Right after we ate our lunch at 2:00 p.m., we walked by the beach as we got to know more things about ourselves. Lakad lang kami nang lakad habang nag-uusap. Hindi na namin napansin ang oras. Parang hindi napapagod ang mga paa namin sa tagal naming naglalakad.

"Do you like swimming?" I asked as I watched the waves in front of us.

He nodded. "Of course. Ikaw?"

I chuckled. "Hindi ako mas'yadong marunong kapag dagat. Humahapdi ang mga mata ko."

We finally stopped walking and sat on the pavements. "Turuan kita. Magaling akong lumangoy."

I smiled at him. "Marunong naman akong lumangoy, 'no. Kapag dagat kasi, nakakatakot."

He chuckled. "Alam ko namang marunong kang lumangoy. You looked great as I watched you swam last night. Hindi na nga kita nakuhanan ng litrato. Sorry." He laughed again.

I smiled. "Okay lang." And then I remembered something about last night. "Siya nga pala, thanks for last night. You saved me from those men."

He chuckled. "Sorry, tinawag kitang babe. That's the only thing I think I should do."

I nodded. "It's okay."

Mahabang katahimikan ang nanaig sa pagitan naming dalawa. Ingay lang ng mga turistang nagdaraan sa tabi ang naririnig namin, maging ang paghampas ng alon sa dalampasigan. I remembered that we're talking about something else a while ago. Bakit ba kami napunta sa kagabi?

"Are you a swimmer?" I asked as I looked at him.

He smiled at me. "Hindi naman professional. I just love swimming and taking photos of the living things under that wild, wild sea. Sana pala dinala ko ang portfolio ko para makita mo ang mga pictures na kinuhanan ko underwater.

Napangiti ako nang malawak. "Gusto kong makita!" I laughed at my sudden excitement. "Ay, sorry." He chuckled. "Pero ayon nga! I want to see those photos you took before. Mga kailan pa 'yon?"

Ibinalik niya ang paningin sa dagat. "Lagi ko namang ina-update ang portfolio ko. Marami ro'n, pati luma. Kung gusto mong makita, p'wede ko naman ipakita sa 'yo kapag sumama ka sa akin sa Tagbilaran next week." I chuckled at what he said. "Makikita mo rin yung mga turista na kinuha ako bilang photographer kasi gusto nilang magkaroon ng underwater photoshoot. Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang pero magaganda kasi ang kuha ko talaga."

I chuckled. For some reason, na-excite ako na mag-Saulog Festival. I really liked browsing portfolios for that kasi minsan, sa gano'n ako nakakakuha ng idea kapag nagkakaroon kami ng projects dati sa company to write a story. Nagiging inspired ako sa mga gano'ng bagay. I missed that feeling.

"So . . . you really liked photography?" I asked.

He nodded. "Oo naman. Bago pa ako magkaanak, hilig ko na talaga 'to. Mas naging focus na lang talaga no'ng umalis nga sila."

Napatango ako nang marahan kasabay ng pag-iwas ng tingin.

I still want to know why they left him. What did he do for them to do that to him? Gusto kong magtanong pero nakakatakot kasi na baka mas'yadong personal para sa kan'ya. At isa pa, sinabi niya na noon na saka na lang niya ikukwento sa akin ang tungkol do'n.

Baka hindi pa siya handa.

"Hmmm . . . baka okay naman sila."

He chuckled. "Alam ko namang okay lang sila. Dapat lang. Kasi alam ko rin na mas hindi sila okay kung mananatili sila sa akin."

I glanced at him and stared for a few seconds. Nang mapansin niya ang pagtitig ko, napatikhim ako kasabay ng pag-iwas ng tingin.

"Uhh . . . anyway. Bakit hindi mo sila puntahan?"

He chuckled. "Hindi ko alam kung nasaan sila."

"Bakit hindi mo hanapin?"

Pakiramdam ko, nagkamali ako sa pagtatanong kong 'yon. Ang tagal niyang nanahimik at hindi gumalaw sa kinauupuan niya, bago siya lumingon sa akin at ngumiti nang maliit.

"Nangako akong hindi ko sila hahanapin, eh." He chuckled slightly. "Sorry. Baka disappointed ka na sa akin dahil hindi ako tumayong ama sa anak ko sa dalawang taon . . . pero . . . ayon. Hindi ko na siguro mababago 'yon. Kasalanan ko." He heaved a deep sigh. "Hindi ko pa rin naman pinapatawad ang sarili ko."

I wonder what he did to feel this. Parang masiyadong malalim ang pinagdaanan nila ng dati niyang asawa. He looked more tormented now than he was. I want to ask more pero gusto ko na ring tumigil. I don't like where this is heading. Para tuloy akong curious na tao na ayaw ma-satisfy ang curiosity dahil sa takot sa truth.

I sighed as I stretched my arms before smiling at him. "Darating din yung araw na makikita mo silang dalawa . . . at mapapatawad mo rin ang sarili mo sa . . . kung ano mang mali na nagawa mo." He looked at me. "After all, lahat naman ng tao, nagkakamali. Nobody's an exception . . . kahit gaano ka pa kabuting tao before your world become disturbed."

