A Summer to Forever

13

It was quite a long drive to Baste's house that my playlist of 12 songs ended.

"Sorry, malapit na tayo." Baste glanced at me.

"Okay lang, 'no!"

"Magkwento ka na lang."

"Ano ike-kwento ko?"

"Kahit ano. May boyfriend ka na?"

"Wala pa."

"Wala pa? Bakit may nanliligaw ba?" He laughed.

"Wow, bakit ka tumawa? Mukha bang walang manliligaw sa'kin?"

"Sira, hindi! Akala ko may boyfriend ka na. Sa ganda mong 'yan." He glanced at me again.

I felt my cheeks blushed. "Ang bolero mo talaga! Wala nga. Wala pang nagkakamaling manligaw. Ikaw, may girlfriend ka na?"

"Tinanong mo na sa'kin 'to 'di ba? Wala pa nga."

"Ah, oo nga pala. Masyado ka naman kasing madrama. May nalalaman ka pang first love dyan," I joked.

He didn't answer and just looked at me.

"Anyway..." I said. "Hanggang kailan ka pala dito?"

"Hanggang 2nd week of May lang, kailangan ko pa mag-enroll, eh."

"Ah, oo nga pala. Maaga pasukan ng La Salle."

"Oo, pero sanay na ko. Ilang years na din naman 'no. At saka ga-graduate na ko."

I almost forgot that Baste was a year older than me.

"Ano palang course mo? Bakit 'di ka pa graduate, eh 3 years lang sa La Salle 'di ba?"

"BS Accountancy. Eh mahirap, na-delay ako." He laughed. "At saka mahaba talaga 'yung Accountancy sa La Salle."

"Wow, grabe ang talino!"

"Matalino ka din naman, sa Ateneo ka kaya!"

"Ewan ko sa'yo lagi mong pinapasa sa'kin! 'Wag mo kong kakalimutan 'pag yumaman ka na, ha!"

"Never naman," he looked at me and smiled.

"O, andito na tayo!" He looked back at the road and pointed to their house.

As I was about to open the door, he stopped me, went down and opened the door for me. I thanked him. He led the way inside their house which looked busy. Kids were running around the farm, while the adults were busy preparing the food in the kitchen and in the dining area.

"Meng? Ikaw na ba 'yan?" I recognized Baste's mom, Tita Pia, who looked like she didn't age after all this years.

"Hi Tita!" I hugged her. "Kamusta na po kayo?"

"Eto, okay naman. Ikaw kamusta ka na? Ang tagal na nating 'di nagkikita!"

"Oo nga po, eh. Buti nagkita po kami ni Baste nung isang araw." I smiled at Baste.

"Buti naman. O siya, Baste, asikasuhin mo muna si Meng, at marami pa akong lulutuin dito." He looked at Baste. "Pakainin mo muna si Meng ng kung anong merong luto na dya, mukhang gutom na, eh." She smiled and walked back to the kitchen.

Baste held my wrist and led me to the kitchen, getting a plate for me.

"Ano gusto mo? Alam kong 'di ka pa kumakain, eh." He asked me.

"Kahit ano lang, ayoko muna mabusog para madami ako kainin mamaya," I joked.

He got me a few scoops of pansit and bread.

"Okay na ba muna 'to? Nagluluto pa kasi si Mama, eh." He asked.

"Oo naman!" I got the plate from him and started walking towards the living room. I sat down next to a woman that turned to be his cousin.