Chapter 6

"That was expensive lunch... but worth it," Caro said, posing with an OK gesture with her finger.

"Gaga, siyempre hindi ikaw nagbayad," ganti ko sa kanya kaya agad niya akong inirapan ang inubos ang laman ng baso niya na may orange juice. Nilingon ko naman si Heikenz baka kasi isipin na naman niyang napasubo kami sa suggestion niya na rito kami mag-lunch.

Siya isubo ko, e.

I smiled at him. "You know what, Ketchup. Thank you for recommending this place to us. Sana pala rito na lang din kami nag-stay if I just knew... but oh, well, we're here on a budget kaya laban lang sa keri ng kaching!"

He chuckled, nodding. He's so cute when he does that. "No worries, though we'll be trying much cheaper next after this, I'm still gonna assure you that you'll be getting the best here in Bangkok."

"So, you're the best?" I asked.

Unti-unting kumunot ang noo ni Heikenz. Gwapo siya pero... medyo slow siya sa mga bagay na 'yon. "What does that mean?"

Umiling ako. "No... nothing. I mean, you're the best for bringing us here and all. And I must say that even though we had a slight epic fail earlier in the morning, you've still pulled it through and we've enjoyed where we went."

"Thank you so much," he said, placing his right hand over his left, just right in his right. "I really appreciate that. From all the people I've had a chance to tour around, I think you're the most gullible and appreciative person I've been with... so thank you for all of your kind words. And I wish you would enjoy the rest of your stay here in Bangkok... and you know what they say, a week only feels like a day so enjoy while it lasts..."

Determinado akong tumango sa sinabi niya. "Of course, yeah! I'm sure we will... kasama ka, e..." halos pabulong na lang ang huli kong sinabi and I'm hoping a hundred percent na hindi niya narinig 'yon or if he did, baka bigyan na niya ako ng chance? Or not? Assumero lang talaga ako.

"Are you ready to go to our next destination? I'm sure you will love this!"

"I love you!" sagot ni Caro.

Siniko ko naman ito pero tinawanan lang siya ni Heikenz. Parang tanga 'to na humahagikgik pa dahil sa cute na reaction ni Heikenz. She know that I'm totally jealous because of that pero pipiliin ko na lang manahimik kaysa maging total weirdo sa kanya. I hope he doesn't look at us like weirdo so I guess I'll just let it stay that way para naman kahit hanggang crush lang... I can still be with him by not making it weird for him.

Gaya nga ng sabi niya, mabilis lang ang isang linggo, but I know it will took me more than a week after our trip here in Bangkok. Iniisip ko pa lang ngayon, naloloka na ako.

When we left the luxury restaurant and we just rode a taxi to where we are going next. Within eleven minutes, narating namin ang Sathorn Pier which while on our way there, Heikenz said that it will be the start of our stop for our river cruising. I thought it would be weird cruising in a river, but I think hindi naman siya naiiba sa Seine River sa Paris so I think every culture has its own something to say.

Iyon nga lang... masyadong tirik ang araw and that's who we are against now.

Heikenz guide us through inside the premises. While we're heading in and following him behind, he mentioned that most of the tickets are booked online and that made Caro and I feel so unsure about it—again. But I'm sure he'll save us here in this kind of situation, he successfully did it earlier so I'm pretty wholeheartedly sure he'll know his way around.

"But don't you worry, guys. Tickets can still be bought here," he announced, Caro and I both fell in relief. "I can see you guys were a little worried about earlier, but tickets bought in advance for people who has a precise and strictly following schedule to their trip so you can still experience the river cruise because I must say, you will love Bangkok's culture while you're cruising with us."

"Safe naman do'n, 'no? Hindi naman tayo lulubog like titanic?"

Napakamot naman ng ulo si Heikenz at napangiwi pa ito bago sumagot sa tanong ni Caro. "Well, two years ago, there's an accident, and the boat sinks and there are 75 passengers plus staff in there.."

We both gasped in shock hearing that from him.

"Okay, that's the sign! Back out na me!" Pagtaas pa ng kamay ni Caro. Hinawakan na nito ang braso ko at mistulang hahatakin na niya ako palabas ng area pero hindi ako sumunod sa gusto niyang gawin. "Uy, girl? Tara na."

