo?"

Napanguso ako and she suddenly kissed me. Hindi ko napigilang mapangiti, every time I pout at her lagi niya kong hinahalikan, akala niya siguro nagpapahalik ako sa kanya. 

"What? What's with the smile?" Naniningkit ang mga mata niyang tanong as she softly pinched my cheeks. 

"Wala, masaya lang ako dahil kasama kita."

"Hmmm. Hindi tayo pwedeng magtabi mamaya." She chuckled. Kumunot ang noo ko. We took a two bedroom cottage, na may tigdalawang queen bed bawat room.

"We can, silang apat sa kabilang room, tapos tayo sa isa." 

Tumawa siya ng malakas bago ulit kurutin ang mga pisngi ko. "Tara na nga... Baka naghihintay na sila dun." She stood up and pulled me. I put my arms on her shoulders at nagpabigat sa likod niya. 

"Pabuhat please?" Mas matangkad at mas mabigat ako sa kanya but I know she can carry me on her back. Natawa na lang ako when she really carried me on her back. Para kaming mga batang naglalaro, wala akong pakealam kung ano mang sabihin ng mga nakakita samin but I am enjoying this. 

"Ako rin! Ako rin! Pabuhat!" Marshan raised her hand ng ibaba na ako ni Maxene sa tubig. Mas humigpit ang pagkakayakap ko kay Maxene mula sa likod ng lumapit si Marshan. Agad na umasim ang mukha niya. 

Akin si Maxene, at bawal siyang hiramin. 

"I'll carry you, wag mo na silang istorbohin..." Raven pulled Marshan. Bahagya itong namula at ngumuso samin. 

"Eeehhhh! Si Maxene ang gusto ko!" 

"Sus! Nahihiya ka lang kay Raven eh." Maxene chuckled. Mas lalong pinamulahanan si Marshan at agad na pumailalim sa tubig. Maxene laughed hard and it sounded like music to my ears. 

"Ako, buhatin rin kita." I said to Maxene. Pumunta ako sa harapan niya patalikod sa kanya and I felt her lean arms wrapping around my shoulders bago siya sumampa sa likod ko. 

"Come on! Let's fight!" Christian said. Napasinghap si Monique when Christian carried her on his shoulders. 

"Game!!! Dali Raven! Pasakay!" The ever competitive Marshan. 

"Should I join?" Maxene chuckled near my ears. 

"Eeehhh! Di ka pwede. Kami lang ni Monique! No worries Monique I still cannot use my left arm, my handicap ako so it's fair." 

"So what's the prize?" Christian chuckled as he held Monique's hand tighter dahil bahagya itong nanginginig. 

"Hmmm. The winning couple should take one room tapos yung iba sa iisang room na." Raven suggested. 

"Hey! That's not cool!" Namumulang angal ni Monique. 

"Yeah! Nakakahiya ka! Ano bang sinasabi mo?" It was Marshan's turn to get flustered. 

"Maxene, we need to win this." I told her pero humigpit lang ang pagkakayakap niya sa leeg ko. Christian and Raven look determined at gusto ko ring makuha yung prize!

"Kung ayaw niyo, kami na lang ni Christian ang maglalaban." Raven said. He clasped hands with Christian and they started to push each other. Hindi naman ako makagalaw dahil kay Maxene.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! What are we missing?" Napalingon kaming lahat and saw Yrew na nagtampisaw na rin sa tubig. 

"Yrew!!" Maxene and Marshan said excitedly. Lumuwag pa ang pagkakayakap sakin ni Maxene at agad namang bumaba si Marshan mula sa balikat ni Raven. Umigting ang panga ko as I wrapped my arms around Maxene dahil akma itong lalapit kay Yrew. 

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?" Maxene asked. Kumunot ang noo ko and made her face me. 

"You invited him?" I asked her and she nodded. 

M A X E N E 

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako dahil kanina pa ako hindi pinapansin ni Waldrin. He was really against the idea na andito si Yrew, kapag nagtatama ang tingin namin iniirapan lang niya ko. 

