Visions of the Sea

Chapter 8

(Song for this chapter: "This Love" by Taylor Swift)

*** Warming Up ***

"We'll get going now, Thyl. Please, call us if you need anything. Be careful. Kuya, I'll see you again. Mag-ingat kayo ni Ungas," pamamaalam ni Kuya Cohen habang nasa labas kami ng bahay kinaumagahan sa pag-alis nila.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "I will, kuya. We'll see each other soon. Keep safe, okay?"

He does the same and kisses me on the forehead before going inside the car.

"You're birthday's coming up. What do you want to do? Where do you want to go?" Kuya William asks as he stands beside me while they're loading up his luggage.

I shrug. "I actually don't know. I have so much things going at school. I might not celebrate it grandly. Your birthday is a month away from mine. I'll probably celebrate my birthday in December or during any breaks I have from school," I answer uncertainly.

"Well, your mom's gonna find a way for you to celebrate it either way. And we'll be home for it," he glances at me and smiles.

I hook one arm to his waist and give him a hug. "I'll be looking forward to that. Have a safe trip. I'll visit you in Conneticut soon."

He kisses the top of my head and pulls me closer for an embrace. "Love you."

Mahina akong natawa. My kuya might be scary but he's secretly a softie.

"Love you, too. You should be on your way now," I rub his back to let him go and he pats my head before getting inside the other car.

Nang makaalis na ang dalawa, nanatili ako sa labas upang hintayin ang nag-iisang natitira na kanina pa sana nakaalis kung naayos niya nang matiwasay ang mga gamit. Kaso wala, eh. Nahuli sa paggising.

"Kuya Simon! What's taking so long? You need to be at the pier by three!" I shout from the outside.

"Sandali lang! Hinahanap ko pa yung brief ko!" sigaw niya pabalik. Rinig talaga iyon ng mga tao sa buong bahay.

I face-palm myself because this guy has absolutely no modesty whatsoever.

"What the hell, you lost it!? How!?"

"Aha! Nahanap ko na! Wait lang."

I remain outside for a couple more minutes and I finally see him rushing down the stairs with his small suitcase going out the door.

"Shit! May nakalimutan pa ba ako?" natataranta niyang sabi pero tiningnan ko ang lahat ng dala niya at natantong wala na.

"Nothing. Your sanity, probably. You look like you're about to pee in your pants," I suppress a giggle but that earns me a dagger of a look.

"Bakit ba kasi tayo nanood ng tatlong pelikula sa iisang gabi?" he scratches his hair and he closes his eyes for a moment as Ate Mildred puts his things in the car.

"Who told you to drink so much beer last night? Kita mo nagkaroon ka ng hangover. Here," I pass him something to put on his temples.

We all slept in my room last night because we agreed to watch horror movies. Pinag-awayan pa nila kung ano yung papanoorin namin. Kuya Simon wanted to watch '3 Idiots' while the other two want to see something scary.

"Nandito na tayong tatlo. Tayo na yung three idiots," pagbibiro ni Kuya Cohen.

"Sinong 'tayo'?" mapanuring tiningnan ni Kuya William ang kapatid at natawa lang itong umiling.

"Kayo na lang ang pumili. I'll get something to eat downstairs," I got up and went downstairs. Sumama rin si Kuya Cohen para kumuha ng beer nilang tatlo.