I went early to Dicanituan Beach to prepare early. Marami-raming guests ang naka-booked ngayong araw kaya hindi pwedeng umabsent ako sa trabaho at tuluyan pa akong tanggalin ng boss ko. Good thing I was also able to talk to Cory na hindi ko muna siya masasamahan kung saan siya pupunta ngayon para mag-ikot-ikot.

She even told me, 'Hindi naman kailangan palagi kang nandiyan. I'm already a big girl to be babysitted.'

Nagtaka pa ako sa sinabi niya dahil sino ba nagsabing ibi-babysit ko siya? No wonder this woman traveled here alone. But she was fun to hang around with, I just don't think she likes me when she always give me a snobbish look.

Sino bang tatanggi sa 'kin? Si Quarantine lang.

But she texted me she was having quite an excellent time sa isang local coffee shop. She said she'd spend the time there trying to create an outline for the project she was working on. I still don't get it,  but if she really needed my help, I would be so glad to help her.

I arrived early at my post. My boss would come around by nine since the activities for today were booked for ten. Based on the record, it would be a group activity—usual attendees aside from big families.

Later on, I received a phone call, and when I checked it, it brought a smile to my face. I quickly answered her call because if I don't, she might hate me. I might know her only for a few days, but it wasn't hard to understand her personality. 

She was independent and bratty.

"Hello there, baby girl," bungad ko.

"Hayop ka," usal niya.

"Hmm. I believe that's not how you greet someone else when it's a good day."

"If that would be those words I'll be hearing, no thanks na lang." She smirked and I can imagine she's rolling her eyes at me now. "Anyway, sabi ko hindi na kita tatawagan today, but I'm calling you because I need an assurance from you na makasasama ka nga sa akin sa PP."

"Ha? PP? Down there?"

"I mean Puerto Prinsesa! Dumi ng utak, ha?"

"Hmm... I wasn't—anyway, I cannot give you an answer yet, but I would love to."

"That's not a definitive answer," she answered. "I want a sure answer. You were the one who suggested to come with me so I'll need an assurance as of this moment."

"Can I get back to you later?"

"How long should I wait?"

"Thirty minutes... one hour would be maxed."

"Okay. You should get back to me before ten-thirty and if not, see you never."

I laughed at what she said. "I'll give you a call soon. Kailangan ko munang kausapin ang boss ko. I haven't told him about it since when I told you, it was just a suggestion—an idea per se."

"I know, get back to me when you've got an answer for me. If I don't hear anything from you before the time we agreed on, there would be no chances anymore."

"Believe me, Cory. You'll hear from me soon."

"Okay..." and then she dropped the call.

I was shaking my head at the thought that early this morning, hindi agad maganda ang mood ni Cory. I know she wasn't mad at me, it was just the way she talked to me.

I continued preparing the gear for the activities later. Our team is responsible for giving instructions for free diving sessions. This activity is a little pricey for locals and those tourists from other cities since we're mostly accommodating foreigners from those Western countries.

At a quarter to ten, my boss arrived. He patted my shoulder as he gets in my direction.

"Good morning, Doggy," pagbati nito. "How are we? Have you prepared the gears?"

"Yup, boss. All are ready."

"Good job! My best man. How are you with the pretty tourist yesterday? Have you... you know?" he laughed.

I winced shaking my head. "Hindi, boss! I wouldn't do that to her. I just tour her around para iwas na rin sa mga manloloko sa kanya. She was in goods hands... and talking about her already, magpapaalam sana ako."

Bago pa man ako sagutin nito ay inunahan na ako ng singhal at iling. "Douglas, kulang tayo sa tao ngayon at isa ka sa mga best guru dito, pero ano bang ipagpapaalam mo?"

"She was asking me to come to her sa Puerto Princesa."

"Naku, Douglas. Sa kabilang isla pa 'yon. I would understand kung diyan lang."

"Sige na, boss!" I put my arms around him and patted his chest. "Nandiyan naman sina Elmo at Ricky. Magagaling din naman 'yang mga 'yan."

"Pero ikaw ang hinahabol-habol ng ibang turista," dahilan pa nito sa akin. "Ilang araw ka ba mawawala?"

"I would say... one week."

Muli ito napasinhal at inalis ang pagkakaakbay ko sa kanya.

"Ganito," aniya saka niya ako hinarap. "Papayagan kita, but you won't be paid while you were away. Alam mong based din sa commission ang trabaho natin. Kung wala kang guest, wala kang sasahurin. Iyon ang kondisyon ko. Kahit isa o dalawang linggo ka pa sumama sa bago mong babae, iyon lang ang kondisyon ko. Babalik ka naman dito pagkatapos, 'di ba?"

Natawa na lamang ako sa huli niyang tanong. "Syempre, boss! Babalik ako."

"Tama 'yan," aniya saka nito tinapik ang balikat ko.

Saglit lang ay dumating si Ricky at agad nitong ipinaalam sa main na dumating na ang grupo na unang sasalang sa activity ngayong araw. Lumabas ang si boss at inutos sa amin ni Ricky ang pagdala sa gears sa mga guest.

"Saglit lang, Rick. May tatawagan lang ako."

"Dalian mo lang, Doug. Madami-dami sila ngayon."

Tinanguan ko na lamang siya at muli kong tinawagan si Cory. Hindi rin katagalan ay sinagot niya ang tawag ko.

"Hey, Cory..."

