Chapter 38

I know that Yves is kind of upset because of what I told him last night 'cause he didn't even message me. Pero nang makita ko siya kinabukasan sa harap ng unit ko naghihintay — nagulat ako.

“G-Good morning," nahihiya kong sabi sa kaniya. I don't feel sorry for telling him what I truly feel but I'm guilty because I hurt him.

Inayos ko naman ang buhok ko dahil kagigising ko lang. My head still hurts because I was very drunk yesterday night. I drank as if I didn't taste any hard drinks before.

"Anong oras ka umuwi kagabi?" nakakunot-noo niyang tanong sa akin.

Pinilit ko namang alalahanin kung anong oras na kami nakauwi kagabi pero hindi ko matandaan. Milan just dropped me here. I don't know what time is it though.

"Past midnight," sabi ko na lang.

He nodded his head and sighed. "At least you came home safe.."

Hindi ako nakasagot kaagad. We became silent for few minutes and it's very awkward.. well, at least for me.

"Do you need anything?" I asked him plainly. I'm still upset.

“Are you free today? Lalabas tayo..”

Nanlaki naman kaagad ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. I don't know what to do or what to react because of that. Because I was too surprised — I subconsciously closed the door. Malakas at mabilis.

I leaned on the door while holding my chest. Parang bigla akong hiningal at bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I also slapped my cheeks when I felt that it's getting hotter. My face is obviously red right now!

Kinikilig ba ako? This is the first time that he asked me out on a date!

I immediately opened the door again when I realized that he's still outside and waiting for my answer. I wasn't wrong because he's really waiting for me. Naabutan ko siyang nakasandal at nakayuko pero kaagad namang umangat ang ulo nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Yes. I'm free." Tumango naman siya at ngumiti nang kaunti. I hate it when he only smiles like that but at the same time, it's making my heart melts, too. "I'll just.. fix myself---”

"Make sure to bring extra clothes for two days. May pupuntahan tayo," sabi niya at pumasok sa kaniyang unit.

My mouth opened because of shock. Did I hear him right? Two days? It means, we'll be together for two good days! Holy freak! I became excited because of that!

Ang kaninang nakasimangot kong mukha ay halos mapunit na sa kangingiti. I didn't rush myself for preparing. I prepared almost all the prettiest and revealing clothes that I have just to impress him. Tumingin naman ako sa salamin habang nagbibihis.

I looked at my body and smiled. I'm confidently sexy. I also put makeup on my face to look more beautiful when I face him. Gusto kong magustuhan niya pa ako lalo. 'Yong mababaliw siya at hindi niya na ako pakakawalan.

I smirked while thinking about it.

This is all your fault, Yves! Talagang binabaliw mo ako!

Nagulat naman ako nang bigla siyang pumasok habang nag-a-apply ako ng lipstick.

"I'm sorry, hindi na ako nag-door bell. Maaga dapat tayong umalis. Malayo pa ang pupuntahan natin..”

Tumayo naman ako kaagad at hinarap siya. "Saan ba tayo pupunta?”

He didn't answer me. He just smiled instead while standing in front of me. I crossed my arms. Oh God! Babaliwin mo ba talaga ako, Yves?

Umiling-iling na lang ako at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa.

"I don't know why you're doing this," nangingiting sabi ko sa kaniya.

“Gusto ko lang makabawi sa 'yo. I know you're upset..”

Umikot naman ako para harapin siya. "And why am I upset?"

"'Cause I'm ignoring you. Alam mo naman kung ano ang dahilan ko, 'di ba?” seryosong sagot niya sa akin. “Gusto ko lang mag-ingat tayo sa ibang tao, Alindra..."

"I know your reason very well. Hindi ko lang talaga maintindihan," sagot ko naman sa kaniya. Napahinga ako nang malalim. "So, let's go?"

Tumitig muna siya sa akin bago tumango. I smiled a bit when he carried my stuffs. I'm just carrying my small handbag right now.

“Just wait here for a while. I'm gonna get the keys," sabi niya nang makalabas kami sa unit ko. Tumango naman ako.

I leaned on the wall while waiting for him. I'm looking forward to be with him this weekend. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na makakasama ko siya nang matagal. After all, we deserve this. Marami nang hirap ang pinagdaanan namin simula nang malaman ko ang nararamdaman niya para sa akin.

Nagulat naman ako nang biglang lumabas si Tita Lauren sa kaniyang unit kasabay halos ni Yves. My eyes widened while looking at Tita Lauren. I ran away from them to go inside the elevator but she suddenly called me.

I slowly turned around to face her. "A-Ano 'yon, Tita?"

"Where are you going? Parang magbabakasyon ka ah?” Nakataas pa ang kilay niya.

Even though I saw her a lot of times already, I haven't encountered her here in the building yet. Ngayon pa lang. I'm nervous while standing in front of her. She's really so intimidating — even more intimidating than my mother. Mas kinatatakutan nga lang si Mom dahil mas matanda nang ilang taon.

