Serendipity (Thalassophile)

Twenty-two

Weekend—the much awaited day for Krislene. She's really looking forward to this day since she'll be with the man she loves again. Not only that, ipagbe-bake daw kasi sya ni Dylan ng strawberry shortcake which she's really craving ever since Dylan mentioned it.

At dahil sa sobrang excited nya, maaga syang nagising at nag-asikaso ng sarili. She just wore a romper. Well, iyon lang naman ang kadalasang suot nya. If not crop top and shorts, it'll be romper. And of course, with a touch of blue, as always. She partnered it with a pair of her favorite gladiator flats and now, she's ready to go.

Alam nyang baka wala pa si Dylan but she wanted to be ready in case na dumating na ito. And when she got downstairs, she was surprised seeing her cousin from her Father's side at the living room together with her parents.

"Van!"

Ivan looked at her and instantly smiled. "Hey couz!"

She smiled and waved at him then she walked towards her parents and kissed them on the cheeks before sitting beside Ivan on the long couch.

"Ang aga mo yatang nagising?" Napagpapantastikuhang tanong ni Ivan sa kanya nang makaupo sya sa tabi nito.

And before she could answer her cousin, her Mother did it for her. "Oh it's weekend! May date si Krislene."

Then her Father—Kristoff—interfered, "Wait. Date? With whom?"

"With Merlin's eldest." Simpleng sagot ng kanyang ina bago ito sumisimsim ng kape.

Kristoff frowned. "Dylan Kingsley you mean?"

Her Mother—Selene—rolled her eyes. "Kristoff may iba pa bang eldest si Merlin?"

"I was just confused." Kristoff said. "I thought it was our eldest daughter that Dylan likes."

Selene smiled at her before she spoke once again, "Well, maybe Dylan already found the right one?"

Napatango-tango naman ang kanilang ama bago ito magkomentong muli. "Well, you're right."

"And who's Dylan by the way Tío? Tía?" Ivan asked.

"He's—" At bago pa maituloy ng ina ni Krislene ang sasabihin nito, narinig nilang may nag-doorbell sa may pinto. "Oh for a while." Her Mother said then stood up and walked towards the door.

Then Ivan once again turned to her and held her hand while fidgeting her fingers. "May date pala ang paborito kong pinsan."

Krislene chuckled. "Iparinig mo 'yan kay Ate K, sigurado ako, magtatampo iyon sayo."

"Syempre pag hindi ka kaharap, paborito ko ang Ate mo. Pero pag ikaw ang kaharap ko, ikaw ang paborito ko." Asar nito sa kanya kaya't inirapan nya ito habang sya naman ay tinatawanan nito.

"So sino nga si Dylan?" Pag-uulit na tanong ni Ivan sa kanya. And when she was about to answer his throwed question, someone cleared his throat that made them look at him.

And there, she saw that man who makes her heart beat insanely fast, just like now. But she noticed, Dylan is not looking directly at her, but on her hand that is held by Ivan.

Oh shit! Baka kung ano nanaman ang isipin ni Dylan! Kahit pa pinsan nya si Ivan, the fact na pinagseselosan ito ni Dylan, dapat nyang idistansya ang sarili nya. Mahirap na. At dahil doon, agad nyang binawi ang kamay nya sa pagkakahawak ni Ivan bago nya ito batiin.

"Hi Dylan!"

And there you go, Dylan is now looking at her straight in the eyes but still, he looks pissed.

"Oh Dylan Hijo, narito ka na pala." Biglang sabi ng kanyang ama dito kaya't tumingin ito at ngumiti sa kanyang ama at bumati dito.

"Good morning po Tío."