Summer Vacation

29

"Of course! I cried," I said. "Who wouldn't? Masakit kaya." I chuckled. "But I'm kinda fine, now. Natanggap ko naman na noon palang eh."

Ate Zye smiled at me. "Don't let it affect you, Zai," she said to me.

"Pero... malay mo––"

Kuya Zach shushed him up, "manahimik ka diyan, Zeper. Hayaan mo na siya."

Kumunot ang noo ni Zeper kapagkuwan ay nagkibit-balikat nalang ito at inubos ang pagkaing nasa harapan niya. Si Juri naman ay lumabas saglit para mag-order ulit ng mga pinakamamahal niyang mocha.

We changed the topic into something light. We didn't talked about our — Juri's and mine — heartbreak again, which I find good. I'll eventually move on from it.

"Guys! Guys!"

Napatingin kami kay Juri na kapapasok lang. Marami itong dalawang paper bags. Must be his mochas.

"Tara na," sabi nito. "Mom called. Uwi na daw tayo," ani pa.

Tumango kami at nagsitayuan. Sabay sabay kaming lumabas ng VIP Room. May inutusan si ate Zye na ayusin ang loob dahil aalis na kami. I smiled when I saw someone familiar. I waved my hand at her. She waved her hand to me too, hindi lang siya makalapit sa akin dahil busy ito.

Naupo ulit ako katabi ni Juridice. He's staring at his phone. Not being a chismosa, nakatingin din ako doon. Napa-ahh ako nang makita kung ano ang tinitignan niya.

Hindi ko nalang siya sinita at tumingin sa sariling cellphone ko. I smiled when a photo of me and Hairo welcomed my sight. It was our first photo. At Hérianné Resort. I set the photo as my lockscreen wallpaper yesterday while I'm in the airplane.

Pinatay ko nalang ulit ang cellphone ko dahil wala naman akong gagawin doon. Sinandal ko nalang ang ulo sa balikat ni Juri dahil nakaramdam ako ng antok.

"Gisingin mo nalang ako kapag karating na," I told him.

Ginalaw naman niya ang balikat niya sabay sabing: "Zairene Arzuela, gising na. Dito na tayo."

"Gago!"

Tinawanan lang ako nito. "Sige. Sleep well. Tapos paggising mo —"

"Don't get me started, Juridice," I warned him. "I'll beat your ass 3000. I'm telling yah." It's nothing serious, really. Sanay lang akong sabihin sa kaniya yan dahil sa meme na lagi kong sinisend sa kaniya kapag nang-aasar siya sakin.

"–– paggising mo, nasa harapan na tayo ng bahay. Iyon kasi 'yon!"

→🚪←

"Mommy!"

Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta kay mommy at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. I missed my mom so much, I swear!

"Oh my, darling!" she exclaimed and let go from the hug. She cupped both my cheeks and kissed my whole face. Natawa naman ako dahil doon. "I so miss you!"

"Me too, mom! Me too!"

She hugged me once again. Humiwalay lang ako sa yakap nang marinig ko ang boses ni Daddy.

"So... you don't miss your old man?" Hinarap ko siya at mabilis na niyakap rin. "Of course, you missed me."

I laughed and kissed his cheeks. I turned my head to face the one who just called me.

"Oh my gosh!" I squeal. "Mikell!"

I ran towards him and lift him up. I kissed his cheeks multiple times. All he did was to giggle and kissed my cheeks the way I kissed his.