#NewClassicPFL
Chapter 12
Sun
While on the road, Sic didn't tell me where he planned to take me. We bought a takeaway from a fast food drive-thru when we passed by a rest stop in SLEX since we were both hungry. Ngunit dahil hindi siya makakain habang nagmamaneho ay nakuha niya pang magpasubo sa akin. Ngiting-ngiti pa siya kapag sinusubuan ko siya. He looked like a very satisfied jerk.
That ride felt like the longest and stressful ride I experienced in my life. I was like a mother taking care of her spoiled child.
"We're here!" Sic excitedly exclaimed when he made a turn to the parking lot.
Since I wasn't really paying attention on the road, I was surprised to see where he took me after almost two hours of driving.
"Enchanted Kingdom?" Nilingon ko Sic. Ngiting-ngiti siya. "Bakit tayo nandito?"
"We're here to have fun!" he replied and turned the car's engine off.
"Isn't this too public for you?" I asked him, worried that we might get mobbed by people. "Ang sabi ni Mr. Joel ay mag-ingat tayong dalawa."
"Don't worry about that." He pulled the car keys from the ignition. "We don't need to hide. Everyone knows we're together."
I exhaled deeply. "That's not the point."
"Lavi, like I said, don't worry about those things," he told me with a carefree smile on his face. "Today, I want you to promise me something."
Narrowing my eyes in suspicion, I crossed my arms. "And what is that?"
"Promise me that you will stop worrying about other things and focus having fun with me," he said which was far from what I expected. "Trust me and let me lead you today. That's all I ask of you."
He looked and sounded so sincere that I couldn't play a joke on his words. I just swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. Mas lalo naman siyang napangiti nang dahil sa aking pagpayag.
"Now, let's go! We don't have the whole day!"
Agad kaming lumabas ng sasakyan. Hawak-hawak niya ang aking kamay habang naglalakad papunta sa ticketing booth. The eyes of the employee inside the booth widened when she saw Sic buying our tickets. Even her jaw dropped in disbelief, and I couldn't blame her for that bold reaction.
"S-Sic Jaranilla?" She even rubbed her eyes to make sure that she wasn't hallucinating.
"Yes, and uhm, two tickets please," Sic casually said with a smile.
Bahagyang nanginginig ang mga kamay ng babae habang inaasikaso ang tickets namin. Nang inabot pa ni Sic ang kanyang credit card ay nahiya pa siya sa pagkuha. It should be a fast transaction but it took us almost ten minutes before we got our tickets. Pati ang mga nasa entrance ay hindi makapaniwalang nakita si Sic nang malapitan.
We didn't even try to hide ourselves. Wala kaming suot na kahit shades o ballcap. It was like we purposely wanted to attract attention and we succeeded so easily.
All eyes were on us the moment we entered the park. Even those who were having their own time, turned their heads to give us their attention. It was like we became one of the theme park's main attractions. Almost everyone was taking pictures of us.
I couldn't help but be wary because of all the attention. However, when I looked at Sic who was completely oblivious of our surroundings, I reminded myself of what I promised him.
"Let's ride that one first!" Nilingon ako ni Sic, ngiting-ngiting pa rin habang tinuturo ang Jungle Log Jam.
It was the ride where you'd go down a steep slope and splash into the water. I had already come here once with my college friends before and experienced that ride. I loved doing extreme sports and riding thrilling rides, but I hated getting wet when I was all dressed up. It was such a hassle to change clothes.
"I didn't bring extra clothes with me," I told him with my lips slightly pouted. "Nandoon sa SUV iyong spare ko. Mababasa tayo riyan for sure!"
"We don't need extra clothes!" he said and continued dragging me to the end of the line. "Doon tayo sa Space Shuttle at Anchor's Away next para magpatuyo."
His outrageous idea made me shake my head, but a smile was also tugging my lips.
"Nakakahiya naman sa 'yo," sarkastiko kong sabi. "Sana isinama mo na rin ang EKstreme Tower."
He shook his head. "You're wearing a dress. We can't ride that one."
Medyo natigilan ako roon. It slipped my mind that I was wearing a dress, but he didn't forget to consider my attire. Kaya naman wala na akong nagawa. Since I also promised that I would let him lead, I could only follow his plans.
Nang makapila kami ay hindi napigilang lumingon sa amin ng mga nasa harapan. Bigla ring humaba ang pila sa Jungle Log Jam dahil madaming gustong sumunod sa amin. Some even had the guts to ask for a picture. May mga pinaunlakan si Sic ngunit kalaunan ay may lumapit na security guards na ipinadala ng theme park upang mapigilan ang paglapit ng mga tao.
