I woke up early, and that doesn't usually happen. 

Maybe this day is a special one—I don't know why would I call it that. It's something far from what I usually do, and I'm excited about how this will go.

Will you marry me?

 I thought I should keep that line at the end of the day, I could shoot my shot. Nothing to lose there. I've never thought about this before—it may be playful and fun as I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable. Well, I guess at this point I had to set it back.

For now. Yes.

While I'm showering, I received a few phone calls and when I checked them, it was all coming from Hayley. I wasn't able to ring her back but I left a quick message for her.

To Hayley:
Good morning, Hay! Sorry, wasn't able to answer your call. Let's talk soon!

I thought I should wear something islandy outfit, but I just pulled out some faded blue jeans and a white T-shirt and didn't mind it. I wore it and took a few minutes before I left the house.

Correntienne and I set an arrangement, well, she was the one who had done it. Marami akong plano para sa kanya nang sabihin niya sa akin na gusto niyang i-tour ko siya around the city. The city's quite small to tour and that would only take us a day or so, but I think it would be enough for her, for whatever she was looking for.

I went out and hopped on my motorbike. I'm proud of this thing I have. For my life in Coron, this is one of my accomplishments and I wouldn't exchange it for anything. Living alone and living the best life I had right now is one of the best feelings in the world. Luckily I get to experience it all at once. People only would say, it would be much better if I'm riding it with someone else.

So, I'm taking it to see Corentienne and ride her through the city to see what wonders I could offer.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal nang marating ko ang kanyang hotel. Bago ako umalis kanina, tinext ko siya at muli ko siyang pinaldahan ng mensahe para ipaalam na nasa lobby na ko.

"Douglas, kaano-ano mo ba 'yon?" tanong ng staff sa akin.

Napangisi ako. "Bisita ko lang 'yon."

"Talaga ba?" May pagkataas pa ng kilay ang tanong niya sa akin. "Mukhang hindi, e? Kahapon may nakakita sa 'yo na pumasok ka tapos nahuli kayong magkausap no'ng babaeng guest. Aminin mo, girlfriend mo 'yon, 'no?"

"Sinong nagsabi na girlfriend ko 'yon?" Ngisi ko.

Muli siyang nagtaas ng kilay. "Hmm? Ikaw pa ba, Douglas? Matinik ka sa mga babae, e. Mabuti na lang may boyfriend na ako kung hindi—nako."

"Kung hindi ano?"

Natawa na lang din naman ito at hindi sinagot ang tanong ko. Saglit lang din naman ay nagpakita na si Corentienne. Hindi ko alam kung good mood ba siya o hindi, but I tried my best to put up a huge smile on my face just so she could see I'm excited to see her. I am. Sino bang nagsabihing hindi?

Quaran—Corentienne seemed to be mad about me. I tried to catch up on it, and I just think she's just being pabebe. I noticed that. I knew that. It may be what she was doing unintentionally or... intentionally. Sinuyo ko siya and she was looking at me weirdly and the discussion went overboard in the end, I still get her to jump on my motorbike.

On our way, she kept asking me where we go, I told her it would be a secret. She might've done her research already as she was saying she was a journalist so maybe she knew it already, so I'm keeping it for now.

I've got a lot of plans for her aside from the beaches, she could enjoy a lot of things on land that's why I chose to bring her around. I saw her once on a water activity and it doesn't seem like it will work on her.

When we reached the town plaza, I told her to look around and we ended up following a group of tourists. She was hesitating to do this as people in front of us started looking at us as if what we are doing. But one thing she didn't know, I've got a plan.

I told her I'll look for a restroom, I left her with the group knowing that I knew the tourist guide. When she found me, she was so pissed off as the tourist guide confronted her and she didn't know what to do but ran away. I laughed so hard. I knew that man and send him a message that I brought someone on his tour. I wouldn't tell her that. Something funny to be keep reminded of.

She was so upset that she wants to go alone, but I wouldn't let her do that. I took her to someone else, a Coron Cashew Harvest then show her around. All along, she was so amazing. Riding on my back, I know I did the right thing to go on land and she was able to appreciate it all. 

