"SUPRICE!" I rolled to the other side of the bed when the sunrays stroked my face. But wait! Did I just hear Marz's irritating squeal?
"SUPRICE!" I was lying in my bed when three of my beautiful best friends attacked me.
No doubt, Marz and the twins are here messing up my beauty sleep.
"OUCH!" I groaned in pain when they locked me in a bone-cracking embrace. They automatically get up to give me some air to breathe.
"Oopsie, sorry! Jia did it!" And now they're pointing fingers (as usual). And Hazel is the leader every single time.
"BEST! Aren't you supriced?" I even rubbed my eyes to get a closer look at them. My eyes widened when I saw that they were fully dressed in a travel outfit and seemed to have a very important travelogue to document.
"Crazy! You meant SURPRISE!" I sneered, and Marz wore the most annoying cheeky grin.
"It's the new trend best. Aren't you updated? C'mon lift your butt out of the bed!" I tilted my head, confused now. Marz opened all the windows of my room, tucking the curtain at the side, then facing the mirror to retouch her makeup.
"No time to lose. Move! Move! Move!" Jia pulled my arms to get me up, but I refused and threw myself back in bed. I was damn exhausted because of last night's mission (which I really don't want to remember), and here they are ruining my rest.
"By the way, when did you arrive?" I asked in a deep voice. My deep slumber was obviously disturbed.
"Last night Jess. Late 9 pm. And we saw Captain..." I woke up immediately when Jia started storytelling.
In just another stroke of the golden sunshine on my eyes from the biggest window of my room opened by Marz, melatonin completely shut off, and they all stared at me.
"W-what did you say?" I stammered. My mind was wide awake.
"Which one?" Jia wore that confused face while Hazel seemed to hear nothing like she had a world of her own. Why is she smiling like an idiot on her phone?
"The last part." Jia seemed to get my point, and she nodded with a mischievous smile, trying to find my tickles.
"Ah! Captain carried you up last night because you were so asleep. He volunteered last night to take you to your room, but of course, we accompanied him, don't worry." At the length of Jia's explanation, the only thing that entered my brain was that he took me to my room.
That explains why I woke up with... HEAVENS! I immediately got off the bed and went straight to the mirror to look at my face. I sighed when I saw my face was clean, and I slept soundly without a trace of makeup.
"Captain also volunteered to remove your makeup because we were so tired last night just so you know. We still had jetlag." I widened my eyes at Hazel, who was now sitting on the couch. She sipped a milkita lollipop and looked seriously at my short night dress. I followed his gaze and returned my eyes to her with a mixture of shock and astonishment.
"Of course, I dressed you," Hazel replied shortly, and I let out a relieved breath.
After 30 minutes of clearing my mind and packing my things, I immediately went down to the dining room and was greeted by the frowning faces of my three best friends.
"Thank goodness! You're done finally! It's been eons girl," Jia exaggerated and pointed the fork at me, then mumbled audibly, "If it weren't for Captain, I might pluck out all of your hair." Jia arched her brow and ate the bacon on her plate.
"You've been in your room for almost 2 hours! Did you fall asleep in the bathroom again?" Marz stared at me as he placed the fried chicken on the plate. Hazel shrugged off and took a bite of the drumstick with gravy dripping on it.
"So, what are you waiting for? An acknowledgment of your presence, Madam? The clock is ticking hello!" I flipped my hair and smirked at Marz, whose fresh look was now a burning sun due to impatience and irritation.
"I'm sorry Captain, our friend moves like a turtle." I scoffed when Marz intentionally whispered in Marc's ears aloud.
Tss, this gay man really loves to whisper and then intentionally let us all hear it. I rolled my eyes in disgust and grabbed a chair, and ate breakfast with them.
"Captain, where is our destination? Will you take me to your future? Yay!"
Wow! This gay man is really flirting in the dining area of ​​our mansion. Seriously?
"It's a suprice." Marc chuckled playfully, and I cringed on the 'surprise thing' they quoted as trending.
After breakfast, we each carried our bags, and the bodyguards loaded the large luggage we were moving. Dad offered our private van to be used for our trip's safety. We were accompanied by a bodyguard and driver. Nah, Dad is really protective of me, so I'm used to not complaining because I know it's also for my sake.
"Is everything okay? Engine check, tires, reserved tires, toolbox, the brakes?" We found Manong Arthur strictly double-checking the vehicle, talking to the driver and bodyguards. My second good father that I dearly loved. I mentally heaved a sigh and smiled a little. They stopped talking when Manong Arthur spotted my presence and walked near us.
"Take care of Jessica." What was that? It's as if I'm not coming back, and Manong Arthur left me to Marc's good care. Marc nodded and gave Manong a reassuring smile. The twins grinned at me, and Marz fumbled something in his pocket.
