short story practice

Contortionist

"Tangina, this place looks like shit."

Erin says, parking the car in front of the cabin. The time on Rem's watch read 2:03pm. "Di ka ba nakahanap ng mas maayos na p-pwedeng mag-stay na lugar, Rem?"

Rem unbuckles her seatbelt, punching Erin's shoulder. "'Kala ko ba gusto niyo ng "adventure"? Ano pang kulang dyan, 'oh? Nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng kung saan man, tas worn down 'tong nahanap kong cabin. 'Matik, spirit of the glass tayo dyan mamayang gabi. Diba pre?"

Rem says, turning her head to the backseat, her closed fist reaching behind her, waiting for Kye to give her a fist bump. Kye slaps his palm on Rem's fist, giving her a high-five.

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Rem. Puta, parang mamamatay tayo dito 'e. Parang yung mga lugar na dinedescribe mo sa mga stories na sinusulat mo." Kye answers, getting out of the car. Rem follows phone in hand, her backpack of clothes in the other. Erin got out a few minutes later, bringing Rem's other bag, one of the straps on his shoulder. He has a plastic bag full of snacks and pulutan in one hand, and a cooler full of drinks and ice and perishable ingredients they were going to use to cook on the other, his bag on his back. He sees the two on the porch of the cabin, looking in through the windows.

"Baka gusto niyo akong tulungan! Baka lang naman!" Erin shouts at them, straining, setting down the cooler. "Rem, yung bag mo!"

"My bad, 'pre. 'Kin na, pati yung bag ni Rem." Kye says, getting the cooler and bag from him, and throwing Rem's bag toward her. This was met with Rem's various grunts and profanities, complaining about how her bag was new.

"'Bat kasi ang dami mong dala? Tatlong araw lang naman tayo dito." Kye asks, setting down the cooler on the porch, Erin behind him muttering an "Oo nga," as he sets down the snacks beside the cooler.

"'Bat ka ba nangingialam? Sapakan nalang." Rem answers, looking into the cabin. "Saan na kaya yung nagpa-rent sa'tin ng cabin na 'to? Sabi niya sasalubungin niya tayo ah."

Erin nears the door, raising his hand to knock. When his hand made contact with the door, to their surprise, it opened. Erin quickly picks up what he was bringing, entering the cabin.

"Bobo niyo, bukas naman 'e."

The cabin was, well, like any other cabin in the Philippines, if you were to rent one in the middle of the woods. The exterior was worn down but had obvious renovations, just enough to keep the cabin together and make it somewhat presentable. It was a small cabin, just enough space for the three of them. The two follow Erin inside, their eyes darting around the cabin. With every step the trio took, the floorboards let out a shrill creak. The cabin's exterior reflected what to expect of the interior; tattered, but inside were various amenities that looked like it was recently installed. The TV in the living room looked like a new model, there was a Wi-Fi router on a coffee table, and the kitchen had appliances that would be convenient for the trio, like an electric kettle and an induction stove.

"Ayos rin naman pala. Sorry for the doubt, Rem." Kye says, setting down his bags and sitting down on the sofa, reaching for the remote. "May Netflix sila, pre!"

Rem sets down her bags and runs up the stairs. There was only one bedroom, with one bed and an extra mattress. The bathroom was also in the room, tucked away in one of the corners. Rem went in, excitement on her face.

"Tangina, may bidet!" Rem shouts at the two from the top of the stairs.

Erin walks into the kitchen, transferring food into the refrigerator, which was oddly already plugged in.

Maybe the previous tenants forgot to unplug it, and the owner didn't notice, Erin thought.

Erin then goes upstairs, passing by the rambling Rem, setting down his bag in the bedroom. "Oy, kayong dalawa, mga bag niyo lagay niyo na dito, para di makalat."