"Are you all set?"

Sinundo na ako ni Silas sa bahay namin. Our flight is at 5:40 PM. He specifically picked that time for us to see a beautiful sunset while we're on our way to Caticlan Airport.

"Mhm," I said. "We have to say goodbye to my Dad first," I told him before going back inside the house. Nandito na ngayon ang nursing graduate na pinsan ni Silas kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang mag-alala.

Binilin ko ulit sa kaniya ang mga kailangan niyang tandaan just in case she already forgot about it. "Dad, alis na po ako. Promise me that you'll be healthy when I get back, okay?" I told him and he nodded before giving me a last hug.

"Silas, alagaan mo 'tong anak ko ah. Kung hindi, malilintikan ka sa akin." Dad warned Silas at sumaludo naman siya bago tumango sa kaniya.

Sumakay na kami sa sasakyan ng kaniyang kamag-anak at hinatid kami sa airport. We were just right in time for checking in our luggage. Isang oras na lang hinintay namin before we boarded.

"Since it's your first time riding a plane, I want you to stay calm when you feel air turbulence, okay? Puwede kang kumapit sa aking braso kapag kinakabahan ka," he told me when we settled in our seats. Tumango tango naman ako sa kaniya bago tingnan ang pakpak ng eroplano sa labas ng bintana.

He said that he wanted me to see the view since it's my first time. Pero mag-sa-sawa lang din ako sa ganito eventually because we'll ride a load of airplanes while traveling. I suggested for us to ride a ferry to some place para naman bawas sa gastos and he just told me that he'll put a pin on that.

Ganito ba talaga kahirap kumbinsihin ang mga mayayaman para mag-tipid? Grabe!

When the plane started its ascent, agad ako napa-kabit sa braso ni Silas. I heard him chuckle right away before putting his hand on mine to rub it gently with his thumb, trying to calm me down.

As the plane ascends higher and higher into the sky, I can feel my nerves and anxiety building inside of me. This is my first time flying, and I can't help but feel a little apprehensive about the whole experience.

But as the plane steadies and levels off above the clouds, I glance out the window and see the most beautiful sunset on the horizon. The sky is painted in shades of pink and orange, and the clouds look like fluffy pillows floating in the sky.

"Ang ganda 'di ba?" I heard his voice, pero masyado akong nakatutok sa pag-lubog ng araw kaya hindi ko na siya nilingon.

In that moment, all of my fears and anxieties fade away, replaced by a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the world around me. I feel grateful to be alive and to be experiencing this incredible moment, and I can't help but smile at the sheer beauty of it all.

As the plane continues to soar through the sky, I feel a sense of peace and calm wash over me. I am reminded that there is so much beauty and wonder in the world, and that all it takes is a change of perspective to see it.

Bigla ko namang narinig ang shutter sound galing sa likod ko, and Silas took a picture of me.

"Hoy! Wala kang permission para picturan ako," sinimangutan ko siya at natawa naman siya sa hitsura ko.

"Ang cute mo, pa-kiss nga," he said as a joke pero nag-init naman ang aking pisngi. Paano siya casual sa pag-joke tungkol sa gano'n?! How can he even keep a straight face?

We took a few selfies on the plane before it started to descend. Noong naka-baba na kami ng eroplano, kinuha agad namin ang checked in baggage namin para maka-rating agad kami sa Boracay Island.

Sa Henann Regency ang hotel namin. Gusto pa nga ni Silas sa Shangri-la kaso sobrang mahal ang room rates doon. 20k per day! E five days four nights kami roon, e 'di 100k na agad sa Boracay? Putangina, 'wag na lang.

When we got to our hotel room, agad ako humiga sa kama ko. We got a two double bed room para hindi kami mag-katabi matulog. That's one of our agreements, we always book two beds for the sake of us not having sex.

Kasi let's be real, sobrang taas ng sexual tension namin tuwing tahimik ang lugar at kaming dalawa lang nandoon. Gusto ko pa nga sana mag-kaiba kami ng hotel room kaso sabi niya ako raw ang mag-bayad ng sarili ko. Kaya ito lang ang pinaka-okay sa akin.

We settled in for an hour before we decided to take a walk on the white beach. It was way past sunset kaya hindi ko na-videohan ito.

