"Kasama sina tita at si Damian?" I smiled bitterly at my lovely friend. "Chiel kuya is waiting for someone." Inirapan ako nito at pabirong pinalo. "Duh? Crush ko lang sya no. Mawawala rin naman to! Ano ka ba! I know naman you don't like me for him." She said and rolled her eyes again. I chuckled. "Nah. Bahala ka nga! Kung ano anong sinasabi mo naman d'yan! I just want you to be safe! Naku si kuya? Wala yang ka puso puso."
She sighed heavily. "Okay, okay. But ilang week kayo dun?" I smiled and put my notes inside my leather bag pack. "9 days lang din. The whole holiday lang kase we were all so busy na to have bond and this is the only time we have." Our conversation went on and on hanggang sa maka sakay kami sa Van na nirentahan ng team namin para sa program namin.
It was already midnight when I got home. Everyone was still in the living area and planning about our trip. Even our cute baby Kellilah Grace is there, but she is sleeping noisily.
"Oh hey! Violet, that one friend of you. Named Achiel? Can you please make her stop messaging me?" I looked around and noticed it was just me and kuya. Then I sighed. "Kuya hindi sa nilalakad ko sya because I am her friend ah? But why don't you give her some chance? Hello? Do you think Ate Leti would still come back?"
"She would. I would find her." Tumango na lang ako at alam kong di ko na mababago anv isip nya. "Okay then, I'll sleep now so we can all have family breakfast tomorrow. Oh, anyway? Si Lilac gising pa ba? Diba galing ka sa kuwarto nya?" Tumango ito. "Yeah, she's actually waiting for you." I smiled at nilampasan na sya. I went to Lilac's room after I deposited my things inside mine.
"Violettt! Aww, I missed you, sis!"
"Oh, I missed you too, dear! I'm here because you owe me a chika!" Saad ko at sumampa sa kama nito. "Ay diba dapat ikaw? I heard from your nosy friend na si Chiel may pomoporma sayo? Taga Up? Architecture?" Oh, that crazy guy again!
"Oh, that fool? He is kuya's blockmate! I've already told kuya to tell that guy to stay away from me, but he just laughed! Like, what was that? Did he sell his own kapatid?" I said and pouted. Then my sister laughed too! "Really? Sino dun?" But I'm smart, and no one can outsmart me! "And so? How about you and kuya Ger?"
"Matulog kana dun please–"
"No! I heard from manang he visited you?"
"Si manang talaga! So nosy!"
Hindi ko na kinulit pa ang kambal ko at lalo pa't alam kong hindi nya pa gustong mag kuwento. I know she would if she wants to or if she's ready.
Kinaumagahan maaga rin akong nagising at maganang pinukaw ang mga tao sa loob ng bahay, then I dressed my sister Kelli. I also cooked breakfast for everyone and our manang fei! And then play a little bit with my sissy Kelli in our backyard. We were having fun, giggling when mommy appeared and called us for breakfast wari ko'y naroon na ang lahat.
"Hmm, you look fine, huh?" Pabiro kong inirapan si Mama at tiyak mang aasar din to. "Mommy? Beach?" Cute little Kelli ask mom. Tumango naman si mama at ngumiti. "Yes, my baby, with ates and kuya! And dada!" If you wonder, Kellilah is just 6 years old. A menopausal baby. Galing, no? Nahabol pa. "Ate karga?" Bumaling tong muli sa akin upang mag pa buhat at bunuhat ko naman sya at nag simula na rin lumakad nauna kay Mommy
"You better make sure that that guy won't hurt your sister. What did that Gero–" dad stopped midway when he saw how my sister Lilac changed her emotion. "Sorry..." kunot noo syang nilingon ni Lilac. "For what, dad?" Before they start an argument again, I showed up already with Kellilah. She clasped her hands as she saw her favourite fried hotdogs. Aww, this kid. Binababa ko ito sa upuan nya sa tabi ni Mama at na upo na rin ako.
"Hey guys, is everything ready anyway?" Of course, everyone was excited! Even our baby todo flex pa sya sa mermaid tail daw nya! And kuya being so mayabang of his biceps and Lilac flexing her line up beach activities for the vocation. I smiled, looking at my family. Pagkatapos nito tiyak na busy na naman muli ang lahat. Even manang fei is excited for us! How I wish this won't end. After that heartfelt sharing of kwentos, we all prepared for our flight to bora. Katabi ko si Lilac at we had time to talk about life too! She was able to share some about her current lovelife.
"But do you still love him?" She looked outside and paused. "Well, of course I do. How will I unlove him?" I felt the bitterness in her voice. I sighed and comforted her until she just fell asleep. It was so fast that the next days we were eating and enjoying activities at bora Beach. Until on the last two days of our vocation, Kuya Gerome and his family appeared. Lilac was so busy eating that she didn't notice it. Gerome and dad talked. Dad looked so serious he could punch kuya Gerome straight to his face. I know dad was keeping his cool. Then I saw kuya Damian on their side smiled. And that was when they went back to our table, and my dear sissy is still damn eating!
Not until she felt him behind. She stood up and excused herself. Sinundan to ni Kuya Gerome at tiyak na makaka pag usap na sila. When they came back, they looked cool but not totally okay. Mom then talked to my sister Lilac and motioned me to bring Kelli with me somewhere. And I did. "Ate, I wanna buy some souvenirs for Ate Abby and my friends Leila and Mitch!" I couldn't say no to a cute little girl, nakita nya kase ang mga cute na keychains at bracelets sa may market kung nasaan kami ngayon.
