SNIPPET OF A FAIRYTALE

Of Recollections and Coldness

When Arci came out of their house, a bus was waiting for her. Pagpasok nya, tumabi kagad sya kay Roxanne sa may middle part ng bus, sa unahan nila nakaupo si Nathan at Pibi. Katabi naman ni Sean si Chino sa pinakadulo, si Andrea nasa second to the last at solo lang sa upuan. Sa sobrang broody ng dating nya walang may lakas ng loob sa mga ka-section nila na umupo sa tabi nito.
After nila dumaan sa bahay ng isa pang kaklase dumiretso na sila sa Alabang. Dun kase ang daan nila pa Tagaytay.

"Are you okay?" Roxanne asked

Sa tabi ng bintana nakaupo si Arci.

"Oo naman. Bakit?" Arci replied.

"Nothing. Baka lang, you're not feeling well." Roxanne looked so worried.

"Bes naman. Wag mo nga akong tingnan ng ganyan. You make me feel like a psycho." She smiled.

Roxanne let out a small laugh.

Sa bandang likod naman, sobrang bored na si Sean. Tulog lang si Andeng, at nakikinig lang sa music si Chino. Buti na lang medyo malapit sa kanila si Vincent, yung isa nilang kaklase na kakwentuhan nya.

"I'm sorry about Zoey." out of nowhere na sabi ni Vincent.

Tiningnan lang sya ni Sean at tumango.

"Yung buong section nga natin malungkot na. Hindi ko maimagine kung anong nararamdaman nyong magkakaibigan." sabi ulit ni Vincent.

Sean sighed. "It's... really hard." Sabi nya sabay tingin kay Chino at Andeng. "You can't even be happy, coz it would feel like cheating."

"Zoey's a good guy and a tough one. Sure ako he'll survive this." Vincent nodded at him.

"I hope so too." Sean replied.

Few hours later nakarating na rin sila sa Betania Retreat House.

Roxanne removed her sunnies. "Wow. Nice place."

Their teachers gave them an hour to appreciate the retreat house. Magkakasama naman silang apat na naglibot sa lugar. Habang si Nathan, Chino, at Sean ang nagdala ng gamit nila sa loob.

"In fairness ah, I already feel that this place is taking the negativity out of me." Roxanne said.

"I hate commercialism. Pwede naman tayong magretreat sa school eh. Gumastos pa." Andeng snorted.

"Kasama naman to sa grad fee natin. Okay lang yon Andeng." Arci smiled.

Hindi na sumagot si Andeng. Pumasok sya sa isang nipa hut.

"Oy baka off limits yan." Pibi warned her.

"Off limits nilang muka nila. Kaya nga nagbayad eh." sabi naman ni Andeng.

Nagkatinginan silang apat.

"Come on. Let's check it out." naglakad na rin si Roxanne papunta sa nipa hut.

Maliit lang yon at may round table sa gitna.

Andeng closed her eyes and noisily inhaled the fresh air.

"Grabeeee! Namimiss ko probinsya!" She said with her eyes still close.

"Ugh. Ako never kong namiss ang Cagayan. Real talk." sabi naman ni Pibi.

"Well. Minsan naalala ko ang Bulacan. I had few moments there." Arci added.

Roxanne sighed. "Lucky you guys. I don't have a hometown."

"Kase naman you're the rich kid who's made in the USA." Andeng comically imitated Roxanne's voice.

Inirapan lang sya ni Roxanne. Natawa naman si Pibi at Arci. But Pibi abruptly stopped laughing when she caught Arci's eyes. Her expression changed into something sad...