Chapter 34

"I hated this feeling..." I muttered when I'm packing up the last few of my clothes.

"Why would you have to go tomorrow? We can both go on the weekend! I think that'll be fun and we can still spend some time?"

"I wish I could do that." I sighed, rolling my eyes. "But I've got it all settled and cannot change my schedule. I still have one night. I'll be leaving at eight in the morning tomorrow. It's a well-spent summer. One sure thing I couldn't change for anything."

"Well, except for almost dying," she pointed out. "But as far as I can see, all the things that you did here on the beach all throughout summer is something I couldn't have done for myself. Well done. At least, you're alive and have a boyfriend." She giggled.

I grabbed the pillow next to me and smashed her with it. "No! Valerio's not my boyfriend. Just because I've met his father doesn't mean we're getting there. We're just friends and I think it's better to stay it that way. Long-distance is hard."

"Hmm... are you sure?"

I grunted. "Kurutin ko singit mo, Rasha!"

She laughed. Halatang gigil kasi ang expression ng mukha ko. "I don't know what you said, but don't deny it. I know you like him. Just say the truth."

"Okay, fine. I like him, but not that much!"

She smirked, arching her brow. "Don't tell that to my face. Tell that to Valerio who you keep dodging his stares. But did he say anything about everything?"

"Nothing."

I lied. Hindi ko sinabi sa kanya iyong halik na iniwan ni Valerio sa akin. I almost get caught from that moment, Kuya Emmett asking what I was doing outside. Hindi ko naman sinagot dahil alam kong aasarin niya lang ako. I kept it for myself. I don't know what's happening on Valerio's head, I'm not sure about everything.

"For real? That's boring. Good thing, he's a pretty-hunky man."

I giggled. "That I won't deny."

Nagpatuloy naman ako sa pagliligpit ng mga gamit ko. Tinulungan naman ako ni Rasha na iligpit ang mga ito. Well, she's here not because of Kuya Henry—for the first time. Rasha will be leaving on weekend. Mauuna lamang ako. We're on a different university and if we're going to the same university, we would be leaving on the same time, so we're just spending what we could do to our time.

Pagbalik sa college, haharapin ko ulit ang sandamakmak na school works.

"Hey, I just remember one thing," Rasha said. "What about the interview? I know Rene made a big issue with it and hopefully, she won't get back to you. But that's the reason you've joined the training so what are you gonna do with all the information you have?"

"Well, I'll keep it for myself. Valerio and I talked about it, I won't publish any articles that he is the subject. I think I'll be focusing on the Bondi beach which is pretty relevant at any time so that's still a good subject—a lot of things happened in a day on the beach so I can work on it."

"I see..."

"And about what happened to me and Rene. I think one of the reasons that made me go to the water that day was because of how I was conscious about what people would say to me. I was so anxious. I was terrified... so heading to the water, I let it all go and somehow it made me feel so free about anything."

"Well, what she did was wrong. I hope you blocked her."

"I almost did," I said. "She messaged me. I didn't tell you about this because I know what would be your reaction is. She reached out to me when she heard the news that I drowned on the beach. She apologizes for coming at me like that. She felt so sorry for all the actions she did on social media. I forgave her. I didn't block her. But we're not friends anymore. I'm not sure if she unfollowed me or whatever. We're passed over the issue, I'm moving forward to an even better future."

"That's what I like about you!" Rasha said, sits on my side, and hugged me tightly. "I don't know what I would do without you! I'm so glad that you're my best friend. I'm also happy you'll be getting your first boyfriend!"

"Rasha!" I scolded, shoving her hands off of me. "I won't repeat it all over again. He's not my boyfriend, understood?"

"And why are you mad at me?!" she countered. "That's just my opinion. Don't take it seriously."

"Of course, I'll take it seriously. My brothers are so nosey and they could hear you saying that word."

"Duh? They were already thinking that you and Valerio are in a relationship."

"It's because you kept saying it so loud! That's why Kuya Henry dated someone else and not you because you're so annoying."

Her eyes widened, shocked, and then crossed her arms. "I didn't like that, Thesia! Take it back!"

"Duh? But it's the truth. He's dating someone else and you could be that someone else if you have just told him."

"Oooh... you've told Valerio you liked him?"

"I didn't mean it was the thing I did," I explained. "I don't think we'll get over this discussion away, Rasha. Let's just pack this all up and get downstairs. You'll never get your own boyfriend if you don't help me out here."

"That's a big statement, Thesia."

"And I meant it."

We finished packing my stuff just around fifteen minutes. May mga nasa labahan pa akong damit so I'll just put them all tomorrow before leaving. Sabay na rin naman kaming bumaba ni Rasha sa sala at naabutan namin si Kuya Craig at Ate Jenna roon. Next week pa sila aalis. Si Kuya Henry ay nasa food truck niya ngayon habang si Kuya Emmett naman ay nasa duty niya sa beach.

Normally, Rasha would suggest we should be going to some places we could spend the day together. Naisip ko namang mag-stay na lang din sa bahay at tumulong sa pagluluto o kung ano man ang pupwede pang gawin.

Rasha and I decided to do a live stream on my profile and that goes for three hours straight. I haven't done it for a long time and a lot of people are asking me about my situation and what happened to me at the beach. For transparency, kinuwento ko iyong nangyari and they were sending gifts and kind words to me. I really appreciate all their efforts to me—but the fact that some of them contributed to what Rene did. Hindi ko naman sila mapipigilan do'n. It's their life and I just have to live mine.