Since it was a weekday, there were less amount of people who went to the park. But since they were all hovering over us, it seemed so crowded. Mabuti na lang at mabilis napigilan ng mga security ang iba.
"Hoy! Mahiya naman kayo!"
My eyes widened when someone from the crowd shouted. Hinanap kaagad siya ng aking mga mata. Namataan kong isa siya sa mga nauna sa amin sa pila. It silenced the crowd. Only the sound from the rides could be heard.
"Pahingahin ninyo naman 'yong dalawa! Hindi naman fanmeeting ang pinunta nating lahat dito!" iritado niyang sigaw. "Mga walang respeto!"
She got death stares from some who only wanted to get closer and take a picture with us but most people were embarrassed of themselves. Nang dahil sa kanya ay unti-unti ring lumayo sa amin ang mga tao, ngunit nanatili pa rin ang tatlong security na sumaklolo sa gulo.
Dumungaw naman si Sic upang makuha ang atensyon ng babaeng tumulong sa amin. "Thank you so much for helping us," pasasalamat niya.
Blush crept on the woman's cheek when Sic gave her attention. She just nodded and smiled before looking away. Hindi niya magawang makipagtinginan nang diretso kay Sic.
It was obvious that she's also a fan, but I admired her for knowing her boundaries. She knew how to give her idol the space he needed. She respected his private life and schedule. It's really a dream come true for all fans to be like her.
Pagkatapos ng gulo ay naging mabilis lang ang pag-usad ng pila dahil hindi nga ganoon kadamihan ang mga tao. Inalalayan ako ni Sic pasakay sa log. Ako ang nasa likuran habang siya naman ang nasa harapan para hindi raw ako masyadong mabasa.
"If you're scared, you can hold on to me," Sic told me once we started moving.
"No need," I flatly rejected his offer. "I'm not scared."
"Wow. Ang strong naman this girl." He laughed and his voice was filled with sarcasm.
I just rolled my eyes at him but there was a ghost of a smile on my lips.
Sa unang akyat at bagsak namin ay parang wala lang. Mababa lang ang una naming binagsakan. Sa pangalawa at huli, habang papaakyat ay sinobrahan ni Sic ang pag-atras ng kanyang likod. He was almost crashing me behind him.
"Sic! Umusod ka nga ng kaunti!" reklamo ko sa kanya at bahagyang tinutulak ang likod.
"The staff told us to lean our backs for safety purposes!" he reasoned out.
"Oo nga pero ang OA mo naman!" sagot ko pabalik sa kanya at pilit pa rin siyang pinapa-abante. "Ang bigat-bigat mo kaya!"
"Okay, okay!"
It was a good thing that we finally reached the top. Umayos na siyang muli sa pagkakaupo. Habang paliko kami sa babagsakan ay ibinaba ko ang aking tingin. There were so many cameras and phone recording us. It almost felt like we were on a reality show.
"We're about to go down!" Sic shouted at the top of his lungs because of excitement.
Nang idiretso ko ulit ang aking tingin ay pabagsak na nga kami. We both leaned back once again to brace the ride down the slope. And then, everything happened so fast. My eyes went wide when Sic suddenly docked as we were about to dive onto the water. Before I could even react, without a warning, the big splash of water welcomed me with a slap.
Napatulala ako at naramdaman kong basang-basa ako dahil sa pag-iwas na ginawa ni Sic. Nadinig ko ang pagsinghap ng mga tao, ngunit nangibabaw ang pagtawa ng lalaking gustong-gusto kong sapakin.
"Fransic Jaranilla!" I shouted his name in anger and irritation.
I didn't care that there were a lot of people watching us. I wanted to strangle him in front of everyone. But before I could even do that and explode, we were assisted to get off the log.
Instead of dealing with Sic, I marched towards the exit without looking back. I was immediately followed by him and his voice.
"Lav, sorry na." He kept apologizing while tailing me like a dog. "Lav..."
When we were near the food stalls, Sic grabbed me by the hand to stop me from walking away. He turned me around to face him.
"Are you really mad?" he asked the most stupid question at that moment.
I grumpily scowled, retrieved my hand from him, and crossed my arms. "What do you think?"
