Sunlight Deception (Isla Series #1)

28

"Oh... That hurt for sure!"

The sun wasn't up yet pero andito na kami sa harap ng dagat para magsurf. Before sunrise kasi ang hightide today. Nakatingin kami ni Cali kay Raya na umahon galing sa ilalim ng tubig, hawak pa ang gilid ng ulo niya.

"Yeah," I agreed. Pinanuod ko si Raya na sumampa ulit sa board niya at nag-paddle palayo.

We arrived in Isla Ahora late last night. I don't really know bakit biglaan silang nagplano na pumunta rito sa Isla. Everybody has work. Pero okay na rin siguro 'to para makapahinga nang kaunti. I also missed home.

Dito kami nag-stay sa resort nila Sasy para raw sama-sama kami. There was a surfing spot just in front of their resort so easy access lang para sa amin magsurf. Si Raya at Marco ang nauna sa dagat. Sasy was still getting ready and si Echo, hindi ko alam kung saan at wala akong pakialam.

"Ano? Tara na?" aya ni Cali sa akin. Inayos niya muna ang orange one piece niya bago kinuha ang board niyang nakalapag sa buhangin.

"Una ka na. Bangag pa ako," natatawang sabi ko. Natawa rin siya at tumango bago naglakad papunta sa dagat.

Umupo pa ako saglit doon. Nang nakita ko na umaakyat na ang araw, tumayo na ako para sumunod kay Cali. Nililipad ng hangin ang buhok ko kaya tinali ko ito into a high ponytail.

"Hi, Miss. Pwede manghingi ng number?" I turned to my left and saw Sasy smiling at me. Buhat niya ang long board niya.

"Sasy, it's still to early to joke," I said, laughing.

"Sexy mo," she said. Nilapag niya muna ang board niya sa buhangin at nagtali ng buhok. I smiled when I saw her in her usual surf outfit.

"No, I'm not." I was only wearing a grey terno two piece but I have a rushguard with me. Feeling ko kasi sobrang init ng araw mamaya. I started to stretch. "You could go first. Stretch muna ako."

"Okay. Done na ako kanina sa room, eh," she said at naglakad na papunta sa dagat. I laughed when she shrieked as she stepped on the water. "Puta, ang lamig!" Nagmura pa siya ulit bago sumampa sa board at nag-paddle.

I continued with my stretching. I extended my arms for my final stretch but was shocked when I accidentally hit something hard. Wait a minute... it's more like I hit someone!

"Aray!"

"Oh my gosh! Sorry!" nagmamadali kong sabi nang nakita ko si Echo na nakahawak sa ilong niya. "Why are you even behind me?!" pagalit kong tanong.

He was slowly massaging his nose while glaring at me kaya naguilty ako. He was wearing his board shorts and a silver necklace was hanging on his neck. Nilapag niya ang shortboard niya sa buhangin bago ako tiningnan ulit.

"Kasi nasa likod ang daanan?" nakakunot noo niyang sagot, still massaging his nose. "Pucha, ang sakit. Alam ko naman ex mo ako pero parang sobra naman iyang galit mo sa akin," he added.

"You're really funny," I said sarcastically and rolled my eyes before picking up my rushguard and wore it. "What?" I asked when I noticed him staring at me.

"You kept the necklace," he said, still staring at me. Kinuha ko na lang ang board ko at hindi siya sinagot. He might have noticed it when I wasn't in my rushguard pa. Yes, I still have it because why would I throw it?

"Let's go?" aya ko. Tumango siya at sabay na kaming naglakad papunta sa dagat at tulad ni Sasy, napatili rin ako sa lamig ng tubig.

"Kaya mo iyan." Tumawa ng mahina si Echo bago sumampa sa board niya. I did the same and started paddling. He pointed at the opposite direction, where the bigger waves were. I saw Marco there riding the waves, while Sasy was sitting on her board waiting for a wave to come.