The Perfect Timing

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

"So, Josh, anong oras ka aalis mamaya?" Kuya Josh looked at Dad for a long time. We were all sitting around the dining room table, eating breakfast.

Kuya looked at me before speaking. "Uhm, I'll head out after lunch, Dad. The wedding's gonna be held tomorrow. I'm not sure if I'll be back tomorrow or on Saturday, since I'll be with my high school friends. Baka magtagal ako dun," I smiled at Kuya. I'm glad he's sticking to what he said to me a few days ago.

"That's good, son. You can stay there for the weekend, you know, have some fun with your friends or something," Dad beamed.

"Yeah, I guess," umiwas ng tingin si Kuya kay Dad and turned to me. "I heard you're going to Tagaytay tomorrow with Luke."

"Yes, Kuya. We'll spend a day there, matatapos na finals ko later eh," I grinned at him.

"Be a good girl, okay?" He looked at me kind of seriously.

"C'mon Kuya. I'm always a good girl kaya. Right, Dad?" I looked at Dad.

"Just listen to your Kuya, princess," they both chuckled as I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, oo nga pala. Bakasyon mo na Max. Aren't you two going to visit your Mom and Gabby?" Dad looked at me and Kuya.

"Yes, Dad? I might spend a month or two there. But I have to get back here din kaagad since I need to register for school early. Mahirap na, it's going to be my last year in college."

"That sounds good, Max. How 'bout you, Josh? I'm sure your Mom misses you already," Dad looked at Kuya worriedly.

Kuya Josh sighed. "I'll be busy this summer. Madaming projects ang tinanggap ng firm," Kuya continued eating.

"Even just for a few days, son? Or after the summer, when you're not busy," Dad looked at me for help.

"Oo nga Kuya. I'm sure Mom would be so happy to see you—" Kuya cut me off.

"I can't Max, okay?" He sighed. "If Mom really misses me that much, ba't hindi sya ang mag-effort na umuwi dito? Excuse me, I have to go pack my things," Kuya stood up and went upstairs to his room.

Matagal kaming hindi nagsalita ni Dad. "Max, I'll book our flight later, ihahatid kita."

---

"Grabe bes! Can you believe it? 4th year na tayo! We'll be graduating next year!" Excited na tumalon-talon si Julia habang naka-angkla yung kamay nya sa braso ko.

"Aren't you too excited? Wala pang pasukan bes! Kakatapos lang ng finals oh! Wala pa ngang grades eh."

"Gaga! Given na yun no! Of course both of us will pass, matalino tayong dalawa no," we both chuckled.

"Oh, oo nga pala, are you gonna spend your summer at Lola Irene's? Miss ko na sya," I pouted at Julia.

"Malamang! Kasi you're gonna leave me again, punta ka na naman sa Canada. Wait, when are you leaving pala?"

"Next week na daw sabi ni Dad. Pero pag-uwi ko, can I visit you and Lola Irene?" I grinned at her.

"Hay nako, dapat lang! Miss ka na din nya no! Basta puntahan mo lang kami dun okay? She'll be so happy to see you!"

Lola Irene is Julia's lola. Sya and si Lola Esperanza, my mom's mother, ang nag-alaga sa'min ni Julia when we were in high school sa Baguio. After we graduated in high school, Lola Esperanza died. Lola Irene insisted that we study here in Manila, ayaw nya daw kasi na ma-stuck kami sa Baguio with her when the rest of our families are in Manila. But we make sure to visit her from time to time, pero mas madalas si Julia nakakapunta don.

"So, what? Is this the last time I'm gonna see you? Hindi ka na magpapakita sa'kin bago ka umalis?"

"Sira! I'll come and visit you before I leave! Napaka-clingy mo ah!?" I teased her

"Nagsalita ang hindi clingy," we hugged.

"Osya sige, alam ko may date pa kayo ni Lucas! Ingat ka!" She waved at me habang paalis sya.

---

"Babe, okay ka lang? Ba't parang ang tahimik mo?" I asked Luke as I poured some popcorn on a bowl in the kitchen counter. Mula nung sinundo nya ako sa school hanggang sa makarating kami dito sa bahay, he hasn't talked much.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine babe," he cleared his throat. "Where's Josh pala? Nakaalis na ba sya?"

"Yeah, he left kaninang 1pm daw. Why, babe?"

"Uh, wala naman babe."

"Oh, oo nga pala. I'll leave for Vancouver na next week. Dad already booked our flight," I awkwardly smiled at him.

"Oh ganun ba? Okay, I'll see you when you get back then," I was quite surprised with his reply. He would usually whine and tell me to take him with me sa Vancouver, kahit na may work sya.

"Okay. Let's watch the movie na," I pulled him to the living room.

---

I woke up feeling so happy. I went straight to the shower and got dressed. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table and noticed that it was almost 8 in the morning. Luke told me he'd pick me up at 9, so I decided to check my phone for any messages from him. True enough, there was one, which he sent earlier at 5 in the morning.

Good morning baby. I'm so sorry, I don't think matutuloy tayo sa Tagaytay today, I'm not really feeling well. I'll talk to you later.

I immediately called him up. Naka-tatlong missed calls na ako, he wasn't picking up. Maybe he's sleeping, so I decided to text him saying I'd go to his place.

Naabutan ko sa kusina si Nanay Rose, so I asked her to help me cook sinigang for Luke. At 9:30, I was about to call Luke again when I saw na hindi ko pala nai-press yung send button sa text ko sa kanya kanina. I tried calling him up pero nakapatay na yung phone nya, so I left a message saying I was on my way to his place.

"Nanay, please pakisabi na lang kay po kay Dad na I'll drive for now kasi may sakit si Kuya Dan. Thank you po," I waved at Nanay Rose as I drove out of the garage.

When I arrived at his condo unit, agad kong binuksan yung pinto using the keys he gave me a few months back. I was about to prepare the food in the kitchen when I heard muffled voices in his bedroom.

I saw that the door was slightly open, so I quietly walked closer to it. For a while, I was nervous, I don't know why, but I was just nervous.

And without thinking twice, I slowly opened the door. Little did I know that behind that door, was the one of the biggest surprises I've ever gotten.

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Hello! Sorry ngayon lang ulit nakapag-update, I've just been busy with school and work lately.  Sana may mga nagbabasa pa din nito haha

Please let me know kung ano po sa tingin nyo yung surprise na tinutukoy ni Max :)

Please feel free to vote, comment, and share this story. And and ANNNDDD! Please stay tuned because I'm going to upload the next chapter in the next couple of days. I swear I'm so excited for the next ones coz malapit na silang magkitaaaaaa!

Okay, that's enough of me babbling haha tweet me coz wall along kausap haha @superENwrites 

Love y'all xx