Chapter 11

The moment I stepped into Davao's International Airport, I felt jittery on the inside. With my sling bag and suitcase rolling after me, I maneuvered around busy passengers and their families waiting for them.

Biglang kumirot ang aking puso. If only my mother is still alive, she will surely be one of the families waiting for me in this very airport.

"Taxi, Ma'am?" untag sa akin ni Manong.

I smiled at him. "Yes, please."

Kinontrata ko si Manong na hanggang sa Governor Generoso kaming dalawa dahil ayaw kong sumakay ng van. Hindi ko rin naman dala ang aking sasakyan kaya mas mabuti na sigurong ganito.

"Naku, Ma'am, ang ganda-ganda na ng Governor Generoso ngayon!" natutuwang sabi ni Manong habang pinapaandar ang sasakyan. "Taga-doon pala kayo? Tamang-tama at taga-roon din kami. Puwede ko pang mabisita saglit ang aking pamilya bago ako bumalik ng Davao."

Nakipagkuwentuhan ako kay Manong habang nagbabiyahe kami. We even shared a lunch together in Manikling before we proceeded traveling until we arrived at my old hometown.

"Taga dito pala kayo, ang dami na ding nagbago dito," wika ni Manong at sumulyap sa palayan ng mga Monterio. "Itong planta ng mga Monterio, palaki nang palaki sa bawat taong lumilipas."

I swallowed hard. The plant seems twice bigger since the last time I saw it. Tinulungan ako ni Manong na i-unload ang aking mga bagahe. I glanced at our old house. It looks lonely and dull. Pagtapak ko pa lamang sa aming balkonahe ay nakita ko na kaagad ang mga alikabok dahil sa ilang taong walang nakatira sa bahay na ito.

"Sige po Ma'am, mag-iingat po kayo!" masayang turan ni Manong.

"Kayo din po, Manong!" kumaway ako bago tuluyang pumasok sa aming bahay. I still have the key. Over the years, many have tried to buy the house from me. But I politely declined because I still want the house and it's the only remembrance I have of my late mother. I still wanted to fulfill my dreams for her.

Iginala ko ang aking paningin sa paligid at bumuntong-hininga sabay ngiti. "Hi, Ma . . ." I swallowed again. Just the mere mention of my mother brings tears to my eyes. "Here I am again. Pasensiya ka na at sobrang tagal bago ako nakabalik dito. Diba pinangako ko sa iyo na aayusin ko ang tumutulo nating bubong?" my lips started trembling.

Buti na lamang at ako lang mag-isa sa bahay nang tumulo ang mga luha ko. I collapsed on the floor and hugged my knees to my chest. "Gagawin ko na po yun, Ma. I'm going to fix our house and I'm going to fix my life. Patawarin niyo po ako at hindi ako nakinig sa inyo noon. I was young and naïve and stupid . . . and inlove. Pero pangako ko sa inyo, Mama, hindi nap o mauulit iyon."

I wipe my tears away and forced myself to stand up. I scanned the surroundings and shrugged. "Maybe I should get started by cleaning? Baka masermonan mo na naman ako," pagak akong humalakhak bago hinanap ang aming nakatagong walis at tambo.

---

Maputik pa rin ang daanan papunta sa talon. Ito lang yata ang walang pinagbago sa nakalipas na mga taon. Matapos kong linisin ang bahay ay napagdesisyunan kong magpunta dito habang naghihintay pa ako ng tawag ni Leon. I wore my favorite pair of boots and sundress. Dinig na dinig ko ang huni ng mga ibon mula sa di kalayuan.

Nang marinig ko na ang malakas na pagbagsak ng tubig mula sa talon ay tinakbo ko na ang natitirang distansiya sa sobrang galak. I almost slipped because of the muddy ground but when the falls finally came into view, my face broke into a huge grin.

I quickly removed my boots and placed my bag in a huge rock. Malamig na ang hangin sa paligid. Wala na ang balsang aming ginawa noon at napalitan na ito ng mas malaki at mas matibay na balsa.

I was about to lift my sundress when something moved in the water. My hands froze. Nakiramdam ako. A horse neighed softly from a distance. Napalingon kaagad ako at dinalaw ng kaba ang aking puso. Is someone here?

Just then, the water moved again and Sage surfaced. He's only wearing his tattered pants. Tumutulo ang tubig mula sa kaniyang buhok patungo sa kaniyang dibdib. Na-estatwa na ako sa aking kinatatayuan. His muscles flexed with every move and when his dark eyes landed on me, I almost lost my balance.

