The Last Rule

Chapter 16 - Friend

The next day, I woke up later than usual. As in late late. I didn't even bother checking the time; the sun was already warm on my curtains, and my body felt heavy in that lazy-but-kind-of-nice way. And ang una kong hinanap. My phone, obviously.

The screen lit up with tons of messages from group chats and friends. But honestly?

There was only one chat opened without thinking.

Dos Hernandez: Good morning, sunshine =)

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

Sunshine?

Not the sun emoji.

Sunshine. Spelled out, with a smiley pa.

Why did my chest suddenly feel... warm? Why am I even reacting? And how does he know na the sun is literally my favorite word in the dictionary? Does he know how special that word is, for me? I swear, I hate how one tiny message from him can change the entire tone of my morning.

I replied immediately, sorry na lang sa friends ko. Sanay na sila. Alam nilang hindi ako mahilig mag-open ng socials unless school-related. Ewan ko ba. Something's different now. Usually, kapag may nagcha-chat, I leave it on seen. Or hindi ko nga chine-check. But when I see his name?

Parang automatic. Parang may magnet. I just... want to know what he'll say next.

We don't even talk about deep things. No specific topic. Just random updates like, "kumakain ako," "may ginagawa ako," "nagtatanggal ako ng alikabok sa PC." Stuff like that. And I still reply. And he replies back. Friendly interction.

I don't even want to call it "updating." I refuse. My friends tease me all the time about that word. And like... hello? He has a girlfriend. Or I thought he had one. I should probably clarify one of these days. Maybe.

Dinner last night went super smooth. Mama made sure hindi puro seafood kasi alam niya hindi ako araw-araw pwede sa shrimp and crab. The resort is almost completely ready. May inaasikaso pa sina Lolo and Papa, but they didn't assign anything to us today.

So basically, today is Relax and Be Pretty Day.

I didn't bother inviting my brothers. They're always doing their own thing. After I changed into the pink polka-dot bikini na bigay ni Tita Dennisse kagabi, I decided to chill by the shore.

I walked holding my blue lemonade in one hand and my phone in the other. The resort was buzzing. Workers everywhere carrying boxes, installing lights, fixing umbrellas. Everywhere I looked, may gumagalaw.

Almost all of them were men. Wala akong kilala kahit isa. But I knew I didn't have to worry. Every time na nagkakatitigan kami, mabilis nilang inaalis yung tingin nila na parang may electric shock.

Kagagawan ni Tita Dennisse.

Dos Hernandez: Sasamahan ko lang si ate ko saglit. May pupuntahan kami.

That was his last message... an hour ago.

And no, I'm not waiting. 

Hindi ako naghihintay. I'm just bored. Bored to death. I already took aesthetic photos of the shoreline, the water, my drink, even my toes. I uploaded one picture to my story, my blue lemonade against the sea background, legs and sun lounger included.

Minutes passed. Or maybe an hour? My lemonade disappeared but my boredom didn't.

So I went into the water. And God, it felt perfect.

I love being in the ocean, the way the water lifts you, the way the little waves push you softly, the way everything feels lighter. I hopped with every small wave that came. No pressure. No noise. Just... flow.