Chelsea's POV
{Chapter 21}
"Chase, kumuha ka nga ng tubig" Utos ni Luke, kumunot yung noo ni Chase.
Tinuro ni Chase yung mga baso namin na may tubig, we're hanging out dito sa now empty Beach Bar ni Liam, na kagabi ay sobrang crowded.
"Ubusin niyo muna mga tubig niyo, ano kayo naglilihi gusto bagong tubig kada minuto?" I chuckled kaya sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Mike habang hawak hawak yung ulo niya.
I figured it must be because of the hangover dahil after what happened between me and Chase, they all drank the night away.
I haven't properly spoke to Chase as well we just exchange glances kasi we both know that isn't the right place to talk about what happened.
Or maybe we shouldn't talk about it at all.
I mean, making out isn't that new if may alcohol sa party, so we're probably just under the influence of alcohol.
At least that's what I'm trying to convince myself. I keep on looking at Chase ever since I got here waiting for him to approach me pero lagi siyang inuutusan nila Mike.
"Dali na, dami pang sabi" Tinulak ni Mike palayo si Chase, na walang magawa kundi mapakamot nalang sa ulo niya.
Tumingin ito sakin and I just shrugged, wala akong alam sa nangyayari, since we got here they're all acting weird.
Except Stephanie, she's just as confused as we are sa kinikilos nila.
"Ano? Hindi niyo ko sasamahan kumuha ng tubig niyo?" Umiling iling yung mga lalaki at tinulak na ito palayo.
Sinundan ko ng tingin ito, pinipigilan ko na tumawa dahil sa nakakunot na noo nito.
He looks so done with them.
"Nakita namin yun" Nalipat yung tingin ko sakanila, they're all leaning towards me kaya kumunot yung noo ko sakanila.
Inalis ko yung tingin sakanila at inilipat kay Stephanie, she just shrugged.
"Ano yun Chelsea?" I was getting more confused, the more they ask me those weird questions.
I switched my gaze back to the Beach, I can't believe na this place is the same place na sobrang crowded last night.
Now it looks peaceful at onti lang yung tao, makes me think na kalahati ng tao kagabi ay multo.
"Kumuha ka pa ng pagkain" Utos ng pinsan ko, kumunot yung noo ni Chase at binaba na yung mga tubig na dala niya.
"Kumuha nga kayo ng mga assistant niyo" Sabi nito habang papalayo ulit samin.
May binulong si Mike kay Stephanie causing her eyes to immediately look at me, I closed my eyes at napahinga ng malalim.
"Ano na status niyo?" Bigla nitong tanong matapos siyang bulungan ni Mike.
"Who?" I asked pretending to not know anything. Deep inside gusto kong kalbuhin sila Mike pero I have to act as if wala lang and I'm totally okay with this.
I can't discuss anything with them dahil hindi pa nga kami nakakapag-usap ni Chase and it's not like may need kami pag-usapan.
She chuckled and playfully rolled her eyes, yung mga lalaki nakangisi.
"Ni Chase, Duh" Sinamaan ko ng tingin yung mga lalaki at iniwas nila yung tingin sakin at nag whistle na para bang wala silang alam causing me to roll my eyes at them. "Look at you, hindi mo masagot"
Tumawa sila, umirap ako, I'm torn between forgetting about what happened last night or pretending it never happened at nag-iimagine lang sila.
I still haven't talk to Chase about that kaya I don't know if ano yung tamang choice sa dalawa, but all I know we won't become an item just because of that... I think?
Kahit na sinundo niya ko kaninang umaga, he didn't open the topic.
Not that we have something to talk about, it's just, ewan ko I might be crazy thinking about the possibilities.
When I know there is no possibility of that possibility to happen, I'm just here for a punishment and that's it, makakaalis din ako dito.
"We're" Natigil sila sa kakatawa at humarap ulit sakin, obviously waiting for my answer. I looked around at nag tama yung tingin namin ni Chase, he smiled at me. "Friends"
Binalik ko yung tingin ko sakanila at nakakunot yung mga noo nila, I shrugged.
What was the answer na inaantay nila? How can they expect na kami na agad if may expiration yung stay ko dito.
"Di niyo kami maloloko, walang magkaibigan na naghahalikan" Tumango tango si Mike, inirapan ko si Luke.
"Kahit na wala akong maalala kagabi, alam ko na hindi kayo friends" Inirapan ko si Stephanie.
All of them are as curious as I am, the only person who could answer our curiosity is Chase.
He's the one who kissed me. He's the one with the reason and answers behind everyones questions.
But something inside me screams not to make him answer that question, alam ko that wouldn't change the length of stay here.
And knowing someone likes me is a big responsibility, I might make or break that person.
