The Future I See With You

Chapter 5

"Laki naman ng trench coat mo?!"



I made a face at Kean and mocked his words as I walked towards him at the baggage counter. First trip namin this summer is Korea! First time namin doon ngayon at excited na excited na ako, punong puno ng pang lamig at bagong damit ang bagahe ko. Inabot ko yon kay Kean paglapit sa kanya.


"Si dad?" Tukoy niya sa tatay ko.


"Parking. Si papa?" Tukoy ko naman sa tatay niya.


"Parking."


"Ah." Smoking. Alam na namin yang galawan nila daddy. Pinagbabawal namin kaya magtatago na lang.


Si mommy at sina tita na ang bahala sa pagcheck-in ng aming mga bagahe. Pagkatapos namin ay nakapasok na rin sa security check at sa Immigration kasama sila daddy. Kumain muna kami ng breakfast bago tumungo sa aming gate. Fast food lang rin ang kinain namin dahil hindi naman kami mga sanay mag breakfast.


Korea, here we come!


Pagkalift off at nung stable na yung plane ay natulog na lang ako sa balikat ni Kean habang siya naman ay may pinapanood na kung ano. It was a 4 - hour flight and I slept for more than half of it, ang aga aga pa naman kasi! It's just 6 in the morning!


Before we descended, I had to immediately bring out my camera as I already saw the beautiful city of Korea. The high buildings and the vast green pastures. Then there was the division of South and North. It looked so cool! Pero nakakatakot!


We landed, went through security procedures then claimed our baggage. Ang dami na agad guwapo, hala! Time to find my own Korean! Char.


Pagkalabas namin ng airport ramdam agad ang lamig ng simoy ng hanggin. It wasn't as cold as their winter, it was I guess as cold as Baguio on a late night December evening. Malamig na para sa amin ito, lalo na at hindi sanay sa ganitong panahon.


"Bub? Are you still cold?" I faced him and his expression turned to shock immediately. "Your lips ..." I instinctively touched and licked them. "They're turning purple, pasok ka muna, painit ka muna. Sabi ko na nga ba, mangyayari sayo 'to eh." He scratched the back of his neck, frustrated.


"Hug na lang." I pouted at him wanting to feel the cold even if it wasn't good for me. He opened his bubble jacket and I went in to give him a hug. Naramdaman ko kaagad ang init ng katawan niya.


"Tito, pasok ko muna si Reign. Purple na lips niya eh." Pagpapaalam ni Kean sa tatay ko.


"Sige lang Tim, tawagin na lang namin kayo pag may bus na." Nagtanguan lang sila at iginiya na ako ni Kean papasok ulit ng airport.


"Bilhan kita ng hot choco gusto mo? Labi mo lang ba malamig o buong katawan mo? Hindi ka ba naninigas?" Sunod sunod na tanong sa akin ni Kean. Eto naman, kala mo papatayin ako ng lamig! Hindi lamig ang papatay sa'kin!


"Wala ba silang Milo dito?" I pouted at him. He scoffed at me.


"Pupuntang ibang bansa pero Milo lang rin ang hanap?" He shook his head at me and chuckled. "Mamaya na sa hotel, may dala si mama na Milo para sa atin." My eyes lit up. "Pero ngayon need mo ng mainit na drink. I'll buy hot choco stay here." Iniwan na niya ako sa may mga upuan bago pa ako makatango sa kanya.


Pagbalik niya tinawag na rin kami ni daddy dahil may bus na daw. Doon ko na lang iinumin sa loob. The boys loaded the bus and I just went right in, sa may harap at window ako naupo dahil gusto ko makita ang daan namin. I waited for Kean to sit beside me so that he can help me drink my hot choco. Medyo nanigas na rin kasi kamay ko, wala na akong maramdaman.


"Can you increase the heater sir?" Tanong ni daddy sa bus driver dahil nakita niya ang pagkaputla ko sa lamig. Tumango naman ang driver at naupo na si daddy sa tabi ni mommy.


