"Bakit ka sumisigaw?" iritang tanong ko pabalik sa kan'ya.

Nagbuntonghininga siya bago isinabit ang helmet sa manibela ng motor, saka bumaba. Tumayo siya sa harap ko at humalukipkip.

"Kanina pa kita hinahanap, wala ka sa room mo!"

"Anong gusto mong gawin ko? Magtanga ro'n maghapon? Hindi ako nagpunta dito para magkulong lang sa hotel, Grayson!"

He sighed in frustration. "You should've replied to my text or answered my calls para alam ko kung nasaan ka, 'di ba?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Grayson, I'm not a kid, okay? Kahit maligaw ako dito, makakauwi ako! I can ride a tricycle to drive me to the Arabelle Suites! Hindi mo kailangang malaman lahat ng galaw ko dito—"

"I was just worried—"

"Kaya ko, malaki na ako! Hindi ako mapapaano dito!"

Napakamot siya sa ulo bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. "Hindi mo kilala ang mga tao dito! Paano kung may biglaang lumapit sa 'yo? Paano kung halayin—"

"Grayson, I am prepared for that! Kaya nga ako mag-isang pumunta dito, eh. Inaasahan ko na lahat ng worst things na p'wedeng mangyari sa akin!" I shouted because I am getting really irritated.

Ngayon na nga lang kami nagkita sa buong maghapon, sisigawan pa ako. Akala mo hindi inamin kaninang umaga na nagkakagusto na sa akin. Tss!

"Pwes, ako hindi!" Sunod-sunod na paghinga ang ginawa niya bago dinugtungan ang sinasabi. "If you're going to leave your room, please tell me where you're going para alam ko kung saan kita pupuntahan!"

Napakamot ako sa leeg dahil sa sinabi niya. "For what, Grayson? Kaya ko nga!"

"I'm just worried, okay?"

"You're worried pero iniwasan mo ako buong maghapon after confessing your feelings for me! Paano ako maniniwala niyan?"

Natahimik siya sa sinabi ko. Nagbuntonghininga siya ng ilang ulit nang umiwas siya ng tingin. Ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas, ibinalik na niya ang atensiyon sa akin.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'm just really thinking of something."

Napakunot-noo ako. "About what?"

"About us."

"Us?!" nanlalaking mata na tanong ko. "Bakit naman iniisip mo 'yan?"

"Because I want to. Hindi naman masama 'yon, ah?" He scoffed. "I'm just thinking of ways to . . . to make you like me."

Umawang ang bibig ko sa huling sinabi niya. Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtawa dahil, sa totoo lang, para siyang college student sa sinabi niya. It's funny and cute at the same time!

"Nakaisip ka naman ba?" I said, chuckling.

Naiinis siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. "Wala."

I smiled. "Because you don't have to do anything. Gusto ko lang manatili ka sa dating ikaw bago ka pa magkagusto sa akin. I want that stranger's care that you gave me the first night you saved me from men in the pool. I want that stranger's ears who listened to my stories about how my ex and I ended. And . . . I wanted that stranger's lips which I kissed the night I got wasted in Panglao. 'Yun lang naman ang gusto ko. You don't have to overthink. We'll just have to enjoy this trip, Grayson."

Naglakad ako papalapit sa basurahan na nakita at itinapon ang pinag-inuman ng mango shake. Pagkatapos n'on, bumalik na ako sa harap niya.

"Now . . . what are we going to do?" I asked. "Is this how we make our moments together last?"

He sighed. He cupped my face with both of his hands with both thumbs caressing my cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I tried to avoid you."

Tumango ako bago humawak sa kamay niyang nasa pisngi ko pa rin. "It's okay. Just don't do it again."

He pulled me closer then hugged me.

"I'm just getting scared of other possibilities since you don't live here. But I will do my best to make you want to stay here with me."

I smiled before I hugged him back.

Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan ang lahat ng pinangako ko sa sarili ko bago umalis ng Manila.

The only plan that I have right now is to stay for exactly thirty days on that island. After those days, I'll need to get back on track and come home, start working again and live my life the way I usually do.

I sighed as I slightly tapped his back. "So, is that your plan?"

He nodded. "Yes. I will make you want to stay here with me." Kumalas siya sa yakap para harapin ako. "I just have a feeling that you're worth it so I'm giving this a shot. I'll make these feelings I have for you stronger as I give you reasons to not leave."

With the look of his face as of the moment, it seems like he has so much to say but he stopped and pursed his lips after that. I waited for the things he'll say next for a few more minutes, until he finally broke the silence.

"I just really think that the life I have now will never be the same if I let you leave me . . . because, Summer, I'm really starting to feel alive once again."

We only talked for a few more minutes before we decided to stroll around the place using his motorbike. It was really a good thing na hindi kotse ang sasakyan niya because I get to enjoy the roadtrip more plus ramdam ko yung alat ng hangin dahil sa dagat ng lugar na ito.

Before we knew it, we're back in Panglao once again. We ate our dinner in an open area restaurant by the beach. He, once again, paid for it as a pambawi sa pag-iwas niya kanina. After that, nagtambay ulit kami sa gilid ng dagat.

"There are a lot of things that's happening in Tagbilaran now since the Saulog Festival has already started yesterday but look where we are now." He chuckled as he hugged his folded legs while we're sitting on the sands. He looked at me and smiled as his hair moved because of the wind that's continuously blowing in the place. "But I promise to show you the main event of the Saulog Festival."

