"Manang Angie, wala pa rin pong kupas ang sarap ng turon mo," ang masayang sabi ni Gerald sa matandang katiwala.
"Salamat. Ikaw rin walang kupas."
"Walang kupas saan po?"
"Sa pambobola sa akin. Oo na, alam ko na. At kahit kailan sa 'yo lang ako boto."
"At 'yan naman mo ang gusto ko sa inyo."
"Naku, nagbolahan na naman po silang dalawa," ang pagsabat ni Sarah. "Manang, maiba nga lang po ako. Bakit parang hindi ko pa nakikita si Manong Romy?"
"Pumunta s'ya sa bayan kaninang tanghali. Malamang ay pabalik na rin 'yun. Ano bang balak n'yong gawin ngayon? Palubog pa lang naman ang araw."
Nagtinginan ang magkasintahan at ngumiti. Sumagot si Sarah, "Katulad lang po ng dati."
Matapos ang mirienda ay lumabas na sila ng bahay. The resthouse's back porch overlooks the beach. In the past they would spend a few minutes on the hammock at the porch and wait for the sunset. As the sun sets, they would walk along the shore and talk about their plans for the future. That's why they are in agreement that this is the best part of their day. But this time, they didn't talk about the future but reminisced about their good times together.
After a few minutes of walking, they sat on the beach with her in front of him, in between his legs, and leaning on him.
“It’s so nice to be doing this again,” he said as he planted a kiss on her head.
“Yeah. I feel so at peace.”
“Babe, naaalala mo ba ‘yung isang vacation natin na halos araw-araw tayong nagsiswimming?”
“Oo, kaya pag-uwi natin sa Manila ay pareho tayong sunog na sunog pero ikaw ang may grabeng sunburn.
“Ha… ha… ha! Ayaw ko na ulitin ‘yun kasi hindi ka maka-hug sa akin dahil sa sobrang sakit.”
“Eh ‘yung time na nadapa ako doon sa may mabatong part doon,” sabi naman ni Sarah sabay turo sa isang bahagi ng beach na di naman kalayuan.
His hand automatically held that part of her knee where a big wound used to be. “Buti na lang hindi masyadong malalim ‘yung mga sugat.”
Napatawa naman si Sarah nang maalala pa ang isang bagay, “Do you remember that day na napagkamalan tayong trespassers nung bagong katiwala sa kabilang bahay?”
“Ha…. ha… ha! Who could forget? I’ve never been so humiliated in my life.”
“Ikaw naman kasi eh. Sinabi ko na sa ‘yo na hindi ako marunong maglaro ng frisbee. ‘Yun tuloy hindi ko nasalo tapos pumunta doon sa loob ng property nila. At nagpumilit ka pa na you will just go over the fence and get it.”
“Hindi ko naman alam na may tao that time doon.”
“Ha… ha… ha! Buti na lang narinig ni Manong Romy ‘yung pagsigaw nung katiwala at sinabing hindi tayo magnanakaw.”
He looked at the horizon still with the smile on his face. But then his smile turned to a mischievous one as he remembered something else. “Remember that night that we skinny dipped?”
“Ha… ha.. ha! Don’t remind me. Muntik na tayo mahuli ni Manang Angie that time.”
“Wanna do it again?” ang sabi ni Gerald na may halong panunukso.
“Ayaw ko na. Hindi ko na uulitin ‘yun.”
“Ang KJ naman nito.”
Her voice then turned serious. “Babe, ang dami na pala nating experiences together ‘no?”
