Chapter 3: The Misunderstanding

FERNANDO

I WAS STUNNED WHEN I GOT TO THE AIRPORT. I left the condo in a hurry after seeing my mother's painting on the wall. I will go to the place where she painted it.

That place is called Isla Marupok. I remembered we had a beach house named after me there. My dad bought it when I was eleven years old. And at that age, I also went to that island. That was the first time, and it's only been a few years since neither of us has been back. After Mommy died in an accident seventeen years ago, none of us remembered going back to the island.

When I really couldn't think of anything or remember how to go to Isla Marupok again, I decided to open my phone. But before I could do that, I removed my old sim card and decided to buy a new sim at the airport.

After I bought a new SIM card, I first sat in the waiting area and did a quick search on how to get to Isla Marupok. Once I got the details I needed, I got in line to buy a plane ticket.

The island is quite far away. It is in a remote part of Mindanao. A two-hour flight from NAIA to Davao International Airport; a six-hour drive from Davao airport to the town near the island; and a two-hour ride to the island by barge or boat. Well, I'm here already at the airport. There’s no turning back. And the island is a perfect escape for me at the moment.

Fortunately, I saw the painting of my late mother. Even though my mother has been dead for a long time, I feel that she is still guiding me. Sometimes, especially when I'm frustrated or something bad is happening to me, there are things I remember related to Mommy, and then I'll have an idea or a way to solve my problem. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but for me, that's mommy's way of guiding me even though she's no longer physically with me. She's like my guardian angel.

I was drunk, but I tried to make myself sober because I was still at the airport. Guards or personnel might see me there if I smell alcohol. I still look like a mess now. I didn't waste time shaving my beard. I just put my long hair back. It turned out that there was a hole in the white shirt I was wearing that I just pulled out of the cabinet, tattered jeans, and slippers.

I could feel the other passengers looking at me. The others seemed weirded out and walked away from me. Others are obviously trying to be cute. I didn't care anymore. I'm not in the mood.

I was also a bit lucky that day because there was an extra plane ticket going to my destination that would be boarded in thirty minutes. I immediately bought that ticket.

I immediately went to the designated gate for my flight after checking in. I sat in the waiting area with other passengers, and soon the flight personnel announced that we should line up.

I fell asleep during the entire flight. I was already recharged after getting off the plane. I immediately took a taxi as soon as I got out of the airport. I drove to the bus terminal, where I would ride for six hours. There was not much traffic, so we reached the bus terminal in just 10 minutes.

I'm really lucky today because there's another bus leaving in twenty minutes. What's even better is that this is the Super Deluxe Bus with a lazy boy. So, I won't really have any difficulties during the whole trip.

Even before I boarded the bus, I simply bought six cans of beer and started drinking.

Between stopovers, I only get off if I run out of drinks and I buy alcohol again. So, when we got to the town where I would board the barge to cross the island, I was already drunk.

I know people are looking at me again, but I don't care about them. I also bumped into a few earlier. How many times have I apologized? It's my fault. I staggered to walk. There was even another child who bumped into me, but I still apologized. I saw that the sauce he was eating spilled on my clothes, but he just made me suffer. He did not apologize. Naughty boy

I'm feeling nauseous and my vision is spinning, so I sit down first. On the floor itself because there was no other seat there. I was really nauseous and I couldn't stop it. I threw up on the side. Fortunately, the place where I was sitting was close to the sea, so everything inside my stomach was released into the sea.

I felt so nauseous that I could throw up everything in my bowels. But it's just a viscous liquid that comes out. When was the last time I ate? I do not know.

Someone approached me like a guard or port staff. The man was very kind and helped me. I didn't realize that I had vomited even in my pants. He helped me get to CR. I dressed in old denim shorts that I had brought. I don't even know how many clothes I have with me. I just picked up some clothes earlier. I'm not even sure if they were washed. I do not care anymore.

After I put on my underwear, I first washed and lathered. I'm feeling pretty okay again. I came out of CR, but the man is still waiting for me.

I just asked him about the barge and he helped me. When I was settled on the barge, he left me. I tipped him and thanked him. He didn't want to accept it at first, but I insisted. I also simply bought alcohol and started drinking again. I just felt that the barge had already landed. I also finished a few cans of beer, so I was knocked out and fell asleep on the floor of the barge.

I was distracted when the barge driver woke me up.

"We're here. Come down," he said.

I wiped my saliva before I got up. I thought I would arrive at night on the island. Fortunately, it's still bright. I staggered off the barge again. I even saw the driver shaking his head at me.

I felt a little better again, and my drunkenness was somewhat gone when I got off the barge. So when I went down, I couldn't help but be amazed at what I saw. The island is very beautiful. Very clear water and a white sand beach. Wow, nice. Very refreshing to the eyes.

