It’s already summer. Tapos na ang mga commitments ni Lizette sa school nila.and now, her family planed to take a short vacation in Baguio with the Casino’s of course. Nauna nang nag biahe ang mom niya, sumabay ito sa mga Casino’s. hihintayin pa kase ni Jessica ang Boyfriend nito na sasama din sa bakasyon nila. Lizette chooses to join them, kesa sumabay sa mommy niya baka mabore lang siya pagdating nila sa Baguio kase wala siyang makakasama. Close si Lizette sa ate niya and spoiled siya sa BF nito kaya hindi mahirap para sa kanya na pakisamahan ito.
Nasa Baguio na sina Steven, they stayed in their hotel suite while waiting for Lizette and the rest. Steven went on the lobby of the hotel and is talking to Andrea when Lizette and her sister arrived.
Jessica: hei Steven, why are you here?? Where are they?
Steven: one moment, (sabi niya sa kausap) SUITE 434.
J: oh ok thanks!
S: (hindi na siya neto pinansin at tinuloy ang pakikipag usap) they’re the daughter of my mom’s friend…. They’re just asking where their mom is… stop arguing, if you don’t believe me its fine. (narinig pa nilang sabi nito sa kausap)
J: mukhang nag away pa ata sila nung GF niya dahel saken, haha!
L: ikaw naman kase ate, nakita mo ng may kausap tinanong mo pa, pwede naman sa receptionist magtanong.
J: hay naku Lizette ha (ito ang tawag nito sa kanya pag naiinis), wala akong pakialam kung mag away sila, nagtanong lang naman ako eh, masama ba yun?? Saka pakialam ko sa GF niya. Naku kung hindi lang nakakahiya kay Tita Anne, hindi naman ako sasama dito.
L: naku ate ako din, mas mage enjoy pa ko sa bahay kesa dito, kaya nga sa inyo ko ni kuya Patrick sumabay kase baka maburo ako pag kina mommy ako sumama no.
Patrick: naku baby Liz, malamang nga sa ugali nung lalaking yun kanina, mukhang hindi ka mage enjoy kung hindi kame kasama ng ate mo. (yan naman ang tawag ng BF ni Carlene sa kanya, sabik din kase ito sa kapatid na babae, baby pa naman talaga siya sa kanila, 6 years kase ang gap nila ng ate niya) Sino ba yun??
J: yun si Steven hon, Best Friend yun ni lizzie nung bata pa sila, as in nung bata pa, may mga gatas pa sila sa labi nun, ngayon, mukhang naiwan na yata nun ang memories niya sa Canada at parang hindi na kilala tong sister ko. Pati nga ako mukhang din na kilala, samantalang ako pa nag aalaga sa kanilang dalawa dati kapag wala ang parents namen.
Patrick: o well, people change.
Pagdating nila sa suite, hindi na sila lumabas.. nagpahinga na muna sila. they just texted their mom na andun na din sila…
Gabi while they where having dinner, nakita sila ni Troy at agad lumapit sa mga ito,
Troy: Ate Lizzie, Ate Jessie! (sigaw nito sabay tumakbo papunta sa kanila and kisses them sa cheeks)
L: Hi handsome! Are You done eating?
Troy: no not yet, I was hoping maybe I can join you for dinner. My brother is out talking to his girl again, and I just an’t understand what the adults are talking about.
J: well them come on, let’s have dinner, you must be starving.
Dumiretso sila sa buffet table to get some food. Lizette took care of Troy. Piinapili na niya ito ng food and then siya na ang nagdala nito sa table nila. sa katabing table sila naupo dahel busy na nag kkwentuhan ang mga parents nila. Nakita ni Jessica na papasok si Steven at mukhang hinahanap sila. Hindi niya ito tinawag, naiinis kase siya sa ugali nito. Lumapit ito sa pwesto nila.
Steven: hei Troy, you didn’t wait for me again.
Troy: I don’t know where to find you so when I saw Ate Lizette, I joined them for dinner. You’re very busy talking to Andrea, it’s like your spending most of your time talking to her even if she’s shouting at you all the time.
S: Stop it Troy.
