Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata. Bahagya ko pang ini-atras ang mukha ko nang mukha agad ni Hairo ang bumungad sa akin.

"Huh . . ." naguguluhang sambit ko.

Then a memory from last night visited my mind. We were just watching a movie, Dragonheart, when I suddenly felt sleepy. Inihiga ko ang ulo ko sa braso ni Hairo and then I hugged him. We said our good night to each other. And that's it. I fell asleep.

A smile crept on my face as I study his face. Kahit natutulog, napaka-guwapo niya. No wonder naging crush ko siya noon. I wanted to trace his face but I'm afraid he'll woke up. So I made myself contented by just watching his handsome face.

"Swerte naman ng future girlfriend mo," mahinang sabi ko. Sumimangot ako.

Napailing nalang ako at bumangon sa kama. Pumunta ako sa maleta ko at kumuha ng damit. Matapos kong kumuha ng damit ay pumasok ako sa banyo para maligo.

Once I'm done bathing, I wore my striped tee shirt and tucked it on my denim short. I dried my head using my towel and after doing so, I went out of the bathroom.

Nang lumabas ako, natutulog parin si Hairo kaya naisipan kong lumabas nalang muna ng room namin at mangapit-kwarto kina kuya James. Habang sinusuklay ang buhok, kumatok ako sa pintuan ng suite nila.

"Anna? Is that you?!" It was kuya Jame's voice from the inside.

Kumunot ang noo ko at sinakyan nalang ang kung anong trip niya.

"No. It's Olaf," I said. "Mind if you'll let me in? Let's build a snowman." I said in a sing-sang voice.

"Oh~ coming, Olaf!" He opened the door and smiled at me. "Hey, Zai," he greeted.

I smiled and nodded my head. "Is kuya Kino still asleep?" I asked.

Niluwagan niya ang pagbukas ng pintuan kaya sumilip ako. And yes, kuya Kino is still on his bed, deep in his slumber.

"I see. Si Hairo din," I mumbled and returned my gaze on kuya James. "Kuya, let's go and eat breakfast." Aya ko sa kaniya.

He gave me a thumbs up. "Sure sure." Lumabas siya ng suite at isinara ang ang pintuan. "Arat na."

Tumango ako. Sabay kaming pumasok ng elevator at pumasok ng restaurant na kinainan din namin kahapon.

"What do you want for breakfast, Zai?" he asked. "Ako na mago-order."

I nod and stated my order. Nag-thumbs up muna siya bago pumunta ng counter para um-order. When he came back, we talked about things. And when our order came, we immediately dig in.

"Hmm," I commented as I savor the delicious blueberry muffins.

"Sarap 'yan?" Tumango ako sa kaniya. "Akin din, eh. Masarap," he grinned. "Picture tayong dalawa. Post ko sa IG ko."

"Oki. Send mo nalang din sa'kin ang ibang shots, mag-post din ako." I said and he nodded his head.

We smiled in front of the camera, did the wacky, showed our muffins, and I bit his muffin while he glared at me.

"Ganda ng kuha." Pinakita niya sa akin ang mga kuha namin. "Post ko 'to agad," nakangiting aniya.

"Tag me," I said.

"I'm not sure if I already followed you on your IG," he said. "What's your IG username?"

"Zaizuela." Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at binuksan ang IG account ko. "Follow back agad kita, kuya."

Tumango siya at may kung anong pinindot sa cellphone niya. Seconds later, a notification pop out.

ja.mes started following you

Pinindot ko ang follow back at nag-thumbs up sa kaniya. Maya maya pa ay may nag-pop-out na sa akin na notif. It was kuya James' post tagged with me. I immediately liked the post.

Bago ako nagsimulang kumain ulit, kinunan ko muna ng litrato ang muffins ko at ipinost sa IG.

"Kuya," tawag pansin ko kay kuya James na katatapos lang kumain. "Curious lang ako. Bakit niyo ba kasi naisipang mag-bakasyon dito, I mean, sa bahay nina Juri?" tanong ko sa kaniya. "Don't you have works?"

