Traces of Seashells

Prologue

Ang kumikinang na tubig, nagsasayawang puno ng niyog, mga mangingisdang paparating, tunog ng paghampas ng mga alon sa dalampasigan, bangka't duyan na inaanod ng hanging umaga. Kaharap ko ang perpektong tanawin ngunit hindi ko pa rin maisakto ang aking sinusulat na kanta. Tinuloy-tuloy ko ang pagkala-kalabit ng gitara kahit ito'y wala na sa tono, tinuloy-tuloy ko ang pag-iisip ng liriko kahit masakit na, tinuloy-tuloy ko hanggang mamanhid ang sugatang daliri, tinuloy-tuloy ko hanggang ako'y mapagod.

Bumuntong hininga ako at sinalubong ang pagsikat ng araw. Palaging palaisipan ang tanong na, sa dami ng aking iniisip, bakit tila wala akong maramdaman? Nakalikha ako ng tula patungkol dito na sa tingin ko'y hindi sapat, isinilid ko ito sa bote gaya ng madalas kong makitang ginagawa ni ate noong nandito pa siya. Kasabay sana ng pag-anod ko sa mensaheng iyon ang paglubog 'uli ng aking isipan nang hindi kalayuan, may nakahandusay na binata, iniinda ng balat ang puting buhangin.

Kusa akong dinala ng mga paa ko sa kaniya. Mukha siyang basang sisiw. Basang sisiw dahil lubog ang kaniyang kasuotan at buhok sa tubig, hindi dahil para siyang chic, magkaiba 'yon. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at tiningnan kung may buhay pa. Nang maramdaman ko ang kaniyang pintig, kumuha ako ng maraming hangin at sinunggaban ko na. Masuwerte siya na ganiyan ang kaniyang sitwasyon at libre ko itong naibigay sa kaniya. Paggising niya, hindi niya malalamang ang labi niya ang kauna-unahang dumampi sakin.

After that, I executed CPR. He's still unconscious but his body was slowly responding. He coughed water then he dozed off again like a dope sleeping beauty. I did all I could possibly offer and when I had no choice, I lifted his up to the resort.

While he's on my arms, I couldn't help but to notice his familiar face. The beam on the side of his face, he's undeniably gorgeous for a man to the point that I concluded, maybe he's an actor or a model in a brand that's selling soft boy's clothes and gears. "Or maybe Nicholei, instead of overthinking his career, why don't you think foremost what has brought him here‽" I said to myself.

Pinagsawalang bahala ko ang pagtataka ng mga taong nadadaanan namin tulad ng parati kong asal kada makakakita ako ng mga marites sa aking paligid. Hindi ako fuck boy pero sa paraan ng pagtitig nila, parang nakagawa ako ng napakalaking milagro. Alam kong nakagawian ko nang magdala ng babae sa kuwarto pero ang kasong ito ay iba! Ano bang masama sa pagbubuhat ng hubad na lalaki? Una, hindi ako nananamantala. Pangalawa, nag-iisip ba sila? Babae ang hanap ko. At pinakahuli sa lahat, "Opo, nagmamangandang loob lang po!" parinig ko sa mga nakaabang sa gilid. Maraming katulong na nakaaligid sa pintuan, si mama ang unang pumasok.

Before she interviewed me, I preceded, "Don't throw that face to me. There's no way I am related to him. I'm just serving him the help same as everyone will do if they're in my position." I immediately contacted ate, she wasn't answering, likewise to kuya. "Actually he's not my problem any more. It's your responsibility. You're the owner." Of course I was worried, who the fuck would not be worried? But saying these words would diminish malice which was good 'cause caring a lil boy isn't really my thing unless it's my brother and it's better this way so I can breathe at least away from this fuckin' commitment.

"You don't have to sound as if that's a crime son," she chuckled that made me wanna hide my whole existence. Wish I didn't seem like overreacting 'though I'm overreacting a lot of things and unfortunately my mother knows those very well. Somehow, I was glad that my busy siblings weren't here, if they were, I was going to be the center of waggery but there's no glad in me about them having their own life. Why do they tend to make me suffer? "What a sadboi." She kissed my cheeks and as always, she left a pink mark thereon which I was too exasperated by to give a further discussion.