I haven't had a vacation in years. I have also been immersed in work since I graduated with a master's degree in Business Administration in NYU. Dad immediately sent me home and put me to work for the company.

After six months, he made me the vice president. That's why I didn't have time to go on vacation. When Callie became my girlfriend, I got busy too. So, mostly our getaways are just dates in fancy restaurants in the city. We haven't been out of town yet.

Anyway, it's nice to smell the fresh air. I am so glad I went here. The problem is, I don't even know how to get to our beach house. That’s right, I really forgot. I don't want to ask my siblings. They'll know I'm here and they might follow me again.

I enjoy looking at the people here. Locals and foreigners are walking side by side. Fresh faces, new surroundings, new everything!

Ah, the breeze is really nice. The wind is really different in the province.

I was just stunned in the middle of the road and happily watching the parade of people when I heard a voice from behind me.

"Hey," they called. I turned around and saw one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in my entire life.

Is she a foreigner? She looks like a foreigner. She seemed surprised just watching me, especially when I pointed my finger at myself.

Am I the one she is calling? 

The pretty girl and I just stared at each other for a few seconds, then a young man came. He looked back and forth between the woman and me.

What surprised me was when he pulled me aside and said, "Brother, come on. The one to lift is there."

I am so dead. I was even mistaken for a carrier from the port. Maybe because I looked too shabby.

I just followed the guy silently. We stopped at a pile of chairs still wrapped in bubble wrap.

The young man started lifting, and when he saw that I hadn't moved, he just looked at me in wonder. I didn't speak anymore, and just like him, I picked up a chair. So he continued what he was doing and started walking while carrying the chair. I followed him in the direction of wherever he would place what we were lifting.

The teenager stopped in a silver Nissan Navara pickup truck. It looks like the owner has money because, if I'm not mistaken, his Navara pickup truck is the latest model.

"Hey guys," said a woman who suddenly appeared. The first thing I noticed was boobs. Her boobs were so big.

"Sister Maribel, it's you. Good afternoon," greeted the teenager to the woman.

"I am more beautiful than the afternoon, Cole." Well, the woman’s confidence is also top-notch. She’s okay though. Maribel is sexy, but the girl I saw earlier is more beautiful. But Maribel has a bigger chest. Like Toni Fowler. "I can see that Carmelita has got money again from her rich DOMs, so she has new things for her resort, right? Your boss is really good at smooching rich people, isn't she? Her flirting skills are amazing."

I just listen to them quietly. I stopped laughing. Maribel is only wearing short shorts and a crop top. I'm just observing them for now.

"Oh, sister Maribel. You are really funny. We’ll leave you here, okay? We'll carry the other chairs first," said Cole, who called the woman, politely.

I was about to follow the teenager when Maribel stopped me.

"Papi, are you one of Carmelita's toys again? Don't expect too much." She is so close. Actually, I can feel her boobs hanging around my stomach.

Because the woman is small. I guess she is only 5'2", I'm 5'11", so I'm really bent down looking at her. Boobs. I can clearly see the size of her boobs. I swallowed. I didn't even notice her face.

"If you want me, just go with me. I'll take care of you, promise. I'm not like Carmelita, who needs to be the mistress of rich DOMs to make money. I can give you all you want." She is still rubbing my arm.

Shit. Stop yourself, Fernando!

"Don't you have anything else to do but bother other people, Maribel?" The woman and I turned to the speaker. She is the girl I thought was a foreigner earlier. It turns out she is fluent in the native language of the island.

"Carmelita…" I breathed a sigh of relief when Maribel moved away from me. My junior down there reacts quickly. Just calm down, bro! This is not the first time you've seen big boobs. "I don't have time to talk to you. I might get infected by your flirtatious nature. Alright, bye."

Maribel left quickly. I didn't realize I was looking at Carmelita. I can see that she is affected by what Maribel said because her face is red with anger. I can hear her cursing under her breath.

So, it turns out that Carmelota is into DOMs. Is it true?

Well, I guess that’s fine. Maribel is sexy, but Carmelita is sexier because her body is well proportioned. Because Maribel lacked an ass.

Maniac! 

I'm not, I'm just observant.

It's a shame that this girl is really into DOMs. Another gold-digger. Women like her are disgusting!

"What are you staring at?" She looks at me. I must have been staring for too long. "Get to work now! Time is ticking. Hurry up!" She ordered me angrily.

I didn't say a word anymore and just obeyed her order. A plan formed in my mind while walking back to where Cole and I were hauling. It looks like I will be really happy living on this island. I am really glad I went here.