I stared at them and frowned.
"Wha-what? Kilala ko kayo?" I confusedly asked. Tumango naman sila.
"Nagtataka nga kami nung una kung bakit hindi mo kami namukhaan. Now we know why." Jake answered.
"We didn't expect na makikita ka namin dito. Vina didn't tell us kung nasaan ka. We're glad lang na masaya ka ngayon." Grey said seriously. The other three including Vina just nodded.
"At mas lalo kang gumanda, Eli. Bagay sayo ang short hair." Jake added.
"Mama, best friend na po kami ni Justin. Gusto ko po ganitong kulot." Makoy suddenly interrupted. Tuwang-tuwa sya sa buhok nito. Tumango-tango naman ako sa kanya at natawa.
"Ang kulit nitong si Makoy, Eli. Buti di sumasakit ang ulo nyo?" Justin said.
Vina laughed loudly. "Anong hindi? Sumasakit nga ang ulo ni Kuya Caloy!" She answered.
"A-ah. S-sinong Caloy?" Justin hesitantly asked.
"Papa ko po. Bukas po dating nya." Makoy cheerfully answered.
"A-ah. Papa mo." The boys murmured.
"S-si Doc Cavin ba tinutukoy nya?" Justin whispered.
Napaubo naman si Vina sa narinig. She then laughed awkwardly and nodded.
Grey told me that I used to bring our prof's book to their room. Kinwento rin ni Justin kung paano sya napagod kakapicture sa akin nung araw. Jake kept saying sorry about the ball accident that happened years ago.
I laughed at the memories we'd shared that I couldn't even remember. I appreciate their effort. I know that once in my life, I treasured those moments. That in those moments, I'm sure I was happy.
We bid our goodbyes to the boys. Pagod na pagod si Makoy nang makauwi kami. He was very fond of Justin. He's so makulit din kasi like him kaya siguro nagkasundo ang dalawa.
"Ang liit talaga nang mundo." Vina murmured habang nilalagyan ng kumot ang bata.
I looked at her and nodded.
Some things we didn't expect happened, while the things that we were expecting kept on delaying.
"What are your plans tomorrow, Vin? Night shift pa rin ako bukas."
"I'd go to the beach, of course. Magpapa-tan ako, Eli. Ikaw matagal ka na dito pero hindi ka umiitim. Namumula ka lang." She then touched my hair.
"Gandang-ganda talaga ako sa short hair mo, El. Pagupit na rin kaya ako?" Natawa naman ako. Matagal nya nang sinasabi na magpapaiksi sya ng buhok pero ni minsan ay hindi nya nagawa.
I remember back then, I cut my hair short because I felt that it was suffocating.
After that, I felt at ease.
Kaya't lumipas man ang ilang taon. I never let my hair grew longer. I feel like the burden I carried in my heart vanished.
"Ay teka. Justin chatted me na baka maging busy daw sila bukas. Sisimulan na ata nila ang project with Kuya Caloy."
"That's okay. They should really focus with that. Ayaw ni Kuya na delayed ang mga plans nya."
"Sina Jake. Paano ko sila nakilala, Vin?" I curiously asked. Vina stared at me and smiled.
"Because of friends din, Eli. Mutual friends. Why? Do you remember someone?" She asked. Napailing ako.
"I'm just happy, Vin. That I met those people from my past. Hindi ko alam kung puro lang ba happy moments ang pinagsamahan namin dati or what. Pero ngayon, masaya ako." Vina embraced me tightly. I laughed at her sudden actions.
"No matter what happens, whatever else you'll know in the future, I'm here for you. Always, just like the old times. El." I smiled at her.
"I know Vin. I know."
Makoy was busy drinking his favorite chocolate milk while playing at my phone beside me while Vina on the other hand was busy putting lotion on her body. It was already 6:30 am and the sun was already up.
True to Vina's word. Magpapa-tan sya at isinama nga nya kami. We wore our swimwear outfits. Binihisan ko na rin si Makoy ng Ben10 rashguard nya.
I looked at the surrounding. Kaunti lang ang naririto. Marahil tulog pa ang ibang guest.
My phone rang and Makoy immediately handed it to me. It was Kuya.
"Imara Alessia. Kamusta?" He started saying and laughed. I rolled my eyes. Eto na naman sya sa pang-aasar sa akin.
"We're okay kuya. Nakauwi ka na?" I asked.
"Yup. Nandito na ako sa resort natin. Nandito na rin ang team. Pero kulang pa ng isang kasama nila. Ngayon pa raw darating." He said and laughed again.
"Stop bullying them, Kuya. Ang aga pa kaya." I answered.
"Mas mabuti nang maaga para mabilis matapos Alessia. Punta kayo dito ha. Hatiran mo kami ng pang breakfast." He said and dropped the call.
I deeply sighed and looked at Vina.
"Vin. Magpapahatid si Kuya ng pagkain sa resort na ipapagawa nya. Sama ka?"
"Nope. Magpapa-tan ako, Eli. Gusto ko pagbalik naka tan na ako." She answered and laughed.
I told Vina to call me if she need anything. Dumiretso kami ni Makoy sa isang restau na bukas nang ganito kaaga.
Garlic shrimp palang ang available kaya naman yun na ang inorder ko. I also ordered 4 platters of rice, just to be sure. Baka kasi malakas rin silang kumain gaya ni Kuya. Masarap kayang kumain pag nasa tabing-dagat.
Nakita ko si Mang Ramil nang makarating kami sa lugar. He's the caretaker of the place. He insisted on carrying the utensils and the food kaya naman ay hinawakan ko na sa kaliwang kamay si Makoy.
Tanaw na namin si Kuya at ang iba pa nyang mga kasama.
"Ma. Can I run po?" Makoy cutely asked. I nodded at him kaya naman ay mabilis nya akong binitawan.
Kuya looked at our side when he noticed Makoy who keeps shouting and calling his name. Malapit pa ngang madapa ang bata nang makalapit sa kanila pero nahawakan naman agad ito ni Kuya.
He looked at me and smiled. He opened his arms and hugged me tightly.
"I missed you, Imara Alessia." He said and laughed. Kuya's typical way of teasing me.
"Kung miss mo ako nasaan ang pasalubong ko?" I answered and frowned.
He laughed and kissed my cheek.
"Nandoon sa sasakyan, sweetheart. Bibigay ko sayo mamaya." He answered and looked at Makoy who's now pouting.
"Si Mama lang, Pa? Anong pasalubong mo sa akin, Pa?" Makoy cutely asked. Tinatawag nya lang na Papa si Kuya kapag may hihingiin. Pasaway talaga!
Napalingon naman kami when someone cough beside me. Napakunot ang noo ni Kuya pero ngumiti rin kalaunan.
"Oh! You met them already diba, Imara Alessia?" Kuya said while grinning.
I looked at them. Justin, Grey and Jake are all looking at me awkwardly.
I looked behind them and noticed the man who was staring at me. He's tall and he shows no emotion but I noticed that his brown eyes are enchanting to look at.
