#NewClassicRTMC

Chapter 20
Nostalgia

Flock of birds flew past me, crossing in the middle of the vast open sky above and sea below. The clear blue sky stretched until forever. As far as the eye could see, it seems like it has no boundaries. No one knows if there is even an end to it. But even with the unknowns past the sky, I don't fear it. Rather, I find it mysterious and beautiful.

It has no difference from the uncertainties of the future. I also had no idea what's ahead of me. However, I don't see it as mystifying as the skies. It reminds me of the deep, dark blue ocean instead―where undiscovered monstrous creatures could be living.

Before I came to Manila, I thought I already overcame my fear of the uncertain future. I thought I already managed to throw away my doubts and inhibitions. I told myself that I came to Manila in order to try reaching for my dreams one last time. I promised that I'd have no regrets whatever the results might be. But as the time went by, and after sorting out my impossible feelings, I had come to realize the true reason why I braved myself and decided to take the opportunity.

Back in Roxas, when I was separated from Ike for a week, I got a taste of nonfamilial longing. I was scared that time, thinking that he wouldn't come back. I didn't want to experience it again, and that's why I chose to be with him.

I left my hometown, crossed the land and sea, and set foot in an unfamiliar place, not mainly because of the survival show, but because I wanted to stay beside him. I knew it was wrong for me to have such reasons. It was foolish. I knew it was my mistake to let my life revolved around a man. I should know better that it could be very dangerous.

I put myself on this perilous part of the cliff where I could fall and crash any minute. I allowed myself to be vulnerable. Kaya ngayong ako'y nagdadalawang-isip kung tama ba ang ginawa ko, hindi ko maiwasang sisihin ang aking sarili. Hindi ako dapat nagdesisyon noong mga oras na pinapangunahan ako ng aking nag-uumapaw na emosyon.

Pagkatapos umalis ni Ida kasama nina Isaiah at Zendaya, mas lalo akong hindi makapag-isip nang maayos. Ike tried his best to guide me, but I was out of it. In the end, I just made an excuse that I wasn't feeling great. I wasn't in the right condition to make music.

It wasn't a lie though. Totoo namang hindi maganda ang aking pakiramdam. I couldn't stop thinking about Ida and the way Ike cared for her. Alam kong mas matagal nilang kilala ang isa't isa. Dapat ay naiintindihan ko kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang pakikitungo ni Ike sa kanya. However, even that fact made me hopelessly jealous. I wished I had known him for years like her.

Disturbed by the sudden movement beside me, I sacrificed looking at the exquisite view of nature to turn my head towards Ike. I watched him do a hand signal to the pilot. Mukhang naintindihan naman ng piloto ang kanyang nais sabihin kaya tumango lamang ito.

When Ike leaned back, he faced me with a smile and said, "We're almost there."

Tipid ko siyang sinagot ng ngiti bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa labas. Hindi nagtagal ay kita kong papalapit kami sa isang isla. From afar, I saw the helipad sign on top of a small developed hill in the island. There was also a white beach mansion below, where a small pier was connected and stretched out to the sea.

Ike didn't tell me where we were going earlier. I thought we would return to the studio, but he suddenly told me to pack things for an overnight. Ang sabi niya rin ay magdala ako ng swimsuit. Good thing I brought one pair of bathing suit with me just in case. Madami akong naiwan sa bahay sa Roxas. I didn't really think that I'd get to be on a vacation while I was in Manila. Kaya naman hindi na ako masyadong nagdala nang pangswimming.

The sound of the helicopter's rotor blades slowly died down while we were doing a safe landing on the helipad. There was a gust of wind once the helicopter reached the ground. Unti-unti ring namatay ang makina.

"Aleena," Ike called me.

I turned to him right away. I was caught off guard when he placed both his hands on my headset. He carefully removed it, trying hard not to mess my hair. Kaya nga lang ay kahit gaano siyang kaingat ay nagulo niya pa rin ito. He softly tidied and fixed it with his gentle fingers. He was so focused that the color of his eyes went darker, especially because we were under the shade of the helicopter from the sun.