"Buti na lang hindi tayo pasko pumunta dito, kung 'di baka sobra na yan manigas sa lamig. Di na makakapag ikot ikot yan, ma ospital pa dito. Hay anak talaga."


If you haven't figured it out, I'm a sickly child. Sort of, I used to have a heart disease that was healed already but it affects my stamina, tolerance, and immune system up until now. They said if I wasn't careful enough, it may even come back.


But that's not my only sickness.


The bus ride lasted for about 30 minutes, the hotel was in the city, the airport was far from that. But I enjoyed the view and the warmth inside. The sun was still rising kaya malamig pa talaga, siguro sa hapon mainit init na. The trees looked so beautiful as we passed them by, the roads and streets were peaceful, no dirty polluted air, no noisy traffic jams, just a chill morning, unlike in the Philippines.


Pagdating sa hotel nag check in sila mommy. Pagakyat namin nahiga agad ako dahil pagod pa. Tinaasan na rin nila ang init nong kuwarto para sa akin.


Maya maya nagaya na sila para kumain kami at mag ikot ikot na. Ngunit hindi ko pa kayang lumabas ulit kaya pinabili na lang si Kean ng pagkain namin sa convenience store at doon kami sa kuwarto kumain. Ayaw daw niya sumama kung hindi ako kasama. Psh, clingy boi.


After we ate, nahiga kami sa kama at nanood lang ng kung ano. Sila mommy tawag ng tawag para siguraduhing maayos kami. Nagiwan naman sila ng pera in case daw.


"Sino ka chat mo?" Tanong ko kay Kean na iniiwas ang phone niya sa akin. 'Di naman siya ganyan dati ah. Wala naman akong pake kung sino yan, 'bat may pagtago?


"Ah wala, friend." Tanging sabi nya at natawa ulit ng malakas. Kanina pa siya natatawa e nakakaiyak yung pinanonood namin? Tama ba yon?!


"Hmm, oki." I didn't budge anymore, sasabihin niya rin sakin yan in his own time, whatever that is... or whoever that is. I just diverted my attention back to the movie.


Chill day lang naman talaga namin ngayon, para lahat kami makaadjust ganon. They brought home food for our dinner and afterwards we prepared for the next day.



"Bangon na! We're going to Petit France!" Bungad sa akin ni mommy para magising na ako agad.


Nagkita kami ni Kean sa convenience store para sa umagahan. Mamaya na daw ang masasarap na Korean meals na lagi namin nakikita sa Kdrama. Hinintay namin doon sa store sila mommy, Matt at mga tita at tito namin.


If I haven't mentioned it, we travel in big groups. There's my family, apat kami. There's Kean and his parents, only child lang kasi siya. At may isa pa kaming tita na best friend ng moms namin at tito na boyfriend nito. Kulang pa nga kami kung tutuusin, pero hindi na madalas sumasama yung ibang barkada nila mommy, kaya pati mga anak nila hindi namin ganoon ka close ni Kean. It's fine, we're okay with just the two of us.


"Welcome to Petit France!"


Ako'y agad na nabighani sa lugar na pumapaligid sa akin dahil katulad nito yung nasa libro! It's so cute and colorful and just so warm and pleasing to the eyes. Very aesthetics, very Instagram-able. Pagpasok sa entrance makikita mo agad ang lahat ng mini houses doon. Mayroon ring mini amphitheater that they said were for some plays and events they sometimes hold here. They sold food in some of the mini houses and had a lot of picnic benches in one of the landings. There was one house that was popularly entered and there's a bell that you would ring. I don't know it's purpose but it's fun I guess. Everything in this place fit the book it was created after, The Little Prince.


"Bub, picture!" Binigay ko kay Kean yung phone ko para kuhanan niya ako, nasa tapat ko siya ngayon, nakaupo kami sa bench sa may labas, kita yung gubat. I heard the clicks, many of them so I just kept moving.


