Chapter 3 - Waves

KHIANA's POV

"WHAT A BAD TIMING!"

"It's me, Ryker. The one at the club last night. Do you remember me?" he asked in his sweet tone, while flashing a small grin.

I am so fucked up!

What should I do now? I was so embarrassed last night and I couldn't face him! Maybe I should just pretend that I don't remember. That I don't know him. Tama! Gano'n na nga! Para maiwasan ko na rin siya.

"I'm sorry... I-I don't know what you're talking about," I said and then turned away.

"Really? You already forgot the face of the man you kissed last night?" he said in a teasing tone. I could imagine his lips smirking at me. "Kasi ako, I can't forget that easily. There's no way I am going to forget the woman I kissed last night."

'God! This is so humiliating!'

Kumunot ang noo ko at hinarap siya. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ryker. But I think you got the wrong person. So, can you please stop bothering me?" I replied to him to save face. Mabilis ako na naglakad palayo sa kanya. In my head, I know that I need to get out of here.

This guy doesn't seem dangerous—or maybe it was just me. But he smells trouble. I don't want to get involved in any trouble—or any man. I just want this vacation for myself only.

Naramdaman ko na sumunod siya sa akin at hinabol ako. Kahit anong bilis pa ng mga ginawa kong paghakbang ay parang hindi pa rin sapat 'yon.

"Hey, Khiana! I didn't want to scare you or anything. I just want to be friends with you,"

I turned to face him and gave him an 'Are you for real' look. "Why do you think I wanted to be friends with you?" I asked him with annoyance in my voice. "I am not here to make friends with anyone."

Pero parang hindi pa rin siya natitinag sa sinabi ko dahil nakangiti pa rin siya at kalmado lang. He even crossed his arms on his chest and just stared at me. "Well you kissed me—"

"I said I don't remember!"

Hindi ko maiwasan na mamula dahil sa sinabi niya. I sounded so defensive, and God knows how embarrassed I am right now. Bakit ba kailangan niya pa ipaalala sa akin? First time niya ba makahalik sa babae.

He smirked. "Really?"

"Really." Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata at pagkatapos ay umirap ako bago siya muli talikuran. "Kaya please, stay away from me!"

"I just want to invite you na mag-dinner," he said.

"I am not interested. Stay away!"

Thank goodness at hindi na siya sumunod pa. Nang lingunin ko siya ay nakatayo lang siya kung saan ko siya iniwan. He's just staring at me, and I tried my best to not meet his eyes.

Naloloka ako sa mga nangyayari!

Meeting that man—that Ryker—was not on my plan, including that drunken mistake. Shit! I bit my lower lip. Kung maka-mistake naman ako parang napakalaking kasalanan naman ang bagay na 'yon. Nakakahiya lang talaga ang nangyari, and the worst thing about it is that I can't admit my mistake. Well, it's just a kiss, nothing else and nothing more. I was wrong to kiss that man in the first place, and I know it's like putting myself in a shameful situation that I couldn't escape.

So, I have no other choice but to pretend.

Pretend that it didn't happen. Pretend that I don't remember.

"Thank you," I said to Mang Nestor as he handed me the blue surfboard that I rented.

"Walang anuman, Ma'am!" magiliw na sambit niya sa akin.

I have no time to think about Ryker and his antics. I just need to avoid him, as much as I can for my own peace. Nandito ako para mag-enjoy at hindi para i-accommodate ang ibang tao. That's why I don't have time to play.

I paddled out into the ocean, trying to clear my mind. When I needed to relax, all I had to do was listen to the sound of the waves breaking on the coast. The ocean and its waves gave me peace that no one can ever give to me. But today, there's something odd. Today my thoughts were racing and my heart felt heavy.

"Ha..." I breathe heavily.

Noong bata pa ako, may iilan akong memories sa dagat. It was not a lot, but it's precious. It was my dad who taught me to swim. I was scared and hesitant to swim kaya pinapakalma niya ako at binubulungan ng iilang salita na nakakawala sa ko. Sabi niya sa akin, na kung may gusto man akong gawin at matutunan, I should really work hard for it. I should embrace it and be willing to overcome the challenges.

