Chapter 2

The car finally came to a halt and my excitement tripled as I examine the place from the window. My family decided to drop me off at Batangas port today to save me from the hellish hardship of a commuter’s life.

Mabilis akong bumaba sa sasakyan at binitbit ang dalang bag pack, inilabas naman ni Amadeus mula sa compartment ang suitcase ko. I wasn’t satisfied with the amount of stuffs I had packed pero ayaw ko rin namang magdala ng maraming bagahe kaya’t nagpasya akong kaunti lang ang dalhin at bumili na lang kalaunan ng mga kulang na gamit.

“Take care, darling. Magsend ka lagi ng pictures mo ha?” my mom kissed me one last time on the cheek habang yumakap naman ako kay Dad.

“Yes, Mom. I’ll try to call regulary. Mamimiss ko kayo!”

“I’ll bet my whole year allowance, may boyfriend ka na pagbalik mo.”

“Amadeus!” Gulat ko siyang nasigawan. Mahinang tumawa ang parents ko.

“Bakit nga ba hindi ka pa nagkaka-boyfriend, dear?” my mother inquired teasingly and it didn’t help that my father joined in.

“O baka naman mayroon na pero hindi ka lang nagsasabi?” Dad eyed me sternly but the hint of playfulness was still visible in his eyes. Mabilis akong umiling at sumimangot sa kanila.

“Wala po! And please, we are not having this conversation right now, for goodness’ sake! Baka maiwan pa ako ng ferry.”

Thankfully, they didn’t push the topic anymore. Inihatid nila ako hanggang sa loob at hinintay hanggang makasakay ako ng barko bago sila tuluyang umalis. My mother cried, which is an expected reaction from her dahil unang beses kong malalayo sa kanila. I too, almost teared up. Amadeus was quick to crack a joke kaya hindi natuloy ang supposed na dramatic farewell speech ko sa kanila.

The ship left the port almost an hour ago and I was feeling a little nauseous. I planned to take a lot of picture and even brought my camera with me pero mukhang imposible na makakuha ako kahit isang shot ngayon. I settled myself inside the cabin at nagdecide na itulog na lang ang nararamdamang hilo. I wouldn’t have to suffer that long anyway because as what my research has told me, halos two hours lang ang itatagal ng biyahe.

A light tap on my shoulder woke me up from my light slumber. When I opened my eyes, a middle age woman was smiling down at me.

“Sorry, I just thought it would be fair to wake you up now cause we’re almost there. The port was already visible from here.”

“Oh, thanks!” I returned back a smile.

When I looked around me, everyone was already getting ready to leave. I put on my bag pack and decided to check outside. Calapan Port was indeed already visible from the ferry’s current location. I also noticed the drastic change of the ocean’s color, from a deep shade of blue – to a sparkling tone of aquamarine.

When the ship finally halted in front of the port, the deck staffs came in to guide the passengers out of the ship in peace. I was busy reading the note in my phone as I walk in line to remind myself of the next step. Well, the note says I should ride an FX van after I boarded the ferry.

There were different vehicles waiting near the port and one of the barkers guided me towards a white van which is heading to Puerto Galera. Nag-abot ako ng twenty peso bill sa barker, as what Raia had told me to do. I was seated in front beside the window with another girl whom I think was the same age as I am.

I leaned in closer near the door, put on my earphone, and watched the beautiful and magnificent view of the unfamiliar province passed by swiftly from the window pane.

I closed the balcony door and retreated back to the bedroom. It’s six thirty and I just woke up few minutes ago from a two hour nap. Nagpasya akong magshower muna bago bumaba para kumain ng dinner. Nang matapos, I settled myself in a comfortable white shirt and sweatshort. Pinatungan ko rin ito ng puting cardigan dahil medyo malamig ang simoy ng hangin ng gabing iyon..

The beach resort was quiet and uncrowded just like how Raia described it to me. Tanging ang hampas lamang ng alon sa tabing dagat ang naririnig ko at ang paminsan minsang bulungan sa paligid. Halos bilang lang sa kamay ang nakikita kong guests ng resort. Well, the place isn’t popular after all.

Puerto Galera have so many beautiful beaches and resorts based on my research, and although the resort I was currently staying at was already amazing for me, it isn’t as beautiful as those five star resorts I saw from the internet. But since privacy and quietness is my top priority for this vacation, I was already more than satisfied with the place.

