Hindi ako makatulog. I'm sitting in the chair in my balcony. Marami ang nagsu-swimming sa swimming pool. Maliwanag pa din ang paligid. Hindi ako makaramdam ng antok.
I tried to call Ziya and she answered it immediately.
[What's with the call?] I can sense the irritation of her voice.
"Are you sleeping already? I can't sleep, ugh!"
[Oo, kanina pa ako tulog. I'm so tired. So why did you call?]
"Kakasabi lang diba? Di nga ako makatulog," I almost shout. "How's your vacation. Ilang days lang ba kayo diyan?"
[Nakakapagod, kakasabi lang diba?] Ginaya niya ako. [Hmm. Three days, mauuna ako sa 'yo sa condo ng isang araw. Ikaw? Kamusta ka ba? May nakilala ka ba diyang gwapo?]
"Wala. Bata meron. Kapatid nung owner," I boredly answered.
[Gwapo ba ang lalaki? Gosh. What's his name?]
"Cassius Alaric Fuego," I simply said. Alam ko na ang ikot ng bituka nitong si Ziya, i-stalk agad niyan.
[Ang gwapo ng pangalan, Dalia. Anyways, bukas ko na lang ii-stalk. I'm so drowsy]
"Geh. Wag ka na din gumising,"
[Ang sama mo. Bye na nga, love you!] I ended the call. Nanatili akong nakamulat at nakatambay sa balcony. I'm waiting for me to fall asleep.
***
Nang mga bandang alas-diez ng gabi, nakarinig ako ng sitsit. I hate that. I'm scared of ghosts and monsters. Napatayo tuloy ako. Ilang beses akong nakarinig ng sitsit. Hanggang sa nakarinig ako ng tawa. Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan noon at nakita kong kasama ni Cassius ang isang unfamiliar na lalaki. They're in the balcony too.
"Ate crush ka daw po neto," ani lalaki sabay turo kay Cassius. I saw Cassius punch the boy in his arm. Nasa kabilang kwarto lang sila?
"Sabi na nga ba at may tinatago kang feelings eh," I smirked at them.
"Yun, oh! Napansin ka ng crush mo, Alaric!" I glanced at Cassius and he's glaring at the boy. "Kidding aside. I'm Samuel, Alaric's friend," the boy Samuel smirked.
"Ahh... Diyan kwarto mo?" I asked Samuel.
"Alaric choose this room. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit, pinaalis niya pa talaga yung kaninang naka--" Cassius covered Samuel's mouth that made me laugh. Samuel is kinda talkative.
"You're so loud," Cassius whispered but I heard it.
"Bulong ka pa, pakinig din naman ng gusto mo. Sus, crush mo lang ata si Ateng..." Samuel looked at me. "What's your name?"
"Dalia,"
"Yun. Crush mo lang ata si Dalia," Samuel smirked.
"Oh, will you please shut up? I don't like a rude woman. I'll get in," Cassius said and get inside their room.
"Sus. Deny pa, Fuego!" Samuel laughed and looked at me again. "Papasok na ako, I'll see you tomorrow. Meron ata si Cassius at mainit ang ulo. Atsaka don't worry, mabait yan lalo na sa taong gus-"
"SAMUEL, GET IN!" I heard a shout and that is obviously Cassius' voice. I laughed and sat again. Napatingin ako sa paligid, tahimik na pero may mga bukas na ilaw pa din.
The next day, I woke up early. Nakatulog ata ako ng bandang alas-onse. Hindi naman ako nagutom dahil madami akong nakain kagabi. I just went straight to the shower.
I did shower for 15 minutes. I'm wearing an irish green v-neck and white skinny jeans. I heard a knock from the door. Naalala ko na aalis na nga pala si Avery.
I open the door and my eyes went to Avery. She's wearing a barbie couple outfit. May dala-dala din siyang bag na kulay violet. Nakapony-tail na ang buhok niya.
"Bye, Ate Dalia!" Bumaba ako para mapantayan si Avery. She kissed me on my cheeks and smiled.
"Bye, Avery. I'll see you soon," I kissed her too on cheeks. Biglang sumulpot si Cassius sa likuran ni Avery.
"Let's go, Avery. Ihahatid ko pa kayo sa bus station. Nasiraan daw ang sasakyan natin," Cassius ordered and Avery went to him. Avery waved her hand at me and I waved mine.
Pumasok na muli ako sa loob. Sinuklay ko at binlow-dry ang buhok ko. Naglagay din ako ng foundation at make-up na light. Naglagay din ako ng liptint sa lower lip ko saka pinagdikit ang baba at taas para kumalat.
Lumabas ako para magchill. Papalabas pa lamang ako ng kwarto, nakasalubong ko si Samuel. Nagulat siya bahagya at kalaunan ay ngumiti.
