The Hidden Gem

Chapter 25

Another couple of hours had passed and we arrived at our destination. Tanghali na kami nakarating at nakapagcheck-in sa Lapaz Beach Resort. We decided to eat lunch first before taking a stroll on the beach.

"Ang ganda rito." Peace and contentment was evident to Yka's voice.

She was wearing a plain white shirt, short shorts and flip flops while I was wearing my usual guy's clothes --- a shirt that's obviously two sizes larger and shorts ended just below my knees. My chest binder not only hid my breasts but also gave people a false impression that I had a toned chest. Lalaking lalaki ang dating ko.

Well, except for the face.

"Oo nga." I said while looking at the ocean.

Napakapayapa ng pakiramdam ko. Natutuwa ako dahil nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong makaramdam ng ganito. Para bang nawala ang lahat ng stress at problema ko sa buhay. Sayang nga lang at hindi magtatagal ito.

Yka was exploring beside me while I was looking at the horizon. Hindi ko binibgyang pansin ang mga kababaihang humahagikhik at nagbubulungan sa paligid. I wanted peace and I wouldn't let anyone ruin that.

"Ger! Ger! Tignan mo to dali!" Napalingon ako kay Yka na sa sobrang excited ay hinatak pa ko para tignan ang itinuturo nito sa buhanginan.

"Ano ba 'yon?"

"Tignan mo may alimango. Tagilid nga silang maglakad oh. Mukha siyang masungit. Ahaha! Kamukha niya si manyak na Bryan pag nagagalit." Bigla naman itong tumigil at magbago ang itsura. Mula sa pagiging masaya, ngayon ay parang naiirita. "Hmmp. Naasar tuloy ako. Meron bang stick diyan. Tutusukin ko toh eh!" Aniya habang palinga linga sa buhangin.

I stopped her before she could pick the stick she saw.

"Tama na 'yan. Huwag mo nang pagdiskitahan kawawa naman. Isa pa alimasag 'yan hindi alimango. Alimango is bigger okay." I said amusingly to her.

"Hay tama ka. Nandito tayo para magsaya. Tara na!"

Pinagpatloy naming ang paglalakad. Bukas namin balak maligo sa dagat dahil gusto muna naing malibot ang buong beach.

"Anong dala mong swimming suit?" She asked.

I shrugged. "Wala. I can't swim."

"Ano? Ikaw na handsome genius Ger ay hindi marunong lumangoy! Bakit?"

"My father had forbidden me to learn that. Ang sabi niya kasi huwag daw akong lalangoy ng walang kasama. That time, I sneaked out and tried to teach myself to swim. He caught me and ordered to drain the water from the pool."

"Wow! Ang bait ng father mo."

I wasn't sure how to react to that.

Maraming tao sa resort. Hindi naman kasi maipagkakailang maganda ang buong lugar. Nakakarelax dahil narin sa malinis na hangin at kagandahan ng dagat hindi gaya sa syudad na puro usok at ingay. Ang problema nga lang, masyadong crowded paglayo sa karagatan

We planned not to stay too much on the hotel we had checked in. Hindi rin kasi nalalayo ang syudad sa dikit dikit na set-up ng mga establishimento. There was also a wide road nearby that we took to get here.

Nagkwekwento si Yka habang ako ay nakikinig lang. Biglang may apat na babaeng lumapit sa amin. Mga nakabikining mukang mas maliit ang sukat kaysa sa nararapat sa kanila. Napa buntong hininga na lamang ako. Nagsisimula na naman ang kalbaryo ko bilang Ger.

"Hi Handsome! Ako nga pala si April." Maarteng sabi ng isa sabay lahad ng kamay sa'kin.

Makasuot ito ng two piece black bikini. She looked like a model from an FHM magazine. Long, black curly hair na pinapatungan ng shades nito, long, thick eyelashes, pink full lips, rosy cheeks, porcelain skin with curves on the right places.