I grabbed my luggage from the conveyor when I saw it go along the course. I pull out the handle and find my way out. Suddenly, I remembered something and I forgot about where to stay. I could be anywhere else right now, but hell I don't know where to go. Accommodations on this island could be triple expensive than in Boracay.

I paid an environment fee which surprised me before I go out. Tuloy-tuloy pa ako sa paglalakad. Kung hindi tinawag ni kuya ang atensyon ko, I would've missed it. I paid around twenty pesos for it and quickly done. 

I pulled my luggage and walked my way out. I was trying to look online kung meron bang mga hotels na hindi booked ngayong araw so I could just rest for the day at 'yong mga sa susunod na araw ay bukas ko na lang din pro-problemahin.

But most of the hotels and Airbnb I was looking are all booked at this moment—kahit sa mga susunod na araw ay puno ito. I should've just rebooked my flight to Palawan at hindi ko pa iisipin kung saan ako tutuloy ngayon. Now, I don't know where to go. Baka sa tabing kalsada na lang din ako matulog ngayong gabi and I think it's fine.

Baka may pumulot sa akin na yayaming foreigner saka bubuhayin ako and that I don't need to work for myself my whole life.

That'd be interesting, pero I wished! That's too impossible at this moment.

While I was finding my way somewhere else, napalingon ako sa isang tabi kung saan nakita ko iyong ginger man na nakatabi ko kanina sa plane. He was trying to take a picture of himself sa malaking letra ng Siargao. When his eyes shifted at me, agad akong umiwas ng tingin, but I guess something was pulling me back to him.

"Hey!" pagtawag nito sa akin.

I innocently looked around just to show that I was the one being called and then I saw him waving at me. Muli akong lumingon sa paligid ko dahil baka may kinakawayan pa siyang ibang tao and no one's behind me. Tinuro ko ang sarili ko saka siya tumango.

"Come here!" pagpalalapit niya sa akin. He even motioned his hand for me to come over to where he was standing.

Lumapit naman ako sa kanya as I don't want to be rude to him.

"Hey," panimula niya.

"Hey... and oh, I'm sorry about earlier!" 

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, don't worry about it. I don't mind... but I just have a teeny-tiny favor, and I hope you don't mind."

My eyes squinted at his request. "Sure... what is it?"

"Could you please take a picture of me with this letter? Just take the whole Siargao thing and me, of course."

"Oh, definitely! Sure thing!"

When he handed over his phone to me, pumwesto naman siya sa tabi ng mga letter. If he's new to this place, I'm sure he is living the life. Mukhang siya lang din naman mag-isa. As I was taking pictures of him, may biglang nag-call sa phone niya so I quickly handed it back over to him. He answered the phone as soon as he got it back.

He was talking over with someone else there and I don't know why am I still standing in front of him like there's still something to do. Nang binaba niya rin ang tawag sa akin ay ngiti naman ang lumapad sa mukha niya.

"I'm sorry, that was my friend. They're picking me up. They're on their way."

"Oh, I see... nice to know you have friends here."

"Yeah, quite convenient. Anyway, you'd like to take a picture as well?"

I shook my head. "No, no. It's okay..."

"Nah, I don't take no's. Go on... give me your phone. I'll take shots for you."

Nakangiwi kong inabot sa kanya ang phone ko at pumwesto ako sa kaninang tinayuan niya. I was so awkward at hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng ngiti ang ipamumukha ko. He was instructing me to do some posing. Pinagbigyan ko na. Nang matapos ay inabot niya sa akin ang phone ko at proud na proud siyang pinakita sa akin iyong mga shot niya.

"Have you been here?" he asked and I shook my head. "Oh, so it would be your first time?"

Tumango ako. "Yup... it's a long story, but, yeah... this is my first time on the island. What about you?"

He shook his head. "Not really, but it has been three years since I went here so it feels like a first time for me."

"Cool... so you're more local on the island than I am."

He laughed at what I said. 'Wag kang ganyan. Baka ma-fall ako.

