🏝️

CHAPTER FOUR

ANG KAIBIGANG si Kelly pa talaga ang naghatid kay Denryl sa airport ng NAIA na parang Ina na hinahatid ang anak sa first day of school nito.

Forda dependent ang ferson for today's vidyu.

They already booked his plane ticket, bought his two weeks worth of vacation sa Achilles Islands Resort, his accommodation sa isa sa mga exclusive loft cabins doon facing the dalampasigan and such.

Ang dami rin nilang nabili sa mall sa kaka-suggest ni Kelly na ito at iyan ang bilhin ni Denryl. Denryl being a good friend, kinuha na lang niya ang pinagdadampot ng kaibigan.

They've arrived at the exact time when the speakers announced the departure of his plane. Binilinan pa ni Kelly si Denryl na i-kuwenento niya lahat ang mangyari sa resort. Meron naman siyang DSLR camera na hiniram kay Kelly upang kunan ang mala-paraisong ganda ng mga isla ng Achilles Islands.

The flight to Mindanao is almost two hours span. He landed at the airport of Laguindingan Airport, and hitched on a taxi cab upang pumaruon sa Agora Terminal. Bago pa lang siya doon, kaya hindi siya gaanong pamilyar sa mga lugar na kanilang nadadanan.

The Cagayan de Oro has the famous water park called The Seven Seas. I think the Pacquiaos ran that water park. There are a lot of activities their water park has to offer since early 2010s---but not as plenty as Achilles Islands Resort has.

Sa labas ng bintana ng taxi, the towering buildings of Cagayan de Oro fascinates him. Its not as big sa syudad nila, but the city looks civilized and modernized enough to be called a big and growing city.

A lot of luxury buildings are established here, like the Limketkai Luxe Hotel. And let me tell you, the building shouts luxury because the exterior and the window panes of it are in the color of gold. That's right, gold.

[Credits to the rightful owner. I do not own the reference picture of Limketkai Luxe Hotel. It is real, it exists. I suggest you better try the hotel, ghourl. They have pool, tas malapit lang sa hotel ang Limketkai Center mall. LOL.]

And to his irony, malapit-lapit lang ang Puregold na establishimento. Puregold grocery was owned by Lucio Co. It definitely is a Target or a Walmart version in the Philippines.

And the biggest irony, Cagayan de Oro is called 'the City of Golden Friendship'. Spectacular!

They headed straight to what seems to be a road for Agora Terminal. Kailangan mo pang sumakay ng bus upang makarating sa Balingasag city kung saan naruruon ang Achilles Islands Resort.

Nang makababa at bayad ng pamasahe sa taxi, agad siyang pumasok sa malaking terminal ng CDO, at agad kumuha ng ticket. Nang makakita ng bus na papuntang Butuan city---kung saan madadaanan nito ang Balingasag city---sumakay siya rito. Tinulongan naman siya ng konduktor sa pag lagay ng mga bagahe niya sa compartment ng bus.

And then, his journey from bus terminal starts.

A/N: Now, pwede ko namang i-lagay na may sariling van ang resort upang sundoin ang mga turista nila sa Laguindingan Airport, but I want to give the tourists of Achilles Islands Resort a glance of the city. Ang van kasi medyo cramped and tinted ang sasakyan nila. That would be hassle that knowing na marami talaga ang bagang mga turista. It wouldn't fit some of them. Tsaka pwede namang one person per van, pero desisyon ako, eh. BWAHAHSHA. But depende na lang talaga sa turista kung kailan sila darating sa airport, and when sila ba-biyahe papuntang resort. So, yeah.

Nadadaanan ni Denryl ang mga municipality ng Misamis Oriental patungo sa destinasyon niya. Ang iba sa kanila ay malapit nang matawag na city dahil malalaki na ang ibang buildings at establishments.

The city of Villanueva also amazed him since it is one of the biggest seafood market in Mindanao. Meroon sa kanila ang one of the freshes and edible sea creatures since straight from the sea nila ito hinuli. He heard about their famous delicacy called Blue Orc Seafood pasta. Pangalan pa lang, mukhang mahal na.

No'ng nasa Jasaan na sila, makikita lang sa gilid ang naggagandahang view ng mga dagat. Minsan ay mga kabahayan ang makikita mo, minsan naman ang malilinis na dalampasigan nila.

It shows that their shores are greatly taken care off, because they are crystal clear under the scorching sun.

After a long eventful ride, nakarating na ang bus ni Denryl sa syudad ng Balingasag. It is a mixture of rural and urban city. Mayroong mga palayan, coconut and papaya farm and some known crops sa tabi ng high way ng kanilang dinadaanan.

Manghang-mangha siya sa nasisilayan since puro nagtataasang mga gusali lang ang nakikita niya sa lungsod nila; pero dito sa Balingasag city ay pinaghalong probinsiya at lungsod.

The view of the metropolis must be really ethereal.

