35

"Earth be with you, Toni!," pagkapasok na pagkapasok ni Cia sa kanilang tinutuluyan na suite ay ito na ang bungad niya.

Nakasuot pa ito ng summer dress na hanggang sakong ang haba, pinaresan pa ng high heels and shades. Dinaig niya pa ang magbabakasyon talaga dito.

"Ingay mo naman, Cia," she just said while packing her things on her own luggage bag.

Maarte naman itong lumapit sa kanya at parang reyna na umupo sa dulo ng kanyang kama, "Well, never been used to it?," she used sarcasm, "Anyway, kailan mo ba talaga balak umuwi ng Pinas, girl? It's almost half year ago, baby! Still can't move on?," lintanya nitong muli.

Bahagya naman siyang tumigil sa ginagawa, "I can say that I'm doing fine right now, Cia. And I have plans before going home in our country."

"Wow! Who would, right? I just saw Vixen's IG post last year! Magkasama pala kayo sa South Korea, ah. I envy him, samantalang ako ngayon ka lang ulit nakita!," she spit out again.

"He visited me and you were busy."

Pinagpatuloy na lang niyang muli ang pagpa-pack. Konti lang naman ang gamit niya dahil halos pinauwi na ng Mama niya ang sangkaterbang pinamili ng kanyang Titas para sa kanya.

Pumitik naman ito sa ere na parang may naalala, "Oh, right, babe! I am really busy that time with a big project that confuses me for so long! But your life's so great! How many countries have you been?"

"Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Maldives and this, Hong Kong," she even counted on her fingers.

"Nakakainggit naman ang travel goals mo, Toni! How I wish I could do it, too, but I'm so busy!," she spoke with dreamy eyes.

"Don't worry, marami ka namang pasalubong for me, kaso nasa mansion na."

"I'm looking forward for that, babe!," while clapping her both hands, "But where are you going now, Toni? Packing your things for what?," she asked again curiously.

Nang ma-satisfy na siya sa mga laman ng bags niya ay maayos na niya itong nilagay sa gilid. Hindi naman niya kakailanganin ng maraming damit sa last niyang pupuntahan, dahil one day and one night lang naman siya doon.

She sat up on her bed and hold her both side of waist while roaming her eyes around her room, "I'll gonna go in Netherlands, babe."

Cia exaggerated sat up, too with an overacting reaction on her face, "What? I thought Hong Kong would be your last destination dahil malapit na ito sa Pilipinas. But didn't know that you're planning to go in a faraway land."

"That would be my last trip and I'll just be there for a day and night. I'll be going home na after that," she answered like she really planned it for so long before.

But yeah, she really did. While trying to meditate everything, she needed also to end the confusion on her mind.

The promises. The plans. Their supposedly out of the country trip. Everything. She wanted to let it go. But didn't know how. And through attending that event, she might lose her tight grip with what happened before.

"And what you'll gonna do there, Toni? Finding Peter Pan?," Cia asked humorously.

Inirapan naman niya ito bago napagpasyahang kumuha ng yogurt sa kanyang personal ref, "Silly you. I'll just attend a music festival, Cia."

After picking up a cup of yogurt, she unsealed it right after and scooped one and ate it.

"Oh my God! Didn't knew that you're now into music! But why you didn't tell me? I will go with you, dear!," Cia's voice now was full of excitement, like a kid who'll visit Disneyland for the first time.

She faced her again, "Are you sure? Wala ka bang maiiwan na trabaho?"

Gusto niya rin namang makasama ang kaibigan dahil ilang buwan niya rin itong hindi nakasama. At puro texts and calls lang ang mayroon sila those months. Cia was busy with her work and she's busy healing her broken pieces.

She pose in front of her like a model, may papilantik pa ito ng kamay sa ere, "Duh! I asked for a leave for one week. And hindi naman tayo aabutin doon ng isang buwan, diba?," Cia spoke like she's stating a fact.

Tumango-tango naman siya, "Alright! I'll booked another ticket for you, madali lang naman 'yun at may-ari ng airlines si Tita Vicky."

Nalaman niya rin na kaya pala naging madali ang pag-aasikaso ng kanyang Mama sa flight nila dahil sa koneksyon. They often do it, kapag importanteng gala lang. At alam naman niyang papayag ang Tita niya dahil malakas siya sa mga ito.

She was like having five mothers instantly with these past months. At natutuwa naman siya sa mga ito lalo na kapag umaarte silang mas bata pa sa kanya.

"Basta libre mo plane ticket ko, ah!," pahabol naman ni Cia.

Natatawa namang inirapan niya ito, "Of course, no worries," aniya, "But may I remind you na sasama si Vixen sa atin, pero babiyahe siya mag-isa. Doon na lang tayong tatlo magkikita," she added.

Nagbago naman na ito ng postura at makahulugan namang tingin ang binigay nito sa kanya, "Something's fishy, ah. May pag-asa na ba si Vix sa'yo, darling?," she asked maliciously.

Hinagis naman niya dito ang maliit na cup na ubos na ngayon ang laman, "Malisyosa ka lang talaga, Concepcion."

Naiirita namang umiwas ito sa kanya, "You're so gross, Antoinette! Isusumbong kita sa Mama mo!," pakli pa nito.

