Memories Begin in Summer

Chapter 29: Maki

"Is that them?" 

I pointed a group of people consisting of one woman and three men, gathered beneath a huge tree. The woman was busy organizing the food on top of the wooden table while the rest engaged in conversation and laughter. If I am not mistaken, the woman's name is... France?

"Oo. Tara." Sid held my wrist and pulled me towards their direction. 

The man wearing an oversized white shirt and black shorts noticed me first. His eyes instantly widened upon seeing me, "Hoy! Ayan na bata natin! May kasama!" 

All of them glanced to our direction. I instantly felt embarrassed when their eyes landed to me. "Hi..." I bowed my head, shyly. 

"Maki!" France walked to me and hugged me. "Kamusta?" she asked in a gentle tone. 

"I'm fine. How are you?" I asked her back when she let me go.

France seemed like she didn't aged at all. In fact, she became prettier. For today, she was dressed in a white ruffled blouse and light yellow maxi skirt. Her hair is tied in a clean bun, too. And like before, she's still wearing her eyeglasses.

"Okay lang din. I'm happy to see you again." she told me, smiling.

My heart felt at ease with France's presence. She's seemed so gentle and kind. Hearing her happy to see me makes me smile, too. I cannot remember anything about our relationship before but I hope we made a lot of good memories.

France gestured me to sit so I settled on the bench beside her.

"Hello, Maki. Long time no see," A man wearing a dark blue polo shirt and white shorts greeted me after. Like France, he's also wearing his eyeglasses. I think his name is Leonel. 

"Hi." I bowed my head, and he did the same.

"Yo, lods. Kamusta?" The guy who had noticed me earlier offered his hand like a gangster. Taken aback, I absentmindedly reached out for his hand.

"I-i'm okay.."

Tumango siya sa akin bago siya bumalik sa pwesto niya, "Nice. Pasalubong ko?"

The guy beside him slapped the back of his head. "Gago ka talaga, Victorino. Ano? Tropa kayo?" 

"Oo!" He fired back. He then crossed his two fingers together.  "Ganito nga kami, e. Hindi ba, Maki?" 

"Y-yeah..." Ganoon ba talaga siya makipag-usap sa ibang tao? 

"Oh, 'di ba! Sabi sa inyo, e!" Vic proudly said. Napa-iling naman ang katabi niya, halatang inis. 

Not like the others, the man who's sitting beside Vic didn't greet me. He didn't even smiled at me. He just continued talking and bickering with his friends like he doesn't know that I am here.  But it's okay. I understand him since I was also like that sometimes. I don't talk to anyone, not unless they approach me first.