"Uh, yeah. Kami ng friends ko po..”

She looked at my bag and my body. She's not even smiling. “Nasaan ang mga kaibigan mo? Dapat sinundo ka nila rito, hija.”

“I'll wait them at the lobby, Tita," simpleng sagot ko sa kaniya. “How about you? Where are you going?"

"Nico and I will go on a date. Come on, ihahatid ka na namin," nakangisi na niyang sabi. I remembered that Nico Italian guy. He's really hot.

“Hindi na po, Tita. Thank you..”

Why do I feel like she's doubting me?

I sighed in relief when she finally left. Nakita ko namang naghihintay lang sa akin si Yves sa tabi. He immediately walked near me when he saw that Tita Lauren isn't beside me anymore.

"Are you fine?”

Tumango naman ako kay Yves. "Yeah. Do we still need to hide from my Tita?” I asked – just in case he's uncomfortable about it.

Dahan-dahan naman siyang tumango. I pursed my lips and just nodded. I regret asking about it. Akala ko ay hindi na namin kailangang magtago pa kay Tita 'cause she's my relative and she's not even involved in our university.

I frowned because of that but I didn't bother to question him anymore. This time, I'll trust his decision.

Para akong lumulutang habang nakakapit nang mabuti kay Yves. I'm happy now that I'm with him but there's just something off and I can't figure it out.

After several minutes, we stopped at the eatery. Lumingon naman ako sa paligid habang tumitingin ng mga pagkain si Yves. I'm not familiar with this place anymore. We're probably outside the city already.

“Let's have a breakfast first," sabi niya nang lumingon sa akin. I stopped for a moment when he slowly removed the helmet that I'm wearing. “Kumakain ka ba sa mga ganito? Do you want us to find a resto?"

"No, it's fine. I want to try here," sabi ko at ngumiti. Matagal akong hindi nakasagot dahil tinitigan niya pa ako.

"Anong gusto mo?” sabi naman niya nang makaupo. Umupo na rin ako sa tabi niya.

"Kung anong order mo..”

I'm not really familiar with the other Filipino dishes in front of us.

I smiled a bit when I felt the slightly strong wind on my skin. We're surely in the province now. Lumingon ako sa tabi namin. There are a lot of bamboo trees around us. The houses are made from stone and some are just nipa huts. 

Kung saan kami kakain ngayon ni Yves ay isang maliit na kubo lang. I haven't seen a hut this close before yet.

Nakita ko namang ngumiti sa akin ang isang lalaki habang may kinakausap si Yves sa harapan ng kubo. I awkwardly smiled and looked away. Sinalubong ko naman ng tingin si Yves. He ordered fried rice, eggs and hotdogs. He also has a black coffee.

“Ayos na ba sa 'yo 'yan?” tanong naman niya nang makaupo ulit.

Tumango naman ako. “Yeah pero parang hindi ko kayang ubusin..”

We both laughed after that. Binilisan ko na lang ang pagkain. Gusto ko nang umalis kami at makarating kung saan man ako dadalhin ni Yves. Marami na ring tumitingin sa amin.

I don't know why though.

. . .

My eyes seemed to shine when I looked at the view in front of us. After a few hours, we are finally here at the beach – facing the clear blue sea and the sky. Hindi maputi ang buhangin pero pinong-pino naman ito. It's just  complimenting the seawater even though they don't really mix together.

Ang buhangin at ang tubig-dagat.. kahit hindi pwedeng magsama – bagay na bagay pa rin sa isa't-isa. Na parang hindi makukumpleto ang dagat kung walang buhangin sa tabi niya.

I stopped admiring the view for a while when Yves spoke behind me.

“Unfortunately, iisang room na lang ang available sabi ng receptionist—"

I cut him off, “it's fine with me."

Gulat naman siyang napatingin sa akin. "Pero iisang room lang 'yon, Alindra. Isang kama. Magtatabi tayo?”

“Magtatabi tayo,” I confirmed and smiled.

Gulat na gulat pa rin siya pero wala nang nagawa. I just smirked and turned around to look at the view again. It's as if hypnotizing me just for me to stare and will never look away from it. I suddenly remembered when I saw a body of water while we were on our way to the campsite but Jeremy made me realize that I was just hallucinating that time and there was really no see nor ocean. I also remembered that I was really amazed back then even if it wasn't real.

Now that I'm finally at the beach and looking at the mesmerizing view – I don't know anymore if I'm still hallucinating or not 'cause this feels so surreal.

"I don't know kung anong mayro'n sa dagat at tuwang-tuwa ako," sabi ko kay Yves nang maramdaman kong sumunod siya sa likuran ko.

“Hindi ako nagkamaling dito kita dinala..”

