He Was My Cousin

Chapter 9

Chapter 9
Dibs

We're all packed up. Hinihintay na lang namin ang van at diretso na kami sa byahe papuntang Vente Riales. Kaming magpipinsan kasi ay pupunta sa ancestral house nina Kuya Arthon. That's one reason why they agreed that the reception was held on Ate Shine's side.

I was looking at Tito Jaime, Paolo's father. Siya kasi ang nagprisintang maghatid sa amin. Jaime Romualde. I still couldn't believe it... for yesterday I found out that the Tito Jaime I've known in the orphanage was the same Jaime Romualde that loved Tita Lorraine decades ago.

Narinig kong nag-beep ang aking cellphone.

Jiro:
Good morning! :) Nasa byahe na kayo?

Me:
Morning! Wala pa. Nasa work ka na?

I was typing my reply when I heard Tito Enrique's low voice on my side. "Just let your man wander a bit. Don't even worry... Sooner or later, I know, he'll eventually find his way back."

Napadapo ang aking tingin sa direksyon kung saan nakatingin si Tito Enrique. There I saw Paolo's arms draped all over Vienne's shoulders. He was whispering to her ears and she was smiling at every move of his lips. So close. Too close.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin kay Tito, "Uhm, I was just asking if he's in his office already..."

Nginitian lang niya ako.

Nang dumating na ang van ay agad kaming sumakay. I chose the seat beside the window. Si Yesha ay nasa tabi ko at katabi naman niya si Vienne. Si Vienne naman ay katabi ang Paolo niya. Sina Diego, Danny, Andy at Japoy ay nasa likod. They get along well, pati na si Yesha, dahil sila naman ang magkaka-age. Si Kuya Arthon at Ate Shine ay nagdala ng sariling sasakyan.

"I remember the boy
But I don't remember the feeling anymore

The promises we made seemed easier then
As if we knew our love would never end
But seasons change and time erases the tears
As quickly as the rivers disappear"

Nakikinig lang ako ng music nang mapansin kong nakatingin si Paolo sa akin sa kalagitnaan ng aming byahe. Yesha and Vienne were sleeping. Pati na ang kaninang maingay na sina Diego ay natutulog na rin. Of course, lahat naman kami ay puyat dahil late na natapos kagabi.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Why was he staring? Hindi ko na pinansin at tumingin na lang ako sa bintana. He's probably just thinking of way on how to piss me off.

Ngunit doon sa bintana ay bumungad sa akin ang pamilihang bayan ng San Vicente. We were in San Vicente... the place where we eloped almost six years ago.

Kumabog ang dibdib ko. I slowly gazed at him, not letting him know how this affects me. Still. Nakita kong nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin. So I crossed my arms and stared right back at him, too. "What?" I mouthed. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

I saw how his intense gaze wavered. Iniwas niya ang kaniyang tingin at ibinaling na lang iyon sa bintanang katabi niya. But I'm not sure... if it was a sad smile he gave me before he looked away.

Tinanggal ko ang ear phones sa tengga ko matapos ang ilang minuto. Paolo was now sleeping too. Yakap-yakap pa niya si Vienne na naka-unan sa dibdib niya.

I hugged myself. Ang lamig... So I hugged myself tighter and drifted to my sleep.

"Welcome to Vente Riales!" rinig kong sabi ni Kuya Arthon. Nakabukas ang pinto ng van at nakatayo roon si Kuya Arthon at Ate Shine.

I blinked my eyes repeatedly. Nandito na pala kami? Inunat ko ang aking katawan. Ayaw ko talagang natutulog sa sasakyan nang naka-upo.

Isa-isa kaming lumabas ng van. Andy's face was so swollen, probably because of sleeping. Sina Diego at Japoy ay gulo-gulo ang buhok. Huh, girls will like it.