Chapter 9

Pagbalik ni Ale, una niyang napansin na para bang hindi ako mapakali katitingin sa paligid na para bang may inaabangan—literal na may inaabangan dahil kung hindi ako namamalimata kanina, Fabio could be here as well.

Kanina ko pa nase-sense na nandito o siguro dahil lang sa pagbubuntis ko 'to kaya ang lakas maka-praning?

Inutosan ako ni Ale na pumwesto dahil papahiran niya ako ng sunscreen kahit wala naman akong balak na lumangoy. He was still that my skin will burn and could cause a harm on my pregnancy which I highly doubt it would.

He just grabbed my arm and extend it so he can put the sunscreen on it. He does the same thing on my other arm and then at my nape and on my face. Matapos niya akong lagyan ay nagsabi naman itong lagyan ko siya sa likuran niya.

I just squirt the bottle on his back and started wiping all over his back—on his shoulder and just down to his pelvis. Do some say why I wasn't attracted to my best friend? Alejandro's a hunk—I just have to put that out in the world. He's one of a kind, a good person, and has a really nice personality. Even though he wears that killer smile on his face—and how he can make a choice of drink for you in whatever you asked.

And as I couldn't drink too much alcohol due to my pregnancy, apple juice lang ay sapat na sa akin.

"I just have a question," Ale asked.

"Si?" I queried.

"Do you have a name for your baby now? I believe you haven't mentioned to me what was the gender of your baby." Bahagya niya akong nilingon.

Napakibit balikat ako. "I still don't have any idea," I answered. "And I don't even know the gender of my baby, so when I gave birth that's the only moment I'll know if it's a boy or a girl... but whatever. I know I'll love this baby more than ever."

He chuckled, nodding his head. "I'm excited to meet your baby.'

"As I am..." I giggled. "Why don't you have a girlfriend, Ale?" I asked him.

He smirked. "Why don't you have a boyfriend then?" pagbabalik pa ng tanong nito sa akin.

"You know, I really have a very complicated situation to answer your question."

He chuckled. "Meno male che non e ' qui." (Good thing he's not here."

"Huh? What did you say?"

He quickly shook his head and stood up. "I'll go take a quick dip." He took his pants off and handed them over to me. He ran towards the shore and get into the waters.

Napahugot na lamang ako nang malalim na hininga. Nagpalingon-lingon ako sa paligid at nag-oobserba kung nandito nga ba talaga si Fabio o namamalikmata lang talaga ako kanina.

Sumandal na lamang ako at pinikit ang mata. Aside from resting, I don't know if there's else I could do in here. Nahihiya akong magsuot ng swimsuit sa totoo lang. Hindi ko lang nasabi kay Ale iyon dahil ayoko rin namang madisgrasya ako ro'n. Siguro kung may kiddie pool lang sa paligid, doon na lang muna ako.

While I was resting, I heard my phone rings. Hindi ko sana ito sasagutin, but I saw Andrei's name on the screen kaya baka importante iyong itinatawag niya sa akin.

I grabbed the phone and answered it.

"Ciao, Andrei!" pagbati ko.

"Ciao, Jacinta," bungad nito sa akin. "Mi dispiace, so che e ' il fine settimana... but I need your help if you're available right now." (Hi, Jacinta! I'm sorry, I know it's the weekend...)

"No, no. It's alright. I'm just trying to get some rest, though I'm not at home," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Oh, it's okay if you're not—"

"It's okay, Andrei. I'm on Mondello beach right now."

"Oh, you, too?" he wondered. "But anyway, I'm just going to ask if you're okay scouting some models for our brand photoshoot next week."

"I see... but why do you need some models? It would be good if you'll be the face of your brand, right?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, I did that a few years ago, but this is for an international brands as well. Do you know anyone?"

"Do you need a male or a female?"

"Anyone," he said. "Can I count on you on this?"

Napangiwi ako dahil hindi ko sigurado kung paano 'to gagawin at kung saan ako magsisimula. "Sì, sì! Certo!" (Yes, yes! Of course!)

"Grazie mille, Jacinta. Godetevi la spiaggia." (Thank you so much, Jacinta. Enjoy the beach.)

"Grazie, Andrei!" and then I dropped the call.

Napabitaw na lamang ako nang malalim na hininga. And if someone would think right, I'm on the right place to scout some models. Nang tanawin ko naman si Ale sa beach ay hindi ko siya makita ro'n. Nagbalak naman akong maghanap sa paligid lalo na iyong mga turista.

I scanned the people around. Most of them are laying down on the sand trying to get tanned and then I've come to notice a foreigner laying down comfortably on the sun lounger, not quite far from where I am.

Kinapalam ko na ang mukha ko at tumungo ako sa direksyon ng kinaroroonan niya.

When he noticed that I was blocking out the sunlight towards him, he took off his sunglasses and looked straight at me.

"I'm sorry, do you need some help?" he asked, and based on his accent, I guess he's not from Italy.

I'm not sure he would guess that I am pregnant since I'm wearing a summer beach dress.

"Can I just ask a question?" I asked. "Are you from this place? I mean are you from this country or not?"

He immediately shook his head and I was correct with my guess. "No. I'm not from here. I'm from Las Vegas, but originally from Germany. Why do you ask?"

"Do you want to be a model?"

Umayos nang pagkakaupo ang lalaki. He really had a quite good fit. Naka-board shorts lang siya at ang ganda ng kutis niya.