"Mal?" kumunot ang kaniyang noo pagkakita sa akin.

Sinundan ng aking mga mata ang bawat galaw ni Sage. Tuluyan na siyang umahon. In broad daylight, his toned body looked more intimidating. Natigagal lamang ako sa aking kinatatayuan.

"What are you doing here?" tanong niya sa akin sabay hablot ng kaniyang itim na tuwalya. Inumpisahan na niyang patuyuin ang kaniyang basang buhok. Dumako ang tingin ni Sage sa aking kamay na mahigpit ang hawak sa laylayan ng aking sundress at ang aking mga gamit na nasa malaking bato.

I blinked. "I . . . uh . . . napadaan lang ako."

Inangat ni Sage ang isang kilay. "Napadaan?" an amused smile curled on his lips. "You look like you're about to take your dress off and go for a swim, baby . . ."

My cheeks flushed furiously. Get a grip, Mallory! You're an adult already! Bakit ba ganito ako magpa-apekto sa mga salita niya.

"H-Hindi ah . . ." great, now you're stammering. I cleared my throat. "Napadaan lang talaga ako." Depensa ko na parang bata.

Humalakhak si Sage at nilapitan ako. Before I knew it, he pushed me to the water and followed afterwards. I gasped at the sudden adrenaline rush and before I could manage to swim, something strong grabbed my waist and pulled me to the surface.

Umalingawngaw ang tawa ni Sage sa tahimik na talon. I shrieked.

"Let go of me, you crazy bastard! Bakit mo naman ako tinulak sa talon?"

"Oh, please. Mallory. For once, let your walls down and just enjoy the water, will you?" kumislap ang mga mata ni Sage. For an unknown reason, my heart clenched and my eyes are suddenly filled with tears. Buti na lamang at basa na ang aking mukha kaya hindi niya mapapansin.

I cleared my throat. "Fine." Itinuro ko ang balsa. "Whoever gets there first is the winner. The loser will have to pay for a bottle of wine,"

Mas lalong lumiwanag ang mukha ni Sage sa aking sinabi. "Okay, you got a deal, Mal."

I smirked at him. Itinaas ni Sage ang kaniyang kilay nang ipatong ko ang aking mga kamay sa kaniyang balikat. I tried not to get affected by how hard his muscles feel under my skin. Before he could react, I lifted my knees and kicked his groin. Napamura nang malakas si Sage. Humalakhak ako bago sumisisid at nilangoy nang mabilis ang talon.

He must've recovered from the shock because he swam after me in a while but 'twas too late. Prente na akong nakaupo sa balsa. My sundress clung unto my skin, revealing my black bikini underneath.

"You're a cheater!" pang-aakusa ni Sage. "You just kicked my . . . my groin!" protesta niya.

Tumawa muli ako. "Honey, I forgot to tell you that there are no rules for this game." I shrugged. "You gotta win no matter what."

Gumalaw ang balsa nang tabihan ako ni Sage. Napakapit tuloy ako sa kawayan nang wala sa oras.

"You know what happens to cheaters, Mal?" he asked in a low, dangerous voice.

The playful smile faded from my lips. I looked at him with eyes wide in alarm. "W-What?"

The corners of his mouth lifted in a smirk. "They get punished." And before I knew it, Sage pushed me towards the water again. It was so stupid of me to open my mouth and shrieked because I nearly got drowned. Tawa nang tawa si Sage sa sinapit ko. I glared at him as I coughed down the water I accidentally swallowed.

"Come here," using his left hand, he hoisted me up to the raft. I landed awkwardly on his lap. Pareho kaming natigilan dalawa.

I couldn't stop the erratic beating of my heart so I tried to stop breathing instead, afraid that Sage might notice my sudden discomfort. Titig na titig siya sa akin. Iniwas ko ang aking tingin at na-estatwa. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa kaniyang balikat.

Sage tilted my chin down and brushed his lips with mine. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat. He closed his eyes and pulled me closer. Parang may sariling utak ang aking mga kamay na ipinulupot ito sa kaniyang leeg at hinalikan siya pabalik. Sage groaned between our kisses. His mouth is hot and passionate while his rough hands roamed around my body.

I didn't know exactly what happened, or how Sage did it, but he carried me towards the surface.  Hinila niya ang tuwalya at inilapag ito. He tilted down his head and covered my mouth hungrily again as he lay me on the ground.

And when Sage's hands went inside my sundress, my mother's voice, all of a sudden, rang inside of my head again.