CHAPTER 23
KRIS POV
So we started our elective course in Ecology in Palawan. Sobrang ganda dito! This is like a piece of paradise here on earth. This is a good place to just de-stress from everything! A fresh start, that’s what Joyce and I need. I hope that this trip will do both of us good. It’s our chance to start again, and to pick up where we left off 3 months back. No matter how much I want to make things right between us agad agad, I realized na hindi ko pwede madaliin ang mga bagay-bagay. These things take a lot of time and effort. But I’m willing to do just that...anything that will make her believe in my intentions once more. Liligawan ko si Joyce. Remember Kris, patience is a virtue.
On our first week here, she’s still trying her best to avoid me, just like what she promised back in Manila. It didn’t help that we were assigned different quadrants to work on. Good thing ka-group niya si Lexi kaya may reason ako na sumama kay Rick everytime binibisita niya si Lexi.
One time, we chanced upon them resting. Joyce just briefly looked at me and then she went to sit by herself underneath this shady tree.
Derrick: Kumusta na ang babe ko?
Lexi: Eto pagod na pagod.
Derrick: Talaga?
Lexi: Sobra! Bakit ka nga pala andito? Tapos na ba kayo sa area niyo?
Derrick: Tapos na. Miss na kasi kita eh. Halika nga dito. I brought you something to drink.
Lexi: Wow! Ang sweet ha? Wait…may kailangan ka no?
Kris: Basag ka Rick! Haha
Derrick: Babe naman! Wala! Eto naman oh! Ikaw na nga dinalhan ng drinks eh. Hoy Kris, ano tinatawa-tawa mo diyan?!
Kris: Wala sabi ko basag ka. Haha!
Derrick: Ako ang basag? Eh ano ang tawag mo sa iyo? Di ka nga makaporma eh. Haha! One point for Rick Monasterio! Boooom! Haha!
Kris: Ewan ko sa iyo.
Then Lexi quietly told me.
Lexi: Pagod na pagod yan si Joyce. Hirap kasi nung naka-assign na quadrant sa amin eh, pa-slope yung area. Go, puntahan mo na siya.
Kris: Thanks Lex.
So I went to Joyce to bring her something to drink.
Kris: Joyce? Eto oh, I brought you this. Joyce?
She wasn’t answering. So I walked a little nearer to her. Then I realized na nakatulog pala siya. She really looked tired. The trunk of the tree she was leaning against looked uncomfortable. So I sat beside her and carefully tucked her head against my shoulders. She didn’t awaken. I guess she must really be dead-tired. So I just stayed there and continued to hold her against me. I held her hand and intertwined my fingers with hers. I can’t help but think that this is where her hands belong…forever entwined with mine. I’ve never felt a moment’s peace until this. I closed my eyes and just savored this moment.
JOYCE POV
Ang sarap matulog! Grabe, sobrang nakakapagod talaga yung activity sa quadrant. I didn’t want to open my eyes yet. I just want to stay where I am right now and to snuggle more closely to him...HIM????
I suddenly opened my eyes and found his eyes looking into mine! Oh my God! I suddenly sat up. Waves of shyness flooding me. Nakakahiya!
Kris: Hi.
Joyce: Sorry! Nakatulog pala ako sa iyo. Sorry! Nakakahiya talaga. Oh no...
I scrambled to my feet until I realized na hawak pa rin pala niya ang kamay ko. Then he hesitantly let go of mine. I couldn’t breathe. My heart was beating so fast!
