AN:
O eto na ang inaabangan ng karamihan. POV ni Fafa Ice! Nawa’y masiyahan kayo.
Ice
It’s 10pm and I dont feel sleepy. I’m thinking of having a glass of wine but I just thought that it’s so boring doing that thing alone. So I went out of the room and go straight to a bar not far from our hotel. I heard from the gang that there’s an excellent bar around named Sula Bar. According to them, it’s located at the poolside and they offer drinks and cocktails perfect for a night out.
The place was full of people. I shouldn’t be surprised. Summer ngayon at maraming bisita ang resort na ito. And I heard na kahit hindi summer, marami pa rin ang mga nagtse-check in dito to think that this is a luxury resort. It just happened that the number of people became double during this season.
I entered the place walked directly at the counter saka umorder nang maiinom. Mas maganda nang ditto ako tumambay. At least there are people around. Magulo ang isip ko lately. I’ve experienced this before. Pero mas malala yata ngayon. Ilang buwan na akong walang matinong tulog. Mula pa noong nanggaling ako sa Batangas. And the person behind this? Iisa lang. It was Clarisse. I don’t know what’s into her. Masyado akong binubulabog ng konsensya ko. And everytime I close my eyes, mukha nya ang nakikita ko. Gusto kong saktan ang sarili sa pagpapakatanga.
I’ve been in love to Tanya before. Even though I know the feeling was mutual between her and Andrew, sumubok pa rin akong manalo. But then, I lose. Nasaktan ako, I admit. It took me years to move on from that painful experience. And I did. Nagawa kong kalimutan lahat. Nagawa kong ibalik ang dating ako. But not my heart. I’ve been cold ever since then.
But I didn’t expect that somebody will bring my heart back to life again. She woke up my interests. For the second time, she taught me how to fall in love. And I’ve never been so happy when she told me that she feels the same way for me. Pero pinalagpas ko lang ang chance.
Pero natuto na ako. And this time, I wont let things just drop into the ground without doing nothing. Not this time.
“Hey! I’m surprised to see you here.”, napalingon ako sa tabi ko and I’m even surprised when I saw Jake.
“Me either. I thought you’re injured. How’s your foot?”, I took a gulp of my beer. Umorder na rin sya ng drinks nya saka sumagot.
“It’s getting better. I just cant stay to my room while I’m here. I don’t want to miss the fun since we’re staying for only 3 days.”, inisang lagok nya lang ang laman ng shot glass nya.
“I agree…” that’s a lie. Honestly, I joined this event because I thought he’s not coming over due to his project in Batangas. Hindi ko tuloy makausap ng solo si Clarisse dahil mas malala pa sya sa langaw na palaging nakasunod.
“How about you? Mabuti nakasama ka sa event na to kahit busy ka.”, sabi nya.
“Cause I want to be close to someone…” napansin kong napalingon sya sakin.
“We’re talking about Clarisse here, am I right?”, good thing mabilis syang maka-pick up.
“No one else but her.”
He just chuckled softly and took another gulp of a beer.
“So you’re still expecting that she’ll forgive you after all the things you did to her?”, I looked at him.
“That’s why I’m making up to her…”, tumawa lang ulit sya ng pagak.
“You know, Clarisse is such a nice girl. Kung ibang babae yan, hindi ka na kakausapin at hindi na sya magpapakita sayo. But then, she’s giving you a chance. Alright. But that doesn’t mean that you can have her trust again. You had your chance, dude. And I mean it, I wont give up without doing something for her.”, I looked at him intently. Tama ba ang hinala ko.
“You like her?”
“More than you can imagine, man. And I am not like you. Dahil ako, hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang chance na meron ako para lang sabihin sa kanya ang totoo. I don’t run away from anything. I face it.” Tumayo na sya saka inilahad ang kamay. “So, paano? May the best man wins?”, he said grinning.
Hindi ko sana tatanggapin ang kamay nya. But since he’s asking for a game, then fine, I’ll give to him.
“I’m wishing you luck then.” Sabi ko. Sinundan ko na lang ng tingin habang palabas sya sa bar na iyon.
Threat!
Pero hindi ako magpapatalo. Si Jake lang yan.
Inubos ko na ang laman ng baso ko saka umalis sa lugar na iyon. The moment I went out of the bar, I took my phone from my pocket and dialed Clarisse’s number. 4 rings bago sya sumagot.
“Hello…”
“Hey, Reese. Meet me at the lobby tomorrow by 6am. We’ll have breakfast together.”, sana pumayag.
“Ahm… Ice, I’m sorry… But I already said yes to Jake’s offer. Kung gusto mo, sumabay ka na lang sa amin mag-breakfast.”, biglang nabawasan ang pag-asa ko.
“Ah, no I’m… I’m good. Some other time, I guess?”