"Wag ka ng malungkot, ako bahala." Yrew winked at me. "Tara samahan mo kong kunin yung mga gamit ko sa kotse." He held my hand at hinila ako palabas ng cottage. 

"Oy! Saan kayo pupunta?" Marshan asked. 

"Magpapatulong lang ako kay Maxene na ayusin yung mga gamit ko sa kwarto ko." Yrew said. Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya dahil iba naman kasi yung sinabi niya sakin. And in a cue, a familiar warmth and smell embraced me. Nabitawan pa ko ni Yrew sa biglaang paghila sakin ni Waldrin. 

"We have to talk." He said coldly. Napalingon ako kay Yrew and I saw him smirking bago naglakad palayo. Waldrin pulled me somewhere at agad naman akong napamasahe sa wrist ko dahil mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya kanina. 

"How can you invite him without telling me?!" Kunot noong tanong niya. May diin din ang boses niya na para bang nagpipigil siya ng galit. 

"He's my friend---"

"But he's not our friend!!!" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses niya na talagang kinabigla ko. Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko dahil sa pag-iinit ng mga mata ko. 

"Sorry..." I said in a low voice as I lowered my head. 

"N-No... Sorry baby, I didn't mean to raise my voice at you." He cupped my face at hindi ko na rin napigilan ang pagpatak ng mga luha ko. "Sssshhhh sorry, I didn't mean to... This outing is for you, of course you can invite whoever you want. Sorry I was just jealous, he's your closest guy friend and I don't like seeing you overly excited when talking to him." 

"Hindi mo naman kailangang magselos..." I sniffed.

"Sshhh I know sorry." He brushed my tears dry at kinintalan ng halik ang labi ko. "I don't know why but your crying face turns me on..." He whispered while looking at my lips. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya and I immediately held his hand bago pa niya ko halikan muli. 

"There's a proper place and time for that..." I said shyly. Napatawa siya ng malakas before kissing me again. 

"I really really love you." He grinned before kissing me again and again and again. 

Bumalik na kami sa cottage para kumain. Waldrin held my hand tightly ng malaman niyang kasama pala namin sa cottage si Yrew at sa room siya ng mga boys matutulog. For sure, si Christian ang katabi niya dahil kanina pa ang sama ng tingin nina Raven at Waldrin kay Yrew.

"Why is she here?" Inis na tanong ni Marshan kay Yrew ng makita namin si Yasha na nagtatakbo papunta sa cottage namin. 

"I don't know! Tinakasan ko nga siya kaninang umaga! She's overly clingy these past few days!" Yrew spat at sinalubong si Yasha. Mukhang nagkaroon pa sila ng konting pag-aaway bago dumiretso dito sa cottage namin. 

"Naiisip mo ba ang naiisip ko M1?" Bangga ni Marshan sa balikat ko. 

"Ako pa ba M2?" I grinned at her. Inakbayan ako ni Waldrin as he pulled me closer to him. 

"What is it? Anong pinaplano niyo?" He whispered to me. 

"Kwento ko sayo after naming maisagawa yung plano namin. As of now, kumain muna tayo." I winked at him pero pinaningkitan lang niya ko ng mga mata. We started eating as soon as the food was served. 

Seafoods ang inihanda nila and I can't believe na kami lang ni Marshan ang marunong magbalat ng crab at shrimps. 

"Grabe! Mga Elitista!!!" Marshan groaned habang magana kaming nagkakamay na kumain habang sila pahirapan pa sa paggamit ng kutsara at tinidor. "Bala kayo, samin itong buttered shrimps at crabs."

"Baby ipagbalat mo naman ako..." Waldrin pouted. Natawa na lang ako kasi hindi talaga sila marunong magbalat. 

"Gusto mo ng buttered shrimps or crab?" 

"Shrimp---"

"Ooyyy! Di pwede! Sariling sikap tayo!" Marshan pulled my arm. Natatawa na lang talaga ako as Waldrin glared at her. 

"Then, hindi na ko kakain, gusto ko pa naman ng crab kaso hindi ako marunong." Raven put down his utensils as he stared at Marshan blankly. 

