"Long time crush mo pala ako ha!" I teased him.
He rolled his eyes and looked at me, "Baka mamaya malaman ko crush mo na din ako,"
"Abang ka malay mo," I chuckled.
He turned red after that! It's fun teasing him.
Nagising na si Kiz after an hour. Nagplano na din sila Caleb ng gala daw. Kizealla started shouting at me when I didn't wake her up.
Alam naman niyang hindi ako iyong tipo ng tao na nang gigising ng tulog. Depende nalang kung emergency o kailangan talaga.
Lhieon and his gang went home early. I wasn't complaining though. Susunduin nalang daw nila kami. I chatted Lia if she wants to come with us and I'm happy that she agreed. Pupunta nalang daw siya dito.
Kizealla have clothes here excluding shoes. May dala lang siyang tsinelas ngayon.
They're planning to go to Tagaytay by the way. I don't know where in Tagaytay. Mukha ngang nagbabalak pa sila mag 2 days stay.
"Peram sapatos!" sigaw ni Kizealla galing sa kwarto.
"Ayaw ko!" I shouted back.
Sumilip siya sa may hagdan na ikinatawa ko. She always has this cute habits. People finds it funny though.
"May extra ako diyan. 'Yung nasa Nike na box. Kunin mo na," I told her.
She thanked me and immediately went back.
Nag-aayos na siya. Habang ako, eto, nakaupo sa sofa tapos naka pajama pa. Early bird kasi lagi. Which is good.
I'm always thankful with their noises. I always feel that I'm not alone. Niri should be staying here but my Dad never agreed. Ayoko na nandoon siya. Hindi ako kampante.
Mom left months ago after knowing that Dad has another family after us. We even have a brother that was born the same year as Niri. They decided to separate ways but they still ended up on good terms.
I care for my siblings from the other side but excluding their Mom. I don't like her... just like Niri.
Dad didn't have that much time for us so I decided to move out from his house and move in from the house that my Mom gave me. It wasn't that big, it was quiet and lonely... but much better.
Lia and Kiz stays here every Saturday up until Sunday night if they can. May dorm kasi sila sa school at ayoko naman na sayangin nila binabayad nila dorm tapos araw araw sila dito.
They just call me everytime they have a chance to. Magkakaiba kasi kami ng strand, they also have things to do.
Sumunod na ako sa taas at nagpaglit na nang magchat si Lhieon. I didn't bother replying.
Lhieon Rivera: otw, arch.
Nagsuot lang ako ng white hoodie and simple maong shorts partnered with white sneakers. I also packed two casual wears and one pajamas in case.
I informed Lia about it and she's already on her way daw.
Nmomomroblema si Kiz dahil hindi daw niya alam na overnight. Sabi ko ay bumili nlang siya sa mall na madadaanan. Nakakabili nga ng cellphone on the spot, damit pa kaya.
Lia came after 20 minutes but Lhieon's squad is still nowhere to be found.
We waited for 10 more minutes until they came!
"Finally!" Kizealla shouted.
"Tanginang byahe 'yan. Isang oras?" reklamo ni Lia.
"Ikaw kaya ma-traffic doon! Saka si Caleb kasi nag hakot pa sa convenience store ng pagkain, akala mo naman anlayo ng byahe," napairap nalang si Ken.
"Sana binili nalang kamo niya yung buong convenience store," sabi ko sa inis.
I mean, mabagal din naman ako kumilos pero hindi ako nagawa ng last minute errands! It makes me feel guilty, being late for things that are less important than those.
Nag-ayon lang sila saglit at sumakay na kami sa Van ni Caleb.
They booked a hotel that has a near view to Tall volcano. Lhieon payed for two suites. Sabi naman nila ay sila daw ang ang nagyaya kaya sagot nila ang lahat.
Lhieon was the one driving and Caleb is sitting on the shotgun seat. Ken was sitting at the back while the three of us girls are in the middle seats.
"Gago ingay mo," sita ko kay Kizealla na nakanta pero wala naman sa tono.
Tinignan niya ako ng masama at akmang pipitikin noo ko, "Tigilan mo'ko, Gray,"
"Ay hindi lang si Venus naiingayan sa iyo! Lahat oh! Tignan mo... mga naka headset na," sabi ni Lia sakanya.
Tinignan niya lahat ng tao na nakasakay at nang makitang totoo ito ay agad siyang tumigil. Natulog nalang sa balikat ni Lia dahil nasa gitna namin siya.
Inihilig ko naman ng ulo ko sa may bintana at pumikit din.
It was the first time after months nalang ulit ako nakagala. Hindi ako nakakalabas masyado due to tons of works. Hindi din naman ako nagrereklamo kasi wala din akong magagawa.
Nagising ako ng nasa isa kami gasoline station. Sa may convenience store kami nakapark. Everyone went missing maybe because their in the comfort room or inside the store.