“Yeah… Some other time..”
I ended the call and went back to my suite.
The next day….
Everyone was given a chance to enjoy the luxurious resort. We are allowed to try the 200-450 meters zipline. There’s also a dune buggy, it’s a off-road vehicle that will brought us to a scenic view of the hill at the top of the resort. They also offer scuba diving where we can enjoy the underwater creations. We are also allowed to ride in a banana boat, do water skiing, jet skiing and wakeboarding. Pero ang pinakanagustuhan ko sa lahat, was the sunset cruise. Where we are going to ride in a private boat for an hour and will be able to enjoy the majestic view of sunset. Perfect for couples.
At dahil doon, may nabuong plano sa isip ko. I looked at my watch. It’s only 10am in the morning. We have all day to enjoy that this resort could offer. And then later by 4:30pm, saka ko gagawin ang plano ko.
“Let’s try the banana boat!”, nakilala ko ang boses ni Chuchay.
Lahat naman pumayag na sakyan ang banana boat. We were divided in two teams. Napagkasunduan na ang mas madaming members ng boat na mahuhulog sa tubig, may consequences para sa bonfire para mayayang gabi. We all agreed.
I rode the first boat waiting for us. I was about to ask Clarisse to ride with me, pero naunahan ako ni Jake. Kaya hinayaan ko na lang. Si Chuchay tuloy ang nasa likuran ko ngayon.
The game started. Mild pa lang ang takbo ng banana boat na hila hila ng motor boat na nasa unahan. Lahat nag-eenjoy pa. Pero maya-maya pa ay bumilis na ang takbo noon. 3 members of the other team were thrown into the water. Masiglang nagcheer ang mga kamember ko since wala pang nahuhulog sa amin.
Pero maya-maya lang, habang nakakarecover na ang kabilang team, kasunod nang mabilis na takbo ng banana boat ang pagkahulog ng 5 members sa team ko. We heard the opponents cheered for joy. Masyado silang na-excite kaya nahulog na naman ang mga members doon. This time, lahat na sila including Clarisse. Nag-alala ako bigla at napalingon sa kanila. Dahil doon at na-out of balance ako at nahulog din sa tubig kasama ang mga kasama ko.
In the end, both teams lose. Walang nanalo at walang gagawa ng consequences na naghihintay sa mga talunan.
Sa mga sumunod na activities, nagkanya-kanya na sila. Agad kong nilapitan si Clarisse noong nakita ko syang nag-iisa.
“Hey…”, napalingon sya sakin mula sa pag-aalis ng life jacket nya. “Let me…”, inalis ko ang kamay nya mula sa life jacket at tinulungan syang maalis iyon.
“You need something?” she combed her wet hair sexily using her hand.
“Want to go scuba diving with me?”, I was wishing deep inside that she’ll say yes.
“Sure!”
Halos mapatalon ako sa tuwa nang pumayag sya. Agad kaming pumunta sa area kung saan pwedeng magscuba diving. The crews were preparing our gears on.
“I just have one request from you… and I hope this time, you’ll say yes.”, she looked at me.
“Depende sa request…”
“I was curious about the sunset cruise… Pwede mo ba akong samahan?”, napakunot sya ng noo at napatawa ng konti.
“Seriously? Madalas couples lang ang sumasakay dun…”, she said while putting her hair into pony.
“Mukha naman tayong couple…”, I winked that made her laugh. How I miss that laugh. Sounds so angelic.
“Fine. Fine.”
“Thanks!”
Hanggang sa nagbigay na ng go signal ang nag-aassist na pwede na kaming lumusong sa tubig. Nauna na akong mag-dive sa tubig mula sa umaandar na yate. Saka ko inalalayan si Clarisse na makababa din sa tubig. Later on, we were underwater, enjoying the majestic creations that only few people were able to witness it.
I didn’t care kung hinahanap kami ni Jake. But after scuba diving, I asked Clarisse to have lunch with me na agad naman syang pumayag. We talked and laughed casually. Yung parang walang nangyari. And I think this is a good sign. At dapat ko itong samantalahin.
After lunch, we strolled by the bay, walking barefoot at the fine and white sand. We enjoyed our time together. Hanggang sa makarating kami sa boat na sasakyan naming para sa sunset cruise.
8 persons ang kayang dalhin ng yate habang isang oras na marahang umaandar sa tubig. Sa gilid ng yate kami umupo para mas makita ang magandang view. Sunset will always be the most romantic view of all. And I know how girls love it. Kitang kita naman sa reaksyon ni Clarisse. She cant help but smile while watching it.
“Reese…”, I whispered gently.
“Hmmm?”, she said without looking at me.
“Would you believe me if I say………”, binitin ko ang sinasabi ko sa kanya para mapalingon sya.
And the moment she looked at me, I sincerely said, “I love you…”