He was fixing himself when his bus arrived at their integrated bus terminal. Dala ang backpack niya, bumaba siya kasabay ang ibang pasahero at kinuha ang kaniyang mga personal na bagahe. Nang makuha ang mga ito ay naghanap siya ng taxi upang sakyan patungong cruise ship dock o seaport papunta nang Achilles Islands.

He hopped on a cab at Balingasag, with a dream and a hope to strive. Welcome to the land of tourist spots, everybody's looking at him now. Stream Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, written by Jessie J.

The taxi cab drove him towards the seaport of Balingasag---or Balingasag Port---at agad na binayaran ang drayber nang makarating siya rito.

Wala na siyang inaksayang na oras at agad na kumuha ng cruise ticket papunta sa isla. Their boarding ticket is animatedly designed and illustrated, but they're cute and memorable to keep, though. So, he raised his boarding ticket and toke a picture of it with the sea dock behind it. The orange horizon above the sea added to the Instagram-worthy capture of his boarding ticket.

The picture would be wonderful kung may kasama siyang squad of friends na hawak rin ang mga boarding ticket nila sa picture.

Maybe he'll invite some of his workmates and Kelly upang bumalik doon sa Achilles Islands Resort soon. Yeah, soon.

Their boarding ticket has fun and child friendly design.

[Illustrated truly by me. The ticket was inspired doon sa Where is the 'X' freebies. Sorreh kung low quality. Dahil kasi sa Wattpad, eh. Shuta. HAHAHAHAHA.]

It is already five in the afternoon, and the sun is starting to set in the distance. His departure time is 6 PM, which is a couple of minutes from now.

There is a lot of tourist on Balingasag Port. Meroong mga foreigner, Filipino, youngsters, adult, teenagers and mixed people. He can see some queer people on the amass of crowd. Nakampante naman siya dahil dito.

Medyo nahihiya siyang makisalamuha sa paligid, kaya mag-isa lang siyang naghintay hanggang sa sumapit ang alas sais. And so, dumaong na ang cruise papuntang Achilles Islands. Welcome aboard!

The cruise ship is called Achilles Cruising. It is a yatch that sails to Achilles Islands. It is also big, it can accommodate hundreds of people on board.

Nang makasakay sa yatch, agad siyang naghanap ng puwesto sa harap ng yate upang makita ang mga magagandang tanawin ng karagatan ng Balingasag habang nasa biyahe. Meroong nakapuwesto doon, habang ang iba ay pumasok sa loob ng yate. Meroon rin kasing free buffet para sa mga passengers sa loob ng cruise. Mayroon ding bar na exclusive only for adults.

Manghang-manghang tinatanaw ni Denryl ang baybayin ng nasa kaniyang harapan. He's really excited sa bakasyon niyang ito.

His eyes twinkle as he toke every scenery he could grasp. It was truly amazing.

He was busy staring the beautiful vast of blues, when a random guy suddenly ay tumabi sa kaniya. Napatingin siya rito na may ngiti pa rin dahil sa mangha ng paligid.

"First time going to Achilles Islands?" tanong ng lalaki sa kaniya na may magandang ngiti. May pagkamistiso naman ang lalaki. He's one hella hottie for sure.

"Yeah, it is," sagot lang ni Denryl at iniwas na ang tingin sa lalaki. He bet, the guy is straight.

Sino ba naman ang papatol sa kaniya kung ang isla ay puno ng mga magagandang turistang babae---tas meroon pang maraming naggagandahang dilag na kasama nila ngayong sa sasakyang pandagat? No one.

"It's my second time, if you wonder," biglaang salita nito kahit hindi na ito pinansin ni Denryl.

"The island must be beautiful if you came here again." Hinarap ito ni Denryl ng panandalian at nginitian lang.

"Yes, they are," sang-ayon nito. "The people behind it meticulously planned it all, to give us a world-class service. I salute them for creating Achilles Islands Resort."

Ang daldal nito, ah?

"Do you know who they are?" Denryl curiously pondered the stranger.

"The Roovers', of course. Achilles and Marco Roovers. But I think their Hawaiian father was the one behind it all," magiliw na paliwanag nito sa kanya.

"I've read on Wikipedia that Achilles was the founder, while his brother is his co-owner," ani Denryl doon na medyo nagugulohan. "Is the internet wrong, then?"

"I don't know, maybe." The guy just shrugged.

This guy is super weird.

"So . . ." the guy drawled. "What's your name, bro?"

"Denryl," tipid na sagot n'ya rito.

"That's a cool name," he compliments him. I don't know if he's flirting with me or just unaware that he's talking to a homosexual guy? "I hate mine, but I can't do something about it anymore," the guy rumbles. "I'm Leon. I know, it's lame."

"That's cool a name, too, to be honest," Denryl honestly said. "I love Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil games. But I love Chris Redfield and Carlos Oliveira more than him---they're just so cool." And soooo hot!

I just love zaddy Chris and Carlos. UugGhHhH! malanding isip doon ni Denryl.

"Woah. You play video games, too?" may gulat at mangha sa tuno ng lalaki nang nagtanong ito. "A lot of adults doesn't play video games anymore, and I'm glad I found someone with my same passion, too."