"Lingon don. Turo naman. Tingin sakin. Tawa. Kainin mo 'to, o kaya hawakan mo lang. Yung hood mo. O, eto shades." He directed my photos. Ang dami naman! Di ko rin naman gagamitin lahat ng iyan!


"Tama na, ikaw naman, akin na. " He was still shooting me when I was trying to reach for my phone. Binitawan lang niya nung hinila ko na talaga sa kanya.


"Smile. Serious. Shades. Hawak sa hair. Lingon dito. Kunware may nakita kang maganda doon. Hold your face." Ako naman ang nag direct ng mga photos niya. Mas madami at mas maayos ang sa kanya dahil ako ang kumukuha, ineedit ko pa kasi yung settings. Pag sa akin naman shoot lang siya ng shoot, ako na daw bahala mag edit, hay! Madaya!


We had lunch after going around some more and having pictures rin with our parents. Of course gusto naman nila na may group pictures kami. It was at a small restaurant, but apparently it was a known one. Ang dami kasing tao.


"Check niyo na yung menu." My dad passed out the menus to us as we sat down to a very long table. Tinuro ko lang yung samgyup at may dinagdag rin akong soup. Sila mommy na bahala sa iba pang exotic Korean food na hindi ko naman alam ang pangalan.


Dumiretso na rin kami sa subway station na patungo sa Namsan Tower. Nagikot ikot rin kami doon dahil ang daming pamilihan rin.


The train was so sanitized and hygienic! The Philippines could never!


When we got to the stop, I was trilled! I was so excited to see the tower and the locks and take multiple pictures everywhere!


"Hala ang layo pa!" When we got out we realized meron pang mataas na daan na tatahakin. It was not yet the stairs part, it was still the road, it was an uphill, very steep up hill.


When we got up to the top we were so exhausted we rested a bit on the benches before roaming around the shops.


"Bub! Ang cute nung lock oh!" May tinuro akong pastle blue na lock kay Kean. Kinuha naman niya ito at tinignan ng mabuti. "Let's get that one!" I said excitedly.


"Sige, g!" Tumango tango siya at humingi ng pera sa kanila mommy. Halos lahat kami may plano na maglagay ng lock. Our parents of course will put theirs, then the two of us naman. Friendship love lock. Kapatid ko lang ang wala, duh.


We took photos with the locks and of course I had to put us locking the lock in my IG story. "Now our friendship has to last forever." Rinig ang sinabi ko kay Kean sa story ko.


"Sealed until the end of our time." Sabi naman niya na may kasabay na ngiti sa camera.


After the locks we went up to the tower mismo. Padilim na kaya maganda na doon kami sa overlooking makaabot ng sunset. Maganda rin makita ang city lights from up that view. There was first a photo op at the entrance of the tower. Nakakatawa kaming tignan dahil ang dami namin, siksikan kami.


There was a souvenir shop at the top of the tower too kaya nag iikot ikot sila mommy at titas doon. Yung kapatid ko kung saan saan na nag experiment. May mga rooms and simple games rin kasi sila.


Sila daddy at mga tito nahiga doon sa viewing platform. Closed naman yung viewing kaya pwede sila matulog doon. Inantok siguro sa dami ng bitbit nila at sa kakaikot ikot nila mommy kanina. Tinawanan ko lang sila at kinunan ng litrato. Memories, hehe.


As the sun set, Kean sat beside me on the viewing platform and I let my head fall on his shoulders. He took my hand and caressed it softly. Napahinga ako ng maluwag dahil sa presensya niya. Because in every opportunity we get, we experience the sunrise and sunset together. He promised that to me before. That even if the position of the universal entities are not constant, we will be that constant to each other. Until the end of our time.


I saw him took a photo of the view and then he set my camera down to take a time lapse of the sky. I felt him tense up a bit looking at his phone, then he breathed out deeply and kissed the top of my head. Wala siyang sinabi nung tinignan ko siya dahil nararamdaman kong may bumabagabag talaga sa kanya. He just smiled sweetly at me as we waited for the darkness of the night overcome the city skyline.


