Chasing Possibilities

19 - Of Hugs and Kisses

Very deeply in shock of everything I heard and witnessed that afternoon, I subconsciously dialed the only person that came to mind, Bryce. Why him, of all people? I didn't know. What I did know, was that he was what I needed at that very moment, at that very instant.

He answered on the first ring, as if he had been waiting for my call all this time, and promised to meet me back at the same coffee shop where I left him.

"Haeley!" He grabbed me the moment I stood up to greet him and locked me into a hug. "Come on, let's get you out of here."

Where he wanted to take me, I didn't know and I couldn't care less. All I wanted was to get lost and forget everything. All the pain and all the aches of the revelation I just received. Sev, the person I began to really, truly liked and trusted, broke my heart into million pieces.

Bryce and I got into his car and he began driving in silence which I was very thankful for. I didn't want too many questions yet. I didn't want judgment. I wasn't ready for his "I told you so" litany. I just wanted someone to take me away from the pain and his company was such a welcome one. He just drove while I quietly cried.

After a while of quiet ride, we arrived at wherever Bryce had intended to bring me to. He parked his car inside a wide driveway full of shade trees. A few meters away from the driveway was a very nice looking two story farm house with a deep front porch and an upstairs veranda.

I noticed it was already getting dark. "Where are we?"

Bryce took my hand and wrapped it with his and walked me towards house. "We're at my Lola's farm. Nobody's home right now, just the helpers. Come on I'm sure you're starving. I bet dinner's already served."

"Where are we exactly?" I asked him as I let him guide me towards the house.

"Somewhere in BuDa." He said with a mischievous grin as my eyes widened with shock at what I heard.

We were no longer in Davao. Well, technically we were in between Bukidnon and Davao. It only meant one thing -- a sleepover!

As we got closer to the front porch, the front door opened and we were greeted by a woman aged about 50 or a few years older. "Bry-bry, so nice to see you. How's your drive? Ok?"

"Auntie Bon! Everything's good. Is dinner ready?" Bryce hugged auntie Bon and she kissed him in the cheeks.

"Yes, yes, dinner is waiting. But before that, who is this lovely lady?" She gestured for a hug which I obediently gave in and she squeezed me into a tight warm hug.

"Auntie, this is Haeley, my---"

"Oh you dear boy, such good taste. Come on in you two." Auntie Bon beamed excitedly.

I looked at Bryce for any explanation but he just shrugged at me and gave me a reassuring smile which I hesitantly returned.

We reached the dining hall and found a long table filled with fresh home cooked food waiting for us. After some short introductions with the rest of the helpers and graces before meal, we all devoured the good food and engaged ourselves in conversation.

There was a small merrymaking together with the helpers at the backyard after the sumptuous dinner. They put up a bonfire and around it were picnic blankets. A table filled with different kinds of "pulutan" and beer was found at the left side of the circle.

"Come on you two, join us!" Called one of the female helpers named Jen.

Bryce and I seated ourselves at the other side of the circle, away from the table. People started passing on two bottles of beer towards our direction. They also passed on a bowl of peanuts.