"Of course! I cried," I said. "Who wouldn't? Masakit kaya." I chuckled. "But I'm kinda fine, now. Natanggap ko naman na noon palang eh."
Ate Zye smiled at me. "Don't let it affect you, Zai," she said to me.
"Pero... malay mo––"
Kuya Zach shushed him up, "manahimik ka diyan, Zeper. Hayaan mo na siya."
Kumunot ang noo ni Zeper kapagkuwan ay nagkibit-balikat nalang ito at inubos ang pagkaing nasa harapan niya. Si Juri naman ay lumabas saglit para mag-order ulit ng mga pinakamamahal niyang mocha.
We changed the topic into something light. We didn't talked about our — Juri's and mine — heartbreak again, which I find good. I'll eventually move on from it.
"Guys! Guys!"
Napatingin kami kay Juri na kapapasok lang. Marami itong dalawang paper bags. Must be his mochas.
"Tara na," sabi nito. "Mom called. Uwi na daw tayo," ani pa.
Tumango kami at nagsitayuan. Sabay sabay kaming lumabas ng VIP Room. May inutusan si ate Zye na ayusin ang loob dahil aalis na kami. I smiled when I saw someone familiar. I waved my hand at her. She waved her hand to me too, hindi lang siya makalapit sa akin dahil busy ito.
Naupo ulit ako katabi ni Juridice. He's staring at his phone. Not being a chismosa, nakatingin din ako doon. Napa-ahh ako nang makita kung ano ang tinitignan niya.
Hindi ko nalang siya sinita at tumingin sa sariling cellphone ko. I smiled when a photo of me and Hairo welcomed my sight. It was our first photo. At Hérianné Resort. I set the photo as my lockscreen wallpaper yesterday while I'm in the airplane.
Pinatay ko nalang ulit ang cellphone ko dahil wala naman akong gagawin doon. Sinandal ko nalang ang ulo sa balikat ni Juri dahil nakaramdam ako ng antok.
"Gisingin mo nalang ako kapag karating na," I told him.
Ginalaw naman niya ang balikat niya sabay sabing: "Zairene Arzuela, gising na. Dito na tayo."
"Gago!"
Tinawanan lang ako nito. "Sige. Sleep well. Tapos paggising mo —"
"Don't get me started, Juridice," I warned him. "I'll beat your ass 3000. I'm telling yah." It's nothing serious, really. Sanay lang akong sabihin sa kaniya yan dahil sa meme na lagi kong sinisend sa kaniya kapag nang-aasar siya sakin.
"–– paggising mo, nasa harapan na tayo ng bahay. Iyon kasi 'yon!"
→🚪←
"Mommy!"
Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta kay mommy at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. I missed my mom so much, I swear!
"Oh my, darling!" she exclaimed and let go from the hug. She cupped both my cheeks and kissed my whole face. Natawa naman ako dahil doon. "I so miss you!"
"Me too, mom! Me too!"
She hugged me once again. Humiwalay lang ako sa yakap nang marinig ko ang boses ni Daddy.
"So... you don't miss your old man?" Hinarap ko siya at mabilis na niyakap rin. "Of course, you missed me."
I laughed and kissed his cheeks. I turned my head to face the one who just called me.
"Oh my gosh!" I squeal. "Mikell!"
I ran towards him and lift him up. I kissed his cheeks multiple times. All he did was to giggle and kissed my cheeks the way I kissed his.
"Cutie patotie," I said. "How are you, my baby?" I asked.
He grinned. "Okay!"
I chuckled. Binaba ko siya at yumakap din sa mga tita at tito ko. Nakipag-biruan pa ako kay tito Azle, Juri's dad.
"What's with the reunion, mom?" I asked.
She shrugged. "It's been a long time since the last time we saw each other, baby," she answered and brushed my hair. "And besides, there'll be something special event later," she added.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "And what is it?" I asked. She only smiled and didn't answer.
Ngumuso nalang ako at umayos ng higa sa lap niya. We're on my room right now. And my mother's with me. She said she missed me so much hence she's here.
"How's your vacation, Zuela?" She gently asked.
I smiled. "It's a very fun vacation, mom," I honestly answered.
"Hmm? Tell me 'bout it, baby."
I sighed and began telling her. From the first part of the story and the last part. I didn't leave any details. I told her all about it. I don't like hiding things from my mother. As much as possible, I wanted to tell her anything. Regarding about what I'm feeling, secrets that I keep for myself, what I wanted to say, and everything. I don't want to hide anything from her. But I sometimes can't avoid hiding things from her, that's natural. It'll take a lot of courage to tell your mom what you wanted for her to know. I've feel that. And honestly, it's really refreshing when I'm telling mom all of my problems, thoughts, and pain.
