In Time With You

SIX: Terra

Sangria was awfully silent. Sa totoo lang, she was also weirded our by her reactions. On a normal circumstance, baka nakisabay na sya sa pakikipagkulitan sa mga kaklase nya. Pero mula pa kaninang mabunot sila ni Del ay halos wala na syang imik at hinayaang magpatangay na lamang sa mga nangyayari. Actually simula pa iyon kaninang magkasabay silang kumain ng lunch. She felt weirded out by the situation and what she was feeling inside.

This trip is supposed to be a light and fun reunion. Well, masaya naman nga dahil kasama niya ang mga kabarkada. But the surge of feelings is taking a toll on her. Maturity also has some downside, especially handling a roller-coaster of emotions involving her heart.

Siguro kung noon, it will all just be kilig and bliss. Pero matanda na sila para dito, everyone should move on from a puppy love like hers.

But then again, she also didn't want to spoil the fun for her friends. After all, siya nga naman ang promotor niyon noon. Baka karma na nya ito. And she'd be lying if she'd say she's full moved on at hindi na siya naapektuhan sa presensya ni Del.

Funny and pathetic para sa kanya, because fifteen years is a long time — way long, to hold on to a feeling that never was. If all else, nakikini-kinita na niya na isang matinding heartbreak na naman ang makukuha niya mula sa pagsakay sa asarang iyon.

Yup, maybe all of those sweet gestures and small things that Del remembers about her was part of an asaran.

Ehh, paano if hindi? Paano kung mag-work? Tudyo ng isang bahagi ng utak niya.

Umiling naman sya, she was alone in the room. Sitting at the edge of the bed and swinging her bare feet.

It's a capital N-O, never siyang nagustuhan at magugustuhan ni Del. She was sure of that. Hindi nga ba at sinabi nito on their way to Zambales na naiisip pa rin nito na sundan si Raq? He was clearly not yet over her, as she was to him.

She sighed at the outburst of realizations. Eksakto namang pagbukas ng pinto at iniluwa niyon si Del. May dala itong picnic basket at brown envelope.

"Hey," marahang bati nito sa kanya. Marahil tinatantya ang mood niya. She opted to shift back to her bubbly self, as to not make things awkward and/or complicated. After all, this is just for a night. Who knows? Next year, baka mag-asawa na si Del at hindi na maulit iyon.

Kaya kahit tila hihikain siya safeels, hahayaan na lang muna niya kung anuman ang mangyari. May panahon naman parati para mag-move on. Last five hours lang, pramis!

Umupo si Del sa may paanan ng kama at sumandal doon. She stopped swinging her feet.

"Here we are again!" She started. "Umay na ako sa'yo pero sige, tapusin na natin 'to." she jokingly added.

"Well, who knows? You might be stuck with me longer.." makahulugang bulong nito.

"Ano kamo?" She probed.

Del just smiled and opened the picnic basket beside him.

May laman iyong ilang bag ng potato chips. Iyon lang ang klase ng chichirya na kinakaina niya. There were bags of Lay's, Pringles, and Ruffles in assorted flavors pero lahat ng naroon ay paborito din niya.

At may dalawang bote ng Jose Cuervo. "Whoa!" Del exclaimed upon seeing the tall bottles.

"Yeah, whoa!". Her highschool classmates sure have gone crazy extra.

"It says here in the card, we should finish at least on bottle of Cuervo as part of of the challenge. Along with that we'd have to answer these seven questions. And — " Del peeked at the basket. "Record our conversation using this." inilabas nito ang maliit na digital recorder.