It's been years since the last time we visited the Province of Gaiety. We've seen so many changes. They had few buildings before, but now, we hardly can count it. The technologies also evolved. In the past, horses and carabaos were used in transportation, but right now, we no longer could see one. The rocky road is now cemented. Indeed, change is constant.
"WELCOME BACK, ABELLERA TWIN!" they all said in a chorus. They even had a banner with our names written after the words welcome back. The effort is no joke and it is highly appreciated.
"Thank you!" I and Sun said. These people around us aren't our relatives. They're all Daddy Tyrone's kin. We're not blood-related, but they truly love us and they never look at us like we're nothing but a stranger, they'd accepted us at the very beginning no matter who we are.
"Halina kayo't may inihanda kaming salu-salo para sa inyong pagbabalik," Tito Arman said, Dad's older brother.
They have three branches of Quaint Clothing Industry here in the Province and he's assigned to manage their business with his wife and also, Tito Aaron, their youngest brother. They are all business minded at halatang 'di namin sila kadugo. I and Sun dream to become a Doctor.
Actually, hindi lang sila 'yong andito ngayon, 'yong mga kapit-bahay nila na naging kaibigan namin ni Sun noon ay andito rin kaya sobrang dami talaga namin.
We really are so overwhelmed by how they welcomed us. Grabe talaga 'yong inihanda nila. We had a boodle fight once again and we really did enjoy eating.
We're now at their house. The boodle fight had just ended and all of us are so full. Thank you, God! "Mabuti na lang talaga at naisipan niyong bumisita ulit dito," Tito Aaron uttered.
"Yes, Tito. We just missed the ambiance here and we missed you, too, of course," Sun replied.
Tito smiled and said, "enjoy your stay here. Kahit dalawang araw lang kayo rito siguraduhin niyong aalis kayong satisfied, okay?"
"Yes, Tito," we both said in a chorus.
"Shaira, ihatid mo muna ang mga Kuya mo sa kwarto nila nang makapagpahinga na sila," Tito Arman asked his daughter.
She stood up, "sige po, tara na," she said, smiling. "Dito ho 'yong kwarto niyo," she pointed a room and accompanied us inside.
Before, we have our own house here. It's not that big nor small, it's enough for us, but since we no longer have time to take care of it, Mom and Dad decided to give it to Mang Tan, one of the Abellera's senior drivers, who happened to have no home at all. His children abandoned him and they never showed up even once. What an ungrateful people, tsk!
"Thank you, Shai," Sun said.
"You're welcome, Kuya Sun," she replied. "Ah, Kuya..."
"Yes?"
"...kilala mo pa ba si Eya?" she asked.
With confusion, Sun said, "who is she?"
"Ay, nakalimutan mo na nga. Sobrang close kayo no'n noong mga bata pa kayo, eh."
Yeah, she's right. They're so close! Ako nga naaalala siya, how come siya hindi? So strange.
"T-Talaga?" he's still confused.
"Oo naman."
"A-Ah, s-sorry. Ang tagal na kasi kaya nakalimutan ko na."
Seriously? Sun's really weird!
"Sayang, Kuya, excited pa naman siyang makita ka ulit," Shaira uttered in her gloomy voice.
Sun smiled at her and said, "cheer up, naaalala ko na siya."
"Talaga?" she's now smiling wide.
"Oo naman. Gusto ko siyang makita bukas, Shai," Sun uttered.
"Sige, Kuya, sasabihin ko sa kaniya!" she's really happy, no doubt. "Aalis na ho ako para makapagpahinga na kayo," she then left immediately.
We didn't converse while we're busy putting our clothes to the closet until we're finally in bed.
"Anong unang gagawin natin bukas, Twin?" Sun broke the silence.
"Syempre, dating gawi, mamimitas tayo ng mga prutas. Buti na lang at bearing season ngayon dito."
"Mabuti na lang talaga."
I suddenly looked at Sun. I am really wanting to ask him why he forgot about Eya, but I can't. Sh*t, like, I really am so curious, but I get muted whenever I am about to ask him. Tsk!
"Matulog na tayo, Sky, maaga pa tayong gigising para masulit natin 'yong dalawang araw nating bakasyon," Sun spoke again and I saw him closed his eyes so soon.
I closed my eyes, too, but my thinking is still awake. Sun becoming forgetful keeps on bothering me. I shouldn't think about it! We're here to enjoy and and make good memories together. No Mom and Dad, no Veia and Hi-ah, she's not included...but, I guess she is? Argh, never mind!
Tsk! Because of too much things running in my mind I don't know what time I had my sleep. Hay.