"My darling..." she mumbled. "Mom's always here," she said. "You can cry to me. Let out all the pain. I'm here to listen to your cries. I won't leave..."
As soon as she said her last sentence, my tears instantly fall. Bumangon ako at niyakap siya ng mahigpit.
"I don't really want to cry, anymore, mom," I sob.
She chuckled. "Because you're Zairene," she muttered.
I chuckled between my sobs. "Kinda but no..." I said. Humiwalay ako sa yakap at pinunasan ang luha sa mata at mukha ko. I smiled. "I just realized that crying won't change anything, mom. So, instead of crying, I'll just enjoy Canada with the Villamoras."
She smiled at me sweetly. "Aww, my baby. You've matured. Noong una lang ay iyak ka ng iyak dahil nalaman mong may ibang gusto si Natky––"
"Mom, stop," I said, stopping her from saying anything about my childhood past.
"Alright, alright," she said, chuckling. "Don't you want to take a rest?" she asked.
I shrugged. "Maybe, I will," I said. "I'm kinda tired, by the way."
She nodded, "okay then. Take a good rest, my Zuela."
I nodded. She kissed my forehead before she left. Umayos ako ng higa sa kama ko at tumingin sa kisame. His smiling flashed on my mind again. Instead of being bitter, I smiled and closed my eyes.
→✊←
"Zairene! Zairene!"
Hinampas ko ang kamay na kanina pa yumuyugyog sa akin. Binato ko rin ng unan ang kung sino man 'yon. Narinig ko ang pagsinghal nito sa akin. Hindi ko siya pinansin at pinagpatuloy ang pagtulog.
Pero ayaw akong tigilan ng kung sinuman 'to!
"Gigising ka diyan o papaliguan kita ng mainit na tubig?" banta nito pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. He sighed. "Hairo, nandito."
Agad na nagising ang diwa ko nang marinig ang pangalan niya. Minulat ko ang mga mata ko at bumangon sa kama. I looked at kuya, the one's waking me up, with wide eyes opened.
"It's a prank," he playfully said. I frowned at him. "Pusha pink," natatawang aniya. "Bumangon ka nalang diyan at mag-ayos. Hindi ka pa nagbibihis," sabi nito.
Tinignan ko naman ang suot ko. Tama nga siya. Hindi pa nga ako nakakapag-bihis. I'm still wearing the outfit I wore at the airport earlier. Binalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya at binato ulit siya ng unan ko. Napaamang siya sa akin.
"It's a prank, imong mama!" bulyaw ko sa kaniya at umalis sa kama ko. Narinig ko naman siyang tumawa. "Bilaukan ka sana!" singhal ko pa at pumasok ng banyo.
"We'll wait downstairs!" sigaw nito bago ko narinig ang pagbukas at pagsara ng pintuan ng kwarto ko.
I immediately took a bath. After taking a bath, wearing my blue bathrobe, I entered my walk-in-closet. The walls are painted with cream and the ceiling white. At the center of the ceiling is a cream colored ceiling fan. There are lots of cabinets at the room. Bawat cabinet ay may mga label. Hoodies, tee shirts, blouse, dresses, pants, jeans, shoes, and what-so-ever.
Pumunta ako sa tee shirt labeled cabinet. Kinuha ko ang isang printed white tee shirt. Sunod ay binuksan ko ang cabinet na puno ng mga palda at skirts ko. I took the blue palda. Puting sapatos ang napili kong ipares sa OOTD ko.
Mabilis akong nagbihis. Ni-tuck in ko ang suot kong tee shirt sa suot kong palda. I put a belt. After putting some clothes, I wore my shoes. Matapos ay tinignan ko ang sarili sa harap ng human sized mirror. I gave myself a thumbs up. Kinuha ko din ang shades ko to perfect my OOTD. Sinuot ko ang paboritong relo ko. And lastly, I sprayed some perfume.
Pagkababa ko sa salas ay naka-OOTD din ang mga pinsan kong babae. Ang mga lalaki naman ay parang mga tambay. They just wore plain tee shirts and shorts. Naka-tsinelas pa ang mga loko. Hinayaan ko nalang sila. Iyan fashion nila eh, and besides, they already look good in it.
Napagplanuhan naming maglibot. We went to the mall to shop. Puro naman reklamo ang mga kasama naming lalaki.
