Find me in your pages | THE WATTYS 2023

Chapter 16:

I was still completely lost in my own thoughts during my third day in Palawan. Wala ako masyadong kausap, I have no friends here kaya natatahimik na lang talaga ako most of the time pag nandito sila lola at si tita. "Lutang ka na naman ba?" Tita Kat asked me habang tumabi sya sa upuan na nasa labas lang naman nang bahay. "Nagmumuni muni ka na naman ba?"

"I just miss my friends tita." Sagot ko kay tita Kat.

"You should've told them to go here as well. Pero busy ba sila? I mean their schedule?"

"Syg is busy as a law student, and Silvestre is running their bar while studying, Cianna, Rainne, Cleo are all busy with nursing, Lucas with arts and design outputs he didn't pass yet- they're all busy. But we celebrated and had a party on Syg's house last week I think to celebrate my birthday." I informed tita habang tamad na nakatingin sa langit. "I passed all the works already so I'm free."

I've been thinking of how Cleo is in manila. And her words as well. What did she see in me that she didn't see with Lucas or other guys? "Malapit ka naman nang bumalik sa Imus. In just two days you'll see them again." Saad ni tita Kat sa akin.

"Will you be okay here with Lola? I mean especially lola is a bit weak now considering her age. If not I'll try to visit again in summer to help—"

"No need Xerena. Me and Lola Bereng will do just fine. Baka nursing graduate ako?" Biro ni tita sa akin at napatawa naman ako doon. "Plus, focus on having fun. Sya nga pala, kamusta na kayo ni Nik-"

"We broke up tita." Natigilan si tita Kat dahil sa sinabi ko since she was very supportive of my relationship with Nikolai, plus she was the first one to know about the relationship with him. "Don't worry. I'm doing better..." Admit it Xerena. You have to. "I still love him though."

"Marupok ka talaga kahit kelan." Biro ni tita Kat sa akin. I still love Nikolai up until now. For the first time, I wasn't able to recover fast. "But I feel bad. Bagay pa naman kayong dalawa." Tita doesn't need to know that he cheated on me. She'd lose her mind and scold Nikolai non stop.

"Anyways. We should go inside and help with preparing. Lolo Danilo would also be here, along with your other tita, Eve." Aya ni tita Kat sa akin. I smiled and just nodded bago ako pumasok muli sa bahay para tumulong magayos ayos. "You're finally 18, Xerena. Enjoy your remaining teenage years, just don't do drugs."

"I'm already addicted to writing and making art tita. No need mag drugs." Biro ko dito.

I helped with cooking the spaghetti since it was my favorite din on my birthday, but I love carbonara more. "Dalaga ka na ija..." Bati ni Lola bereng pagkapasok ko nang bahay. "Nagkaroon ka na ba nang boyfriend sa maynila?"

"Yes po lola but we broke up. So...Wala po akong boyfriend ngayon."

"Ganoon ba? May ipapakilala ako sa iyo na lalaki-"

"Hindi ako interesado sa relasyon ngayon lola..." May respeto ko na sagot kay Lola. Buti naman naintindihan nya rin kaagad kung ano ang gusto ko na iparating. "Magpahinga po muna kayo la, kami na po muna nila tita ang bahala dito."

"Oh sya sige, magpapahinga na muna ako sa kwarto ko."

"Sige lang la. If need mo nang tubig tawagin mo lang ako." Pagpapaalala ko dito.

Dumiretso na muna ako sa kusina at busy na busy sila papa at si tito Carlo magluto nang handa para bukas. "Maghiwa ka nga nang sibuyas doon." Agad naman ako na sumunod sa pinautos sa akin. Ilang kamag anak lang naman ang pupunta sa debut ko at puro mga nakakausap ko lang din. I'm not close with my entire family after all. "Lumalaki ka na. May balak ka na ba na kuning trabaho?" Tanong ni Tito Carlo sa akin.