30 Days with Fina by JellOfAllTrades

Chapter 8

After having breakfast I went upstairs to the attic where my brothers and cousins are starting a movie marathon. Kuya Ken is sprawled on the floor, beside him, sitting on a red bean bag is Kier. Mary is on the sofa with Laurence and Gerald is standing behind them, tossing a tennis ball in the air and catching it again.

"Sali ka?" Kuya Ken asked, patting the floor beside him. "Dito ka oh."

"Sure." I sat beside him. "Popcorn?" I asked, smelling the buttery scent in the air and hearing the popping noise.

Just then, as if on cue, there was an electronic beeping. I looked back at Gerald who is kneeling in front of a microwave oven I haven't noticed beside the sofa, hidden behind an old studying table. He took out a bag of popcorn, ripped it open and spilled the contents in a bowl, passing it to Mary and then putting a new bag of popcorn in the microwave. He set the timer and then sat beside Laurence.

"Penge!" Kier reached for the bowl. Laurence held it out to him.

"Kuya Ken, Ate Jell, popcorn oh." Laurence held the bowl for us but only Kuya Ken reached for it. I only shook my head.

"Busog pa ako, kakakain ko lang."

"Suit yourself," Kuya Ken muttered, stuffing his mouth with popcorn.

I rested my back beside Mary's legs and focused on the movie. It was an old movie with a summer theme, teenagers going to the beach for a good time and ending up in a horrible situation when a serial killer decides to kill them one by one.

I've seen the movie before so halfway through it, I fell asleep. I woke up about an hour later to my cousin and brothers' voices.

"Ilang oras na biyahe lang yun," Mary said.

"Apat na oras." Rence corrected. "Sige na, ilang taon na nung huli tayong pumunta dun."

"Pumunta saan?" I asked, rubbing my eyes and sitting up.

"CamSur," Gerald said. "Naisip ko lang kanina pagkatapos ng movie na pumunta ulit tayo dun. Alam mo na, swimming o kaya wakeboarding, wakeskating."

"Sige, kausapin ko sila dad kung ayos lang na hiramin ulit natin yung van." Kuya Ken said. "Kelan tayo pupunta?"

"Bukas na!" Kier said, excited.

"Agad agad?"

"Oo! Bukas na para wala na tayong urungan!" Rence said.

"Tayo-tayo lang ha!" Kier added.

"Ang onti natin!" Rence complained. "Di pwedeng magsama ng iba?"

"Oo nga," Mary pouted.

"Psh. Sige na, sama nyo na mga syota nyo!" Kier conceded. "Basta Mary, sama ka din ng iba pang chicks!"

Kuya Ken hit Kier on the head. "Isa ka pa eh! Mambababae ka pa!"

"Friends lang!" Kier laughed. "Noh, Mary?"

"Sige na, sige na." Mary rolled her eyes at him. "Friends lang ha!"

"Nako Kuya Kier, kapag may natipuhan ka sabihin mo agad, ilalakad kita." Gerald laughed, patting Kier's shoulders.

"Ikaw ate Jell, wala kang isasama?" Rence raised an eyebrow at me.

"What?"

"Sabi mo may natitipuhan ka?" Rence wriggled his eyebrows.

"Ahh! Yun ba? Friends lang kami nun." I answered, getting him. He was referring to our talk the other day when he asked if I already have a girlfriend here in Calauag.

"Friends lang?" Kuya Ken raised an eyebrow at me. "Sure ka jan ha."

"Friends nga lang nga. Ang kulit."

"Isama mo na sya," Rence suggested. "The more the merrier!"

Later that afternoon I went back to the playground, hoping to see Fina again. I found her standing on the edge of the seawall, looking out into the sea, deep in thought that she didn't notice my approach.

"Di ka ba nagsasawa sa dagat?" I asked.

"Minsan, oo, madalas hindi." Fina answered without a glance. Okay, maybe she did notice my approach or she already knows it's me with just my voice.

The wind whipped her long wavy hair back, her eyebrows are scrunched up with the sun shining overhead, nevertheless, she looks beautiful, like a sea goddess, looking over her dominion.

"Hey, uhh, Fina, can I ask you something?" I started.

"Ano yun?" She turned to face me.

"Kasi, nagpaplano yung mga pinsan ko na pumunta ng CamSur."

"So?"

"Well, kami-kami lang dapat pero magsasama sila ng mga boyfriend, girlfriends nila."

"Okay?" Fina looked confused.

"Pwede din magsama ng kaibigan." I muttered.

"Ha? Anong sabi mo?" Fina moved closer. I must have said that too low for her not to hear.

"Ay uhh..." I scratched the back of my head, unsure of what to do.

"Jellane, ayos ka lang?"

"Gusto mo bang sumama samin sa CamSur?" I blurted out. "Pwede din kasi magsama ng kaibigan."

"Ha?" She looked surprised that I would ask her that. "Ako?"

"Please, Fina?" I held her hands. "Magsu-swimming lang tayo and if you want I can teach you wakeboarding."

But she stepped away as if I asked her to jump a cliff for me. "I'm not sure, Jell."

"Ha?" I was somehow sure that she'll say yes. Every girl says yes to me. This is a first.

Fina nervously pushed a lock of hair behind an ear. "Kasi baka hindi ako payagan ni mama."

"Eh di sasamahan kitang magpaalam."

"Hindi!" She said almost too eager but regretted it and corrected herself. "Hindi, Jell. Ako na lang magpapaalam."

"So, sasama ka?" I pushed. The mere fact that she wants to go is enough for me. It means she wants to spend more time with me and that she's fine with meeting my cousins and brothers.

"Pag pumayag si mama."

I smiled. "That's good enough for me."

Fina smiled too, but a nervous one.

"So, six o'clock alis na tayo para ten andun na tayo." I said. "Four hours ang biyahe eh."

"Six o'clock. San magkikita?"

"Sa tapat ng bahay namin. Alam mo--"

"Yeah. Folloso house right? Pinagtalleran?"

I looked at her, confused. "Alam mo yung bahay namin?" I do remember telling her I'm from Pinagtalleran but I don't remember telling her I'm in the 'Folloso house'.

"Malaki yung bahay niyo saka sabi mo diba, may katabi kayong hardware store? Nahulaan ko kaagad na kamaganak mo yung mga Folloso."

"Alam mong Folloso ako?"

Fina laughed. "Ano ka ba, halata naman na mayaman ka eh. At isa ang mga Folloso sa pinakamayaman dito. Diba kahapon sa simbahan, sinusundan mo ng tingin yung parents mo? Kasama nila si Belen Folloso. Nahulaan ko agad na lola mo sya."

"Oh..Si Mamita...Pero Ramos ako, hindi ako Folloso."

"Folloso parin ang middle name mo."

She is smart. I hope she'd come with us. My cousins would love her, and maybe, even my brothers too. "Please come with us to CamSur, Fina. I would love you to come."

Okay, that last part is somewhat double meaning but she doesn't seem to mind. It's just me.

"Hindi talaga ako sure, Jell."

"Ganito nalang, magpaalam ka sa parents mo. Bukas, pag wala ka pa sa tapat ng bahay namin ng six o'clock, I'll know na hindi ka pinayagan. But if you're there..."

Fina looked at me, her eyes twinkling with something I can't pinpoint...Disappointment? Hope? Desire? What is that look?

"Please, Fina?"

"I'll try, Jellane. I'll try."