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“Tanginang resort ‘yan,” Banri says as he enters the gate, whistling as he takes a look around the spacious and luxurious resort. “Isang buong bahay na ng artista ‘to eh.”
“Agree ako, dude,” Tenma says, entering after him. “Kinda reminds me of our house sa Bicol.”
Itaru snorts. “May legit na artista nga pala dito. Teka, dibs ko na ‘yung kamang malapit sa saksakan. Bye.”
“Sama ako,” Hisoka says.
“Tutulog ka lang eh,” Sakyo says, a large duffel bag in his hand. “Tumulong muna kayong ibaba ‘yung mga gamit— hoy— aba, wala na, naka-alis na.” He clicks his tongue. “Agang-aga nambi-bwisit agad.”
“Chill ka lang, kaya naman na namin ‘to,” Omi says as he brings out the cooler, pots, and other items from the van with Tasuku and Guy.
“Omi! Akin na gamit mo! Ako na maglalagay sa kwarto.” When Taichi gets Omi’s backpack, he hurries to Juza. “Tara, sama-sama na tayo.”
Juza nods, and Kumon jumps in between them, waving a hand. “Ako rin, sama! Kung saan man si kuya!”
“Ay, kuya Sakyo,” Taichi says, “ilan palang kama bawat kwarto?”
“Bale dalawang kwarto lang talaga,” Sakyo replies, nodding his head toward the 2nd floor of the building. “Isang malaking kwarto na may sampung double deck, tas isang kwarto para kay Izumi.”
Taichi tilts his head. “‘Di ba kulang? 24 tayo ah?”
“Wow,” Yuki says, deadpan. “Math skills.”
“Wala namang balak matulog ‘yung iba,” Sakyo says, eyes darting to the circular table where Azuma is already on, bringing a variety of alcoholic drinks out of his tote bag.
When their eyes meet, Azuma smiles, and Sakyo pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Bahala kayo d’yan,” Sakyo mutters, making his way to the room to put his own bag. “‘Di ako para mag-alaga sa inyo.”
“‘Di ka ba pagod?” Itaru asks, taking a seat near Omi who has been in-charge of the barbecue for a while, a phone in hand. “Kanina ka pa dyan ah.”
“Hindi naman. Bakit, gusto mo ba tumulong?”
“Hindi naman.”
“Sabi ko nga.” Omi picks up a stick of isaw, inspects it, and then, “Luto na ‘to.”
“Ah, ako na po kukuha,” Sakuya says, wet from the pool. Behind him, there’s a shriek as Misumi does a backflip before landing on the pool. Somewhere from afar, someone shouts, “Oi! Sabing ‘wag mag-laro aba ‘pag nabasag ‘yang ulo niyo—!”
Grabbing a plate, Sakuya picks up the skewers Omi points at and makes his round. He first gives some to those who are drinking by the circular table at a corner, then places some on the long table where Juza is eating J*lly Sp*ghetti straight from the pan, and then heads to the front where the karaoke is.
Banri and Tenma are seated around the karaoke, while Citron is standing up, one of the microphones in hand.
“Ano, walang kapaguran sa pagkanta?” Yuki says as he walks down the stairs, now wearing a frilly dress. “Naka-idlip na ko lahat-lahat, nand’yan pa rin kayong tatlo.”
“At kumanta na sila lahat-lahat, si Hiso-Hiso tulog pa rin,” Kazunari chimes in, picking up a barbecue from Sakuya’s plate before returning it, changing his mind. “Wait, kunin ko pala phone ko. TicToc tayo.”
“Kakanta ka ba?” Banri offers Yuki the songbook as Kazunari heads back to their room. “Eto oh. Skip mo na lang ‘yung akin kung gusto mo na kumanta.”
Yuki shakes his head. “‘Yoko.”
“Pa-shy type pa siya,” Tenma says.
“Eh kung sipain kita sa bayag?”
“Ang violet naman ng ferson,” Citron says into the mic.
“Violent kasi,” Banri corrects. “Pero taray, alam niya ‘yung ‘ferson.”
