I sensed Eli sat down beside me but he didn't say anything so I gratefully continued to close my eyes as tears kept falling.

Maya-maya pa ay kumalma na rin ako.

"Pasensya na sa drama ko ah. Gusto mo, iwan mo na lang ako muna rito. I'm sure may mga tao naman diyan sa labas. Magtatanong na lang ako paano makabalik sa hotel. Overtime ka na sakin."

"Don't worry about it," he replied.

Mangha akong napatingin nang diretso sa kaniya.

"Ano? Hindi ba puwedeng mag-English ang isang hamak na driver?"

"Hoy, I never said that. Isa pa, nirerespeto ko ang mga tricycle driver. Sa pamamasada ng tricycle napagtapos ng Lolo ko ang tatay ko at ang dalawa niya pang kapatid," pagtataray ko sa kaniya.

"Okay!" sagot niya na tinaas pa ang dalawang kamay na para bang sumusuko.

"Bakit ka nandito, Eli?"

"Kasi nandito ka rin, Maám," pilosopo niyang sagot.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay sa walang-kuwentang sagot niya.

"I grew up here," he replied simply.

"Pero sa Manila ka nagta-trabaho, 'di ba?"

"Dati."

"At ngayon?"

"Maám..."

"Oh... sorry, kanina lang pala tayo nagkakilala. Buong araw na kasi tayong magkasama kaya nakalimot ako. Tsaka nakita mo na ng dalawang beseng ang panty ko."

"Ano?"

"Naku Eli, wag ka na magmaang-maangan. Sa Valugan Beach, sa tunnel-"

"Tatlo. Nakita ko rin nang paakyat tayo sa parola," he said teasingly.

Are we flirting?

🌄

I invited him to have dinner with me back at the hotel but he said he has to go home. I shrugged and hoped he wasn't just saying that because he has already made plans with another girl. Not that it's any of my business.

"Maám, gusto niyo po ba mag-overnight sa Sabtang?"

"Puwede ba?" I mentally went over our itinerary. "Pero, naka-book ako ng limang araw dito, eh."

"Pag-isipan mo muna. Bukas ng umaga, puwedeng South Batan muna tayo imbes na sa Sabtang. Tapos kung gusto mo mag-overnight sa Sabtang, sabihan mo 'ko, ako ang kakausap sa concierge rito," Eli explained.

"Hmm sige, Eli. I'll think about it... By the way, please call me Maeve, medyo nakakaasiwa 'yung Maám eh. Tingin ko naman mas bata ako sayo."

"Bakit Maeve?"

"It's my nickname."

"Mas bagay sayo ang Vashti."

I really was too tired and sleepy to argue about something as trivial as what he's gonna call me so I let it slide.

🌄

I rose up before dawn and hurriedly took a bath before drying my hair. Plano ko talagang maging maganda sa tour na 'to kahit wala akong ganang magpa-picture kaya kinulot ko rin ang buhok ko bago naglagay ng sunscreen sa mukha.

I scanned my bag and took out the stuff I don't need like my planner. Funny how that had seemed so important before. Charles had wanted everything planned and organized and after he died, I had continued to keep a planner but always forget to use it.

I absently checked my phone and saw Stella, our old neighbor, has sent me five messages yesterday. I have not been using my phone so the battery is not drained yet. Binalik ko na lang 'yun sa loob ng bag ko matapos sagutin ang mga mensahe niya.

I surveyed the clothes that I had packed and realized I'd forgotten to bring pants or shorts. All I had brought were cardigans, dresses and a lone denim jacket. Just great. Luckily, I have my Keds sneakers. It has dainty embroidered flower details but it's not the easiest thing to keep it clean. Well it was either that or my sandals again...

As expected, Eli wasn't too happy with the way I was dressed when I met him after breakfast.

"Ano 'yan?"

"What?"

He eyed my dress glumly and I resented it.

He sighed heavily and shook his head. "Thought you'd have learned your lesson by now," he muttered.

I was wearing a dark blue dress that showed much of my back so I left my hair untied.

"What? That's what I brought the jacket for," I said, motioning to the denim jacket I held which I hadn't worn yet.

"Ano ang maitutulong ng jacket mo pag hinipan ng hangin ang bestida mo mamaya, Vashti?" I was a bit distracted with the sound of my name on his lips but I forced myself to focus on what he said.

"Don't worry. I'm wearing cycling shorts right now, so hindi mo 'ko makikitaan, Eli."

He didn't look convinced but allowed me to get inside his tricycle. Wala na rin naman akong mas mahaba pang damit dito kaya wala na akong magagawa.