4- Summer

I used to love summers. The freedom from school, the refreshing feel of the cool waters in the beach against the heat of the sun, the smiles of my friends as we walked the streets to the park. We were high school, but we loved the park. It used to appeal to me. I used to be giddy about it. Rant about it for hours, weeks even before the school ends. Not anymore. Time passed, things changed. I only used to love summer time.

I tugged my hair harder than necessary as I braid it up for the day. Sweat beads formed in my forehead while I do my task. The wind just wouldn't pick up. My gaze turned to the open window and sighed. This got to be the hottest day of the month, and I wanted nothing more than to lie down on my bed. If not for my best friend, Lean. I sighed as I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand and continued my task. I really didn't want to go.

If not for Lean's plan, more than the university's invitation actually, I would just lie down in bed, stare at my ceiling and wait till my father arrive. He went out this morning, two hours past midnight to be exact, and he hadn't returned yet. I'm more curious to where he was than worried about him leaving. If it wasn't for Lean, I wouldn't be up and about. Not now, maybe not ever.

"Mira, are you done yet?" Lean asked, her head peeking out from the slight opening of my door. I shifted my gaze on the mirror from my hands on my hair to her. She wore an expression of excitement and irritation. Her smile was forced and natural at the same time. Odd mixture. A small laugh escaped my lips before I nodded my head and tied the end of my braid.

"Yes, your highness," I teased, pushing my chair away from the vanity and stood up, turning to her in the process. "All set?" I asked, and her face lost the irritation leaving pure excitement in her.

"Yes, yes. Come now. Hurry. Big day ahead of us," Lean rocked on her heels and I chuckled. Leave it Lean to act like a kid opening her presents. "Okay, I'll be down in a minute," I replied, walking to the open window.

She turned to close the door, but I stopped her. She looked at me again and I just had to say it. "Thank you," the next thing I knew, I was in a big hug from my best friend. Her hands patted me on the back. A big grin was on her face when she pulled back. "Anything for you, anything." She said sincerely then patted my cheek lightly. A surge of gratitude and affection rushed to me when she did that. I returned the smile and then she left.

Her humming filled the house as she made her way downstairs. I closed the window, drawn the curtains, grabbed my satchel and followed her. The smile remained on my face. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to go out on a summer day. Maybe Lean could help me all along.

----

The ride to the university was very refreshing. The wind breezed past my cheeks, sending cool tingles where my sweat dripped on the sides of my head. Riding an open windowed jeep helped. My eyes watched the changing scenery from the urban feel of the city to the rural one inside the huge campus. Trees lined the sidewalk with vast grass covered land in between places. This was a plus point why I chose this school.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Lean's voice filled my ears. I went with her and met Chris and Dean at our old alma mater before we rode a bus to the next station. We had passed the entrance exam here in this school and we decided to visit it this summer before Dean go to the province for the much needed vacation. I envied him a bit.

"Yes, it is. It won't vanish even if you stop gushing at it every five seconds," Chris retorted. I rolled my eyes on him. I thought after the graduation party, the two of them had their relationship fixed. Apparently, I'm wrong. One night of fun wasn't enough.

"You just can't appreciate beauty when you see one." Lean said turning her eyes on the view, her gushing reduced to sighing audibly. I watched Chris with an amused smirk to how he will react on my friend's double meaning statement. The two had always been one to banter, but it became painfully obvious that they had unresolved tension between, and to the point that their words became venomous already.

"Yes, I can," Chris huffed and turned to the other window on his side of the jeep. On the corner of his eyes, he glanced at Lean before he sighed and turned his attention back on the view. I just shook my head. Their love life was theirs to unfold.

"They're obvious, aren't they?" Dean whispered next to my ear, causing me to involuntarily shiver. I looked at him and nodded. His black hair looked utter perfect as always. It was neatly combed, parted on my side. It was slightly longer to the front while neatly trimmed at the back. I resist the urge to brush back his bangs. It just wouldn't do good for us.

"They are. Can't we really do anything?" I asked in an equally quiet tone. I shifted on my seat and faced him, glancing at Lean and Chris making sure they weren't listening. "You know the answer, Mira. They need to see on their own. We've done what we can do." He said, putting his index finger on my chin and lifting my face to look at him. I felt my heart in my throat. He looked incredibly beautiful still.

"I'm just tired of watching them skirt around the issue," I whispered, averting my eyes on him.

"They're big boy and girl, they don't need another mother breathing on their necks,"  he had a point as usual, and I sighed. I hate it when he's right. "And we had our own issue." He whispered in low tone which gave me a few tingles.

Dean and I had a brief relationship back in our senior year. It wasn't the fairytale relationship, nor was it the most horrible one. It was a mediocre at its best. But it was a dreamy one in an outsider's view. We started out as best friends before I met Lean on my second year. We've been inseparable and the teachers had been on our side, pairing us together  almost every time. It bloomed and flourished until he decided to court me at the summer before our fourth year. We've been together for six months, and suddenly I ended it off, without a proper explanation.