The resort offers a four story building for the guests and I was checked in at the second floor, which is already paid for two months. It isn’t as beautiful and fancy like the hotel rooms in the city but it’s decent and homey. Makakatipid din ako ng malaki dahil hindi ganoon kamahal ang fee.

Hindi ganoon karami ang establishment ng beach but the stores and food pubs are decent enough for my liking. I chose to eat dinner on a seafood buffet – which is the only buffet in the place, since one of the bellboy suggested it to me.

I am never a fan of sea foods, not because I am allergic to it, but because I do not like tiring myself by having to crack sea shells, peel off the shrimps and all that stuff but the menu offers a good deal. They’re all ready to eat!

I took a quick photo of the meal on my table before I sent a short message to my Mom. I assumed she’s gonna call me once she received the text so I composed a follow up message saying I was having my dinner and do not want to be disturbed, so I’ll call them once I’m finish.

The foods were superb and I had a good time coming back and forth to the dessert table. My sweet tooth was celebrating since I rarely grant my cravings cause I was afraid to catch diabetes.

When I was done, I wandered shortly on the beach side while talking to my mother on the phone.

“May boyfriend ka na, Ate?” Amadeus butted in on the line. Umikot ang mata ko sa kalokohan niya.

“Pwede ba, kadarating ko lang dito!”

“Ah, so you’re actually considering it? Do you need a week or two to find yourself a man?”

“Oh shut it!” I snapped, irritated that he kept pushing this subject, as if that was the reason I went here.

Nagtawanan sila sa kabilang linya. Nagtuloy tuloy ang lakad ko hanggang sa makabalik na ako sa tinutuluyang hotel. I was near the entrance when a figure bumped harshly into me, dahilan kung bakit tumilapon ang hawak kong cellphone.

“S-sorry po, Ma’am! Pasensya na, nagmamadali lang,” bahagya pang yumuko ang unipormadong lalaki sa akin. He apologized one last time before running away quickly and disappearing into the dimly lit beach. Napailing ako bago nagmamadaling pinulot ang telepono. The call was still on-going at mabuti na lang ay wala kahit isang gasgas na natamo ang bagong biling iPhone ko. This was a gift from my Mom when I graduate college!

“Ayos lang kayo, Miss? Pasensya na po, ah! Mukhang may emergency sa bahay nila Ricky kaya nagmamadali.” A female bellhop approach me to apologize for the little accident. Nakangiti akong umiling sa babae.

“It’s okay, I understand.”

“Amara, darling? Is everything alright in there?”

Napatingin ako sa hawak na telepono. “Excuse me,” I glanced at the bellgirl before walking past her to take the elevator.

“I’m okay, Mom. May nakabanggaan lang.”

“Are you fine? Are you hurt, dear?”

“No! Everything’s okay. I’ll call you guys tomorrow. Bye!”

It was a Saturday morning the next day, and from what I’ve found out, the beach invite live bands every weekend to perform for the whole night so I was looking forward to it. As a teenager, I never experience to attend concerts kaya naman kahit local bands lang ang magpeperform mamaya ay excited ako.

I decided to take a dip for today so I wore a yellow one piece bikini and applied a ton of sunscreen on my body. Unlike Amadeus who has a very fair skin, nagmana ako kay Dad na moreno at makintab ang balat. It may be childish and stupid but this is one of my insecurities growing up. I literally had to beg my mother to bring me to the derma when I was a teenager but she strongly disagreed – saying how beautiful and perfect my skin tone was to appease me. But I wasn’t convinced, no matter how many girls had flocked my way to openly voice their envy for my skin color.

Hindi pa ganoon katirik ang araw kaya sinamantala ko ang pagkakataon. The white sand felt nice and rough on my feet as I sauntered closely to the water. Hinubad ko ang nakapatong na cardigan sa katawan at inihagis iyon sa buhanginan bago tuluyang nagtampisaw sa dagat.

The water is clean and clear. Halos wala ring alon ng umagang iyon kaya’t mabilis akong nakalangoy sa mas malalim na parte. I was professionally taught how to dive and swim kaya hindi ako takot na sumuong sa kailaliman ng dagat. Pero nang makita ang barrier na nilagay ng beach ay hindi na ako sumubok na lumayo pang tuluyan.

