Zenips Paradise: My Way Back

Ofreigha Sebastian Her Point of View May 30, 2013 The scent of humidity and exhaust fumes welcomed me as I stepped out of the arrival gate. My country—Philine. Home. After two years in Amerina, it felt surreal. The moment my heels touched the ground, I could already feel the chaos I missed—tricycles, noisy vendors, and that sticky tropical air. I was home. Finally. I missed my kuya. I missed my friends. I missed my life. “HEYYY YOOO! WAZZZAAAAP, WAAAZAAAAP!!!” A voice pierced through the airport crowd. That could only be one person. There she was—Asha Dom, my bestie since forever, waving like a maniac with her signature oversized sunglasses and hot pink mini-luggage. I wanted to run to her, but instead, I veered to the right. Straight into the arms of someone even more important. Thyron Sebastian. My brother. My rock. “Kuya!” I hugged him tight. He felt the same—warm, safe, home. “Oooh, I miss you too, my little boo,” he said with that familiar teasing tone. I could already feel tears poking at the corners of my eyes, but before I could get too emotional— “Wow, so ako ang third wheel? Kabit? Palamunin? Jolibiii—” I cut Asha off before she turned the entire airport into a teleserye. I pulled her in for a hug, kissed her cheek, kissed her forehead, and then— “Oops! Reserved ang lips kiss para sa boo ko,” she said. Typical, maybe she's now currently in a relationship. Kuya just smiled and put an arm around me. I melted. “Happy birthday, Kuya,” I said, kissing his cheek. And just like that, we were off to the parking lot, laughing like nothing changed. The car ride home was noisy in the best way. Asha talked non-stop, Kuya kept rolling his eyes, and I just soaked it all in. Even during dinner, Asha was still going. Gossip here, rumors there. You could practically serve her chika on a silver platter. By bedtime, I was ready to pass out. But of course, Asha wasn’t done. “Boo,” she whispered, a little too close to my ear. “I missed you sooo much.” She kissed a strand of my hair. I flicked her forehead gently. “Asha…” I hugged her, because of course I missed her too. But there was always this... tension. Not the bad kind, just... complicated. Before I left for Amerina, Asha confessed to me. Like, confessed-confessed. And I didn’t know what to say. I was flattered, but she’s also the kind of girl who flirts with anyone cute and breathes drama for breakfast. I mean—have you seen her phone wallpaper? It’s Miexha. Miexha Verra. Childhood friend. Gorgeous. Heiress. Wayne Academy’s top student. Also... Kuya’s (very probably) future wife. She's always been a bit distant, probably because of her hearing condition. She mostly interacts with Kuya. Never really with me or Asha. Still, that didn’t stop Asha from fangirling over her every other day. So I asked the question I’d been dying to ask for two years. “If you’re really serious about me... delete Kuya’s wife from your phone.” She gasped like I told her Santa Claus wasn’t real. “OA? Wife agad?! FYI, didn’t Thyron tell you he has a girlfriend?” She flopped on the bed like it was the season finale of her drama series. “As far as I know Miexha and Zatariel now are official.” My jaw dropped. “ you mean Exy? Miexha? She cried so much when Kuya turned his back on her—she was heartbroken.” “Apparently, that didn’t stop her from locking lips with Zat,” Asha whispered like it was state-level classified info. “Oh, and Kuya’s girlfriend is Aleanna Locsin, Zatariel’s cousin.” I grabbed a pillow and smacked her. “Tama na! I don’t want to know too much about Kuya’s love life!” “Fine, fine,” she said. I shrugged. “I’ll just ask Kuya tomorrow. Now sleep.” I pulled the covers over us. She snuggled in. “Next week pa naman school. Shopping tayo!” Now that, I could agree with. We still had a few days of freedom before Wayne Academy classes began. And since only top students had orientation this week, we had the week to ourselves. “Let’s hit Intermall. Ice cream and overpriced skincare, baby!” she said. “Sleep muna. Bukas na.” I tried to sound firm. Her face was too close again. “Goodnight kiss ko?” “NOPE.” “AHHH~ AHH~” I bolted upright. What. In. The. Actual. Fudge. My heart nearly exploded. I turned to Asha. She was peacefully asleep. And then I heard it again. “AHH~” Her phone. Her alarm was playing that. I couldn’t even describe it. It sounded illegal. “Asha,” I hissed, shaking her arm. “Anong klaseng alarm ‘to?” She grunted and pulled a pillow over her head. Lord, grant me patience. I stood up and tiptoed out. Kuya’s room was nearby and I didn’t want to wake him. I headed downstairs for some water—and to cool my ears from that traumatic alarm. Kuya was already at the kitchen table, staring into space. “Kuya?” I asked gently. He turned around slowly. He looked like a Greek god... who got dumped via group chat. Bloodshot eyes, messy hair, pale cheeks. “Hey, my little boo,” he said hoarsely. Uh-oh. He must still be hungover from his birthday celebration last night. His friends probably went wild. “Kuya… is it true? Exy and Zat—” “NO!” he snapped, standing up too fast. He swayed. “Kuya, are you okay?” “I’m fine,” he said quickly. Too quickly. I wanted to believe him. But even as he smiled at me, I could feel it. Something was off.