Sin City

24: Patutunguhan

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti nang masilayan ko ang mukha ni Rouqil nang magising ako. We were hugging each other, nakaharap sa isa't isa. I snuggled on his chest, inhaling his manly scent from his white crewneck and hugged him tighter, ramdam ko agad ang paghigpit din ng yakap niya.

"Good morning," he mumbled as he placed his chin on top of my head.

"Morning," sagot ko rito.

"How did you sleep?" he carefully asked as he started slowly rubbing my back. Nakakaantok tuloy.

"Good pero inaantok na naman ako dahil sa back rubs mo," natatawa kong reklamo rito.

Rouqil chuckled and he still kept doing it. "Our scuba diving schedule today is after lunch, alas syete pa kaya matulog ka pa ulit."

Inatras ko ang ulo ko at tumingala sa kanya but I quickly regretted that decision dahil yumuko din si Rouqil causing our faces to be an inch away from each other, making my stupid heart pound in my chest.

"Are you okay?" natataranta nitong tanong nang hagurin ko ang dibdib ko, bakas pa sa boses niya ang pag aalala. Bwesit kasing puso 'to, ang hina pag sa chinito.

"Yeah," I softly laughed as I nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Rouqil," I chuckled. "I'm good." I reassured him. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pag-aalala pero hindi na ito nagtanong pa ulit. "Bangon na tayo, nagugutom na ako eh," pag iiba ko sa usapan. Tumango naman agad ito.

Rouqil and I got up and made our way to the dining area of our villa para mag-umagahan. Hindi kami nag-uusap habang kumakain pero nakakagaan sa damdamin na hindi awkward ang atmosphere namin.

"Are you ready?" he grinned at me.

I looked back at the ocean while sitting on the edge of the boat with my heavy tank and tight scuba diving suit. We are going at Sunken Cemetery kung saan makikita raw namin ang malaking krus mula sa simbahan noon. The volcanic eruption unfortunately caused the cemetery and the old city to sink below sea level.

Ang bilis ng tibok nang puso ko dahil sa kaba. "What if there's sharks?" bakas pa sa boses ko ang kaba.

Rouqil softly laughed na ikinainis ko. "I got you, ako bahala sayo," napatingin agad ako sa kamay ko na nakahawak sa bangka nang hawakan ito ni Rouqil. "I would never let anything happen to you, Jillian," he comfortingly said.

Tumango ako as I readied myself because as much as I love going to the beach and soak the sun, natatakot ako sa mga isda at kung ano pang creatures ang nasa ilalim ng dagat. I braced myself and put my goggles and mouthpiece on.

"One, two..."

And at three, Rouqil and I dove under the water. I was immediately surprised by the colorful fishes swimming around me, tila napawi lahat ng problema at stress ko because of how relaxing it felt to be under the water. Napakaganda.

"Thank you for taking me to scuba diving nga pala," nahihiya kong sabi kay Rouqil habang naglalakad kami sa dalampasigan. The whole sky was in different kinds of hues of pink and orange dahil papalubog na ang araw at ang kalmado din ng dagat. It was a great night.

"You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it," matamis akong nginitian ni Rouqil. It felt weird not to feel any anger against him.

"From now on, lagi na akong magscuscuba diving," nakangisi kong sabi habang tanaw ang dagat.

"Sama naman ako diyan." I couldn't help but chuckle when he playfully nudged my arm with his elbow.

"Pag iisipan ko," nakangisi kong sagot.