Pagbaba namin sa tower ay kumain na rin kami ng dinner doon. Sila mommy ulit ang bahala. Tagalamon lang ako dito.


Pagkatapos ay bumalik na rin kami sa hotel para magpahinga. Mom fixed a bit of the souvenirs pa though, may listahan kasi yan.



"Wakey wakey! It's Nami Island day!"


Like yesterday pagkaayos diretso na ako pumuntang convenience store to buy breakfast. Kinailangan rin namin ng madaming snacks dahil mahaba ang biyahe papunta sa dock ng yacht na magdadala sa amin sa Nami Island.


We booked a tour for Nami Island dahil tourists lang naman kami dito malay ba namin paano bumili ng ticket at sumakay ng bangka dito.


The bus left around 5 am and we got to the Island around 8 am. It was that long of a trip. At dahil ang aga aga, mas maaga pa kami kaysa kahapon, mas malamig. And they said it was even colder on the island because of all the trees and not much establishments. Maroon pa doon na parteng may machine na bumubuga ng snow.


It was such a beautiful island though, despite the cold and the inability to walk, I froze because I was admiring the beauty not because of the temperature my body was in.


"Bub you're freezing!" Gulat na sabi ni Kean paglapit niya sa akin.


Okay it was also the weather. Pero ganyan talaga katawan ko, wala akong magagawa.


"I'm okay, bub." I smiled at him, or well, I tried to. My lips were quivering so much. That just made him worry some more.


"Anong okay? Nanginginig na labi mo oh!" He exclaimed. I touched my lips pero binaba niya kamay ko so that it was his hands that were stopping my quivering lips. Parang kidnapper siya sa ginagawa niya sakin.


"Kean!" I slapped his hand a bit kasi ang higpit ng hawak niya di ako makagalaw, mga mata kasi niya ay nag lilibot hinahanap sila daddy kaya hindi mabigay buong attention sa pag alaga sa akin.


"Pasok muna tayo please. Maghilamos ka ng mainit na tubig sa banyo so that your lips will be less numb and purple." Tinignan niya ako ng matalim dahil nakakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "Please?"He pleaded again. Gusto ko na magikot at magbike dito ano ba yan! He's too much, I'm not dying gosh!


"Fine pero bike tayo after." Nagsukatan kami ng tinginan but he just let me be and nodded once. Pumasok ako at tulad ng sabi niya I got hot water to bring my body temperature higher.


"Ang lamig oh myyy!!" Sigaw ko habang naghahabulan kami gamit ang mga bisikletang nirentahan dito sa isla. Sila mommy nasa mga shops at cafe nag iikot rin. Mas madali kaming nakakapunta sa mga photoshoot spots dahil sa bikes.


"Here! Maganda yung lighting oh!" Turo niya sa wooden bridge sa harap ng isang triangular building. He made me pose and took shots out of my phone and camera.


"You dali!" I made him switch with me para may picture rin siya.


"You're shaking again!" He exclaimed when I was trying to take pictures of him.


"I'm okay tumingin ka na lang." Nilibot ko mata ko at nakakita ako ng staff.


"Jeogiyo eonni, could you take pictures of me and my friend, juseyo." I smiled at the lady near us who looked like she was in her twenties. I tried speaking the bit of Korean I know. Excuse me ate at please lang naman yon.


She just nodded and approached me. I gave her my phone tapos tumabi na ako kay Kean.


"Smile! Hana, Dul, Ses!" She counted as she clicked on my phone. Siguro mga 5 seconds kaming nakangiti tapos pinapalit niya kami ng pose.


She was demonstrating how she wanted us to pose. It was so cute because despite the language barrier she tried to take nice pictures of us. She would even crouch down to get a low angle. We laughed a lot in the pictures. Ang galing! We looked natural! Not like our usual awk ish pictures na sila mommy ang kumukuha.


