Summer Vacation

02

It has been a week since I got here. In Tagaytay, in Tita Jean's vacation house. Isang linggo ko na ring nakakasama ang mga kinulang sa aruga na mga kaibigan ni Zach –– ni kuya Zach.

"Kuya James," tawag ko sa atensyon ni kuya James na nakahiga sa sahig, busy with his phone.

Nandito kaming tatlo sa sofa. We just finished our breakfast. Hairo's not here with us. He's upstairs. In his room, taking a bath.

"Bakit, Zai?" tanong nito at binalingan ako ng tingin na agad ding binalik ang tingin sa screen ng phone niya.

"You browsing in internet?" I asked him.

"Uhuh, why?"

I grinned. "Let's go beaching," I suggested.

Kuya Kino reacted. "What? Bitching?" kunot noong tanong ni kuya Kino.

"Huh? Who's bitching?" tanong ng kararating lang na Hairo.

Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa kaniya. Kakatapos lang niyang maligo, and he's just wearing a plain white tee shirt and khaki short.

I rolled my eyes on what Hairo and kuya Kino said.

"It's not bitching, you guys. Beaching as in B-E-A-C-H-I-N-G," I said while spelling the word 'beaching' in the air.

They both nodded. "Oh, okay," sabay nilang sabi.

Napailing nalang ako sa kanilang dalawa at binalingan ng tingin si kuya James na abala parin sa pag-p-phone niya.

"Come on, kuya James," I said.

"O..kay," he sits up and a playful grin was now evident on his face. "Tayong dalawa lang, Zai? Game ako!"

"Huh? Hindi naman iyon ang gusto kong iparating, kuya James. I just want to ask you to search any beach resort that we can go to," I said. "Pero kung ayaw naman nilang dalawa na sumama," tinignan ko ang dalawa. "Then, okay, tayong dalawa lang ang mag-beach."

"Nope, we'll come," ani Hairo.

"I thought you're not interested in beach, Hairo?" nang-aasar na tanong ko kay Hairo.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "You got the wrong thought then," taas ang kilay na sabi niya.

I shrugged and smiled, "Maybe."

Napailing nalang siya at hindi na nagsalita pa.

"Unfair naman," biglang komento ni kuya James.

I raised an eyebrow, "Huh? Ano'ng unfair, kuya?"

"That," he said. I gave him a confused look. "Iyang bunganga mo, kako. Tawag mo sa amin ni Kino, kuya. Tapos sa kaniya," tinuro niya si Hairo. "Hairo lang, wala ng kuya. Hello? We're at the same age."

My lips formed an 'o' and eventually smirked. "I don't like calling him kuya. Hindi bagay," nakangiting sabi ko.

"Wow, amazing," puno ng sarkasmong sabi ni Hairo na kinatawa ko.

Tinignan ko siya at nanunudyong ngumiti. "Why? Do you want me to call you kuya?"

Tinignan niya ako at umiling. "No thanks," he said, shooking his head.

"Okay, then, I won't," i said, grinning. I lifted my gaze on kuya James. "Since ayaw mo namang tawagin kitang kuya, kuya James, what do you want me to call you, then?" I asked.

"Hmm," he said while thinking–– was he, tho? "Sandali, mag-search lang ako kay pareng google." He said then incontinently typed on his phone screen.

I shook my head. He did not think at all.

"Oh, I know, I know," nangingiting sabi ni kuya James at nakangising tinaas ang tingin sa akin. "There's this famous callsign from... was it from Marvin?" tanong niya sa kaniyang sarili. "Oh, whatever, basta 'bhie', iyon." He said, grinning. "Come on, Zai, call me bhie."