DV Series: decoding the boys (under revision) ??

46 | i trust you

Umikot-ikot naman si Mathev para pagmasdan yung kwarto at ang view sa labas. "Ang laki pala dito e. Lipat na lang kami dito mamaya."

Heh. I totally expected this.

"Mas gusto n'yo pa sa sahig kaysa sa kama n'yo?"

"Tss," sabi ni Mathev. "Hindi masaya kung kami lang ni Paul. Sawa na ako do'n."

"Sus. Ang sabihin n'yo, iinom lang kayo!"

Ngumisi ang boys.

"May dalang hard drive si Kuya Chris. Manood na lang tayo ng horror mamaya para masaya," sabi ni Kuya Jacob.

Maganda sanang idea 'yon. That's what we normally do, huddle together in the dark while we watched movies together. Pero hindi lang naman ang mga De Villa ang nandito ngayon. The Zobels were here and I didn't know if they'd appreciate it.

Ayaw ko naman na ma-out of place ang mga 'yon sa sarili nilang bakasyon. Ay, nako. Bahala na nga mamaya.

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I was quite enjoying this. Tumatawa ako habang pinapanood na mag-swimming si baby Rafael. Nakasakay siya sa mini salbabida niya at pasag nang pasag sa tubig. How cute!

Where were my cousins? Nandoon. Mga nagkalat na. The others were checking out the bars in here, yung iba naman ay sumama kina Tito para puntahan yung casino. The rest that stayed in the pool, namely Mathev, Kuya Onyx, Kael, Pierre and Kuya Andrei, were scattered close by. Close enough to watch over me and Rafael and far enough to do their own thing.

The water rippled when someone jumped into the pool. Napapikit ako sa splash ng tubig at narinig ang malakas na tawa ni baby Rafael.

Kuya Zoren was chuckling when he swam toward us.

"Babysitter huh?" he asked in his accented voice. His fair complexion was very bright under the sun, emphasized further by the droplets running down his chest. Girls were staring pero wala siyang pakialam. Well, ang alam ko kasi may girlfriend 'tong si Kuya sa London.

"It's sad na aalis kaagad kayo," I told him while keeping close to baby Rafael.

"We'll come back next year. We only really pushed through for Christmas."

"When?"

"Summer here, maybe. Mom wants to come back to Bellaroca and Tita Isabelle has been raving about Amanpulo for the longest time. I'll tell you when it's all final."

"Wala man lang kayo sa debut ko." I pouted.

Kuya chuckled. "I'll send you a gift. Don't be tampo."

Rafael almost tipped over kaya mabilis siyang inabot ni Kuya. Sa takot, nagsimula 'tong umiyak. Kuya Zoren took him in his arms, soothing him. Sa kabilang dako, nando'n naman sina Kuya Andrei at Mathev. They were not alone now. May mga kinakausap na silang ibang grupo, mga babae na umiinom na rin.

Pierre and Kael joined the three of us. I guess gusto ni Rafael si Pierre dahil tumahimik siya sa kaiiyak at agad na nakipaglaro.

Nakangiti ako habang pinapanood sila. A lingering thought bloomed in my mind. I wondered if Racel was any good with kids? Gusto ko sana siyang makita kung paano makipag-interact sa mga bata.

Tita Sunshine finally called for Rafael. Dahil patutulugin muna ito, lumipat na kami sa olympic-sized pool kung saan nag-la-laps sina Kuya Jacob at Kuya Onyx. Nandoon din sina Alec at Kuya Travis, nanonood sa kanila.

They were racing. Maingay ang pool dahil sa tawanan ng kabilang grupo na nandoon din.

Sumunod sa 'min sina Mathev at Kuya Andrei at lumagi sa gilid namin. It was cold, mas malamig pa sa pool. Kahit na pinansin ni Kuya Andrei sina Kael, Pierre at Kuya Zoren, walang imik si Mathev. He didn't even acknowledge them kahit na nakatayo siya malapit sa mga ito.