A Six-Word Story

Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Every moment counts

I nibbled my lower lip as I was searching for best places to visit next. Jeck and I want to make the most out of my vacation. 

"Why are you so focused on your phone?" Tam asked. We're at the Sweet Refuge, having snacks. I told her what I have been searching for. "What about Amanpulo?"

I pouted a bit. "We've already been there twice. Saan pa ba maganda?"

"Anong maganda?" Tanong ni tito Ambet habang inilalapag ang shake na order ko.

"Magandang lugar na pwede naming mapuntahan ni Jeck, tito."

"Sa Ilocos nagpunta na ba kayo?"

Tumaas ang mga kilay ko. "Ilocos?"

He nods. "Sa Vigan."

"I've been there. I just don't know with Jeck, tito. It's a beautiful place but not romantic enough for the two of us, I think?"

"Napanood mo na ba yung dancing fountain nila doon?"

"Dancing fountain?"

He smiled and nodded. "Try to search for it and you might change your mind about the place."

Pagkatalikod ni tito ay kaagad akong nagsearch. I was pretty amazed with what I saw. Di ko na tinapos ang pinapanood dahil kaagad ko ng hinila si Tam papunta sa covered court kung saan naglalaro ng basketball sina Jeck at ang iba.

I waved at him. He smiled upon seeing me. Kinilig naman ako. Hinintay na namin silang matapos maglaro. 

"Ang daya mo, Vash! Foul yon!" Reklamo ni JD.

"Bakit may rules ba tayo? Sorry, I wasn't aware." Nakangising sabi niya.

"Gago mo talaga." Natatawang sabi ni Jeck.

"Anong kasong pwedeng isampa sa gagong yan?" Tanong naman ni Inaki.

"I'll come up with something." Said JD.

Tinawanan lang sila ni Vash at dumila. Nagrereklamo na umupo na sila sa bench. Sinalubong ko si Jeck at binigya ng towel at mineral water.

"Thanks." 

Tumabi ako ng upo sa kanya. "Babe, I know where we should go next."

Tumaas ang mga kilay niya. "Really?"

I smiled and nodded, quite excited about my idea. "Vigan!"

"O-kay." He doesn't seem that much interested.

I rolled my eyes. "Tito Ambet told me about this dancing fountain in Vigan and I want to see it. Let me show it to you!"

I showed him the video. "Interesting."

Lumapad ang ngiti ko. "When are we going?"

"When do you want?" He asked, smirking.

So sobrang tuwa ay napayakap ako sa batok niya. "Tomorrow?"

"All right." He said, nodding.

"Uy sama kami!" Said Vash.

I stuck out my tongue as I leaned on Jeck's shoulder. "Hindi pwede!"

Napanguso si Vash. "Sama na kami!"

"Where?" JD asked.

"Vigan daw. Sama tayo!"

"Sige!"

"Go tayo!"

My lips parted. Bumaling ako kay Jeck na patawa-tawa lang. I pouted and hit him on his shoulder. Napamaang siya sa akin.

"What?"

Nakasimangot na iniripan ko siya. Wala na kong nagawa ng magplano silang sumama sa amin. I sighed. It was supposed to be our 'us time' together.

Vash provided the van. It was big and spacious. Sumama si Inaki, JD, kuya, Owie, Shin, at Tam. Sina Callem at Zeck ay di nakasama dahil may kanya-kanyang lakad. 

"Girls, sakay na kayo." Said kuya.

Sasakay sana ako sa gitna but since I didn't want to sit beside Owie, I opted to sit at the back. Ang mga lalaki ay inaayos pa ang mga gamit namin. Di nagtagal ay sumakay na rin si Jeck. 

"Why the frown?" He asked in a low voice.

Umismid lang ako at itinuro ng tingin si Owie sa may harap. "Why does she have to come along with us?" I asked in an irritated tone.

"Maybe because she's Nate's wife." 

I breathed out harshly then crossed my arms, pissed. "I'm so pissed."

He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. "Chill. This is our vacation, right? Have fun."

"How can I have fun around her?" Inis na baling ko sa kanya.

He smiled a bit then pinched my cheek gently. "Wag ka ng mainis." Malambing na sabi niya. He leaned down and planted a butterfly kiss on my exposed shoulder. 

"Hello, everyone! I'm Vash of Magnetic band. I will be your driver... for a few hours, I think." Biro ni Vash pagkasakay niya sa harap.

"Bakit hindi mo pa isagad?" Said JD.

"Wow. Grabe siya. After 3 hours, palitan niyo ko ha! At bawal kayong matulog!"

Ipinikit ko na lang ang mga mata at inihilig ang ulo sa balikat ni Jeck. Di ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako. Nagising na lang ako ng huminto ang van. Nagsalitan na si Vash at Inaki sa pagmamaneho. I yawned and turned to look at Jeck, who's playing with his phone.

Umayos ako ng upo at sumilip sa labas ng bintana. Madilim pa rin. "Where are we?"

"I don't know but I think we're still far from Vigan." Jeck answered, putting his phone aside. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. "Are you hungry?"

I shake my head. "You did not sleep?"

"No."

Tiningnan ko ang iba. Lahat halos ay tulog na pwera lang kina Vash at Inaki na mahinang nagkukwentuhan. I took out my phone. 

"Let's take a picture, babe."

He groaned. "Wag na."

Napangiti ako ng may tunog. Ayaw niyang nagpapakuha ng picture. "Sige na."

He took my phone from me, then without words he pulled the back of my head and kissed me. Then with a smirk, he gave my phone back to me.

"There."

I gasped when I saw what he did. He took a picture of us kissing then uploaded it on my IG. Well, it didn't look lewd. In fact, it looked sweet so I didn't erase it. Napatingin ako sa kanya ng makita ko ang paghikab niya.

"Babe, sleep ka muna." I made him lean his head on my shoulder. 

Umayos siya ng upo at iniyakap ang mga braso sa kin. Isiniksik pa niya ang mukha sa leeg ko. Hinaplos-haplos ko ang ulo niya hanggang maging pantay na ang paghinga niya. I took another picture of us while he was sleeping then uploaded it on my IG. 

Moments like this makes everything worth fighting for. Whoever said that 'every moment counts' was right.