A Bestfriend's Love

"Aalis na kami."

"You will come back, right?"

"Oo naman. Pangako 'yan."

After that dream, I slowly opened my eyes again... How long has it been since we last saw each other? Even though "something" happened ten years ago, I still have dreams about it. It's all right. I should've become used to it by now.

I wipe the tears from my eyes and drink the glass of water on my bedside table. I check the time. 8:35 A.M. I'm already late, amp.

I dashed to the bathroom, only to come to a halt when I realized it was Saturday. We finished our final exam yesterday, so we're supposed to be on break now.

Naghilamos nalang ako at nag-toothbrush at bumalik na sa pagkakahiga sa kama. I'm still sleepy. I was in the act of falling asleep when my phone suddenly rang. I took it to check who was calling. It's Adel. I clicked the answer button.

"Hey, bro! What's up?" Adel uttered in the other line.

"Why?" I asked.

"Anong why?! May meeting tayo, nakalimutan mo?! Aba, bilisan mo diyan, naiinip na si Zam." Then he ended the call.

I sighed and rushed to the bathroom for a bath. To save time, I just dressed in the simplest clothes I could find.

After that, I got my car keys and ran to the garage. I drove my car to our meeting place. The Meteor Garden. Not the movie. Meteor Garden is like a coffee shop and a garden combined. Did you get it? Okay, I'll explain it to you most simply. It is a garden that looks like a coffee shop. Ah, basta yun.

When I arrived at our usual table, Adel and Azel were arguing. Kena sat in front of her laptop, typing. And there's Zam, who's on her phone. I walk towards them.

"I'm here. Sorry, late," I announced.

"It's okay. 15 minutes ka lang namang late." Kena said while putting away her laptop.

"Anong okay?! Isang oras na kaming naghihintay sa iyo dito, bro!" Adel disagreed.

"Oo nga. Unfair. Dapat manlibre. Kakahiya naman sa'min na naghihintay," gatong naman ni Azel.

"That's enough. Tinitrip niyo na naman si Kuya." Zam stopped them.

"No, it's okay. Order what you want, my treat."

Ad and Az exclaimed with delight and proceeded to the counter to take their order. Zam merely sighed and looked at me. We sat and waited for them to return. Ad and Az returned a few minutes later with the trays they had ordered. We sat down after taking our orders from them.

"So..." Zam started.

"Where exactly in Mindanao?" I asked, suddenly remembering what Adel told me.

"What?! In Mindanao?!" Kena shouted in shock.

"Oh my God. Seryoso ba?" Azel reacted.

Zam's jaw was hanging wide when I saw her. I couldn't blame them for reacting the way they did. For a long time, we had hoped to spend our break in Mindanao.

"Last week kasi, nag-isip na ako kung saan tayo magba-bakasyon then suddenly naalala ko na matagal na nating gustong pumunta sa Mindanao kaya ayun.. we're going to do island hopping in Siargao. Anyways, I already bought us tickets so don't worry." Adel uttered.

"Wow! Ngayon ka lang ata may ambag, ah. Congrats, tol. I'm so proud of you." Azel tapped Adel on the shoulder and nodded, as if she was proud of him. Adel acted touched by what Azel said to him, and he even wiped his eyes, even without tears.

"Salamat, sis." Adel raised his voice like a woman and hugged Azel.

Zam was disgusted as she watched them, while Kena just shook her head. I simply sighed. It's not like a day goes by that they aren't like that.

"So kailan tayo aalis?" Zam interrupted them.

"Sunday evening. Ite-text ko nalang kayo sa details mamaya." Adel replied.

"Okay. Mauuna na ako, guys. Bye."

Kena grabbed her bag and stood up. But before leaving, she hugged us one by one and kissed us on the cheek. And after that, she left.

"So.. how are you guys?" I asked. I didn't ask them for the past few days. I wonder how they're doing.

"Doing good," was Zam's short reply.

We've gotten used to it. Zam is a quiet person. Of the five of us, she was the most impatient. So when we have a plan to go out, we should come before her because, if not, you already know what will happen.

