"Hoy, ikaw ha, namimihasa ka na sa pag-akbay," teasing, I said to Hairo even though I could hear my heart pounding because of what he did.

Bakit ba ang lakas ng tibok nitong puso ko? Simpleng akbay lang naman. Simpleng akbay lang. Akbay lang galing sa matagal ko ng crush.

Teka–– kinikilig ba ako?! Obviously.

"Gusto ko," he said. "Huwag ka ng umepal," he added and led me into the elevator when it opened.

I greeted the person inside the elevator by bowing. He also bowed and even smiled at me, to avoid being rude, I also smiled at him.

"Kilala mo?" bulong ni Hairo sa tainga ko.

I shook my head. "Nope."

"Then why smile at him?" he asked, still in whisper.

I tiptoed a bit to reach Hairo's ear so that I can whisper to him. I ignored his scent that engulfed my nostrils.

"He smiled at me, first. So I also smiled at him." I whispered.

"Really?"

"Oo! Really," I said.

Nilayo ko ang bibig ko sa tainga niya at umayos ng tayo nang may narinig akong tumikhim. It was the guy with us.

"Floor?" he asked.

"Lobby," I answered.

He nodded and tapped the lobby button. Dahil nasa harapan namin siya, he turned his head at us –– specifically at me. I was a little surprised when he looked at me –– more like, he's eyeing me.

"You looked familiar," he said and finally faced me, crossing his arms on his chest.

I blinked and pointed my self. "Me?" I asked.

"Uhuh," he said, nodding his head. He tilted his head as if he's trying to remember something.

"Aja!" he exclaimed, clicking his fingers. "Zairene Arzuela!"

Napakurap kurap ako. "Yeah.. that's me.." I awkwardly said. "Mayhap do I know you?"

He crossed his arms. "Sid?" he asked. "Ring a bell?"

I furrowed my brows. Sid.. Sid.. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at tinuro siya.

"Sid Adryan?" tanong ko, pointing him.

He grinned. "At your service," he said. "Ahh. How dare you forget 'bout me?" he asked.

I plastered a playful smile. "Sorry, haven't seen you for at least a month? Yes," I said. "How have you been?"

"Me is good. Ikaw?" he asked then his gaze was transferred to Hairo. His mouth formed an 'o'. "You're with your boyfriend, I see," he said.

I shook my head. "Nope. He's kuya's bestfriend."

"Okay, if you say so," aniya.

"What are you doing here, anyways?" I asked. "As far as I know, hindi ka mahilig sa mga resort or what so ever."

He chuckled. "Project–– or sort of," aniya. "Dami kasing arte ni Madame Kijo, tol. Dito pa gusto gumawa ng project," aniya at umiling iling pa.

"You with Juri?" I asked.

He nodded. "Hmm, yes. Pero nasa baba yata siya, kasama si Madame Kijo."

"Ikaw? Sa'n ka ba?" tanong ko.

He was about to answer my question when the elevator stop and made ‘ting!’ sound.

"Dito na ako," he said and smiled. "Bye-bye, Zairene Arzuela!" sabi niya at lumabas ng elevator. Before the elevator closed, he waved at me and winked. Ngumiti lang ako at kumaway pabalik.

"You're close with him." Finally, Hairo speak.

"Yeap. He's Juri's bestfriend. Naging close lang kami noong lagi akong tambay kina Juri, lagi kasi siya ro'n. Playing video games with Juri and eventually with me." pahayag ko.

"Mm-mm," tanging nasabi lang niya.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako at hindi na binuka pa ang bibig. Kinuha ko nalang ang cellphone kong nilagay ko kanina sa bulsa ng suot kong jeans.

I raised my brow when my name was mentioned on our group chat.

Juri Villamora: @Zairene

Zach Villamora: @Zairene

Zashienna Villamora: @Zairene

Zantheya Villamora: @Zairene

buksan niyo zipper ng bag niyo: @Zairene

Nakataas ang kilay na nag-type ako ng reply.

Zairene Villamora: ano'ng problema niyo? 🤨

buksan niyo zipper ng bag niyo: Ewan ko sa kanila, naki-mention lang ako. Hehe 😅

Zairene Villamora: @buksan niyo zipper ng bag niyo, ang bandwagon mo 🙄

buksan niyo zipper ng bag niyo: Gano'n talaga ang life. Parang life. 😁

Zasper, the friendly ghost 👻: Para kang tanga, Zeper.

Zairene Villamora: Seriously. Bakit ba ako na-mention? @Zach @Zashienna @Zantheya @Juri

Ni-seen lang ang chat ko. Naghintay pa ako ng ilang saglit, pero wala ni isa ang nag reply sa chat ko. Napasimangot ako at nag type ng chat.

Zairene Villamora: mga punyeta talaga kayo 🙄😠

•Zairene Villamora left the group•

Napairap ako matapos kong mag-left sa group chat namin. Alam ko namang ia-add ulit ako nila. It's either si kuya Zach or Juri. Silang dalawa na yata ang admin ngayon ng group chat namin.

Ibinalik ko nalang ang phone ko sa bulsa ng pantalon ko nang magbukas ang elevator. Dahil nga nakaakbay sa akin si Hairo, sabay kaming naglakad palabas ng elevator at sabay ring pumunta ng restaurant.