L: hei, why don’t you join us too, have a seat. (tumingin lang ito sa kanya)
Troy: why you’re not eating dinner again? You didn’t have lunch, and now youre not having dinner. Maybe that Andrea wishes for you to die from starvation.
S: shut up. (Tumalikod ito at kumuha ng pagkain sa buffet table. Bumalik ito at umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ni Troy.
Napagitnaan nila ni Lizette si Troy. And then there was silence)
J: (she broke the silence) Uhmm Steven, so how was life at Canada?
S: fine. I had a lot of friends there.
J: BTW, this is Patrick, my boyfriend. (Tiningnan lang ito ni Steven at tumango).
L: ate, we’ll get some ice cream.. want some?
J: surely, I don’t think they have it here, there’s a convenient store outside the hotel.
S: let me accompany my brother.
T: no, im going with ate Lizette. (umalis na silang dalawa, sa table ng mga magulang nila)
Mommy Anne: mukhang close si Troy kay Lizette ha. Kanina pa niya yan hinahanap eh, sana daw sumabay na lang daw siya sa kanila.
Daddy Ben: eh wala kase siyang ate kaya ganyan yang batang yan.
Mommy Cathy: E dba may GF tong si Steven sabi niyo?
MA: naku ayaw ni Troy kay Andrea. Hindi ate ang tingin niya dun kung di kaagaw sa atensyon ng kuya niya. Mula kase nung naging si Andrea at si Steven, hindi na nakikipaglaro or nakikipag bonding ang kuya niya sa kanya. Possessive kase mashado si Andrea gusto sa kanya lang umiikot ang mundo ni Steve.
DB: naku pero gusto mo naman yun si Andrea.
MA: e ikaw naman, minsan lang magpakilala ng GF yun anak mo, anong gusto mo sungitan ko pa. siempre para kay Steven na lang din yung ginagawa kong pakikisama kay Andrea no, kase mahal siya nung anak ko.
MC: bakit, gaano na ba sila katagal?
DB: naku, magdadalawang taon na silang away bati.. buti nga bumalik na kame ditto sa Pilipinas kundi baka biglang magpakasal na lang yung dalawa ng hindi namen alam. Alam mo naman sa ibang bansa pag legal age na ang mga bata kanya kana na. matanda pa naman si Andrea sa kanya ng 3 years, so may plano na din itong mag settle down anytime soon.
MC: naku ganun ba.. kaya pala malapit si Troy sa mga anak ko, kahet pa babae…
MA: o saka si Lizette, naaalala ko dati, pag wala ako, siya nag titimple ng milk ni Troy tapos papatulugin niya.. pati pagpapalit ng diapers ni Troy nagawa ni Lizette. Kaya mahal ko yang batang ya eh. hindi yun alam ni Troy ngayon. Baka mahiya na kay Ate Lizette yun pag nalaman niya na wala na palang siyang pwedeng itago sa kanya. (nagtawanan sila).
Pagdating nina Lizzie at Troy, dumaan sila sa table ng parents nila. pinag malaki ni Troy na ibinili siya ni Lizzie ng favorite chocolate niya.
Troy: mom, look, ate Lizette bought me my favorite chocolate bar… Im not sharing it with Kuya.
MA: that’s bad honey, give some to kuya ok… and did you say thank you to Ate Lizette?
L: you’re welcome little handsome! BTW we bought ice cream too, want some tita? tito?
DB: that’s sweet of you iha, but we’re so full. Thank you! Enjoy your dessert..
L: thanks tito, come on handsome! Let’s have some ice cream.
MA: naku Lizette, ini spoil mo nanaman si Troy ha,, hindi na baby yan, baka masanay yan.
L: that’s no problem tita, namiss ko naman po tong si Troy. Baka nga hindi ako nito natatandaan eh… (ginulo pa niya ang buhok ni Troy, tumawa lang ito.)
The next morning, late na nagising si Steven, at wala si Troy sa tabi niya. Lumabas siya ng kwarto nila ni Troy. Naabutan niyang nag bbreakfast ang parents niya.
S: Mom, dad good morning, where’s Troy??
MA: Went out with Lizette, Jessica and Patrick. I think pupunta silang Camp John Hay. Nag usap na pala sila kagabi, excited nga si Troy, siya pa ang gumising samen ng Dad mo.
