[ONGOING] NOT JUST PENELOPE

50: I'm Here

ZACH

Thankfully, Penelope changed her clothes or else, we'll have everyone's eyes on us. She opted for a pastel pink floral dress. 

Pink is really her color. It looks perfect on her.

Also, I'm glad she chose to wear her glasses. Isn't wearing eye contacts irritating? Also, she look better in it any way.

Not that I have a say on what she can or cannot wear.

As expected, Penelope seem very amused by everything she is seeing right now. She told me earlier that this is her first barrio fiesta.

I can't blame her for the amusement. I've been to a lot of barrio fiestas before but every year, it still amazes me how people can gather together to eat and have fun and make the place feel so special, warm and alive.

There are some couples preparing floating lanterns together, kids happily running around and chasing each other, the mouth-watering smell of food and the screams of people in the carnival rides make the place so inviting.

There are lots of people here, that even though we arrived a few minutes ago, I haven't seen my Aunt and my cousins, but they could just be nearby.

Penelope and I just finished joining a parade. I usually just watch parades, but Penelope insisted to join. 

I had no choice.

For someone who hates walking, she sure enjoyed the parade a lot. Every minute, I probably had to stop a few times to take her photos for her Instagram, even though there's barely any signal here in the province. I'm not sure how she'll be able to post that.

Again, I had no choice.

But I never complained because she looks genuinely happy.

We also danced with the other locals earlier -some I am familiar of and some I've never met before, but in our province, everyone is family.

We also had a boodle fight where everyone gathered in a table to eat with bare heads.

I can still remember Penelope's reaction from earlier.

"Hey, Zach?" Penelope whispered, "When are they going to distribute the utensils? I'm hungry."

I tried to stopped myself from laughing and be reminded that this girl lives a very different life than I do. "This is boodle fight, Penelope. You eat with your bare hands."

She frowned, "How am I supposed to eat properly?"

I took a plastic to wrap my hands and demonstrated to her how to scoop some rice using my right hand.

I can't paint the look on her face right now.

"You're not kidding, right?" She still can't believe it.

Just then, a grandma signaled us to start the feast and everyone at the long table started eating with their bare hands.

Penelope looked at them with full of concern in her eyes.

"Is this safe?"

"Try it." I insisted. "Food actually tastes better like this."

"Well, whatever I guess? You only live once anyway."

Then she started to use her hand wrapped in a plastic to get pick up some food. At first, she was really very uncomfortable, but once she got the hang of it, she seems to start enjoying her food now.

"Oh my God! These spring rolls taste amazing!" she said in delight, but all I did was frown.

"What spring rolls are you talking about?"