Ngumuso siyang bahagya na tila nagpipigil ng ngiti. Naningkit naman ang aking mga mata dahil mukhang hindi siya nagsisisi sa ginawa.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Of course, not!" he immediately answered. "I just want you to loosen up, that's why I did that. I know you're still being conscious even though I asked you not to. And so, I did something I knew that would let you be yourself."
His explanation sounded so valid and reasonable that I couldn't fight him because of it. I just stared at him without saying anything, but I already got swayed.
"But if you're still mad, then..." He suddenly looked around before he strode towards a stall.
The employee inside was slightly taken aback but she still moved quickly and handed a water bottle to him. Mabilis na nag-abot ng pera si Sic at mukhang hindi na inisip ang kanyang sukli. Naglakad siya agad pabalik sa akin habang binubuksan ang takip ng tubig.
"Ano ang gagawin mo?" tanong ko kahit na mayroon na akong naiisip na maaari niyang gawin.
Without saying a word, he poured the water on top of his head while shaking the bottle quickly. My lips parted while watching him wet himself, like he already lost his mind. His hair, his face, and the top of his shoulders were wet with water. Mas basang-basa pa siya sa akin. Para siyang tumakbo sa gitna ng malakas na ulan.
"Now, we're even," he stated with a playful smile. "Parehas na tayong basa kaya kailangan na nating magpatuyo sa Space Shuttle!"
I tried pursing my lips to hide a smile, but a chuckle still escaped from my lips because of disbelief. Nakalimutan ko nang tuluyan ang inis ko kanina. "You're really crazy..."
Ngumisi lamang siya at hinawakan ang aking kamay. Dinala niya ako papunta sa Space Shuttle. Hindi ko alam kung naawa ba sa amin ang mga nauna sa pila o gusto lang talaga nila kaming paunahin dahil mabilis kaming nakasakay dahil sa pagmamagandang loob nila.
Sic and I rode Space Shuttle for three consecutive times before we got sick of it and went to Anchor's Away next. I found it ridiculous that we really got dry from riding those extreme rides, but it worked. Pagkatapos naming magpakapagod sa rides ay kumain kaming dalawa sa food court kung saan nandoon ang iba't ibang kiosks ng mga pagkain.
It was almost five when we finished eating. I thought we would go home already, but Sic told me we should ride the Wheel of Fate first. At dahil nangako akong susundin namin ang mga plano niya, hindi na ako umangal. And to be honest, I kind of wanted to ride the ferris wheel, too. It's a must whenever you go to a theme park!
After almost twenty minutes of lining up, we were finally inside the moving gondola. Magkatapatan kaming dalawa ni Sic. Inilipat ko kaagad ang aking tingin sa tanawin nang makita ko ang palubog na araw sa kanluran.
The twilight colors of pink, orange and violet were very much vivid when looking at the view within your eye level. It looked even more majestic because you could see the sun fully, rather than being on the ground.
Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone upang kuhanan ng litrato ang napakagandang tanawin. Umihip ang hangin habang abala ako sa pagkuha ng tanawin. A few strands of my hair blocked my face, obstructing my view of the beautiful sunset. Ngunit bago ko pa maibaba ang cellphone upang hawiin ang aking buhok ay inunahan na ako ni Sic. Nilingon ko siya at tahimik lamang siyang nakangiti habang nakatingin sa akin.
I bit my lower lip when I realized that I had not thanked him yet for bringing me to the theme park. That was why I brought my phone down and turned my body to face him properly. Napaayos naman din siya ng upo saka nagtaas ng kilay sa akin.
"Thank you," mahina kong sabi bago tinikom ang mga labi at bahagyang nag-iwas ng tingin.
Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay nakita kong itinagilid niya ang kanyang ulo. "Para saan?"
Napairap ako dahil alam kong alam niya naman ang dahilan kung bakit ako nagpapasalamat. He just probed to hear the words straight from my lips.
"For bringing me here, of course."
His brows raised even more as he smirked. "You don't have to thank me," he said. "You're my girlfriend. It's only natural to bring you out on dates."
"But I'm your fake girlfriend," I reminded him.
"Even if you're my fake girlfriend, it doesn't mean that I will treat you less than what you deserve." His expression shifted into something serious as he looked out to the sunset. "While we're together―pretending or not―I will treat you like what we have is true and real."
With my lips parted, I stayed silent while staring straight at him, afraid that I might steal his attention from the sunset and see me blushing.
"I have no idea what's weighing you down, but I can feel that you're not in the mood earlier," he said, his eyes still looking far from me.
There was so much tenderness in his eyes. I wasn't sure if it was for me or the beautiful view right before his eyes.
