Jordan and I waited three freaking days for something to actually happen.  

Siquijor was amazing, that was true. It truly was a magical place as what they had said. There were a lot of fireflies at night but we barely enjoyed them because of Georgie’s schedule.

Being the only Red Cross trainer, she had her hands full and Jordan helped her in any way he could.

Salagdoong resort was quite far from the pier and it was a long drive. But the place was beautiful and cheap, of course. There were cottages around the resort, just near the beach. Kayaks were everywhere as people enjoyed their time together with friends and family. But we were there for business—or Georgie was.

That very Monday, when we arrived, Georgie met with the coordinators of the training. The trainees, composed of students and barangay volunteers, had been waiting for us for quite some time and there was not more time to spare. Training started immediately.

I didn’t know how Jordan managed it without getting lost because he was not a trainer in the first place, but I figured he was wise and intuitive enough to do the right thing.

The only good news I heard that day was the fact that the coordinators were only able to reserve one cottage for Georgie. They were not expecting her to have a company.

You know I have my vote, Jordan, but don’t you dare harass Georgie. I don’t want you dead just yet.

Of course, nothing happened between them. I was sure of that. They were both tired from the travel, especially Georgie. The moment they were done with the dinner the coordinators prepared for them, they retired to their cottage without arguments of who would sleep on the floor or the couch or whatever.

Alone outside the cottage, I only had my imagination.

*****

“Why would you sleep on the floor?” George asked Jordan.

“Why? You want to sleep on the floor?”

“Don’t be absurd,” she said, lying down on the bed and pulling the blanket up to her neck. “The bed is large enough for the two of us. I’ll need your help tomorrow so you should get a decent rest.” She closed her eyes and sleep started to creep in fast. When she did not hear him move from his spot by the small bamboo couch, she sleepily said, “Sleep in the bed, Jordan. We’re both too tired to think about doing something else.”

A few moments later, she felt the bed shrink beside her and she was lost in her own sleep.

When she opened her eyes, she had a momentary panic when she could not recognize her surroundings. Then she remembered where she was and she groaned.

Two more days and she’d be home, she thought.

She looked over her shoulder and saw Jordan’s back facing her. He was still asleep.

Slowly, she climbed out the bed and went for a quick shower.

She walked out the bathroom feeling fresh.

And Jordan was staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes still sleepy. His hands were under his head in a relaxed state.

“Do you usually spend your wake-up time like that?” she asked, combing her wet hair.

At the sound of her voice, he immediately sat up on the bed. “You’re already dressed for work,” he stated.

“And so should you.”

“I feel like I am in a vacation,” he said, dropping back on the bed. “I don’t feel like I want to get out of this room.”

George shook her head in disbelief. “I never took you for someone who would relax before. And the instant I started hanging around you, I discovered that you play a lot of games and that you do a lesser work. So it is not such a shock for me to know you’ll want to enjoy your stay here.”

He lazily stretched on the bed with a groan. “Trust me, I’ve beaten myself with work for too long before I learned how to play games.”

“If you say so,” she said, walking over to her laptop.

“And this is actually my first vacation after…”

When he did not continue, George looked over her shoulder to stare at his confused face. “What?”

He turned his head toward her and a corner of his mouth lifted as he said, “I can’t actually remember when I had a long vacation,” with awe.

She stared at him incredulously. “You’re kidding, right?”

He looked at the ceiling once again and he whispered, “No, I really can’t remember my last vacation.”

In her mind, she was asking him about any vacation he must have had with his girlfriend, but she didn’t want to take that route again. They had already agreed not to talk about such matters.

She sighed. “Okay, fine. Go and enjoy the resort if you want. You can hire a tricycle from here to take you around the island. You can actually tour Siquijor in a day.”

“Nah, it’s okay. You’ll need my help.”

“It’s okay, Jordan. I’ve done this a lot of times. And besides, it’s lecture day so you won’t really do a lot of if you stay around.”

He opened his mouth to say something but she was already heading toward the door. “Come on, let’s get breakfast so you could go enjoy your vacation.”

“But George,” he called after her and she turned around with a smile.

“Really, Jordan, I will be fine. Come on, I’ll tell you where to go.”

*****

Jordan took the courage to take me around Siquijor after a long negotiation with Georgie. She only agreed that he not take a trike and take me instead when it was almost time for her to start the lecture.

“Just make sure you bring him back without a scratch or I’ll throw you off that cliff,” she said, pointing at the 20-feet cliff jumping site behind her.