We bought lots of dresses, branded tee shirts, shoes, and things that we're interested with. Matapos namin sa mga shop na nagbebenta ng damit, sapatos, etc. ay pumunta kami sa isang shop na nagbebenta ng mga camera. The cameras caught our attention, mine and kuya's. And... surprisingly, Juri's.
"Latest version?!" I almost exclaimed when I saw the latest version camera. Biglang nangati ang kamay kong ipabili kay kuya Zure 'yon (yes, dahil libre niya ngayon ang shop namin). "Shet na malagket."
"Kunin mo na, Zai," kuya Zure told me. "Hiya ka pa eh."
I grinned. I called for the staff. Silang dalawa lang ni kuya Zure ang nag-usap, and the next thing I knew, I'm already holding the paper bag and the camera is inside of it.
Matapos naming mag-shop ay kumain kami sa isang restaurant. For shopping, it's kuya Zure's treat, and for lunch, Kuya Zyndiego's. We ordered lots of food.
"Juri! Hindi ka ba nagsasawa sa mocha cake?" tanong ko sa kaniya dahil mocha cake nanaman ang isa sa pina-order.
He shook his head no. "Nope. Nevah," he answered. "Saka, every day, iba naman ang lasa ng kinakain ko eh."
"Paanong naging iba ang lasa? Parehas namang mocha 'yan?" Zashienne asked, her eyebrows were furrowed.
Juri waved his hand dismissively. Inirapan lang siya ni Zashienna. Nagpatuloy nalang kami sa pagkain. After eating, we went back to strolling around again. We took lots of photos. Habang sa daan kami ay nagmumurahan pa kami. Mga walang hiya dahil hindi naman kami maiintindihan ng mga tao rito.
It's about seven o'clock in the evening when we came back to the house. We immediately changed into a casual clothes. I wore a red flowy dress and a doll shoes that compliments my dress. Sinuklay ko ang mahaba at straight na buhok ko.
I sprayed perfume too. After looking at my reflection, I decided to went off my room. Kasabay ko ay si kuya. She's wearing a red tee shirt paired with his faded jeans. Naka-tsinelas nanaman ito. Napailing nalang ako. Tsinelas lover ata 'to eh.
"Naks, happy birthday to the both of us!" he greeted playfully.
I laughed and greeted him too. Nagtawanan kami at sabay na bumaba. Dumiretso kami sa dining table. Nandoon na ang lahat. I smiled at Mikell and kissed his cheek. He giggled. How cute.
Mahaba ang table na nasa harapan namin. Of course, marami din kami eh. We're about fifteen here. We sat on our own seats and the maid started to serve all the dishes.
Nanuot sa ilong ko ang mabangong aroma ng mga pagkaing naka-hain sa mesa. When the maid finished serving all the dishes, tito Seiper lead the prayer. After the prayer, we finally dig in. It isn't a formal dinner, it's just our casual dinner. Pero maya maya daw ay may special event na ia-announce. I don't know what it is, but I'm really looking forward to it.
And since Villamora is a Villamora...
"Juri," Zashienna called for Juri's name in a warning tone. "Ibalik mo ang chicken leg ko. Isa.."
Uhuh, they're about to fight again because of the chicken leg. Napailing kaming lahat dahil sa kanilang dalawa. Sinaway sila ng daddy ni Zashienna. Agad namang umayos ang dalawa pero hindi nito binalik ang chicken leg kay Zashienna, inasar pa nga eh!
After our eventful dinner, we decided to stay at the sofa. And that's the special event. Akala ko kung ano, eh.
We just stayed there. Talking, catching up with each other, and movie marathon. Hours later, our parents went upstairs to finally wrap their day. Naiwan kaming magpipinsan sa sala.
"Laro tayo," suggested Juri.
Tumingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. Kumunot ang noo namin.
"Ano?" tanong ni Zash.
Sandali itong nag-isip. "Snake ladder?"
Mas lalong kumunot ang noo namin, maliban kay ate Zye. She nodded her head excitedly.
"Wag," said kuya Zach. "Wag snake ladder. Pambatang laro naman 'yon."
Ate Zye frowned because of what my bro said. She smack my brother's so-called-biceps. Kuya chuckled.
"Wag nalang tayong maglaro," sabi ni kuya Zure. "Let's just sleep."
Juri grunted. "Hindi pa nga ako inaantok!"
"Sleep over at Zure's room!" Ate Zye suggested while grinning. Her twin, kuya Zure, grunted.
We grinned and agreed.
"Sleep over it is!"
–– MA(i)REVE ––