Chapter 5

When we arrived at the resort, agad naming naabutan sina Alex at Josh sa isang maliit na cottage. Maraming foods na nakalatag sa isang lamesa, at nilagay lahat ng mga pagkain sa dahon ng saging. Kumbaga, parang boodle fight lang.

"Hello! Pretty boy! You okay na ba?" she asked while eating a slice of a watermelon. On her side, there is Josh, busy eating using his hands.

"I'm okay na." I smiled at her, and followed Mark so we could wash our hands and eat.

"Umayos ka nga sa pagkain, Josh." pagsaway ni Mark nito nang makitang sobrang bilis nitong kumain.

"Nabulunan na yan kanina eh. But he still continues eating too fast, " Alex growled.

I'm just looking at them, while I'm eating. Hindi naman ako masyado nagsalita, at shmasabay balang ako sa pagtawa nila. Sobrang pagod na kasi ako, and I wanted to take a rest. After we ate, nagpaalam kaagad ako sa kanila na umuna na sa kwarto namin so I can have my early rest. Hinatid naman ako ni Mark, while Alex and Josh tried to swim at the rooftop pool.

Magkasama lang kaming tatlo sa iisang kwarto, at hiwalay kang Alex. Gusto pa nga sbaa ni Alex na tig-iisa kami, but we insisted na magsama nalang sa isang room. 

"Sure ka bang okay ka lang mag-isa dito? Pwede naman kitang samahan." I gaze at Mark while I'm taking off my clothes. Tumawa ako ng mahina and shook my head to him.

"You're too nice, Mark. You deserve to have a girl to hit on." asar ko, at umiling lang siya.

"Nahhh, I don't have time for them. I better take care of you." he winked. Nagpaalam na siya pagkatapos niyang magbihis ng t-shirt, at pumunta ako sa banyo to take a shower before taking a rest. Medyo nag kulay kahel naman din ang langit nang sumilip ako sa bintana. 

Madlai lang naman akng natpaos naligo, and when I already dry my hair. I lie in the comfy bed, and feel the cold breeze of the air-conditioned inside the room. The peaceful ambience of the room makes me sleep so easily.

"H-hello?" Naalimpungatan ako nang may tumawag sa phone ko nang paulit-ulit. I was annoyed, so I answered it.

"Pretty boy! Wake up na! We have a surprise for you. "

" Huh? " I confusedly asked her. Kababago ko pa lang nagising and what Alex told me about the surprise did not processed to mind. Sobrang lutang ko, kaya para malaman ko kung ano 'yon, I dig up and went to the seaside where Alex told me to go.

Medyo madilim na ang paligid, but the series lights from the cottages and trees makes the resort more lively. I can hear the frogs around, and the lullaby that they played. I am only wearing my white tank top, and shorts so the mosquitoes are happily biting and sucking my blood. From where I am, I can see the river pool, and the bar counter at the center. Maraming staff na nandito dahil naglilinis sila, and kept on greeting me.

Nakarating na ako sa seaside, and saw no one. Siguro na surprise nga ako kasi sobrang tahimik ng paligid.

Not until, I gasped out of shock, and felt the coldness at the back of my head when someone covered my eyes. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nasa likod ko, when it talked.

It was Josh.

"Dude, ako ma bahala sa'yo." tinapik ng mahina ni Josh ang balikat ko. 

"Josh, pwedeng huwag mo na lang ipiring ang mata ko. I'm not comfortable with this. "I tried myself not to crack a voice, while I'm trying to get this thing off my eyes. Ramdam ko ang doble ng pagdabog ng puso ko, and gives me so much pain inside which I don't know why.

"Huh? Eh hindi na yon surprise." tawa nito.

"P-please, tanggalin mo na lang."

"Sorry–" 

" JOSH JUST DO IT PLEASE! " agresibo kong tinanggal ang piring sa mata ko, at hinarap siya. 

" Dude, what the fvck! " he opened his arms, and looked at me with disappointment.

