Chapter 01

"Ma, Pa," I called my parents while eating dinner. "May ipapaalam sana ako."

Mama looked at me. "What is it, Lilianna?"

I gulped and looked at my father. He nodded and urged me to speak.

"Um, my classmates from senior high school... they plan to go on Sumilon Island this Saturday. I was hoping if I could go...?"

Papa looked at Mama while she was just there eating eating her food. Ako naman ay medyo kinakabahan sa maaari niyang sagot. Whether she will let me go or not, I will oblige. Wala naman akong kaibigan doon, e.

"Okay," Mama spoke out of the blue.

My eyes widened. "Really?"

"Take Manong with you."

Of course. Of course she won't let me go there on my own. Palagi nalang may chaperone, whether si Manong Ramon or any of the maids I'm close with.

"Okay, Ma."

Morning came and I'm already prepared for the trip to Sumilon Island. Sabi ni Zoey sa group chat, dito kami sa harap ng old school namin sa Talisay magme-meet up.

I came to the meeting place last since andami pang pinapaalala ni Mama lalo na si Papa na halos ayaw na niya akong paalisin sa bahay.

"I'm sorry, I'm late!" I apologized to Zoey. She looked at my behind and I know who she was looking at.

Akala ko si Mang Ramon lang ang sasama sa akin pero ipinasama rin ni Mama ang anak nito na working scholar din ni Papa, si Greg.

Ever since nakatungtong ako ng high school, Greg was already around. He's two years ahead of me when it comes to education and age. Hindi kami close but we get along somehow.

I smiled apologetically at Zoey. "Don't worry, they're on me."

Zoey only smiled and then ordered the people to go inside the van she rented for us to ride on. Papasok na sana ako roon nang may humawak sa braso ko. Napalingon ako at nakitang si Greg iyon.

"Miss Lili, ang sabi po sa akin ng mga magulang mo na sa kotse niyo lang ikaw pwede sumakay," ani Greg at napakamot ng kilay niya.

I sighed and removed his hand on my arm.

"Right."

I once again apologized to Zoey and she just smiled and said, "No worries! Sundan niyo lang ang van."

Sa lahat ng classmates ko sa senior high, si Zoey lang ata ang palaging pumapansin sa akin and maybe that's because I'm an officer.

Zoey turned to Manong Ramon.

"Sir, medyo malayo po ang byahe natin. Kaya niyo po bang mag-drive?" Zoey asked out of concern. Medyo matanda na rin si Mang Ramon.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, hija. Marunong naman mag-drive ang anak ko kaya walang problema."

Napatingin si Zoey sa katabi kong si Greg na nakatingin din sa kaniya. Tumikhim si Zoey at agad nagpaalam n papasok na siya ng van.

Si Greg naman ay nakatingin pa rin sa papalayong si Zoey kaya siniko ko siya para asarin. "Crush mo ba? Beauty and brains iyan."

Gregory sneered. "Hindi po, miss. Self-love muna ako ngayon."

I just chuckled and shook my head. Gregory is the type of person who'd fall easily to people he find good or pasok sa taste niya sa mga babae. And yup, pasadong pasado si Zoey.

Pumasok na ako sa backseat habang sina Manong at Greg ay nasa harapan. Papalit-palit sila sa pag-drive kapag napapagod si Manong kaya mabuti nalang din siguro na isinama si Greg sa trip na 'to.

Medyo malayo-layo pa ang byahe patungong Oslob kung saan ang isla kaya madalas kaming nags-stop over.

Nasa lungsod na kami ng Alcoy, which is also a place that is popular for its beaches. I wonder why Zoey didn't pick this place?

"Hey, Lil!" tawag sa akin ni Zoey. Nasa likuran ako ngayon ng kotse at pinapanuod ang magandang tanawin sa harapan.

May inabot sa akin si Zoey na tatlong piraso ng burger. I looked up to her, questioning why was she giving me these.

"It's a snack for you three. Batid kong hindi pa kayo kumakain," she said and smiled.

