Vacation With My Cousin

03 : La Union

Nakangiti akong nag-iimpake ng mga gamit ko. I put my girl things on the bag, magc-convoy ako sa kanila. Para nga kaming nagm-motorcade kumbaga kasi dad's car will lead the way para daw may privacy ang isa't-isa. Sabi din nila sabay na ako kina dad but I resist. I need my privacy too. May mga oras na kailangan kong mapag-isa with my car kaya ayon, pumayag naman.

"Chandriaa, halina!" sigaw ni mommy. Nagnod ako na parang baliw, kasi naman nasa baba si mommy at nasa taas ako. How will she see it?

I zipped my bag atsaka dinala na ito. We'll be staying there for three weeks kaya mukhang magiging maganda ang vacation ko this year. I'm so done going to Paris, Korea, China, Ireland and places out of the country na pagbakasayonan.

Agad akong bumaba atsaka nilagay sa compartment ang bagahi ko. I saw my cutie patootie nephew Aidan na nakasunod sa kambal nyang si Nadia— fraternal twins sila.

Five years old lang pero kung umasta si Aidan sa sister twin nya parang kuya pa. Aidan is two minutes older than Nadia kaya kuya nga naman sya. Napatingin ito sa gawi ko atsaka ngumiti ng malapad. I waved at him "Aiddy!" I smiled "Sama ka kay tata!" I told him. The twins used to call me tata, tita and ate kumbaga because I'm still twenty pa kaya

"I'll see you later tata!" sigaw nito, napangiti na lamang ako atsaka pumasok na sa driver's seat. Manong Facundo opened the door for us atsaka sumunod na ako kina daddy.

I put my phone on the dashboard para madali lang makita kung sino ang tumawag. Sabi din ni mommy, ganun daw baka may magkaaberya isa sa amin.

Tumigil ako sa isang convenient store upang makabili ng pagkain while I'm on my way. May pagkaing dala naman pero nandoon kay Kuya Chaos, just in case the twins will get hungry. Ipinarada ko iyon. Nagstop bigla si kuya Charm "Chant? May problema?" sigaw nito mula sa sasakyan nya.

I shook my head and told him"Wala, may bibilhin lang ako." Napangiti naman si ate Casey sa akin at nagwave pa, ngumiti lang ako atsaka pumasok na. I went to the chips area and found my all time favorite chip snack—Cheetos, kumuha ako ng tatlo atsaka pumunta naman sa candy area, napangiti ako when I found my weakness— Nerds Candy.

Papunta na sana ako sa cashier nang may mabangga ako, halos mahulog yung tatlong cheetos pero ang nerds lang. "Ow, sorry." I apologized. Pinulot niy ang nerds atsaka inabot.

"Sorry din miss." He said. Napaangat ito at nagkatitigan kami, we both gasped hard when I realized it's Sailendra. Nagiba ang mukha nia dulot ng pasa sa mukha.

"S-Sailendra?" I mumbled in shock.

"C-Chant-ty?" nahihirapan niang sabi.

"What happen to your face?" tanong ko. Akma ko sana itong hahawakan nang bigla nyang iniwas.

"W-Wala." matipid niang sagot. "S-Si-ge, I have t-to go." He added. Akma sana syang aalis pero hinigit ko ang braso nia pero napabitaw ako nang mapangiwi sia

"S-Sorry." I apologized "Ano ba kasing nangyari sayo?" I asked suspiciously, nakakaawa mukha niya. He looked at me intently at parang chinecheck-up ako.

"W-Wala, baka an-diyan n-na s-si L-Luch-cho." he said at patuloy na umalis. I was left dumbfounded as I watch him walk away. Bakit andami niyang pasa? Sinong bumugbog sa kanya? I thought to myself.

Matapos kong bayaran lahat ay bumalik na ako sa kotse. In-on ko din ang GPS para malaman ko kung nasaan na sila mommy and they are five miles away from me.

I was on my way nang biglang nagring ang phone ko— it was Lucho. Agad ko itong sinagot at niloud speaker.

"Yeah?"

[Lakad tayo. Malling. Ang boring ehh.]

"Ay oo nga pala! Haven't I told you na we're going to La Union today for vacation. Mga three weeks din."

[Was that the meeting yesterday all about?]

I nodded "Oo. I guess pupunta kayo, diba?"

[Maybe.. So, nasa La—]

I wasn't able to hear what he said after a big and huge truck horned. "Shit." I cursed atsaka iniliko sa kanan.

[Fuck Chandria! Nagd-drive ka?!] Halos labas na ang lalamunan ni Lucho sa pagsigaw noon.

Napakamot naman ako "iih, oo." I know he'll get mad kasi first thing he told  me nung tinuruan nya ako magdrive: Park the car when someone is calling.

[Chandria.] mariin niang sabi. I can picture Lucho clenching his jaw by now.

"Okay! I'm sorry. Sige na, I'll call you when I get there. Para masure mo. Follow me on GPS. Okay na po tay?!" I said sarcastically. Napangiti nalamang ako—ang strict talaga ni Lucho sa akin, minsan iniisip ko kung siya ba talaga tatay ko at nagpapanggap lang siya na pinsan kami. Nagseselos na nga si Lindsey sa akin eh.

[Okay] That's his last word and cut off the line at inapakan ko na muli ang gas. I check the GPS and I'm eight miles away from all of them and it's Lucho's fault.

Papalubog na ang araw nang makarating ako sa La Union. Pagakarating ko doon ay lasap na lasap ko talaga ang sariwang hangin. I put my bags on my room. Iisa lang kami ng cottage nina mommy't daddy but different rooms habang sina kuya Charm at ate Casey iba din ang cottage and also kuya Chaos with his family.

I directly changed my clothes into a simple ehite shirt and short shorts and wore my slipper. Para akong batang tumakbo papuntang baybayin atsaka nakangiting nakatingin sa paglubog ng araw.

My smile widened—I love the beach so much. There's no place like home talaga kasi sabi ni mommy I was born in La Union, and we also lived here four years kaya matagal na din akong nawalay dito. Bumibisita lang kami dito if may occasions to be held ang mga relatives namin dito sa La Union.

Biglang tumunog ang phone ko. An MMS message from Lucho—a two pictures of him— first, wearing a stripe red necktie and second, wearing a plain baby blue necktie. Napangiti ako, may meeting nanaman ang mokong. Nakapagselfie pa talaga. I texted him back

To: Luchongbaka
"I guess the stripe will do. Good luck on your meeting!"

Ganito si Lucho, ako pinapapili ng mga susuotin nia.

I heave a sigh habang nakatitig sa mga pictures na sinend nya. Isa lang talaga ang problema ko eh, and the problem is very restricted.

"I like you." I said as I looked at his picture.