Before you go

Chapter 1

"Lili!" Napalingon ako kay Anthony Peterson, Agad akong tumigil sa pag lalakad para masabayan niya ako.

"Bakit ang aga mo umalis? May lakad ka ba?" Tanong niya na hinihingal pa.

Tumawa muna ako at inabot ang panyo ko sakaniya, "Eto," Nagtagal ang tingin niya sa inaabot kong panyo, hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang trip nya at ngayon pa siya tumagal eh halos tumulo na sa sahig ang pawis niya.

"May papanoodin kasi ako, Alam mo na!" Napangiti ako habang inaalala ang korean drama na sinusubaybayan ko sa internet! Pinag masdan ko siyang punasan ang pawis sa kanyang Noo.

Tumango naman siya sa sinabi ko, "Sige na! Mauuna na ako." Umamba siyang isusuli sakin ang panyo, "Labhan mo muna, Tony!" Tumawa pa 'ko. Mukhang na gets niya naman ang sinabi ko.

Sabado nang umaga ay bumaba ako dahil na pag kasunduan namin na magkikita kami ngayon para sa isang site. 4th year college na kami, kelangan na namin maghanap ng firm o site para sa ojt namin next sem.

"Mainit!" Sigaw ko nang hatakin ako ni sam sa matayog at maaraw na lugar. Kinuha niya ang pamaypay sa kanyang bag at dali daling inabot sakin iyon.

"Oh! Kunin mo na!" Sigaw niya. Agad kong kinuha ang pamaypay sa kamay niya. "Oh, Ayon na pala sila eh!" Masaya akong kumayaw dahil, finally! Masisimulan na namin ang pag inspect.

Anthony, Jacob, and Miguel were there standing in the waiting shed. They are all wearing their expensive sunglasses! They need to stop showing their things! Dapat ay maaga sila dito.

"Hoy, Boys! Wag na kayo mag pa-cute diyan!" Sigaw ni samantha sa gilid ko. Agad namang bumasangot ang mga lalaki.

Agad namin silang pinuntahan kung asan man sila, muntik pa akong masubsub sa isang bato pero buti nalang andon si tony. "Careful, Miss Ma'am!" Ngiti pa nito. Inirapan ko lang siya dahilan ng pag halakhak niya.

We decided to finally start our work. Anthony and Miguel started to talk to the foreman first. Habang ako, jacob at sam naman ay inaantay sila.

Jacob handed us the take out sandwich that he brought us. I accepted it at agad linantakan ang pag kain. Samantha on the other hand started to take pictures of the food before digging in.

"Lagi ka nalang kamo ganyan, Samatha Jane Pascual!" Natatawang pinansin ni jacob ang ginagawa ni sam, agad namang napikon si sam kaya tinigilan ang pag pi-picture.

When the two boys came back, we started to inspect the site. We took down notes if ever. We're so lucky that we are able to choose our groupmates. I was able to be with my friends.

"Pano! Kita kita na lang sa lunes?" Miguel asked as he yawned. I throw him my handkerchief natawa naman siya.

"I think we should rest tomorrow. I'm so tired!" Sam on the other hand looked really sleepy. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Anthony sa sinabi niya. "Talaga sam? Eh nag pa pa-cute ka nga lang sa site eh!" Agad na pinagtatawanan ang mga lalaki. I just shook my head.

"San ka sasakay, Lil?" Sam asked me when we started going to the parking lot. "I think kay tony nalang." she just nodded. When reached the parking lot, she showed how tense she was, para bang may naiisip.

"What do you think of An-" what she's gonna ask me was cutted off my jacob. "Huh? Of whom?" I asked again. But Jacob was the one who answered me instead. "Andrea, Liligawan ko kasi. Ikaw naman selos ka agad!" Sabi ni jacob sabay tingin kay samantha.

"She's nice and friendly," Nag aalangan kong sabi. Tumango lang si jacob at pinapasok nako sa kotse ni tony. "Sige na ingat kayo, Lil!" Sigaw ni Jacob, kumaway din si sam. I just waved my hand to them before I got inside tony's car.

"Do you think Sam's inlove to jacob?" I asked Tony as he drove on our way home. Kumunot naman ang noo niya. "Tingen mo manhid si Jacob?" I asked him again, this time naubo pa siya. Agad agad kong kinuha ang bottled water sa may likuran para ipainom sa kanya.

"Ayos ka lang ba tony!?" I asked him shouting but still I'm concerned. Tumango agad siya kasabay nang pag inom niya ng tubig.

"Why the hell?" I asked him again. Umiling lang siya at diretso na ang tingin sa daan. I just shook off my head and decided to rest. He knows the drill whenever I fell asleep he'd wake me up pag malapit na sa bahay.

Naramdaman ko nalang ang marahang tapik ni anthony sa balikat ko. Nag aalangan pa akong dumilat dahil don.

"Andito na?" I asked him what's obvious!

"Yup, Sleepy head." Saktong pag dilat ko ay nakita ko ang nag lalako ng ice cream. Sinundan niya ng tingen ang tinitignan ko kaya nag taas siya ng kilay.

"You want a dirty ice cream, lil?" he asked me. I didn't think twice, I just nodded.

Humalakhak naman siya, Anthony brought me a avocado and cheese flavor ganun din ang sa kanya. "Naalala mo, Una kitang nakita bumibili ka ng ice cream kay manong, malapit sa field!" Tumawa siya habang inaalala yon.

Naalala ko din yun. Because of that I became friends with sam, jacob, miguel, and anthony. "Oo!" tumawa ako. "Who wouldn't forget that, huh? I became friends with the best people after that!" Sabay kaming tumawa sa sinabi ko.

I was a first year chem engineer at that time. I was culture shock from the environment. Since I was a transferee, I don't have friends. I remember buying an ice cream to ease the loneliness that I have been feeling that day. I'm glad that Sam and the boys approached me back then.

"I'm so glad to be friends with you all," I said whole heartedly. "Life is much easier when I'm around you, guys!" I shouted the reason why tony laughed and gave me a "shh" sign.

"Me too, Life is easy when you're around us."

I looked up to him and smiled.