Which I'm pretty sure I'll break him since I'm also broken.
A broken person can't make a person, they can only break the other person.
He's someone I don't want to break, kaya I won't risk anything with him.
"I don't know, ask him" Natigil sila sa kakasalita, biglang may naglapag ng pagkain sa harapan namin.
I immediately grabbed the fries, I need to make my brain clear and calm down.
"Ano may uutos pa kayo?" Sabay sabay silang umiling.
Stephanie patted Chase's seat bago ito umupo.
"Kayo na ba ni Chelsea?" Muntik kong matapon yung plato ng fries, they asked me that pero ngayon mas kinabahan ako.
As I know that he's the only one who could answer that, which is making me nervous for unknown reasons.
"Gusto niyo lumipat sa grove?" Lahat kami nakatingin kay Chase, he checked his watched "May plano kasi kami ni Chelsea"
Kumunot yung noo ko dito, confused as to what he means kasi we literally have no plans whatsoever, hindi pa nga kami nakakapag-usap.
He just winked. Was that a signal or something?.
Their gaze switched from him to me kaya I had no choice but to nod and go along what he just said.
"Hindi sinasagot" Pahabol na sabi ni Mike.
Tumayo agad si Chase, I did the same.
They have no choice at tumayo na din sila. They know wala silang makukuha kay Chase.
Nauna kami maglakad at habang malayo sila sa likod namin biglang nagsalita si Chase.
"Sorry" Napatingin ako dito, kumunot noo ko "Tungkol sa kagabi. Nabigla ka ata"
Umiling iling ako agad at nag chuckle.
"Nope" Tinitigan lang ako nito checking if I'm lying kaya tumango ako agad and awkwardly chuckled to ignore the weird feeling na nararamdam ko between us. "Totoo nga, besides that wasn't my first kiss kaya okay lang"
He was still looking at me kaya I forced a chuckle.
"Ano ka ba totoo nga, baka club hopper tong kausap mo right now" I once again forced a chuckle even though kinakabahan ako sa susunod niyang sasabihin.
Inalis nito yung tingin sakin at dahan dahan na tumango habang nagcchuckle ren.
"Still, sorry if nagulat ka" I nodded at tumawa to lighten up the awkward atmosphere.
I wanted to know one thing, and one thing only.
But then again, I'm scared of that responsibility, but still gusto ko padin malaman.
Cause everyone wants to know what the other person thinks about them.
"I like you" Natigil ako sa paglalakad kaya tumigil din ito, he chuckled "Just in case hindi mo pa alam hanggang ngayon"
Napangiti ako bigla, I guess mabilis na nawala yung takot ko on that responsibility cause everything that I was so afraid of a minute ago, it all went away.
Upon hearing those 3 words, all of my earlier worries went away.
All I know is that this guy in front of me likes me, the guy who saw my weak side, who've seen me cry, who've seen my bad attitude, likes me, and that is all that matters to me, not even my fears can ruin it.
Despite everything that happened before I went to this province, this guy managed to like me despite my reputation.
"I know" Mayabang ko na sagot and I smirked kaya umiling ito habang nakangiti.
Bumalik kami sa paglalakad, we were both smiling.
Pag dating namin sa parking mabilis silang tumakbo papunta samin.
"Ano yun?" Nagtitigan kami ni Chase at sabay na nag shrug, causing both of us to chuckle "Sige ganyanan Chaser, akala ko ba tropa mo kami"
Patuloy silang nag-ingay pero kami ni Chase nakangisi lang habang nakatingin sakanila. Napansin ni Stephanie na hindi kami nagsasalita kaya bigla itong pumagitna sa mga lalake.
"Sshh iwan na nga muna naten sila, you guys, we're clearing ruining their moment" Stephanie said and pushed them away.
Stephanie looked back at us and winked causing me to roll my eyes at her.
Lumayo sila samin, I looked back at him, he just chuckled at umiling iling.
"Hayaan mo yung mga yun" I nodded, he handed me the helmet and before I could seat behind him nagsalita ito "Hindi ko kailangan ng I like you too, okay na ko sa ganito lang"
I nodded and he smiled.
"So don't force yourself to say it back. Ang mahalaga I told you what I feel, you don't have to reciprocate it or anything" He looked back at me at ngumiti, I nodded.
At least he didn't pressure me into confessing to him. Especially when my time is limited.
****
"Ganda diba" Stephanie said pagkababa namin, hinawakan nito yung braso ko at hinila ako papasok ng grove.
It's covered in trees at may magandang view pa sa baba where you can see the whole sea.
"Tulungan niyo nga ko" Rinig kong sabi ni Luke.