Silas was already tempted to buy a lot of things but I told him na mag-ikot muna kami baka makahanap kami ng mas mura. Nag-ikot kami sa D Mall, and I bought myself a cute necklace.

"Mag-jowa po ba kayo?" Tanong noong nag-bebenta sa amin at agad naman ako napa-kamot sa aking batok bago umiling.

"Ay, hindi po nay. Mag-kaibigan lang po kami!" I answered, at noong nilingon ko si Silas, nakangisi lang siya.

"Ano naman nginingiti mo riyan?" I raised a brow at umiwas lang siya ng tingin.

"Nako, hijo. Kung ako sa 'yo, ligawan mo na at nang makuha mo. Bihira na ngayon maka-kita ng babaeng ganiyan ka-ganda. Sige ka, kapag 'di mo pa pinormahan, ako poporma sa kaniya," sambit noong babae at natawa naman kami parehas.

Hindi namin nalibot ang buong white beach dahil sinuntok na kami parehas ng antok, but I told him that we should eat first at the dinner buffet para naman hindi sayang ang pera na binayad niya.

Dapat sulitin 'yon, aba!

Nagising ako nang alanganing oras at napansin kong wala si Silas sa kama niya. Tumayo ako at nag-hilamos ng mukha bago kunin ang cardigan sa aking bag.

I tied my hair up in a messy bun before going outside the balcony to see the view.

Unang araw.

Ngumiti ako dahil ito na ako... Finally, hindi na magiging boring ang summer ko. First travel out of a lot more destinations.

Lumingon ako sa may buhangin at nakita ko ang isang pamilyar na pigura ng tao at noong nakilala ko ito, agad ako bumaba para puntahan siya.

Malapit na rin bumangon ang araw, isang oras na lang.

He was sitting in silence as I approached him. Umupo ako sa kaniyang tabi at napansin niya naman ang aking presensya.

"Bakit gising ka na?" He asked, almost like a whisper.

"Nagising. Naramdaman siguro ng katawan ko na wala ka na roon. What if ma-kidnap ako? Manakawan tayo?" Sunod sunod na sambit ko sa kaniya at bigla naman siyang natawa. "Ano ang nakakatawa?"

"Hindi ba't mas malaki ang chance na manakawan tayo ngayon dahil parehas tayong wala sa hotel room?" Tanong nito at nag-kibit balikat naman ako.

"Ayaw mo bang may kasama? Sige aalis na ako—"

"Please stay," he said when I was about to walk away. I chuckled before sitting right next to him again.

"Ikaw? Bakit ganito ka-aga nakatambay ka na rito?" I asked.

"I love the beach. Hinding hindi ako magsasawa makakita ng dagat kahit araw araw ko ito nakikita noon sa states. It's probably the sound of the waves that calms me down, or makes me forget things I don't want to remember," he said. Nakakapag-taka lang dahil hindi naman niya sinagot 'yong tanong ko.

"You didn't answer my question though," I told him and he sighed before answering me.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Tara, mag-lakad muna tayo." Aya ko sa kaniya.

It calmed me ngayon na mag-kasama kami ni Silas. I knew that he had a lot of issues, at wala pa kami roon sa level na 'yon para pag-usapan ang mga 'yon. I noticed the way he avoids questions about his parents, the way he hates whenever we try to talk about it.

He seems like a person that hides his facade in order for the people around him to feel at ease. May kapatid siya, the one his parents look up to.

Mayaman ang pamilya niya, ibang iba rin ang sistema ng buhay niya sa buhay ko.

Marami pa akong hindi alam tungkol kay Silas pero sigurado akong... Makikilala ko siya sa loob ng dalawang buwang mag-kasama kami.

"So... Bukod sa pambababae, ano pa mga hobby mo?"

Bigla namang nasamid si Silas habang kumakain kami ng tanghalian. It was our third day here in Boracay at katatapos lang namin sa island hopping kanina. Simula 6 AM hanggang 1:30 PM kami pa-lipat lipat ng isla.

"Grabe ka naman sa pambababae. Hindi ba puwede lapitin lang ng girls? Saka tumigil na ako 'no!" Sambit nito sa akin at natawa naman ako.

"Sus! Kapag bumalik ka na sa US, babalik ka sa mga babae mo," inirapan ko siya at napansin niya naman na umiwas ako ng tingin kaya kinurot niya ang aking pisngi.

