4 Summer and Secret Gardens

Summer days went by lazily. Karlo and I became like surrogate parents to Justine and Alexis. The adults pretty much left us to ourselves. The entertainment room in the White House became our official headquarters. Karlo and I introduced our other friends on the farm to the two boys. Once in while we'd invite them to our hang-out. We'd binge-watch Netflix, YouTube videos or play online games and Nintendo Switch and PS4. We also updated our social media accounts. I was friends with Justine and Alexis on Instagram now, the only social media account I maintained. Like me, Justine only has Instagram but he didn't post much. Alexis on the other hand had all the popular social media accounts. Name it and he had it. He posted almost everyday. His friends in New York were updated with his farm adventure. I was in most of his posts. He called me his bff (best friend forever). Alexis practically monopolized my presence. He was all over me. If he wasn't hugging or holding my hand, he'd be lying on my lap. Our farm friends would sometimes tease me about it. I just dismissed it with giggles. Alexis' closeness to me didn't bother me. It was warm and reassuring.

Justine was something else. I had often caught him looking at me with disapproval. He always became tense when I was near him. Except for that incident in the riverbank, he never deliberately came near me again. Also, it seemed I always provoked him to an argument. We argued even on mundane topics like the weather. He wasn't like that with the others. He joked with them and was always flashing them his exuberant smile. I'd experience a sharp pain in my heart whenever he smiled like that. I'd catch myself wishing it was me he was smiling at. That he'd exclusively smile like that only for me. I brushed off this thought as soon as it surfaced. It made my heart race. I stood in the middle of our headquarters and watched the scene playing in front of me. School will commence soon and the two boys will go back to New York to live with their aunt. I missed this scene already.

One early morning, I decided to take a break from being a surrogate mother to the two boys. I hiked to my favorite spot in the forest. I brought a small backpack filled with a provision of snacks, a thermos of coffee and a bottle of water. I also brought with me my mobile phone, a walking stick and a raincoat. My father taught me to be prepared for emergencies. I reached my spot. I stood under a canopy of trees with my arms spread sideways and my head turned towards the sky. I closed my eyes and let the trees' energy bathe me.

I forgot how long I was standing like that when a rustling of leaves startled me. I opened my eyes. Justine was standing about five meters in front of me. Surprised, I stood frozen just looking at him. He walked slowly towards me. He reached for my hair and brushed off some dried leaves that fell on my head. I can't move. I can't even breath.

"Are you okay?" he asked, breaking the spell.

"Uhm yeah, just surprised seeing you here."

"This is my favorite spot," he declared.

"No! This IS my exclusive spot!" I retorted. It sounded childish but I had to reclaim my spot.

Justine laughed. It was so unexpected it weakened my resolve to argue with him. "Can we not share this spot? It could be our secret garden," he offered. Secret Garden. I kind of like the sound of that. I asked him who showed him this spot. He told me Karlo brought him here. I made a mental note to scold Karlo later. 'Or to maybe thank him?'

We moved to an open hut nearby. I didn't know why a hut was built here. It was quite a sturdy hut. The grass roof was done expertly. The floor was made of mature bamboo slats that were polished to a sheen. It can accommodate 4 people. In the many times I'd been here I had not encountered anyone. Karlo found it because I brought him here. I liked to think I found it first. I claimed it as my own hanging some wind chimes and dream catchers in it. We sat on the floor. I noticed except for a walking stick, he did not bring anything else. I brought out my snacks and drinks and offered him some. He took the water and thanked me.

"Can I ask you something?" he said.

"Go ahead."

"Don't you think you're too young to be drinking coffee?" he asked.

For a while there I thought he was going to ask me something very personal or profound. "How old should one be before one can drink coffee?" I asked back.

Justine laughed. I was again taken aback. He seemed to be laughing more often when it was just the two of us. "There is no arguing with you, is there?" He continued laughing. His laughter echoed in the woods. It felt like the trees were laughing with him. I found myself laughing too.

