[Uhmmm…Uhmmm…]
Alright. Sorry about that. That’s just my jerk-of-a-brother Delvin trying to peter me out from talking by swathing his sweat-soaked (you wouldn’t want me telling you how odd it actually smelled like) palm over my mouth. Sweet deed, isn’t it?
[You know it’s me being sarcastic, big bro. And please, for the world’s sake, put a halt on that smirk, smile, whatever it is, and go on with pork-stewing.]
Sorry about that again. I just can’t help teasing that big guy. Well, he isn’t literally huge or gigantic or as colossal as The Hulk (but he has this tendency of being so hideous when angry) or as stoned as The Thing himself (more of the Flaming Torch fan here). He’s just a typical college jock (and I’m not belittling him, please). He likes balls and plays with them. Come on, not the balls you are probably thinking of. He isn’t like that, right Delv? Why the hell am I even asking him! Oh, being a jerk will do to, I promise (I have proofs of him being one).
[Contain yourself, Delv. I might spill out something I know – that of course you won’t want others to be blackmailing you with too.]
Thank goodness he just went on with the cooking. Back to what I was saying. Delvin’s taking up a degree I really am not sure of (alright, alright, I’m not just into what he likes – you know, drawing and stuffs that has something to do with pencils in need of constant sharpening, erasers that leave stains, and patience!). Have I mentioned him being into balls? Right, right. But he is specifically fond of basketball. It’s very rare of me praising him, but he’s an extraordinaire on that one. Perhaps he was born with a ball as a head that just morphed into a bulbous human-like top. Aside of course from the fact that he has been dozing off with two (down there) since he was ejected from mum’s tummy.
Wait, wait, wait. Why am I even talking about my brother? Good gracious! Haven’t I mentioned something about myself? No? Goodness! Alright, alright. My name’s Julia and I am my brother’s better version. Let’s all leave it at that. The simpler, the better.
[Act as if you haven’t…]
Improving. At least, he’s not been minding me being honest. Okay, enough with get-to-know-me (or us) part. I don’t want you to get all drowsy, skip this part and leave what I’ve written hanging. Now, walk towards your fridge or cupboard or room (that’s where I keep my stuffs especially when I only want them for myself) and serve yourself something to munch – peanuts, popcorn, chips, whatever, and of course, soda or water (if you’re on a diet and won’t process added calories) to gulp down what you’ve taken in.
It was a week after my high school graduation that I received the most awesome gift ever (well, for me). It was a two-way ticket for two to this place I have been longing to put my feet on. Cool, right? Yes. I remembered hugging both mum and dad so tight and jumping for like a minute continuously in so much delight. Lucky they didn’t burst. I gave them pecks on the cheeks especially mum whom I told how historical and stunning in pictures the place was, and that someday I would take pleasure in setting my own eyes on it. Right. I was a hundred and one percent sure that mum convinced dad that it would be the best gift ever. My brother? He was in the kitchen eating (he seemed to have forgotten the chewing part of it) as if he was starved for a week.
“You are taking your brother with you, Julz.” And that was the uneven and most unjustifiable part of the deal! My brother and I on a trip? Like seriously? That’s suicide. I tried inducing them with facts. That Delvin’s a dork. That Delvin’s a nagger and won’t like nature-trippings and long walks. That Delvin’s the most unbearable person that ever existed, next to Hitler. But they didn’t buy my excuses. They seemed dumbfounded for a second and then laughed (my ever so-composed parents cackling their heart out) and left me like a mess with my brother, not far from where I was on my feet, then chomping a big piece of cheese cake (that was almost as big as a quarter) all alone. And he was all smiles.
The next thing I knew was us boarding on the plane and me sandwiched between my brother who was on the side next to the window pane and just eyeing outside (looked like he was on a trance), and a guy which was somehow my brother’s age next to the aisle.
Heaven on earth! The guy looked at me and poof, it hit me! I was sitting beside an angel! Good gracious! His looks were amply striking. Oh my god! My brother probably noticed that I was tensing, so he gazed at my direction and to the guy adjacent to me and back to me and to the guy again before he let out a dude-bitten-by-a-dog-gone-haywire kind of smirk.
“You like that guy beside you, don’t you?” asked my brother and chuckled as if he was plane’s only passenger. I swore to any ‘swear-able’ thing that I badly wanted to hit my brother so he would just sleep the whole trip, but I was so shy to let the guy beside see how dangerous an innocent-looking almost-college girl (kindly imagine me that way) could get when pissed off - aside of course from the fact that my face was all tomato-red.
The guy beside me, whom I had instantly developed a crush on, introduced himself (he was oh so manly). And that’s when what seemed to be an endless conversation fired up. His name was Gavin. Ain’t that a cool name? Gosh. I asked from the simplest questions my mind could process until those that aren’t just answerable by yes or no or a nod or a smile. And you know what made me think that it was destiny working on both of us? He was going to the same exact place we’re heading. Oh my god!