“Shemps! Truepa kami eh,” Kazunari says, wrapping an arm around Citron’s shoulder.
Banri raises a brow. “Gagi, ang bilis mo naman. Pero naks, nahila si Hisoka.”
“May hotdog na may marshmallow daw?”
“Check mo dun sa may long table, dude. They made tusok it sa cabbage. Weird nga eh.”
“‘Made tusok’ amput—”
“Psst.”
In chorus, everyone’s head turns toward the source, which turns out to be Chikage. Staring at Hisoka, he tilts his head to the side, nodding in the direction of the darts. “Tara.”
Hisoka ignores him and heads to the table. Banri all but shoves Yuki the songbook. “Skip niyo na mga kanta ko. Oi, Chikage, laro din ako.”
Standing still all the while, Sakuya blinks before offering Yuki the plate. “Uh, gusto mo ba?”
“Ay, wala na tayong yelo.” Izumi stands up, pausing when the world tilts a bit. “Teka, bibili lang ako sa labas.”
“Samahan na kita,” Masumi says from the other table, already up as well.
Izumi raises a brow. “Rinig mo pa ‘yon? Pero hindi na. D’yan lang naman sa tapat.”
Sakyo clicks his tongue. “Oi. Gabi na. Delikado.”
“Ako na lang. May bibilhin din ako,” Tsumugi says, putting his empty glass down. Azuma opens a new bottle. “Masumi, hinihintay ka ata nung mga nagbi-billiard.”
“Ako nga ‘yung sasama—”
“Magtigil.”
While Sakyo and Masumi stare each other down, Izumi sneaks away, and Tsumugi follows her.
“Anong bibilhin mo?” Izumi asks.
Tsumugi smiles and… is he tipsy already? But then again, the drinks Azuma picked are quite strong. “Juice lang.”
“Ah… okay.”
“Gusto mong uminom?” Tsumugi asks as the Spring Troupe leader brings them food again.
“Oi,” Tasuku says, tone disapproving.
“Legal age na sila ah… ay, saglit.” Tsumugi squints. “Anong year ba set ‘to?”
Sakuya tilts his head. “Ah, ano…”
“Lasing ka na,” Tasuku says, taking away Tsumugi’s shot glass. “Tumigil ka muna.”
“Hindi ah,” Tsumugi replies. “Pero at least Year 2 kasi andito na sina Guy, ‘di ba? Edi 19 na si Sakuya.”
“20 pa pwedeng uminom.”
“Sa Japan. Pero nasa Japan ba tayo? Hindi naman, ‘di ba?”
“Tsumu—”
“Tsaka edi gawin nating Year 4 ‘to.”
“Lasing na nga,” Itaru says, not taking his eyes off his phone. “May usapan na walang mambabasag ng 4th wall ah.”
“Desisyon mo pa rin naman, Sakuya!” Tsumugi smiles. “Pero kung ayaw mo nito, pa-timpla tayo kay Guy ng masarap na halo. May binili akong Tang na four seasons.”
“Wow! Galing ng transitions!” Taichi says, peeking at Kazunari’s phone. “Pa-tag ako!”
Kazunari grins, giving him a ‘naman!’ and then turns around when he feels a tap on his shoulder. It's Guy, holding a red cup.
“Napaka-sipag naman talaga ng ating tanggero for the night!” Kazuanri says before taking the offered cup, downing its content in one go. His eyes widen as he returns the cup. “Sarap! Anong halo ‘to?”
“Tang na four seasons, Gin, at Sprite. Salamat.” Guy nods and goes back to the circular table to refill the cup. Then, he makes his way to the pool where Tsuzuru is sitting by the stairs with his eyes closed, tapping their playwright on the shoulder.
“Anak ng—! Sorry, nagulat naman ako eh.” Tsuzuru gives the offered cup a look before shaking his head. “Pass.”
“Sigurado ka?” When there’s no reply, Guy nods. “Sige.”
“5 seconds! Walang malisya!”
Guy’s about to stand up when Tsuzuru’s hand shoots out, grabbing his arm. The chants from the others by the table continue in the background as Tsuzuru takes the cup and inhales the drink, giving it back to him after a burp and a murmured salamat.