"Nag-se-selos ka ba? Huwag ka mag-selos. Sino ba kasama ko ngayon?" Tanong niya at tinuro ko naman sarili ko. "Exactly! At sino bang nag-sabi na uuwi pa ako roon sa bahay? Baka nga nag-pa-party na sila roon dahil wala ako e," he scoffed.

Umiling naman ako, "Hindi 'yan!" I said. "So ano pa nga ang ibang hobbies mo?"

"I can play billiards, and skateboard. Ayon lang naman. Ikaw ba?"

"Wala naman nang iba. I can just paint, draw, write skits? Ayon 'yong kurso na kinuha ko e. Film," I told him at tumango tango naman siya.

After we finished eating, nag-pahinga naman kami saglit sa tabing dagat bago mag-sign up para sa parasailing.

While we were watching the parasail get inflated, my heart was racing with excitement and nervousness. I had never done anything like this before, and the idea of being lifted up into the sky by a giant kite was both thrilling and terrifying. Silas was standing beside me, looking calm and confident, and I couldn't help but feel a little envious of his composure.

Siguro ilang beses niya na ito sinubukan at ready na siyang asarin ako kapag kinabahan mamaya.

I felt a rush of wind against my face and my stomach dropped as we lifted up into the air. For a moment, I closed my eyes and held my breath, wondering if I had made a mistake. But then I opened my eyes and looked around me, and I couldn't believe how beautiful everything looked from up there. The ocean stretched out in front of me, the waves crashing against the shore, and the beach looked like a tiny strip of sand far below.

"Woooh!" He shouted when we reached the peak height.

Silas gestured for me to relax and enjoy the ride, and I tried to take deep breaths and focus on the feeling of the wind in my hair. It was an exhilarating experience, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to try something new and exciting with someone.

We slowly descended back down to the beach, I felt a sense of relief and accomplishment wash over me. I had faced my fears and tried something new, and it was an experience I would never forget. I looked over at Silas and grinned, feeling a sense of camaraderie and connection with him that only comes from sharing a thrilling adventure together.

"So... You paint right?"

Nasa hotel room na kami ulit at katatapos lang naming maligo. Handa na kaming dalawa matulog pero dahil hindi pa kami inaantok, we decided to start to get to know each other again. Kasi parehas naming alam na mas okay na nag-uusap kami kaysa na hinahayaan naming magkaroon kami ng awkward tension every time we get in a room where it's just him and I.

"Mhm, why'd you ask?"

He looked at me first before sitting upright, facing me. Bigla naman siyang nag-pose sa harapan ko at agad naman ako nagtaka. Nababaliw na ba 'tong si Silas? "You're making a fool out of yourself, dude," I chuckled.

"I want you to paint my portrait," he said.

I scoffed in disbelief before shaking my head, "I'm not in the mood to do so." Humiga ako sa aking kama at nagulat ako noong bigla siyang tumalon sa aking kama. "Uhm, don't you know what personal space is?" I asked sarcastically.

"Come on, Rose! Please do it! I'll pay you all the materials you need or will be using. Just paint my portrait," he begged in front of me. He was this desperate? Saka ginamit pa ang second name ko! Nobody even calls me that.

I raised an eyebrow, "Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit mo gustong ipinta ko ang pagmumukha mo. Ano ba mayroon?"

Nagkibit balikat naman siya sa akin, "I don't know. I saw the portraits you painted na nakasabit sa art room mo noong nandoon ako. It looked amazing. I want one too," he pouted. "Besides, bakit ba ayaw mong pumayag na lang?"

"Silas, kapag kasi gagawa ka ng portrait kailangan mo ng time, dedication, motivation, and other shit that I don't want to deal with right now. Kala ko ba dinala mo ko rito dahil alam mong kailangan ko 'to? Hindi 'yong uutusan mo 'ko gawin 'yong portrait mo?" I asked. "Saka... Hindi ako nagpipinta ng portrait ng isang tao nang gano'n gano'n lang," mahaba kong sambit.

"Sige... Turuan mo na lang ako mag-pinta. Para naman hindi mo na 'ko maiinsulto na kaunti lang ang hobbies ko at kasama pa roon ang pambabaero." Parehas naman kaming natawa.

