Chapter 3 - Fireworks

"My goodness Jeca! What are you wearing?" Shiela gaped as soon as she saw me descending down the stairs.

"Clothes?" I answered back.

"You call that tiny little piece of cloth, a clothes?" She argued raising her eye brow.

"Uhm yeah? What's wrong?" I asked them a little bit confused. Tyrone and Drew both looked away.

"Magpalit ka. Masyadong eskandalosa yang suot mo," utos nito.

"What? Why? I'm wearing a jacket naman."

"Kahit na! Ang lamig sa labas and you're wearing a cleavage-baring tank top, konting yuko mo lang kita na yang kaluluwa mo. Baka mabastos ka. Hindi tayo aalis kapag hindi ka nagbihis," she keep on insisting.

"Dearest Shiela, kahit naman anong suotin ko kung sadyang manyak talaga ang tao, mababastos pa rin ako," I reasoned out.

"Palit na."

"Sundin mo na lang si lola Shiela, Jec," pang-aasar ni Drew sa pinsan.

I just rolled my eyes as I went back to my room and changed for a 'decent' outfit. I changed into a high-waisted ripped jeans and a grey oversized Colorado logo t-shirt. Pagkatapos bumaba na ko ulit.

"Okay na?" tanong ko agad kay Shiela.

"That's better!"

"Let's go, para makakuha tayo ng magandang pwesto," excited na sabi ni Rachelle.

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" I curiously asked.

"Manunuod ng fireworks display," Tyrone answered.

"Okay. Nice," namamangha kong sambit.

Pang-apat na araw na nila dito. Napakabilis nga naman talaga ng araw, kung pwede nga lang pihitin ang oras pabalik para mas matagal ko silang kasama ginawa ko na. I'm gonna missed them kapag bumalik na sila ng Manila.

Sumakay na kaming apat sa kotse ni Shiela samantalang yung mag-asawa may sarili ding sasakyan. Wala pa rin akong sasakyan dahil pina-remodel ko yung kotseng naiwan ni lola.

Pack up with blankets and cooler we head up to our destination. Nag-drive thru din muna kami para may kainin kami pagdating sa pupuntahan namin. It was past 6 already nang makarating kami sa isang river park. 9 p.m pa raw ang simula ng fireworks pero ang dami na agad tao sa lugar na 'to. Mahihirapan ata kaming humanap ng pwesto.

"Are you sure magiging okay ka lang? Dito na lang kaya tayo sa kotse." Neil asked his wife for the nth time of the night. Inaalalayan niyang makababa sa kotse ang asawa niya.

"Oo naman. Healthy kami ni baby. Don't worry too much, daddy. Gusto ko rin manuod ng fireworks kasama sila, sige na," paglalambing nito.

"Okay. Pero kapag pagod ka na sabihin mo agad," bilin pa ni Neil.

I smile as I watched them exchanging sweet nothings. I can't wait to see their little one, I'm sure they will be a great parents.

"Uy, naiinggit. Mag-aasawa na yan," sundot ni Shiela sa tagiliran ko.

"Wala pang ma-asawa eh, baka mauna ka pa. Magpropose ka na kay Tyrone," pang-aasar ko.

"I hate you!" she pouted at malakas akong pinalo sa braso. Sus! I'm sure kinikilig naman. I know she likes the guy. Hindi lang basta crush. Kapag magkavideo chat kami nun wala siyang ibang bukambibig kundi si Tyrone. Always present pa siya sa mga game nito, I won't be surprised kung may fans club pala itong si Tyrone tapos si Shiela ang president.

"Nasaan ba kayo? Nandito na kami. Can you pick us up?"

I turned to Drew and he was talking to someone over the phone. And I hope that someone was not that weird guy. Ilang araw na din ang lumipas after that incident, wala akong mukhang ihaharap sa kanya pag nakita ko siya.

"Let's just wait for my friend. Kanina pa sila dito, may na-reserved na silang magandang pwesto," pahayag ni Drew nang matapos siya sa pakikipag-usap. Hinanda ko na ang sarili ko dahil may kutob na ko kung sino. Siya lang naman ang kilala kong kaibigan niya dito sa Horencio.

Hindi nga ako nagkamali. Ilang minuto ng paghihintay, Axian finally showed up. Pasimple ko siyang sinulyapan. He's just wearing a plain white shirt with a denim jacket on top paired with black jeans and wow! He looked like a supermodel lalo't andun na naman yung ngiti niya. Mabilis na naglaho yung ngiti sa mukha niya nang magtama ang tingin namin. Okay, awkward.

"Hey," bati niya sa amin.

"Hey too!" I greeted back trying to act normal.

"Tara na," yaya nito looking away from me. Did he just ignore me? Nakaramdam ako ng inis bigla at hindi ko alam kung bakit.

Tulong tulong ang mga lalaki sa pagbitbit ng mga gamit namin habang papunta kami sa puwesto na ni-reserved ni Axian. Habang naglalakad, nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa kabuuan ng river park, napakalawak nito at napakaganda ng paligid. May mahabang stall na puro pagkain, marami din tindang mga souvenirs. The whole place was so loud and lively dahil sa mga bandang nagpeperform sa stage sa hindi kalayuan.

"Kuya!" Someone shouted from a distance and there I saw a petite girl in a jumpsuit waving on our direction. Axian was guiding us towards the girl. Sobrang daming tao sa paligid kaya naman kinailangan naming sumiksik para makadaan.