DB: Come iho, have breakfast with us. Late ka na dumating kagabi ha.. san ka ba galing?
S: I was just at the lobby, talking to Andrea. (sabi niya while having breakfast)
MA: IHO, seems like nothing has changed ha.. hanggang dito sa Pilipinas, buong araw pa din kayong magkausap. Buti na lang andiyan sina Lizette para isama si Troy. Bored na bored na kase yung kapatid mo. He misses bonding with you na.
DB: yah, akala nga niya, pagdating naten dito, you can spend more time with him, hindi din pala. Why don’t you give him some time iho. Mag bonding kayo, just like before. We can’t do that, kame ng mom mo, coz busy na kame starting next week para sa new business na sisimulan namen.
S: ok dad, I’ll spend more time with him.
MA: Why don’t you join Lizette and Jessica, hindi yung lagi kang mag isa at magkikipag usap lang sa CP mo. Pano ka mag-e-enjoy niyan?
S: Mom, girls naman yun.
MA: kasama nama yung BF ni Carlene ha. Besides, when you were younger, kayo kayo yung magkakasama kase kayo yung magkakaedad nun sa village na yun.
S: Mom, I can’t even remember my younger years.
DB: ang gusto lang naman namen iho, you enjoy your time here in the Phils. Ok?
MA: After Breakfast, mag bihis ka coz susunod tayo sa john Hay. Dun na naten imemeet sina Troy.
S: ok.
Pagdating nila ng John Hay, naabutan nilang busy sa pag pipicture taking ang sina Lizette. Tapos habulan sila ng habulan. Pawis na pawis na sila Lizette at Troy kase sila ang naglalaro, sina Jessica ang nagpipicture sa kanila. May dala silang food dahel plano na nilang mag picnic sa John Hay. Lizette and Troy spend most of the time together. He longed for a sister and she longed for a baby brother, and they found it in each other.
MA: Troy, come here. O my gosh you li’l boy, your too sweaty. Change your clothes first and then rest. Ate Lizette seems so tired running after you.
T: Ate Lizette, lets play again later ok..
L: sure little handsome! You take a rest first ok..
Ate Jessie naman niya ang kasama niya after makipaglaro kay Troy. Napagod talaga siya, ang energetic naman kase ni Troy kaya napagod siya habang ito, parang hindi napapagod. They were having a picnic of their own… as usual, Steven is talking to someone on the phone again. Minsan naririnig nila, mapapagtaasan niya to ng boses, maya maya ok na ulit. Ganon ata talaga kahirap ang long distance relationship.
Nagulat sila nang tumabi si steven sa kanila. Wala na itong kausap sa phone.
Patrick: hei how have you been?
S: great. Adjusting life here in the Philippines.
(hindi pa siya nagtatagal sa pwesto niya, nag ring nanaman ang phone niya. Tumayo ito at sinagot ang tawag)
S: what again? … Picnic with our Family friends… Here at John Hay, I told you this a while ago…
J: mukhang nag aaway nanaman sila.. teka nga.. (tumayo ito at lumapit kay Steven) Hei Steven, (lumingon ito sa kanya, at tmakpan ang mouthpiece ng phone niya) we’ll buy some drinks, what do you want?
s: Anything. Thanks! (at ibinalik nito ang atensyon sa kausap) sorry about that.. no it’s my mom’s friend’s daughter. Yah, Im with them…
Bumalik si Jessica sa pwesto niya na natatawa.
L: Bakit ate?
J: ang sarap asarin nung GF nung friend mo, selosa mashado.. insecure much! Makarinig lang ng boses ng babae, kelangan mag explain agad si Steven. Eh kung tawagin ko kayang baby si Steven? Baka biglang magpunta ng manila yun.
L: ikaw talaga ate, yaan mo na nga sila, away nilang mag GF yun, wag ka na makigulo.
