The Brightest Stars

[4]

Sunset used to tell me that hating someone takes a lot of time. Kailangan mo pa daw kasi talaga'ng lubusang alamin kung aling parte ng pagkatao nung tao ang dahilan kung bakit hindi mo siya gusto.

In my case, I say fuck time.

I don't need tenths of hours just to say that I freaking loathe the guy in front of me who is childishly fighting with me through ferocious glares. I mean, who wouldn't hate him?!

"Nako, kayo talaga. Tigilan niyo na 'yan at nandito na tayo."

Saka lamang naputol ang masama naming titigan ng dumating at magsalita sa harap namin si Tata. Sabay kaming napalingon sa kanya at pagkatapos ay sa daungan ng Isla Dela Questa.

Wow.

No words could express the beauty of the island and the first word that only crossed my mind was just that. Just wow.

Isla Dela Questa is breathtaking. Hindi ko man saulo ang itsura nito noon, I was sure it was already beautiful in my memory. Ngunit ang islang nasa harapan ko ngayon ay nakakapanghina ng kalamnan. 

Parang magi-guilty kang itapak ang mga paa mo sa maputi at pino'ng buhangin ng isla dahil baka marumihan iyon. Parang nakakahiya ang paglanghap sa malamig at sariwa nitong hangin. Parang kasalanan sa isang di hamak na tao lang ang makita ang kagandahan niyon.

Paradise. The island was a paradise.

"Baba na daw. Tama na senti." Napalingon ako sa demonyo'ng bumulong sa may bandang tainga ko. 

"Keep your distance, asshole." I glared at him before moving forward. Nakaharang na pala ako sa daanan ng hindi ko sinasadya. Masyado akong na-distract ng isla.

As I took the last stride on the boat's ladder step and landed on the fine, white sand, the turmoil inside me started to subside. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to take everything in. Ilang minuto akong nanatiling ganoon bago magmulat ng mata. Ngunit ang mukhang bumungad sa akin ay bigla kong nasapak.

"ARAY!" The guy shouted, earning a few stares from the passersby.

"Sorry, my hand slipped." I made sure the apology sounded sarcastic.

Kita ko ang pinaghalong inis at sakit sa mukha niya pero hindi nalang siya umimik, bagkus ay tinalikuran nalang ako. I rolled my eyes and followed him, dragging my things with me. I was sure he was going to where Tata and Nana's house that's why I trailed behind him. I remembered that the Dela Questa Manor was just beside their house since they were its caretakers.

"MAMALA!" He suddenly shouted when we arrived in front of a medium-sized house besides a Spanish-contemporary manor. Finally!

"SUNRISE PRIM!" From looking at our mansion, my gaze went to the old lady frowning by the door frame. Her left hand was planted on her hips and a scowl was visible on her wrinkled face.

"Nana..."  

*****