"Ito na nga diba, ipagbabalat na kita kamahalan----" She gasped when Raven suddenly kissed her cheek then she glared at him habang namumula ang pisngi niya. 

"Uyyy kami rin! Di rin kasi kami marunong..." Monique pouted. 

"Pinatanggal na lang sana natin kanina..." Christian suggested.

"Sosyal mo ha?" Marshan mocked. Sa huli wala na kaming nagawa ni Marshan kundi balatan lahat ng shrimp at buksan yung crab at turuan na silang kumain.

"Ang gana mong kumain today." Puna ni Waldrin sakin habang sinisipsip ko yung crab and the back of his hand is wiping the side of my lips.

"Mmmm? Paborito ko kasi toh." I said and continued eating. Kahit papano may konti akong nalalasahan kaya mas ganado akong kumain ngayon. 

Naglakad-lakad muna kami after naming kumain. Kasama ko si Marshan at Waldrin, si Raven ay agad namang natulog sa cottage sa kabusugan. 

"Uuuyyy!! Sama ako!" Habol samin ni Yrew. 

"Yrew wait!" Sigaw naman ni Yasha. Nagkatinginan kami ni Marshan and a small grin formed on our faces. 

"Yrew tara! May pupuntahan tayo!" Marshan grabbed Yrew at hinila na ito palayo. Natigilan pa si Yasha na akmang hahabol pero hinarangan ko siya. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya then she glared at me. 

"May pag-uusapan tayo---"

"Wala tayong pag-uusapan! Move!" She tried to push me but I caught her arm. 

"Baby, anong problema?" Waldrin called me. Hindi ko binitawan si Yasha kahit hinahampas na niya ko. 

"Uhm it's okay. Sa cottage ka muna, I'll see you in a bit." I smiled at him as I held Yasha's other arm then she started wriggling and shouting. 

"A-Are you sure?" Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin samin ni Waldrin. I smiled at him. Bumuntong hininga na lang siya bago naglakad paalis at bahagyang lumilingon samin. 

I pushed Yasha on the sand. Napasinghap pa siya sa ginawa ko. 

"How dare you?!!" 

"You told me you like Yrew. Pero kapatid mo pala siya, what's wrong with you?!" 

Namumula ang kanyang matang nakatingin sakin as she tried to throw sands at me. 

"Hindi ko siya kapatid! My parents just adopted him when he lost his parents at such young age! Akala mo ba hindi ko sinubukang pigilan ang nararamdaman ko?! Pilit kong tinataga sa kokote ko na magkapatid kami but everytime I see him with other girls, hindi ako makahinga, parang pinipiga dito!" She hugged her knees at humagulgol na sa harapan ko. I was rendered speechless, I didn't know what to say. 

I just found myself kneeling in front of her and hugging her tight. Yumakap siya pabalik sakin at umiyak ng malakas. 

"I know it's wrong... B-but I can't help it..." She sobbed at naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng hawak niya sa damit ko. I can hear the pain in her voice. 

"Have you told him how you feel?" Umiling siya sakin at sinubsob ang mukha sa balikat ko. 

"Ayokong masira ang relasyon namin. I don't want him to feel awkward, baka dumistansya siya sakin, hindi ko yun kakayanin." She sobbed harder. 

"He will misunderstood everything if you won't tell him directly what you feel Yasha." 

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sakin at umiling-iling. "But---" 

"YASHA!!!" Halos magdive na papunta samin si Yrew when he saw us. He cupped Yasha's face at bakas na bakas sa mukha niya ang matinding pag-aalala. "What happened?" He pulled Yasha from me and hugged her tight. I glance at Marshan at tumitig lang din siya sakin pabalik. 

"We'll leave you two alone." Tumayo ako at pinampag ang suot ko. Sumunod naman si Marshan sakin and I told her Yasha's case. 

"I told you the feeling is mutual on both of them. Hindi lang sila makaamin sa isa't isa because it's too complicated. Sa tingin mo M1, successful ba ang pagiging cupid natin?" Marshan asked me. 

"I hope so M2... I hope so.." 

A/N: 

Sinong gustong sumalo sa mawawasak na puso ni Waldrin?? Hahahaha

Give me a name please!