"Tabi, tabi. May buntis po. Makikiraan po kami." Tyrone yelled in the middle of the crowd using Rachelle to our advantage. I saw how Neil's face quickly turned annoyed as he glared at Tyrone. Nagpeace sign na lang ang huli. Pero effective ang ginawa niya dahil nag-give way sa amin ang mga tao. Good thing Tyrone's wearing a face mask, mahirap na baka bigla siyang pagkaguluhan ng tao kapag nakilala siya, maipit pa kami.

"Hello," the girl greeted us with enthusiasm when we reached her.

Infairness maganda yung nakuha niyang pwesto, medyo malapit sa river. May malaking picnic mat na nakalatag sa bermuda grass na kasya ata ang sampung tao.

"Uy Gracie, long time no see! Dalagang dalaga ka na." Drew pulled the girl into a hug pero mabilis na kumalas ito.

"It's Aciel. Don't call me Gracie," reklamo nito pero tumawa lang si Drew.

"My name's Graciela, but that sounded like a granny so just call me Aciel. Not Gracie too, just Aciel," she introduced herself at isa-isa kaming kinamayan. She has the same smile like Axian. Ang ganda ganda niya, para siyang girl version ni Axian.

"She's my sister. Pagpasensyahan niyo na, madaldal talaga yan," Axian stated. Magkapatid pala, kaya naman pala para silang pinagbiyak na bunga.

Ganda naman ng lahi nila.

"Come on, let's have a seat baka napagod kayo," yaya nito. Lumapit siya kay Rachelle at inalalayan yung mag-asawa. Sa kanila niya binigay yung maluwag na space sa picnic mat. Such a sweet girl. Kanya kanya na rin kaming upo. Hinubad ko muna ang suot kong high heels dahil sumasakit na ang paa ko.

"Ayan. Tiis ganda pa te," komento ni Shiela sa tabi ko. "I told you to wear a sneakers."

"Wala ka kayang sinabi" pabiro ko siyang inirapan.

"Ay wala ba?" Natatawa niyang tanong. Pang-asar.

"Patabi ha, okay lang?"

I nodded and smile at Aciel. Umusog ako ng konti para sa gitna namin siya ni Shiela umupo.

"Ate Jeacelle right?"

"Bakit?" Nagtataka kong tanong. Napansin ko kanina pa siya nakatitig sa mukha ko, parang kinikilatis ako. Wait! Wala naman siguro kong dumi sa mukha?

"Nothing! You just look like someone," she muttered.

"You know what? Parehas kayo ni Axian, ganyan din yung sinabi niya sakin when he first saw me."

Mukha siyang nagulat dahil sa sinabi ko. May mali ba?

"Y-you called my brother, Axian?"

"Uhm yes? Sabi niya kasi eh. Why?"

She shook her head. Mukha siyang hindi mapakali. "Matagal na kasi mula nang may tumawag sa kanya ng ganyan. Mostly, Christian or Tan Tan tawag sa kanya ng mga kaibigan niya."

I see. So am I kinda special? Feeler ko naman.

"Ilang taon ka na Gracie?" biglang tanong ni Drew habang nilalabas ang binili naming pagkain at isa-isa niya kaming binigyan.

"I'm 22 now. Why?"

"So pwede na?" makahulugan itong ngumisi.

"Anong pwede na?" Nanlalaki ang mga matang tanong nito.

"Pwede na kitang ligawan," he winked.

"Kuya oh!" Sumbong naman ni Aciel sa kapatid. Ang cute niya.

"Drew, you're a good friend. But don't make a move on my sister. Humanap ka ng ibang bibiktimahin," banta ni Axian.

"Hindi rin ako napatol sa gurang," Aciel added and we burst out laughing. That was so savage!

"Akala ko ba broken hearted ka? Bilis mo naman magmove on," puna ko pa kay Drew.

"Hala, nabobroken ka pala. Akala ko kasi wala kang puso eh," hirit muli ni Aciel kaya halos sumakit na ang tiyan namin kakatawa. Double kill na si Drew.

"Sige, pagkaisahan niyo ko," pagmamaktol nito.

******

Exactly 9 p.m when the first firework shot up into the air, different colors illuminating and painting the night sky. Gasped filled the whole place as the crowd including us watched in awe. The vibrant sparks come fluttering down and dispersing before more replaced them never leaving the sky empty.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and took a video of the breathtaking scenery. I shifted my gaze to my friends who were busy admiring the fireworks display that they didn't even noticed I was filming them. A huge smile plastered on their faces, making my heart feel warm. I guess this is what happiness look like.

Napatingin naman ako kay Axian na nakaupo sa bandang kanan ko, he's staring at the fireworks looking awestruck. The light from the fireworks reflecting on his sad eyes and it made me wonder why. What's the reason of his sadness? He suddenly turned to my direction and I almost lost my composure. Boy! He caught me staring at him.

I saw him smile kaya ngumiti na lang din ako pabalik. Wala na, nahuli na ko eh.

The fireworks display lasted for about 20 minutes. A round of applause went through the massive crowd when it ended. Nakaramdam ulit kami ng gutom kaya nagpunta kami sa mga food stall para maghanap ng makakain.

"Gusto ko kumain ng lomi," saad ko. Nag-crave ako bigla.

"May masarap na kainan dito ng authentic lomi, wanna try?" Aciel suggested kaya parang nagningning ang mga mata ko.

"Huwag dun," kontra naman ng kapatid niya kaya napangiwi ako.

"Ay oo nga pala, sorry."

My curiousity is killing me so I asked Drew. Bestfriend sila so he might know.

"Anong meron?"

"Hindi ko din alam," he answered. I could feel that he was avoiding the topic. He was hiding something from me, I'm sure of that.

"Friendly advice lang Jec. I know Christian for a long time so don't get too close, baka ikaw lang ang masaktan sa huli," seryoso at makahulugang wika ni Drew.