"Ako rin." It's Adel.

"Ako kuya, hindi. Kasi noong nakaraang linggo sobrang sakit ng ulo ko sa dami ng pinagawa ng guro namin. Grabe... Ta's alam niyo ba..."

I just smiled at Azel's loudness. Of the five of us, she is our mood-setter or happy pill. It's because Azel is cheerful and talkative. So when she starts telling stories, expect that it won't end. Because she never runs out of it. Sometimes she doesn't even realize that she is already talking nonsense. Funny, right? But it's better that way.

"Ikaw, bro? Musta naman pagkaka-miss mo kay childhood best friend?"

I was suddenly surprised by Adel's question. Azel looked at me foolishly, and Zam, who had been quiet earlier, joined in as well. I looked badly at Adel. Sometimes it's really nice to kill a friend. If it's not really forbidden...

I mumbled, "Shut up."

"Uyyy, Kuya. Miss na niya si Chi-be," Azel teased me.

Chi-be comes from the word "childhood best friend". She gave that nickname so that it would be easy for her. It's because she said it'd take a long time to pronounce "childhood best friend." Kaya Chi-be nalang daw.

"Tagal na nun Kuya, ah. Hinihintay mo pa rin? Wow, loyal." Zam added.

"Oks lang 'yan, pareng Ken. Ipagpe-pray namin na magkita na kayo, 'di ba guys?" Adel said.

Zam nodded at Adel while Azel gave me a thumbs-up. I don't know, but I suddenly got my hopes up. I just hope we meet again very soon, so that my questions will be finally answered. Until now, I still couldn't find a reason for them to leave. Maybe if she could tell me the reason, I could understand it. Right?

After a few hours of talking, we decided to go home. They said they still needed to get ready for the trip tomorrow and that it's already night. Arriving home, I found Mom and Dad's car.

I was happy because it just meant that they had returned from a business trip. Entering the house, I found Dad and Azi, my younger sister, in the living room watching a movie.

My sister must have noticed that someone was watching them because she turned in my direction. Azi's face lit up when she saw me and she ran towards me.

"Bro!" She happily said then hugs me tight. "I missed you kahit kanina pa lang tayo hindi nagkita." I chuckled at her statement.

I saw Dad stand up and approach us. I smiled at him and he nodded. Azi let go of my hug and ran to the kitchen. Dad hugged me afterward.

"I missed you, son."

"I missed you, too, Dad."

I pulled away from him and turned around to look for Mom. When I couldn't see her I turned to Dad.

"Where's Mom?"

"She's-"

"Ken!"

I looked back when I heard the familiar voice. And there, I saw Mom walking towards us. She hugged me tightly. I smiled. My mom is really cute. Her sweet and small gestures.

"I love you, Mom."

I told her most sincerely so that she could feel how grateful I was that she, along with Dad, had become my parents.

I am so happy to be a member of this family. That's how Azi and I ended up with parents like them. They're kind, cheerful, and responsible. They don't let them lose time with us, siblings, so every weekend, the four of us go out for bonding.

They also assist us in all aspects of our lives, particularly when it comes to our schoolwork. They aren't the type of parents who will put pressure on us to get a certain grade. They simply want us to enjoy our time as students. That is, there will be no pressure and no standards. But, of course, we don't make use of it. We don't want the money spent on our education to go to waste, so we work hard to retain our high marks.

"I love you, too. Tamang- tama ang dating mo, 'nak. Tapos na akong magluto ng hapunan. Tara sa kusina."

We followed her. We just talked about our studies and what happened on their business trip. After eating, I went upstairs to brush my teeth and get dressed for bed. I picked up my phone when it lit up. There is a text from Adel.

From: Kaidel

Tomorrow, 3 P.M dapat andun na kayo sa airport. Bawal ma-late, pls lang.

After reading the message, I went to bed, but I remembered that I hadn't packed yet. I looked at the time. 10:13 P.M. It's too late and I'm already drowsy, so I just decided to pack tomorrow and wake up early.

***