Hindi pa rin tapos sa pag-aayos ng kanyang gamit si Shin kaya nagpaalam muna si Sarah na maglalakad-lakad lang. Sa hindi kalayuan ay natanaw nito si Gerald. Nilapitan niya ito at nakipagkwentuhan.
He kept talking and talking about Kim. And I pretend to be listening. I kept walking, wishing away the pain behind my eyes.
"Ge don't you think, you're trying too hard to get her back?" She asked out of nowhere.
"Ha?!"
"You've been doing a lot of stuff for her kahit yung mga bagay na hindi mo alam kung tama ba o hindi." Nakita niya itong tumingin sa kanya. "I just don't think its right." She explained.
You think I'm making a mistake." He said.
I held my breath and tried to focus on the sand at my feet. This was the first time he'd asked me point blank at what I thought. "I don't know." I said. "I just know I don't want you to do things like that."
He does not say anything. Instead, he knelt to pick up what looked to be a small quartz arrowhead, my question too ridiculous to answer. He finished examining the stone and passed it to me with a shrug. It might have been a chipped spear point, or it might have just been a piece of quartz, neither of us could tell, but I put it in my pocket.
From the start, Gerald said if I loved him, I'd help him with Kim, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I just went off to work each day, telling myself I'm okay, mostly hoping he'd give up. I'd been working on, he hardly seemed to notice I was there. I told him, he was wasting his time, that Kim would have come back to him if that's what she wanted, but he'd tell me I couldn't possibly understand. Then he'd start making excuses for Kim, saying how brokenhearted she must have been. I kept quiet, but I pictured a girl who never wanted him at all in the first place. But everything’s different now because she’s back, for him.
Hindi nagtagal ay sumama na rin sina Fred sa pamamasyal. Napagkasunduan ng mga itong gumala muna sa lugar habang hinihintay nila si Kim. Nagkakasayahan ang mga ito ng may tumawag sa pangalan ni Sarah.
"Sarah." Tawag ng isang binata sa kanya.
"Migs?!" Na halatang nagulat ito. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Halos magkasabay nilang saad.
"Well, I just visited my friend Luis who co-owns this resort before going back to New York."
"How long have you've been here?" Tanong nito habang yumayakap sa binata which made Gerald a fake cough. Lumaki naman ang mata ni Shin sa inasta ng binata at mukhang totoo ang hinala niyang may gusto rin ito kay Sarah. "Uhm sorry, these are my friends Gerald, Fred, Ali and Rachelle. Si Migs, kaibigan ko." Pagpapakilala nito.
"Oh, hi." Habang nakikipagshake hands siya sa mga ito. "And to answer your question, remember the email I sent you about the business I’m into, this was it. I'm trying to convince Luis to sell me some of his shares." He explained.
"Shin's family also owns this place."
"Really." Tumango naman si Shin sa sinabi ng kaibigan.
"So you flying back to New York the day after tomorrow?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah."
"Why don't you join the group? We're planning to do some activities." She invited. "Para na rin mapasyal mo ang buong resort." Shin suggested. She really wants to see how Gerald would react.
"If that's okay with you." Saad nito.
"It would be fun." Fred said.
"The more, the merrier." Shin added. "Right Ge."
"Right." Pagsang-ayon nito. Habang nakita niyang yumakap muli si Sarah sa binata.
They were still working on setting up the bonfire along the beach when Sarah spotted Kim coming across them.
Surprise." Kim called out. She was wearing a short shorts and a fitted sleeveless shirt.
"Dumating na ang maldita." Bulong ni Shin kay Sarah.
As soon as Kim approached Gerald, just beside me, she gave him a long, complicated kiss, the kind that turns head. I could feel myself standing there like a storm cloud, watching something I never really want to. She sat down beside him. She kept a hand on Gerald's knee like she owned it, like she didn't even have to think about owning it. Twice, I caught myself staring to them, wishing that I should be the one doing it to Gerald. Sarah shifted her chair so she wouldn't have to look at the two of them.
"Alam ko na., let's have a game." Suggestion ni Shin sa mga ito.
"Ano namang game yan?" Medyo pataray na tanong ni Kim.
"The famous, spin the bottle." Nagtawanan naman sila Sarah dahil animo'y proud na proud ito sa naisip na laro.
"Migs alam mo bang laruin yun?" Tanong ni Sarah sa binata.
"Hindi eh. Pero it sounds fun." Nakangiting sagot nito.
"Madali lang yun pare. Magpapaikot tayo ng bote tapos kung san titigil yung bottle, siya yung sasagot sa question na itatanong namin." Pagpapaliwanag ni Ali habang tumango naman si Migs.
"Wow pare ha, alam na alam." Pang-aasar naman ni Fred.
"Syempre, ilan beses na kanyang ganyan yung gustong laruin ng girlfriend mo." Pagbibiro naman nito.
