The Green-Eyed Writer

16-New Friends

Hindi ko pinagsisihan ang pagsama sa La Union beach trip kasama ang dalawang bagong kaibigan, sila Eri at Trixie.

Nakatulog ako sa van habang nagba-byahe ng madaling araw. Pagkagising ko, the sunny sky welcomed us to Urbiztondo Beach. Nakaparada na pala ang rented van namin malapit sa tutuluyan naming bed and breakfast inn.

I went down quietly as I walked beside Eri. Behind her was Trixie with her surfer boyfriend, Onin. Kasalukyan silang magkaakbay and having a world of their own. The three others who were with us were common friends of the two from our school.

"Hi, si Sandra nga pala ako," a girl with dark hair and tanned skin greeted me. She extended her hand and I gently shook it.

"Venny here," I smiled.

"Itong dalawang girls sa likod ko, sila Sylvia at Jessie," she gestured towards the two. Sylvia had her blonde hair in a messy bun, while Jessie had this short bob cut that made her look like Matilda from Leon The Professional, an old movie.

"Hi," I smiled shyly at them.

"Uy, nakasama si Miss Dean's Lister!" Sylvia blurted out as she gave me a hug. I secretly felt uncomfortable, but tried not to show it. "Kilala ka kahit sa Psych block namin!" She grinned widely, as if celebrity ako sa paningin niya.

"Uy, may fan ka na, Venny!" Eri joked.

"Di ako artista ah!" Natawa ako.

"Kahit nga ako, bilib sa kanya," Jessie added shyly. "How to be you po?"

"Later, share ko secrets ko sa katalinuhan!" This time, I genuinely smiled at them.

"Guys, pasok na tayo sa rooms natin!" Pag-aaya ni Trixie.

"Buti nag-aya ka na, kanina pa kayo naglalandian diyan ni Onin!" Biro ni Sylvia.

We all laughed at pumasok na sa hostel. Trixie went up to the receptionist to ask for our keys. Na-assigned ako sa tatluhan na kwarto kasama sila Eri at Sandra, habang magkasama sila Trixie, Onin, Sylvia, at Jessie.

Two sets of white double-deck beds were pressed against a light-blue wall to my right. The beddings were in a sunny yellow and light green shade. May mga nakapatong na apat na puting towels sa ibabaw ng lower bunk, while to my left, may parihabang lamesa na may mga bottles ng shampoo, round soaps, and a toothbrush set. May flatscreen TV sa ibabaw ng lamesa, habang sa harap naman ay ang pintuan sa banyo.

Napahiga ako sa lower bunk. "Dito na ako," I told the two.

"I'll take the upper bed," umakyat si Sandra at naupo sa gilid.

"Dito na lang ako sa harapan mo, para magkatabi tayo," Eri sounded excited as she sat on the lower bunk facing me.

"Walang tulugan mamaya! Inom tayo by the sea. Venny, umiinom ka ba?" Sandra asked habang bumababa siya ng upper bunk.

"Konti lang."

"Yes, makakainuman natin ang isang henyo!" Sandra cheered. Napahiga naman si Eri habang natatawa.

I smiled sheepishly and said, "Kaya kong tumagay ah!"

Ang totoo niyan, my ex-boyfriend secretly taught me how to drink. Nessie caught me once during our team-building noong first year, at pinagbawalan niya akong uminom, since di rin naman siya drinker.

"Don't go drinking with guys, BFF! Narinig mo naman yung kantang may alak, may balak, di ba?"

Oh well, I did not touch one bottle since then. But now, di ko na siya friend, I can do this, without her shadow looming over me.