"I guess so?" I chuckled.

"Where you up to now?" he asked.

Napalunok naman ako ng laway dahil hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya sasagutin. Napakamot ako sa gilid ng ulo ko at napangiwi. "To be honest, I don't know... just like what I've mentioned earlier, it was a long story how I ended up here. I should be heading to Palawan, but I booked Siargao instead."

"Oh, for real?"

I nodded. "Yup... I have friends in Palawan so I didn't book any accommodation and now that's one of my problems today. I don't know where to stay since all the hotels are seemingly fully booked."

"That shouldn't be a worry, come with me and stay with us."

Agad akong umiling bilang pagtanggi. "No. Thank you for the offer. You're so kind, but you don't need to do that."

"No, it's fine. I can talk to my friends. They're nice, kind, and fun, so don't worry about it..."

"Okay... but I guess I'll only stay for the night."

"Anytime you want," he said. "Let's just wait for them to arrive."

"Okay... thank you."

"You're welcome... uh... I didn't get your name." He chuckled. "We've been talking a lot already, but I forgot to ask your name."

I giggled. "I'm Danny."

"Great! Nice name. Nice to meet you, Danny. I'm Keegan."

"Nice to meet you, Keegan... it's my first time to meet someone whose name is Keegan."

He smirked. "Glad you met the most handsome Keegan in the whole world." He laughed. "I'm just kidding."

I scoffed. "No, it's alright... you are."

He raised his brow as if the statement I gave boosted his confidence even more. "Fair enough."

Niyaya naman ako ni Keegan na sumama sa kanya para hintayin ang mga kaibgan niyang susundo sa kanya. When we reached the area kung saan may mga nakaparadang van ay isa-isang lumapit sa amin iyong mga lalaki na may hawak na karatula kung saan-saang lugar sa Siargao—kung saan man ang destinasyon na gustong puntahan meron sila.

Keegan was the one who kept on declining those locals na nag-aalok ng sakay sa van. Umiiling na lang din naman ako at sinusundan ko 'tong puti kong kasama.

When we get passed by them and found an area where we could wait for them peacefully. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung tama ba ang desisyon kong sumama kay Keegan kahit hindi ko naman ito personally na kilala. I guess, I should go with the flow?

"Good, you have friends picking you up... rental van here cost much—a lot."

He chuckled, nodding his head. "I would agree with you, that's why my friends are picking me up as I don't want to spend like that. And they'll pay for the gas so I don't have to worry about anything."

"Do you really think it would be okay for them?" I wondered.

He smirked. "Of course. They aren't originally from here."

"What do you mean?"

"They're not locals," he answered. "They were backpackers, too. I met them a few years ago when I was traveling from country to country. I met them and we just became good friends. Now, they stayed here and lived—I don't know. For the rest of their lives? They just found Siargao a place they could be whatever they wanted to be. I guess, it was a good mistake you rebooked Siargao as I believe you'll enjoy this island."

I smiled. "Sure... I'm looking forward to it."

"I think I'm gonna have to look for a restroom for now. I need to pee," he said. "Don't you want to go pee? The travel time will be an hour away."

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine. You go ahead."

"Okay... look after my things, alright?"

"Sure, I won't go anywhere—literally," I laughed and he chuckled. So cute.

When Keegan look for the restroom, I quickly grabbed my phone and called Cory.

"Sagutin mo, Cory... dali... dali..."

After a few rings, sinagot na nito kaagad ang video call ko.

"Girl! Medyo lag ka."

"Nandito ako ngayon sa airport ng Siargao," panimula ko. "Mahina-hina ang signal... pero I'm here na!"

"Kumusta naman? Okay ka naman ba riyan? I feel like good mood ka kahit na mali 'yong na-book mo, a?"

Napangisi ako. "Girl! I was pissed, but good thing I've met someone here na niyaya akong mag-stay sa place nila."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Cory sa sinab ko. "Girl, I don't feel like that's a good idea..."