"Sige. Pero huwag muna ngayon, enjoyin muna natin 'tong Boracay. Dalawang araw na lang tayong nandito e," I told him and he nodded.

We eventually fell asleep, and I woke up at five am again so I did the same routine I did yesterday. I decided to shower early and wear a bikini for the first time. Sayang kasi kung hindi ko gagamitin 'yong mga dinala ko.

Sana kapag nakita ako ni Silas hindi ako asarin! Kasi sigurado akong aasarin niya ako.

I wore a black back crisscross one piece. I wore a kimono on top, and also high waisted denim jeans. Hindi pa naman kasi ako magsswimming ng ganito ka-aga.

Napagdesisyonan ko nang maglakad sa tabing dagat para naman hindi ako ma-bore dahil alam kong hindi pa gigising si Silas any time soon. Late siya nakatulog kagabi kakaisip kung ano ang ipipinta niya.

I really was shocked when he requested for me to paint his portrait, and teach him how to paint. Hindi kasi siya mukhang tipo ng tao na willing matuto ng isang boring na hobby. Kapag kasi nagpipinta ka, kailangan mo ng mahabang pasensya kasi hindi naman lagi magiging perfect ang mga gawa mo.

There will always be uneven lines, dull works, and imperfection.

And Silas doesn't look like a person that's willing to learn something new that requires so much patience.

Nahanap ko ang sarili ko sa dulo ng white beach sa may rock formation. Umupo lang ako roon at huminga nang malalim. Nakikita ko na rin ang araw na umaakyat na. I was excited to see the sunrise again.

Noong pinalitan na ng araw ang buwan, agad ako bumaba sa aking pagkakaupo sa rock formation at nagsimulang maglakad pabalik sa hotel namin.

Noong nasa tapat naman na ako ng hotel namin, nakita ko si Silas na naka white polo at black board shorts. His polo was unbuttoned, kaya nakita ko ang god sculpted body niya.

When our eyes met, ngumiti siya sa akin. "Did you have fun walking by yourself?" Tanong niya sa akin at tumango naman ako sa kaniya.

"It was very calming. Sana puwede ako lagi maglakad sa tabing dagat and just collect my thoughts, and self reflect," I told him. "Kain tayo?" Tumango naman siya sa akin at nagulat ako noong hinawakan niya ang aking kamay at sabay kaming pumasok sa loob.

Para tuloy akong bata na tatakbo sa kung saan kapag binitiwan niya ako.

We ate breakfast sa buffet area, syempre ako naman nag-picture pa rin habang kumakain. Susulitin ko talaga ang bayad ni Silas dito! Ubusin ko lahat ng pagkain nila.

"So... The portraits you painted. Do the people mean something to you? Kasi sabi mo hindi ka basta basta nagpipinta ng portraits," he asked and I nodded. I finished chewing the food that was in my mouth before answering him.

"The people you saw that were hanging on the walls were the people who helped me go through my battles..." I started. "Ganito kasi 'yan. Hindi mo 'ko mapipilit na umupo sa harapan mo for hours just to paint your face. Ang ginagawa ko... Tumitingin ako sa isang litrato, and think of how I took that picture. Was I happy, sad, neutral? You get the point."

"Hindi kita maintindihan," he said while his face was puzzled.

"Of course you don't," I chuckled. I stopped for a second to think of how I am going to further explain to him. "Alam mo ba kung paano nalalaman ng photographer kung mahal nila ang isang tao?" I asked and he shook his head. "It's how they take the photos."

"Paano 'yon? Kung gaano karami ang mga litratong kinuha nila to a specific person... Doon malalaman kung gaano nila kamahal 'yong isang tao?" He asked but stopped for a second. "Teka, how is this even relevant to the portrait you painted?"

I smiled. "Hindi siya sa dami ng photos... It's how you take them. Kung sila ay piniprint lang nila ang litrato para makita ito nang maayos... I paint them. I only paint people that made me happy behind the camera I used to take their photo."

Tumahimik naman siya kaya tinapos ko muna ang natirang pagkain sa plato ko, "Sana naintindihan mo."

After we ate, umakyat muna kami saglit sa hotel room to get extra money because we're going out again in a few minutes.

"Clementine," tawag niya sa akin habang nakatingin ako sa balcony.

"Hmm?"

"I hope someday I'll be the person that is worthy to be painted by you."