All day, Corentienne has been treating me well and badly at the same time. She laughed and get mad at me at the same time. She kept pointing at me that it was my fault and I just laughed it off. But having her around isn't bad at all. I'd like to keep her around. She's fun, and lovely, even though she gets mag easily—that's totally fine. I understood. Girls.

When I know it was time to bring her to the place where she could appreciate Coron even more. I could already imagine what complaints she would say right in front of my face, but I would take it.

Her smile makes me smile. I don't know why.

When we reached Mt. Tapyas where it would be second to the last stop—well, I hope I could still show her the last destination she needs to see. 

As I discussed to her everything about the mountain, as expected, I would receive some of her side comments that are more likely to lean toward negative feedback. Pagod na pagod na siya at kapag nakikita niya akong nakangiti, she gets annoyed. I motivated her. I do whatever I can to push her because I know it was worth it when we get up there.

She may not realize it now, but she will once she saw what I was talking about.

I carried her behind my back just so I could push her even more. Mabuti nga at napapayag ko siya dahil hindi talaga siya sasampa sa likod ko kahit anong sabihin ko. Something may have ticked her mind because she already has come a long way and backing down is something you wouldn't do when you could already see the end.

I run upstairs and reached the area first, she then followed catching her breath with sweat all over her face.

"Congrats! You just walked 721 steps for at least an hour!" pagbati ko pa. "Welcome to Mt. Tapyas!" I motioned my hands to where we are, the mountain deck.

When I did that, she looked around and the exhaustion and dehydration on her face seemingly come off when she look the beauty around. It put a smile on her face.

Congrats, Douglas.

That's what I've been wanting to see.

"Show me around," she said.

I pointed her to the islands and told them what are those. Looking at her, she was so amazed. I've encountered a lot of tourists who come and go of Coron, but there's something in this girl that I also find a kind of wonder.

I told her about the cross placed in the area. It's not an original one, but just a placement as the previous one has been destroyed by a typhoon years ago. I'm quite feeling good she was really listening to what I said. Pwedeng hindi siya maniwala o hindi. I know she will put that on whatever she was working on. She kept talking about that project of her so that's just a way of telling what she could write.

"So, how do you find this place?" I asked as we stood behind the fences.

"It's calming I must say," she said then breathe in and slowly let it go.

"I can totally agree that," I said. "Marami talagang gustong pumunta rito kapag nasa Coron sila. Iyong iba na galing pang El Nido o kaya naman Puetro Prinsesa, dinadayo pa talaga nila ang Coron. Syempre, gusto nilang ma-experience ang over-all tour ng islands kaya dinarayo talaga ng mga turista. Lalo na ang underground river sa Puerto. Karamihan ng mga pumupunta rito ay mga foreigner din kaya hindi na nakapapanibago."

"I thought so... kaya nga nagtataka rin ako kung bakit sa Palawan pa ako pinadala ng boss ko kung masyadong overrated na ang isla na 'to."

Kumusot ang mukha ko sa binanggit niya. "Sa tingin ko hindi naman overrated ang Palawan," depensa ko pa. "The island was just recognized internationally and people love their stay here. May nababasa rin naman ako online na kapag bumibisita sila rito, they've got an amazing experience. They thought that the island is a paradise for them. Ano bang sa tingin mo?"

She shrugged off. "Wala lang... nasabi ko lang naman 'yon."

"Alam mo ba kung bakit ang daming turistang nagpupunta rito sa Palawan?" tanong ko.

"This is a world wonder, obviously."

"Kaya nga, except do'n, meron pa."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "I feel like I'm not following this conversation na. Bakit nga ba?"

"Kasi gusto nila akong makita. Gano'n lang kasimple 'yon."

"Oh my gosh, Douglas! Ang corny mo talaga!"

I just smiled at her and she was so embarrassed by what I said.

"Ano 'yon? Para kang aso sa ngiti mo. Umayos ka nga."

"You called me by my name. You called me Douglas." I chuckled.

"E, ano ngayon? Ano ba dapat itawag ko sa 'yo? Ah, alright! Doggy must be a better one."

