Chapter 32

My head was still aching from all the thinking and pondering I did last night. Susundin ko ba yung sinabi ni Tripp? Will I chase Drake? And if I did, wouldn't it be tiring and exhausting? Alam naman namin parehas na mapapagod lang kami. It was like ours was doomed. 

I got up and did my morning rituals. There's no use studying for years kung magiging tambay lang naman pala ako sa bahay namin.

"Good morning," I greeted my mom. I went near her and kissed her cheeks. Looked like wala na sila daddy at Dane. "Nasan sila dad?"

My mom motioned me to sit down with her and placed a decent amount of bread and spread on my plate.

She said after finishing, "Andy's at work and your brother is studying. You? Ano ang gagawin mo today?"

I was torn between saying na babalik na ako sa shop and lying about it. Seriously speaking, I want a break. Gusto kong umalis at magbakasyon. Maybe to take things off my mind. Siguro kailangan ko 'to. Lately, my mind had been doing rash things to me. There were nights kung saan hindi ako makatulog. It felt like torture; just lying there and not being able to sleep at all.

"I'm going on a vacation," I said.

My mom beamed at me. "Finally!" she said with glee. "Where are you headed to?"

I shrugged. Wala pa talaga akong plano. I just wanted an escape from the harsh reality. Somewhere where I could be who I was. To be just Alys... 'yung walang hangups, walang insecurities, walang problema. I just wanted to become a kid again.

"I don't know yet. Somewhere South, maybe?"

Mom nodded. "Alright. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Okay."

After the delightful breakfast, mom went to work. Ako? I went up to prepare my things. Ilang araw kaya ako mawawala? I think one week would suffice. Siguro naman after that, my mind would be fresh enough not to screw things up. Susubukan ko 'yung sinabi ni Tripp. Maybe I'll try to fix things up with Drake. No, not chase him. I just want to have things back to normal. 

Maybe tama nga si Tripp, I still love Drake. I think I never stopped loving him. He was my epic love. Pero I don't want that kind of love. Gusto ko lang ng tahimik na buhay. Complications would never be my thing.

I finished packing my things after an hour and a half. I went down and got my car key. Pumunta rin muna ako sa kitchen to get some food. This will be a long drive.

"Hello?" I said after picking up the phone. I saw Aya's name on the caller ID.

There was a noise on the other line pero hindi ko na pinansin. I was busy checking my things; baka kasi may nakalimutan ako. ("Alys!") she said with uncertainty. 

"Yeah?"

("Nasan ka? Sabi ni Tita magbabakasyon ka raw?")

I ignited the engine. Hay, Alys. Brace yourself for the long drive.

I typed the destination I was headed to. Mabuti na lang my Nana loved me enough to buy me a European car. How I loved this car.

Sinabi ko kay Aya yung resort na tutuluyan ko. Why was she now interested in my plans? Dati naman kahit iyakan ko na siya, hindi siya sumasama sa akin. Oh how she hated travelling.

("Oh, okay, thanks!") she said and then ended the line. Weird.

The drive to nowhere started. I played songs to lighten up the rather sappy mood. After passing by Manila, I opened the window of my car. The wind was so refreshing. It was like I wasn't in the Philippines. 

The monitor said I was on half an hour away from my destination. Good! I can'tt wait to put my sunblock on and to toast myself under the sun!

While I was busy driving, my phone kept on vibrating. It was all from Kei. Why was she calling? Maybe she felt guilty? Pero bakit naman? It wasn't like... nevermind.

I pulled up on the sideway and composed a quick message.

'On a vacation. Look after Tripp for me, okay? Bye! Thanks, Kei! x'

Just because I agreed to Tripp's stupid plan of me chasing Drake did not mean that I'll let him chase after Kei. I just can't fathom the idea. It was... it was unimagineable.

Dumating na ako sa resort just few minutes after. The place was breathtaking! Ngayon na lang ulit ako nakakita ng coconut tree, swear! Ang ganda dito!