I was thinking of going out as well but I was stopped by someone who suddenly talked in front of me.
"You're awake," Lhieon said with a calm voice.
"Akala ko lahat kayo nasa loob? Did you just get back without me noticing?" I asked him but he just shook his head.
"I insist in staying. Hindi ko naman pwedeng iwan ka dito- Well, anyone of you guys," and he looked somewhere.
"Oh... I'll just go inside the store and buy something for myself. Wanna come?" he just nodded at my question and got out.
We both went to the convenience store remembering Caleb that brought tons of snacks but I don't like them. I wanted to eat something that I really wanted to eat.
Lhieon and I stayed silent while picking our food. Lagi naman.
I'm not expecting anything!
I ended up buying hotdogs and noodles for myself. I paid for it and filled the cup of noodles with hot water using the hot water machine there.
Lhieon wasn't buying anything but just looking in what's there.
"You want something? I'll pay," I offered.
He shook his head and chuckled, "Nah and... I'll never let a woman pay for what I want," and headed out first.
Lumabas na din ako dala dala 'yung cup noodles and iyong paper bag with the hotdogs I bought inside. I thought Lhieon headed in the car first but he was waiting outside.
"Let me carry that," and got the paper bag from my hold.
Sabay kaming bumalik sa sasakyan at nandoon na mga kaibigan namin. Nagkakagulo pa nga yata sila sa loob.
"Akin 'yan!" sigaw ni Kizealla kay Caleb.
"Wait lang," Caleb calmly told her.
He managed to be calm despite of Kizealla being noisy as f*ck.
Nagkakagulo yata sila dahil sa mga binili nila sa convenience store. Mukhang pinagsama sama nila 'yung nga binili nila kaya nagkakagulo sila. Kahit si Ken nakiki agaw eh.
I just casually sat in my seat and started eating.
"What if hayaan niyo muna ang isa't isa kuhanin iyong sa inyo?" sarkastikong sabi ko bago sumubo.
They did that afterwards.
Bumiyahe na ulit kami after minutes. Hindi na ako natulog at kumain nalang. Medyo na traffic pa kami kasi around 3 na at sabado ngayon. Uwian ng iba or gala nila. After lunch na din kasi kami umalis kanina.
We just checked in the hotel and fixed our things. They booked two rooms for them and for us. Nag-ayos lang kami and umalis na agad to grab a late lunch.
Eating Bulalo in Tagaytay is really a very must thing that you should do here. Nabibwiset lang talaga ako sa sebo ng beef. Minsan kahit toothbrush hindi matanggal.
Naghihintay sila sa order namin habang ako ay nagpaalam na aalis muna at mag-iikot. Mayroon kasing open area sa likod ng restaurant na makikita mo talaga ang view ng taal at ng lake. I saw it earlier sa parking palang.
I went there and as soon as I stepped in that area, I felt the cold wind brushing through my skin. The sky was slightly turning dark but I can still see the volcano from here.
Good thing I was wearing a jacket with me.
"Aren't you cold?" someone asked.
I turned into him seeing Lhieon standing behin me looking at the same view I was looking in.
"Not really," sagot ko.
"Did you know that it was nice going here with the people you love?" he asked again but I just nodded as a response.
"But bringing them to places that they really wanted to go can be much nicer, right?" I asked back.
"It is much better if you bring them or that person to a place that both of you will enjoy. Not just you, not her or him, but both," he said, still looking in front.
Nilabas ko ang phone ko at kumuha ng mga litrato habang kita pa ang view ng taal. Stars are starting to shine in the sky.
"It looks like you're going here back and forth starting from now," Lhieon chuckled at his thought and I just smiled.
"Nah. I wanted to go to other places as well. With someone I guess. Mahirap mag travel mag-isa," nilingon ko pa siya.
"Balik na tayo doon," pumayag naman ako.
We went back at our table and our food is just being served. Just on time!
The waiter moved a little on the back so I can sit in my place and he continued serving the food.
Everything looks good pero bakit andami? Gutom na gutom ba sila?
I got myself some soup of the bulalo and tasted it. It was so good! May mga dish din ako na tinikman at lahat iyon ay masarap but I just focused on the bulalo.
"Kasali kayo sa pili sa vb camp?" Lia asked us.
"Hindi. Ikaw?" Kizealla asked Lia back but he shook her head.
"Ikaw, Ven?" Kiz asked me while looking at me with small eyes.
"Yes," at sumubo ng beef.
"Ano expected mo? Lagi naman kasama 'yan eh!" Lia scolded her.
"Eh kayo Ken at Lhieon?" Kiz changed sucjects.
"Si Ken tinanggihan na 'yung camp, ako kasama," Lhieon explained.
Why did he reject the camp?
