Chapter 22: Nabinyagan

Ace's POV

"Ace! Gising na! Ikaw na lang hinihintay namin ni Harry."

I can hear Chester waking me up but ang sarap pa ng tulog ko. I looked at my phone and checked the time.

"Chester, 2 a.m. pa lang! Isn't it too early for you to wake me up?" I said while hinahanap ko ulit ang tulog ko.

"Ace, anong isn't it too early? 2:30 a.m. ang call time natin! 'Di ba sabi mo kasama ka sa retreat?" Harry said.

"What retreat?" I asked while sobrang antok pa talaga ako.

"Hala? Makakalimutin ka talaga, Ace. Sabi mo kay Kuya Lucas kasama ka sa retreat sa Gabaldon. Sabi mo nga 'I want to help those who are in need'!" Chester shouted.

Bigla akong napadilat at nagising ang diwa ko.

"Why didn't you wake me up!" I shouted.

"Hala? Kanina ka pa namin ginigising. Antok ka pa?" Chester said.

"Tulungan niyo na lang ako mag impake!" I shouted and bigla akong tumayo sa kama ko para kunin ang mga dapat.

"Grabe, hindi ka pa nagiimpake? Nako ka talaga, Ace!" Harry added.

"Tch, just help me instead. Kayo na kumuha ng iba na tingin niyo magagamit ko. Maghihilamos lang ako." I asked them.

So, I went to the C.R. para maghilamos and magpalit ng damit since it's the least that I can do while Harry and Chester is packing all my stuff for me.

Paglabas ko sa C.R., Harry and Chester gave me a sly smile.

"Okay na, nakaimpake ka na Ace. Lahat ng kailangan mo for 3 days and 2 nights andito na sa bag mo lahat. Magagamit mo 'yun at gamit na gamit." Chester said.

Well, I don't have time to check what's inside my 3 bags so I took it and afterwards tumungo na kami sa meeting place which is in front of our school.

Pagdating namin, the huge bus is already there. Lucas, Joker and ate Alaiza, our Student Council President is outside the bus and making sure that everything is prepared and set and nililist nila lahat ng kasama.

Nilapitan namin silang tatlo and nagpalista na rin kami.

"Oh, akala ko hindi ka na dadating, Ace. Kanina pa kita hinahanap eh. Hehe." Lucas said and gave me the warmest smile he can offer.

"Ehem, ehem. Retreat ang pupuntahan natin, Lucas, and hindi dating party ah? Mamaya si Ace lang ang pagtuunan mo ng pansin. Marami kang babantayan since responsibility mo lahat ng kasama." Ate Alaiza said.

"Ikaw na lang, Alaiza, mag handle muna for today and the next day? Please?" Lucas asked.

"No! I'm not your yaya! Go get your own! Bahala ka and face the consequences! Bahala ka gumawa ng sarili mong paraan! Haha!" Ate Alaiza said.

"Dito niyo na lagay sa compartment 'yung mga gamit niyo." Joker said while helping us in unloading our things.

"Oo nga pala, Ace and company, may seating arrangements tayo sa bus para hindi magulo and mas madali ang pag check ng mga kasama. Harry and Chester, you'll be together. Look for seat J1 and J2. Ikaw naman Ace, you'll be seating at K1." Ate Alaiza instructed us.

"Okay, but can I ask kung sino ang katabi ko?" I asked, since I might be with someone na I haven't talked to yet and matutulog lang ako buong magdamag.

"Ikaw, Ace? Hmm..." Ate Alaiza checked her list but while looking at her face, she seems confused, "Bakit ganito? Bakit puno ng erasures 'tong seat K2? Who did this? Who messed up my list?" Ate Alaiza shouted.

Umiling agad sina Joker and Lucas saying na hindi sila ang naglagay ng erasures sa magiging katabi ko.

"Well, I'm not sure yet, Ace kung sino magiging katabi mo sa seating arrangement since walang pangalan. Look." Ate Alaiza said and showed me the list.

When I checked the list, andaming erasures! It's like nilagyan ng mga pangalan then binura.

"Mukhang may nagaagawan sa pwesto makatabi ka lang, Ace, ah?" Chester whispered.

"Baliw ka, Chester. You and your crazy mind!" I whispered.

"Sino kaya ang magiging katabi mo mamaya? Haha!" Harry added.

"I prefer no one para makatulog ako ng mas maayos!" I answered.

"Parang wala pa ata akong upuan, Alaiza. Nakalimutan ko ata isama name ko. Siguro doon ako sa tabi na lang ni Ace since extra naman na seat 'yun no? Tama ba, Chester and Harry?" Lucas said.

"Yes. Kung saan ka mas magiging comfortable." Harry agreed.

"Oo, tsaka maglalaro pa tayo, Kuya Lucas. Ikaw na lang tumabi." Chester added.

