The Last Rule

Chapter 14 - Sun

I woke up during dinner time, and for the first time since we arrived, sabay-sabay kaming kumain bilang isang buong pamilya. We ate at the resort's restaurant na halatang hindi pa tapos dahil wala pang masyadong laman ang loob.

The table wasn't as big as the one we had in the mansion, but it was enough for all of us. The table was full of seafood, different kinds, actually and to be honest, hindi ko agad nagustuhan. I was never really a seafood person.

I'm wearing a floral knee-length dress now, paired with my slippers. Kasabay kong bumaba si Kuya Astro na naka-sky blue na sando and grey shorts. When we arrived, Kuya Calli was already there with Tito Dex, while Papa and Mama sat together looking gorgeous as always. Mama was wearing a striped long dress, her curls framing her face perfectly.

The food was already served when Tita Dennisse arrived in a hot red above-the-knee dress with full makeup on, looking like she just walked out of a magazine. The dinner went fine, calm, and quiet. Lolo didn't say much, probably because he was tired.

I barely ate anything and not because I wasn't hungry, but because wala talaga akong gusto sa mga nakahain. The dinner ended when Tita Dennisse suddenly announced she was going to a bar in the other resort. Of course, isinama niya si Astro at si Tito Dex.

After dinner, I went straight to my room. I hung out on the veranda, kind of regretting na hindi ako nagdala ng libro. I just stood there, staring at the moon over the dark sea.

The sound of the waves, the cold breeze, and the salty air... it was all so peaceful. So serene. And yet, at that moment, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I should be doing something else.

I took my phone and opened my socials, something I rarely do. The first thing I noticed was the notifications on Facebook. My story reactions were flooding in, probably because it's been ages since I last posted. May mga friend requests din, but I only accepted one.

Dos Hernandez sent you a friend request.

I received a few messages, too, but I only opened those from my friends.

Teby Salinas: Uy marunong na siya mag-FB! So proud of u nak!

Cleo Bonifacio: Buhay ka pa pala teh.

Raela Jade: Ganda.

Bret DP: Uyy di nagsama.

I didn't reply, of course. Nag-react lang ako para hindi mukhang sineen. Then I opened Instagram dahil mas tahimik doon. And guess what? Dos also sent a follow request there, so I accepted. My IG is more private anyway, only close friends can see my posts.

I was about to go inside to sleep kahit kagigising ko lang when another notification popped up.

Dos Hernandez and 78 others reacted to your story.

Curious, I checked. His react was... hearts. Puro heart, tadtad!

Then another one —

Dos Hernandez replied to your story.

I opened Messenger but didn't seen it yet. Just like I always do, I long-pressed the chat first.

Dos Hernandez: Paturo naman, paano maging calm ngayon =(

That emoji at the end was so him. I could literally picture his face saying it in person. Smiling eyes, that small pout.

Solana Martin: What happened?

Dos Hernandez: Talo kami =(**

Solana Martin: It's really sad, but I know Papa's still so proud of you guys.