I didn't know what came over me. I suddenly asked him, "Do you hate me?"

It was his turn to be speechless. He looked at me and searched my face as if caressing it. "And why would you think that I hate you?" he asked back.

"It's just that…" I can't find the words to say. Unexplained emotions engulfed me. I fought back the tears that involuntarily appeared.

"Hey...look at me, " he murmured. "You're the last person I'd hate Nina," he told me gently touching my face. We stared at each other. I could see my reflection in his eyes. I looked flushed. I tried to look away but his hand gently prevented it. I abandoned my embarrassment and looked back at him. We stayed like that as if a staring contest was playing.

We didn't notice that it started to rain until raindrops pounded heavily on the grass roof. We huddled side by side in the center of the hut. The rain distracted us. We watched and took photos of it.

"It's so beautiful, right?" I asked turning to look at Justine.

"Yes. Just beautiful," he said looking at me intently. I gasped and held my breath. "Relax, Nina. It's just me…" He teased. I nervously laughed.

I willed myself to relax after that. He motioned to me to lean on his shoulders. I leaned a little. I asked him if he missed New York. He said that he mainly missed his parents. He sighed. I patted his arm. He changed the topic and proceeded to tell me about his life in New York. He described to me their home and their neighborhood. He introduced me to his childhood friends. He toured me around his school and oriented me on the different extra-curricular activities he was involved in. His narration was so vivid It felt like being there. When it was my turn, he afforded me the same attention. He listened patiently and laughed at some of my funny anecdotes about Auntie Anita, Karlo, my father and other people on the farm. He was particularly attentive when I was telling stories about Grandpa Anton.

"What do you dream of when you grow up?" I asked curiously. 'What does a boy from New York dream of?'

"Have you been to Barcelona?" he asked back.

I shook my head. "I haven't travelled outside of the country yet.. My father promised me we'd go to Japan as a graduation gift. We like to eat so maybe we'll go to Osaka."

"Our parents brought us to Barcelona when I was 12. I was blown away by Antoni Gaudi's work. When I entered the La Sagrada Familia, I was moved to tears. Nothing has moved me like that until then. How can a person conceptualize something so beautiful? I decided that day to become an architect too. I'd like to design buildings that speak to your heart. A building that is functional but beautiful and uses renewable energy like sun or air."

I was awed by how passionate he talks about his dream. I felt a bit insecure on how small my dream was compared to him.

"Hey, am I boring you? Do I talk too much?" he asked.

"No. I'm just making a mental note to google Gaudi and Barcelona later." I said, hiding my insecurity.

"Hey, don't you think it's your turn to talk about your dreams?" Justine prodded.

"Hmnnn, it's nothing grand compared to your dreams." I said embarrassed.

"Hey! Don't do that Nina. All dreams are grand. Don't you belittle your dreams."

'Whoa!' I was pleasantly surprised to discover this facet of Justine. Encouraged by him, I began to talk about my dream.

"I want to be an agriculturist and a hotelier. I want to build a boutique hotel nestled in a sustainable farm. I'll grow only plants that could be eaten, even flowers. I want it to be a place where people forget their worries and regrets."

"That's a beautiful dream Nina. I can design and build that hotel for you someday when I become an architect." Justine offered.

"Hmnnn, that sounds like a plan." I countered.

Now that I have put words into my dreams they do seem beautiful. I stole a look at Justine. I'm liking this boy even more. "Like?! Did I just say, like?!?!'

"Do you have a crush? Do you like someone?" I blurted out without thinking.

"Why are you suddenly asking me that?" he asked, laughing.

"Come on, we are getting to know each other, what's another information?" I insisted.

"What about you? Do you like someone?" he mimicked my question.

"Hey, I asked first!" I protested.

"You first," he said.

No, you go first!" I countered.

"Ladies first," he continued.

I pinched his arm and gave him a sharp look. He held up his hand and moved to face me. We laughed.

"You," he said.

"No, you go first!' I said almost shouting.

"You," he repeated. "Nina, I like you."