"Gadala ka ug tubig? (Nagdala ka ba ng tubig?)" tanong ng isang boses babae mula sa kabilang linya.

Pagod na napabuntong-hininga si Kaye habang nakaipit sa pagitan ng tainga at balikat ang cellphone. Nahihirapan man sa set-up ay sumagot pa rin siya, bakas nga lang ang pagmamadali at, kaunting inis. "Yup,"

Dinig ni Kaye ang kaginhawaan sa kabilang linya dahil sa kaniyang naging sagot, na kaniya namang ikinairap.

Usa, duha, tulo, upa-

"Sure ra ba ka nga kaya ra nimo ikaw ra usa? Wala na man kay nalimot nga dad-on, noh? Pag-amping diha, init ra ba pd kaayo basin unya inig uli nimo di na tika mailhan kay- (Sigurado ka bang kaya mo mag-isa? Wala ka namang nakalimutang dalhin, 'di ba? Mag-ingat ka diyan, baka pag-uwi mo dito, 'di na kita makilala o 'di kaya'y-)"

"Ginhawa pd, gamay, (Hinga din, liit,)" pagputol ni Kaye na ikinatahimik ng kabilang linya. "First, okay ra ko. Mas okay pa sa imo nga ex- (Una, okay lang ako. Mas okay pa sa ex mo-)" Narinig niyang umangal ang kaibigan na si Hania, na nagpangisi sa kanya. "Ikaduha, FOR YOUR INFORMATION wala koy nakalimtan kay sige ka'g balik-balik ug pahinumdom. Ikatulo, mag-amping man gyud ko kay naa pa koy trabaho. Ug, ikaupat... (Ikalawa, FOR YOUR INFORMATION wala akong nakalimutan, diyan pa nga lang panay ka na paalala. Ikatlo, talaga namang mag-iingat ako, I have work you know. At ika-apat...)" pabitin na usal ni Kaye habang ang mga mata'y nakatingin sa lugar na kanyang pupuntahan. Ang Mount Hibok-hibok.

"Unsa man? (Ano?)" medyo kinakabahang tanong ni Hania.

"Bye, bye," she whispers in a sing-song voice.

Bago pa man makasagot ang kaibigan, pinatay niya na ang tawag at excited na pinulot ang traveling bag. She knows she's just worried but the times ticking. Mangluod na pud to siya...ayy bahala na nga. Palitan nalang guro to nako siya ug ice cream inig uli. (Magtatampo na naman 'yun. Bahala na nga lang, bibilhan ko nalang siya ng ice cream pag-uwi.)

Pagkatapos niyang maayos ang kanyang mga gamit ay nagsimula na siyang maglakad, hindi mapunit ang sayang nakapaskil sa mga labi.

Feeling the warmth and fresh air of Camiguin, she closed her eyes and stopped for a while, then shouted, "Here I come!"

Clenching her fist that's holding her traveling bag, she continued walking. Determined and excited to what's waiting ahead of her.

"HOOH! Taym sa! (Hooh! Tama na muna!)" hinihingal na ani ni Kaye nang makatapak sa isang patag na lugar. Pagod niyang binitawan ang dala-dalang traveling bag sa batuhan, pagkatapos ay uminat, at naghanap ng maiinom sa dalang bag.

Habang busy sa paghahalungkat, nakarinig si Kaye ng mga yabag na paparating sa kanyang kinaroroonan. Dali-dali siyang umayos ng tayo at nagpunas ng pawis, saktong paglingon niya sa kaliwa' y bumungad sa kanya ang napakaputing tao. Na sa hula niya' y isang amerikano.

Napakataas nito, sa tingin niya' y nasa 6'6 ft, sa sobrang puti ay mahihiya ang sinag ng araw na ito' y dapuan , buhok ay katulad ng kulay ng isang kape-nakatali into a top knot.

He looked so gorgeous while carrying his bag, a camera was hanging on his neck, his eyes can't be seen because he's wearing his dark eyeglasses, and with those gorgeous smiles plastered on his reddish lips. Kaye's stomach suddenly makes some unfamiliar feeling.

Tumingin sa direksyon ni Kaye ang maputing amerikano, ewan ba niya kung ano 'yun...pero pakiramdam niya, sa kabila ng itim nitong salamin at magandang ngiti there's something more interesting and mysteries in it.