"Pero meron kaming dalang extrang pagkain—"

"Hep! Just accept those burgers. You can give one to your boyfriend—"

"Gregory's not my boyfriend, Zo—"

"That's a relief—" Zoey exclaimed and then her eyes widened a moment after. As for me, I tried so hard to prevent myself from laughing. So this is lowkey bribery.

"Yep. Thank you, Zo," pasasalamat ko nalang.

Nahihiyang ngumiti si Zoey at agad nagpaalam. Dahilan niya'y marami pa siyang gagawin dahil saktong tanghalian na an hour from now.

Pumasok naman ako sa kotse at ginising si Gregory na natutulog sa shotgun seat habang si Mang Ramon naman ay nakahiga sa backseat.

I threw the two burgers at him. Nagulat naman siya.

"Ano 'to, miss?"

I shrugged. "Dowry siguro."

"Huh?"

I shook my head lightly and took a bite. "Kumain ka nalang."

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa ni Greg habang kumakain ng burger. Napansin kong palagi niya akong sinusulyapan kaya noong napuno na ako ay nagsalita na ako.

"Bakit?"

"Okay ka lang ba, Lilianna?"

I sighed. Sa tuwing tinatawag na niya ako sa pangalan ko ay umaariba na naman ang pagiging "kuya" niya sa akin. Oo, hindi kami close but since he's Papa's scholar, parang obligasyon niya na rin ang bantayan ako.

"Okay lang naman. Bakit mo natanong, Kuya?" sabi ko at umirap. 

He sighed. "Pwede ka namang humindi sa gusto ng nanay mo, e."

"Kung ganoon kadali edi sana ginawa ko na. Pero hindi, e. Si Papa nga na isang marangal na sundalo tiklop sa kaniya, paano na kaya ako na anak lang?"

"So ganiyan nalang? Ayaw mo nang gawin ang gusto mong gawin noon pa lang?"

"What goes, I follow," tanging sagot ko.

Naputol ang pag-uusap namin nang biglang kumatok si Zoey sa kotse namin. Lumabas naman ako at hinarap siya.

"Lil, I know this is bothersome but I have a favor to ask sana..."

"Ano iyon, Zo?"

Zoey scratched her eyebrows. "Diba palagi kayong naga-outing dito sa Alcoy?"

"Medyo. Bakit?"

"Can you accompany me to Voda Krasna? You've been there, right?"

Tumango ako. "Oo. May kikitain ka ba roon?"

"Yes. I have to go fetch my cousin. Sasama kasi siya sa atin patungong Sumilon," sagot niya and held my hand. "Accompany me, please? You can bring Greg with you."

I smiled. Hindi ko alam kung nagsasabi siya ng totoo o nagpapalusot lang, e.

"Okay."

As planned, I brought Greg with me all the way to Voda Krasna, a three-star hotel in Tingko Beach, one of the beautiful beaches in Alcoy.

Si Zoey lang ang pumasok habang kaming dalawa ni Greg ay naiwan sa may entrance.

"She likes you, by the way," I spoke.

Greg looked at me with furrowed brows. "Sino, iyong classmate mo? Imposible. Ang ganda n'on, miss!"

I laughed. "Hindi ka naman pangit."

"Hindi rin gwapo," Greg said and sighed. "Naku, miss! Pinapaasa mo lang ako."

Tinawanan ko lang siya habang hinihintay si Zoey kasama ang pinsan niya. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay nakita ko na si Zoey at may kasama na siyang isang makisig at matangkad na lalaki.

His figure was somehow familiar to me. I looked at his face but I can't seem to decipher kasi naka-sunglasses siya.

"Guys, meet my cousin, Kairos," panimula ni Zoey. "Kai, they're my friends—Lilianna and Gregory."

The man beside Zoey smirked and slowly removed his sunglasses. Ganoon nalang ang pag-awang ng bibig ko nang makita ko ang kabuuan ng kaniyang mukha.

"You!" sabi ko sabay turo sa kaniya, still in shock.

The brute only waved his hand and smirked.

"Hi, red bra. Pleased to meet you again."

This brute! This goddamned brute is Zoey's cousin?! I can't believe this. How small the world could get?

✓