To The Moon And Never Back

C20

"Why don't you expose your account sa book of minds?"

"I'm, not yet ready for that. Anyways, what will you wear for later?"

We're inside the room packing our things to prepare for the beach. It's 6am. We're gonna celebrate Christmas at the beach. And later midnight uuwi na kami ni Nathan for our flight at Canada.

****

"Merry Christmas babies!"

Tita Zelda greeted us with a milk on her right hand and kissed me.

"Tita!! You're here!"

She stayed at Boracay for like 3 years.

"Merry Christmas! Oliv!" A familiar voice greeted me habang naka baba na kami ni Nathan sa bwiset na long circular strairs na yan! Ang laki ha!

I turned around and saw Jakes!

"J-jakes?!?" I was confused and saw him about to hug me

I turned to Nathan if papayag ba siya. Wait, bat kailangan ng approval niya? Mula kagabi, kahit Sino na hinuhug ko kasi okay lang sakaniya since it's family. But dito, mukhang okay parin sakaniya naman? Or he didn't know. I'm in danger...

"Hey! Jakes" ang we hugged.

His hugs are still so warm!!

" How are you?! Damn, you're more beautiful than... Hey" he didn't finished what he was about to say when he saw Nathan holding our bags. Yung iba nasa van na daw yung mga bags.

"Hi, I'm Nathan" Nathan said and smiled.

"I'm Jakes! Mangliligaw ni Oliv... Hs days!" Jakes chuckled and halatang nahihiya.

Nathan nodded and smiled. At least.

"Aight everyone!! Tara na sa van. Dalawang van ang nandito, and may 3 Monteros and one Limo! Charot! Toyota guys! 6 seats pwede. So saan na tayo?"

Tita Vona announced. And Nathan and I decided to join to the van with the cousins. And the old ones will stay at the Montero, and my mom and dad will be driving the Toyota with the tita's and Titos. The other van will be for titos and titas with the toddler ones or kids.

Everyone here in the van are so noisy! May alak panga! At mga pag kain. Ang lakas talaga ng trip ng apat na mag kakapatid na ito. Ang ingay nila sa daan! While kami ni Nathan nasa second to back row and nasa window si Nathan nasandal.

"Hey... What's wrong?" I asked and hold his hands

Ang kapal ko iask what's wrong ng hinug ko si Jakes! Jakes. He's sitting in front sa gitna ng driver seat. And katabi niya si Ate Essah. Who is a Bi-sexual, na sobrang funny kasama!

"I asked. What's wrong" I said and he glanced at me and looked back to the window outside.

"Hey bubby..." I went near him and leaned on his shoulders. I became clingy.

"Aba!"
"Iba rin!!! Sana mantika!" Tyler shouted. Naka upo kasi sila sa harap namin. Iniba nila position ng seats! Naka harap sila sa likod para daw mas masaya kwentohan!

"Corny mo!" Binatukan naman siya ni ate Meisy!
"Victoria Oliv lang malakas!" Sigaw naman ni Chris

"Hoy mga baks! Pag ako nag ka boyfie, wag kayo Ganyan ha mahiyain makukuha ko!" Sigaw ni Vivi

We all laughed and Nathan chuckled.

" Hey so we're good?" I asked and he just hold my hands back.

Habang nasa van kami, medjo tumahimik na sila at tulog na ang iba dito sa van. Nathan and I listened to a music and naka sandal ako sa shoulders niya

****

"Finally! We're here! Ahh!" Tyler woke us up and naka topless na siya! Halatang excited! "Walang dagat na ganito sa New York! Nakakasawa dun!!" Sigaw naman ni Theo na panganay nila.

Siguro, pag nag aaral ang apat na ito sa manila, heartthrob na sila! Lalo ang bunso na si Tan! He's 16! And so tall!

We're now here at the beach and ang dami namin naka hilera! Nakakahiya! I looked at the beach and itong mga ito sumugod na agad. I'm just wearing a shorts and a tank blue top. Hinatak ako ni ate Meisy and naiwan ko si Nathan naka tayo.

"Nathan! Stay there!" I shouted. He just nodded and smiled. Luckily there's dad talking to him right now.

"Oops baby sorry bawal ka mapagod!"

"Oo nga hoy, kamusta?"

They remembered my sickness. I'm actually doing great these days. Huling atake ko ng hika, last week. And my chest pain? Not much these days.

"I'm good" I said habang naka tayo sa dagat and half body ko is basa na!

----

"Merry Christmas!!" Everyone is here at the big cottage. Parang mansion! Gosh! We're here at the living room together with the gifts!

I asked mom to bring some of my gifts at home sa Davao na. Nag paalam na rin kami ni Nathan mamayang 2am ang flight.

We're having fun here it's 6pm and receiving gifts. Some of us decided to swim this night and have bonfire.

"So, Toria. What's your dream?" Tito Jack asked while nakacircle kami lahat sa bonfire mag pipinsan.

" Uhm, Stewardess. If not, an author?"

This time, I'll never lie that I love to write poems, stories... Songs?

" Wow! That's good huh"

Everyone here's having fun. Nathan and I decided to have some walk around kasi bawal ako matagal naka harap sa apoy. Umataki ang hika ko kanina and luckily Nathan gave my inhaler immediately and my meds.

"Oh, mom and dads calling."

"Hey ma!" Nathan greeted while we're in front of the beach.

" Hey tita!" I greeted

" Merry Christmas po!" We greeted.

After having a long call with Nathan's parents, we decided to go back to the cottage to prepare. Nandoon ang parents ni Nathan sa Canada, so we're going there.

Nag paalam na kami sa lahat, sa dami dito... Lahat sila nag mano at naki beso na ako.

"Ingat kayo ha!"
"Take your meds baby" my dad said

It's 12am, and we're on our way at the airport.

"Baby I'm so excited!!" I said and hold his arms

"Me too baby" he said and smiled.

I noticed, he's too quiet. Kanina pa. Mula ng kausap namin sila Tito and tita. And, habang nag ddrive. I understand pag tahimik siya kasama family ko kanina, but now hindi siya nag kkwento gaano...

"Hey, are you okay?" I started to ask.

"Yeah, of course. Ang bilis lang. Malapit na ako umalis." He said.

That's why. It hurts though... " Let's not think about it first. Please?" I smiled.

He nodded and hold my hand.

We're at the airport right now and waiting for the plane so we decided to buy some gum at the duty free. Until I saw Xyra.

"Hey" she greeted us

"Merry Christmas" she simply said and looked at us while I'm holding Nathan's arms.

We greeted her back and smiled. It's her flight to California. She obviously cried. Kitang kita. We're friends in 4 minutes, since it's Christmas, no fighting.

We heard the microphone, so we prepared ourselves. We went inside the plane and I seated on the window seat.

We're not about to take off and he hold my hand.

"I love you Baby" he said.

But why I can see some worries. Fears. And kaba. I had no choice but to ignore it. Baka ako lang nag iisip.

I kissed his cheeks

"I love you more!"

'I think it was just me. Thinking salt would taste like sugar someday.'