"Oh, s'ya sige at mamili kana. But only three?" Tatlo lang naman ata ang nabanggit nyang pagbibigayan. I smiled when she pouted and pointed herself. I raised a brow, kunwari ay walang na gets. "Ihh, how about me?" There she said it. Natatawang tumango na lang ako kaya't masaya siyang bumaling sa mga keychains at makulit na tumawad sa aleng nag titinda Hays this kid talaga After namin mag window shopping doon ay nagutom ang bundat kaya naman ay napunta kami sa stall na puno ng pagkain.
Puro sweets pa ang nandoon! I ordered her sandwich ice cream and a shake for me. While waiting, the nosy kid then asked me. "Ate? Why wala ka pa ring boyfriend like Ate Lilac and Kuya Ger?" Pabiro ko itong inirapan. Ni hindi ko alam kung saan nya natutunan ang mga gantong salita na to eh. "You kid! Where did you even get those words? And I'm not interested in getting into a relationship."
"Ah, Violet?" I looked at my sister. "Oy andyan na yata order natin, you stay here ah? Wait." Tumayo ako at para sana kunin ang order nang may nakitang pamilyar na mukha doon. "What is he even doing here?" Hello girl? Syempre for vocation?! Halos irapan ko na ang sarili. But wait! That's my order! I rushed through the vendor now, and I saw a glint of shock in his blue eyes. "H-hey? What a coincidence–" Before he could finish, I grabbed the basket on his hand. "Oh? A-ahm kuya di mo naman sinabi na ano..." I raised a brow.
"I believe this is my order? And it is named after me? So, I should get this matcha shake and sandwich ice cream of mine?" Tumango na lang s'ya at walang sinabi. Gosh, it's so stressful. I walked my way to our table and put my order down, and then I again heard the vendor shout my name–or baka may kapangalan ako? Ah, so irritating! I thought my name was rare and unique? But then, as I looked at it, I saw HIM instead? At napa pikit pa ang gago. Sa kanya ba yon? Why Violet?
The jerk then walked away with his fries and cookies and cream shake. "Ate so yummy!" Na agaw naman ng kapatid ko ang atensyon ko kaya masaya kong kinurot ang pisnge nito. So unbothered eating her ice cream.
That was not the last time I saw him, though. I even saw him looking intently at me?! That way of looking? So possessive? What?! Inirapan ko na lang to at na upo muli sa sun lounger ko. Kuya and him met and already talked, so he is there freely enjoying the view. Tumayo ako at nag explore na lang sa wala masyadong ka tao taong parte ng Beach. I believe it is more beautiful than the ones with a lot of people swimming.
But then I was shocked to see his familiar broad shoulders and tan skin, clean-cut hair. And his familiar posture. Tahimik na parang may sariling pag iisip ang kamay ko at umangat ito upang kunan sya ng litrato. It was a good shot! He could be a model! Should I offer him? I cleared my throat and then got his attention. "Hey..." He smiled manly. "Ginagawa mo dito?" I asked straight to the point. "Oh, just enjoying the view here alone. It is quiet, peaceful, and heavenly." Tumango na lang ako at lumakad pa lapit, I angled my camera, looking for a nice nice view to capture. "Tapos na midterm nyo diba?"
"Oo." Maikling sagot ko.
"After that diba wala naman na kayong gagawin?" Umiling ako, as I said ngayon nga lang ang break ko eh. But I mean, I had a lot on my plates but ahm, that's all so easy to do? "Why?" I heard him sighed. "If you're busy, sana, I wanna invite you out for a–friendly date lang naman." Binaba ko ang camera at bumaling dito. I smirked. "Weh? Friendly date? Hindi ka mag i-ig story ng pic ko with caption. 'Friendly date with my crush'?" Natatawang saad ko pa na kina iwas nito ng tingin. "See? You're guilty beyond reasonable doubt."
"Sige po, handang mag pa kulong sa puso mo your honor."
"Ihh, so cringe, Raven." The jerk just chuckled. "Everything's cringe for you, my dear Violeta Anne Rammazzoti." Oh, that name again. Hindi ko alam paano na imbento ng magulog ko tong mga pangalan na to eh. "You don't like it talaga, no? But anyway you have a very graceful name like you."
"Nye nyeh." I mocked him, and he just laughed, enjoying my irritation. "So ahm, will you consider my invitation?" A day with him won't hurt, right? Okay, fine, I like him but not that much? Siya sige oo na. "Okay, I'll think about it." Tumango ito bago bumuntong hininga at naupo sa may paanan ko banda. "Don't worry, it will be very fast at saka. I guess that would be the last time you'll see me." Kunot noo ko itong tignan at na upo na rin isang metro ang layo sa kanya.
"Why?"
He smiled bitterly at me as he looked at the beach. "I will flight back to my land. To reign and obey my grandparents. And I'll be married." Oh, I almost forgot, he isn't just a normal person living here peacefully. This is actually one of the reasons I won't be friends with this jerk. Aside from that, he is just my kuya's blockmate and friend. He is also very secretive. He has lots of friends but he is still very mysterious like his name.
"You know I'm very thankful I've known your brother... and you, then your family." I smiled. "Sorry for being so persistent, I didn't think about how you will feel about it. I was just a jerk, I just realised that. But then I hope to see you soon, and even in many afterlifes. Maybe in the afterlife, I would be able to be close to you?"
"Or maybe in next life I would be your man? I would be able to freely love you."