Nagkibit-balikat si kuya James. "Ka-stress kaya ang trabaho, Zai, parang nag-aaral ka lang rin sa daming gawain. Kaya kailangan din namin ng bakasyon," he smirked. "At isa pa, gusto ng isa kasi."

"Ng isa? Who?" kunot noong tanong ko.

He cleared his throat. "Uhm ... ni Zach. Gusto niyang mag-bakasyon kaming apat, kaso hindi pala siya makakauwi kaya ayon, kaming tatlo nalang. Then, you happened." He smiled.

"Oh." Was all I replied.

After a minutes or so, we stood up from where we are seated and left the restaurant. We did not return to our suites yet, instead, we tread our way to the pool side and watched the people having fun.

"I wish I can have fun like them," I mumbled.

"Why don't you, then?" kuya James asked.

"Girl's thang," I answered and shrugged.

He chuckled. "Bummer!"

"Sinabi mo pa!" nakasimangot na sabi ko.

"Hayaan mo, sa susunod, babalik tayo dito. Just make sure that the girl's thang is not on the time," he joked.

"I'll make sure of that. And you will be the one paying then." I grinned.

"Ebarg, ebarg."

"Mayaman ka naman kuya, eh."

"Hindi ah. Mahirap lang kaya ako."

Napailing nalang ako at hindi na sumagot pa. We just watched the people having fun on the pool when my phone rang.

It was a video call from my brother. I answered the call and immediately waved my hand on the camera.

"Kuya!" masayang tawag ko sa kaniya.

"Eyo," bati din ni kuya James.

"Bat kasama mo ang lalaking 'yan?" tanong ni kuya Zach while he was pointing his finger on kuya James. "Bad influ 'yan."

"Hello? Nandito lang ako, oh," puno ng sarkasmong sabi ni kuya James. "Kung mangb-back stab ka, iyong nakatalikod naman sana ako, Zach."

Kuya rolled his eyes. "Ayaw mo no'n? Harap harapang back stabbing." He turned his gaze on me. "How's your vacation with them?" he asked.

"So far, so good!" I answered, smiling widely. "But ... I wish you were here, tho."

Kuya, on the screen, grinned. "Hintay ka lang, Zai. Kuya's coming." He announced, grinning.

My eyes widened. "Really?" hindi makapaniwala at puno ng excitement na tanong ko. "When? When?"

"Next week," he winked. "Tatapusin ko lang mga projects ko."

"Nice one, orbs," kuya James said. "Pasalubong ha?" nakangiting sabi ni kuya James.

Kuya Zach showed a polaroid picture of someone, a girl. "Heto, pasalubong ko sayo?" nakangising tanong ni kuya.

"Luh, tangina nito. Nakapag-move on na ako diyan. Pero sige, damihan mo ah?" Kuya James grinned.

"Move on, ulol." He smiled at me. "Anyway, Zai, bye. I need to go to work. May agagalit dito eh," paalam nito.

Ngumuso ako at akmang magsasalita pa nang may narinig akong boses sa kabilang linya.

"Zairon Chris! Puwede bang mamaya na 'yang pakikipag-usap mo sa kung sino man?! We have works to do!" It was a girl's voice! And I'm pretty sure it is familiar.

Kuya winked. "Gotta go, Zai. Dragon's roaring." He laughed. "Love yah!"

"Love yah too, bro!" I said and the call was ended.

"Familiar ng boses sa kabilang linya," kuya James said.

"Right!" I agree. "I think I've heard the voice somewhere . . ." I tried to think but to no avail. "Whatever, let's go back kuya." Aya ko kay kuya. Kuya James nodded his head.

Bumalik kami sa kaniya-kaniyang suites namin. Pagbalik ko, gising na si Hairo at nakaligo narin siya. I know because his hair is still wet, and I bet that he just finished bathing.

I eyed him. Dang, boy, he's hot and handsome!

"Oh, hey," I greeted and averted my eyes on him when the scene from last night invaded my mind, the way I shamelessly hugged him, it makes my face flush crimson red.

"Oh, hi," he greeted. "Saan ka galing?" tanong niya sa akin.

I cleared my throat and without looking at him, I answered: "Uh, I ate breakfast with kuya James."

