Page 27 of Not My Type, Not Yet.

It took me months to finally run away from the pain that caused me to act like a fool. A part of me did not want to admit that I was a sucker for it, but I knew better than anyone na tanga ako, manhid and would do anything just to keep him at bay.

You know when you already love someone when you can't hate them despite all the pain that they inflicted on you. And that's probably the dumbest thing your heart does.

"Ilagay mo sa likod yang maleta mo." I nodded at Memere and loaded my suitcase at the back of her car.

I hugged myself when a cool breeze enveloped my body. Bahagya kong binigyan ng sulyap ang gate ng paaralan bago bumuntong hininga. Malapit nang mag summer break kaya wala masyadong gagawin.

I did not even realized na summer break na pala maya-maya, I was too busy to even realize it.

"Get in, 4 am ang flight natin pa Costa Rica baka malate tayo. 3 am na," Tumango nalang ako at pumasok sa sasakyan.

I groan and lower the hood of my jacket. I feel miserable.

Memere senses that I don't want to talk about what happened so she just stayed quite hanggang sa makarating kami sa airport. Hindi ako nagpaalam, wala akong iniwang bakas. I want to leave without a trace. I want to leave with nothing in mind but calmness.

When I left our dorm in the middle of the night, my foot halted midway and glanced at his door. A silent goodbye of mine.

We boarded the plane exactly at 4 am, timing na nasa window seat ako. I watched as the clouds danced across the canvas of the blue sky, while the sun, with golden brushstroke, painted the world below this soaring plane.

I smiled warmly, when the sun kissed my face through the open window.

"It's nice isn't it?" Napabaling ako kay Memere ng magsalita sya. Her eyes focused on the scenery outside the window. I averted my eyes back to the window and nodded slightly.

"Yeah," I answered, voice ragged and exhausted.

I feel her hands caressing my back kaya bahagya akong napapikit.

"Sumama ka lang ba sakin dahil may gusto kang takbohan?"

I clenched my jaw and hugged my body.

Nang walang sagot na nakuha sakin bumuntong hininga sya. "I really don't know what happened apo, pero I wish na sana hindi basta-basta tong desisyon mo." She said worriedly.

I inwardly chuckled. Sigurado naman ako kaya nga tatakbo ako papalayo sakanya. I had enough. I fucking had enough. Ain't no robot, puta tao ako. Imagine what you might actually feel when the guy you thought liked you, may ganong rumors?

Nasaktan ako and I don't want to face the possibilities na baka hanggang ngayon sya pa rin.

I'm done chasing someone who keeps on running away from me.

"I..I just need to breathe...gusto kong magpakalayo-layo sa mga taong walang ibang ginawa kundi saktan akoo," I said through gritted teeth.

She sighs again. She reclined her body, I could feel her gaze lingering on my back but she did not utter another word.

Masama bang mas pinili kong tumakbo?

I guess not. Tumakbo ka papalayo imbes na harapin ang problema mo. Sometimes running away isn't a sign of weakness, more often it is the first step towards healing. The sky must let go of its storm before it can shine again.

Sometimes peace is found not in staying, but in the courage to leave what hurts.

Napatingin akong muli sa bintana. I soft yet melancholy escaped my lips. "Hahanapin mo kaya ako or hahayaan mo nalang akong mawala? Which one would you choose, hmm?" Napapikit ako at hinayaan nalang na lamunin ako ng antok.

Isang araw kaming nasa himpapawid, napakagat ako sa labi ko nang sumakit ang likod ko. Tangina. Ang layo ng Costa Rica.

"Fucking hell ang likod ko." Singhal ni Memere habang hawak-hawak ang kanyang likod. Napatawa ako pero agad ding napawi ng mas lalong sumakit ang likod ko.

Gago.

"Tawa mo?" tinaasan nya ako kilay kaya napairap ako.

"My back hurt," reklamo ko rin.

"Paki ko?"

I deadpan her.

"Marayuma ka sana." Rebat ko.

Magsasalita pa sana sya ng tumunog ang Pre-landing announcement kaya napatahimik kaming dalawa.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as we begin our final descent into San José, Costa Rica, the local time is 10:49 PM, and the weather is mostly cloudy with a temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit, or 19 degrees Celsius.