J: eh an sarap kaseng asarin…
Pag gising ni Troy, niyaya agad niya si Lizette na mamasyal… napunta sila sa Butterfly Sanctuary. Tuwang tuwa si Troy sa mga nakita niya. During their stay in Baguio, madami na silang napuntahan.. paminsan nagkakasama din nila si Steven, pero wala
naman sa kanila ang atensyon nito, nasa babaeng kausap niya sa phone. Minsan nga sinasabihan na lang siya ni Troy na mabuti pang nagstay na lang siya sa hotel, kesa sumama sa kanila na parang wala din naman. Last day nila sa Baguio saka sila namili ng mga pasalubong. Dahel wala naman mashadong bibigyan ng pasalubong sina Troy at Steven, sumama lang sila. Tapos bumalik na sila sa hotel where their parents are waiting for them.
While having dinner,
Troy: Mom, can I just ride on Ate Jessie’s car on our way back to Manila tomorrow?
MA: why? You don’t want to be with us?
T: not really, but I think I would enjoy more when Im with them.
Jessica, Tita ok lang naman po samen, maluwag pa po kames a car. Si Liz lang naman ang asa back seat eh.
MA: Are you sure iha?
J: yes tita, convoy na lang po tayo. Ikaw Steven, why don’t you join us too sa car? Hayaan na naten ang parents naten sa isang car. The young ones, samen na sumabay.
Patrick: Yah I think that’s a good idea. Ok ba yun sayo Steven?
S: well, whatever.
Maaga silang nagbiahe paluwas ng Manila the next day. They decided na wag na mag breakfast sa hotel at sa labas na lang daw. Yung mga bata na din ang pinapili nila ng kakainan kase mas mapili sa pagkain ang mga ito kesa sa mga adults. Lalo na daw yung dalawang laking Canada.
J: so guys, where do you want to have breakfast?
S: anywhere.
J: how about having TapSiLog or ToSiLOg for breakfast??
T: what’s that?
L: it’s Fried Rice with egg and viand of your choice like Tocino or Tapa or Longganisa.
T: why is it called like that.
S: stop askin questions Troy, its just rice with egg.
L: coz Fried Rice is Sinangag in Tagalog and Egg is Itlog in Tagalog so Tocino, fried Rice and egg is ToCiLog. (she explained)
T: oh now I get it. I think is delicious there.
They all agreed na sa tapsihan na nga kumain. They called their mom sa kabilang car ang nag agree na din sila. Nag park sila sa pinaka unang tapsihan na nakita nila. Troy seems so excited. First time niya kase yun. Nung settled na sila, they asked kung anong oorderin.
J: Troy what do you want? They have tocino, HotDog, Longganisa, Tapa??
T: Ate Lizette, what will you eat?
L: Maybe I’ll go with Logganisa.
T: ok then I’ll go with Longganisa too Ate Jessica.
They ordered a lot.. hot choco for them, coffee for the adults. They also have fresh fruits. After having breakfast, they continue the long drive. Ang daming tanong ni Troy kay Lizette, inexplain naman niya ito ng maayos sa bata. Maya maya pa, nakatulog na ito. Unan ni Troy ng lap ni Lizette. Yung paa nito umabot hanggang kay Steven.
S: ang tiyaga mo naman mag explain kay Troy.
L: normal sa bata ang maging matanong. It shows na may interes sila sa isang bagay kaya sila nagtatanong.
S: akin na si Troy, dito ko na siya papatulugin.
L: hindi ok lang. hindi naman mabigat si Troy.
Yun na siguro yung pinaka mahaba nilang usap ni Steven. Biglang nagsalita ang ate niya.
J: so Steven, d you have a girlfriend?
S: yeah, but I left her in Canada.
J: Canadian?
S: no, Pinay. But she grew up there. She often visits the Phils.
J: so you plan to go back to Canada to marry her??
S: well, I hope so. It still depends on what’s gonna happen here in the Phils. I don’t decide for myself, I have to ask my parents too. But if I were to choose, id rather be there.
J: ah ok… well I hope you enjoy your stay here.
They arrived at around 10AM. Troy was still sleeping soundly. Steven tried to wake him up, but he is so asleep. Lizette just decided to carry him out of the car. Her sister carried her things. Patrick has to go home too so he didn’t stay that long. After bidding farewell to everyone, he drove home. The Casino Family also went home to rest, Daddy Ben carried Troy who was still asleep. He thanked Lizette for taking care of their little boy and left.
Lizette also felt that her body needs to rest so after taking a shower, she slept.