The Most Beautiful Thing

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Last Kiss

I took a deep breath habang hatak hatak ang maleta palabas ng airport where I know Red and my friends are waiting for me. The hot breeze that welcomed me made me smile.

Philippines, I missed you.

Napa-ngiti ako when I saw Red's figure from a far. Mas lumaki siya ngayon, I guess nag-gym siya. He's wearing a red hoodie and a camou shorts with black sneakers. Naka wayfarers din siya. I can't deny the fact that my brother's handsome. I waved at their direction.

"OMG!!! RIAAAA!!" My friends shouted. Tumayo ako at inantay sila dahil tumakbo sila papunta saakin. They hugged me agad and I felt home.

I looked at Cassie at nabigla sa nakita ko. Her hair is now short! Super short because she got a pixie cut. Pero bagay sakanya though because payat ang mukha niya and payat rin ang built niya. She smiled at me at napansin kong mas gumanda siya.

Jane and Vee looked the same pero mas nag-mature na ang mga mukha nila. They changed their hairstyles, too. Vee got some bangs and Jane grew out her hair. Mas mahaba na ito kesa sa usual length dati.

"Oh my, ano nangyari sayo? Pumuti ka!" Vee said. They looked at me and observed me with shocked eyes. Tumawa lang ako sakanila. I'm currently wearing a black and white plaid and a white shirt inside. Naka jeans ako and boots since malamig sa NYC before I left.

"Malamig kasi sa New York eh," I replied.

Tumawa sila dahil sa pag-sasalita ko. I guess staying there for 5 years will really change your accent.

Jane and Cassie held my hair. It's shorter now dahil nasa taas lang ito ng collarbone ko. Nagulat din sila sakin because of it. Alam kasi nila ayaw ko nagpapagupit pero isang pilit lang ni June saakin, pumayag na ako.

"You look so pretty! Mas bagay pala sayo ang short hair," Cassie commented. Hinawakan ko rin ang buhok niya pabalik kaya mukha kaming tanga naghahawakan ng buhok sa gitna ng airport.

"Look at you! Ang ikli na rin ng hair mo!" I told her. Ngumiti siya sakin and she told me na nasa phase siya na gusto niya ng maraming pagbabago. I nodded dahil ganoon din ako.

We walked papunta kay Red na nag-aantay sa may pick-up niya. I ran to him and hug him kaagad. He looks so mature now! Kuyang kuya ko na talaga siya. I'm so proud of him for taking care of our business here kaya lalo ito lumago.

"I missed you!" sabi ko sakanya while we're hugging. Tumawa naman siya.

After our short hugging session, lahat kami ay pumasok na sa car ni Red. Umupo ako sa front seat at lahat naman sila ay nasa likod.

Dinaldal nila ako endlessly. Lahat na ata ng pwedeng itanong, tinanong na nila saakin. My job, my school, my apartment, my new friends... at hindi maiiwasan, Si Yuan.

"I stalked him on IG because he tagged you! He took cute pictures of you together.." sabi ni Cassie. Tumawa naman ako.

I was aware that Yuan posts pictures of us. Minsan din kasi ginagawa ko din yun. But it was all out of friendship. Nilinaw ko rin naman lahat sakanya before and hindi na siya umaasa although he was vocal with his feelings for me.

"Wala yun. Walang malisya yun, ano ba. We're best friends. He helped me there in NYC kasama si June and Mandy," I replied while smiling dahil evident sa face nila ang curiosity.

Red cleared his throat sa tabi ko. Napatingin ako sakanya. His side profile is surely 10/10! Mas defined ang jawline niya dahil sa pag-laki ng katawan niya. Mas tumangkad din siya. I wonder if he has a girl friend?