"Hi, Dalia. Good morning, pasaan ka?" He's asking me while closing his door.
"Ah, wala. Maggagala-gala lang, ikaw?"
"Ahh. Wala. Wala kasi si Alaric, wala akong kasama. Pwede ba kita samahan?" he's asking me, nervously.
"Uh, sure. Are you familiar to this place?" I asked while we're walking.
"Oo. Tito Mario is like my father. Alaric is my bestfriend since we're kids," I nodded, convinced. "This resort is Alaric's grandfather's property. Hanggang sa nagkasakit ang lolo niya at namatay. Si Tito Mario ang namahala nito noon at ngayong taon ay nagkasakit din, so si Alaric ang namamahala ngayon habang nagapapagaling si Tito Mario,"
"Ahh... I wonder why Cassius is handling this kind of resort. I mean, he's too young for this," Samuel chuckled.
"His father and Lolo trained him well. So, he would handle it properly. He's already twenty, so he isn't a minor anymore," Samuel explained.
Nagsimula na kaming lumibot. Dumaan kami sa mga swimming pool, umbrellas, veranda at tabing dagat. We're just walking and he keeps on telling something.
"May girlfriend ba si Cassius?" I sighed. I already asked it ng hindi nauutal.
"Wala. Pero marami na ang may gusto sa kaniya. Bakit, a-apply ka?" A smirked formed in his lips.
"Why would I? Di s'ya pasok sa standards ko at isa pa, masungit siya,"
"Woo, defensive. Well, ano ba ang type mo?" He get his phone and clicked something. Siguro may tinext.
"Uhm. Smart, hard-working, kind and caring. A guy who can take care of me in any dangerous things. A guy who'll never give up of loving a girl like me. I must admit, maarte ako pero I'm kind," he smiled and looked at his phone. Napakinig ko ang boses ko sa cellphone.
Shit! Did he just record it?
"What the heck, Samuel? Did you record it?!" I exclaimed. "Delete that," I warned.
"Not now, Miss Dalia." He run so I chased him. Bakit niya kasi nirecord, ang pangit pa naman nung boses ko doon. "Chase me, Dalia!" He's now laughing.
He keeps on running and laughing. Ang bilis niya tumakbo, nakaabot kami sa iba't ibang lugar. Bumabagal na ang takbo ko kaya tumigil na ako. Napansin ko ding napatigil si Samuel.
"Bakit mo nirecord? Apakatanga," I pouted.
"Oh, you're cursing huh? Ipapakinig ko kasi 'to kay ano..."
"Kanino?"
"Secret. Bakit mo ba kasi gusto idelete? Ang ganda nga ng boses mo don eh," he chuckled and I glared at him.
"It's annoying. Kung gusto mo marinig ang boses ko, kakanta ako eh. Wag lang iyang nirecord mo,"
"Eh basta. Hahaha, I won't delete it," binelatan niya ako. Hindi na ako tumayo dahil hinihingal na ako. Baka atakihin pa ako ng asthma.
"Samuel," Someone called his name. It's Cassius. Samuel smirked at me before looking at Cassius.
"Alaric! Andyan ka na pala? Akala ko ba ay ihahatid mo pa ang mga kapatid mo sa bus station?"
"An hour and a minute passed, Samuel. And, Lemery is near. Hindi din traffic, bakit parang hindi mo ako inaasahan, huh? Are you enjoying with the rude girl?"
Until now, Rude pa din tawag niya sa 'kin. Haynako.
"Why do you keep calling her rude? She's kind anyway. And, rude isn't suit for her. Alam mo kung anong magandang itawag mo sa kaniya?" I looked at Samuel.
"What?"
"Love, babe, sweetheart, baby, honey, bee, sweetiepie--"
"Shut up, Samuel. Let's go to our room," Cassius glanced at me so I looked at him, with raising my brow. Agad naman siyang umiwas ng tingin.
"Dalia, una na kami. Naiilang ata itong kaibigan ko eh, makikita ka na--"
"I said shut up and let's go," ma awtoridad na utos ni Cassius. Samuel just laughed and go with Cassius. Naiwan ako sa tapat ng parking lot sa labas. Pumasok na ako at nag-ikot mag isa.
Nasa hagdan ako at pagkababa nito ay dagat. May ilang naliligo pero yung iba ay namamasyal lang. Yung iba naman ay nasa silong at nagpapaka-sweet. Cringe.
I remember Ian and I before. Ganoon din kami habang nasa isang bakasyon. Pero di ko akalain na mapuputol ang ugnayan namin dahil sa kaniya. Naramdaman ko ang luhang pumatak galing sa mata ko. Di pa ba ako nakakamove-on?
"Who would have thought that a snob girl like you ay umiiyak din pala,"