Chapter 15

It's 2'oclock in the afternoon when we arrived at Hundred Islands National Park. Sumalubong sa amin ang sariwang hangin at tunog ng mahihinang alon, idagdag mo pa ang asul na langit. We settled every fees before starting to talk about our first activity. 

We rented a boat for the three of us, we decided to go with island hopping. 

"Careful," sabi ni Xavion habang tinutulungan niya akong makasampa sa bangka. He was holding my waist and arm.

Umupo ako sa sumunod na upuan mula sa likuran ni Marian. She was holding a camera and started capturing some pictures. Naupo naman sa tabi ko si Xavion. 

"Ate, Kuya! Anong gusto niyong gawin sa first island?" Lumingon ito sa amin. 

I shrugged my shoulders. All I know is I want to come here. Wala nga pala akong alam tungkol dito bago kami pumunta. 

"How about we take a zipline ride?" 

Napasinghap ako at mabilis na napailing. 

"Pwedeng iba na lang?" 

I'm afraid of heights! Last time I rode a zip line, I was just sixteen years old. I cried after the whole trip and puked! 

"Why not? Takot ka ba? I can accompany you?" 

Still though, I don't want it to happen again. Tila hinahalukay ang sikmura ko noon at sobra akong nalula. 

"I don't think that's going to help me!" singhal ko.

"Kung gusto niyo, kayo na lang dalawa, I'll wait for you two!" I'd rather stay on the ground or even here, on the boat. Iniisip ko pa lamang na nakasay ako doon ay para na akong hihimatayin. 

"Sama ka na, Ate! Para masanay ka na rin!" 

Hindi ako sumagot. My decision is final, hindi ako sasama. 

"Come with us, I'll treat you anywhere you want when we come back." 

Hindi ko maitatanggi na may parte sa akin na nagustuhan ang sinabi niya. But also, his offer is not acceptable. Pwede ko namang ilibre ang sarili ko at libutin ang buong Olongapo ng mag-isa. 

"No, not gonna happen," pagtanggi ko. 

"I'll think of something better, basta sumama ka lang?" 

Better? My eyes narrowed a bit and stared at him. Sinusuri ko kung talaga bang gagawin niya 'yon. Nang makuntento ay napabuntong hininga na lang ako at saka tumango. 

"Tsk, sinabi mo na lang sana sa akin na gusto mo akong matitigan." 

I bit the inside of my cheeks to prevent myself from laughing. 

"Wow! Nahawaan ka yata ng kahanginan dito!" 

He chuckled. "Don't worry, soon you'll lay your eyes on me everytime you wake up in the morning." 

Namilog ang mata ko kasabay ang matunog na pag-ngisi ni Marian. Xavion was wearing his playful smile making myself faced the other direction. 

What was that for? 

Mabuti na lang at kaagad na umaandar ang bangka. Mas pinili ko na pagtuunan ng pansin ang malinaw na tubig at damhin ang hangin. I won't let him affect me so much, hindi pwede! 

I opened my camera and took some shots too just to completely distract myself from him. 

Nakakalma pagmasdan ang tubig dagat na siyang tila dumidikit sa langit.

Naramdaman ko na naman na payapa ang buhay ko dahil dito. Sana nga ay ganito na lang lagi, sana ay mabigyan pa ako ng pagkakataon. If that happens, I won't be thinking how will I die. Makakampate sana ako.

I suddenly remembered my older sister. Ano bang mangyayari kung hindi siya nawala? Ano bang mangyayari sa sarili ko kung hindi nagkulang ang tingin sa akin ng mga magulang ko? 

"Ate! Picture kayo!" tawag sa'kin ni Marian habang ngumunguso sa kaniyang Kuya. 

I directly focused my sight on his direction. He was smiling at me. 

He then pulled me closer and wrapped his arm around my waist before smiling wider at the camera. 

If it didn't happened, I won't meet this man. 

"Isa pa!" 

"Hey, smile ka naman!" 

Sumilay ang ngiti labi ko at tumingin na rin sa camera. Panay naman ang hagikgik ni Marian. 

Maybe, it wasn't bad after all. This man beside me taught me how to face my fear and even stand beside me. 

Gusto ko tuloy magtanong sa taas kung isinugo ba siya ng Diyos? I laughed at my own thoughts, it's just that, he's like my guardian angel.

"Are you happy?" he whispered. Nakatingin na ito sa'kin ngayon. 

Mabilis akong tumango sa kaniya. "I am, how about you?" 

"I am too, as long as you are." 

Totoo ba 'yon? Pinagmasdan ko ang mata niya, is he telling the truth? 

"You're happier if she's with you, I know you're praying and begging up there to bring her back." 

Hindi napawi ang ngiti niya na ipinagtaka ko. Humigpit ang hawak nito sa'kin at mas idinikit pa sa kaniyang katawan. 

"Why would I wish for her to be here if I'm already beside you?" 

I saw tenderness on his eyes. I could tell that he is truly sincere about it. 

"Ikaw ang kasama ko ngayon, Eveone. This is enough for me, one girl is enough." 

Wala sa sariling napangiti ako. He's extra sweet today, what gotten into him? It was flattering. It was also too late to prevent my heart from pounding. 

"One girl is enough ka d'yan, Kuya? Hello! Kasama niyo kaya ako!" apila ni Marian. 

Napabungisngis tuloy ako habang si Xavion naman ay napangisi lang. 

"Kahit kailangan talaga pambansang third wheel ako." She pouted. 

We spent our time before dropping of the island by taking pictures. I was happy and excited not until they told me that it's time to ride the zipline. 

I watch how they slightly pushed Marian. She was holding her camera. Nainggit tuloy ako, she's brave!

After a couple of minutes, it was our turn. Sinamahan ako ni Xavion. Taimtim akong nagdadasal habang kinakabitan ako ng harness. 

"You ready?"

"I am not!" wala pa man ay napapasigaw na ako. Xavion was laughing his ass out.

"I'll kill you after this!"

"We'll see."

I gasped when I felt a force on my back. I squealed because of fear. Napapikit ako at mahigpit na nakakapit.

"Open your eyes!" sigaw ni Xavion.

"No!" This was a bad idea! Bakit kasi ang bilis kong mapapayag!?

"Open your eyes! I'm sure you'll like it!"

Humugot ako ng hangin. Alam kong nanginig ang kamay ko at halos hindi ko na maramdaman ang binti.

"Trust me!"

I slowly opened my eyes and almost died when I saw how high we are from the ground. Parang gusto ko na lang mamatay!

"Don't look down!"

Hindi ko magawang punasan ang butil ng luha ko, dumagdag pa ang malakas na hangin na tumama sa aking mukha. Pero kahit na nanlalabo ang mata, nasipatan ko pa rin ang magandang view.

I won't lie, it's magnificent. Kung hindi lang sana ako takot ngayon ay ma-e-enjoy ko ang pagtitig. For now, all I want is to get off!

"Evone Allisa Benavidez!"

Nagulat ako nang biglang isinigaw ni Xavion ang pangalan ko. Anong bang trip nito? 

"Hoy! Para kang tanga!" sigaw ko. Imbis na makatulong siya ay mas lalo akong nini-niyerbyos!

"Tell me why you keep on bothering my mind every night!"

What the fuck? Natulala ako saglit sa kawalan. 

"Why do you have to be so perfect in my eyes!?" 

-

@GrandDandelion