"No, hindi ka sa tabi ni Ace. You'll be seating at the front seat together with me and Joker." Ate Alaiza said.

"Alaiza!" Lucas said and it seems na gusto niya talaga ako makatabi sa upuan.

"No, you can't sit with him right now, Lucas. Tandaan mo, facilitator ka and suffer the consequences. Haha!" Ate Alaiza said.

"Hindi pa ba aalis?" someone with a very deep and husky voice just entered our conversation and... it was Seph.

What? Kasama din siya? So paano 'to? Isn't this too dangerous for the both of them to be at one place? But I think Joker and Ate Alaiza will be the referee so I guess we're fine.

"Malapit na. We're just waiting for the last two na kasama sa atin." Ate Alaiza answered Seph.

"Hi Ace, glad that you can come with us." Seph said and he smiled at me while he's caressing my hair.

"Oh em gi! May nakauna na!" Ate Alaiza just shouted.

I didn't understand what she said about the "nakauna na" but I'm guessing na she's referring to Seph. If hindi lang siya ang student council president, I'd give her an earful of bad words!

"O, tama na 'yan. Retreat ang pupuntahan natin, hindi dating party." Lucas just interrupted and removed Seph's hand from my head.

"Ace, sa tingin ko naman, hindi ka na mapapahamak. Andito na 'yung dalawa mong tatay eh. Haha!" Chester whispered.

I gave Chester and eye-roll since he's going nuts!

"So, saan ako uupo, Alaiza?" Seph asked.

"You? You're with us, Seph. Katabi mo si Lucas." Ate Alaiza said and she said it casually na parang walang alitan sina Lucas and Seph! She made the seating arrangement, sure ba talaga siya sa ginagawa niya? Baka mamaya, hindi na kami umabot sa Gabaldon!

Lucas grabbed Ate Alaiza's list to double check if tama ang narinig niya.

"No! Ayoko!" Lucas shouted.

"Me neither." Seph answered as well.

"'Wag nga kayong mga petty kids d'yan! We're going on a retreat! If you won't follow the seat plan, might as well 'wag na kayo sumama and I'll cut the music and basketball club budget. Or you'll follow the seat plan and we'll be perfectly fine." Ate Alaiza said.

Walang nagawa sina Lucas and Seph but to follow Ate Alaiza's order. Well, hindi niya kailangan gumamit ng pisikal para lang mapigilan ang dalawa. Haha! I'm liking her now... I mean like as in nakakatuwa, but not romantically!

Pumasok na kami nina Harry and Chester sa loob ng bus para umupo sa mga assigned seating arrangements namin. Sa harap ko ang dalawa so I think it's fine since I can spy on them both if may gagawin silang kakaiba. Haha! But, I think something's going on between them. I can feel it! Something has changed... something has changed within them and my Fudanshi senses are tingling! Haha! Sooner or later, mahuhuli ko din 'tong dalawa.

"Ace, mapayapa na ang tulog mo. Hindi mo makakatabi sina Kuya Seph tsaka Kuya Lucas. Haha!" Chester.

"Mas okay na 'yun. At least I can sleep in peace and walang manggugulo sa akin!" I said, "Don't disturb me. I'll be sleeping and bahala na muna kayong dalawa."

Sinuot ko na ang jacket ko and my eye mask and sinuot ko na rin ang hoodie ko. After 5 minutes... blackout na ako at nakatulog.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

After a while, bigla na lang ako nagising dahil I felt something bad. Pakiramdam ko masusuka ako at nahihilo na ako. Alam mo 'yung feeling na nasa lalamunan mo na 'yung isusuka mo? Nandoon na ako sa stage na 'yun!

So I removed my eye mask and nagmamadali ako maghanap ng plastic bag dahil nararamdaman ko na, na palabas na ang suka ko. I opened my sling bag but wala akong makita!

I was panicking and mas lalo akong nahilo... but then, someone handed me a plastic bag and I think it's my seatmate sa bus but hindi ko na napinsin kung sino siya since I was on the verge of defeat!

I hurriedly grabbed the plastic bag and sinuka ko lahat ng isusuka ko. Afterwards, I felt satisfied since hindi na ako nahihilo after sumuka. I was about to thank the person who handed me the plasic bag and that's when I got shocked!

"Okay ka lang, Ace? Nahihilo ka pa ba?"

It was Jeffrey!

"How'd you get here?" I asked and I was really shocked since kasama siya and to add, he's my seatmate!

"I have whiteflower. Gusto mo gamitin?" he asked.

I nodded like I was a 5 year old kid and pouted.

He handed me his whiteflower na nakalagay sa kanyang slingbag and while I'm using it, I asked him again, "So how'd you get here?"

