Stringless Guitar (Musicians Series 1)

Chapter 19: Sands and Sunscreens

AVRIL

I REPEATEDLY snapped my fingers out of boredom. Gusto ko sanang i-on 'yong TV para manood muna ng palabas habang naghihintay pero baka magising ang mga kapatid ko.

Sa huli, wala akong nagawa kundi panoorin na lamang ang nakita kong nag-aaway na mga butiki sa kisame.

What took them so long ba kasi? They are already late!

Akmang ite-text ko na sana si Hera pero nakarinig ako ng busina sa labas kaya't nagmadali akong tumayo at isinuot ang malaki kong backpack. Napatingin pa ako sa wall clock. It's already 4:05 AM. Kung may manok pa sana kami, kanina pa siguro 'yon tumilaok.

Ini-lock ko na lang muna ang pinto mula sa loob kasi tulog pa ang dalawa kong mga kapatid. Then I ran towards the gate.

The sun isn't visible yet but its early light was shining enough already. The cold breeze attempted to kiss my cheeks.

"Ano, tara na girl!" pagsalubong sa'kin ni Hera na para bang nagmamadali siya.

"Gaga, kayo nga 'tong late! Chill nga lang," sabi ko. Sabay na kaming pumasok ni Hera sa maliit na puting van. Sosyal pa ng service ah!

Nagtama ang tingin namin ni Andres pagkapasok ko. He was the one driving. "Good morning Avril," bati niya.

"Good morning," I greeted him back tsaka tumuloy na sa sasakyan.

Beside him, on the front passenger's seat was Kent. Hindi man lang nag-abalang lingunin ako. Pero mukhang tulog yata kasi nakadikit sa bintana 'yong mukha.

On the first row and left side of the backseat was Ben, who was already staring at me. Dahil dito naman na ako nakaapak, I had no choice but to sit beside him. "Good morning," he greeted.

"Morning," bati ko sabay lapag sa'king bag sa bandang paanan. He immediately adjusted his way of sitting para ma-insert ko 'yong bag ko malapit sa paa niya. Then I sat beside him.

Ramdam ko na agad ang kabang halos normal na lang sa'kin noong nakaupo na ako sa tabi ni Ben. I tried to get rid of it by averting my gaze to Hera who also sat beside me.

Ang aga-aga pa para lumandi, heart! Chill ka lang d'yan!

Hera locked the door then beamed at us. "Kompleto na tayo! Lezgo!"

With that, Andres immediately stepped on the accelerator dahilan para humarurot ang sasakyan. Naagaw ng mga maliliit na ingay mula sa'king likuran ang aking atensyon.

"What's at the back?" tanong ko kay Hera.

"Supplies girl," she answered. "Sa likuran natin, nandyan 'yong mga gamit habang sa trunk naman ng van nakalagay 'yong foods like karne and drinks."

Nangunot naman ang noo at bahagyang lumingon sa'king likuran. May salbabida, volleyball, badminton at marami pang iba. Kaya pala parang may nagsasalpukan dito sa likuran ko.

Unlike the rest of them who can tolerate small noises, I preferred to get and plug my earphones and listen to some tunes. Mas mabuti pang mag-relax muna. Malayo pa naman ang biyahe.

So what exactly are we up to? Noong nagkita-kita kasi kami sa Jollibee, nag-suggest si Kent na baka pwedeng mag-team building kami. Agad namang sumang-ayon si Andres ro'n. His aunt is a co-owner of the famous beach resort in the neighboring city.

Kaya thanks to Andres' wealthy family clan, we will be spending our 2-day weekend now there. Hindi nga lang raw kami makakalibre sa tutuluyan naming rooms at accommodations pero at least, discounted naman at free na rin kami sa entrance at sa usage of other facilities.