"Hindi rin naman ako sure, pero I think mabait naman si kuya? Siya rin iyong nakatabi ko kanina sa plane. Foreigner siya... hindi ko alam kung saang bansa galing pero redhead siya girl, 'wag ka! Bango-bango pa."

"Sure na ba 'yan?"

Tumango ako kahit na sa loob-loob ko ay may pag-aalinlangan pa rin ako. "As if I have still have a choice? Kanina sinubukan kong maghanap ng mga hotel na swak sa budget, pero wala at fully booked na lahat. Ayoko namang gumastos ng twelve thousand for a night, 'no."

"Gwapo ba? E, kung gwapo ba naman, for sure..."

"Anong for sure? Loko ka, Cory, ha!"

Napahagalpak ito sa tawa. "'Yan ang ginagawa mo sa akin no'ng nagpunta ako ng Palawan. Pinagtutulakan mo ako kay Douglas kahit 'di ko pa siya bet no'n. Ikaw talaga ang pahamak sa buhay ko no'n, e. 'Yan tuloy... sa ibang isla ka tuloy napadpad."

Napabitaw naman ako nang matalim na hininga. "Hindi ko nga alam kung anong gagawin ko rito."

"Girl, rest, unwind, and have fun! There are a lot of things to do there, start with that redhead na nakilala mo. Baka siya na pala ang magpapaligaya sa but—buhay mo."

"Cory, nandiyan ba si Douglas? Isusumbong ko lang 'yang dumi ng bibig mo."

"Good thing, he was away. Babalik siya maya-maya."

"Ay, nangbababae lang 'yan."

"Utot mo."

"Utos mo rin mabaho," tugon ko.

"Danny!" Someone called me and I saw Keegan running in my direction.

"Oh, siya ba 'yon? Gwapo ng boses, ha?"

"Oo, siya 'yon, sis. Ba-bye na muna!"

I didn't let her speak when I quickly ended the call. Nang makalapit naman si Keegan sa akin ay hawak nito ang phone niy at may kausap ito.

"They're here," he announced. "Follow me."

Kinuha niya ang maleta niya at sinundan ko naman siya. Naglakad lang kami saglit nang makita namin ang van na tinutungo ni Keegan. Bumukas iyon ang lulan ng van na isa ring foreigner. Nag-akapan ang dalawa.

"Oh, I brought someone here with me," he said to the other guy. "He got no place to stay for the night so I thought I'd suggest."

"Sure, that's okay," his friend responded.

"Come on, Danny... meet my good friend, Brad. Brad, this is Danny..."

"Nice to meet you, Brad..." I greeted him and shook his hand.

"Likewise, Danny. You're welcome to stay with us... are you ready?"

I nodded. "I am..."

They both helped me get back stuff inside the van. When I hopped inside, the van driver was also their friend whose name is Xander, and then at the back, I was surprised when a woman woke up suddenly. I get to meet her as well and her name's Kady.

"Bro!" Kady excitedly called Keegan. "Welcome back to the island!"

"Thanks, Kades..."

"And who are you with today, huh?"

"I'm Danny..." pagpakikilala ko.

"Nice to meet you, Danny... are you Filipino?"

I nodded. "Yes... is it your first time here or not?"

"It's his first time," Keegan answered for me.

"Oh, nice!" Brad commented. "You'll love it here, Danny..."

"We did, and you will," Xander added.

I smiled and nodded my head. That's all I could respond to them as I was still overwhelmed with what was happening. Pulos foreigner ang kasama ko ngayon sa van. Brad looks like come from the West, the way he talks, I guess he's an American while Xander is probably from the West as well. Black hair and all that. I couldn't have a great look at him since he was sitting at the front in the driver's seat. Kady is blondie with blue eyes—someone I really wanted to be.

When we were all settled inside the van, Xander drove the van off of the airport. I'm not sure where we are heading, but all I can think of right now is to know these people and how I could make myself feel so at home on this island.

How long will I stay here? I'm not sure... I don't have a plan, but let's see where this thing goes ahead. Hopefully, something I won't regret.

***

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