“I’ll even give you my car in exchange,” Jordan uttered.

Hey! Careful, buddy! I don’t love you enough to want to exchange!

So, anyway, after Jordan made sure that Georgie was really okay doing the training alone, we drove off.

I was actually quite disappointed that he left her alone to have fun, but hey, it was my first time on the island as well and I wanted to go sight-seeing! The road around Siquijor were mostly concrete so my cheap tires were somehow safe. And Jordan was a good driver anyway.

He didn’t do a lot actually. He just drove me around, stopping by some places such as the so-called old Balete tree with spring water pouring from underneath and out into the public pool in front of the tree where you could get your own free fish spa session. I was not joking. There were other tourists sitting and dipping their feet in the pool while the local kids take a bath in the free-flowing water.

Jordan just took a few pictures but we were back on the road in no time. The island was easy to navigate and GPS was working so there was no problem getting around. The people were really friendly as well and they pointed us to the right directions when Jordan seemed unsure of the path to take.

My most favorite part of the day was when he decided to take me to the mountainous area of the island. I never imagined it would be so cool and fresh up there. Below was the usual beach paradise, but up there in the mountain was just heaven. You would not even think you were in the same place once you set foot on the higher ground.

A man warned us not to wander too far or deep around the mountain areas though. We should stay on the concrete roads, he said. “You wouldn’t want to get into the wrong side of some folks here.”

If I had any hairs on me, they would have stood up with the fear I suddenly felt.

“There are good fortunetellers around though,” the man offered.

Jordan only chuckled and shook his head.

Give it a try, dude!

But he was obviously not a believer.

I would love to know what would become of me in the future. Would I be converted into an awesome robot with guns? Or would I be crushed and sold by pound? I didn’t like the latter so maybe it was better that we did not pursue the fortuneteller. And I didn’t have any palms for them to read anyway.

When the day was starting to close, Jordan drove me back down to lower ground. We went to the town center and stopped by a luxurious and famous resort, Coco Grove. By the looks of it, it was really expensive.

You can take Georgie here tonight, buddy. Dine in the restaurant. I am sure the resort has one or two.

As if he heard me, Jordan took out his phone and called someone. His expression was blank and I wondered if it was really his default face. Maybe it was, but no worries. I was getting used to it. At least it could dramatically change whenever he would smile or laugh, right?

“Hey, Troy, it’s me. Yes, we arrived safely,” Jordan spoke and I was all ears. What was he planning? “Listen, I want to take George out to dinner, something nice for a change and I—” he listened to Troy’s words, nodding his head. “Yes, actually, I am outside Coco Grove. I just called to ask if you think she’d appreciate it if—” His face suddenly fell and his shoulders sagged. Troy delivered some bad news. “I think I already thought of that but…I guess I was hoping you’d say the idea is good.”

I think Troy is right, Jordan. George would not appreciate a fine dinner by the beach in a luxurious resort like this. BUT, who knows, right?

“What do you mean?” Jordan’s voice threw me back to the present. He was still talking to Troy. “Tell her?” his face blanched. “I don’t think I can. Not at the moment. We’re on a freaking island and it is very likely that she’d leave me here to go home by myself if I as much as make a grand confession.”

My bumpers almost sagged with disappointment. I wanted to wipe my windshield with unshed, invisible tears. I was crying for this poor guy who was having such a great dilemma of telling a lady he liked her (note the sarcasm).

When would be the best time then? I asked him.

But instead of answering me, he ended his call with Troy and went inside the resort, living me across the street. I was hoping he’d go on with his plan despite Troy’s opinion, but I was wrong. He came out minutes later with a bottle of wine.

Ohhh…look who’s thinking ROMANCE! I like this plan of yours, Jordan my boy. I like it a lot.

*****

Jordan’s romantic (sort of) plans were put on hold the instant we arrived back at Salagdoong resort. The sun was still up and Georgie was not around. The lecture had long finished, said the life guard Jordan asked.

Where could Georgie be?

“Oh Lord,” Jordan moaned and then I saw what he was seeing. There, beyond us, was the cliff diving site. And up there was a woman pretty much the same built as Georgie, standing at the highest diving point. “George!” Jordan tried to call out but it was no use.

Georgie had already jumped.

Jordan ran along the white sands toward the shore and I lost sight of both of them.

When they came back, he was dragging the dripping wet Georgie toward the cottage, his eyes gliterring with anger.

And so was hers.

She was wearing a pair or spandex shorts and tank top. “Let go of me! Jordan!” she hissed at him, pulling at her hand.