I smiled back at him when he smiled at me. His face looks so bright now. Maybe because he's also happy. At dito.. hindi na namin kailangang magtago pa.

"Where are we? What's the name of this place?” sabi ko habang tinatanaw pa rin ang dagat. There are a lot of people around us but I don't need to worry anymore.

"El Buena Beach," he simply answered. “Let's check the view there..”

Tinuro niya ang katabi ng isang rock formation. I'm shocked a bit when he suddenly held my hand while we're walking. I don't remember anymore if when was the last time he held my hand like this but it feels so good.

Surprisingly, his hands are soft – almost like a baby's skin. Masarap hawakan.

I'm somehow happy because he can finally express how he really feels without worrying anymore. Kung malapit lang kami – malamang kahit lapitan ako hindi niya magagawa.

Hindi masyadong matao kung nasaan kami ngayon. May mga bangka naman sa harapan namin. The salty air is so hot especially because it's already noontime now but I'm not even complaining about it. Natutuwa lang ako sa paghawak ni Yves sa kamay ko.

"Hindi ka pa ba nakapunta rito?”

My smile faded when he let go of my hand as he sat on the rock.

Umiling naman ako. “Hindi pa..”

"Kung gusto mo lilibutin natin ang buong beach mamaya. Ayos lang ba?”

“Of course, it's fine. Masaya 'yon!”

Ngumiti lang siya at matagal hindi sumagot. He's just looking at the horizon, too despite of the blinding rays of the sun. Natahimik kaming dalawa. Ang alon at ang huni ng mga ibon lang ang naririnig ko.

I'm about to ask him the exact place of this beach when he quickly pulled me closer to him. He's giving me a back hug right now while I'm sitting on his lap. Paharap kami sa dagat at tinatanaw ang paghampas ng mga alon. Malakas ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Yves," I whispered.

My heartbeat became faster when I felt that he buried his face on my back.

“I'm sorry about last time..”

Hindi na halos ako makahinga sa ginagawa niya. This is the first time that I felt these unrecognizable feelings. It's like floating in the sky and touching the clouds. It's even unexplainable.

Ganito ba talaga ang epekto mo sa akin, Yves Marcus?

"I-It's fine. I understand," sabi ko na lang dahil hindi ko na alam ang dapat pang sabihin. I'm starting to lose my sanity because of him.

Nakikiliti ako sa paraan ng pagyakap niya sa akin. Ang paggalaw ng alon at pag-ihip ng hangin ay parang sumasabay rin sa pagtibok ng puso ko ngayon.

Natahimik ulit kami. Honestly, we're not really that close. We don't have much topic to talk about. Ngayon ko lang din siya nakasama nang ganito katagal. Hindi ko alam kung anong pwede pa naming pag-usapan.

If we'll talk about our complicated relationship, it will be painful. Kaya 'wag na lang munang pag-usapan.

Nagulat naman ako nang maya-maya, may hawak siyang malaking shells sa kamay at pinakita sa akin. I don't know where he got those shells though. Wala naman 'yon sa kinauupuan namin ngayon.

“Ito ang pinakapaborito kong bagay sa dagat.. pangalawa sa mga perlas. When you put this on your ear even if you're far away, you can still hear the waves. Para ka na ring nasa dagat..”

Nang lumingon ako sa kaniya, nakangiti siya habang hinahawakan 'yon. He even tried to put it on my ears. I smiled when I realized that he's right. It's like listening to the sound coming from the waves.

Pinakinggan ko 'yon habang yakap niya pa rin ako. Hindi namin namalayan ang oras. The sun is already about to bid its goodbye when I looked at the horizon in front of us.

"I'll marry you someday, Alindra,” he whispered to me as he kissed the back of my hand. My heart almost stopped from beating after that.

Napakurap-kurap ako habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Si Yves.. hindi ko inakalang iniisip na pala niya ang pagpapakasal sa akin.

Because of what he said, I can now visualize my future with him. Ikakasal kami habang nakaharap sa altar. Malamig o mainit. Simple o engrande – pakakasalan ko siya.

I realized that I can marry him anywhere. I'm only hoping for forever. Kahit simple lang ang pamumuhay kasama siya, ayos lang. Ikakasal kami, magsasama at kalaunan – magkakapamilya.

Tanaw ko siya habang hawak ang mga anak namin. At pag-uwi, yayakapin niya kami habang nakatingin sa paglubog ng araw.

If that will happen, I know.. I will never ask for more.

We stared at each other for a while. He held my chin as he started to kiss me on my lips, slowly but full of love. Damang-dama ko kung gaano niya ako nirerespeto at minamahal sa bawat paghalik niya. His kisses are just so tender that made me crave for more.

Para bang ingat na ingat siya sa bawat galaw niya sa labi ko – na parang anytime, pwede akong mabasag.

Because of that, I have realized that he's more than enough for me.. despite of our complicated situation right now.

“Mahal kita, Alindra..”

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