Up until…
Something weird began to ensue. It was my mind’s quick response to check on my brother if he had caused it (for I was certain that if someone would bestow the title “The Ultimate Weird”, Delvin would be an A-lister).
[Now, you know why I looked at you that way at that moment big bro.]
Then everyone started to scream in horror. You’re probably thinking that we got stuck up in the midst of a Final Destination shooting, but we weren’t. There were no big cameras. And there wasn’t any director yelling, “Cut!” And from there I screamed in so much grief. I was too young to die. I was too naïve and sweet. I still craved for slices of pizza and yoghurt and cheese cake. Still haven’t got a boyfriend, and would die a virgin. Oh my geez! And dying with my brother beside me also screaming (not in horror but for help as if Wonder Woman would salvage him and he’ll get the privilege of touching her boobs). He was a helpless jerk.
And that was the last scene I dredged up to before everything went pitch black.
I was honestly thinking if I would be lucky to have a short encounter with Professor Dumbledore on the train station just like Harry Potter (by the way, him being hairy was so hot) after he was hit with the Avada Kedavra curse of that ugly Lord V (if I were Rowling, I would call him Lord Vulva). I knew the idea was crazy, but what could have I done? That was normal to me (please, I know I’m much more normal than my big brother). That was what crept into my mind the whole pitch black thing.
All I felt afterwards were palms tapping my cheeks. I felt so sleepy that I had a hard time forcing open the lids of both of my eyes. And when I was able to do so, I woke up on the shore, the waters gently surging, the sun still brightly flaming in the sky, and with Delvin and Gavin situated on both sides of me flashing smiles (might have been perfect Instagram shots I tell you).
“Hey, sis! Have you gone mute?” There came the momentum breaker. Nobody but my I-thought-at-the-very-least-smart brother asked me in genuine concern. Instead of talking to my brother, I gazed at my other side and found the now-proven-angel-for-he-rescued-me-and-I-was-still-alive. Gavin. The epitome of handsomeness. The guy that makes sense (very unlikely that of Delvin).
“Are you gonna smile like crazy, Julz? Or you’ll help us figure out where on Earth are we?” First point for my brother. Where really on this planet were we? Where were our luggages? Was the place wi-fi ready? And where the hell was my phone and my iPod? Geez.
“We don’t have our stuffs with us, Julia if you’re thinkin’ ‘bout them,” Gavin said. I might have been worried, but that didn’t stop me from almost giggling. Gosh, he sounded so good. If only his voice was edible.
Then a weird sensation rushed me to ask something. “Are we the only ones left? I mean, the pilot (which I knew to exist because who the hell would have maneuvered the plane?), the ever-so-poised stewardesses, the creaming moms? Where are they?” Then silence crept in. There. I overthrew my brother in the world’s list of unthinking mammals.
Fortunately (citation to all the school activities involving camps and sleep-over), Delvin and Gavin managed to keep us alive. Foods. Shelter (though it looked more like a shed, but I swear I’m not complaining). Fresh water. Everything. And embarrassingly, I was a burden for both of them. I didn’t know how to fish (never had gone with dad when he asked me to). I was never trained to climb a tree (and I wasn’t a monkey for that matter). The only helpful thing I’d done was to prevent myself from crying and flooding the I-don’t-even-know-how-it’s-called-or-how-we-will-even-call-it island. As if I can.
When the night came, they did light up a flame. I cheerfully clapped and cheered like I’ve seen the most fascinating movie ever. Can you imagine how awkward was that especially when your brother’s sporting a piercing look not just telling but yelling me to behave my age.
----------
“Hey! What is my little sister doing in here?” asked my brother. “Why is she suddenly fancying the feeling of being sun-cooked?” That made me chuckle a little bit. The feeling was odd. No, not the odd as if I’ve just seen a bad omen. It was more of like I’ve just experienced something new. My brother making me chuckle, at least. My brother just beside me. And just like the old times, we were lavishly talking. It was an odd ambiance but I liked it.
“Hey Delvin!” I calmly called for his attention. “Uhmmm…I…love you?” That moment was awkward. I felt like I had been stung by a thousand obese bees and drained by a swarm of flesh-eating mosquitoes (are there such gross things?). And guess what? He just laughed! He laughed as if he had just heard the best joke ever – which unfortunately was me, M-E.
“Don’t worry. I love you too, Julz. It isn’t really obvious, but I really do.” I waited for him to snort (again), but he didn’t. I just found myself hugging the big guy and crying. The scene was so overly dramatic I might have been nominated for an Oscar.
That moment gave me a shower of hope. Hope that we won’t be stuck in this place for long. Hope that mum and dad will soon be fetching us wherever on Earth we are right now. Hope that I will be soon tasting the best pizza, the best yoghurt and the best cheese cake.
“Wait. What are you really doing here? Why aren’t you with Gavin?” The guts. He did smirk when he said Gavin’s name.
“Nothing. Just imagining how I would write this adventure once we head home.” He wasn’t a mind-reader so he won’t know how ruined his character on my story is.