"I am a model," he answered. "Why do you ask again?"

"We are looking for a male model who can endorse our wine brand," I proposed.

"Hmm..." Tumango-tango naman ito. "That would be lovely. I've never done anything like that before. I'm interested. How can we connect?"

"We'll reach out to you," I said. "So, it would be best to have your phone number. And once you arrived at our company, we'll settle everything there."

"Sure, that would be lovely," he said.

"Thanks!" Inabot ko sa kanya iyong phone ko saka ko pinalagay sa kanya iyong phone number niya so I can reach out to him. When he's done, binalik niya rin ang phone ko. "I'm excited for this. Anyway, how long would you be in Italy?"

"I came here five days ago," he said. "But I'll be here for a month. Is that good?"

Tumango-tango naman ako sa kanya. "I believe so. I'd probably see you on Monday at our office. Is that okay?"

He nodded. "Hey, I didn't get your name. What is it?"

Natawa ako nang ma-realize ko 'yon. "I'm sorry, I'm Jacinta. And you are?"

"Caiden Wrigley," he said. "Nice to meet you, Jacinta."

"Likewise, Caiden," I said. "I wouldn't bother you for so long so I'm gonna leave now. Thanks for accepting my proposal."

"No problem, see you on Monday," he said.

Pagkababa ko ng tawag. Napaisip agad ako kung kailangan ko pa ng isang model o sakto na iyong isa lang?

As I continued walking looking for some people to be our model, someone, just out of nowhere spoke to me.

"You were looking for people to be your boyfriend now?" Napalingin ako sa lalaking nagsalita at hindi ko inaasahan na makikita ko si Fabio na nakaupo sa sun lounger.

Nakalagay ang dalawa niyang kamay sa likod ng ulo at nakasuot ng sunglass.

Nagsalubong agad ang kilay ko nang mapagtanto kong hindi nga ako namamalikmata kanina. Umayos nang pagkakaupo si Fabio at tinapik niya ang tabi niya upang paupuin ako sa sun lounger.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"No. What are you doing here?!" tumaas nang bahagya ng tono ng boses ko. "You're following me, 'no? Sinasabi ko na nga ba na hindi ako nagkakamali. Ikaw iyong nakita ko kanina. Iyong sasakyang sumusunod sa amin at ikaw rin iyong lalaking nakita ko kani-kanina lang."

And then he just nodded at me like it's just a natural thing for him to do.

"Yup. I was the one you saw," he said. "Is there a problem with that?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at pumaywang pa ako. "Yes, there is. You shouldn't be following me just because you are the father of my baby."

"I was about to pull up earlier when I saw you and your friend get into the car. I don't know where you are going, but I've followed you and we all went here. It's a nice place to relax I must say."

Napaikot ang mata ko saka ako napasinghal. "I'm here with Alejandro so we can relax and please don't bother me."

"I'm not bothering you," he said. "I can see that you're the one bothering people around."

"I'm not bothering them," pagrarason ko pa. "It was for work."

Kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ko. "How come it was for work? You're here to relax, right?"

I scoffed, shaking my head. "Sabi ko na nga ba ma-stress lang ako rito."

Saglit lang din naman ay may lumapit sa amin. Akala ko kung sino, pero nang tingin ko ito ay si Alejandro pala. Salubong ang kilay niya nang tingnan kami nang pabalik-balik ni Fabio.

"What's happening here?" Ale asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing."

Pero alam kong hindi makukuntento si Alejandro sa sagot ko. Tiningnan niya nang mariin si Fabio.

"How do you know we're here?" he asked him.

"I feel like I don't have to explain myself to you," sagot ni Fabio sa kanya.

"He followed us here," ako na ang sumagot kay Ale.

"So, you were all along?"

Tumango ako. "Yup. I know I wasn't seeing things."

"Hey," muling inagaw ni Fabio ang atensyon namin. "You don't have to mind me. Go on and do your own stuff. I'll be staying here."

I squinted my eyes as I looked at Fabio's face. He could be kidding or lying straight to my face. Bumalik lang siya sa pagkahihiga niya sa sun lounger at saka ako niyaya ni Ale na umalis na kami. Pinauna ko muna si Ale na umalis at nagpaiwan ako saglit. Ayaw pa sana niya ako iwan kasama si Fabio dahil baka kung anong mangyari, pero alam niyang wala naman akong gagawing katangahan din.

He then glances at me again. "You're not leaving with him?"

"Are you for real right now, Fabio?" I asked him. "Just for this time, don't try to make my weekend full of stress. O kaya naman bumalik ka na lang sa city o sa bahay mo. It would be better."

"Nah, it feels better here now," he said.

I sighed. "Bahala ka nga sa buhay mo. I don't know what your other intentions are... but leave all the crap out of my life—for now, alright?"

"Uhuh," he muttered, nodding his head. "And could you please move a little... you're blocking the sun."

I grunted when he said that, but I just hastily turned my head around from him and I headed back to where we put out stuff. I don't think I'll be able to find some models right now, Caiden should be fine as a good option.

I sat back where Ale was waiting for me and he just started massaging my shoulder so I can relax.

"You know what, Ale?"

"Si?"

"I have a plan."

"What is it?"

A sneaky smile formed on my face and looked in Fabio's direction. I know she will hate me for what I was thinking, but I know this wouldn't be a problem. I'd love to do it and show him I'm someone he cannot take for granted again.

#BirthOfLiesInSicily #BOLISChapter9 #WTS9