Sumisigaw na napabalikwas ako sa higaan. Mayamaya ay bumukas ang flap ng tent at pumasok sa loob ang pinsan kong si Mia. Bakas sa mukha n'ya ang pag-aalala.
"Cuz, are you okay?"
Lumuhod s'ya sa tabi ng sleeping bag ko bago hinawakan ang noo ko. "Mainit ka, okay ka lang ba? My God, baka na-dengue ka na dahil ang daming lamok dito. Gosh, this is all my fault."
"Mia, paano ako nakauwi rito sa camp?" humahangos na tanong ko sa pinsan ko. Pakiramdam ko ay para akong nag-marathon sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. "How did you guys find me?"
Nagkunot-noo si Mia. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"
"Paano ako nabalik rito? Paanong nasa loob ako nitong tent? Nasaan tayo?"
"Hey, Cuz, calm down. Teka, ikukuha kita ng maiinom—"
"Mia, someone is after me. May lalaki kanina—"
"Cuz, like there are fifteen guys with us, of course may lalaki. You just had a bad dream, okay?
"Hindi 'yun panaginip, Mia! N'ung iniwan mo ako may lalaking nagpakita!"
Biglang tumawa ang pinsan ko. "That guy is Ciaran, isa s'yang hiker and he brought you back here. Something spooked you yata 'tapos tumakbo ka, nadapa ka and anyway, you've been asleep for nearly two hours."
I groaned burying my head into my hands.
"Cuz, ano 'yun? Did you hit your head when you fell? Kahit kanina, eh, parang lutang ka. Don't worry, bukas bababa na tayo. Ang sabi ko kay Nicko ay mauna na tayo because I am worried about you. Baka kailangan mo nang magpatingin. I'm not sure if that's concussion—"
"So it was all just a dream? 'Yung lalaking...'yung lalaking..." I couldn't even finish my sentence because the vision of him stealthily walking towards me, an evil smirk on his face, was tattooed inside my head. "Tell me, what's our favorite song?"
"Huh?"
"Mia, answer me, ano 'yung favorite song nating dalawa?"
"Graduation by Vitamin C," my cousin replied. "It became our favorite when we were six and we heard it being played by your Mom while she was cleaning out her CD collection."
I threw my arms around her. "Thank God, it was just a dream. Ikaw nga 'to..."
Tumawa si Mia bago n'ya rin ako niyakap. "Ano ka ba? Gosh, hindi na kita ulit yayayaing mag-mountain climbing ever kung ganito ang epekto sa'yo. You scared me a little."
"It felt too real. 'Tsaka hindi ko na matandaan kung anong nangyari after mong umalis."
"Aww, Cuz, I really am so sorry. I feel so bad leaving you by yourself. Sorry, Cuz, I will make it up to you, I promise."
I leaned away from her to gently tug at her side braids. "Sus, may I'll make it up to you ka pang nalalaman. O, kumusta pala, anong nangyari? Kayo na ba?"
Mia rolled her eyes heavenward. "Argh, naiinis talaga ako sa babaeng 'yun. I mean she really tries so hard na paglayuin kami ni Nicko, so annoying. Kapag nilalapitan ako ni Nicko parati s'yang sumusunod at kapag kinausap naman ako ay parati s'yang nakikisawsaw. Ay, naku, Cuz, gigil na ako sa kanya."
The flap opened the second time and a young woman peered inside. "Are you girls okay?"
"Yes, Tin, we are. My cousin just had a bad dream."
"Okay. Just holler if you need help. 'Tsaka we're grilling marshmallows, labas na kayo at baka maubusan pa kayo. Alam n'yo naman ang mga boys ang lalakas kumain."
"Sige, Tin, sunod na kami," my cousin answered. "Marshmallows?" she added wrinkling her nose. "I don't like marshmallows and I'm super hungry na..."
She turned to me before taking my hand in hers. "Cuz, h'wag kang magagalit, ha, everyone already ate except us."
