The Last Rule

Chapter 4 - Tres

"What are your plans for summer?" we are currently eating dinner, just the five of us. Me, my parents, and my brothers. Kuya Calli has more free time now kahit nasa med school siya since it is summer, though he still spends hours with his books.

I only shrugged. Wala naman kasi talaga akong balak. Last academic year was tiring and honestly I was not prepared for college life. Kaya ang gusto ko lang gawin ngayong bakasyon is to rest and rest and rest. Nothing else.

"Seriously? Balak mo bang mabulok sa bahay?" Kuya Calli looked at me with that judgmental older brother stare. They are just used to me always having something to do every summer, like back in high school na laging may training sa Chess or Quiz Bee kahit bakasyon.

"Maraming series sa Netflix and bibili nalang din ako ng mga books para may pagka-abalahan," I said. Honestly, even before matapos ang school year, ito na talaga ang balak ko. That is all I want. Nothing else.

"Almost two months ang bakasyon mo, hindi mo pwedeng gugulin lang d'yan ang oras mo. That's unhealthy," Calli continued with his health talk. And I cannot even be mad because I know na kapag pumasok na din ako sa field niya, magiging ganyan din ako.

"What if mag out of town tayo?" suggestion ni Mama. Finally, someone with a good idea.

"Beach!" I said right away with excitement.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Beach, breeze, waves, fresh air, nature, peace. I love it.

"We cannot," Papa interrupted. Lahat kami napatingin. Ako at si Mama lang ang may questioning look. Why not? It is summer!

"Mag-oopen ulit ang league. Mag-muse ka nalang para may ganap ang summer mo," Astro added.

Muse? Ako? Not gonna happen. Never!

But yeah, naiintindihan ko sila. They love basketball so much. Tatlo sila, dadalawa lang kami ni Mama. And I support them naman kahit hindi ako ganun ka-crazy sa basketball.

Wala naman talaga akong ine-expect na ganap ngayong summer pero ngayon nadagdagan na. Netflix, books, and basketball.

"Ganito nalang tayo buong bakasyon?" Jeirlyn sighed. Two weeks had passed and this has been our daily routine. Or probably just mine. Hindi ko alam ang ginagawa nila sa free time nila but by 4 PM, lagi kaming magkakasama sa tambayan watching the sunset or gossiping about random things.

My mornings are always the same. I wake up at 7 AM when Papa and my brothers come back from training, sabay-sabay kaming magbe-breakfast, then I help Mama with the chores. By 9 AM, tapos na lahat. Then I read old books. I should really buy new ones kasi kabisado ko na halos lahat ng lines. After lunch, I watch movies and series until 4 PM. Then sunset time with the girls.

"What if manood tayo ng training ng basketball?" Nixie suggested. Well, good for her because she has a boyfriend na player.

"Boring," I replied.

"Ok lang sakin, at least mapapanood ko yung mga kapatid ni Solana," si Teby naman. I just shook my head.

That is usually how it goes, walang katapusang chikahan.

"Teh, jowa mo," Raela teased when we heard the honk of a motorcycle. It was Bret on his Mio, and behind him was another motor. Aerox. And of course, it was Dos, the new guy.

When I saw them, I did not react kahit na panay na ang pang-aasar ng friends ko. Talagang wala silang magawa sa buhay. Lalo na nang senyasan ako ni Bret to come over.

I slowly walked to the side of the road since our tambayan was on a small hill. Bret met me halfway while Dos stayed by his motor, just staring.

"Yung envelope daw ni coach sa may files, kunin daw natin," Bret explained after our fist bump. At first, I did not want to kasi it meant walking all the way back home then coming here again. But Bret insisted and said iaangkas nalang niya ako.