"Bakit daw?" I asked Lhieon and looked at Ken who was busy eating and had no interest in telling.
He raised both of his shoulders, "He never talked about it. Basta sabi niya tinanggihan talaga niya,"
"Eh next week na 'yon 'diba? Tapos after that sport's week ng school natin?" we nodded at her, "Tapos exam week the week after that," we again nodded.
Drained kami lahat after non for sure. Lagi ganon trip ng school namin. Papasayahin muna kami tapos totorture-in kami pagkatapos.
We ate and talked about school. I realized that there's a big difference between all of our strands. Caleb, Lia, and Lhieon are in the same strand which is STEM. Kizealla is in HUMSS and both Ken and I are in ABM.
Pagkatapos namin kumain y dumeretso ulit kami sa place na nay view. I don't know what to call it since I can't call it a view deck kasi hindi naman siya deck.
All of us are taking group and solo photos. Nagpapakisuyo nalang kami sa mga tao na picture-an kami as a group.
"Venus," I looked up to the person who called me, "Picture tayo?" Lhieon showed his phone at me.
"Sure," I smiled.
He asked a random stranger to take a photo for us and when he got one, he stood beside me. Inayos ko lang 'yung buhok ko and smiled beside him. It's not the awkward smile or whatever, just a normal one.
We thanked the guy and I looked at the photo. My eyes are barely seen!
"You can send me that. Add ko sa album ko with friends," he nodded.
Nag stay pa kami for minutes and went back to the hotel. Our hotel was quite big and it's more like a family room. Both of our rooms are just next each other's rooms kaya walang hassle mangatok sa hating gabi.
As we let ourselves get in our room, nag bato bato pick kami kung sino unang maliligo.
"Gago andaya nagpalit!" parang bata na sigaw ni Kizealla.
"Hoy hinde!" sigaw pabalik ni Lia.
"Ulit nalang shuta! Magsisimula nanaman kayo," medyo pasigaw ngunit kalmadong sabi ko.
Inulit nalang namin and I got out first kaya ako mauuna. Ganoon kami, sino unang matalo siya una.
Dala dala ang mga gamit ko, pumasok na ako sa loob ng bathroom at naligo na. I washed my body first, then my hair, and my face. Nagbihis na ako after that.
Lumabas naman ako ng may twalya sa ulo at hindi inaasahang nandoon 'yung mga lalaki.
"Kizealla go na," tawag ko sakanya at agad naman nitong kinuha ang mga gamit niya at dumeretso sa banyo.
Dahil nabakante ang kaninang inuupuan ni Kiz, doon na ako pumwesto.
"Kailan vb camp?" tanong sa akin ni Caleb.
"Monday night. Bakit?" sagot ko naman.
"Kanino ka sasabay?" tanong ulit niya.
"Sa bus siguro ng school o magpapahatid ako. Bakit?"
"Sabay ka na kay Lhieon. Less hassle 'yon," Ken suggested.
Tinignan ko naman si Lhieon na mukhang nag aabang din ng sagot ko.
Alanganin akong ngumiti bago nagsalita, "N-nakakahiya huy!"
I already owe him a lot! Pati ba naman pag sabay sa camp. Puwede naman sana kaso ayaw ko naman isipin niya na tina-take advantage ko 'yung mga ginagawa niya.
"It's fine," tinignan ko si Lhieon nang magsalita ito, "You can come with me. Huwag ka mahiya, hindi naman ako awkward kasama or what," he told me.
"Gago naman kasama," Ken replied. Everyone laughed at his statement.
Patuloy lang kaming nag-uusap hangga't sa makabalik si Kiz at pumalit naman si Lia. Tuyo na 'yung buhok ko at naibaba ko na din 'yung tuwalya ko.
Us using the bathroom took us until midnight to finish it. That's why the guys are also with us up until midnight, talking and storytelling.
I suddenly felt like I wanted to eat McDonald's!
Kinalabit ko si Caleb na nasa tabi ko lang at agad naman ako nitong nilingon.
"Do you want McDo? Can you drive?" I asked him.
"Gusto ko, Venus. Pero hindi ako marunong mag drive.Tanong mo si Ken at Lhieon kung papayag. Pero si Lhieon tanungin mo surebol payag 'yan," he suggested so I stood up and went to Ken first.
Ken already noticed me standing behind him and looked up to see me. He even raised a brow at me!
"Can you drive to McDo?" I directly asked him but he just shooked his head.
So I went up to Lhieon who was sitting on the single sofa near where I was seating earlier. He immediately felt my presence beside him so he just followed my movements.
"Can you drive to McDo?" asked him the same question I asked Ken.
"Suddenly feel hungry in the middle of the night, missy?" I nodded. Nag celebrate naman ako sa looban ko nang tumayo siya.
"Get yourself a jacket. It's probably cold outside. Wait for me here."