The Ex-Marine

10

Vacation

"Rexes!" Tili ni Eva ang una niyang narinig at ang pagtakbo nito sa kanya para yakapin siya. Her other friends trailed behind Eva with their bags and stuff. "I missed you soooo much!"

Niyakap niya ito pabalik. "Ito talaga, parang hindi tayo parating nag vi-videochat ah--- Apple!"

Apple hugged her, too. "Girl, I missed you! Mukhang nag eenjoy ka dito--- you look like you gained some weight." And then she laughed, dahilan kung bakit sumimangot si Rexes. Apple has always been the bully, kahit yata yung mga lalaking kaibigan nila eh hindi niya pinalalagpas.

"Hey, Rex." Si Angelo iyon, boyfriend ni Apple na taga Ateneo. He's quite famous, balitang kukunin siya ng PBA right after he graduate.

Travis went to hug her, sa kanilang barkada ito ang serious type. He doesn't like to talk much, minsan lang din sumasabay kapag lumalabas sila ng friday night. "Ang ganda dito sa inyo, The aerial view's quite breathtaking, hindi ba, Lean?"

Leandro was in a beige polo shirt and jeans, his hair was longer--- his lips were tugged in a smirk. Rexes had always known this look. Leandro always smirks--- making him look arrogant and badass sometimes.

Dahan dahan pa ang paglapit nito sa kanya, if Leandro wanted this to be like the movies, it's not a really good time dahil nasa gilid lang ang kanyang kapatid.

He stopped inches away, iyong smirk niya ay napalitan na ng ngiti. "Hello. I missed you..."

Ngumiti si Rexes at inakap ito ng madali lang, "Hi. Namiss din kita, ley."

"Kakabahan ang mga love team sa tv dahil sa inyo..." she heard Eva grunt, dahilan kung bakit natawa ang lahat. Leandro's face looked like he just couldn't believe Rexes hugged him. Namumula ang pisngi niya.

Apple nudged him in stomach. "Oh? Yakap lang tameme ka agad, ah? Bakla mo na talaga ngayon, Leandro."

Rexes laughed. "Tara na sa loob, my parents are quite excited to see you guys."

Napuno ng usapan ang kanilang lunch, her parents kept her friends entertained--- looks like they liked the dishes her mother cooked, magaling mag luto ang Mama Stella niya. Si Apple, ang galing pa din namang mambola, kaya tuwang-tuwa ang mama niya eh.

"Travis, kamusta ang papa mo? I haven't heard from him in a while. Masyado bang busy sa firm?"

"Ay, opo tito Arman. Especially that he's preparing my older brother iyong papalit sa posisyon niya next month."

Ka-brad kasi ng papa ni Rexes and daddy ni Travis, his dad is a lawyer, may malaking law firm sa Manila.

"Oh. Steven, right?" Tumango si Travis sa tanong ng papa niya. "That's good to hear. Pakisabi nalang kay Marco na nangangamusta ako..."

Tapos bumaling naman ang papa niya kay Leandro, who was enjoying the food dahil paborito nito ang caldereta.

"Leandro, congratulations about winning champion in the race. Rexes told me about it, I also saw it in the newspaper."

Leandro smiled at him. "Maraming salamat po, tito. Uhm, you have a very nice home."

Kahit ilang beses niyang na meet ang papa ni Rexes at nakasabay, hindi niya pa rin maiwasang kabahan tuwing kausap ito. Guess that's really it, right? Kapag kausap mo yung tatay ng babaeng mahal mo, hindi ba?

"The compliment should go to my wife, siya itong mahilig mag arrange sa bahay."

"Tita," Leandro smiled at her mom.

"Grabe Lean, nagpapa brownie points sa magulang ni Rexes, ah." Ayan na naman si Apple. At dahil magkatabi sila, bumulong pa ito sa kanya. "Kailan mo ba yan sasagutin, girl? Gagraduate na tayo't lahat-lahat friendzone pa rin?"