Chapter 24
WHEN Kier and I arrived at the beach ay itinayo agad ni Kier ang isang malaking tent na dala namin. He chose to bring the bigger one para raw may mapaglagyan pa kami ng mga gamit.
Nanatili naman ako sa tapat ng pinagtatayuan niya ng tent at kumukuha ng mga litrato sa paligid. There's a fence that separated the sand from the beach and the soil and trees. Maraming puno at may cottage sa pinaka dulo ng beach na napapalibutan ng matataas na bundok.
Two groups of people are here too. It's still 6AM in the morning at ang plano naming mag-hiking ni Kier ay hindi na namin itinuloy dahil kukulangin kami sa oras and as if naman hindi na kami makakapag-hike next time. Kaya okay lang sa 'kin.
I'm sitting on the log as I take a selfie, then Kier suddenly sat beside me and rested his head on my shoulder. Tiningnan ko siya at agad na nakaramdam ng guilt nang makitang nakapikit ang mga mata niya, halatang pagod.
Ibinaba ko ang phone ko sa kabilang gilid ko at hinawakan ang buhok ni Kier para suklayin ito sa paraang alam ko na makakatulog siya.
"Do you want to sleep on our tent bago maligo sa dagat?" I asked him as I continued combing his hair.
"Hmm. . ." He hummed and nodded.
"Then, let's go." I stood up and looked at him flatly. "You're not expecting me to carry you, right?" I chuckled.
He grinned, "And you're not expecting me to do this-" Napatili ako nang bigla siyang tumayo at binuhat ako na parang bagong kasal. "- I guess, I'm right, huh?"
I heard some giggles from the group of girls that are not so far from where Kier is standing.
Binalot ako ng hiya nang mapagtantong nakita nila ang nangyari. Hindi lang 'yon. Tumili ako. Sino nga naman ang hindi mapapatingin sa gawi namin dahil doon?
I can feel my cheeks burning because of it.
"Put me down. Papasok na ako sa tent." I glared at Kier but he didn't listen.
Naglakad siya papalapit sa tent habang buhat-buhat ako, 'saka niya lang ako ibinaba nang nasa tapat na kami mismo ng tent.
Nauna akong pumasok at agad na naalala ang phone ko na naiwan ko sa kinauupuan namin kanina.
Papasok na sana si Kier sa tent pero nang makita niya akong natigilan ay hindi siya tumuloy.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Naiwan ko sa inupuan natin kanina yung phone ko." I answered and he just nodded before going back to where we sat earlier.
Dinampot niya mula roon ang cellphone ko at akmang maglalakad na pabalik dito nang bigla siyang harangin ng isang babae na nakasuot ng red na bikini. Awtimatikong tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ko nang humakbang ang babae palapit sa kaniya.
Kier was quick to step back. At dahil hindi naman kalayuan mula rito ang kinatatayuan nila, naririnig ko ang sinasabi ng babae.
"You're Zaiden Kier, right?" The girl asked.
Hindi ko makita ang mukha niya dahil nakatalikod siya sa gawi ko.
I can't see Kier's face too since the girl is blocking him from my sight. I'm sure as hell that the girl knew that I'm watching them.
Kier didn't answer the girl's question and he gave me a glance instead. I saw how worried he is and when I smiled at him, he nodded once before facing the girl.
Kier pointed to where I am before saying, "See that gorgeous woman right there?" He smirked when the girl faced me with an annoyed expression. "That's my girlfriend."
The girl averted her eyes from me and turned to Kier, "I'm sure she won't mind if ever we fuck-"
"I don't want to." Kier cut her off and left her there, unable to speak.
Tuluyan na akong umurong papasok sa tent nang pumasok din si Kier dala ang phone ko. He handed it to me and I took it from his hand.
"Thank-"
"I don't want your 'thank you'." Aniya at nahiga sa tent, ginawang unan ang hita ko.
I chuckled before saying, "I'm in love with you."
He grinned and closed his eyes. "I feel loved."
I looked at him, flatly. "Really? That's your answer?"
Humalakhak siya at agad ding nakabawi, "I'm in love with you too."
"You better be." I rolled my eyes and turns on my phone.
I took countless of photos earlier and decided to post it on my socials.
I chose three pictures. The first one is the clear view of the beach, the second one is Kier making our tent. Hindi kita ang mukha niya dahil nakatalikod siya, it's a stolen shot. The last photo is my selfie na ang background ay si Kier pa rin na nagtatayo ng tent.
I posted it after tagging Kier, then I turned my phone off after and just combed Kier's hair so he could sleep peacefully.
It's already 7am when Kier woke up. Lumabas kami sa tent nang may marinig na may nagbebenta ng fresh fishes. Kier was the one who's choosing a fish for us and I just stayed on the back watching him.
I'm wearing my black aviator. Nagpalit din ako ng damit since I'm wearing a leggings earlier. I chose to wear a black tube top paired with a white maong short.
Humalukipkip ako nang makita muli ang babae kanina na tumayo sa tabi ko. Maya-maya lang ay humarap siya sa 'kin, I can see her movements on my peripheral vision. She's giving me a judging look and I just smirked without looking at her.
"My boyfriend is so handsome, 'no?" Maarteng tanong ko sa kaniya.
Mukhang nakuha niya naman ang ibig kong sabihin. Ilang segundo bago siya sumagot, "Oo nga e'. Ang sarap agawin."
Yumuko ako at eleganteng natawa, "True. Gusto mo i-try? But, make sure na magpa-paagaw siya. You don't want to shame yourself naman 'di ba?"
Nilingon ko siya nang hindi siya sumagot. She's already glaring at me. Nakangisi at maarte kong tinanggal ang suot kong aviator para makita niya kung gaano ako ka-kalma habang kausap siya.
"Though, I don't think my man would make patol to a woman like you." I titled my head and pouted my lips a little like I'm awe while looking at her. "What do you think?"
Hindi na maipinta ang mukha niya sa sobrang inis, "Aagawin ko pa rin-"
"Okay." I cut her off, calmly, kahit gusto ko na siyang pagsalitaan ng super bad ay pinigilan ko pa rin ang sarili ko.
"Papayag ka?" She smirked like she can already sense my annoyance.
Well, she's wrong.
"But a little tip lang. He only cared if it's me. I suggest you buy a class and avoid ruining someone's relationship. Stop desiring to be a mistress or a third party, those titles are too cheap, you can still change and be a better person. It's your choice," I gave her my sweetest smile before leaving her there.
Sakto namang tapos na si Kier sa pamimili ng isda. He smiled at me and proudly showed me the fishes he bought.
Nang makalapit siya ay agad kong inilabas mula sa bulsa ko ang panyo at pinunasan ang noo niya na may mga butil ng pawis.