She showed her tongue on her friend, "Like I'm scared."

"Gash! You're ruining my dress!," OA talaga kahit kailan ang kaibigan, para namang namantsahan niya ang suot nito.

"Tara na nga lang sa sala, for sure tapos na sila Mama mag-prepare ng breakfast," pag-iiba naman niya sa usapan at komportableng hinila ang kaibigan palabas just wearing a pink night dress.

"I think so. Noong dumaan ako kanina amoy na amoy ko na 'yung mabangong niluluto nila!," excited naman ng muli si Cia, bipolar talaga.

Nasa hamba pa lang sila ng kusina ay umaalingasaw na ang mabangong aroma ng pagkain na niluluto ng mga ginang.

"Ayusin mo naman 'yung plating, Vicky! I'll post it later in my IG," maarteng lintanya ng kanyang Tita Sha habang may suot na apron na kulay violet at may hawak na sandok sa kabilang kamay.

"You're just being maarte 'no! Ang ganda kaya ng plating ko!," her Tita Vicky defended herself right after.

"Ayan na nga lang gagawin mo. Gash! You're ruining my makeup, I need retouch later," her Tita Sha spoke stressful.

"Tigilan niyo na nga 'yan, ita-tae niyo rin naman 'yan mamaya," Tita Louise made her way while pouring fried rice on a big bowl, red naman ang apron nito.

"Yuck! Kadiri ka talaga, Louisiana!," malakas namang nanghampas ang kanyang Tita Char na parang diring-diri pa sa narinig.

"I'm just telling the truth, Charita," her Tita Louise spoke again.

While her Mom is just there, laughing while watching her friends in an argument. At ito ang bumungad sa kanilang dalawa ni Cia.

"Is that how they live, babe?," Cia asked her in a low voice.

She bite her lower lip to stifle a laugh, "They are, Leticia. You will get along, pareho kayong maingay."

"Hey! I'm more demure. Duh!," pagtatanggol naman nito sa sarili.

Ang Mama naman niya ang nakapansin sa kanilang dalawa nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses ni Cia ata.

"Andiyan na ang mga bata, magsi-ayos na nga kayo!," parang nanay ng apat ang kanyang Mama ngayon.

Bigla-bigla namang naging kalmado ang apat niyang Tita at sabay-sabay pa silang humarap sa kanya na may matamis na ngiti.

"Upo na kayo sa may lamesa, Toni. We'll setting up the table na," malambing na wika sa kanya ng kanyang Tita Char na parang kanina ay hindi naging amazona.

"Yeah, Toni, entertain your visitor na lang muna," gatong naman ng kanyang Tita Sha kalaunan.

"Alright," madali naman siyang kausap kaya hinila na niyang muli ang kaibigan na wala namang angal. Parang na-shocked pa ata sa napanood.

"Bakit ang tabang nitong kanin, Louise? Hindi mo ba 'to nilagyan ng asin?!," she heard her Tita Sha spoke again in a high pitch.

"Wala ba?"

At umalingawngaw na nga ang nakakarinding tili ng kanyang Tita.

"Nakaya mo silang kasama, friend?," muli na namang tanong ni Cia sa kanya pagkaupo nila sa malaking lamesa na kasya ang sampung tao.

While looking at her friend's face, parang hindi talaga siya makapaniwala na totoo ang nasa paligid niya. Kahit siya naman noon ay nagulantang sa asal ng amigas ng kanyang ina, ngunit kalaunan ay nakasanayan na rin niya.

They are real.

"Ikaw nga nakaya kong samahan ng ilang taon hanggang ngayon," natatawang turan niya dito.

Naiinis naman itong hinampas ang kanyang balikat, "You're so bad! Hindi naman ako ganyan kaingay 'no!"

She's still laughing while massaging her reddish shoulder.

"Who's maingay?," kuryosong tanong ni Tita Sha sa kanila pagpasok nito sa sala na may hawak-hawak na malaking bowl.

Para namang natulos na kandila si Cia at naging maamo itong tupa biglaan, "Tita, Toni is so ingay po," conyo rin nitong sagot.

Bagay silang magsama, pareho silang maarte.

"Hindi naman maingay sa amin si Toni, ah?," bigla namang sumulpot ang kanyang Tita Vicky na may dala-dalang malaking plato na may lamang tuyo at daing.

"Wow! Filipino breakfast!," nawala naman ang atensyon bigla ni Cia sa binuksang usapan at nakatingin na lang ito sa inilapag na pagkain sa kanyang harapan.

"Na-miss na kasi namin, Cia ang Pinas kaya ito na lang ang niluto namin na almusal," her Mom spoke up while holding another plate with scrambled and sunny side up eggs on top.

"This is marvelous! Na-miss ko talaga ang luto mo, Tita Tasya!," Cia was so excited while looking on the foods at the table.

"Hep! Don't claimed the credits, Tasya, kasama rin kami sa nagluto, ah," taas-kilay pa ang kanyang Tita Char bago ito naupo sa paboritong pwesto.

"Let's take a selfie first, ladies!," her Tita Sha excitedly positioned herself in the middle of them, holding a monopad with her phone.

"This would be fun pala, Toni!," her friend whispered on her before making poses in front of the camera.