Flickers

Chapter 86

It was already the end of March and we find ourselves having a two-month vacation. In June, we will become grade 12 students, just one more year until we go and apply to the college we desired and enter the entrance exam.

Life's been pretty mild this past few days and today, my family along with Eric- yes my mother asked for Eric to come with us to our family reunion.

We would go swimming today at Villa De Castro where my friend, Alex, is just a few steps away from her home.

"Oh, you don't have to be so polite!" Mom says after seeing Eric take three tubs of Dan eric's ice cream, so ironic of his name.

(AN: Dan Eric is an ice cream brand known for its affordability products and are usually available in sari-sari stores, bakeries, mini groceries, restaurants, burger stands and stores near public markets and plazas)

"No tita, it's only right for me to do this" he then shows a sunny smile to my mother that shows his dimples.

"Oh, you silly boy!" My mother playfully slaps his arm and I tugged him off after seeing his quivering eyes after my brothers came and looking like they're about to target him again.

With the tubs of ice cream on his left hand, his right hand wasn't all lonely as well as he helped me take the adobo that my mother cooked yesterday night.

I have my backpack containing my clothes, shampoos, and towels as well as deodorant and soap. My brothers have their bags holding their necessities and were playing on the road making mom yelled at them to stop playing and focus on the road.

We arrived at the resort by riding the jeepney, settled the money, and washed with water inside the bathroom.

My little cousins immediately dived into the 2ft pool with their salbabida and goggles on. It was like they were fishes that finally returned to their home. Their mothers were there to supervise them and make sure they don't drown. The rest of the teenagers were already basking in the 4ft pool as well as the two of us while the other adults went on to arrange the food, utensils, plates, and plastic bottles.

(AN: Salbabida refers to the ring-shaped buoyant material used to rescue people at risk of drowning.)

"Ooh~ is that your boyfriend ange?" One of my tita asks and I find myself nodding with an awkward smile on my face.

"He looks like a good boy, huh!" The other says and in the corner of my eyes, I saw Eric's ear blushing beet red causing a light chuckle to come out of me.

"Eh~ you two are surely in love huh?" My tita teased and even let my mother know about their teasing prompting me to make an excuse and take Eric away from them.

We settled into the 6ft, the fourth and the fifth pool is connected and I sat onto the metal stairs.

"Wanna come down?"

"I don't want to!" I glared at him seeing the mischief in his eyes, I slap the water making him look like a wet cat. 

"Hey!" I burst into laughter seeing his miserable look and scream at the top of my lungs after being tugged in my foot.

"Eric! Don't! I'll drown you, big idiot!" I slap his back repeatedly until it reddens and that's the only time I stopped beating him.

"Sorry, I won't do it again"

"Hmph!" He dares, if he tries again I'll drown him with me.

The two of us easily reconciled after that, lunch came and the kids cried since they didn't want to go out of the water making the mothers have a headache.

"Here" Eric gave me a paper plate with a chicken thigh and a spaghetti on the side. He then pushed a plastic cup filled with coke and ice then placed a fork and spoon on my plate.

"Hey! You two couple! Stop acting so sweet!"

"Hahaha! You look like a devil Jhonrie!"

"Your four brothers look like they bit into a sour orange!"

I almost wanted to hide behind Eric's back but then caught his embarrassed look so I needed to act like this doesn't bother me at all.

Thankfully the children continued to clamor and had tantrums as they wanted to be in the pool and the two of us escaped.

"Come on, I'll teach you how to swim" Eric says, in case you're wondering yes I do not know how to swim, at all. I would probably die the moment our neighborhood floods so I think I needed to learn to swim now.

But I am still hesitating about it, the water reaches my chin and if I don't tiptoe, I would drown. He must have seen my aversion to it and gave me another reason why I should swim.

"You know that we would have to swim in grade 12 for our PE" he was right, ugh, why didn't I learn how to swim before!

"You better catch me! Don't let me drown!" I pointed at his nose and threatened him. "Or else I'll... I'll drown with you"

"Hey, drowning means the better the chances of you knowing how to swim!"

"I don't want to!" I yelled and slapped his back while glaring at him hatefully.

A few hours passed and I find my stomach bulging from the amount of pool water that I accidentally frank from attempting to learn how to swim. I wanted to vomit it out so badly and decided to just screw this plan of my learning, it seems like I'm just drowning at this point!

"I'm done! I don't want - uwarghhh" I walked as fast as I can underwater after burping so loud in front of him and decided I won't do this thing again.

It was already afternoon when we rose into the water, after coaxing back the children we all showered and are ready to return home. My body aches so much and when I look at the steep path in front of me I find myself groaning out loud. 

"I'll push you" It was Eric behind me and I didn't even have the chance to respond when he pushed me up till we reached the top.

I was about to thank him when he suddenly whispered something in my ears that made me glared at him with red cheeks.

"Don't worry ange, you're still cute to my eyes even with that burp"

***
Chapter 86 is up!

Have a great day everyone and stays safe!

Make sure to VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.

Thank you!