Our What if's

Chapter 3

Dalawang sasakyan ang gamit namin papunta sa Barangay Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet kung saan ang registration area ng mga aakyat sa Mount Ulap, yung Fortuner ni Vin at Xpander ng barkada nya na si Josh.

Si Vin ang nagda-drive ng Fortuner at nasa passenger seat naman ako, habang nasa second row seat naman ang mga kaibigan nya na sina Gab, MJ, at Jessica, at nasa pinaka likod si Angelo kasama ang mga hiking gears at tent.

Sa Xpander naman nakasakay ang iba pa sa barkada nila, sina Josh, Mark, Andrew, Riley, at ang mag-bestfriend na sina Jasmine at Anais.

Earlier when his friends arrived at their house, Vin introduced me to them, at kahit na yun pa lang naman yung unang beses ng pagkikita namin, naging mainit ang pagtanggap nila sa akin, kaya naman mabilis din akong naging komportable sa kanila.

Iyon din ang unang beses na nakita ko si Anais sa personal. Tahimik lang sya at pangiti-ngiti lang sa isang tabi, at sumasagot lang kapag tinatanong o kapag dinadaldal ng matalik na kaibigan na si Jasmine.

When Anais and I were introduced to each other, nakaramdam ako ng konting insecurity, kasi unang-una, she is an accomplished woman, I heard she works as HR manager in the construction company where Gab and MJ work and where Vin also used to work. Professional Engineer na naman ako pero I know I still have a lot to prove.

She's also very simple but pretty. Her ash brown hair just reaches her shoulders, and although a bit disheveled, maganda pa rin tingnan. She has a chinky pair of eyes that highlights her smile. Anais and I are of the same complexion, she's a bit smaller than me though, but she still seems more mature than most of the girls their age.

A mature woman would look good with Vin, which I think, I don't fit. I can try hard but the years between our age is a big factor, I'm still and will always be five years behind.

Parang may kung anong pumiga sa puso ko sa isiping iyon. And to think that they've been together for years made my heart sank in envy.

While deciding who are gonna ride which car, napansin kong papalapit si Anais sa Fortuner pero hinarangan sya ni Jessica at may kung anong sinabi dito. Anais then walked to the direction of the Xpander at doon na sumakay, nakasunod naman sa kanya si Jasmine.

Si Jessica rin ang nag-suggest na sa passenger seat ako maupo sa dahilang mas magiging komportable daw ako kung malapit ako kay Vin, dahil sya rin naman daw ang matagal ko nang kakilala sa kanila. And I couldn't agree more.

The first hour of the trip is noisy. Maingay silang magkakaibigan dahil sa biruan, kwentuhan, at paminsan-minsang pagsabay sa kanta sa radyo. Pati tuloy ako ay natatawa sa mga kalokohan nila.

Vin is very blessed with good people around him. His family and friends are enough proof of that.

Nang siguro ay nakaramdam ng pagod, natulog na sina Gab, MJ, at Jessica, samantalang busy naman sa pagc-cellphone ang nag-iisa sa likod na si Angelo. I was still smiling when Vin spoke, just enough for the two of us to hear.

"I'm glad you get along well with them."

"That's because they're loud, it's easy."

There's a moment of silence after that. Inabala ko na lang ang sarili ko sa pagc-cellphone. But then Vin asked me something na nagpa-nerbiyos sa akin.

"Anong pinag-uusapan nyo ng ate kanina bago ako dumating sa kusina?"

I assumed he didn't hear any of it kaya hindi ko na lang binanggit yung sinabi ng ate nya tungkol sa history nila ni Anais.

"Hmm, wala naman. Tinanong lang nya ako kung gaano na tayo katagal na magkakilala."

"Yun lang?"