"Whatever!" Sagot ni Shin sa kanya. "Oh start na." Ani nito at pinaikot ang bote ng beer na tumigil sa direksyon ni Miguel.
"Akong magtatanong." Pagprepresenta ni Kim. "So are you and Sarah together?" Sabay ng nakakalokong ngiti nito.
Tila nahiya naman si Sarah sa tanong ng babae. "Magkaibigan lang kami."
"Hindi ikaw ang tinatanong ko." Wika nito.
"She's a good friend of mine. We're actually childhood friends." Miguel answered habang nakatingin kay Sarah at marahang hinalikan ang buhok nito.
"Oh, childhood friends. As in never kayong dumating sa point na nagkagusto sa isa't isa?" Pang-iintriga nito. Pinandilatan naman ni Shin si Gerald ng tingin na parang sinasabing patigilin niya si Kim.
"Well, we actually decided not to go romantic." Sagot nito which made Gerald look at Sarah because he heard Sarah said the same when he asked her about Migs.
"Why? I mean bagay naman kayo." Pagpupumilit nito habang sina Ali at Fred ay nagkakatinginan na rin. Di naman makuha ni Sarah kung anong gustong iparating ni Kim sa kanila.
"We don't wanna jeopardize the friendship we had." While he look at Sarah who was also looking at him. Hindi naman inaalis ni Shin ang tingin nito kay Gerald at mukhang nag-eenjoy sa kung anong susunod na mangyayari.
"But you do like her?" She asked again.
"You need to spin the bottle to know the answer." Gerald seems can't take what Migs will say next, that's why he butted in which made Shin look at Sarah.
"Oh ako naman magtatanong." Ani ni Shin ng makitang huminto ang bote sa harap ni Kim. "Ba't ka andito?" Seryosong saad nito. Tila naman nagulat ang kanyang mga kaibigan sa kanyang sinabi. "Joke lang." Biglang bawi nito. Nagtawanan naman sina Sarah. "Anyways, ito yung question ko. Pupulutin mo pa ba ang isang bagay na binitawan mo na?" She asked habang tumingin naman si Sarah kay Gerald na nakayakap kay Kim.
"Hindi ko naman pupulutin yun kung alam kong hindi ko na magagamit diba." Makahulugang sagot nito.
"Eh bakit binitawan mo pa kung pupulutin mo din pala." Follow up question nito.
"Pano kung nalaman mo na mas okay pala yung dati, hindi mo ba pupulutin ulit." Balik tanong naman nito.
"Binitawan mo na eh, ba't mo pa pupulutin. Alam mo Kim, hindi mo pwedeng basta balikan na lang ang isang bagay na binitawan mo na."
"At bakit naman hindi?"
"Dahil baka may gustong pumulot na na iba."
"Pano kung yung bagay na yun mismo ay gustong ikaw ang pumulot."
"Hindi naman nakakapagsalita ang bagay diba." Wika nito sabay tawa ng malakas. Sinabayan na lamang nila ang trip ni Shin para di tuluyang magsungit si Kim.
"Oh ikaw naman Sarah." Ani ni Ali. Bigla namang kinabahan ang dalaga.
"Ge, ikaw magtanong." Utos nito sa kaibigan.
"Ha, wala akong maisip ee." Palusot nito.
"Sige na nga, ako na lang." Saad ni Shin. "Sarah." Tawag nito sa kaibigan. "Pano kung yung kaisa-isang taong mahal mo ay may mahal na iba. Anong gagawin mo?" Seryosong tanong nito sa dalaga. Tinignan naman nilang lahat si Sarah.
"Wala." Maikling sagot nito habang nilalaro ang buhanging nasa kanyang paa.
"Wala? As in wala kang gagawin para makuha yung pagmamahal niya?" Tanong ulit ni Shin.
"Oo, kasi pag nagmahal ka, hindi naman importante kung mahal ka rin ng taong yun o hindi. Kasi mas importante yung, nakikita mo siyang masaya kasama ang taong mahal niya." Paliwanag nito.
"That was insane." Kim commented.
"Importante kasi sakin yung makita ko siyang masaya. Bonus na lang sakin yung malaman kong mahal niya rin ako." Dagdag nito. Hinawakan ni Miguel ang kamay ng dalaga. Hindi naman ito nakaligtas sa mga mata ni Gerald. "I-spin ko na." Wika nito at muling pinaikot ang bote na humarap naman kay Gerald. Lihim namang napangiti si Shin dahil tila sumasang-ayon ang lahat sa plano niya.
"Sinong pipiliin mong iligtas. Yung taong nagpasaya noon sayo o yung taong nagpapasaya sayo ngayon." Tanong ni Fred sa binata.
"Wow, ang hirap naman bro." Reklamo nito. "Hindi ba pwedeng pareho."
"Dapat isa lang." Sabat ni Ali.