Naglakad ako sa kama ko at nahiga.

"I see. I'll go outside. Aayain ko lang si Kino na kumain," paalam niya sa akin.

I nod. "Okay."

Naramdaman ko pa ang tingin niya sa akin bago lumabas ng suite. 'Saka lang ako nakahinga ng maayos. Darn it.

Pinaypayan ko ang sarili ko, specifically my face. Feeling ko ang init o baka dahil lang sa namumulang pisngi ko? Whatever the reason is, It was still because of Hairo.

I blew a loud breath and relax myself. When I already did, I opened my phone and went to our group chat in IG.

pangit si kevin

kevinzan:
y naman ganiyan ang
group name? 🥲 whoever put
that name will face my wrath

me_a:
mama mo wrath

justmine:
pfft 😂

zaizuela:
y naman r u making a fuss
over that name. that's true naman

kevinzan:
grabe ka talaga arzuela
😠😠😠😠😠

justmine:
galit yan kevin?

me_a:
y naman galit is you, kev?

zaizuela:
what hahaha

kevinzan:
hindi nalang ako magpupunta
diyan next week 🙂

zaizuela:
whaaaat? 😲 u're coming here?

kevinzan:
sana kaso binubully moko
so no thnx 😃

me_a:
sana ol pinupuntahan

justmine:
true sana ol

zaizuela:
hey im kidding lang naman!

hey you two, how are you?

me_a:
im fine, zai, thanks for
asking

justmine:
okay lang din ako, though im really
bored in here. ive got no one to talk to
😔

zaizuela:
aww lets call then

Agad na nag-request ng video call si Jasmine. Napailing nalang ako at pinindot ang answer button. Napangiti ako at kumaway sa harap ng camera.

“Omg! I've missed you, girls and Kevin!” Jasmine exclaimed.

“Missed you too, Jas!” said Mea.

I smiled. "Miss ko rin kayo."

“Ako. Hindi ko kayo namiss,” Kevin said. Umirap pa siya sa amin.

"Mama mo, Kevin," I replied.

“Papa mo, Arzuela,” he answered and stucked his tongue out playfully.

“Hindi naman tayo nag video call para mag-bardagulan kayo, noh?” Jasmine asked with sarcasm.

“Nyenyenye.”

“Ang mature mo, Kevin!” singhal ni Mea kay Kevin. Binelatan lang siya nito.

"Got something to chika with you, guys." I said. "Uhm, well, nasabi ko naman siguro sa inyo na I'm living with my kuya's bestfriend, diba?" Tumango sila, except kay Kevin na wala yatang pake. "Well, nag-outing kami. Hanggang bukas yata kami dito."

“Important details, we need!” Jasmine half-shouted.

“True. Straight to the point, Zai.”

Napairap nalang ako at sinabi sa kanila: "Me and Hairo, you already know him, shares the same room. And last night, we uhm, uhh, sleep together in one bed." I bit my lower lip.

“What the fu––”

"Dumbass," I cut Kevin's word. "It's not what you think it is! We were just watching a movie when I suddenly felt so drowsy." I explained to clear the naughty thing they are thinking. "And I felt so embarrassed today. Oh my goodness."

Kevin chuckled. "Ay, may hiya ka pala?" natatawang tanong nito.

"Pakyu, amp," mura ko sa kaniya.

Ngumisi lang siya.

“Embarassed? Why?” Meanne asked.

"I shamelessly hugged him last night," I bit my lower lip. "Who wouldn't be embarrassed?!"

The three laughed while I frowned at them. Mga walang hiya 'to.

“Okay lang 'yan, Arzuela. Wala ka namang hiya,” Kevin consoled –– was he, really? –– me.

“I agree with Kev, Zai. One point ka na kay crush mo,” Meanne agreed to Kevin ang gave me a thumbs up.

“Me too! Ilista mo, ha?” Jasmine grinned.

Umirap ako sa kanila –– sa camera. "Alam niyo? Wala talaga kayong kwenta," Irap ko sa kanila. "Bye na nga!" I said and left the video call. And for sure, they're laughing their ass out right now. Those mfs.

–– MA(i)REVE ––