Cruising Through The Clouds (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 25

Kabanata 25

Ticao Island

AS the plane landed in Masbate City, I felt like this would be my new life—a new beginning.

I let out a loud breath.

I'll build my new life here. I'll collect new memories here.

I took a tricycle to Masbate City Port to ride the ferry to Lagundi on Ticao Island. According to what I've heard from the tricycle driver, it will take 30 minutes para makarating kami sa Port. He also told me that when I'm already in Lagundi, I just hire a motorcycle to take me to Monreal.

I don't have a problem with the place where I'm going to stay since an ancestor from my father's side owned an old mansion there, na ipinamana sa akin. I know it was cleaned by the caretakers there.

Ngayon ko ipinagpasalamat na ipinamana iyon sa akin dahil ngayon ako nangangailangan ng lugar na mapayapa. I don't want to stay in the city or in another country.

Just like what I've expected, malinis ang mansion at nagulat pa ang tagapaglinis sa pagdating ko dahil wala akong pasabi na darating ako. Though, it's okay dahil kagustuhan ko naman iyon.

Namili na rin ako ng kaunting damit at groceries bago ako dumiritso rito kasi wala akong dala.

"If ever my parents and brother call, pakisabi po na hindi ako pumunta rito... kailangan ko lang pong mapag-isa," I said as I gave them the payment for keeping the place clean as always.

Hindi naman siguro iisipin nina Mama't Papa na nandito ako dahil alam nila na mas gusto ko ang malapit sa eroplano kesa sa mapag-isa sa isang isla. Kaya pinili kong magpunta rito.

Ticao Island really amazed me. It is really a land of natural beauty and wonder just waiting to be discovered. This area is blessed with great beaches, mild weather, and attractions of many different kinds. The crystal-clear waters and beautiful pebbles on one side, and a deep, rocky side, provide a panoramic view.

I sighed as I sat on the rocking chair in our mansion's balcony, kaharap ang kalmadong asul na karagatan.

Kung dati ay ang malawak na alley, ang lagi kong kaharap sa tuwing nasa lupa kami, ngayon ay karagatan at ang mapuputing buhangin sa dalampasigan na. Kung dati eroplano ang mga nakikita ko, ngayon ay mga private yachts, small boats, and old mansions on my left and right side na ang nakikita ko.

I spend my time strolling around and even do tour guiding para pampalipas oras.

"Are you leaving already, Lane?" Nilingon ko si Russel dahil sa tanong nito sa akin habang nag-aayos ako para umuwi na.

Tapos na ang schedule ko para mag-tour guide, kaya uuwi na ako.

"Yeah... why?"" I raised my eyebrow at him and crossed my arms over my chest.

He chuckles.

"Let's go; I'll bring you home." I smirked at him.

"Oh? I thought you'd have your overtime today since you were absent yesterday."

He shrugged at kinuha na ang susi ng land rover at nauna nang lumabas sa akin, kaya napailing ako at sumunod na lang.

Russel is one of my closest friends as I stay here in Ticao Island. He is the new owner of the old mansion near mine, and he's staying here in Ticao for good. Good looking and a young, hot bachelorette, living alone on this secluded island for peace. He owns a small yacht and a resort in San Jacinto, so I'm not sure how he became a tour guide if he had other businesses.

I pursed my lips as I scan my whole body at nakitang hindi na magkakasya sa akin ang top ng two piece ko.

"Sana pala bumili ako ng medyo mas malaki nito, Nana. I didn't expect that as my babies grows inside me, my breasts do the same!"

Narinig kong natawa si Russel at Nana Luna sa akin kaya mas ngumuso ako.

Alas nuebe pa lang ng umaga kaya sobrang mild lang ng init ng panahon kaya nagpasya akong maligo na lang sa dagat. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit andito na naman itong si Russel at nanggugulo na naman.

"What do you want then, they won't grow?" masungit pero natatawa na saad nito kaya ngumuso ako at umirap.

I still remember how Russel panicked when he saw me slowly collapsing after a long day of tour guiding in Barubangkaso Island. He rushed me to the Ticao District Hospital, dahil sa sobrang kaba. And there we found out that I'm pregnant.

Ilang linggo pa lang ako sa isla noon, kaya binuhos ko ang oras ko sa pagto-tour guide to divert my attention. I was not expecting to be pregnant with twins. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaction ko. I was depressed knowing that I lost my baby because of the incident. I didn't know that my babies were supposedly triplets.

It hurts me so much knowing that I exhausted myself just to forget what happened. At nang nalaman kong may dalawa pa pala akong dapat na iniingatan at inaalagaan, mas inabot ako ng kaba knowing that there is a big possibility that I'll lose them all.

The doctor explains what happened to me when I said that I lost my baby. It happened that my third baby was the one I lost.

I don't know how I feel. Masaya na malungkot na nasasaktan. Masaya ako kasi may dalawa pa pala akong baby. Malungkot kasi muntik ko na silang malagay sa kapahamakn. At nasasaktan, nasasaktan ako para sa kanila, knowing that they won't have a father beside them as they grow. And knowing that they also lost their sibling hurts me.

"Tss! Bakit ka muna nandito, ei hindi ba at may meeting ka ngayon?"pagsusungit ko.

Russel twisted his lips at me kaya ako humagikhik.

"I cancelled the meeting, dahil magpapahinga tayo."

I coughed.

"What's tayo? Hindi naman kita inanyayahan 'no!" I rolled my eyes. Nana Luna laughed at us.

"Hayaan mo na 'yang si Russel, Hija, para may kasama ka naman." She then put the juice on the table. Russel smiled widely.

"See, Nana Luna is right." I rolled my eyes again.

Russel really accompanied me while I lay down in the sun lounger sa harap ng mansion. He's wearing his beach shorts and not any on his top. Katulad nang ginawa ko ay nakasandal din ito sa sun lounger malapit sa akin.

I am reading a book, but Russel glances irritate me kaya sinara ko ang libro at hinarap ito.

"What?" pagsusungit ko. He then turned his gaze to me with knotted eyebrows.

"What?" he retorted. Sa inis ko ay binato ko sa kanya ang libro na hawak ko.

Russel laughs roars in the seashore, kasabay nang malamyos na hampas ng alon sa dalampasigan.

"Ang sungit mo!" reklamo niya. "Surely, your babies too," he then continues laughing, kaya bahagya rin akong natawa.

As the months passed by, I realized many things. People grow, and sometimes they have to grow apart. It's a sad truth, yes, but it really happens.

Ending a relationship is never easy, though, hindi ko naman talaga matatawag na may iba pa kaming relasyon ni Anthony aside of being a fuck buddies, but it's necessary to grow. Life is not all about love and romance. You need to direct your focus to other important areas in your life, such as career and personality development.

Accept the universal truth that things do change. People change, and feelings do too. The person you fell in love with may not be the same person now. And some changes can be a good thing. Do what's best for yourself and for your mental health, because what happened to me really broke me. And sometimes growing apart is the best thing you need.

There is always a life after heartbreak. And this island made me realize those things.