"Hindi!" pag-angal ko. "Okay na 'yong Douglas o kaya naman love, boyfie, o kung saan ka komportable."

"Leche ka. Dami mong alam."

"Syempre, mana sa 'yo!"

"Ang corny mo talaga. Sisimula ko na mag-trabaho, 'wag mo muna akong guluhin."

"Alright, boss!" Sinaluduhan ko siya at saka niya ako iniwan.

I watched what she would do, pero hindi ko sya iniwan. Sinundan ko lang siya saka niya ako inutusang mag-picture and so I did. Marami akong nakuha litrato. Lalo na't kasama siya ro'n.

"Do you grew up here ba?" tanong nito nang kunin ang phone sa akin.

"Dito sa Coron?"

"Gaga. Saan pa ba ang tinutukoy ko?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "No. Hindi ako lumaki rito sa Coron. My family lives in Cuyo—isang municipality ng Palawan kagaya ng Coron."

"And how did you end up here?"

"Well, I was looking for a job and then I found an opportunity here sa Coron. At bakit ko naman tatanggihan 'yon, 'di ba? Cuyo has beautiful beaches din naman at kung may trabaho mang naghihintay sa akin do'n, I will be back there lalo na't kasama ko ang family ko ro'n."

"Yeah, I think what you think that is best for you is what you should do."

"I agree," aniko saka tumango. "Do you want to stay until the sunset?"

Her brows furrowed. "How long are we going to stay here though?"

"Sandali na lang din naman. But it's gonna be worth it. I'm not just telling you this so you could write something about it, but for your own experience as well. You deserved this, Corentienne."

"That name's too long. You can call me—"

"Love?"

"Bwisit!" Tawa pa into.

I made her laugh!

"Cory lang! Just Cory, okay?"

"Sige, wifey."

"Doggy—"

"Well, if you're just gonna call me like that then I guess I'll keep you calling love."

She took a deep breath and let it go. "Bahala ka sa buhay mo. Anyway, what's the best spot to watch the sunset?"

I grabbed her hand and then brought her to the spot where she could find the best spot to watch the sunset for the first time here in Coron.

"So... how do you find your stay in Coron?" I asked while we're waiting.

"It's great... I was enjoying it. Second day ko pa lang naman dito. I've still got 2 weeks to do a lot of things so if you're going to show me what are the wonders of Palawan... then surprise me..."

I put my arm around her shoulder. "I'll do that... you'll be surprised."

Hindi niya iyon inalis at napangiti na lamang ako. May mga ilan-ilan na naghihintay rin sa sunset bukod sa aming dalawa. The sky started dimming and the boats were sailing back to the ports. It was magical to capture how sunset enveloped the sky orange and reflected the clear blue sea earlier into golden one. 

When I look at her... she's not smiling, she's calm... and I think that's fine.

"Maybe they were right... this is the kind of wonder they are looking for..."

"Have you found yours?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I thought I did... unfortunately, it was not. But maybe Palawan is my kind of wonder."

"Yeah... maybe..." I uttered. "Maybe you will find your wonder here."

She smirked saka niya inalis ang kamay ko sa balikat niya. "Akala mo hindi ko napansin, a? Nakaka-tsansing ka lang, e. Ninja moves mo, medyo halata."

"Well, I tried my best. So, are you good?"

She smiled, nodding. "Yeah... that was amazing. Saan na ba tayo? Uwi na?"

I grinned. "Not really... I've still got one place to show to you before we call it a day."

"Saan naman 'yon?"

"Let me show you then..."

"Bababa tayo?"

I nodded. "Yeah?"

She grunted rolling her eyes. "Suko na agad ako!"

"It's fine. Mas madaling bumaba. You wouldn't even notice it."

"Naku, talaga, Douglas. Sinasabi ko sa 'yo."

"I promise, when we get there, it'll take your pain away and all those things you are feeling right now. You'll feel better."

She didn't answer but rolled her eyes on me. I don't usually say a promise, but because I know what I was talking about, this is something she could trust me in. Something that she could remember as I know she'll forget about me and this city after a few days. Can that be a promise?

Will she forget Palawan after this? I don't have the answer. 

Cory's mysterious... but... more than something.

***

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