We woke up early because we needed to drop Juri and Zasper to the airport. They're heading to Canada. Our parents called early, telling us to come to Canada for our reunion. Mauuna lang sila Zasper dahil until May pa kami dito. After ng trip namin dito sa Boracay, we'll head to Canada immediately.
"Juri," tawag ko kay Juri na tahimik lang. Kaming dalawa lang ang nakaupo sa waiting area dahil umalis saglit si kuya at Zasper. "Okay ka lang ba?" I asked.
He dropped his head on my shoulder. "Honestly?" he asked. I hummed as an answer. "Hindi. Hindi ako okay." He chuckled. "Pero magiging okay din naman ako. I just need a little time to fix..." He didn't continue his statement and stayed quiet.
I patted his head. "Come on," I said. "What happened? You can tell me. Para ka namang others eh."
He chuckled wryly. "I..." He shooked his head. Bumuntong hininga nalang ako at tinapik ang likod niya. Hinayaan ko nalang siya. Maya maya pa ay tinawag na ang flight number nila ni Zasper, timing din ang dating nina kuya.
Juri smiled at me before turning his back and walked with Zasper. Something is really off with my cousin. He has the same vibe with the vibe he had years ago.
I took my phone out of my pocket when it vibrated. My mouth dropped when I read Juri's text.
From: Dyuri
She... left leaving my heart broken.
→💔←
Juri's text didn't leave me alone. It kept on bugging me. I actually understand the meaning of his text... I just don't understand why?
I sighed for nth time. I stared at the ceiling of my room. I've been here in our room for like two hours. Kuya's outside, with his friends, probably.
As Juri's cousin and his best friend, I'm worried about him. We might bicker a lot, but I love that guy (don't tell this to Juri). I wanted to call him but I thought that maybe... he's not ready to talk about it yet.
Bumuga nalang ulit ako ng malalim na hininga at tumayo sa kama ko. I shouldn't think about it. I know Juri, he can get over with what shit is happening to him right now. Sabi nga niya, he just need a little time. And... I kinda trust his words. Pero hindi siya.
I went to my luggage. Kumuha ako ng bagong damit at pumasok sa banyo. I changed into a comfy clothes. White blouse and a maong short. I also tied my hair into a bun.
Lumabas ako sa kwarto, sakto din na nasa labas si Hairo. He was about to knock. When he saw me, he immediately put his hand down and cleared his throat.
"Thank goodness," he said. "Lumabas ka din sa kwarto."
I laughed. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Wala lang," he answered. "Zach said you've been inside your room for like two hours. So I decided to check on you."
I gave him a teasing smile. Sinundot sundot ko ang tagiliran niya. "Yie, worried," asar ko sa kaniya.
He caught my hand and stared at my eyes directly. The corner of his lips lifted, "what if I really am?"
I absentmindedly bit my lower lip. My chest started to palpitate. Inagaw ko ang nanginginig na kamay ko sa kaniya at umiwas ng tingin. I cleared my throat.
"W-what if lang naman!" I stammered.
He chuckled. "Chill, Zai," he teased. "Didn't know I can affect you like that."
Mas lalo akong umiwas ng tingin dahil nararamdaman ko ang pamumula ng pisngi ko.
"L-like what?!"
"Like that," he answered, his voice is laced with a teasing tone.
"Feeling!"
Sinara ko ang pintuan ng kwarto namin ni kuya at tinalikuran siya. I calmed myself down at naunang maglakad sa kaniya. Narinig ko naman ang pagtawag niya sa akin but I didn't heed any attention. Mas binilisan ko ang paglakad ko. Nahabol naman ako nito. Natatawang inakbayan niya ako. I nibbled my bottom lip to stop myself from smiling out of kilig.
Babaw mo naman, Zairene, said my mind. I shut my mind up saying: “Pake mo? Hindi naman ikaw ang kinikilig.”
I cleared my throat. "Where's my brother?" I asked.
"He's out with the three," he answered. "I don't know where they are, tho."
Kumunot ang noo ko. "O...kay? So, what now?"
He shrugged. "Let's just enjoy the day together. That wouldn't be bad, right?"
Yeah, not bad at all.
→🤭←
I chuckled when Hairo posed for a picture. Natatawang pinindot ko ang capture button kahit na hindi pa ito ready.
"Ayusin mo nga ang pose mo!" suway ko sa kaniya habang tumatawa.
Tinaasan ako nito ng kilay. "Maayos naman 'to?"
My eyebrow rose. "You call that maayos?" I asked, pointing out his posing. For someone's sake, he's just standing in front of the camera and did nothing but smile a bit! But nonetheless, he looks handsome.
He sighed and posed a bit. Nag-thumbs-up ako at kinuhanan siya ng maayos na litrato. Next is me. I gestured him to follow me. Nakasimangot na sumunod naman siya. Huminto ako nang nasa tabing dagat na kami. Kinuha ko ang isang shell.
"You took a candid shot of me," I instructed him. He nodded and positioned the camera. Hinawakan ko ang shell gamit ang dalawang kamay ko at tinignan ito. My mouth is parted while staring at it and my eyes smiling.
"Done, madame Zai," he said.
I walked towards him and he showed me the shot. I smiled at him and nodded.
"Nice!" I commented.
"Thanks," he said.
Tumawa lang ako. Binitawan ko ang hawak kong shell at hinila siya. I actually don't know where to go next so I stopped from walking. I faced him.
"Saan tayo?" I asked.
He shrugged. "I don't know," he said. His gaze dropped at the sea side. "Suggest let's walk at the shore."
Nag-isip ako saglit atsaka tumango. Hinila ko siya malapit sa tabing dagat. He chuckled. Binitawan ko na ang braso niyang hawak ko. Inakbayan naman niya ako. Hinayaan ko nalang dahil sanay naman ako sa akbay niya. Pati sa puso kong parang may marathon dahil sa lakas ng tibok.
Tahimik lang kaming naglalakad. We've got no topic to talk about hence our silence. But it's not the awkward silence between us. It's the one comfortable silence.
"Heard from Zach that you'll head to Canada on who-knows-when," he started.
I nod. "Hmm," I answered. "Baka after nitong trip or... ewan ko lang."
"I see," was he said.
I hummed. And silence took over again. Only the splashing sound of waves was heard and my own heartbeat.
Napatingin ako kay Hairo nang mag-ring ang cellphone niya. Tinignan niya kung sino ang tumatawag, pati ako ay tumingin din. My good mood immediately went down when I saw the caller's name.
His ex.
"Hey?" he answered the call. "Yeah? What? Fine. Welcome."
He ended the call and faced me. "Got to go. Kinda important," he said.
I nodded. "Sure."
Inalis niya ang pagkaka-akbay sa akin. "Dito ka lang?"
"Hmm. Dito na muna ako," sagot ko.
"Okay, then," he said and messed my hair. Hinampas ko naman ng mahina ang kamay niya na ikinatawa niya lang. Umirap ako. Nagpaalam siya na aalis na at tumango ako. Tinignan ko lang siya habang papalayo. I sighed.
Of course, it's important. It's his ex.
–– MA(i)REVE ––
m:
just feel like ending this chapter that way 😹 this chapter is a bit short compare to the other chapter. it's intentional HAHA.
see u on the next chapter, i guess? love lots, mairenes and mai’vengers! ❤️