I enjoyed the short swim. Nang makaramdam ng gutom ay umahon na rin ako dahil nagsisimula nang humapdi sa balat ko ang sikat ng araw. Nagtake out na lang ako ng lunch para sa room ko kumain dahil plano kong magsiesta after lunch. Nang mapadaan ako sa lobby ay napansin ko ang pagkukumpulan ng mga staffs pero binalewala ko iyon at dumiretso na sa kuwarto.

At five pm, I was already seated at the balcony, watching the staffs assemble a small podium at the center of the beach where the band will perform. Plano kong dito na lang panoorin ang event, pero kung hindi ganoon kalakas ang sound system ay mapipilitan akong bumaba. I was silently praying na familiar songs ang iperform nila so I could somehow enjoy the mini show.

“Hi!” a voice chirped on my left side and I turned to look at it to find a blonde girl beaming cheerfully at me. She’s sitting pretty on her balcony and I noticed the cans of beer on the coffee table in front of her.

“I’m Trisha! What’s your name?”

She seems nice so I leaned in closer towards her balcony to accept the invitation to talk.

“My name’s Amara,” I returned back the smile she was offering.

“Nice meeting you, Amara! Are you alone?”

My lips curved into a sheepish smile. “Yeah. What about you? You can’t possibly be on your own cause that’s a lot of can right there.” I pointed at the beers perching on the table. Trisha laughed softly.

“Well, do you wanna come over and help me finish them up?” she invited and I was tempted for a second but I realize that I’m not a fan of drinking.

I shook my head apologetically. “Sorry, I don’t drink.”

“Seriously?” she laughed, also shaking her head. “Just a can?”

Well maybe that won’t hurt right?

“Fine,” I surrendered before I heard her loud squeak as she ran back inside her room to probably open the door for me.

Hinagilap ko ang cellphone at hoodie bago lumabas ng kuwarto para salubungin ang kapit-bahay. Trisha was waiting on her doorstep with a big grin on her face. Magiliw niya akong winelcome sa loob ng kuwarto niya at iginiya sa balcony.

Kakatapos lang iset-up ng mga staffs ang stage at nagsisimula nang magsound check ang mga musikero.

I sat on the chair across Trisha and I watched her open a can before handing it to me.

“Are you a tourist?” she inquired and I nodded before hesitantly sipping on the can. The beer was fine and it didn’t taste horrible as I expected. “Kailan ka pa dito?”

“Kahapon lang,” binaba ko ang beer sa lamesa bago muling bumaling sa live band. “What about you?”

“Nah. I live nearby. Medyo stressful ang situation sa bahay ngayon kaya dito muna ako magpapalipas ng ilaw araw.”

I thought she’d continue after that but the silence that followed says otherwise.

“Well, I was a fresh graduate and in need of a vacation so I was here.”

The vocalist was now delivering a greeting speech and that’s my cue that the performance is about to begin.

We watched the live band together while drinking and exchanging conversations the whole night. The supposed one can of beer was doubled and I had to strongly decline the third can she was offering dahil nakakaramdam na ako ng hilo. We also exchanged numbers before I left her room that night.

Trisha and I became closer after that. We hang out at each other’s place mostly and she also toured me inside and outside of the beach. She is a social butterfly kaya’t marami na rin akong nakilala dito sa beach dahil sa kanya.

I was in the middle of browsing the photos I took on my cam when I heard my phone rang loudly. Trisha’s name flashed on the screen so I immediately swiped to answer the call.

“Yes?”

“Puntahan mo ako dito sa clinic please,” that was all she said before cutting off the line, not letting me speak a word. Kunot noo kong tinitigan ang hawak na cellphone. Clinic? Did she got into an accident?

Nagmadali akong bumaba at tinakbo ang clinic dahil sa naisip. Nang makarating doon, napahinto ako sa tapat ng pinto nang marinig ang mahihinang iyakan sa loob. Sumilip ako at agad na nagtama ang mata namin ni Trisha. Her eyes are puffy from crying at namumula rin ang ilong nito.

She walked towards my direction and collapsed in my arms, her sobs getting louder. I was still confused about what’s happening pero nang muling dumako ang mata ko sa loob ng clinic at makita roon sa higaan ang bulto ng katawan na nakabalot sa puting tela ay halos kilabutan ako.

“He’s dead. Ricky’s dead.” Trisha cried and I have no idea how to console her.