Kalaunan hinanap na rin kami nila mommy para daw sa lunch. Ang dami na naman naming pagkain! Para kaming mga patay gutom sa kakakain namin. Tapos simot na simot pa kala mo hindi kumakain sa Pilipinas.


We biked some more around and sometimes we would stop so that I could splash some warm water on my face para hindi ako manigas ng manigas dito. Lamig na lamig na ako ngunit ayoko pang umalis.


Before the sun could set we left the island dahil hindi daw pwede na madilim kami bumalik.


Our bus picked us up and we went back to the hotel. Agad kaming nagpahinga dahil sa pagod na naman ng paglalakad at pag iikot buong araw.


Amusement park na ang pupuntahan namin bukas, kailangan talaga namin ang pahinga.


"Ate wake up na!" Lagi na lang maaga nanay ko gumising ah! Nakakapanibago! Hindi naman siya ganito sa Pinas, dito na lang kaya kami?


Today we were gonna go to Everland, one of the well know theme parks here in Korea. May sumundo sa amin na bus from the theme park, may entrance ticket na ring kasama yon. Humigit kumulang tatlumpung minuto yung biyahe namin. When we got there I was immediately astonished at the view. There was a grand arc gate as the entrance, it was white and gold.


Pagpasok namin dumiretso kami sa isang buidling dahil nilalamig na naman ako. May mga souvenir agad doon na maaring bilhin ngunit magiikot ikot daw muna kami, maybe we might find other things better to buy than these. There were a lot of instagram - able places there, may isang puno sa may gitna na sinabi nilang nag babago bago depende sa season. It was a fake tree but it was so beautiful. May pasukan pa doon sa truck niya.


"Reign Elysha, may parang ferris wheel doon, tara!" Pagtawag sa akin ni Kean.


"Reign Elysha amp! Galit ka ba ha! You only call me that when you're mad or something." I rolled my eyes at him and followed suit.


Nung naroon na kami sa may taas nung ride nabighani ako sa ganda nung lugar. His arm was wrapped around my shoulder to add warmth to my body. Mas malamig rin dito sa taas dahil sa hangin.


May theater show rin sila dito, hindi namin naintindihan dahil Korean halos lahat ng dialogue nila pero naenjoy pa rin namin! It was still interesting to watch. Bihira yung paggamit nila ng English. Sa gabi pa daw kasi ang shows nila na full English ang gamit na wika.


We had our delicious meals there as well. We spent the whole day there. It was like a Disneyland but Korean version. Mayroon din silang parade at fireworks sa gabi ngunit kinailangan na namin magpahinga kaya simula lang ng parade ang naabutan namin.


Umuwi na rin kami after that, we need all the rest that we can get. Bukas susulitin namin ang araw dahil huli na namin.



"It's shopping day!" Ako naman ngayon ang pinakamaaga gumising dahil sa excitement ng araw na ito. Minsan lang ako pagbilhan nila mommy ng mga damit at mga sapatos, kaya susulitin ko ngayong araw.


We went to Meyongdong Market first, it is what they call the prime shopping districts. Madami dito ang mga local and international brands of clothes shoes and bags. May mga nakapalibot rin na street food vendors, yun ang inaabangan nila daddy and Kean.


My mom bought me a lot of skin care and make up products. Minsan lang naman daw ako magpaarte ng ganoon edi sulitin ko na ang pagbili sa mga Korean products.


After that pumunta kami sa Dongdaemun Market, ito naman ang largest wholesale and retail shopping districts. Mayroon rin silang kilalang alley called, Mukja Golmok, it is dedicated to Korean street food and snacks.


"Keaaan!" Sigaw ko sa kaibigan na hindi ko na mahanap. "Asan ka ang cute nitong hoodie dali!" Nagikot ako sa store pero wala siya. "Kean Timothy, ampocha asan ka na!" I turned my data on and facetimed him.