I never applied that advice. I was always hesitant to choose myself over my family. I was scared to leave my comfort place and my comfort person, because in my head I couldn't do it. I never did things as if I meant to do it. But this time...

Maybe I can do it. Maybe I could apply his words.

"This is just a phase... this is just a phase," I said those words consoling myself.

My heart felt heavy because the pain is still there. Pero siguro... tama na. Levi chose to hurt me, and I know it wasn't my fault. It was him who messed me up. I need to get over him. Hindi na worth it pa na isipin siya.

Sarili ko naman ang iisipin ko.

And this time... I meant it.

I continue to glide and dance with the waves using my surfboard. It was fun and relaxing. I was having fun... but then something came.

A white dinghy.

You know the small sailing boat? Something like that. But this one was quite bigger than the usual dinghy and it looked new and expensive. But what caught my attention the most was the one who's riding it.

"Hi, Khiana! Kumusta?" He greeted me.

That Ryker again.

"What are you doing?" I asked, annoyed.

"Boating? Using my new boat, obviously."

"Tch. So annoying..." I whispered.

Pero mukhang narinig niya 'yon kaya bigla naman siyang sumagot. "Wala naman akong ginawang nakaka-annoy as far as I remember I am just trying my new boat."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever you say!"

I had just finished declining Ryker's request to have dinner with him, and after what had transpired the last time between us, in the club, I decided that I did not want any involvement with him. Wala naman akong nakikitang benefit sa pakikipagkaibigan sa kanya. And worse, baka maging sakit ko pa siya sa ulo. So, no thanks!

"Enjoy the waves!" he shouted when he saw me moving away with my surfboard.

I shook my head and whispered to myself. "What an annoying crazy man..."

Tinuloy ko ang pagsu-surf ko kahit nakikita ko pa rin si Ryker and his new boat kuno mula sa malayo. For some reason ay naiirita talaga ako.

I can see from afar that he's smiling. Why the heck he's smiling?

When I paddled farther out into the water, I could feel the tightness in my muscles beginning to loosen. The sun was beginning to set, leaving behind a warm light over the ocean. The waves were ideal; they were about the proper height and width for me to get some decent rides out of them.

I managed to catch a wave and ride it all the way to the beach, experiencing an exhilarating surge of excitement as I slid down the ocean. I turned around to paddle back out into the open water, but as I was doing so, I felt a stabbing pain in the bottom right part of my belly. Cramps. I attempted to block them out of my mind and push through the discomfort, but it was to no use. They were becoming much more difficult by each second.

I was unable to move, so I lost balance and crashed off my board. Because of the strong waves, I felt like I was being thrown about like a rag doll. I made an effort to yell for assistance, but the water started to fill my lips, and I began to choke.

"H-Help... Help!" I screamed.

Oh God! Napuno na ng kaba ang dibdib ko. Hindi ko magalaw ang mga legs ko. Is it the end for me? I still tried my best to move my legs but I couldn't.

"H-Help me!"

I felt like I was being suffocated by the pitch blackness that surrounded me when I was immersed in the freezing water. I attempted to move my legs, but they would not comply with my commands. When I realized that I was about to drown, panic quickly set in.

I yelled for help, but the water was so loud that no one could hear me. My voice was muffled by the water. I exerted effort to get to the surface, but my body felt sluggish and was unresponsive.

Just as I was about to give up hope, I caught sight of a person coming in my direction. It was a man, but I couldn't see his face because of the water and the haze in my eyesight. Everything started to get blurry in my vision. However, there was something about him that struck a chord of recognition. He is familiar to me...

He yelled out my name, "Khiana!"

It seemed as if he was destined to spend his life in the water because of how effortlessly he swam his way over to me. He reached out and grabbed my arm, causing me to be pulled closer to him. As soon as my head breached the surface of the water, I let out a cry for breath. I was able to stay afloat thanks to the man's firm grip on me and his powerful arms.

I attempted to concentrate on his features as I stared up at him. Even though it was still hazy, I could see that he was gorgeous, with chiseled features and black and dark eyes that were quite penetrating and alluring.

But before I could look at his face in its entirety and express my gratitude to him for rescuing me, my vision abruptly became pitch black. But before that, I could hear him hushing my ears and muttering some words.

"You're safe now..."