I dragged my suitcase and the attendees welcomed me. It was like I was in Hawaii.

"Mabuhay!" they said in unison.

I smiled at them and let them carry my things for me. Inabutan din nila ako ng drinks. 

After that, pumunta na ako sa frontdesk. I reserved a room earlier using my Mom's credit line. Mine was a wreck. Dad had it cut kasi I reached my limit three times already. 

"Hi. I had a room reserved. Alys Perez," I said. 

The woman checked on her computer and then smiled at me. "Here's your keycard. You made a change earlier, right?"

My brows furrowed. "Change?"

She nodded at me. "Someone called and upgraded your room to a suite."

"Ha?"

"You used the same card."

I smiled at her at tumalikod ako. Shit. Bakit nandito si Drake?!

He didn't see me first kaya nagmadali akong maglakad papasok sa looby nila. Nagtago ako sa likod ng isang halaman and quickly dialled mom's number.

("Hi!")

"Aya?" Bakit hawak niya ang phone ng mom ko?

("Hi, Besh! Hehehe. Ayaw kang kausapin ng mommy mo, e.")

I massaged my temple. Eto na naman si Aya sa thrill niya sa buhay! Dapat talaga isinasali siya sa Survivor or sa Amazing Race e! Gustung gusto niya ng ganitong thrill!

"Bakit naging suite yung room ko? At bakit nandito si Drake?" I tried my best not to shout pero halata na sa akin na naiinis na ako. God, Aya! Ano ba ang nasa isip mo!

("Hashtag team Dralys nga kasi ako! Kaya niyo yan! Make love not war!")

"WHAT THE HELL, AYA?!"

("Basta jan ka lang. 'Wag kang KJ!")

"You're crazy."

("I'm not crazy; I'm your best friend, okay? Sit back and relax. Kung wala talaga sa one week na magkasama kayo, I shall never talk again about Drake. Promise kahit masakit sa puso magiging hashtag Team Tripzy na ako.")

"Crazy witch!"

("Love you, Besh! Mwa!")

Ugh! Kainis! Babaan daw ba ako ng phone?!

I put my phone back on my pocket and took three deep breaths. Sabi ng instructor ko sa yoga, three deep breaths dapat para kumalma ako. But hell kahit yata sampu hindi ako kakalma, e!

I hastily dragged my feet toward Drake.

"Hi," I said.

He looked at me. "Hi?"

Seemed like wala rin siyang alam. Si Aya talaga!

I smiled at him. "Bakit ka nandito?"

He shrugged. "Dad."

So... balik na naman siya sa one word utterances niya? So Drake Palma.

I nodded at his minimal response. Tumingin ako sa receptionist and ask kung pwedeng ibang room na lang ako. The suite was too big and I'd like a small room, thank you very much.

"All rooms are occupied," sabi niya. Tumingin ako sa paligid at kami lang naman ni Drake ang tao. Sino ba naman kasi ang magbabakasyon sa gitna ng September? 

"Are you serious?" I asked her.

She nodded. "All rooms are under Dana Guzman's name."

Shit. Aya!

"But she's not even here!" sabi ko sa receptionist.

She shook her head. "The rooms have been paid. However, the suite room is still available for the two of you."

I looked at Drake. He was passive.

"You can take the room," he said. "I'll go."

And then he turned his back at me. Bakit palagi na lang ganito yung sitwasyon namin? Palagi niya na lang akong tinatalikuran.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin at then I saw him kicking his car's wheel. Out of sheer curiosity, lumapit ako. Damn. His tires were all flat! Aya! 

Lumapit ako lalo and goodness! Pati yung sasakyan ko flat din yung gulong!

I grabbed my phone and dialled either my Mom's or Aya's but my phone was cut as well! Ugh! Conspiracy!

Tinignan ko yung mga crew ng resort and all of them looked away. Siguro binayaran sila ng magaling kong nanay! Ugh! Isusumbong ko sila kay Dad!