"Where are you?" Sabay pa kami ng tanong pagkasagot niya sa tawag ko. "I asked you first! No me! Hoy!" Para kaming aso't pusang nag aaway dito.


"I'm in the men's section sa taas, third floor not where you are may iba pang men's section here." Sinagot na lang niya yung tanong ko at agad akong naglakad papunta sa elevator. Pagkakita ko sa kanya binaba ko na ang tawag at pinakita ang dalawang corduroy grey hoodies, malambot sa loob yon, magkaiba ang texture kaysa sa labas.


"I like it!" Tara let's get it. Bagay siya with these shorts." May pinakita naman siya sa akin na lounge shorts na medyo skintone color. I nodded and we went to our moms.


Para talaga kaming twin siblings na batang nagmamatching outfits pa rin. Pero mostly pullovers or sweats lang naman iyon, para daw magamit sa school and hindi gaano kahalata. Subtle matching ganon.


We didn't have any proper meals for the whole day, not until we were finished shopping at our last stop which was Hongdae. This place is known for its youthful ambience, underground cultures, and freedom of self-expression. Ang madalas na nag iikot dito ay ang mga kabataan at estudyante sa malapit na university to unwind in the district's many cafes, art galleries, fashion outlets, live music bars and clubs. 


Ang dami naming kung ano anong mga pinamili, we needed to buy extra suit cases because of them. Puro damit at sapatos ang akin.


Hinanapan ko naman ng mga Kpop products and merch mga kaibigan kong adik na adik sa Kpop. Ultimo standy parang gusto nila ipauwi sa akin eh. Pero puro make up, albums, and cds lang ang binili ko sa kanila. Oh, and they will pay for these, supplier lang ako, noh!


Sa malapit na fast food lang kami kumain ng hapunan dahil nabusog rin naman kami sa dami ng street food na binili habang nag shoshopping kanina. And it was kinda late, umaga na nga ata e.


The next day we were going home. Gumising kami ng maaga para makapag impake pa ng mga natirang gamit. Suot na namin ni Kean yung isang pullover na binili namin from the market. We looked so cute we have to take Insta pics later!


Tangghali yung flight namin, sakto at doon kami sa eroplano kumain ng lunch. I slept the rest of the trip home while Kean was checking all the footage in my camera, gusto daw niya iedit iyon, but between the two of us ako ang mas inclined sa mga edit edit na ganyan!



Paguwi ko hinanap agad ako ng mga kaibigan ko. Gusto talaga nilang sulitin yung one month ng summer namin dahil next month ay start na kami sa review center.


"Bestie where's my merch?" Bungad sa akin ni Taryn pagpasok ko sa condo ni Addie. We were going on a road trip at sabay sabay na kami kaya dito kami sa condo mag kikita kita.


"Langya, wala man lang 'welcome home! I missed you!' Merch talaga agad?" I rolled my eyes at her as I roll in my mini luggage.


"Welcome home bestie! I missed you! Now, where's my bebes?" Tumayo pa siya sa sofa para salubungin ako with her hands stretched  out to me ready to receive her kpop merch.


"Oh." I rolled my eyes again and handed her my back pack filled with my pasalubong sa barkada namin. Addie came to me naman to give me a hug. Buti pa siya!


"Welcome home! Wala ba akong chix jan?" He winked at me at his last statement. Eto babae talaga ang hanap hay.


"Wala! Dito nga sa Pilipinas di mo kaya magseryoso, yung taga ibang bansa pa kaya? And your English can't take that, bobo ka pa naman don." Padabog akong umupo sa sofa habang hinihintay yung iba. I mocked him at my last statement.


"Luh makabobo naman toh! Fine whatever." He let it slide, alam ko naman di seryoso yung tanong niya. He went to the kitchen para ipasok sa ref yung chocolates and other sweets na pasalubong ko sa kanya. May pagkahilig rin kasi yan sa matamis. Di halata though, he looks like he lives on meat and salad.


