Summer Vacation

24

Hinihingal dahil sa katatawa, sinamaan ko sila ng tingin. They all laughed and run away from me. Si Juri ay muntik pang matalisod sa dagat. Tumawa ako at hinabol silang tatlo. We went out of water and I chase them on the land.

I miss this kind of fun.

Laughing, we lie on the white sand.

"Kapag ba humiga ako dito ay puputi na ako?" biglang tanong ni Juri.

"Asa ka pa, Juridice," sabi ko sa kaniya habang tumatawa.

"Maputi ka naman na, Juri––"

"–– i kno––"

"–– Problemahin mo nalang ang height mong hindi ma-reach ang pride ko."

We burst out laughing again because of what kuya Zach said.

"Laki ng problema mo sa height ko, ah!" asik nito kay kuya Zach. "Hindi ka naman ina-ano!"

"Ikaw lang kasi pandak," natatawang sabi ni kuya.

"Luh! Si ate rin kaya!"

"I hope Zurie can hear what you just said."

"Edi sana ni-record mo," Juri said sarcastically.

We all went silent after Juri's statement. All was heard was our breathing and the sound of waves from the ocean. I closed my eyes and feel the sun kissing my face.

"Where's Zasper, by the way?" I asked, still eyes closed.

"He went to fetch Kyro and Pepper," kuya Zach answered.

Napamulat ako at agad na bumangon. Napatingin ako kay kuya. "True?!" I said, excited.

He nod. "Hmm." He eyed me teasingly. "Are you that excited to see Piper?" asar nito sa akin.

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata. "What? What the hell, kuya! Why would I?!"

He laughed. "Why not?" He grinned at me teasingly.

"Kuya! Matagal na 'yon!"

"Ang alin?" inosenteng tanong nito. "Ang pagkakaroon mo ng crush kay Kyro?"

I glared at him. "Kuya! Shut up!"

Humalakhak siya ng tawa, gano'n din si Kevin. Juri is being quiet again. Ang mga braso niya ay nakalagay sa kaniyang mga mata. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin, baka pagod lang sa habulan yan.

"Oh, speaking of..." Kevin's gaze on the side. I looked at the direction he was looking at. A wide smile plastered on my face.

It was Zasper with ate Pepper and Kyro. Naka-akbay si Zasper kay ate Pepper, si Kyro naman ay nag-iisang naglalakad sa likod ng dalawa. Nakasimangot ito.

"Kyro niyo, bitter," Kevin mumbled. I laughed because what he said is right.

Tumayo ako at nang makalapit sa direksyon namin sila ate Pepper. I immediately hug her. She chuckled.

"Geez, Zairene," she said while chuckling. Humiwalay ako sa yakap at ngumiti sa kaniya. "Missed me?"

"Yeah..."

She chuckled and messed my hair. Her gaze went to Juri who's still on the ground, lying. Gano'n parin ang posisyon.

"What's with him?" tanong ni ate Pepper.

I shrugged. "Ewan. He's been acting strange lately. I mean, he's laughing but later, he's being quiet. I don't know."

"Oh," her response.

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It was already late when I went out of the room to get some fresh air. My brother and cousins are already asleep. Juri's sleeping with kuya Zach in one bed and Zasper's on the sofa. But unlike them, I can't sleep.