Summer Vacation

28

Pinahid ko ang luhang nasa pisngi ko at nilunok ang sariling laway. I turned my back and started walking away from them.

I was fighting back the tears who want to come out from my eyes but to no avail. I bit my lower lip. Mas binilisan ko ang paglakad pabalik sa hotel.

Bumalik sa isipan ko ang tanong ni kuya kanina. I smiled bitterly, maybe... they get back together. I sighed heavily. Pinahid ko ulit ang luhang tumutulo sa pisngi ko.

I swallowed the lump on my throat. Yumuko din ako para 'di makita ng mga taong nakakasalamuha ko na umiiyak ako dahil sa nakita ko nakita. When I finally arrived in front of our room door, I exhaled and wiped the tears on my face.

I calmed myself down and twisted the door of the room. Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng kwarto. Naabutan ko si kuya na nagliligpit ng gamit sa maleta niya. Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Kuya?" I called.

He looked at me and said: "Oh, Zai! Buti nalang bumalik ka agad," sabi nito. "Mom texted me, you should arrange your things. Mamayang eleven ang flight natin pa-Canada," he told me.

I bit my lower lip and nodded. Sabi na eh, mang-w-warshock si mommy. I timidly walk towards my bed. Kinuha ko ang maleta ko at sinimulang ayusin ang mga gamit ko.

"Did you cry?" tanong ni kuya. Ibubuka ko na sana ang bibig ko para sumagot nang unahan ako nito. "Don't lie, lil' love," he warned.

I bit my lower lip to stop my self from trembling and sobbing. I launched my self to hug him. He was taken aback from first but eventually, he hugged me back. Hinagod niya ang likod ko.

"Hey, what happened?" he gently asked.

Patuloy lang ako sa paghikbi. Binaon ko ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya at doon umiyak. Patuloy lang siya sa paghagod ng likod ko.

"Shh, hush, lil' love," he whispered. "Tell your brother what happened that you're crying like a baby right now."

Hindi ako nagsalita, patuloy lang ako sa pag-iyak. Kuya sighed and gently stroked my hair. He even hummed a song. I tightened my hug to him as the scenery I saw at the beach flash on my mind.

I thought I was ready to know that they're back together. Akala ko hindi na masakit kasi alam ko na sa una palang, sila talaga. But I was wrong. It hurts. Like I'm being stabbed by a deadly weapon hundred of times.

I wish I shouldn't have gone to the beach. Edi sana hindi ako umiiyak na parang bata sa dibdib ng kuya ko. Sana hindi ako nasasaktan.

I don't know why I'm crying. Wala namang kami. I mean... you know what I mean. There's nothing special between us. We're friends, I know that fact. Ni-hindi nga rin siya nagpapakita ng motibo, eh. Hindi rin naman siya nag-paasa. O... baka ako lang 'tong umasa?

I mean, sure. I really hoped noon na sana kami. Na sana, magkaroon ng kami. Na sana, magustuhan niya rin ako. Honestly, I began hoping when we got closer with each other. I really admit that fact. But when ate Keila enter the picture, my hopes suddenly vanished into thin air. But it kept on coming back, hoping that we'd end up together but I guess it'll be just in my wildest dreams.

"Everything's gonna be fine, Zai," kuya consoled me. "Come on, get your shit together. You won't cry because of some shit going on here, you said you'd only cry for Stark, right?"

I sob and nodded my head. I stopped myself from sobbing. I just realized that... yeah, I should stop crying like a baby. We still need to pack up some things. Our flight will be later. And also, it's just it. Mas masakit parin 'yong snap ni Stark sa endgame.

"Good," he mumbled.

I stayed at kuya's arms for minutes. I'm really glad that I have my kuya when times like this. I could cry on his chest whenever I want and he would always console me. The reason why I really love him, so much.