Alas dose na pero hindi pa rin ako makatulog kaya niligpit ko na lang ang dalang mga gamit. Kaunti lang naman 'yun dahil limang araw lang naman ako sa Batanes. My god, has it just been two days? It feels like I've been here for weeks already. Payak lang ang buhay dito kaya pakiramdam ko mabagal ang takbo ng oras pero hindi mo namamalayan. Hindi nagmamadali ang mga tao dahil hindi rin sila mukhang minamadali ng mundo.

I had sent a text message to my dad earlier, informing him I'll be going to an island where the cellular reception is unstable at best and non-existent at the worst. I also checked my emails but there wasn't anything important in there.

Sinubukan ko ulit na tawagan ang Mama ni Charles pero hindi niya pa rin sinasagot. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay malaman kung mayroon bang sinabi si Charles kung bakit niya ginawa ang bagay na 'yun.

Bakit? Two days before our wedding too. That means he did it because of me right? It has to be connected to me. It's driving me crazy. Ganun ba kabigat ang kasalanan ko sa anak nila kaya pati sila ay pinutol ako mula sa mga buhay nila? Ang gusto ko lang naman malaman ay bakit. Bakit?

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Eli hadn't been sure I'd be up to the excitement of the Sabtang tour because of what we had talked about the night before but I brushed off his concerns. Mas maaga siyang dumating sa hotel para sunduin ako pero nakausap niya na sila tungkol sa pag-check out ko nang mas maaga. Hindi raw talaga 'yun puwede pero dahil si Eli ang humihingi ng pabor ay pumayag na lang sila. I was a bit sad when I realized I had not had time to enjoy the hotel itself but I promised myself I'll be back someday... well maybe. I hadn't made up my mind yet.

The boat ride to Sabtang Island took about forty-five minutes and I didn't notice I had dozed off until Eli shook me awake gently. I'd fallen asleep leaning on his arm and now he has the said arm around me. We're definitely flirting now. It feels odd because... well I don't think I've flirted with anyone other than Charles. Of course, I've had crushes before but nothing really serious came from any of those infatuations.

Pagdating namin sa San Vicente Port sa Sabtang ay sinalubong kami ng nakilala ko kaagad na si Israel Salvador I.

"Maám Vashti! Magandang umaga po!"

"Good morning po, Mang Israel. I'm glad to finally meet you," I replied brightly.

"Maám pasensiya na po at hindi ko kaya naabisuhan na hindi ako ang magto-tour sa inyo. Nanganak po kasi ang bunso ko," paliwanag niya sakin.

"Naku, ayos lang po! Maayos naman po ang naging tours namin ng anak niyo,"

Nagmano si Eli sa tatay niya at sumakay na kami sa tricycle ni Mang Israel. The tricycle that they own in Sabtang has a distinctive design that's pretty unique to this area- the roof is made of cogon grass. Interesting.

"Mang Israel, ayos lang po ba na sinundo niyo pa kami? Alam naman po siguro ni Eli kung saang inn ako puwedeng tumuloy."

Kumunot ang noo ni Mang Israel bago bumaling sakin mula sa pagmamaneho. "Ano po? Hindi po ba sinabi sa inyo ni Eli na sa bahay kayo tutuloy?"

🌄

"Ba't 'di mo sinabi sakin? Nakakahiya!"

Unang beses kong makapasok sa tradisiyonal na bahay ng mga Ivatan. The roof is made of cogon and the walls are all made of stone. Ivatan houses are specially made to withstand the strong storms that often hit Batanes so almost all houses are actually pretty old but still sturdy.

Beside Eli's parents' old stone house is a newer one which, although still made in the Sinadumparan style, it has been modified to make it more modern.

"Pinatayo ni Eli 'yan para sa amin, pero mas gusto pa rin namin sa lumang bahay," Mang Israel informed me proudly.

Eli was a bit embarrassed I think but just quietly nodded at his father.

"Ma, nandito na sina Eli at Maám Vashti," tawag ni Mang Israel sa asawa. Nahihiya man ako pero wala na akong magawa. Tingin ko ay mas nakakahiya na tanggihan ko pa ang alok nilang dito na ako matulog sa bahay ni Eli.

We had another breakfast because his mom wouldn't hear of us starting the tour without eating first.

"Puntahan mo mamaya ang pamangkin mo, Eli. Nakakatuwa ang baby- ang cute-cute!" said the obviously proud grandmother.

"Pagkatapos kumain, anak, ako na ang magpapasyal dito kay Maám Vashti. Magpahinga ka na muna at puntahan mo si Emma mamaya."

I was a bit dismayed by what I heard but I could hardly protest. What good reason do I have to refuse Mang Israel when he was the tour guide I booked in the first place?

"Ayos lang 'Tay. Mamayang hapon na lang ako pupunta sa bahay nila Emma. Ako na po ang sasama kay Vashti."

Pare-pareho kaming napatingin kay Eli sa sinabi niya. He wore his poker face and thus there was nothing to be read by his expression. It was evident that all three of us were surprised with his reply though. I'm pretty sure his parents caught his use of my first name only too.

A knowing look filled his mother's face. Looks like she's curious now. I am curious myself but... there's really nothing between Eli and I besides plain old flirting, right? I mean... who forms a connection with someone you met only three days ago? Well me, apparently...