"Ah, Tara invited me. And since kilala naman ako ni Lucas, pumayag siya at isa pa, this is an outreach program, so the more, the merrier." he answered.

Lucas isn't that bad, since pinayagan niya na sumama si Jeffrey. Well, it's nice since we'll have someone na adult that will take care of us.

"Tara is here as well?" I asked while sniffing the whiteflower.

"Yes. She's in front near your student council president." Jeffrey answered and then he asked me again, "Hindi ka ba nahihirapan matulog? Kasi nakasandal ka sa window and magalaw ang bus, kaya siguro nahilo ka."

"Well, I didn't have any choices. Isa pa, I forgot my neck pillow." I answered.

Then biglang umayos ng upo Jeffrey and he lowered his shoulders.

"You can lay down on my shoulders. I won't mind." he said and smiled at me.

I don't want to, but I have no choice. Nakukulangan pa ako sa tulog and I really badly need more sleep.

"Okay lang? Hindi ka ba mangangawit niyan if I lay on your shoulder?" I asked.

"It's perfectly fine. Don't worry about me." he said.

Since antok na antok pa ako, I slowly placed my head on top of Jeffrey's right shoulder. It was so warm, cozy, and sobrang bango.

I was even rubbing my cheeks on his shoulders since napasarap ako sa pagsandal.

Medyo maalog ang bus so I was having a hard time sleeping, and that's when a warm hand gently touched my head.

I slightly opened my eyes and I saw Jeffrey's hand touching my head to make sure na hindi masyadong aalog ang ulo ko while the bus is moving. Well, hinayaan ko siya because I really liked it. It was so comforting and I feel at home. He slowly caressed my hair kaya mas lalo akong narelax. Then he placed a wireless earphone on my right ear and he played some Jason Mraz songs which made my sleep more comfortable.

If ganito ba naman ang seatmate mo sa bus, well then wala na akong hahanapin since I have my own utility person. Haha!

Hindi na ako nakatulog but hinayaan ko na lang ang sarili ko na nakasandal sa shoulder ni Jeffrey since I really liked it. Isa pa, he makes it more warmer that he's holding and touching my head like sobrang alagang alaga niya ako.

Then, while I was listening to some of Jason Mraz songs on the earphone, the bus stopped since we're at a stop over. I didn't want to remove my head from Jeffrey's shoulder but umayos muna ako ng upo, since I can feel na nangangawit na siya but nahihiya lang siya sabihin sa akin ito.

"Are you still sleepy?" Jeffrey asked me while nagkakamot ako ng mata and naguunat.

"No, sobrang sarap ng tulog ko and thanks to you. I had the best sleep." I said then Jeffrey smiled at me... 'yung ngiting hanggang batok and I can see his very nice set of teeth again which I really like about him.

"Lalabas lang ako to buy some stuff and para mag C.R. na rin. Do you want to come with me?" Jeffrey asked.

"Nope, dito na lang muna ako." I answered.

"Okay. Then, what do you want? May gusto ko ba ipabili? Or would like something to eat or inumin?" he asked again.

"Nope, it's fine. Thank you!" I answered and Jeffrey stood up and lumabas muna siya sa bus.

Since ako na lang ang mag-isa na natira, sinilip ko muna sina Harry and Chester that's sitting in front of me... and guess what? Haha! Well, well, well. I have to take a picture of this!

It was the most priced possession that I can use to blackmail both Harry and Chester! Haha! Paano ba naman, magkasandalan silang dalawa ang they're using Chester's jacket as a blanket. Hindi ko na tiningnan what's under the jacket but I can sense na magkahawak silang dalawa ng kamay! Haha! I want to see it so badly, but I can't dahil baka mabuko ako. Isa pa, they're sleeping so peacefully and I don't want to wake them up.

Pagkatapos ng Stop over, the bus started to move again and then I looked at Jeffrey and I was pouting like I needed something from him.

"Can I?" I asked him, but hindi ko sinabi kung ano 'yung gusto ko since nahihiya ako but I really wanted to sleep on his shoulders again.

"Sure." he said and smiled. Hindi ko alam kung nagets niya ako, but he lowered his shoulders again and he tapped it, "You can sleep here again, as long as you want." he said.

Then, sumandal na ako sa shoulders niya. After a while, I really felt so comfortable that my body moved on its own! Hindi ko namalayan na I was already hugging Jeffrey! I really thought na nakayakap ako sa mainit na pillow since it was too comforting. But he didn't even moved or tinanggal 'yung pagkakayakap ko sa kanya, so I guess it's fine with him.

"Okay ka lang d'yan, Ace? Wala naman masakit or hindi ka naman nahihilo?" Jeffey asked.

"Nope, I'm okay here." I answered while I'm still hugging his warm and tender body.

"Ace!" Somebody just whispered.