Nang sumapit ang gabi, magkasabay na umuwi sina Kuya Emmett at Kuya Henry. Binanggit pa ni Kuya Emmett sa akin si Valerio na hindi raw ito pumasok ngayon dahil may sakit. Nag-alala naman ako bigla. Ang suggestion pa sa akin ni Rasha ay puntahan ko sa bahay nito pero medyo malayo-layo pa ito. Wala naman ako motor o kotse. At saka anong oras na. Baka pagdating ko ro'n, pagalitan pa ako no'n kasi mag-isa akong naglalakad.

Habang nag-aasikaso ang lahat bago maghapunan, Tumungo ako sa kwarto at mabilis kong tinawagan si Valerio. Hindi pa agad nito nasagot ang tawag ko. I tried dialling his number for the third time until he answered it.

"Hm..." A very tired grunt greeted me. "Who is this?"

"It's Thesia, Val..."

"Hey..." matamlay nitong sagot sa akin.

"Kuya Emmett told me you were sick. That's why you're not responding to my messages earlier. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm sorry. I was just trying to take a rest."

"Of course, of course. I'm so dumb. But how are you doing now? Will you be fine?"

"Hmm..." that response is kind of assuring me that he will be. "I will be fine. You don't have to worry about me."

"Have you taken your medicine?"

"I did earlier."

"Have you eaten yet?"

"Earlier, I just made a quick soup. I will eat later..."

"Do you want me to come over?"

"No, you don't have to. I'll be fine, Carseldine."

"Oh... okay. If you say so. I'm just worried."

"I'm sure you do, but I feel better now than this morning. I might be on duty tomorrow."

"No, you should take a rest. You don't have to push yourself, Val. You'll be in fatigue if you insist to do that."

"Alright, alright. I'll give Brendan a call. What about you? What are you doing now?"

"We're about to have dinner. My day has been so boring. I was just packing up my stuff because I will be leaving tomorrow."

"Oh... you're leaving?"

"Yeah... this summer has left a mark on me. I won't forget this summer. Thank you for making it so special, Val."

"Yeah... just leave out the part where you almost died."

I chuckled. "That's what people always said. I think I should let you take a rest for now. I was just checking in on you and good to hear you're doing fine. Just give me a call when you need something, okay?"

"Sounds great, Carseldine. Oh, wait... what time are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Around eight in the morning. I will let you know once I arrive at my destination. Would that be good?"

"Cool for me..."

"Alright, I'll be hanging up now. Take a rest."

"Thanks..."

When I hang up the phone and went back downstairs, wala naman silang tinanong sa akin. I just joined them at dinner and Kuya Emmett has always a lot to say about what happened throughout his day on the beach.

The next day, maaga akong nagising upang maaga rin makarating doon. I have to be there by ten dahil may kailangan akong i-report sa office. Though hindi naman komplikado ang biyahe dahil halos isang oras lang din naman ang itatagal ng biyahe—depend na lang ito sa magiging way of transportation pero dahil ihahatid ako ni Kuya Craig, almost thirty minutes lang din ang biyahe.

Nauna na naman nilang ilagay sa sasakyan ang ilang bagahe ko. Sinamahan naman nila ako palabas ng bahay at isa-isa nila akong niyakap. Hindi pa nagbukas ng food truck si Kuya Henry dahil gusto niyang sumama sa paghatid sa akin. Gusto rin naman ni Kuya Emmett pero dahil may trabaho siya sa beach at bago pa lamang siya, he has to be on his duty.

When I was about to get inside the car, nakarinig naman kami ng tunog ng motor. Mabilis akong napalingon sa direksyon kung saan ito nanggagaling. Napatitig naman ako kay Valerio nang i-park nito ang kanyang motor sa likod ng sasakyan. Nakatingin din ang buong pamilya ko sa kanya. Bumaba ito ng motor niya at lumapit sa akin.

"You shouldn't be here," aniko. "How are you feeling now? You should be resting, right?"

"I couldn't miss this chance before you go and I'm a little bit fine now."

"Okay, sure. Thanks for coming... I appreciate it."

What he did next surprises me. Niyakap niya ako sa harap nilang lahat. He usually does that in front of them, but every time he does it, nagugulat pa rin ako. Niyakap ko rin naman siya pabalik.

"I will wait for you..." he uttered.

"Huh? Wait for me... for what?"

"You'll see..."

That left me wondering. "Okay... now you should go back home and have some rest. I'll let you know when I arrived at my college.'

"Sounds good to me... be safe and take care of yourself, alright? I'll be seeing you again in the next summer..."

I nodded. "Sure... take care of yourself as well...goodbye."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye, everyone! I'll let you guys know when we arrived there."

For one last time, niyakap ko muli silang lahat. Nang pumasok na ako sa loob ng sasakyan ay sumunod naman si Kuya Henry. Sa mga ngitian niya, alam kong may pinaparating iyong kakaiba pero hinayaan ko na lamang.

Nang paandarin na ni Kuya Craig ang sasakyan ay hinabol kami ni Valerio at saka kami nilagpasan hanggang sa lumiko na ito at hindi ko na nakita pa.

Napabitaw na lamang ako nang malalim na buntonghininga. That left me sad inside, but I know what happened during summer is something I cannot forget. All the things that happened, even though it is good or not, this is different from what summer I usually have.

I'm glad I've taken that risk... I'm glad I'm still alive.

***

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