"I said take this off to me, isn't? Hindi ka bobo para hindi mo yon maintindihan. " Dinuro ko siya at tinalikuran. I can't help myself to talk to him in that way. The time he covered my eyes, it felt like I was touched by someone and I felt like crying, and my legs were kinda trembling at the same time.

"Kael! Pwede ka naman magsalita ng maayos." sigaw niya nang makalayo ako. Padabog akong naglakad paalis, at pinipilit na klamahin ang kamay kong nanginginig.

Until I stopped seeing a table full with some flowers and wine. A guy is waiting and holding a handheld bouquet, then saw slowly walking towards my direction. 

"What is this guy doing..." I murmured.

" Kael Rodriguez, "His deep set eyes meet mine, and a smile plastered on his face when he gave me a handheld bouquet full of sunflowers.

"Anong ginagawa mo, Isaac?" tiningnan ko si Alex na nasa likod namin hindi lang kalayuan sa kung nasaa kami nakatayo, taking pictures of us.

I am not aware that they already knew that this is me...

"Let me court you again, my love." He held my hand, but I slowly took it from him.

"Are you out of your mind, Isaac? Alam mong hindi tayo tanggap ni dad, but you still kept going. " 

" We can make your relationship private, love." Nangunot ang noo ko, at paulit-ulit na umiling.

"You're just wasting your time, Isaac. You even seek help with my friends! You're disgusting, Isaac. " duro ko sa kanga.

" Showing affection to someone I love is disgusting, Kael?" 

" For me, yes! You've been acting to desperate, Issac." ngisi ko, at ambang tatalikuran ko na siya nang hinuli niya ang braso ko, making me touches his chest, and our face closed to each other.

Pumiglas ako para makalayo sa kanya, pero mas hinapit niya ang hawak sa likod ko.

"Don't leave me again, love." he whispered to me, making his breath touch my lips.

"Shut up, Isaac!" Malakas ko siyang tinulak, at inambahan ng isang suntok. I clenched my jaw, groaning silently cause of my fist in pain. Tinagilid niya ang mukha niya at sapo ang pisngi niyang namumula.

"I don't want to see you again, Isaac." I pushed him.

"No! Kael!" Hinuli niya ulit ang braso ko at kita ko ang pagtakbo ni Alex sa direksyon namin.

" Kuya! Stop it!" sigaw nito, at hinawakan ang braso ni Isaac.

"I don't love you anymore, Isaac!" I lied to him. Making me feel how my heart penetrates to the lies I am saying in front of him. The way his eyes glassed, and face begged at me, it broke me. Kung pwede lang sana na sundin ko ang gusto ko, I will let him in my life again.

Yes, I still love him. But I need to stop my feelings for a better life for us. Ayokong guluhin ni dad ang buhay namin, especially his life– Isaac's life. 

"But, I love you!" he shouted full of cracks in his voice.

Napaatras ako nang bigla ko na lang nakita si Isaac sa lupa, namumugto bigla ang labi niya, at nangining lalo ang binti ko nang makita ang dugo sa gilid ng labi niya. Napatingin ako sa gilid ko nang makita si Mark. He's glaring at Isaac, and has a heavy breathing.

"Don't ever touch Kael again!" duro niya kay Isaac.

"Are you okay, Kael?" he asked, sighing, but I just nodded as a reply to him.

"Who the hell are you?" kinuwelyuhan ni Isaac si Mark, at agad namang hinatak ni Alex ang damit ni Isaac to get his hands off Mark's neckline.

"I am–" Mark gazed at me, and licked his lips, "I liked Kael and I am not desperate to be his." My brows furrowed at Mark's confession to me. He's too straight-forward, and I don't think it's a good idea for him.

"Mark! What do you mean?" Alex asked confusedly.

" I like Kael." Ulit niya.

"What!?" 

" You're kidding, dude." natatawa kong sabi, trying to convince myself that he's not telling the truth.

Umiiling ako at agad na lumayo sa kanila. They called me, but I didn't mind turning my back to them. They are crazy.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako dinala ng mga paa ko, until I saw a man sitting at the seashore far from the resort, and throwing pebble at the sea.

He's familiar to my eyes, and walked towards his direction.

