The hotel is very lovely— quite breathtaking to be perfectly honest. The first time I saw its pictures I immediately thought it'd be the perfect place for our honeymoon. But Charles and I never got married, and now I'm finally here but... alone.

Ang sabi ko kay Israel II ay bigyan niya ako ng kalahating oras para ayusin ang sarili ko bago namin simulan ang tour. But the thing is, I went past thirty minutes because Fundacion Pacita is just too spectacular not to be admired especially the first time you see it.

I got the Pangaditan room— actually a villa that's located just outside the main building. I can't even begin to describe my room. The prevalent colors are beige and light orange. Simpleng puti naman ang kobre-kama pati na rin ang mga kurtina. A few paintings dotted the wall and if you'd believe it, there are polished wood pillars inside the room that gave it a woodland canopy vibe.

I opened the door that led to the room's private balcony and was immediately greeted with the view of the cliffs overlooking the open sea. May mga upuan sa balkonahe at nakikinita ko na na mahihirapan akong umalis sa tinutuluyan ko para mamasyal.

Pagtingin ko sa orasan ay napagtantong medyo matagal na palang naghihintay sa akin si Israel II.

I speedily took everything I need for the tour and wiped everything into my bag because I didn't have time to double-check them. Sabagay, mas okay na 'yong sobra ang dala ko kaysa naman kulang 'di ba?

I went through a checklist of the things I'd need for the tour in my head: money and my wallet, comb, sunglasses, sunblock, tissues, cellphone, pepper spray, my mini-Swiss knife. Ano pa ba ang kulang?

You'd think I'd be more organized, but even though it's been a year since I had to start looking out for myself, sometimes I still need an actual list. When Charles was around, he took care of everything for me, and it was really thoughtful— gallant even. But look how helpless I turned out to be without him...

Naglakad na ako palabas ng kuwarto ngunit hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili na tumingin ulit sa paligid ko. Exploring Fundacion Pacita will have to wait for now because it would be a shame to rush through it. Isa pa ay dating art gallery ito kaya sa tingin ko kulang pa rin ang trenta minutos kung ipipilit ko na magtingin-tingin ngayon.

To be fair, my accommodations are a bit pricey but it's worth it! 'Yon nga lang, dahil mahal nga ang bayad ko sa hotel at kuripot ako, imbis na multicab ay traysikel ang inupahan ko. Naisip ko rin kumuha ng group tour para makamura pero... let's just say I shudder at the thought of having to make small talk with a group of strangers.

Pinapasalamat ko na walang masyadong turista sa hotel dahil hindi naman peak season. You'd think it's weird that I'm not exactly a people-person, especially if you consider the fact that I'm the daughter of a barangay captain who also owns the biggest mechanic shop in our hometown. But... we all have our oddities...

"Ma'am, isang oras na po akong naghihintay," bungad agad sa'kin ni Israel II.

"Sorry," I replied laconically.

Mukha namang komportable siya habang naghihintay eh. Kausap niya 'yong isa sa mga hotel staff; a woman about my age. I think they were flirting with each other so he shouldn't be accusing me of wasting his time. Well, he didn't really accuse me but he was implying it.

"Eli, uhmmmm, dito ka na maghapunan mamaya ah," pahabol no'ng babae nang palayo na kami at tumango na lang si Israel II bago kami dumiretso sa traysikel niya. I rolled my eyes secretly.

🌄

Valugan Boulder Beach was approximately thirty minutes away by tricycle. Medyo masakit lang sa likod at sa puwet pero hindi naman masyado. Siguro kung senior citizen na ako bago pumunta rito ay hindi ko talaga kakayanin, but since twenty-four years old pa lang ako, kaya pa naman.

The beach literally looks like a force to be reckoned with. Hindi puwedeng mag-swimming dahil sobrang lakas ng alon. Hindi ko naman binalak talaga 'yon pero mamamangha ka sa lakas ng alon na humahampas sa mga naglalakihan ding bato.

"Ma'am, kuhanan ko po kayo ng litrato," Eli offered as I tread the rocks carefully. Kapag nadulas ako rito, makikita niya ang panty ko. Hindi lang 'yon, baka mabagok pa ang ulo ko.

"Uhhh... 'wag na. Salamat! Hindi ako— ay!" Sasabihin ko sana na hindi ako pumunta rito para magpa-picture pero ayon nga at nadulas ako. I blame it on my sandals.

"Ingat po," he muttered as he carefully... held my waist to help me!

"I'm fine!" I protested and he moved to take his hands off me when I started to lose my balance again.

Damn it!

"Tingin ko po, mas maganda kung hindi sandals ang sinuot niyo."

"Eh 'di sana sinabi mo kanina pa, no'ng nasa hotel pa tayo," I sulkily retorted as we walked back to his tricycle.

Kung nandito lang sana si Charles, hindi niya ako sisisihin. Siguradong sasabihin niya na bumalik kami sa hotel para makapagpalit ako ng mas komportableng sapatos. O 'di kaya ay pinagpalit niya na ako kanina bago kami nakaalis. But then... he's not here, is he?

🌄

Since I'm already lodged at Fundacion Pacita, we decided to skip it in our itinerary. Pagkatapos namin sa Valugan ay tumungo kami sa Nakamaya Burial Grounds at Dipnaysupuan Japanese Tunnel.

Hindi naman sa matatakutin ako pero hindi ako gano'n ka komportable na pumasok mag-isa sa isang madilim na tunnel lalo na kung kailangan ko pa gumapang. Nagsisi ako bigla na wala ng ibang turista.

"Eli... puwede mo ba akong samahan pumasok? Kahit hindi na natin i-explore 'yong buong tunnel. Diyan lang malapit sa bukana."

I didn't like asking him for a favor but... well ako pa ba ang magiging ma-pride?

"Ma'am, mahihirapan po kayong pumasok dahil naka-bestida po kayo."

"Ano? No! Kaya ko 'to!"

He doubtfully assented and took out a big flashlight that he kept in his tricycle before walking up to me at the mouth of the tunnel.

Wala pang ilang segundo ay pinagsisisihan ko na ang desisyon ko.

"Ma'am, bumalik na tayo."

"Uhhh okay."

Paglabas namin ay agad niya akong binigyan ng wet wipes para linisin ang mga kamay ko. Thoughtful. I'm gonna give him 5 stars sa Facebook.

"So... dito ba nagtago ang mga katipunero sa mga Espanyol?" I asked casually.

"Huh?"

"Ang sabi ko..."

"Ah hindi po, Ma'am. Mga hapon po ang nagtago rito mula sa mga sundalong Amerikano nang World War II."

I cringed inwardly although I didn't react to his words. He must think me stupid.

I guess I should have taken Charles's advice to read more about what to expect when we go to Batanes. Hindi lang daw dapat puro pictures ang tinitingnan ko. It's my fault for thinking Charles would always be around to tell me what I need to know, what I need to do. I know that now, but I was more naïve a year ago.