On the other hand, I held my breath and stared at him closely in awe. I tried to stop myself from thinking beyond our current relationship and getting weird ideas. Ibinaba ko ang aking tingin at saka umatras bahagya upang iiwas ang sarili sa kanya.

"Ako na," tahimik kong sabi at saka mabilis na sinuklay ang buhok gamit ang aking mga daliri.

I bit my lower lip. I didn't want to get used to it.

"Oh, okay..." he said, his voice sounding dejected.

Binaliwala ko na lang iyon at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa. Pagkatapos ay nauna siyang bumaba ng helicopter. Before he could even offer me help, I went down by myself. He abruptly stopped from approaching me when he saw me settled on the ground. Tumulong na lang siya sa pagkuha ng aming gamit.

Lumapit ako upang abangan ang aking backpack. Nang inilabas iyon ng piloto ay umakma akong kukuhanin ang gamit ngunit mabilis akong naunahan ni Ike. He carried my backpack on his shoulder while he also held his own bag.

When he turned to me, I was just about to open my mouth and tell him that I'd carry my bag myself, but Ike already shut me off. He walked past me with our things. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata at agad ko siyang sinundan.

He was walking very fast, almost running. Akala mo'y mayroon siyang hinahabol na oras. It was hard for me to catch up because of his long legs and big strides. In no time, he reached the stone stairs and went straight down the hill. Mas lalo kong binilisan ang paglakad upang maabutan siya.

Medyo nahirapan nga lang ako sa pagbaba sa hagdanan. Hindi ako katulad ni Ike na mukhang sanay na sanay na. I was being careful, afraid that I might miss a step and slip. May kataasan din ang burol kaya kailangan kong mag-ingat.

While following Ike, I saw him turn his back and look up to check on me. He was already halfway down. I thought he would continue going down, but he stopped and waited patiently for me instead, watching every step I make.

All of a sudden, I became braver and bolder with my steps. I felt safe because he was keeping an eye on me. Kahit mahulog ako, alam kong sasaluhin niya ako. When it comes to keeping me safe, I trust him. He made a promise with Auntie Divina. Hindi niya ako papabayaan.

Once I caught up with him, I struggled to catch my breath while looking straight at him. He was standing one level down but he was still a little taller than me. However, I was satisfied that I met his eyes at ease.

"Ako na ang magdadala ng bag ko," sabi ko habang medyo hirap pa rin sa paghinga dahil sa paghabol sa kanya.

He tilted his head to the side, his brow raised like I was being ridiculous. "You are panting," he stated the obvious before quickly facing front, not giving me a chance to retort.

Ike resumed going down the stone path. But instead of picking up his steps like earlier, he moved slower. He also constantly turned his head to check on me.

Nang makarating sa baba ay muling bumilis ang kanyang paglakad patungo sa beach house sa 'di kalayuan. Ako naman ang bumagal nang maramdaman ko ang buhangin sa aking paa.

I was only wearing strap sandals. My feet were slightly buried in the white pristine sand. I was reminded of the beach back in Roxas where I used to spend most of my time since I was a child. I couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

I gave up trying to follow Ike and looked in front to see the picturesque view of the unobstructed horizon that I missed. My lips parted a bit. My whole attention was all on Ike when we were going down the hill that I didn't get a chance to admire the view from above. But the view was still ethereal from the ground.

Fortunately, I was distracted by the feeling of nostalgia. If I continued following him like crazy, while being oblivious to my surroundings, I might have missed it.

I stayed on the shore for as long as I could. If only the heat from the sun didn't start burning my skin, I would choose to stay longer. Bandang huli ay sumunod na rin ako papasok sa beach house. Nag-aalangan pa ako sa pag-akyat sa hagdanan at pagpasok sa loob.

The house was made out of glass walls and concrete painted in white. Once I got up from the veranda, the open and spacious living room greeted me. The minimalist interior attracted me. It pulled me inside the house.

