Like The Stars From Above

PROLOGUE

VACATION.

A simple word, yet can make any college students like me feel a pure bliss. I mean, all people like the word vacation. Who wouldn't be, right? But if you're a college student who has been through a lot of activities everyday as if you think you'll die answering your remaining activities-vacation, indeed, is the only answer.

On the other hand, this vacation has its disadvantage, too. Firstly, you won't be going to talk to your fellow classmates or friends to bond with you because they have their own vacation din. Second, you can't go out anymore with an excuse of, "Ma, pasok ako" when in fact you're just going to the Mall and buy things you want and need. And lastly, you won't be able to see your crush again.

The latter is the worst part.

Paano, hindi mo na nga siya nakita sa past few weeks tapos dagdag pa itong bakasyon na magiging dahilan para mag-assume na makikita ko siya sa school. Nakakairita. Naiinis ako kasi miss ko na siya. All I could do is to daydream about him while playing a song, stalk his FB account and post about him on my wall just to at least ease my frustration of not seeing him. Kailan ba ang end nitong bakasyon?

At gumawa na naman ng maraming project, activities, quizzes at iba-iba pa?

Ipiniling ko na lamang ang ulo. Who am I kidding? I may like looking for him at school but didn't we just had... some like weird encounter for the past few months lalo na yung mga last chat namin na hindi ko maintindihan kung dapat kong gawing positive o negative kaya ngayon I need to move on or else stress lang abot ko?

I took a deep breath. I need to focus muna sa acads. No sadness, no him—well, pwedeng isipin minsan-and definitely no stress. Just acads and my self improvement for this course.

Mag-Educ ka ba naman kung all your life, may social anxiety ka.

Ang sabi nila piliin mo ang course na gusto mo at saan ka mas may passion, e. Ang narinig ko kasi ata, "piliin mo ang course kung saan ka mahihirapan."

Speaking of acads, naalala ko yung tinest namin last week. Finals exams namin. Which means sa pasukan ay 2nd sem na kami. Final exams is a bit easier this time yet after it I felt tired and exhausted. Mabuti na lang at natapos na rin ang nakakasakit sa ulong exams na iyon. Pinilit ko kasi talaga na sumipag nang nga panahon na iyon dahil finals na at kailangan kong bumawi. Masyado kasi akong naging pabaya nung Midterms kaya kinailangan ko talaga.

Napahawak ako sa noo nang maaalala ang mga inexam. I'll just let it be this time. I need this vacation, para relax, okay ba yon, self?

Little did I know, something terrible was about to happen.

No, the word terrible is an understatement.

It's mortifying.

"Ate pahiram nga ako cellphone. Hindi na ako nakakagamit niyan, e." Kunot noong binalingan ko ang kapatid kong si Lumi. What she said was true but how dare she demand about me not sharing my phone to her when in fact this is a possession of mine? Hatian na pala kami ngayon sa phone? Ngayon lang ako na-inform.

"Mamaya." Luckily enough, she patiently waited. Bumaling na ako sa bintana ng kotse para tignan ang nasa labas. Patungo kaming Baguio at kakatapos lang mag-New Year. Excitement and curiosity filled my mind. Tagal na kasi namin nang huling pumunta roon. We were at the age of 9 to 10 that time. I'm now 18. It has been a long year.

When we got there, nostalgia came all over me. The memories of the past played like an old movie in my head. Marami mang pinagbago, nandoon pa rin ang mga nakita ko noong bata pa ako.

We took a lot of picture's here, there, and everywhere. Nang tumapat na sa may kakaininan na kami, saka lang na naman ako kinulit ng kapatid ko patungkol sa cellphone ko. And in that moment, I wanna throw her directly at Bermuda Triangle out of my frustration to her.

"Ate, akin na. Sabi mo mamaya pero di mo binigay sa akin!"

"Pagkakain na lang."

"Luh. Bakit mamaya pa? Akin na nga lang 'yan-" Sabay hablot sa cellphone ko sa kamay. Sa pagkagulat ay nahatak niya iyon, pero mabuti ay nasa kamay ko pa rin. Ang aking mga daliri ay nasa gilid ng phone case at siya ay nasa screen mismo.

My Facebook app is open. She can't just drag my phone away from me in a sudden!

"Lumi, ano ba? Baka may mapindot ka!" Mabuti at nasa malayo ang mga magulang namin para di kami sawayin. Sa huli ay nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil binitawan niya rin. Ngayon, nakabusangot siya. I ignored her either way.

Pagkauwi sa pag-stay-an namin pansamantala, kaagad kami natulog. Pagkatapos kasi namin kumain ay sa kung saan-saan pa kami nagsipunta hanggang sa inabot ng gabi. Pero ako? Dahil hindi pa ako makatulog ay sinubukan ko munang i-open ang Facebook para maging pampatulog. Pagkabukas pa lang ng phone ay may two messages ako at may isang notification din. Dahil mas gusto ko kung anong ganap, ang notification ang inuna ko. At ang nakita ko roon ay pangalan ng taong di ko inaaasahang makita. Nothing could compare the bulge in my eyes at the sight in front of me.

Vonn Terrence Santiago accepted your friend request.

How in the world-

Nang maalala ang agawan namin ng kapatid ko ay napahawak na lang ako sa noo. My heart began pounding, as if it wants to come out of my chest.

This is the worst vacation ever.