Pagkarating nung iba ay sumakay na kami sa van na hiniram ni Addie sa tatay niya. Family van nila yon, pang road trips ganon kaya sakto lang na kami ang gumamit. Bataan ang destination namin ngayon at may nahanap si Klare na maganda, private at simple rest house para sa amin. Her family has connections, sa tito ata niya ito o sa kaibigan nung tito niya.


"First kada vaca woooh!"


Nagsalitan si Addison at Xian sa pagmamaneho, sila pa lang rin kasi ang may lisensya na. Si Dianne meron na rin pero ayaw nila ipagmaneho. Saul is the youngest sa amin right after Klare kaya sila ang kahit magpaturo hindi pa nagagawa. Ryn, Quin, and I are in the process of learning already though para daw hindi lang ang dalawnag boys ang nag ddrive para sa amin.


Kung sumama si Kean dapat sa Bicol kami patungo ngayon dahil mas may tiwala magulang ko pag ganon at mas madaming mag papalitan sa pag mamaneho. 15 hour drive kaya yon! Kailangan pa ni Xian and Addie ng ka switch.


But he had plans daw kaya hindi siya nakasama. He didn't say in detail, I don't even know why he's keeping it from me. Pero hinayaan ko na lang siya. Buhay niya yan.


"Kuys stop over muna! My bladder, di na kaya!" Pagpipilit ni Klare kay Addie nung natanaw ang malapit na malaking gas station sa highway. Tumango lamang ito.


We bought food there too because hindi daw sapat yung pasalubong ko sa kanila. Luh, mga takam talaga!


Pagdating namin ay nag settle down lang kami sa rooms namin. Tatlo yon. Ryn and I shared the room with a queen sized bed. It was the smallest pero okay na rin sa amin, sanay na kami magtabi sa isang kama lalo na't lagi natutulog sa condo.


Dianne, Quin and Klare shared the masters bedroom that had a king sized bed, kung hindi daw sila kasya mag dadagdag ng pull out.


Ang boys naman ay doon sa kuwartong may dalawang twin sized bed at may mattress pa na ilalapag. Ayaw daw nila mag tabi tabi, edi sige bahala sila ang aarte! May sarisariling banyo na rin ang mga kuwarto.


We got ready for the beach immediately dahil ramdam na namin ang simoy ng hangging dagat. The rest house was near the shoreline so it was perfect! Walking distance lang ang beach!


"Hey group pic muna!" Sigaw ni Dia nung nakita niya na patakbo na yung boys sa tubig handa ng maligo. I heard the frustrated groans and like zombies they walked over to us na kanina pa kumukuha ng mga litrato.


"Dali na! You see the line where the sky meets the see? It calls me!" Pasalitang sabi ni Xian na may exaggeration. Parang bata talaga! Lakas maka quote ng Moana!


"Shunga! Smileeee!" Binatukan muna ni Klare si Xian bago kami umayos na akala mo'y hindi nag pipikunan kanina lang.


We spent the whole day on the sand and the water just chilling and teasing each other with whatever. Umahon kami sandali para sa tanghalian pero bumalik rin agad. After sunset nagayos na kami for dinner and our chillnuman after.


Hindi pa kami ligo dahil may pool doon sa rest house na pwede gamitin kahit gabi. Doon namin sisimulan ang inuman. Magsasawa kami sa tubig nito.


"Hoy ang sarap nung shrimp! Hindi ganito kung ako ang nagluto! Gosh!"


Ryn was right. It was heavenly! Mayroon ring crab at fish na nakahanda. Lahat yon ay tinikman naming lahat. It was so delicious!


We cleaned up the dinner area and transferred to the pool area. Nauna na lumublob yung boys. Si Tar at Dia ang nag handa ng alcohol namin. Nilapit nila yung cooler sa pool para abot kamay na lang namin. Sila na rin daw ang mag mimix.