Nang makapasok ako ay nakita ko si Ike sa kusina na kitang-kita mula sa tanggapan. The beach house was designed in a way that you could see every corner of the house. He was preparing ingredients on the kitchen island.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. "I put your bag inside the first room upstairs," sabi niya. "You can rest while I cook our brunch."

"Hmm... Tulungan na kita..." Kahit na gusto kong umiwas sa kanya ay ayokong maging pabigat.

Tahimik akong lumapit. I looked over the counter to see the ingredients he prepared. Nahagip din ng aking mga mata ang rice cooker at mukhang nagsasaing na siya.

"Ano ang puwede kong gawin?"

"You can cook whatever dish you like," he replied. "Just check the fridge to see what's available."

Napanguso ako at hindi na nagtanong pa. Agad akong kumilos. Ilang saglit akong natigil sa harap ng refrigerator upang makita kung ano ang puwedeng lutuin. I was surprised to see it almost fully stocked. Napaisip tuloy ako kung sino ang may-ari ng isla at beach house.

I glanced at Ike. He was doing his own thing so casually. It seemed like he'd been here for quite a lot of times already. He looked so at home.

When he noticed me staring at him, Ike lifted his head to give me his attention. "Have you already decided what to cook?" he asked me.

"Uh, oo..." sagot ko na lang bago muling iniwas ang tingin sa kanya.

I quickly grabbed the ingredients I needed from the fridge. I wanted to cook a simple dish that would only take a short time to cook. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hungry. Gutom na ako dahil hindi pa ako nakakakain ng umagahan. Nang sinundo ako ni Ike kanina sa condo ay umakyat kami kaagad sa rooftop ng tower kung nasaan ang helicopter na sinakyan namin papunta sa isla.

It was all too sudden, but there was nothing complain about.

Like we were playing house, Ike and I cooked our dishes side by side. At dahil mas nauna akong natapos sa kanya, ako na ang nag-ayos ng dining table. With the sound of the crashing waves filling the silence, we ate in peace. Pagkatapos ay siya ang nagligpit ng aming pinagkainan at ako naman ang naghugas. It was like we were already used to this kind of set up; like we had been living together for years.

"Hindi na ganoon kataas ang tirik ng araw," puna niya bago ako nilingon. "Do you want to go for a swim while it's a slack tide?"

Missing the salty seawater, I didn't hesitate one bit. I smiled and nodded my head, feeling excited.

A smile flashed across Ike's face. "Go and change your swimwear now. I'll wait for you here."

Muli akong tumango at kumaripas ng takbo paakyat sa kuwartong itinuro niya sa akin. Just like the interior downstairs, the bedroom was dressed in the same style and theme―white minimalism.

My bag was on top of the bed with white sheets, but I ignored it as I was curious what was behind the see-through white curtain. Like opening a treasure chest, I slowly moved the curtain away, unravelling a magnificent sight.

I was filled with amusement to see the view from the room. I noticed that there was a veranda, and so I slid the glass door open to step out. The scent of the sea breeze enveloped my nose. It was a good choice to tie my hair into a bun earlier when I was cooking. It didn't bother me from taking in the gorgeous seascape while the wind kept blowing on my face.

Forgetting about my initial plan, I took my time admiring what was in front. Even though everything felt so nostalgic, it was still a new sight to appreciate.

Holding on to the deck railings, I smiled as I scanned the surroundings. Unlike back at home, whenever I looked around, houses of my neighbors would spoil the view. But since it was the only building situated on this island, everything was clear and open.

I would love to live in a place like this someday. It must be so nice to settle down in such a peaceful paradise.

While fantasizing about the future I want to have, I looked down. The clear turquoise water and the living creatures residing below greeted me. The urge to be one with the sea again crawled back inside me.

I quickly returned to the room, searched for my swimwear in my backpack, and changed into it. Pagkatapos magpalit ay inayos ko ang pagkakaipit ng aking buhok at saka lumabas ng kuwarto upang bumaba.

Napakunot ang aking noo nang hindi ko makita si Ike sa sala. He told me that he'd be waiting for me. Nainip na ba siya sa paghihintay sa akin?