"Bilis, a? You've got something for me na?"

"Yes, sabi ko naman sa 'yo babalik agad kita. You're the one na hindi naniniwala sa akin. Kapag ako nagsalita—"

"Okay, okay. Go on. Tama na daldal. What did your boss say to you?"

"Pumayag siya."

"Perfect!" she answered. "I need your full name, birthday, email address..."

"Give me your full name..."

"Douglas Aferton Alejandria..."

"Ohhh... for real? I thought it was just Doggy after all."

"Funny, Quarantine."

"Birthday, please."

"April 19, 1996..."

"Hmmm... next would be your email address..."

"[email protected]... is that all you need? Para saan ba?"

"Got it... and one... I just booked us a ticket to PPS."

"Wow... ang bilis, a? Should I transfer my payment? What's your bank account?"

She smirked. "Don't worry about it. I handled it, and now..."

I wasn't able to understand what she was saying when Ricky called me to start the briefing to the guests. I told him to wait as I'm still on call with Cory.

"I'm sorry, we have guests here at the beach already. Ano nga ulit iyong sinabi mo?"

"Nevermind. Hindi ka naman pala nakikinig."

"I'm sorry..."

"Let's just meet na lang tonight. I preferred to eat somewhere else tonight, medyo 'di ko feel food sa hotel. Text ko na lang location later, would that be fine?"

"Totally fine for me. See you later, love."

"Love mo mukha mo!" And then she dropped the call instantly.

I left the phone at the desk and joined them outside. Once I saw the group, there were ten people. This group is combined of locals and foreigners, most guys are foreigners while the locals are women. That usually is the case when tourists are visiting Palawan.

"Everyone, are you ready?"

"Yes, guapo," one woman said. 

"I am Douglas and this is Ricky, our boss there, we're diving gurus here! Come with us to the cabin for a quick briefing..."

Ten of them, six men and four women joined us in the cabin to discuss the rules and guidelines when doing free diving. Everyone's listening to me and Ricky, the only guests we are worried about are the women since they are new to this activity when the men said they've been doing it back in the States so they definitely do have a background and know what to do.

"I feel like I can't do it..." one girl said as she put her hand over her chest. "I can feel my heart racing... feel it."

She grabbed the hand of the white guy standing next to her and put it on her chest.

"Yeah... quite fast," he commented. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, are you okay?' I questioned.

She shook her head. "I feel like... I'm backing out of this activity."

"Sure, there's no problem with that, you can still join us in the boat and watch them dive down under. If you wish to refund your money, our boss can help you with that."

"Thanks... I'm sorry..."

"No worries... now, does anyone feel like backing out, too? Just raise your hand." They all laughed as I said it. "Now that everyone is good to go, let's get into it."

We let everyone wear a wetsuit and grabbed some equipment for themselves such as the mask, snorkel, and bifins. As soon as everyone is ready, we brought them towards where the boat is and head onto the area where the activity is being done.

Before I let them go under, I reminded them quickly about the hand gestures they need to send to our diver guru who will be with them under the water. Ricky led the activity down under and five of them went first while the four of them remained on the boat as we cannot accommodate all nine people going free diving as there might be trouble we've come across. Based on experience, tourists sometimes don't listen.

"How long have you been doing this?" the girl beside me asked. She was the one who backed out. "I'm sorry for asking..."

"No, no, no worries... it's okay. A few years, two to three."

"Wow... do you live here now?" she asked. "Oh, no... that came out wrong. It seems like you're a foreigner kasi... foreigner ka ba and you're just working here?"

"I live here in Palawan," I answered. "I was born here, but yeah, you can call me a foreigner since my mom is a Cook Islander."

"Oh... that's nice..." she whispered something else, but I wasn't able to hear it since I put my attention around. "Are you... are you available sometime tonight? Just grab some dinner with us?"

I smiled. "Thanks for the invite, but I'm gotta be elsewhere. Thanks though."

She smiled. "No worries... just shooting my shot."

Later on, after twenty minutes, the first batch get back up on the surface while the second batch prepared themselves next. For about an hour, we are guiding everyone to this session. After lunch, another booked will join us on the island and will have another session.

All throughout the day, we've finished three sessions of free diving today.

"Rick, I need to go now... someone's waiting for me and I don't want her to get mad at me."

"Wait! Wait! Doggy," pagpigil pa nito sa akin. "Sino 'yan? 'Yan ba 'yong taga-Maynila na sinamahan mo ngayon maglibot dito?"

"Yup, that could be her. I have to go now..."

I grabbed my coat and hopped on the speed boat heading back to the port. I got on my bike and ride to where Cory and I would be meeting. I know she wouldn't like na ako pa ang ma-late kaya nagmadali na akong makarating do'n.

And fortunate of me, someone who won't receive angry glares, got right on time.

"Missed me?" I said as soon as she arrived.

She rolled her eyes with a hint of a smile on her face. 

"Okay... you got your bike. Do you have a plan to get us somewhere else?"

I smirked. "You bet... come on. I'll show you a fantastic restaurant you'll love."

"Sure thing... let's go seek whatever you are saying here in Coron before we go to PPS."

I handed over the helmet to her and assisted her to get behind the seat. When she settled in, I tried telling her to grab on to me and she was free to wrap her arms around me, but she chose to hold at the back handle. Smart.

"Let's go, baby..."

"Baby mo mukha mo..." bulong pa nito.

I chuckled. We'll see about that.