My First Love

Chapter Four

Natulog muna kami pag dating ng bahay kanina dahil na rin siguro sa pagod at puyat.

Nagising ako dahil sa ingay nila at dumiretso sa beach front kung saan sila nag set up nang table, mga upuan at parang disco lights. Na plano na namin na mag chi-chill muna kami at bukas na kami gagala sa mga island. Wala rin kasing problema dahil may yate naman si grandpapa dito at si mang Pepe ang magdadala nito.

Mag asawa si manang Lita at mang Pepe, sila ang taga bantay nang bahay dahil sayang naman kung walang titira dahil hindi naman namin pinupuntahan palagi.

I saw kuya Mikee and Matthew busy grilling some barbecues I'm sure sunog nanaman iyan. Kuya Justin, Nile and Mica is sitting on the chairs while using thier mobile phones. Liz is waiting for kuya Mikee to finish their barbecue.

I have my camera with me so I captured this moment. I'm gonna miss you so bad, bitches and assholes! I shouted inside my head.

"Smileeee!" I shouted at them and they all posed for the picture.

"Come here, little sister. Help Liz, I'm sure tinatamad na ito dito." sabi ni kuya Mikee.

While walking towards them I can't help myself but to click my camera. I will miss these moments.

"Why El Nido, Belle?" Mica asked curiously habang nilalagay sa apoy ang kanyang marshmallow.

After dinner we decided to do a bonfire and talk about life.

Nagtatanong kasi sila bakit biglaan ang lakad namin ngayon. I guess, this is it. I will tell them about my decision. I know they will be sad about my decision.

"It's because..." I trailed off because I'm nervous about what their reaction may be.

"She's going to Canada and sign a three-year contract with the company of mom's friend as a photographer." kuya Mikee answered quickly.

"Kuya this my moment you know!" sabi ko at kinurot siya.

Tahimik silang lahat at ang dagat lang ang tanging pinag-gagalingan nang ingay. Lahat sila ay nakatingin sa akin at hindi makapag salita dahil siguro sa pagka bigla sa desisyon ko.

"You can work in my company, Belle. You don't need to go there. Offer her to work for your company too, Mikee." offer ni kuya Justin nang maka bawi sa gulat.

"Let her be, Just. Nagawa ko ng i-offer lahat ng pwede kong i-offer sa kanya and this is for her own career." kuya Mikee explained.

I smiled at all of them. Mica, Liz and Nile are still shocked. I know they'll be. I'm shocked with my decision too but I know kuya Mikee is right, I will enhance my skills there at ayaw ko na kunin nila ako dahil lang pinsan o kapatid nila ako. This is the first step to my success. This is for myself.

"Plus mom is there, alone." I said as a matter of fact.

"I will miss you so much, Belle!" sabi ni Liz ng maka bawi sa gulat at sabay yakap sa akin habang umiiyak. Sumunod din na yumakap si Mica at Nile na sumisinghot pa.

"Are you really sure about this?" seryosong tanong ni Matthew.

"Yes, Matt. It's just three years I'll surely come back and you guys are my home." I answered and smiled at him.

I know they're scared that I might not come back like my mom. I can't blame mom she caught dad having an affair before so she moved to Canada and live there peacefully.

"Sabihin mo lang kung nami-miss mo kami at pupunta agad kami sayo sa Canada." sabi naman ni Nile.

Tumawa kaming lahat sa sinabi niya. I know they all can afford but I also know that their life is here.

"I'm serious!" pagalit niyang sigaw sa amin.

"Basta no boyfriend muna, okay?" paalala ni kuya Mikee.

"Pagbigyan mo naman si Belle, Mikee. Baka tumandang dalaga iyan." sabi ni kuya Justin sabay tawa.

"She won't. She's just too young to be in a relationship." supladong sabi ni Kuya.

"Tama na yan kuya, I know my limits." sabat ko kaagad para matapos na ang sagutan nila ni Kuya Justin dahil alam kong aasarin niya na naman si kuya.

"Aysus, limits ka diyan!" segunda ni Liz.

"No limits na pag na sa Canada na yan! Mas liberated doon eh." dugtong naman ni Mica sabay tawa.

"Wala ka nang possessive na kuya doon, pwede ka nang mag boyfriend." kantyaw pa ni Nile para mas lalong ma irita si kuya.

Kuya glared at all of them. Tumawa naman kaming lahat sa ekspresyong ipinakita ni kuya sa amin.

We talked about our younger years. About our memories noong mga bata pa kami sa mansyon ng lolo and lola namin sa probinsiya nila. How kuya Mikee, kuya Justin and Matt used to bully us before and up until now. How quickly time runs. We're all grown ups now.

We took a lot of pictures together. Sober and drunk photos. And we played our favorite game since we were young which is 'watermelon'. The night ended with so many barks of laughters and funny stories kuya Justin and kuya Mikee told us.

Kinabukasan buong araw kaming gumala. We were so happy. We rode the yacht and visited all the lagoons around El Nido. Kaya kinagabihan ubos ang energy naming lahat.

Lumabas kami ni Liz at umupo sa duyan sa gilid ng bahay pagkatapos kumain ng dinner. This is our last night. Babalik na ulit kami bukas ng Manila. Time's really fast when you're happy.

"Humanap ka na nang lovelife mo doon, Belle ha?" suggest niya sabay tawa.

Sa aming lahat si Liz talaga ang pala boyfriend kaya nga siya lagi pinapagalitan nila kuya. Si Mica naman ay matagal na sila ng boyfriend niyang si Marco. Si Nile naman ay hindi nagsasabi kung sino ang flavor of the month niya, parang katulad din siya ni nila kuya kapag sawa na itatapon na lang kaagad.

"Siguro hindi pa para sa akin ang magka boyfriend o siguro ako din ang kinakarma sa mga pinagagawa nila kuya." sabi ko sabay tawa.

Tumawa din si Liz bago niya ako niyakap nang napakahigpit.

"I will miss you so much. You know you're the only one who understands me whatever the situation is. Always update us, okay?" sabi niya habang naluluha na.

Me and Liz are the closest. I'm more like her sister than Nile. Maybe because we have the same attitude and perspective in life.

Bago pa ako makasagot sa pag da-drama ni Liz ay sumigaw na si Matt sa likuran namin.

"Group hug!" sigaw niya at nag lapitan silang lahat sa amin ni Liz.

I smiled and enjoyed the night sea breeze being hugged by my kuya and cousins.

I'm proud that they're my family.