Before my negative thoughts successfully pulled me down the slump, a rustling sound from the other side of the house caught my attention. I walked past the living room and went to the veranda which was built above the sea.

Pagkalabas ko ay kita kong nakatayo si Ike sa taas ng railings. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata at saglit tumigil ang aking mundo. Bago ko pa maisigaw ang pangalan niya ay walang pag-aalinlangan siyang tumalon mula roon.

"Ike!" I was too late when I found my voice and had the courage to move.

The sound of the big splash of water rang in my ears. Dumungaw ako sa ilalim. Malinaw ang tubig ngunit medyo may kalaliman ito. His body was fully submerged in the water, but I was uncertain if he was just fine from the fall.

My heart stopped beating as I waited for him to rise on the surface. I held my breath when there were small movements from him. And just a few seconds later, he finally lifted his head above the water and started to float.

He was wearing a huge smile, looking so refreshed. His eyes found me right away. Mas lalo siyang napangiti. I breathed out in relief. Noon lamang tuluyang bumalik ang pagtibok ng aking puso.

Seeing him being carefree reminded me of the Ike I met back in Roxas. But no, I take it back. He looked even more relaxed like he was so confident to just be himself in that lone island.

"Nababaliw ka na ba?!" Iyon ang tanong na lumabas sa aking labi nang makabawi ako sa takot at pag-aalala.

He chuckled, and I had to admit that it was even more reassuring than a smile.

"You should try it!" he shouted from below. "It's really fun!"

Napanguso ako at tiningnan ang kondisyon ng dagat. Tama lang ang lalim ng tubig upang hindi ako mapahamak sa pagtalon, kung gagawin ko nang tama. Hindi ko nga lang inasahan na lagpas ulo ni Ike na ang lalim dahil sa sobrang linaw ng dagat.

"Huwag kang matakot."

Napaangat ako muli ng tingin kay Ike. He had this down-home smile which made me comfortable.

"I'm just right here."

Sa totoo lang ay hindi naman ako natatakot. Living near the beach, I know how to swim since I was a kid. I also did free-diving for so many times with Gian back in Palawan. But the way Ike gave me affirmation, para bang kinailangan ko iyon dahil mas lalong naging panatag ang loob ko.

Kaya naman walang pag-aalinlangan kong inangat ang aking sarili sa railings. Hindi ganoon ito kataasan at malapad ang hawakan kaya hindi ako nahirapan sa pagtayo.

Ike changed his expression, like he already regretted encouraging me and wanted to stop me from doing something reckless. He immediately swam closer and opened his mouth. However, before he could take his word back, I jumped without hesitation.

Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at pinisil ang aking ilong bago ako tuluyang bumagsak sa dagat. Hindi ako nagtagal sa ilalim ng tubig dahil agad may sumikop sa aking bewang upang hilahin ako pataas.

The moment I felt the wind brushed against my face, I opened my eyes. Ike's eyes locked on mine. His intense gaze was filled with mixed emotions. My heart swelled as I stared into his captivating eyes while our faces were only a few centimeters apart.

I took that chance to look at his face closer. His hair was wet and brushed back. The tiny droplets of seawater shined like diamonds when the warm light from the sun touched his face. It was so mesmerizing.

"I take that back," he whispered, and my eyes shifted its focus on his lips. His hand on my waist held me tighter. "Please don't try it again."

"Bakit?" inosente kong tanong at inangat ang tingin pabalik sa kanyang mga mata. "Masaya naman. I really enjoyed it."

He slightly closed his eyes as he shook his head. "It's not fun watching you fall. I don't like it."

Nanuyo ang aking lalamunan at napaawang ang aking mga labi.

At that moment, a beautiful melody with a dreamlike rhythm started playing inside my head. The fragrance of the salty sea slapped me with nostalgia accompanied by memories. My mind travelled back to the first time when we met each other.

However, just when I was diving deeper, a sound of the helicopter interrupted me from my reverie. Ike's hand on my waist loosened as he looked up. I followed his line of vision and watched the helicopter landed on the helipad.

"As expected..." he mumbled, sounding a little irritated, but his lips curled upwards into a smile.