***
He's done peeling one mango we had harvested, "here, Sky, eat this," Sun offered me a slice of it. I am about to take it from him, but he suddenly gets it back, "susubuan kita," he uttered again.
"Sun, no need," I am somehow complaining, but he insisted, leaving me with no choice, but to come along with his trip. Tsk!
"Twin, mag effort ka rin para sa'kin," he said, smiling so damn wide.
"What?" I replied with knitted brows.
He gave me one mango, "peel this for me, please?" he uttered.
And, I was muted for a moment. May binalatan na siyang isa, ba't kailangan ko pang magbalat ng isa for him? He can eat the mango he'd just peeled!
"Dali na, Twin, minsan na nga lang maglambing. Si Hillary nga binalatan mo ng shrimp no'ng birthday natin," ayan, nagawa niya pang mag compare!
"Alright, so you can stop this gaysh*t," I pulled a joke, and yeah, he laughed so hard. He won, that's why!
"Mamaya punta tayong farm, namiss ko 'yong ilog, maliligo tayo ulit at paramihan tayo ng makuhang puting bato, Sky," he uttered after a moment of silence.
I smiled and said, "oo naman." That's what we usually do when we're here, lalo na no'ng mga bata pa kami. At, ngayon nga pakiramdam ko the history really repeats itself. Parang binabalikan talaga namin ni Sun ang mga gawain namin noon and I am just so happy realizing about it.
***
Two days passed so fast! No one is willing to leave the place, but we need to.
"Balik kayo mga Kuya," Shaira said.
"Of course, Shai, kahit paulit-ulit pa," Sun replied and Shai's smiled upon hearing it. "Tito, Tita, maraming salamat po talaga. I had enjoyed and I am missing every single thing I am seeing here sa probinsya, lalo na kayo," he added.
"Mamimiss din namin kayo, Sun, Sky, inaasahan namin ang inyong pagbabalik," Tito Aaron said.
"Send our regards to your parents," said Tita Sheena.
"Sige po. Maraming salamat ulit," I uttered and we finally went inside the car. "Ingat ho kayo lagi and don't forget to contact us whenever you need help," I continued.
"Oo naman, Sky, ingat din kayo," Tito Arman replied. We bid our final goodbye and we leave immediately.
Tahimik lang kaming bumabyahe not until Sun placed his head on my shoulder, "Twin, can I sleep here?" he asked. Sun usually sleeps on my shoulder at kahit ayaw ko he will insist until I gave up.
I smiled and said, "go on. I know you're very exhausted." Sino bang hindi, eh halos dalawang araw niyang sinet to the highest level ang energy niya.
"Are you thinking that this is gaysh*t again?" he then chuckled.
"No," I replied. "Your judgment is wrong this time."
"Tss. Nakalimutan ko lang, lagi ko pala 'tong ginagawa."
There he goes again! Nakalimutan na naman niya. Tsk!
"I am worried of you being forgetful, Twin," I honestly said.
"Don't mind it. Being forgetful isn't a big deal, it's normal, Twin, lalo na't tumatanda tayo."
Alright, hindi ko na nga 'yan poproblemahin.
"Ikaw lang naman 'yong tumatanda."
"We're twins. Tumatanda ako, tumatanda ka. Pero...ikaw na lang yata 'yong tatanda," he then laughed.
"What?" I suddenly felt nervous. Sh*t! I don't even know why. Iba 'yong tono ng pagkakasabi niya!
"Ikaw na lang 'yong tatanda tapos ako babata nang babata. Wanna know why? Kasi ako in love. Sabi nila if you're in love you always feel like you're still a teenager. Kaya kahit madagdagan 'yong edad ko at in love ako, hindi pa rin ako tatanda. Ikaw, hindi ka naman in love kaya tatanda ka nang tatanda. HAHAHA!"
Hearing him laugh genuinely placed me in easement too soon.
"Tss, you and your theories-" I sighed, "ewan ko sa'yo, Sun."
"Kaya umamin ka na kay Hillary para bumata ka."
"Stop it, Sun, and sleep."
"Alright! Gisingin mo ko, ha, baka 'di na ako magising."
"What?!"
"Shh. I'm sleeping."
I no longer give him a response. Pinilit ko na rin 'yong sarili ko na kumalma. Ewan ko ba, halos lahat ng salitang binibigkas ni Sun hindi ko maiwasang 'di mapaisip. Kinakabahan talaga ako sa totoo lang, pero alam kong 'di naman dapat.
Sun's damn healthy there's nothing I should worry about.