Hindi alam ni Kaye kung titigan ba ito pabalik, 'di niya din kasi sigurado kung ito ba talaga' y nakatingin sa kanya, dahil nga sa nakaharang nitong salamin.

As if reading her thoughts, the guy slowly removes his glasses finally showing his pleading eyes, on hers.

Kaye gulped feeling those tension stares and unconsciously, she step backward which he noticed.

His golden eyes na nasisinagan ng araw ay sumunod sa kanyang ginawang galaw. Is she scared? Or, what?

The strand of Kaye's hair from ponytail na lumalabas, ay sinasabayan ng malamig na ihip ng hangin. Her unreadable eyes not leaving his pleading golden eyes. At last having the courage to talk first she speaks in a calm manner. "Are you okay? Do you need anything, Mr?"

"Uh-hm, ah, that." he answered a bit shy habang nakaturo ang kanang kamay sa boteng hawak ni Kaye, hindi mahahalata sa mukha nito ang pagkamahiyain.

Realizing what he meant she gave her extra bottle of water, then she silently watched him finish every drop.

"Thank you, Ms." he murmured to her, wearing a big smile.

Now it's Kaye's time to be speechless in front of the unknown man. Gaunsa gani ko diri? Maypa nilakaw nako ganiha ra duh! (Ano ngang ginagawa ko dito? Dapat pala umalis na 'ko kanina pa,)

"Ms?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you have an extra bottle of water?"

"Mangayo na pd k- I mean, uh, yes. Why? (Hihingi k- I mean, yes. Why?)" her curious eyes snapped at him.

He sighs in relief and then erased his smile. "Nothing. By the way, I'm Federic Martinez. And you are?"

She was hesitating at first on telling her name but seeing his serious face she finally gave in, "Kaye Gomez."

"Mind if I tag along, Ms. Kaye?" Federic asks once more, shocking her. Unsa daw? (Ano raw?)

Kung modungan siya nako, naa koy kauban. He seems talkative and harmless naman, can I do it? Kaye was still contemplating when she heard him saying something, sa salitang 'di niya maintindihan.

"È carina e sembra divertente da accompagnare ma...sembra che non le piaccio."

Her eyebrows furrowed, and unconsciously she whispered in a low voice, "Nanghimalos ba na siya? (Ganti 'yan?)"

"Can I tag along?" Federic asks, flashing a gorgeous smile that caught her off guard, again.

"Sige,"

"I'll take that as a yes then. Let's go."

"Uh, please remove the 'Ms',"

He chuckled then nodded in agreement, while his hand was holding his camera. "The 'Mr.' too, please." he added, and they giggle in unison.

Unbeknownst to Kaye, her other books in life are just going to start.

PAPALUBOG na araw kung saan makikita ang isang napakagandang tanawin. Kulay asul, kahel at dilaw na himpapawid, mga ibong malayang lumilipad sa kalawakan, malamig na simoy ng hangin na binabagayan ng hamog sa buong lugar, at kulay berde na mga puno at bulaklak, na kay ganda nga namang tingnan.

"We're near, and it won't be too long when we'll part ways..." Kaye whispered under her breath.

"Right..." Federic replied while busy taking a glimpse at the nice scenery.

Kaye glanced at Federic who's still busy taking a picture when a thought suddenly came to her mind.

"Ric..."

"Kaye..."

They both mutter, at the same time.

"Ladies first,"

"Ikaw sa!" she whined.

"You."

"You!"

"Me."

"Federic!" she exclaimed. "You thought I would fall for it? You got it wrong, Ric."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I get it." He sighed in defeat, his two hands up in the air.

"So, what is it?" her curious eyes followed him as those golden eyes looked back at her.

Holding his camera, he shakes it nonchalantly.

Slowly, a soft smile escapes her lips as she looks back at his gorgeous face. "I would loved too!"

Shaking his head seeing her reaction, they both take a lot of pictures, which they'll both treasure for the coming years, together.

"We're here, Kaye. What are your next plans?"

"I'll come with you," she said, shocking him at first, later on they both chuckled and followed where the wind it'll brought them.

FIN