Please make sure your seat belts are securely fastened, your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright positions, and all carry-on items are properly stowed.

On behalf of your captain and the entire crew, we'd like to thank you for flying with us today. We hope you've had a pleasant journey and wish you a memorable stay in beautiful Costa Rica. Pura vida! Welcome!"

After the announcement, I fished out my phone. Naka airplane mode sya kaya halos isang araw na akong offline. Napatitig nalang ako sa screen ng cellphone, I heave a heavy a sigh once again and turn off my phone.

"Your grandad, he's still as careless as ever.

.." I averted my gaze back to my grandma.

She's caressing her phone, worry is evident in her aging face.

"...Looking back now, you and him are similar in any way.

You wouldn't talk if something's wrong and.

.." she tilted her head and met my eyes. "...nalulungkot ako."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to look away.

"I...I'm not ready to open up yet Memere," I said, voice low.

"I spend all my life in quiet corners of the house.

I kept my feelings, opinions and tears in a bottle.

So...please give me time para masabi ko sayo kong ano ang nangyari.

" I smiled, pero ang mata ko nasa kamay ko lang.

I remained that way hanggang sa pumatong ang kamay nya sa halos nanginginig ko nang kamay.

"I understand. And I'm sorry if I wasn't around when you need someone to cry on..."

Napakagat ako sa labi ko. Sinalubong ko ang mata nya at nginitian sya. Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang kanyang kamay, not wanting to let go. Her hand was the first one to reach out to me when I stumble and almost give up.

"Ang oa," natatawa kong saad. Marahas nyang kinuha yang kamay nya sa kamay ko at hinampas ako sa balikat kaya napa daing ako.

"Sorry ha! sorry kong naapakan ko yang emosyon mo!" halos pasigaw nyang saad.

May ibang napatingin sakanya. Embarrassed, sinuot ko ang headphone ko and pretended not to know her. Nagpipigil ako ng tawa ng makitang nanlaki ang mata nya.

"D-don't worry I'm talking to my grandson," nauutal nyang saad sa flight attendant ng lapitan sya at tanongin kong ano ang problema.

Nang umalis ang flight attendant, her sharp eyes landed on mine and she slapped my shoulder kaya napatawa ako.

Kinurot nya ang tagiliran ko kaya napaigtad ako. "Walang hiya ka." Madiin nyang ani.

"M-masakit!!" reklamo ko, but seeing her reddened face hindi ko mapigilang mapatawa ulit.

"Why would you do that!" she muffled a scream to my ear na syang ikinatawa ko ulit.

"You're too loud, Memere."

Inirapan nya ako bago hinampas ulit. I massage my shoulder dahil sa bigat ng kamay nya.

We buckled up when the plane landed.

As I stepped outside into this unfamiliar place, a tang of pain seized my pace. Though unsure, I'll try to hide the hurt, caused by yesterday's sorrowful heartbreak.

Maybe...just maybe.

"Welcome to Costa Rica," My grandma grinned at me. I smirk when my feet touch the ground.

I remembered that my family owns a resort near Manuel Antonio National Park. Isang beses lang akong nakapunta non, nong buhay pa si mommy.

I breathe the fresh air of Costa Rica, a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

"Balot!!!! May Balot dito!!!!"

Bahagya akong napasimangot ng may pamilyar na boses akong narinig.

"Sloane and her antics," Memere laughed. I followed her line of vision, and there I saw Sloane holding up a cardboard box with our names written across.

Nang makita niya kami, agad syang tumakbo papalapit sa amin. I watched how she nearly fell from the ground dahil sa katangahan nya.

"Austine mah bro!!!" She jumped on me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I groan dahil tumunog ang likod ko.

"Get off Sloane, ang baho mo," I elbowed her, but she just laughed it off. "Why are you even here?"

She clicks her tongue, "Mani lang yang Canada at Costa Rica sakin." She boosted. I furrowed my brows and yanked her hands off of me.