He smiled at what I said. "Thanks, Summer. Ang tagal ko nang hindi napag-uusapan ang tungkol do'n. Pero sa susunod ko na lang ikukwento ang lahat."

I chuckled. "Okay lang! There's a lot of time for that."

"Wow, really?" natatawa niyang tanong. Probably because he knew that I was considering the Saulog Festival with him.

I tried to conceal my smile before looking back at the sea. "Secret."

Tumawa siya nang malakas. "So, decide where you are going to stay. Mag-hotel ka ba or sa bahay ko? Sa bahay ng parents ko? Just tell me."

I chuckled. "Saka na 'yan pag-usapan. May ilang araw pa naman before that. Baka rin may makita tayong mas murang apartment or hotel." I shrugged. "It depends."

He chuckled. "Okay, then. Ikaw ang bahala. Just tell me what your decision is."

I nodded in response. We stayed seated in that same place for another hour, not talking about anything. Pinakikiramdaman lang namin ang malakas na hangin at pinakikinggan ang tunog ng hampas ng alon sa dalampasigan.

Sa sobrang excited kong makita ang portfolio niya, na-imagine ko ang mga babaeng may magagandang pose sa ilalim ng tubig habang may mga isda at kung ano pang laman-dagat na kasama nito sa pictures. Parang nate-tempt tuloy akong magpagawa rin ng gano'n.

"Anyway, do you want me to help you get better in your swimming skills?" he asked.

Napalingon ako sa kan'ya sa biglaan niyang pagsasalita. I realized that we're too silent but the silence was never awkward. Ang comforting lang.

I sighed, still staring at the sea. Padilim na ang kalangitan at dumarami na rin lalo ang mga turista, Umiingay na rin lalo ang mga tao na kumakain sa restaurant malapit sa dagat. Maybe because they are drinking too, and they are enjoying their stay.

"P'wede naman. Gusto ko rin naman." I smiled at him. "Magkano po ang swimming lessons sa inyo, Mr. Grayson?" I chuckled.

"Tss." He chuckled. "Just enjoy the place . . . enjoy the swimming lessons. P'wede nang payment 'yon."

"Sus." I chuckled.

"Gusto mo ng ice cream? Bohol Bee Farm ice cream, masarap 'yon."

Napanguso ako dahil naramdaman ko na ang sakit ng paa ko sa tagal ng paglalakad namin kanina. "Malayo ba?"

He laughed before standing up. "Hindi. Malapit lang 'yon. Tara?"

I laughed at his excitement. "Mamaya na ang ice cream. After na lang natin mag-dinner."

Bahagyang umawang ang bibig niya bago bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa tabi ko. "Dalawang araw ka na rito pero wala ka pang napupuntahan," he said, slightly chuckling.

I glanced at him. He's staring at the sea and has a peaceful smile. Wala namang mali siguro kung sabihin ko na one month ang stay ko sa Bohol, 'di ba? Napatunayan ko naman nang okay siya kahit na stranger lang kami sa isa't isa. At isa pa . . . wala namang mawawala sa akin kung malaman niyang isang buwan ako rito. Pinili ko lang na hindi sabihin.

"You know what, I still have more than three weeks of stay here." Napalingon siya sa akin nang dahil do'n. "So . . . don't feel bad for me kung hindi ko nasusulit ang mga araw ko rito dahil lang wala akong ganang mamasyal. I'm enjoying my time here. And you're helping me enjoy my peaceful time. So . . . thank you."

Bakas ang gulat sa kan'ya dahil sa sinabi ko. I tried to conceal my smile because he really looked surprised and happy at the same time. It's like . . . he loved the news that he just heard.

"W-Wow . . ." He chuckled slightly. "So, one month ka rito? You're not joking right?"

I laughed. "Bakit naman kita lolokohin d'yan?"

He shrugged. "Naisip ko lang." He stretched his arms as he looked at the beach again. "Then . . . we'll make your one whole month last like a year . . . a decade. I'll do my best to make you feel that you have your best month here." He smiled at me. "Baka rin maisipan mong manatili. We'll never know."

I laughed. "Hindi naman p'wede 'yon. I have a family to come back to in Manila."

His forehead creased. "Family?"

"My parents."

"Ahh . . ." He scratched his nape. "Baka lang mag-enjoy ka at . . . piliin ang manatili."

I looked at him. "Why? Do you want me to stay here?"

He looked away, smiling like a guilty kid caught red-handed eating chocolates at night. "It's too early to say but . . . this is the only day that I felt alive." He looked at me with a small smile on his lips. "Taking photos of you feels like doing the purpose that He has given me in this world."

I gulped—looking away—as I felt something in my chest.

"And that's because I took your photo last night without your permission. Since then . . . I always make plans of how we will enjoy the days that we're together . . . and I'm not even joking."

Ang bilis . . .

Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.