Wicked Games (An Epistolary Novel)

077

I stretched my legs for what felt like forever sitting at the backseat. I was used to the long drive to elyu—my family always visited the place because it holds so many memories of our parents during their heydays, so they wanted to pass on the tradition—but not to the soreness. I'd always get sore and ngalay after every long drive. Plus, ang aga ng meeting time kanina. I literally set ten alarms last night para lang magising ako ng alas tres ng umaga.

"You want coffee?" ani Rachel na inaantok pa. Makapal ang boses at mugto ang mga mata. Sila ni Angel ang isinama ko at wala naman iyong problema kina Xylene. They brought two SUVs because we're a large group. It's nice. I'm an extrovert person so I like meeting new people.

Tumango ako habang nahihikab. I brushed the cold off my arms. I was wearing a gray university hoodie and my glasses on, but I was wearing a ripped denim shorts paired with a sneaker. It was already eight in the morning and the sun is already up pero medyo malamig pa rin. Must be because we're near Baguio and the province is elevated.

Rachel handed me my coffee and Xylene offered us a bagel to which I accepted. Sabi ni JC ay thirty minutes na lang daw ay naroroon na kami sa vacation house nila pero gutom na kami kaya tumigil muna kami sa nadaanang coffee shop.

We ate in silence. Iyong iba ay hindi bumaba ng sasakyan. I seriously have no energy also para makipagkapwa-tao nang ganito kaaga. Life starts after coffee so maybe after I finished my fix I'd be energized enough. Besides, we'd be spending the weekend together. We have enough time to bond together.

Hindi na kami nakatulog at nagkuwentuhan na lang sa sasakyan dahil malapit na lang naman. I am enjoying their company because the other girls were so fun! And obviously, Xylene was the class clown. I could also see my friends enjoying themselves.

We arrived at the vacation house shortly.

Kani-kaniya kaming bitbit ng mga gamit. I was used to travelling so I'm a light packer. And it's the beach! Most of the clothes I brought were bikinis and shorts only kaya hindi ganoong mabigat at malaki ang dala ko, just my Under Armour gym bag.

Kaming tatlo nina Rachel at Angel ang magkakasama. The other three girls ay doon sa kabila kasi malaki naman itong vacation house nina JC kaya maraming kuwarto na puwedeng pagpilian. Ibinaba ko lang ang gamit ko at sumilip sa labas bago napagdesisyunang mag-ikot. Nagpaiwan ang dalawa kasi tutulog daw muna sila.

My eyes widened when I got outside our room, and I saw the person I did not expect seeing.

I blinked profusely, then rubbed my eyes.

Shit.

Namamalikmata na yata ako. Am I starting to conjure people from my mind? Pero hindi ko na siya iniisip at all!

I shook my head and slapped my cheeks to wake myself up in case I was in a trance but he's still there, standing in front of me with a creased forehead and looking not confused. I am confused.

Why was he here?!

Kasama ba siya sa sasakyan all along? Pero hindi ko siya nakita simula kanina sa Cloverleaf! At wala ring nababanggit si Xylene. That brat! Sabi niya hindi sasama si Julian dahil busy ito. Bakit nandito siya ngayon?

"Morning," bati niya saka mabining tumango.

Hindi ako nakasagot agad sa sobrang gulat.

I should probably greet him back. After all, we're workmates. It was only right to be civil.

Right.

Tumango rin ako nang bahagya at ngumiti nang maliit. "Good morning," sabi ko saka tumalikod at naglakad na. I quickened my stride. Nang makasalubong ko si Xylene ay pinanlikahan ko siya ng mga mata. He looked confused at first but when he saw the person behind me, his face lit in recognition before he chuckled.