"Girl, kung sa ere nga, in every flight we're not sure what's gonna happen next and so our every flight is a blessing na lagi nating nararating ang destination natin safe and sound. Ngayon pa bang nasa river lang 'to?"

Napasinghal naman 'tong si Caro. "Nakatatakot kasi."

"Uh... excuse me," Heikenz said. "I'm sorry to insert myself into your conversation, but I must say to both of you that all passengers and staff were safe from that sinking... though the boat was recovered, but not be able to use anymore. This is safe..."

"O, safe naman pala, tara na."

Hinampas niya ako sa balikat. "Gaga ka, nabudol ka naman niya agad."

"But if you guys don't want to cruise, we can go to another place if you want to."

Nagtaas ng kamay si Caro. "I believe that's a good idea," she said, continuously nodding her head.

"Nope! Ketchup, buy us some tickets, please."

I handed some money to him. Medyo confused pa ito dahil ayaw nga ni Caro pero pinilit ko siyang bumili na ng ticket namin kaya wala nang magagawa si Caro kung hindi ang sumama sa amin. He quickly left us to buy some tickets for us.

"We'll be partying tonight, a," aniya na may simpleng panunuro pa sa akin.

Napangisi naman ako. "Ay, girl. Okay lang 'yan, go rin ako riyan. Magpa-jombag ka mamaya. Deserve mo 'yan tonight."

"Sinabi mo pa!" Hagikgik pa nito.

A moment later, Heikenz gets back to us handing our tickets for admission, Caro was hesitating to get it from his hand kaya ako na ang kumuha ng ticket niya and grabbed her hand following Heikenz to the admission. May pasimpleng dabog pa ang dalaga pero nang makatungtong kami sa boat ay halos ipangalandakan na niya sa iba ang phone niya at halos gustong puntahan ang lahat ng spot para lang makapagpa-picture.

"You'll get used to her," aniko kay Heikenz.

"I think I will, one week is long enough to handle this kind of situations, but that's fine. It's not a problem for me."

Tinapik nito ang balikat ko. I like he way he does it. Gusto ko pa sanang abutin at hawakan ang kamay niya, but I don't wanna make it weird kaya ngiti na lang ang isinagot ko sa kanya.

"You're gonna love it here,"

I'm sure I'm gonna love you...

I smiled again. "I'm pretty sure with that."

Caro screamed coming at us. Agad ko siyang sinaway dahil napatingin din halos lahat ng kasabayan naming passenger. Tuwang-tuwa ang gaga na kanina lang ay takot na takot. Hindi na naman siya mapakali at excited na excited na masimulan ang cruise namin for today.

The boat seemed to hold a lot of passengers and the worry that it might sink falter a little while. Not that long when the boat started to leave the pier and people are thrilled on how this cruise will go—on the other side, I was concerned that many of us aren't wearing any life vests which is very helpful in case of an emergency, but I guess nothing bad will happen?

I'm not really sure about that though.

"Did you know that this boat is very important to every people living here?" Heikenz started, natuon naman ang atensyon ko sa kanya habang tutok si Caro sa kanyang phone.

Siniko ko siya. "I'm listening... I just need to post this on my story quickly," she said.

"Continue, Ketchup," I said.

He nodded. "For the people living here in Central Thailand, this river, Chao Phraya is a very important waterway for them since it's it comes a long way to the history. They even called this river a River of Kings. Sounds fancy, right? Aside from that, this river became the waterway for many people for living like some go through the river for their main source of income. It's just the way how life brings here in central Thailand."

"Wow, that's great," komento ni Caro na busy pa rin sa kanyang phone.

"So, this is kind of your living as well, right?" tanong ko naman sa kanya.

Tumango ito. "Yes, I brought tourists here and tell them some bits of history which some of them got interested in while some... don't. But that's okay, this is my job and I'm loving it."

"Okay, game, ano nang gagawin natin?" Caro asked, shifting her eyes to Heikenz then on me. "Ano bang meron dito sa river na 'to? At anong makikita natin?"

I glared at her saka ko siya sinapo ng mahina sa gilid ng noo. "Gaga ka. Kanina pa daldal nang daldal si Heikenz 'di ka nakikinig." Inirapan ko siya na para bang gusto nang lumuwa ng mata ko sa ginawa ko saka ko hinarap si Heikenz nang nakangiti. "Anyway, continue ka na lang. Bahala na si Caro sa buhay niya."