I dragged myself back to the receptionist. "Fine, akin  na yung card."

Inabot na sa akin yung card and all of a freaking sudden, nasa likod ko na rin si Drake. "My phone is useless. My car is useless," sabi niya.

Kulang na lang tumango ako sa kanya at sabihin na 'I feel you, brother.'

I smiled and inhaled. "Share a room?"

He shrugged. 

I signalled for the bell boy to follow us. Ang magaling kong nanay, pinili pa talaga yung suite na malayo sa ibang suite, yung ang kaharap namin ay yung beach. Great, Mom. Ano ba ang plano mo para sa nag iisa mong anak na babae?

"Thanks," I uttered and gave the bell boy a handsome tip.

My eyes roamed around the room. The place was epic! But there was a problem... isa lang yung kama.

Drake placed his things on the floor and said, "Take the bed."

"We can share?" sabi ko. I mean, I knew him. Hindi siya sanay mahiga sa sahig or sa couch man lang. This man was practically a prince! Ni hindi nga pinapagod yan ni Tito Steve tapos papahigain ko sa couch?

He looked at me with those scary pair of orbs. "No."

"Pero--"

"I'm a man and I'm in love with you. Don't challenge me, Alys."

And that apparently shut me up.

--

We arranged our things. I'll take the bed and he'll stay on the couch. Binuksan ko rin yung plasma and wtf was my mom thinking?! Bakit adult channel lang yung available?!

Kulang na lang ihagis ko yung controller sa screen para mabasag siya! Good thing nasa cr si Drake at naliligo kung hindi baka nahagis ko talaga out of shock!

Naligo na rin ako and I wore a Sunday dress. The wind was fine and I'd like to take a walk at the shore later. Siguro pwede naman since private property naman 'to.

"Uhm..." I said, trailing off. Hindi ko alam kung pano magsimula. How did we end up like this? We used to be comfortable around each other to the point na pinapayagan niya akong gamitin yung shirts niya pero ngayon ni hindi man lang ako makatingin sa mata niya. Funny how things work.

He closed his laptop. "Alys?"

Suddenly, my heart was beating fast. "H-ha?"

"Just..." he said, hesitating to continue his sentence. "Just treat me the way you did before. You acting strange sucks."

I smiled at him. He really did love me. Sana makahanap siya ng mamahalin niya. Not me but someone who's worthy of him. Drake is a fine man. Any girl would be lucky to have him.

"Sure," I said and smiled.

He stood up and placed both his hands inside his pocket. He was wearing a striped shorts and a black shirt and a beanie. 

"Wanna take a walk?"

I gladly agreed.

Pumunta kami sa labas and I was half running kasi naunang maglakad sa akin si Drake and plus sobrang mahangin kaya hinahangin yung damit ko.

"Ouch!" sabi ko kasi nadapa ako. Ano ba naman 'to!

Before I even noticed that my scraped knee was bleeding, Drake was already kneeling in front of me and attending to me. "Tss."

"O-ouch!" I said when he touched the injured part. "Drake naman!"

Out of the blue, he chuckled. Ha?

"Anong nakakatawa?" I asked him.

He was still looking at my knee and then he spoke. "This. Us. It was like high school all over again."

At what he said, I couldn't help but to smile again. Tama nga siya. This was us. Drake and Alys. Naglalakad lang tapos siya tutulungan ako tuwing nadadapa ako. That was me when I first fell in love with him. 

"Nakakamiss din pala," I uttered.

He sighed at my statement and then fished for his handkerchief. He wrapped it around my knee not before blowing on it softly.

"There," he said.

"Thanks..."

He brushed off the sand on his shorts and helped me get up. "Alys?"

"Hmm?"

"Can we be like we were in high school again?"

"Ha?"

He looked down and smiled at himself. "High school was my fondest memory because when I was in high school, I had you."