The restaurant's interior was done in natural materials, such as plywood and craft paper, that corresponded to the restaurant's main concept: "be simple, eat simple." The place was in color brown which is, for me, very comfortable and relaxing.

We decided to sit at a four-seater table, near the glass where we could see the swimming pool area and the people happily bathing in the pool and just hanging out with their family or friends.

"Diba libre naman ang foods dito?" I asked Hairo when he finished ordering.

"Yes," he answered. "Why?"

I shrugged. "Wala lang. Baka pala hindi, wala pa naman akong dalang pera," I randomly said.

Hindi naman talaga 'yon ang rason. I just asked because... well, I just wanted to talk to him. I can't think of any topic hence my question.

He laughed softly and reached for my head to mess up my hair. Agad ko namang nilayo ang ulo ko at mahinang tinampal ang kamay niya.

"Huwag nga," I said.

"Damot."

"Excuse me," mataray kong sabi. "Hindi kaya!" I argued.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah-te."

His forehead creased. "Huh?"

"Huhkdog." I grinned.

He glared at me while I giggled softly. He sighed and shook his head. I playfully winked at him and transferred my gaze on the pool area.

My gaze narrowed into a squint when I spot a familiar face talking to a woman. Not so far from our direction.

"Is that..." I drawled. "Yeah, he is." I said when the person I was looking at waved at me.

Kumaway rin ako sa kaniya kapagkuwan ay sinamaan siya ng tingin. Kumindat lang siya sa akin at nagpatuloy sa pakikipag-usap sa babaeng nakatalikod sa direksyon ko.

"Who's he?" Hairo asked.

Nilingon ko si Hairo at nginitian. "Juri. Pinsan ko," I answered.

"Oh. He's the son of your tita Jean?" he asked.

"Yeap," I answered, popping the 'p'.

"Oh," he muttered.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako at binalingan ulit ng tingin ang direksyon ni Juri. Tumaas ang kilay ko nang makita ko siyang nakatingin sa akin habang nakataas ang kamay na may hawak na cellphone at kumakaway. Patuloy lang siya sa pagkaway ng kamay niyang may cellphone kaya kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bulsa ng pantalon ko.

He nodded. Binuksan ko ang screen ng phone ko at nakitang may message siya sa akin.

From: Juridic(k) 😹

hoy

I replied. 'Oh?'

Juri immediately replied.

From: Juridic(k) 😹

ohpen sesame

Tumingin ako kay Juri, ngumiti lang siya sa akin kaya nag-send ako ng ‘🖕’ sa kaniya as a reply.

From: Juridic(k) 😹

🤭

To: Juridic(k) 😹

ano nga kasi 😠 kanina pa ako inis sayo ah

"Hey, let's eat."

Napukaw ang atensyon ko sa cellphone nang marinig ang boses ni Hairo. Napatango ako nang makitang nasa mesa na namin ang orders.

"Are you a sucker for Italian foods?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Pa'no ba naman kasi? Halos lahat ng in-order niya ay Italian Foods.

He smiled. "You can say that," he answered.

Napailing nalang ako at tinignan ang mga in-order niya. Some of the foods that he ordered were familiar and some are not.

For the appetizer, he ordered Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara –– my favorite, and a Basil Artichoke Dip. And for the entree, a grilled salmon, chicken piccata, and something with a melted mozzarella and spinach in a light cream, wine, and butter sauce. I don't know what is it called but I'd bet my life that this food tastes good!

"This mozzarella is mine," I announced when he's about to get one. "Don't even dare . . ." I said and glared at him.

I blinked enumerable times when he pouted his lips. "Damot," he muttered.

I cleared my throat at umirap. "Heh! B-basta! Not my mozzarella," I stuttered.

Pakshet! Ba't nautal? i mentally asked myself. He pouted. And he was so cute! i mentally exclaimed.

Bumuga siya ng marahas na hangin. "Fine. All yours," he said.

I cheekily smiled then nodded my head while I devour my mozzarella. "Mm-mm," was all I replied.

After my mozzarella, I tasted the chicken piccata. I shut my eyes closed as I savor the wonderful taste of the food.

"It tastes wonderful!" I said, satisfied. I gave him a thumbs up. "Hmm, I wonder how wonderful this something with melted mozzarella tastes like," I murmured.

"Masarap 'yan," komento ni Hairo.

"Oh. Ano ba'ng tawag dito? Haven't tasted it yet," I said.

"Veal Saltimbocca," he answered.

Napakunot noo ako. "Veal Samtil–– what?" my forehead creased.

Napailing nalang siya at tinuro ang Veal something-samtil. "Nevermind. Just take a taste of that dish. That's yummy," he said.

"Oh," I said. "Okay."

As what he said, I tasted the dish called Veal something-samtil. And it was indeed yummy!

"Yummy!" I commented with a big grin.

"See, told yah," he said then wink.

"Hindi mo bagay," tukoy ko sa pagkindat niya.

His forehead creased. "The what?"

"The this," I said, winking. "Winking. Hindi mo bagay."

"I don't think so," he replied, raising his eyebrows.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako. Bagay naman kasi talaga sayo...

I whispered inside my mind.

–– MA(i)REVE ––