"R-rico, right?" Amidst the dim and the sound of the waves, I can see his glowing eyes from here. Suddenly, a smile plastered on his face.

"Sir Kael," tumayo siya at pinagpagan ang pwetan. I smiled at him, and gestured my hand for him to sit back again. 

"Kumusta, Sir Kael? " he asked, while starting to throw pebbles again.

I sighed, and hugged both of my legs, "I don't know. Ang dami ng nangyayari ngayon eh." I laughed. At ramdam ko na naman ang parang pinatong na bato sa dibdib ko, and the double beating of my chest.

"Pero, sir Kael. Hindi ko akalain na magkikita ulit tayo ngayon." He chuckled, and gaze at him seeing the side of his face. 

" Me, too." I whispered.

We've been too silent for a while, until he looked at me again. The waves are touching my feet, and I felt the cold wind because of the waves. Medyo madilim lang ang paligid dahil sa natatabunan ng ulap ang mga bituin at buwan.

"Gusto mong sumandal sa balikat ko?" He tapped his shoulder.

"Huh? Why?"

Ngumiti siya, at tila parang may naalala akong ganito rin ang nangyari kasama si Rico. Hindi ko alam kung kailan, pero napaka-familiar ng feeling.

"Kanina ka pa kasi nagbubuntong-hininga. Baka gusto mo rin ng yakap, ibibigay ko." biro niya.

" Well, can I?" ngisi ko.

Napahinto siya at napakamot sa batok, " Matatanggihan ba kita, Sir kael?" Umusog ako ng konti sa kanya, at dahan-dahan na nilapit ang ulo sa balikat niya.

"Ang bango niyo naman, Sir Kael." tawa niya.

"Stop calling me Sir. Just Kael." I looked at the dark night sky and felt his breathing.

"Bakit parang nangyari na 'to dati?" he chuckled. Then, I sit properly, facing at him.

" Ang weird, pero totoo. Hindi pa naman tayo nagkita dati, kaya nagtataka ako." 

" Feels like déjà vu?"

"Ano yon, Kael?" I bit the side, inside of my cheek hearing my name from him without the Sir. 

"I'm not that descriptive, but I think it's like an experience of a flashback of scenes or situations which already happened before." 

Sunod-sunod siyang tumango, at tinitigan ako, " Baka na reincarnate tayo dati, noh?"

"You believe in reincarnation?"

His lips parted, and tried to say out words but feels like he's shy or something. 

"Kung may sasabihin ka, say it. Don't be shy."

He scratched his head before talking, "Sa totoo niyan, nanghuhula ang lola ko noong kabataan niya. At nakita niya raw sa palad ko na nabuhay na ako sampung taon na ang nakalipas." he shared.

I pretend to agree with him by nodding. He's expressions were so serious, and I don't see any signs of him fooling.

"Are you serious?" I asked him with hesitation. I tried to make my voice not that sarcastic, and I hope I made my voice chill.

He nodded and looked at me on the side of his eyes, "Ang lungkot lang kasi namatay ako noon na may galit ang taong mahal ko sa'kin. " patuloy niya.

" Ano pa ang nahula ng lola mo?"

He sighed and put both of his palm at the sand, "Makikita ko ulit ang minamahal ko noon sa gabi, magkikita kami sa ilalim ng gabing madilim. At magwawakas ang lahat sa lugar kung saan nagwakas noon." My brows furrowed, and awkwardly chuckled.

" Nice." tanging respond ko lang sa kanya.

"Hindi mo naman kailangan na maniwala, Kael. Gusto ko lang ipaalam sa'yo na minsan nangyayari ang mga hindi natin akalain na nangyayari pala talaga." huli niyang sinabi at agad kaming napatingin sa isa't-isa nang hindi namin namalayan ang malakas na pag hampas ng alon, dahilan ng pagtama sa inuupuan namin ang malamig na tubig; making our shorts wet.

"Sabi ko, diba? Hindi mo aakalin na mangyayari ang hindi mo akalain na mangyayari." We both laughed, and stood up, looking at our wet half-body.