"Of course, you would be able to see some must-see attractions and those are some temples you might want to see such as Wat Pho, the Grand Place—which we just have been on earlier, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Arun. Of course, you cannot miss the opportunity to experience the cruise here on this river—I believe that's what you guys should look forward to!"

"Boring naman pala," bulong pa sa akin ni Caro.

"Gaga ka! 'Yan ka na naman," sagot ko sa kanya.

She make faces at me at muling inabala ang sarili sa kanyang phone.

"Try not to get wet though," Heikenz warned me.

Mukhang iba ang wet sa akin, girl.

Napakunot naman ako ng noo. "Why?"

"As you can see, the water splashes and you might not wanna be splashed right into your face. It's a bit smelly, right? I'm just trying to be real enough... though this river was important to many people living here... it's just not that great, not decent enough to swim though so it's better if we get off of the water and stay inside the boat."

Sumang-ayon ako sa sinabi niya. I don't wanna get wet in the middle of the day though.

"Alam mo, I just wanna commend how good you are in speaking English. Nakabibilib lang from someone who grew up in Thailand..."

"Yes, I've got an A+ in English though. Well, I was an international student in the United States before. My father is a Thai-American so I got a bit share of Thai, American, and Filipino in my blood. Mostly, we talked Thai or English back home—either way, whatever language we used, as long as we understood each other, that's what matters."

"Yeah, yeah... I agree with that. You've got international blood on you, huh? So interesting!"

He chuckled. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

"But why do you chose to be a tourist guide?" I asked and then I also realized that it might come off in the wrong direction kaya agad kong binawi instead of waiting for him to answer it. Tinablan agad ako ng hiya. "Oh, no. You don't have to answer my question. I don't have the right to question you so I apologize."

"No, it's alright," he said, smiling pero ramdam kong pilit lang iyon. "And yes, thank you for choosing me as your tour guide today and I'm still sorry—"

Inabot ko ang balikat niya at marahang minasahe ko ang hinlalaki ko. "You don't always have to apologize for what happened earlier. Gets naman namin and without you, siguro hindi namin malalaman ang mga history at kung ano-ano pa. I think ako lang naman ata interested knowing the history dahil iyong babaitang kasama ko ay busy sa selfies niya. Anyway, we're glad na ikaw ang kasama namin ngayon... pa-hug nga. Pa-isa lang!"

He laughed and I thought I would be rejected pero tinanguan niya ako. He even motioned his hand na palapitin ako sa kanya kaya naman hindi na ako nag-atubili pang yakapin siya... nang mahigpit.

From those guys I've had hooks ups before, malalaki ang balikat nila pero kay Heikenz ay sakto lang, hindi malapad at brusko, tama lang. Para bang perfect match for me. He even smells so great. Ang ubusin ng amoy nito.

Saglit lang din ay sumalo sa amin si Caro at niyakap niya kaming dalawa ni Heikenz sa gitna.

"Oh, I love this! Wanna have a trouple?"

"Caro?!" saway ko sa kanya. Umalis na rin ako sa pagkayayakap kay Heikenz kasi she's making it weird again.

"What's a trouple?"

"Ano 'yon—" hindi ko na pinatapos si Caro sa pagsasalita niya nang takpan ko ng kamay ko ang bibig niya.

"That's nothing. Eksena lang niya."

"Oh... I thought it's some kind of threesome?"

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko sa sinabi niya, "No! No! It's not that. Bunganga kasi nito. Ang dirty." Inalis ko ang kamay ko sa bibig niya kasi napupuno na ng laway niya sak ko naman pinunas sa laylayan ng dress niya.

"Focus na lang tayo sa tourist attractions, 'yon na lang, okay?"

"Okay... okay..." Tatango-tangong sagot ni Heikenz.

Bibigwasan ko talaga 'tong babaitang 'to sa kalat ng bibig. Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Literal na nagpanic ang puso at utak ko. But I guess that all happened when I get a hug from him.

Siguro ito lang nagagawa ng pagiging fan ng mga boys love series ng Thai, pati itong normal Thai, kung ano-ano na ang naiisip ko... but who knows what might happen... I'm ready to explore this new adventure and I'm glad I'm with the people I care about.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

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