If This Is How It Ends [FIN]

15

#ITIHIEnds15

When we were announced as the over-all champion, everyone in the crowd went wild. Although this was kinda expected considering the fact the we delivered on almost every events, academic or non-academic, but still, everyone was happy. The officers were crying because they put on so much effort for this. I couldn't imagine how many sleepless nights of preparation they've endured for this to happen.

Everyone was thanking us and I had to see Joachin getting pulled out by the lower years para magpapicture. Instant celebrity kahit panay tulog lang naman ang ginawa.

For the last day of the convention, we were told na pwedeng mamasyal around the resort and I was kind of looking forward for this. Hindi ako nakapamasyal kahapon because of Joachin. We still didn't bring up the subject yet. But I think, we're both okay with that.

I wore our convention shirt tucked-in in my dark blue midi skirt. I paired it with a pair of boots. I just wore my hair down and put on some lip balm. I heard a knock on the door. Nauna na kasi sila Juri sa labas. Pinuntahan pa kasi ni Juri yung kapatid niya. Come to think of it, alam kong kasama si Salazar sa convetion nato but never ko siyang nakita sa halos tatlong araw naming stay dito.

Kinuha ko na lang ang bag ko and binuksan ang pinto.

"Ready?" Joachin asked me.

Ngumiti ako, "I was born ready."

We met Juri and a whining Salazar at the lobby. Based sa snippets of conversation na narinig ko mula sa kanilang dalawang magkapatid, I could tell na Salazar drank, without the faculty in charge's permission, with his group last night and then he overslept. Nagising lang siya when Juri went to their hotel room. Hanggang ngayon di pa rin ako makapaniwala na magkapatid sila. They're just too different.

"Bat pa kasi kailangan kasama pa ako?" Salazar whined. I saw Juri pinching his brother's arm that made Salazar winced in pain.

"Baka ano na naman kasi yung gawin mo." Sinabit ni Juri yung kamay niya sa braso ni Salazar at hinila niya ito.

Sumunod na lang kaming dalawa ni Joachin sa likod nila. Dumiretso na lang kami sa tabing dagat at umupo sa mga make-shift seats doon. Nagpaalam si Salazar at si Joachin na bibili muna ng food and refreshments kaya naiwan kaming dalawa ni Juri dito.

Juri and I, we became closer sa stay namin dito sa convention. Kami lang kasi halos yung same ng likes and routines sa room. We both prefer solitude and silence. Kapag kasi dumating na yung dalawang karoom namen, kahit antok na antok ka na at gusto mong matulog, di ka makakatulog kasi ang dami nilang pinaguusapan.

"Do you know that Max was my brother?"

I nodded. "Joachin told me."

"Ah right." Juri rolled her eyes. "Can't act surprise that Joachin already beat me to it. Can I?"

I chuckled because of her expression. "He didn't say much tho. Sinabi niya lang na magkapatid kayo."

"Yes, I guess Max didn't tell him. It's a little bit complicated. But Max and I, we have different mothers."

My mouth formed an 'o'. Why is it na ngayon ko lang nalalaman ang mga ito. You're on isolation for the past four years Anka, what do you expect? My subconscious chided in.

And what's with people dropping their personal bombs on me? Di naman ako nagrereklamo but I just have to ask. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful at all that they feel that they can trust me with their secrets. Am I required to drop some secrets too? Because I don't have one.

Joachin confessed to you stupid. That counts as a secret. My subconscious mind interrupted. I gave her a mental roll of the eyes.

"Ang cute mo magulat, Anka." I closed my lips. "Let's just say na ang playboy ng tatay namin to have us separately but on the same time." Tumawa si Juri. Parang di siya affected na ganon yung nangyari sa pamilya nila.