"Take care." Manong Arthur messed my hair, and now it looked like a bird's nest. He also did it to the twins, and we kissed him on the cheeks before getting inside the van.
"Bye, Manong." The four of us waved our hands inside the van, then we closed the window, ready for the journey.
I sat in the last seat and stared out the back window until it disappeared from my sight. It has been my habit every time we travel as a family. I usually sit in the last row next to the twins. This time, Marc and I are next to each other. The twins are in front of us, and Marz is in the first seat because he will have a VC with his FilAm new boyfriend. I'm really impressed with his speed, the speed he can move on. He will cry one night, and then tomorrow, he'll be okay. He also doesn't harbor anger or resentment when he meets her ex.
How I wish we are the same.
An hour passed after the land travel, Marc and I didn't say a word while Marz was snoring. The twins are playing left 4 dead. I don't know why they have been avid fans of this game since we were kids. They have been addicted to it since the first version. Now they have played Left 4 dead 2, and they really enjoy fidgeting with their keyboard without mercy.
"How can you forget someone?" I mumbled out of nowhere.
"Acceptance." Marc yawned, then brought his head to my shoulders. I was left speechless when he did that, and all I could hear was my heart pumping uncontrollably inside my ribcage.
"Have you already moved on?" I seemed out of breath when he cut me off by interlacing our fingers on my lap.
"I moved forward," he corrected, and I don't know how to respond.
"Wae-yo? Eo-tteohge?" Why am I even nervous? This is insane!
(Translation: Why? How?)
"Only love can mend a broken heart." He heaved a deep sigh, and I blinked when the twins screamed because they had won their game.
They hit another high five and focused again on the next game. I didn't even ask anything and let him lean on my shoulder. After a while, I felt drowsy again because I was exhausted since we also planned every step we would take in the event for 2 weeks and my arnis training.
***
My blurry vision was shaken when Marz woke me up and Marc was gone, who was just beside me the moment I closed my eyes. At the back of the van, the twins were already unloading our luggage.
Marz and I got out of the van, and the bodyguard helped me carry our belongings into our room. After arranging the belongings, I immediately dressed for the adventure. I wore skinny denim jeans partnered with a white long-sleeved turtleneck. I pulled my hair back in a messy bun and left some baby hairs on my forehead near my ears. I slipped on my leighed bootie to warm up my calves, and I applied a minimal amount of makeup for the picture taking. Now, I'm ready to conquer all the nerve-racking adventures that Dahilayan Forest Park offers.
"Best! I have an itinerary. We have to do everything that is on the list okay! Captain, you're not KJ, right?" Marz itinerary piqued us for the adventure today.
Note: KJ stands for Kill Joy. An expression in the Philippines when one friend doesn't want to join the squad's vibe.
That explains why he was swamped researching before we left. Ever since that's how Marz loves to organize things in his life. We are here on the veranda of our room waiting for the twins. Marc was overlooking the high paradise of Bukidnon, admiring its beauty like how a man praised God's creation. We turned our attention when the twins came out, and their hair was pulled in cute pigtails.
"We're ready!" They jump together and even dance 'Cheer up' because they are fangirls of twice.
"In our three days here in Dahilayan, we MUST enjoy. Araso?!" Marc clasped his hands and wore the brightest smile that I kind of missed from him. Did I say that allowed?
"Aye! Aye Captain!" Their answer was very hyped except for me, who seemed floating because of his dazzling smile. Can someone please slap me?
"OUCH!" I woke up when a soft palm touched my cheek. That hurts! I stared at Marz, who returned a smile of victory.
"I'm sorry, there's a mosquito trying to enter your mouth." He gave me a teasing grin before I could fight back.
"ARAT NA!" The twins giggled in excitement, and we headed out of the room. Marz and I were behind the twins, busy with their selfies while Marc led the walk.
Note: ARAT NA is an inverted slang word of TARA NA which means Let's go in English.
Marz took out his selfie stick and started his vlog, number 1 in his itinerary. Here I am helping him with our first-day adventure. We're walking in a small pathway to the forest park, and we are surrounded by tall, resilient pine trees and distanced small huts.
We halted midway when Marc received a phone call. His facial expression abruptly changed when he saw the caller and glanced at me shortly before answering it. He turned to us and walked near the pine tree where there were no people. Marz paused his recording, and the twins who were about to take a shot on the pine trees threw a questioning look at me. Marz gave me also a stare full of curiosity. We argued using our eyes, but he won in the end, so I reluctantly approached Marc after he hang up the call.
"Is everything alright?" I asked carefully, with my eyes filled with concern. He obviously looked not fine but I still asked that dumb question.
"She's getting married," he answered wistfully with a melancholic smile.