Summer Vacation

17

Matapos kong ayusin ang sarili, dahil nga kakatapos lang maligo, bumaba na ako. Dumiretso agad ako sa kusina kung saan naghihintay sila. Agad silang tumingin sa akin nang makapasok ako. I smiled apologetically at them.

"Sorry. It took me too long," I said with a sincere voice. Nandito parin si Keila, and she's seating beside Hairo, gusto kong umirap buti nalang napigilan ko ang sarili. Umupo ako sa tabi ni kuya James.

"Naligo ka pa noh?" tanong nito sa akin.

I nod. "Uhuh." I simply answered.

"Okay, can we eat now?" Kuya Kino asked. "I'm famished after cooking these dishes!" Reklamo nito habang tinuturo ang mga putaheng nasa mesa.

I eyes all of them. My lips formed an oh. There's grilled meat, embutido, chicken inasal, and... eggplant omelet! Yum!

"Wow, you cooked?" I asked, amazed.

"Yeah. So, please, let's dig in." Pagsusumamo nito. Everyone in the table laughed at him.

And as per as he requested, we finally digged in. Naglagay ako ng omelet sa plato ko at ng grilled meat. I ignored the people around me, specially the two in front of me who is maybe talking, and focused on my food. The foods are delicious that I couldn't help myself but to eat 'til my heart contents.

Nasa pang-apat na plato na yata ako ng kanin nang matigilan ako dahil lahat sila ay nakatingin sa akin, even Keila.

I looked at them with my innocent look. "What?" I asked.

They shook their heads. Hairo chuckled at me. Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. "What? It's delicious!"

He chuckled once again and raised his both arms as if surrending. "Wala akong sinabing hindi." natatawang aniya.

I rolled my eyes on him. "Stop chuckling at me, then. And please, kung tapos na kayo. Puwede kayong lumabas sa kusina kasi kakain pa ako. Okay? Okay!" I said and gestured them to leave.

Lahat sila ay natawa and did what I told them to do. Except kay kuya James na nakikikain rin kasama ko. Kanina parin siya kumakain kagaya ko. Pero kung makatingin sa akin kanina!

"You sure know how to act natural, huh?" He said while we're eating.

I nodded. "Wala eh, Zairene 'to." May pagmamalaking sabi ko. "At saka, bakit naman ako papa-apekto? Hindi ako kagaya ng mga ibang teenager na mab-broken agad kapag may kasamang iba ang crush nila. Like duh, ang babaw?" May taray na bigkas ko na ikinatawa ni kuya James.

"You're not really affected?" He asked.

Tinignan ko siya at ngumisi ng may pagmamalaki. "Part of me is, but I stayed unbothered because that's me. I've been into this kind of shit like, a lot!" I said, emphasizing the word lot. Well true, I have a lot of crushes noon. At lahat may mga girlfriend.

He chuckled proudly and lifted an imaginary crown and put it on my head. "I stan unbothered queen, y'all." He jokingly said.

I laughed. "Teka, ako lang 'to. Ano ba." natatawang pakikisakay ko sa trip niya.

"Hoy, hoy," kuya Kino entered the kitchen. "Kayong dalawa ha? May pinag-uusapan kayo tapos hindi ako kasama?"

Nagtinginan kaming dalawa ni kuya James. We shrugged.

"Alangang kasama ka namin sa pangb-backstab sa sarili mo?" puno ng sarkasmong sabi nito kay kuya Kino.

I laughed and shook my head.

"Backstabbers, amp." He said and sat at the chair in front of me. "Zai." Tawag nito sa akin.

"Po?"