LOST IN JAPAN, Lindtsey Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja

2. My beloved Aubrey

2031

    

     "Ang arte mo. Sasama ka sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, bahala ka riyan."

I groaned, loudly stomping my feet repeatedly to show her na ayaw ko nga talagang sumama sa kanila. Ate Franz still continued to walk out of the room, leaving me defeated and angry.

She told me that we are going to Visayas— sa hotel ng kapatid ng kuya namin. Yes, kapatid lang niya kasi sila lang ang magkapareho ng tatay. He was the first but the illegitimate child of a wealthy businessman na boyfriend before ng Mommy. Their family owns a lot of resorts all over the Philippines and the latest one is this Camp Zyr, in a place called Cauayan.

They invited us to stay there for a week before their wedding in Caticlan. Ewan ko nga ba at bakit pa sila nagpa ganito. Wala na sigurong maisip na pagwawaldasan ng pera kaya nagpatawag ng iba para tulungan sila.

I didn't want to go kasi I can feel that something bad is going to happen to me there, and I trust my gut more than anything.

Besides, ano pa ba ang gagawin ko dun? We're not that close ng sisteret ng Kuya even if I met her a couple of times before. We're polar opposites. She and Ate Franz are close, though. Si Ate Franz and tinakbuhan nilang pamilya noong kailangan niyang lumuwas ng bansa.

"Oh, bakit ganiyan ang mukha mo?" My best friend, Gavin, asked as soon as he sat down in front of me. "Para ka namang tinakluban ng langit at lupa."

"Shut up. Naiinis ako," galit na bati ko sa kaniya.

We are now in a random cafe in Tagaytay after I called them to go out na wala sa plano para naman maclear ko ang mind ko na clouded dahil sa galit kay Ate. The reason might appear shallow to the others pero malalim na 'yun sa akin.

If I don't want to do something, hinding hindi ko gagawin 'yun.

"Ano na naman ba ang nangyari sa'yo? Napaka init na naman ng ulo mo. I-untog mo nga 'yan sa pader." Cruz joined in. Actually, kanina pa siya rito. I wasn't really focused on his presence kaya hindi ko siya pinansin.

"My sister wants me to accompany her and Kuya Will to Visayas tomorrow dahil may week-long vacation daw before ikasal si Miles." Seryosong sagot ko sa kanila. I paused to take a sip on my coffee. "You guys know hindi naman kami close ni Miles. At tsaka ano naman ang gagawin ko dun? Hindi ko naman kilala friends niya. Mag ti-third wheel ako sa kanila ni Kuya? No thanks. I'm too pretty to become anyone's third wheel."

Gavin chuckled at my explanation. "Alam mo, ikaw na nga ang inaaya sa isang bakasyon, aayaw ka pa talaga? Chance mo na 'yang makapag unwind. Wala ka pa namang pinuntahan last week. Alam ko nang stressed ka na naman ulit kasi hindi ka nakagala."

"Right. Love na love mo kaya magtravel. So, ano pa ba ang pinaghuhugutan mo ng inis?" Cruz followed up.

"Kilala niyo kung sino ang papakasalan ni Miles." I sternly said, looking away. From my peripheral vision, I saw them forming their lips with an 'o'— just realizing what I'm so angry about.

"But wasn't that four years ago?" Cruz asked. Gavin supported him with a nod. "Akala ko ba naka move on ka na?"

I scoffed. Magkakampihan pa sila."Naka move on naman talaga ako. I just don't want to see her annoying face again."

"Girl, weren't you the one who dumped her without a proper explanation?" Gavin asked, too amused na para bang akong clown sa isang children's party. "Ikaw na nga 'yung may kasalanan sa tao, parang ikaw pa ang nagagalit."