Mary Grace

Thirty-One

Thirty-One

We found a cave that opens to the sea sa kakapasyal naming dalawa. Hindi pa rin binibitawan ni Harry ang kamay ko and I'm glad he did not opted to. His hands are warm and soft and comfortable. I could hold it forever.

A small protest escaped my mouth when he finally let go of my hands the moment we reached the water. Nilingon niya ako at nginitian. "Gusto mong maligo?"

I glanced at the crystal blue water, it was so tempting. Eventually, I nodded my head. Isa-isa kong hinubad ang pulang Chuck Taylors at itinabi before I smiled cheerfully at him. He pulled his shirt over his head that revealed his well-built body. I know for now my cheeks are turning crimson kaya kaagad akong lumusong sa tubig para hindi niya mahalata.

We had fun for a while playing with the water before Rowena came into view. Napasimangot kaagad ako pagkakita ko sa kanya. Nginitian niya nang sobrang tamis si Harry. "Malapit nang maluto ang hapunan, mabuti pang umahon na kayong dalawa diyan."

Harry helped me pull myself out of the water. I grabbed my shoes and we trek towards the small hut dripping wet. Nagtatawanan na namang dalawa sina Harry at Rowena. Hindi ko nalang sila pinansin dahil nanaig ang ginaw sa aking katawan at hindi nakakatulong ang maya't-mayang malakas na ihip ng hangin sa isla.

Nang makarating kami sa cogon house nila Mang Adolfo, nakahain na ang pagkain sa mesa. Nahiya naman ako bigla dahil para kaming prinsipe't prinsesa kung ituring ng mag-asawa. Dali-dali akong nagbanlaw at nagbihis saka ko sila dinaluhan sa pag-kain.

Nagkuwentuhan kami ng nanay ni Rowena na mabilis kong nakagaanan ng loob. Sobrang malumanay niya sa pagsasalita. She's very intelligent too. I could tell the way she choose the words carefully and the passionate burning of her eyes when it comes to linguistics and literature.

Kinagabihan ay inulan kami nang sobrang lakas. Even Mang Adolfo did not expect the rain to pour heavily. Sobrang lamig na talaga. I slip on a track jacket. Since there is no electricity on the island, wala ding masyadong magawa lalo pa't ang lakas ng buhos ng ulan.

"Matulog ka nalang nang maaga, hija." Wika ni Ginang Rea sa akin. Tinulungan ko siya sa pagliligpit ng mga pinagkainan namin kanina habang sina Mang Adolfo naman at Harry ay abala sa pagtatakip ng butas sa bubong ng cogon house dahil tumutulo sa kwarto. "Magising ka nang maaga bukas. The sunrise on this island is something that you shouldn't miss."

I nodded at her and tried to sleep but I couldn't. Gising na gising pa ang diwa ko. Hindi ko na nakausap si Harry pagkatapos naming kumain kanina. Si Rowena naman at tulog na tulog na sa katabing kama. After a while, natulog na din ang asawa ni Mang Adolfo and I was left staring into nothing while the rain pour down heavily I'm afraid it would ruin the entire house with all the shaking and wobbling.

I pulled myself up from the bed and tip-toed outside of the room. Nagulat ako nang makita ko si Harry na nakaupo mag-isa sa lamesa na pinagkainan namin kanina. He was drinking something. A coffee, perhaps? Nilapitan ko siya.

"Gising ka pa?" I queried and sat across him.

He automatically flashed me a polite smile upon seeing me. "Well, yeah. I can't sleep." Inalok niya ako nang iniinom niyang San Miguel in can. Umiling ako at sumimangot.

"Bumabagyo pero umiinom ka?"

"It kinda helps in clearing my mind off things."

"About what?" I pulled my knees into my chest and rested my chin on it. The light from the lamp casted a shadow on Harry's cheeks because of his long eyelashes. Minsan parang naiingit na din ako sa facial features niya. Sobrang ganda kasi.

"Well, you know... stuff." I had a feeling it was something about my sister because he did not want to tell me about this and I didn't press any further either. A low grumbling of thunder made me jump a little from my sit. Harry sip on his beer. "You've got any plans for college, yet?"

I hesitated for a while, but afterwards I told him that I don't intend to attend college anymore. He looked surprised but I did not see any automatic judgement that would cast over a person's face every time you told them about your awesome plan of not attending college at all.

"I wanted to finish writing a book." Wika ko sa kanya. "And I know I wouldn't be able to make it if I'm attending college classes. Gusto ko ding mag-enrol sa isang coffee-making class." I confessed. Matagal ko nang pinag-isipan ito. I tried to take interest with college courses pero wala talaga sa puso ko. I could attend a Creative Writing program if my parents will insist though.

"Is this about Karlo's?" Tanong niya sa akin. Palaging nagpupunta si Harry sa Karlo's kaya hindi na rin ako nagulat nang maging close din sila ng matanda. I mean, Karlo is really great in building friendships with teenagers.

"Yeah," I fidgeted with my fingers. "If his children don't want to work for his coffee shop, then I will. Sobrang napamahal na ito sa akin. Gusto ko man lang makabawi sa kanya."

"Alam ba ito ng parents mo?"

I grinned at him. "Ni hindi nga nila alam na nagpunta ako ng Mavulis Island, eh."

He chuckled nervously. "I could only imagine what Tito Thunder would do to me once he found out that I dragged his daughter all the way to the northernmost point of the Philippines. Baka ma-permanently ban na ako sa bahay niyo."

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. "Sinabi mo pa." Which didn't really help because he looked troubled. Napalagok siya sa San Miguel beer na hawak nya. I could not imagine how gross it tastes like dahil hindi ito malamig but he seems to be enjoying his drink. Hindi na ako nagtanong pa.

"Hey Harry," Tumitig ako sa lampara. He did not respond but I could tell that he was waiting for me to go on. "What are you going to do once we got back?" I lifted my head up to see his face again.

He shrugged. "I actually don't know. Maybe I'll finish the project that I've been working on and enrol in a summer class. This is the only trip that I planned for this summer. The next one would be on my semestral break or Christmas break."

"Oh." I chewed my lips then smiled at him. "I hope I could tag along your next adventure too."

"Well, why not?" He raised both of his eyebrows. "You're a good company, after all. Dragging me into unexpected fist fights with the locals and all that stuff."

Tumawa ako sa sinabi niya. "I'm sorry." I said between fits of laughter. Napangiti nalang si Harry sa akin. Pagkatapos nun ay nilamon na kami ng katahimikan.

"Hey Harry..." I said again, pulling myself up from my seat. I decided it was about time I go to sleep. Tumingala siya sa akin.

"Yeah?"

"What do you think..." Iniwas ko ang mata sa kanya at pinakiramdaman ang malakas na ulan. "What do you think of girls who have been raped?"

Mukhang nagulat ito sa tanong ko. Before he could open his mouth to answer, I held my hand before him and dismissed him.

"I'll leave it as that. Anyway, I'm going to sleep. I hope we could watch sunrise together tomorrow, though. Good night, Harry."

Hindi ko na siya pinasagot pa dahil dumire-diretso ako sa kwarto. Parang sinasabayan ng malakas na tibok ng puso ko ang malakas ding pagbuhos ng ulan.