"Siguro, pipiliin kong iligtas yung taong mahal ko." Safe answer nito.
"Wala naman yun sa choices eh." Reklamo ni Fred.
"Ang daya." Wika naman ni Shin habang pinapalo sa braso si Gerald.
"Alam niyo naman kung sino ang mahal ko diba." Sagot naman nito.
Sarah opened some beers for them. She wasn't a beer drinker but this time, it is what she needed. She'd been throwing back beers, but Gerald hadn't said a word, because she drinks like that only when she had a reason, and he didn't want to know what it is. As she cracked open another one, she noticed Gerald eyeing her. And Kim made a show of pooling herself like honey into his lap. After two bottles of beer, Sarah slipped away and stood alone, no doubt feeling sorry for herself. Gerald almost went after her, but then Kim asked him for help in cracking her beer. Just then, Miguel followed Sarah and sat beside her along the sea shore. Sarah leans her head towards Migs. They just sit there without saying anything. It just like the silence seemed to connect them in a way that words never could. After an hour, Migs convinced Sarah to go back to where her friends are. Everyone is actually having fun, well except for her. Napagtripan pa ng magbabarkadang maligo sa dagat ng ganoong kalalim na ng gabi. Sumuong naman silang lahat sa dagat maliban na lang kay Gerald at Sarah.
Now that they were alone, Sarah had gone silent and sullen. Gerald told himself she was just not in the mood, which she'd just drink too much on a hot night. But he wished she'd say something. She was making him nervous. He was about to say something to Sarah when she stood up and ran towards their friends who was enjoying the coldness of the water. Wala na ring nagawa ang binata kundi sumama sa mga ito. Pagkalusong sa tubig agad pumulupot si Kim sa kanya. Si Sarah naman ay tila nag-eenjoy na sabuyan ng tubig si Miguel. As her usual self, Sarah pretends to be happy and okay. Nauna ng umahon sa dagat sina Shin kasama si Fred at si Ali. Sumunod din sa kanila si Miguel kasabay si Gerald. Hindi rin nagtagal ay sumunod si Kim sa kanila at umupo sa tabing dagat. Halos limang minuto na ang nakalipas ay hindi pa rin umaahon si Sarah. Sabay-sabay ang mga itong napatingin sa dagat, where Sarah is out of sight. Agad tumakbo palusong sina Gerald at Migs, sumunod naman sina Ali at Fred. Si Shin naman ay panay lang ang tawag sa pangalan ni Sarah habang si Kim naman ay tila walang pakialam at naroon lang na nakaupo. Hindi na napigil ni Shin ang mapaiyak sa kaba dahil hindi nila alam kung anong nangyari sa kanilang kaibigan. On the other hand, the guys who were searching for her dive into the water ngunit hindi nila makita ang dalaga. Ali ran towards the assistant booth to get some help. Gerald was about to dive again when he saw Miguel carrying Sarah who has no sense at all. Dinala nila ito sa shore at pinahiga. Migs tried to do the cpr thing to her pero bago pa nito magawa ay tila naalimpungatan ang dalaga. Agad namang niyakap ito ni Miguel at binuhat papunta sa kanilang tinutuluyan. Gerald kept expecting Sarah to say enough's enough, that she hated Migs acting like he was her father, but tonight she seemed perfectly willing to sit back and let him clean up her mess. There was nothing for Gerald to do except stand there looking useless.
"Sarah anong nangyari sayo." Mangiyak-iyak na tanong ni Shin ng mahimasmasan na ang dalaga.
"Nahirapan akong huminga tsaka bigla akong pinulikat nung aahon na sana ako." She explains. "Sorry kung pinag-alala ko kayo." Nahihiyang ani niya sa kanyang mga kaibigan.
Tonight, he hardly felt like he had her at all. She was sticking close to Migs. She was saying sorry for making them worry. She also asks Miguel not to tell anyone about what happened. Migs told her he'd worry about that later, right now all that mattered was that nobody got hurt and she's safe. Gerald saw how Migs treat Sarah, how caring he is towards her. In fact, Migs never left Sarah after the incident. He was just sitting and hugging and giving Sarah a kiss on her forehead. Migs even threw his broad arms around her as if he'd just come back from the war. He fussed over asking if she feels something, if she was okay. To sum it all, he was acting like her boyfriend. When she closed in on him, Gerald knew what was coming, he just didn't know how bad it would be seeing them together.
AN : What do you think about this chapter? Nagseselos ba si Gerald? O concern lang ito kay Sarah? Nakakaloka si Shin ha, Push kung push ang peg. Anyways, thanku for reading my work. Love to hear your opinions. . Kindly follow @itjennn on twitter and also my account because she was helping me for my updates. Thanku
I would like to thank Julie Buxbaum and Will Allison for keeping me inspired. Some of the scenes in my story are “quote” from their books.