At Guy’s stare, Tsuzuru explains, “Kailangan ko ‘to bago ang sakuna.”
Kumon goes down the slide.
Misumi goes down the slide.
In the pool, Taichi says he’s afraid to try.
Beside the pool, Tenma scoffs.
Behind Tenma, Yuki taps his back.
Tenma screams—
He doesn’t fall.
Yuki taps him again.
Tenma screams and falls.
“Hirap mo naman ka-bonding,” Tsuzuru says.
Itaru looks up from his phone and raises his eyebrows so high they almost reach his hairline. “Ay, sorry?”
“At, ano, Inste story na naman? Alipin ng social media?” Tsuzuru squints at Kazunari’s phone. “Episode ba ng PBB ‘yan? Dots na lang na ‘yung nasa taas oh.”
“Lasing na ang ferson!” Citron says into the mic.
“Kaya mo pa ba, Tsuzuru?” Sakuya says after finishing another cup, brows furrowed. “Gusto mo samahan kita pa-kwarto?”
“Grabe tong si Sakuya,” Itaru says. “Tibay ah.”
“Forda strong ang ferson!”
“Ang mga bituwin sa kalangitan ay nagniningning, ngunit hindi ako magpapatalo! Hindi mahalaga na tayo ay nasa mortal na katawan lamang, bagkus ang pagkinang ay makikita sa—”
“Ang ingay naman,” Itaru says. “Gayahin niyo kaya si Azuma. Pangiti-ngiti lang. Si Azuma, tahimik lang.”
“Oh, ano naman kung tahimik lang? Porket tahimik lang dapat nang iboto? Kakalimutan na ‘yung pangangamkam—”
“Oy, Tsuzuru, ibang usapan na ‘yan—”
“Ano?!” Banri slams his empty cup down, turning to his side. “Puro kain? Picnic ba pinunta mo dito?”
Juza ignores him and picks up another piece of pork chop.
“‘Wag gawing hapunan ang ating pulutan ~” Kazunari sings in the melody of sa ugoy ng duyan.
“Suntukan na la—”
“Subukan mo.”
Banri snaps his mouth shut as Sakyo glares at him.
Omi arrives to refill the plate with freshly grilled pork chop before sitting down, accepting the cup that Guy offers.
In the background, a new song starts, and Omi blinks. “Parang hindi na umalis si Citron sa karaoke.”
“Hindi na,” Itaru says. “Nagse-second voice ba naman sa lahat eh.”
“Awit.”
“Tasuku, paki-pulot naman si Homare,” Sakyo says. “Mag-a-alasais na. Hanggang alas-siyete lang tayo dito.”
“Gagi, d’yan natulog yan?”
“Sino ‘yung naka-plakda sa gilid?”
“Parang… Ay! Hala! Si kuya nga! Kuyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“Nagre-ready na ba lahat?” Izumi says. “Nasa’n na sina Azami?”
“Ay,” Azami says, walking down the stairs. “Naalala niyo pa pala ako.”
Behind him, Muku eagerly nods. “Ako rin po, andito. Pero alam ko naman na wala akong kwentang nilalang na hindi kawalan ‘yung presensya kaya—”
“Ang dami kasi natin,” Hisoka says. “Ewan ko nga bakit inalis pa ako sa kwarto eh. Pwede namang tulog lang ako.”
“Parang tumbling lang ginawa ko,” Misumi says, pouting.
“Isa lang ang linya ko,” Homare laments, suddenly awake.
Tsuzuru shrugs. “Kahit ako, mahihirapan kang isulat eh, tapos Tagalog pa. Kung may next time, siguro kayo na ‘yung bida. Pero Azami, kumusta naman ‘yung aircon?”
“Siguro ay nakakabit pa ri—”
“Sana pala ‘yun na lang din sinulit ko,” Tsuzuru says, cutting Chikage off. “Parang ang kalat ko lang kagabi…”
“Naku,” Izumi says, shaking her head. “‘Di mo lang feeling.”
Kazunari laughs. “Check mo na lang ‘yung PBB episode kong story sa Inste ~”