How My Summer Turned Red ✓

It's funny how not everything you want to happen will turn out the way you want it to. 

Dalawang linggo akong nagplano para sa biyahe ko papuntang Sagada ngayong buwan ng Marso. Alam kong kailangan ko ito dahil halos buong araw akong gising at walang ginawa kundi mag-aral no'ng nakaraang buwan para sa board exam. Though my blood, sweat and tears were all worth it when I finally got "MD" attached to my name.

It wasn't easy convincing Mama to go on a trip to Sagada. She thought it would be better if I worked immediately, but I begged to differ. Kagagaling ko lang sa stress, stress na naman uli? 

After 12 hours, nakarating ako sa inn na tutuluyan ko sa Sagada. On my first day, I decided to rest first before exploring. Mayroon pa naman akong apat na araw para gumala. Hiniga ko ang aking sarili sa kama ng aking kwarto. Maliit lang ito; good for two persons. Wala kasi silang single room kaya ito ang na-book ko.

I felt myself drifting to sleep but the loud chatters from outside interrupted it. Based on the low pitch of their voice, I guessed they were men. I couldn't figure out how many of them were, but I assumed it wouldn't exceed three. 

Frustrated, I yanked myself up to see who had disrupted my sleep. Mukhang hindi sila titigil.

Gusto ko lang naman matulog.

No'ng malapit na ako sa pintuan ay natanto kong nasa tapat na sila ng aking kwarto dahil mas lumakas ang kanilang ingay. Binuksan ko ito, handang pagsabihan sila. Ngunit bigla akong natulala sa dalawang taong sumalubong sa 'king mga mata.

A tall, foreign man stood in front of me, a camera in his hands. His friend's head popped out from his back. It baffled me how he caught my attention most even when dressed casually. He had deep blue irises which weirdly resembled someone I knew from childhood.

"Stop hiding your eyes. I love them," I told K, brushing the bangs off his face. 

"Thank you..." he mumbled, face flushed.

I lightly shook my head, realizing I was reminiscing the past I had forgotten. Muntikan ko pa makalimutan ang rason kung bakit ko binuksan ang pinto. 

"Kindly keep your voice down," I told them calmly but eventually faded as I received a grin from him. Ano'ng nakakatawa? 

Nagsabi ako ng mahinang 'thanks' bago isara ang pinto. Mabuti na lang at hindi na sila muli nag-ingay matapos no'n. Rinig ko ang kanilang paglakad palayo sa harap ng aking kwarto. 

Bumalik na ako sa 'king paghiga ngunit nakarinig ako ng katok sa 'king pinto. 

Groaning, I stood up again and walked towards the door, unconsciously pulling the knob harder than I was supposed to. As I opened the door, I saw nothing. I looked around, checking to see if there was someone in the hall, only for my eyes to find the hypnotizing blue that allured me earlier. I noticed a trace of his snicker while his friend was trying to hide back in the room beside me.