Law of Attraction

Film 04

Paige Maree's

Kung alam ko lang na ano?

I was left there hanging. I couldn't hide the confusion in my face. I froze on the spot. My brain couldn't function well because I don't know what he was talking about.

It was minutes after that I decided to be with them. They formed a circle and the bonfire was on the center. The heat immediately envelopes me even before I could take a sit on the sand.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Jea at Claire. They were singing songs and talking about things I couldn't catch up with kasi hindi naman ako makarelate. Our older cousins were drinking liquors. Bawal pa kami at wala rin akong balak uminom.

"Ate, pahingi." Jea whispered habang nginunguso niya yung cupcake sa gilid ng plate ko. I gave her that. Sakto naman kasing I'm already full.

I stood up and threw the paper plate sa garbage can. Bumalik ako sa pwesto ko kanina. Jea already placed a shawl there para doon na daw ako umupo at hindi na mismo sa buhangin.

I gladly sat there. I looked at the person in front of me, with the fire in between us. I was surprised when I caught him looking at me too. Pero hindi niya naisipang ibahin ang direksiyon ng kanyang tingin. I thought he wss staring at me, not until it dawned upon me that he was just probably staring on a blank space.

The fire illuminated his face which made it more visible for me to see. I noticed that he kinda looks like Mark Tuan. Not entirely, but some of his facial features somewhat resemble Mark's.

I immediately looked up to check the stars when I noticed that I'm already checking him out. It wasn't really 'checking out', I was just observing. Familiar nga siya eh baka nakita ko na siya before. Hindi imposible dahil may connection naman sila ng pinsan ko. I heard he's the son of the owner of the studio that Ate Yana hired to cover her wedding. Akala ko nagpa-part time siya rito.

Ibinalik ko ang paningin ko sa harap. I managed to take quick glances on the people that are here. Kasama namin dito yung mga kasamahan ng wedding coordinator and yung mga photographers. Magkakakilala na nga ata silang lahat. Ako lang yung tahimik rito. Tahimik rin naman si Jea pero paminsan-minsan ay nakikisali sa mga jamming.

If only I had the social skills like what my cousins have, I wouldn't always be caught up in an awkward situation like what I mostly experience.

"Truth or dare!" Kuya Jiyo asked Kuya Matt.

"Dare para may challenge!"

Kiya Jiuo dared Kuya Matt to do something naughty that I won't go into detail na. I silently stood up at nagpaalam kay Jea na pupunta na sa hotel room. She nodded in response. Hindi ko alam kung naintindihan niya ako. Her focus was directed at what the adults were laughing at at nakikitawa rin siya dito. I'd laugh with them too if only hindi natalo ng pagiging antukin ang utak ko.

Pumasok ako sa hotel room nang dahan dahan dahil baka tulog na si Lola at magising pa siya sa ingay na magagawa ko. Tama nga ako dahil pagkapasok ko ng pinto, bumungad agad ang mukha ni Lala na mahimbing na natutulog.

I quietly entered the bathroom para makapaghalf-bath. I couldn't sleep if I don't feel fresh. I cleaned myself up and when I was already in my pajamas, tahimik akong tumabi kay Lala sa kama. I kissed her cheek and hugged her. 'Yon lang ang tanging naaalala ko dahil nakatulog na ako pagkatapos.

The next day, we were supposed to go home directly. Late kaming nagising lahat at yung mga pinsan ko, hindi pa naayos yung mga damit nila.

"Nauna nang umuwi yung photographers and coordinator dahil dala naman nila yung sariling sasakyan nila." one of my Tita said. Nauna na rin sina Ate Yana at Kuya Louie dahil may hinahabol silang flight for their honeymoon.