"Kanina sa meeting... You were there with us, but it seemed like your mind was elsewhere. You tried to interact with us while wearing a smile. It might work for the others, however, I know you're just faking it. Halatang wala ka sa sarili mo."
I was a bit surprised to know that he was that attentive with me during the meeting. Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi at bahagyang napayuko. So, he really did take me here to forget my worries even just for a while.
"You know, I don't really want to pry in your private matters..." he trailed for a few seconds, and I looked up to him again. "But aside from being your handsome boyfriend, I can also be your confidant," he said and did his usual playful wink.
I let out a small and quiet chuckle when he joked to lift up our atmosphere. "You're really something, Fransic Jaranilla," I told him, a smile lingering on my lips. "But thank you... I really appreciate your concern."
"So..." He proudly smiled, rested his elbow on the round table, and put his chin in his hand. "Are you wishing I'm your real boyfriend now?"
Mas lalo akong natawa at napailing. "Don't flatter yourself too much. You're still the most annoying person I've ever met," sabi ko. "Pero masaya akong nakilala kita sa kabila no'n."
He didn't reply and just stared at me with his gentle eyes. My heart began to pound that I had to put my attention back onto the sky and the sun. The colors were starting to get even more saturated as the sun was starting to hide itself behind the mountains.
"At first, I just accepted your proposal on a whim because I wanted to rebel against my father's wishes," I told him the truth behind my hasty decision. "Pero kahit na ganoon, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko hahayaang pagsisihan ko ang naging desisyon ko."
"You're not in good terms with your father?" he carefully asked.
I bitterly smiled and slowly nodded my head. "He's not really supportive of my chosen career..." I hesitantly said, not sure if I chose the right words to explain how my father ridiculed all my decisions in life. "He wants me to continue our family's legacy. Para sa kanya ay paglalaro lang ang ginagawa ko. Tingin niya ay wala akong balak magseryoso o umasenso sa buhay. He thinks I'm ruining my future by choosing this career. He doesn't want to acknowledge the path I've chosen for myself."
I clenched my fist tightly when I thought of my father's warnings which filled me once again with anger and pain. My heart was in chaos but the calming scenery was helping me keep my emotions stable.
"When we were rumored to be dating, the news reached him. Ayon ang sumubok sa kanyang pasensya. He doesn't want me dating a member of a band. Drummer boy pa nga ang tawag niya sa 'yo," pag-amin ko sa kanya. "Once he's back from his business trip, he told me he would start training me as the successor of his company."
Sic shifted to his position, alerted by that information. "When is he coming back?"
"Next month."
"Next month?"
I nodded and sighed. "I know it'll be hard to go against him once he's back and determined to make me obey his orders," I said, knowing what my father was capable of. "I don't want to give up on my dreams easily. I want to keep doing the things I love, even if it looks meaningless to him. But at the same time, I know it's a fight I don't have an advantage with. That's why I want to thank you for making all my dreams come true."
Napakunot ang kanyang noo, tila hindi naiintindihan ang aking gustong ipagpasalamat sa kanya.
"Seeing my face on a huge billboard, being featured in magazines and appointed as ambassadors of big brands... Those are just some of the opportunities you have given me by being your girlfriend in the eyes of other people," I explained what I was feeling inside. "I'm already contented that I'd be able to leave traces of my career as a model before it ends. Without you, I know I will not be able to achieve it with the time I have left."
"Who says your career is going to end?" He asked and his voice sounded irritated.
Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang inabot ang aking kamay.
"You told me you don't want to give up on your dreams. You said you want to keep doing the things you love," he reminded me. "So why does it sound like you're already giving up?"
My lips parted. I couldn't even defend myself from thinking that way. He made a point.
"We still have less than eleven months left from our contract, Lavi," he said, sounding so firm and determined. "Madami pang puwedeng mangyari sa loob ng labing isang buwan. It doesn't matter if your father's coming home in a month. You have me. I'll make you reach greater heights that would make a fool of him for thinking you have no future by doing what you're passionate of."
He held my hand tightly using both of his hands. I glanced at our threaded hands before looking back up to his face―straight into his eyes. He was burning with passion. It almost seemed like he was speaking based on experience―the reason why he was looking as if he was willing to crush down everything which would come my way for me.
"I believe in what you're capable of, Lavi," he told me. "Please believe in yourself, too."
I was completely speechless. I had no idea how to react that I just held his stare. But because of his warm and reassuring words, just like the setting sun, the worries in my heart were also put to rest.