"Ace!" And then another whisper.

Dumilat ako and I saw Chester and Harry's eyes sa parang small space sa pagitan ng upuan nilang dalawa.

"What!" I whispered.

"Sarap dyan? Relax ka lang d'yan?" Chester whispered.

"Sarap ba with daddy number 3?" Harry added and whispered.

"F*ck off!" I whispered and pumikit ako ulit.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

After almost 4 or 5 hours of trip, nakarating na rin kami sa Gabaldon. Lumabas na kami sa bus and kinuha na namin ang mga gamit namin from the bus' compartment.

I was about to get mine, and 3 bags 'yun. I don't know why 3 bags since sina Chester and Harry ang nagimpake, but siguro pinuno nila ng damit ang bag ko.

I was about to get all my things nang biglang may kumuha ng isa kong bag.

"I'll carry this for you, Ace." Jeffrey insisted.

Then another one came in, "Ako na dito sa isa mong bag, Ace." Lucas also insisted.

Lastly, I was about to grab my last bag sa compartment nang may pumigil sa kamay ko and said, "I'll take that and carry it for you." and nang tiningnan ko kung sino 'yun, it was Seph.

What am I suppose to carry? 'Yung sling bag ko na lang? Haha!

"Sana all, Ace, may tagabuhat! Napakahaba ng hair, magkano pa-extension? Haha!" Someone whispered, it was Tara all along.

"Baliw! Hindi ko sila pinilit!" I whispered.

"Buti ka pa, Ace, three guys are taking care of you. Dinaig mo pa lahat ng girls dito! Haha! Ikaw na talaga!" Tara whispered again.

Then, Ate Alaiza walked towards me and she whispered, "Ace, ito na ang time. May the best man win sa puso mo. Use this oppurtunity to make sure kung sino ang worthy. Haha!"

Then Ate Alaiza and Tara giggled, and 'yung tipong kilig na kilig sila and it was satisfying their fujoshi hearts! Mygahd! Ako ngayon ang magiging tampulan ng asaran!

Wait a minute? Where's Harry and Chester? By this time, dapat inasar na nila ako. But I've never heard them? Nasaan sila?

I looked around but no sign of Harry and Chester. But maybe, they're together right now doing something. Haha!

We were asked to place our things sa isang malawak na open field.

"Okay guys, dito tayo mag sesettle. We have provided tents for you and mayroon tayong tent assignemnts din para hindi magulo." Ate Alaiza announced.

Inannounce niya na ang mga partners sa tent and it will be 3 is to 1. Good thing na I'm with Harry and Chester.

"Lucas, Seph, and you, kuya Jeffrey, you'll be on the same tent." Ate Alaiza said and handed over the tent.

Well, I guess, magiging catastrophic sa loob ng tent nila lalo na't magkakasama silang tatlo! Haha!

We started preparing our tents but I had a hard time since mag-isa lang ako as Harry and Chester are both missing in action! 'Yung dalawang 'yun talaga!

Jeffrey walked towards me and insisted that he'll help me prepare my tent since wala sina Chester and Harry.

So I did let him since di ko kaya ng mag-isa.

"Tulungan na kita, Ace." Lucas then appeared and helped.

Afterwards, Seph showed up, "Don't worry Ace, kami na bahala dito. Just sit back and relax."

So ano talaga ang gagawin ko dito? Maghahari-harian na lang ako? Haha! I don't have anything to do now since those three are always taking over.

Baka nga masyado na mahaba ang hair extension ko? Hahaha! What the hell! Natatawa na lang talaga ako.

But since wala akong ginagawa, and hindi pa ako nakapag C.R., nagpaalam muna ako sa tatlo and they agreed.

I went to the C.R. para jumingle. It was not that far but it was so isolated. While I'm doing my business, I heard someone moaning sa isa sa mga cubicle sa C.R. Ganito ba dito? Everybody will do it since medyo gubat ang place? I think kailangan din nila ng family planning advisory dito. Mygahd!

But wait, I'm at a men's C.R.!

I heard the moan again and it was two guys!

And this... my fudanshi heart became active. Naglakad ako ng dahan dahan towards the cubicle kung saan ko naririnig ang moaning. I tried to get closer sa pinto ng cubicle so that I can hear it clearly and if possible, to peek! Haha!

So, I thought na naka lock ang cubicle because may ginagawa silang kababalaghan. But then, as I leaned on the door of the cubicle which I thought that it was locked, bigla akong natumba and the door suddenly opened and guess what kung sino ang nakita ko...

It was both Harry and Chester! Nakaluhod si Harry while Chester is sitting on the toilet!

Mygahd! This two! They have some deep explaining to do! Kakarating pa lang namin sa Gabaldon, pero nabinyagan na agad ang C.R.! Hahaha!

End of Chapter 22