Sa grupo kasi sila ang pinaka may alam sa paginom. Right after Addie though. Literally, no one can top him, isa siya sa mga malalakas uminom sa batch namin, apparently. Yang tatlo ang madadalas makikita sa street bars, especially Pop Up, yung sa tapat ng Ateneo. Si Xian sumasama pero hindi yan malakas sa inuman, driver nila yan. I've only started coming with them start of summer, kaya nung nasa Korea ako medyo kinaya ko na sumabay sa inuman nila daddy and Kean.


"Oh sinong Soju? Sinong San Mig?" Tanong agad ni Dianne.


"Reign and Addison, Soju na yan. Lagyan mo lang isang yakult sa loob tas tig isa na sila ng bote." Sagot naman ni Ryn, she knows Addie's routine na and ako naman siya ang bahala sa iinumin ko. Wala naman talaga ako alam jan.


"Xi, Saul, San Mig niyo oh." Bigay naman ni Dianne at nag unahan pa yung dalawa makalapit dahil nasa kabilang dulo sila ng pool.


"Klare, ano sayo? Wala munang gin! Ikaw bata ka, tirador ng gin hay nako!" Sinita ni Ryn si Klare nung nakitang ay hinahalungkat sa ibang cooler. She's younger than me but her tolerance is waaay higher. Pinayagan na kasi ng magulang basta sa bahay lang siya. O kaya gantong outing na safe naman siya.


Yung dalawa ayaw pa mag simula. Nag hanap sila ng movie na mapapanood namin at inurong yung TV para kita namin mula sa pool. May nagawa pa kaming game doon sa movie at sa alak.


Nakakatatlong bote na ako ng soju pero hindi gaano kalakas ang tama dahil inuunti unti ko at lumalangoy ako. Yung iba mas madami pa sa akin at iba iba na ang nainom. Si Addie wala pang tama pero yung dalawang boys mas lumala na yung pikunan. Si Klare nakikiingay na rin sa kanila. Buti na lang wala kaming malapit na katabing bahay, baka mag sumbong.


About 1 in the morning my phone was ringing and without looking at the caller ID I answered it.


"Hmmm?"


"Are you okay?" Bungad sa akin ng boses na handa na matulog.


"Huh?"


"I've been texting you, hindi ka nag reply sa kahit isa. Are you okay?"


I checked the caller.


Ah, si Kean lang pala.


"Yeah, im goods, nakainom lang." Sagot ko habang nilulutang lutang pa rin ang katawan sa tubig.


"How many? Of what?"


"Uhm, five? Bottles ata of uhm, Soju lang." Sagot ko inaantok na ngayon.


"Five?!" He exclaimed. "That's a lot bub, tumataas na tolerance mo ha. Yung puso mo okay pa ba? Drink water before you go to bed. Maligo ka rin babaho ka niyan. And brush your teeth."


Ang daming utos. Is he my boyfriend or something? Ang pa fall talaga ng best friend ko hay. Sila mommy nga hinayaan lang ako.


"Mhmmm." Yun lang sinabi ko pumipikit na ang mata sa tubig. "Sige, sleep na you bub, mag babanlaw pa 'ko. Gawin 'ko what you say." Sabog na pananalita ko.


"Banlaw? Are you in the pool pa?" Nag aalala na naman. Ano ba! Nakakadagdag pa sa antok ko yung lalim ng boses niya. Para akong hinehele.


"Mhmm." Sagot ko ulit umaahon na. "Can you stay sa call ba. Kaantok voice mo ih, make patulog me after I make ligo please."


"Uhm.." He trailed off.


"Please, just make random kuwento until di na me sumasagot. Wait lang eto na im making pasok sa shower na."


"Yung phone mo hoy!" Nawala na yung antok na narinig ko sa boses niya kanina dahil sa dami ng inaalala.


"Ilalabas ko, chill."


That night I did sleep peacefully beside Taryn, I dozed of two sentences into Kean's story. I don't even remember what it was about. Ang sarap talaga matulog ng may alak sa katawan. I feel all warm and fuzzy.