Jordan finally let her go when she fought harder and whirled around to face her. “What the hell were you thinking? What if something happened to you?”

“It was a safe jump! I’ve done it countless of times! No one ever had an accident jumping off that cliff!”

“There is always a first time for everything.”

“Whatever,” she said, brushing past him as she stormed toward the door of the cottage.

“George!” he called after her. “I am not done talking.”

“I don’t care!” she shouted back before slamming the door behind her.

It’s okay, man. Just breath in, breath out. That’s it. You’re doing great. You’ll need to practice this calming technique more often if you wish to stay around that girl.

With his hands on his hips and his eyes focused on the ground, Jordan finally managed to control his emotions. He looked up at the orange-tinged sky, probably wondering why the hell he was there with a hard-headed woman who didn’t care if she died and a handsome, cool yellow Beetle Volkswagen.

You’ll get used to it, buddy, I assured him.

*****

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Jordan asked George.

He had entered the cottage where she had been staying after their little fight.

She did not answer.

“George,” he said with warning.

“What?”

“Dinner. Let’s go.” He was still obviously pissed with her.

She could have said she didn’t want to eat, but she was famished. She could not hold out any longer. She gave out an irritated sigh before climbing out of the bed. When he saw her stand up, he walked out the room and she followed right behind him without a word.

She was surprised to find the table outside their cottage full of their dinner. She shot Jordan a look of surprise. “What’s this?”

“I told you. This is dinner.”

“I thought we’re eating at the—”

“You told me to enjoy my vacation, remember? I am doing just that,” he said without smiling. She might have found it weird that he said that statement without smiling weeks ago, but his unsmiling and flat face had become too familiar that she now considered it normal. What she couldn’t get over with was his smiling and laughing face every now and then. But she didn’t have to get used to them, she thought.

“I also bought a bottle of merlot and it’s being chilled inside the cooler.” His voice snatched her out of her secret thoughts.

“Wine? What’s the occasion?”

“I just wanted something to drink other than the usual beer,” he said dryly, taking the seat before him. “Sit and eat all you can,” he invited, motioning at the food before him with his hands.

George did not hesitated to grab the seat right across him and started filling her plate with whatever she could fancy. He had ordered prawns, fish kinilaw, salty eggs, green mangoes with shrimp paste, and fish sinigang. The rice was enough for the two of them and an hour or so later, all the plates were almost empty.

“Thanks for dinner,” George said, starting to get up.

“Wait, what about the wine?” Jordan asked, stopping her.

“Just drink it alone.”

“Come on, George. I bought it for us to enjoy.”

Looking at him, he was almost begging though his expression nearly did not change. But there was something in his eyes that wanted her to accompany him tonight so she said, “Okay, if you promise to do the cliff jump tomorrow.”

“What?” he asked incredulously.

She shrugged. “Fine. Good night then.”

She was almost at the door when she heard him say, “Okay, fine. Now get the glasses and let’s drink before I change my mind.”

*****

Don’t do it, dude. You can’t jump off that stupid cliff. You’ll die. You’ll diiiiieeeee!

But he was more focused on getting Georgie to share the wine he bought earlier.

He went to the cooler and took it out and started walking away from the table.

“Where are you going?” Georgie asked after him.

“It’s best to drink this by the beach.”

Oh, I like this. I like this!

Georgie seemed to assess the situation for a while before she finally shook her head as if asking herself why she was following Jordan after all.

Go on, Georgie. Don’t mind me here out in the cold. Just freaking go and make out with the man. He has a lot to tell you, you know!

I watched her walk behind Jordan in the middle of the night. The gentle wash of the ocean against the shore was the only serenade and the majestic twinkling of the fireflies everywhere served as the natural candlelight in that potentially romantic evening.

Watching the two of them walk off toward the shore was giving my metallic tummy that butterfly feeling, my yellow skin an invisible blush, my whole engine a tingling sensation—in short, I was overly twitterpated.

“Where are the glasses?” Jordan asked when she settled on the sand beside her.

“I forgot.”

“Then how do we drink this?” he asked mournfully.

George rolled her eyes and grabbed the bottle from him. “From the bottle, of course.” When she had a good look at the bottle, she sighed. “Do you have a corkscrew?”

Realization washed over his face. “I did not think of that.”

She shook her as her hand went deep inside her shorts pocket.

“You bring that with you all the time?” he asked with disbelief and awe when he saw the Swiss knife.

