THE ADVENTURE OF AUGUST BACK TO EARTH

7. Friend or Foe

August's POV

Nakarating na kami sa Batanes at may sumundo naman sa amin na isang 20 seaters Van. Medyo malaki ito kesa sa karaniwang Van na nakikita ko na bumabyahe. So we ride all together in one vehicle. Nagstopover lang kami sa isang restaurant doon para mag-agahan but at the same time we enjoyed our eyes with the view. Almost everything is green. The houses there are made of rocks and we can see people walking down the streets wearing like a wig that is made of hay. I don't know why they are wearing those stuff, pero palagay ko ay hindi ko yun kaya dahil makati yun.

Nakatayo kami ngayon sa harap ng Fundacion Pacita. Isa itong restaurant dito sa Basco, Batanes. Ngayon pa lang ay nag-iisip na ako ng oorderin. Si Reed na bahala sa bayarin ko hahaha. Ganun naman palagi eh. Basta pagkain abusada ako. Mahilig din kasi ito masyadong manlibre eh. Galit ata kasi ito pera.

"Let's get inside." Saad naman ng sumundo sa amin. His name is Polo. He is the person assigned to take care of us since we are all new to this city.

"God, it's so hot in here." Reklamo naman ni Scarlet. Nauna na itong maglakad and her usual queen like attitude. I don't know but I noticed that from her. Parang ang laki ng gap namin sa kanya. She is obviously putting barriers from us, like sinasabi nitong hindi kami magkalevel kaya back off.

"I don't like her." Bulong ni Misha sa akin na masama ang tingin nito kay Scarlet. To me, I don't know what to feel dahil wala naman siyang ginawa sa akin.

"Spare her Misha. She's not a filipino and she has different culture." Ganting bulong ko na lang sa kanya. It would be unfair to judge right away the person.

"Dapat naman sana makibagay siya. Sila yung dayo eh, tapos sila di ba pumili na dito sa Pilipinas? Anong ineexpect nila? Sinlamig ng America?" Sagot naman sa akin ni Misha.

Napapailing na lang ako. But I don't have anything against her. Not unless she will do something bad to me dahil magiging ibang usapan na yun. Biglang tumaas naman ang balahibo ng aking batok ng maramdaman kong may nakatingin sa akin kaya pasimple akong tumingin sa paligid and there I saw Draco, who is gazing at me. I stopped with my tracks, pati na rin si Misha at napatingin din ito sa tinitingnan ko. I don't know but my heart is beating like mad. Like I am facing the real him.

Medyo nataranta pa ako ng nakita kong humakbang ito palapit sa akin kasunod nito si Marcus. He stopped when he is a few inches away from me. Napatingala ako sa kanya dahil di birong mas matangkad ito sa akin. Somehow, he is a bit more taller than Cayden and the fact that Cayden is already really tall.

"How are you?" Tanong niya sa akin.

Napanganga naman ako. Why the heck would he ask me about like we acquainted before? And a memory flashes again. Don't tell me....... fuck but I really hope, he is not. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko siya mahaharap ng maayos to think this man saw me and even tasted me. Double shit.

"I think I'm fine." Sagot ko rito na hindi din ako sigurado sa sagot ko. I feel not fine at all. I feel disturbed and restless.

"Hhmm... that's great to hear, August right?" Tanong pa nito sa akin and he is smiling. Even their smile is identical! Pakiramdam ko ay pinaglalaruan na ako ng maligno at kung anu-ano na ang nakikita ko.

"Yeah..." mahinang sagot ko rito. My eyes were lock on his gaze and somehow, his eyes are like amused looking at me. I don't know why but that's what I see. It feels like, he knows something about me.

"Hi!" Biglang bati naman mula sa likuran nito. Si Marcus yun. He was smiling just like the Lucas I've known.

"Hello." Ganting bati ko rito and I even wave.

"Hiiii!" Bati naman ni Misha. "I am Misha Mijares by the way, her bestfriend." Pakilala naman ni Misha kay Marcus.

Ngumiti naman si Marcus and like a spark flashed in his eyes. "For how long have you been friends?" Tanong pa nito na mukhang interesado.