"Er . . . does Mario Kart counts? Hindi na kasi ako gaano naglalaro ng video games since . . ." since Jeimson and I broke-up.

Jeimson was the one who loves playing video games. Ito namang si Denryl, nakikilaro sa dating kasintahan kasi pinipilit siya nito kahit may ginagawang gawaing bahay si Denryl. Kapag nananalo si Denryl ay na-uuwi sa kulitan ang dalawa. Ang unfair lang daw dahil mas magaling si Denryl sa kaniya when in the first place, he's the one who loves playing video games. But that's all in the past.

"Since?" the guy urges him while smiling at him. He doesn't know if the guy is encouraging him to speak or what. The guy seemed engrossed on their conversation, but Denryl feels a little awkward.

"My bo---my brother left for College. We are playing buddies," pa-simpleng pag sinungaling ni Denryl.

"Damn, I wish my brothers was like that," the guy pursed his lips as he snap his fingers. "They are literally KJs. It would be fun to have a brother with your same passion."

"Wala ka bang mga pinsan? I'm sure makikilaro ang mga iyon sa 'yo," takang tanong ni Denryl rito.

"In fact, they did. It is just that . . ."

Nagtuloy-tuloy lang ang pag-uusap nila about videogames, Resident Evil movies being a crappy adaptation, arguing that Mileena is better than Kitana and vice versa from Mortal Kombat and such. Hanggang sa dumaong na ang kanilang sinasakyan na yate. They've finally arrived. Agad na nginitian ng maliit ni Denryl ang lalaki at pumanhik sa babaan nila. Gano'n rin ang mga sumasakay.

Bumungad sa kanila ang puting buhanginan ng isla. May mga nagtataasang coconut trees at short palm trees rin malapit sa dalampasigan. The fresh air of the island also welcomes them.

It is already dark when they arrived, but the magnificent beauty that the lights enhances makes the island more beautiful and magical. May mga lights na naka-display sa mga puno at poste.

May sumalubong naman sa kanilang babae at nagpakilala. "Welcome. I am Regina Lois Cabalquinto, your tour guide for the next two hours. Again, welcome to Achilles Islands." Finally, nandito na ako sa Achilles Islands. I wish Kelly was here, too. "Before anything else, please proceed to the security office for a short inspection."

Their said tour guide lead them to the said security office. Agad na pinag-inspection ang kanilang gamit at katawan for safety precautions. Maraming umangal pero wala na silang nagawa pa.

Nang matapos silang ma-inspect ay bumalik sila sa labas. Ayos lang naman ang labas since may malalakas na ilaw sa mga puno at poste.

"To those persons who purchased one-week vacation package, please go with Jonathan right here," anunsyo ni Regina gamit ang megaphone at turo sa kasamahan nitong lalaki. "For those who purchased our two-week vacation package, you'll stick with me," aniya. "And those three weeks and up vacation package, go with Delilah. They are your tour guide for today's video."

"Huh?" a chorus of confusion erupted from the audience.

"For today's video? Vlogger yarn?"

"Excuse me, I have a concern!" may foreigner na nagpataas ng kamay kay Regina.

"Yes, Sir?" Regina acknowledge the foreigner.

"Do we have to walk around the islands? Or do you have carts for us to use? I mean, it's pretty dark already. It might be dangerous," tanong nito.

"Don't worry, we have golf carts for you to use while on the tour," sagot ni Regina sa kaniya. "So, we'll start our tour."

Todo pakinig si Denryl sa sinasabi ng tour guide habang sumusunod rito. Iyong lalaking kasama niya kanina ay hindi niya nakita. Siguro nasa one-week vacation package siya.

"Pick any golf carts you want. Two for each cart," ani Regina doon at sumakay sa isang golf cart, habang ang kasamahan niya ay sumakay sa driver's seat.

And with that, their tour around Achilles Islands Resort starts.

xAPLHA_SYRICx | SYRICH

• • • • • • • • • •

My own illustration of Denryl Alcanzare.

While here's Laurentius Altarejos.

DO NOT STEAL! PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME!

Tinamad akong kulayan sila, kaya ganiyan munang black & white. Bagay naman, 'di ba? HAHAHAHAHA.

It is up to you kung sila ang graphic representation n'yo sa kanila. Your imagine is better naman, though. HUHU.

Ngayon lang ako naka-free time kasi tapos na ang midterms namin kanina. Tas hindi pa umabot ng 2.5k word counts ang chapter na ito. HAHAHAHA. Ka-stress ng college life. HAHAHUHUHUHU.

Sa El Matador Series One na naman ako susulat ng update. HUHUHUHUHU. Sana kayanin ko pa! UwU.

Please VOTE, COMMENT and FOLLOW me for more updates!

Question: What is your first Wattpad book/s? Or, kung wala ka pang Wattpad book/s, ano ang gusto mong maging una na libro sa koleksyon mo?

Sa akin ay Enchanted Academy 1-3 ni Joshua Lee. Bundle kasi siya at may voucher ako noon, kaya tatlo ang una kong Wattpad books. HAHAHAHA.