“For situations like this,” she explained without a word. In no time, the wine was opened and George took a gulp before handing him the bottle. “Don’t sulk,” she told him when she saw his face. “You should have thought of the glass before you walked out of here.”

He did not answer and drank straight from the bottle.

They sat there facing the darkness, the only light were the fireflies flying around and the distant ones from the cottages behind them.

“So this is why they call Siquijor a majestic place,” Jordan said, breaking the silence. “Because of the fireflies.”

“And the witch doctors and other stories,” she added.

He grimaced. “I don’t think I want to hear the other stories.”

She chuckled.

“I could live her for a long time, you know,” he stated softly when she didn’t say anything.

“No, you can’t. You’ll go crazy after a week without work.”

“Who says I love my work that much?” he asked. “You said so yourself that I spend more time playing games than working.”

“You grew up thinking you’ll do business for the rest of your life.” It was a statement she knew as fact. It had always been inculcated in families like them. It was their job to continue on with the family legacy.

“I can be like you. Be a black sheep and live my life like I want to,” he answered.

She pushed him away. “I am not a black sheep.”

“Want to call your dad and ask?” he challenged.

“Fine. Black sheep it is.”

“No offense though.”

“None taken.”

She took the bottle of wine from him and drank from it. “Do you think they will understand us?”

“Understand what?”

“When we eventually tell them that we can’t be together after this three months of getting-to-know-each-other?”

She waited for his answer but none came.

He seemed lost in his own thoughts as he looked ahead.

“You don’t believe we’ll have a chance of getting out of this situation, do you?”

Again, no answer.

“Jordan, you can’t let them do this. It will hurt a lot of people, including Cassie.”

He stayed silent and this time, his head was bent.

“You’re purposely ignoring my questions.”

Jordan raised his head and when he turned his head toward her with that same blank expression of his, he asked, “What if they give up and let us do whatever the hell we want?”

She was surprised that she found it hard to answer but she spoke the one she would have answered weeks ago before things turned complicated. “That would be a relief.”

Slowly, Jordan nodded his head in agreement. “Then let’s make a good case when the time comes,” he said with a voice that was barely audible.

It was her turn to turn silent. Could they make a good case before their parents? Would they be believable enough?

*****

So they were walking back and they were not holding hands.

Bummer.

What did they do then? Talk? Jordan, you’re failing miserably!

Georgie was walking behind Jordan was who was frowning at his own thoughts.

Frustrated?

He was holding the bottle of wine in one hand and it was almost empty when he set it back on the table they used earlier.

Georgie appeared like she was struggling with something and what came out of her mouth while Jordan was opening the door of the cottage almost blew me off to Volkswagen-ville.

“Can you kiss me again?”

Holy cars! What did you say?!

Jordan was apparently having the same reaction as me because he stood frozen and dumbfounded in front of the door. When he turned around, he uttered the very words I was screaming. “What?”

“Can you kiss me again?” Georgie repeated as if she couldn’t believe he did not hear her at first.

“You’re probably drunk.” He started to move to the door again.

“Aren’t you curious if the kiss we shared at Kanlaon was just a one-time spark?” Georgie asked.

Why?! What happened in Kanlaon? Did you two kiss? Oh holy cars, you did, didn’t you? You kissed during that hike? I knew something happened!

“But maybe you’re right. The wine must have got to me. I just wanted to make sure of something,” she added.

Oh, Georgie, you’re going crazy. You don’t ask around for kisses! But give it to her, Jordan. She asked for it!

And he did just that.

He stormed toward her without a word, his face almost angry and intent. Before she could even prepare herself, Jordan had already wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her against him. And he was kissing her, apparently AGAIN.

I almost closed my headlights to give them privacy, but then I couldn’t do that so I had no choice but to watch as Georgie wound her arms over Jordan’s shoulders, pressing him closer.

If you are looking for the so-called spark, Georgie, you’re getting not just that. It’s a freaking fireworks display I am seeing, dude!

But before one of them could take the kiss inside the cottage, Jordan broke away, breathing heavily. His eyes were intent on hers as he asked, “Did that answer any questions you have in mind?”

Georgie did not answer. She was looking even more confused.

Jordan scoffed in disbelief. “I don’t know what you’re up to, George, but it seems that you’re the only one who is confused here.”

And then he walked away and disappeared inside the cottage.

Uh, Jordan, my boy, I guess you did not deliver that line very well. It could mean a lot of things for Georgie here and you know how women think!

I knew Georgie was nowhere near the answers she was looking for because she was staring blankly at the cottage door.