Back in Your Embrace

Chapter 10

Javi

"Hey." Pinuntahan ko si Tin sa tent nila ni Cyd. She's reading a book. Kahit na nasa bundok na kami, libro parin ang inaatupag ng mahal ko.

"Hey! Are you guys finished setting up the campfire?" Inalalayan ko siyang tumayo.

"Yup but...we have a problem." We already got the leaves, wood, rocks and fuel. We even got the logs for us to sit on, all setup. Wala lang kaming apoy.

"What? Didn't anybody bring a match or a lighter?"

"Walang nagdala. Actually si Bully daw may dala pero hindi niya makita. Baka daw naiwan niya sa van."

Mabuti na lang at maraming dalang canned goods si James. Hindi na namin kailangan lutuin. I know a normal person should be pissed to be in this situation. But a normal person wouldn't mind kapag may kaibigan kang katulad ni Alexander Mabini.

Who needs AFV if you have him as your best friend?

"Don't worry okay? Alex got it all covered." I swear I'll jump off of a cliff pag nakagawa talaga siya ng apoy.

"Alex? Baka naman ikamatay nating lahat pag si Alex ang gumawa ng solution."

She never fails to make me laugh. She's so perfect. I love the way that she's not scared to tease my best friend. Parang kami lang ni Alex. Palaging nag-aasaran.

"Nah. Siya lang ang mapapahamak kung nagkataon." I assured her. "Look." I pointed to Lex, who is sitting on the ground, rubbing two twigs together.

"What the heck is he doing?!" Tin laughed.

"Nagpapasikat." Sabi ko and pointed to Cyd.

"He's not serious is he?" She laughed. "Does he really think na makakagawa siya ng apoy gamit yan?"

"Possible... If he'll do it right."

"Let him be. Gusto niyang magpapansin kay Cyd? 'Wag natin siyang pigilan."

Let him make a fool out of himself for love. Minsan lang mangyari 'to. People might as well enjoy it.

Ilang sticks na ang naputol niya pero wala pa rin. Ang nipis kasi ng mga ginagamit niya. He already got a few splinters pero dedicated talaga ang loko. He's not giving up. Gustong-gusto talagang ma impress si Cyd.

"Can we take a closer look?" Tin asked. I pulled her over to the ground where we set up the campfire and the logs.

"Alex, 'wag mo na lang kaya ituloy iyang ginagawa mo?" Cyd suggested.

"Kaya ko ito. Kayo naman, walang kabilib-bilib sa akin."

"Eh nagdudugo na nga yung kamay mo oh." Cyd pointed out and Tin made a face.

"Okay lang yan! Few splinters won't kill me."

Oh please! I know deep inside, he's already crying in pain. Haha! I remember when we were in the second grade, nahiwa siya sa lata nung naglalaro kami ng tumbang-preso sa school tapos sabi niya dalhin daw siya sa ospital. We brought him to the clinic and he cried louder. Sa totoong ospital daw siya dalhin. 'Wag sa clinic lang. Kailangan daw niya ng doctor.

Everyone's laughing and making fun of him. Mukha naman kasi talaga siyang tanga. Nakasquat, pawis na pawis, nagdudugo ang kamay habang pinagkikiskis ang dalawang stick.

"Javi? On second thought, can we just stay away from him? Nakakapanlambot ang ginagawa ng kaibigan mo eh." Tin looked at me with pleading eyes.

"Of course." I kissed her temple. "Why don't we take a walk for a while?"