Bumaling sya kay Memere at niyakap. "My gorjas Grandmother! Wow, you look hot in that dress. Too bad grandad is injured," she winked at her.

"Gaga," natatawa nyang batok sa pinsan ko. "Let's go, I badly need some rest." Aya nya kaya lumabas na kami sa airport.

Someone is already waiting for us there. Before we enter the car Sloane nudges me kaya minata ko sya.

"H-How's Abigail?" she asked, though her eyes were distant. My forehead creased, before I could ask her, she turned her head and smiled, cutting my thoughts off. "You said that the two of us are very similar, I figured that I wanted to be her friend."

Minata ko pa sya ng ilang segundo bago tumango. "She's fine."

Hearing my answer she nodded at pumasok na sa sasakyan.

Binaybay namin ang daan tungo sa resort namin. Gabi na at antok na antok na ako but my minds still cloudy with heavy thoughts. I sigh and fished out my phone. I wanted to check my social media accounts, but my phone is dead kaya binulsa ko nalang ulit.

Pag dating sa resort namin agad akong pumanhik sa kwarto na binigay sakin. I forgot to charge my phone nor changed my clothes dahil sa sobrang pagod. Once my body hit the soft cushion my eyes immediately closed and my mind drifted into slumber.

I sleep like a log that night at hindi ko na namalayan na anong oras na pala. I check the clock on the wall at mag aalas tres na nang hapon.

"That was long."

I got off from my bed and stretches my body. Agad akong naligo at bumaba pagkatapos kong mag-ayos. Na charge ko na rin ang cellphone ko. And while waiting I might as well stroll in the beach.

I'm wearing white sando and a khaki short and a flip flop. Pagbaba ko sa kwarto agad na bumungad saakin ang mga turista na nag bbook ng kwarto. Our room and the room for the tourist are separated. Kumbaga hotel ito.

Nakita kong nasa lounging area si Sloane, busy kakakalikot ng cellphone nya kaya nilapitan ko sya.

"Where's Memere?" I asked her. She flinched and immediately hid her phone.

She looked up and meet my eyes nervously kaya nagkasalubong ang kilay ko. "At the hospital," she cleared her throat and stood up. "Come on let's eat. Punta tayong park pagkatapos." Aya nya.

"Nah, I'll probably be at the beach," nauna na akong maglakad sa kanya papuntang dining area.

"Becky will be here, I'll introduce you to my girlfriend," she informed me.

I looked past my shoulder and eyed her. "Not Thea?" I asked. She shook her head and smirked at me.

"We broke up last month," she said at hinabol ako.

"Ayos ah, nakakita ka agad. I bet pang 3 days mo lang yan. Fb15 ba," she laughed at my remark at inakbayan ako.

"The moment she saw you, makikipag break agad yun sakin," she taunted with a smirk.

It's always been like this. Sa tuwing may ipapakilala sya sakin na jowa nya, the next day mapag-aalaman ko na break na sila. I think sumpa ako para kay Sloane, but she kept on introducing her girlfriends as if she's trying to prove something.

"Tas diko alam na may hidden animosity kana pala sakin," I scoffed. Humalakhak sya kaya mas lalong umasim ang mukha ko.

"How can I hate you bro! the only thing that keeps me from dating you is the fact that you're my cousin." She said and I almost rolled my eyes.

"As if papatulan kita. Tabi nya kukunin ko yung cellphone ko sa itaas."

Lowbat pa yun pero wala akong paki.

Tumakbo akong muli sa itaas papuntang kwarto ko. When I entered my room, I grabbed my phone at tinanggal ang charger. I turned it on. For a few seconds, I just stared-watching as the light slowly bled into the screen, like it was struggling to wake from a long, heavy sleep.

The moment it powered up, I switched off airplane mode.

Before I could even type in my password, the phone buzzed violently in my hand.

A message and call from the same person. Over a hundred missed calls and texts.

Austine, please where are you?

That was sent two days ago.

As I scroll down my eyes burn. Each message came like a punch to the chest-desperate, unraveling, raw. I could feel his panic bleeding through the screen, his words getting shorter, shakier, more broken. And the last message was sent 10 minutes ago.