Dean had been a gentleman about the issue. I suspect he knew about my family. Maybe not the full story, but a few insights from it. He was close to my sister too so most likely he knew something. I ended our love story the day I saw my father cheating in our house.

"You're wrong, we don't have an issue." I said firmly hoping he won't argue. He never did, but you can't be sure about people's mind. He gave me a shake of his head and a sigh.

"You know it, Mira. I'll be here when you're ready to talk." He whispered to my ear giving me again the shiver in my spine. Damn him for making me react like this. He leaned over to me, and cleared his throat. "Mama para po,(Mister, please stop)" he said. Lean and Chris both shifted and turned from their seats and we got off the jeep one by one. Maybe he was right. Someday Dean, someday.

---

"That's tiring, but at least we know the school lay-out now. Its very beautiful in here," Lean said as she plopped herself on the stone bench at the courtyard. As it was summer, only a handful of students were in the school, most for their summer courses, some like us touring the campus. I sat beside Lean and leaned my head on her shoulder.

"It is informative yes. I still say, I very much like to be on my bed still." I covered my yawn with my hands as Chris sat on the bench beside me. Dean was across the street buying some snacks.

It was a large campus, over a hectare I think. The buildings were ten or more meters away from each other, with few exemptions like three or four buildings were located side by side. At times we needed to ride some vehicle to go from one building to another. It would take me months to memorize the names of the building and their exact location. But at least we knew our way around the campus. It was nice to be ready for the next academic year.

"How can you say that?" Lean glared at me and I was forced to lift my head when she shifted on her seat. I rolled my eyes and shifted so I was facing Chris. He looked very amused at us and I glared at him.

"Chill, ladies. It was a nice day." He said lifting his hands as if to surrender. "But I wouldn't mind hanging around in your house Mi, it's better than mine anytime." He winked at me, and I reduced to giggles.

Lean shrieked and stomped her way in front of Chris. I stopped giggling and cocked my head to the side. It's my turn to be amused. "You!" Lean said sternly, her index finger pointed to Chris's face. "You're supposed to be backing me up, not her!" She continued.

"I'm just saying the truth. Is there anything wrong in saying the truth Mi?" He asked, leaning to side so he could see me.

I shrugged nonchalantly hiding my amusement with a straight face. He wrinkled his nose, then flinched when Lean proceeded to hit his arm. "You can't really see the beauty can you?" She said in between hits. "Lying around in Mira's house is boring I tell you!" She shrieked and chased Chris as he stood up and ran away from her. I couldn't help it anymore. I burst into laughter.

"Help!" Chris looked  like a terrified kid, and I shook my head. "Nope, never. You know brought that to yourself." I said grinning at him. He looked horrified at my words. "Not fair! I helped you! Help me!" He shouted as he continued to ran away to Lean.

"She won't help you. I know she won't." Lean thrilled in anger but I could see her resolve was wavering. She's entertained in her own antics. "I'm not yet finished with you Mira. You're next." She yelled to me before chasing Chris again.

"I'm terrified Lee!" I yelled back then giggled at their chase. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I looked around. Dean held out a can of cola and a bag of chips before he plopped on my side. "Its nice to see you smiling again Mi," He said quietly, his eyes watching our two friends at the distance.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I opened the chips, looking at it with confusion. My heart beat louder and faster. Was I that obvious? I smile everyday. But Dean knew me better. He probably could see through my façade.

"You know what I mean Mira," He looked at me quietly before he stood up to stop the two. "I hope they stay the same when we get to college," he said louder and gave me a nod. I watched him stop grab Lean and calmed her down, forcing a can of cola in her hand. He looked calm and collected, I felt guilty for causing trouble in his insides.

"I'm sorry Dean," I whispered as I stood from my seat and walked to them, holding out my food to Chris who gladly relieved them of me.

"Can we go home now?" I asked sweetly, and Chris nodded his head eagerly, walking   around me so I became his human shield against Lean. The girl glared at us, and I could practically see the wheels turning in her mind.

Dean was in front of me and for a moment I thought he would say no. Then he smiled and took my can. "I guess," he shrugged as he chugged down the last of my drink. Lean sighed and nodded. "On one condition, can we eat real food first?" She asked.

I cocked my head to the side and smiled. "Of course. Let's go to the mall near the station." I said and we crossed the street to stop a jeep. It would take us out the campus and to our destination. Chris took the seat on one side and Lean on the other. I sat on the nearest empty seat, with Dean beside me. I looked at him and smiled. "Yeah, I hope they stay the same." I leaned my head on his shoulder, as he took my hand to entwine it with his. He may not be my boyfriend, but he still is my best friend. And together, we could make it through college.