I smiled as I stared at the waves of the sea. "I don't care about those things anymore." I glanced at him with a smile on my face. "I'm already enjoying being with you anywhere."

He chuckled as he moved closer to me. He removed his arms that's wrapped around his legs. Inilagay niya 'yon sa likuran ko na para bang suporta sa katawan niya.

We continued talking about ourselves as we enjoyed the sound of the sea in front of us.

"Damn, who would have thought that watching this sea with you would be such a beautiful moment to treasure?" He chuckled. "I feel contented."

I smiled. I wanted to say the same thing dahil kontento na rin ako sa ganito. Kahit nga huwag na kaming mag-usap basta nandito siya sa tabi ko, pakiramdam ko, okay na rin ako.

"Right . . ."

Lumingon siya sa akin. "Do you want to swim tomorrow?"

I nodded. "I was thinking of doing that earlier, actually. Kaso dumating ka."

He laughed. "You should always take me with you so we can snap those memories in its best angle."

I chuckled, nodding. "Right. Para naman mas gumanda ang feed ng Instagram ko."

He brushed my hair. "Tag me next time, please?"

I shook my head as I looked at him. "I told you, kapag maraming may alam ng tungkol sa 'yo, maraming mangingialam. They may even send you messages, you know? You don't know how Enzo and I's mutual friends can be aggressive sometimes."

He scoffed. "Wala naman akong pakialam sa kanila." He looked at me. "And will you please stop mentioning that fucking name? Nakakasira ng mood."

I laughed. "Okay, then. I'll try not to mention him."

He chuckled. "You're very submissive to me. I suddenly wonder—"

Naputol ang pagsasalita niya nang tumawa ako nang malakas. "Stop it! I know where this is heading!"

He chuckled. "Kung pigilan mo ako ngayon, parang hindi mo hiniling sa akin kaninang umaga—"

"Stooop!" I laughed louder. "Oh my god!"

"Bakit? Nagsisisi ka ba na sinabi mo 'yun kaninang umaga? Na you want us to do it?" pang-aasar niya pa.

I shook my head as I covered my face with both of my hands. "Hindi gano'n . . ." natatawang sabi ko. "It feels awkward. I hate awkwardness with you, Grayson."

He chuckled, removing my hands on my face. Lumingon ako sa kan'ya. He's face is a little closer to mine. Kumabog na naman ang dibdib ko.

Damn . . . why is he always making me feel this way? It's not like we never kissed but whenever our faces almost touched like this, I can always feel the tension.

"I hate awkwardness too, with you, so get used to this, Summer."

I couldn't talk.

Aside from the wind that's kissing our skin, I can also feel his breathing on my lips. I was about to look away because I could feel my lips trembling for it wanted to do that one thing that it always wanted to do with Grayson but he stopped me.

"Don't move."

I gulped. He's still staring at me with his face so close to mine. I gulped repeatedly as I felt him move closer. I looked around and saw that the sea of people around didn't care about us one bit.

"What are we doing here . . ." mahinang sabi ko, hindi pa rin ibinabalik sa kan'ya ang tingin.

He moved closer again and I stopped myself from looking at him because once I did, I knew that I would never be able to stop myself anymore. I gulped again as I felt my throat getting dry. My heart . . . oh my god.

"Look at me . . ." I didn't, of course. "Whatever we'll do here, no one will care. They all have their own business to enjoy." He moved a little closer again and I swear, I'm so close to kissing this damn lips that's so close to mine! "Summer."

Nahigit ko ang hininga bago nagsalita. "I . . . I won't be able to stop myself kapag tumingin ako sa 'yo."

"Then don't."

I lightly shook my head because I was afraid that one big move would make our nose touch. "I'm making sure of something."

"About what?" he whispered as his breath hit the upper part of my lips.

"S-Something important. Something that will not r-rush. Something that . . . that will make everything about here . . . solid."

He chuckled sexily. "If you won't stop yourself, will you fail?" he asked. I nodded slightly. "Then try and look me straight in the eye. We will succeed in your own little shenanigans."

I repeatedly heaved a deep sigh and waited for a few minutes before I closed my eyes. When it feels like I've calmed myself, I opened my eyes once again.

My eyes looked directly at him who's staring at me with all the tenderness that it can give. He moved closer and I couldn't stop myself but to look at his lips . . . his slightly trembling lips.

I gulped. "Can we . . . succeed?"

He moved forward again and both of our upper lips touched each other. I took a deep breath as it felt like I almost lost my sanity.

"I . . ." I sighed. "I'm going insane."

He chuckled and his upper lips fucking touched mine again! Argh, can't we just kiss already?!

"Let me tell you something."

I gulped as I watched his lips move as he talked. While I did that, I felt his cold hands take mine and put it on his left chest. My eyes widened as I felt his heart beating wildly—like mine.

I am really not the only one who's going insane.

We stayed in that position for a few more minutes before Grayson moved away first as he continuously sighed beside me. He has his facedown with his eyes closed.

"Damn, I almost . . . I almost failed us." He chuckled, still panting. "Glad that I can control."

I couldn't help but smile.

Grayson took my self-challenge seriously and I can't believe that this little things really did make me happy—like crazy.

He's taking notes—mentally—of the things I am telling him about me.

He is getting to know more about me.

I wish that someday, he'll have the courage to tell me things about this child that he had with someone.

I hope that one day, he'll try to open his book of life and let me read it like I'm part of it.