ECHOES OF CRESTFALLEN

II

Nagising ako ng maaga matapos akong dambahan ni ate Veed sa kama, I feel like my ribs broke. She was so excited to inform me that Russo and the others have arrived.

We were sitting in the living room, I was crossing my arms, lips slightly protruding. Nagtatampo pa din kay ate Veed. Lahat naman ng pinsan ko ay tatawa-tawa lang, habang pinapanuod kami ni ate Veed na nagsusuyu-an. Bahala siya jan.

" setteeeeee, come on. I was just really excited. Sorry na." Patuloy lang siya sa pag yugyog sakin, habang ako naman ay patuloy lang din siyang iniignora.

" sette, pansinin mo na ako. I have lots of chika din sayo about kay ano" my brow twitched, excuse me? Does she think na may pake pa 'ko kay ano? Ew, mahiya naman siya.

" Shut up ate Veed, I don't wanna hear it." Ngumiti lang siya ng nakakaloko at naupo ng maayos sa tabi ko.

" I heard he hasn't got over you yet? Ano bang ginawa mo dun at baliw na baliw sayo?" matapos niya yung sabihin ay malakas na halakhak mula sa mga pinsan ko ang sumunod. Inis naman akong bumaling sa kanila.

" Baka naman kasi inakit ni setty?" gatong ni Devin.

" Excuse me? Hindi ko na kailangan pang mang-akit 'no. Sila mismo ang naaakit sakin. Mahiya naman sila." I rolled my eyes after saying that, patuloy lang din sila sa pang-aasar.

" I think he'll join us later, I didn't know you had something sette. I rented their resort." Agad naman akong napatayo matapos niya iyong sabihin.

" What? Russo naman, I don't wanna see him na nga e. Tapos ngayon resort pa nila yung nirent mo!" Nagtatantrums na saad ko kay Russo.

" It is ,what it is" kibit balikat na saad ni Sierra. I looked at her, what? Anong it is, what it is? No fucking way.

" And ew Russo, walang something sa'min ni Brent. Hindi ako papatol sa babaero. I wouldn't stoop that low." He only chuckled, he had this look na parang he's not convinced. E wala naman kasi talagang namagitan sa'min, my god I was just 16 that time!

" 2 years na 'yong di nambababae. Wala tinamaan sa'yo" natatawang saad ni Cerez, panay pa din ang dutdot sa kaniyang cellphone, may bagong babae nanaman ata. Napailing nalang ako.

" Magaling lang magtago ng babae 'yun, isa pa ano naman kung tumigil na sa pambabae? Edi mabuti, nabawasan ng maloko dito sa Doña Brigida." Sinundot-sundot naman ni Syne ang tagiliran ko na mas lalong nagpa-irita sakin, tapos may ngisi pa itong nanunuya. Kaya naman ay bahagya ko siyang tinulak.

" Tigilan mo 'ko Syne ha!" Humagalpak lang ito ng tawa at umusog sakin.

" Admit it Setty, you like Brent. You're just indenial." I sighed, kanina pa to ah.

" I really don't like him, i was just 16 when i entertained him. Brent is nothing but a teenage mistake, stop it you guys hindi na nakakatuwa." Iritang saad ko. Russo clapped his hands thrice then calmly stood.

" Okay that's enough, magprepare nalang kayo. In less than 30 minutes we're gonna travel na. Tigilan niyo na si Cosette."

After Russo said that nagkaniya kaniya'ng tayo ang mga pinsan ko at lumabas ng rest house. I guess kukunin na yung mga gamit nila. Kaya naman tumayo na din ako then I went straight to my room.

I brought three pairs of swim suits, a pair of red two piece then a blue and black one piece. I'll use them all, of course that's good for two days na. Dalawang araw ang stay namin sa resort nila Brent, I don't really know the details 'bout this trip pero sabi naman ni Russo sa beach kami kaya nagdala lang din ako ng beach dresses.

I took my dslr camera, my laptop, my tripod then selfie stick. I'll be updating my IG later, for memories. Isa pa I'll send some of my pictures din kay Mama, baka mapasugod pa yun dito sa Leyte once hindi ako mag-update sa kaniya. Maya-maya ay nakarinig ako ng katok mula sa pinto ko.

" Sette? Aalis na daw sabi ni Russo, kuya Ruel is outside na waiting." Assuming from that sweet calm voice, it's definitely my cousin Aurelis. Sa lahat ng mga pinsan ko siya yung pinaka mahinhin, my soft-spoken bestfriend. Napangiti naman ako.

" Chiii! pasok ka muna, help me pack my things!" sigaw ko mula dito sa loob, I heard a clicking sound from the door soon after a woman with a white flowy off shoulder dress, high pony hair, entered my room.

" Ikaw nalang ang hinihintay sa labas, sette." My eyes widened then i glanced at the watch i was wearing.

" What? kakapasok ko lang ah?" She chuckled then took the things on my bed then place them inside my suitcase.

" Silly, you were so busy packing your suitcase that you forgot to check the time."

" Alright sorry, kanina pa ba sila?" She nodded thrice then stood up as she zipped my suitcase.

" Let's go? napack mo na ba lahat?" I took my purse. I searched for my phone inside then nodded at her as soon as I saw my phone inside.

" Yeah, I think everything's inside na. Nalagay mo naman ata lahat nung nasa bed ko right?" I asked her while turning off the fan next to me. Tumango lang siya at lumabas dala-dala ang isa kong maleta.

I took my purse then grabbed my second suitcase before walking towards the door then locked it.

On my way out, I saw my Dad and Russo talking, baka pinapaalalahanan si Russo na bantayan kami since he's the oldest, siya din naman nakaisip ng outing na'to.

Pumasok ako sa van at umupo sa tabi ni Chi, minutes later Ate Veed sat next to me, on her side Cerez sat. I took my headphone out then scrolled on my playlist when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Napatingin ako sa likod then there I saw Sierra, minuwestra niya ang kaniyang kamay as if she was trying to remove something from her head.

I got her point so I removed my headphones.

" Yes? You need something?" She nodded then pouted.

" Please tell kuya Cerez na umalis sa inuupuan niya, tell him palit kami." She gave me a puppy eyes and I cringed.

" Fine, whatever." I rolled my eyes then inabot si Cerez, I tapped his lap then in an instant his eyes opened.

" Palit daw kayo ni Sierra, i think she's uncomfortable sa likod." He did not utter a word tumayo nalang siya bigla at binuksan ang pinto, Sierra was smiling widely getting comfortable at the seat next to Ate Veed who's already napping.

" So, Cossete—" I didn't let her finish, binusalan ko agad ng hawak kong panyo ang kaniyang bibig at ipinilig ang sarili sa isang gilid. I put the headphones on me then started listening to my playlist.

Minutes later I felt the van moved and I fell into deep sleep.