I looked back sa mga lalaki na may kinukuha sa likod ng sasakyan ni Liam.
Silang tatlo may hawak hawak na gamit pero si Chase nilagpasan lang sila.
"Kaya niyo na yan, kanina pa kayo utos ng utos" He then raised his hand as a sign of bye, napachuckle ako sa reaction ng tatlo sakanya.
Napatingin si Stephanie sakanila at mabilis na tinapik yung braso ko para makuha yung atensyon ko to look at her.
"Kung hindi ako uminom kagabi, I would have seen you and Chase" She then made the kiss gesture with her hands, inirapan ko ito. Tumawa ito "Pero Chelsea, do you like Chase?"
I didn't answer, I just looked at her.
She didn't force me to say anything she just nodded at ngumiti.
"Hayaan mo na yung mga lalaki mag set up dito" I nodded at hinila ako nito at tumakbo kami pababa.
Bakit lahat ng lugar dito palaging may view.
The view makes me want to permanently live in this town. But the signal, the internet connection, the lifestyle, makes me want to get out of this town immediately.
Sobrang tirik ng araw kaya my eyes wasn't fully open when we got to the bottom. I should have brought my shades.
"Parang ayoko ng bumalik samin" I jokingly said she chuckled at tumango tango.
"The view this town has to offer made me appreciate staying here. I imagine that I can stay here for the rest of my life now. Without technology, the view and the places are the only thing keeping me sane" She said.
I chuckled.
I started to imagine myself living in here just like how Stephanie described it, when reality suddenly hits me.
I sighed remembering how different my life truly is and how I can never belong here even if I disappoint my parents by not being who they want me to be in the next couple of months.
"Hindi ka na ba talaga pwede bumalik sa Manila?" She shrugged.
"Ewan, pero kahit na pwede, wala naman na akong babalikan dun" I looked at her pero ngumiti ito sakin "Hoy, wag mo nga ko kaawaan, my life here is better than the life I had back there"
I took a deep breathe, if only I have the strength and will to move to this place, but not only is my life truly different from this life. I can't sacrifice a months without going online.
The only reason why I could survive until now is because I'm always distracted, every time na uuwi ako, pagod na ko so I have no time to think about what's happening online.
I actually have no time to think about anything at all and it's all thanks to this annoying tour guide who happens to be somewhat decent but still annoying.
Nakarinig kami ng nagkakagulo sa likod. Sabay kaming tumalikod to see the boys struggling to keep the picnic mat on the ground.
I heard Stephanie took a deep breathe.
"I have to help those dorks out" I nodded at mabilis siyang nagpunta dun.
Naghalukipkip ito dahil sa ingay nilang tatlo. I smiled before turning my gaze back to the sea.
I grabbed my phone and opened the camera.
I tried capturing some pictures pero it ends up being ugly or out of the frame, dahil sa sobrang tirik ng araw naka squint yung mata ko causing the pictures to come out ugly.
Suddenly a hand went above my eyes, enough to block out the sun's shine but not my sight.
I looked up to see Chase, nakangiti ito kaya, I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling and proceed to take the pictures. Because of his help the photo's ended up looking perfect.
I started scrolling in my gallery to take a look at the picture I took.
"Okay na?" I nodded, inalis na niya yung kamay niya, napapikit ulit yung mata ko dahil sa araw. He held my hand which caused my legs to suddenly feel heavy from the shock. "Let's get you out of the sun"
He walked towards them and I could see their smirks pati yung nang-aasar nilang mga mata. I ignored them.
Umupo na kami, completely ignoring the people staring at us.
I scrolled the pictures at nakikitingin ito dito. I didn't mind it since he already saw my gallery before.
I felt his arm on my shoulder, I suddenly froze and at the same time mabilis na nag ingay tong mga kasama namin or should I say our friends.
"Hoy!" Sigaw ni Stephanie na halata sa boses na kinikilig, I looked up at Chase at nakangisi ito.
I closed my phone and placed it down.
"Speed talaga ni Master Chaser" Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Luke causing him to chuckle.
Inirapan ko sila. Kinuha ko ulit yung cellphone ko at nag browse sa gallery.
"Manahimik nga kayo, ako lang to guys" Napairap ako habang tumitingin sa cellphone ko, he suddenly hugged me causing me to be confused "Ako lang to, na mahal na mahal si Chelsea"
I suddenly dropped my phone kaya tinanggal niya yung akap niya sakin at kinuha yung cellphone ko, nag-tititili si Stephanie habang hinahampas si Luke.
Binalik niya sakin yung cellphone at umubo ubo ako, para mawala yung gulat sa katawan ko.
I somehow forgot how to breathe properly.
Napatingin ako sa mga lalaki at halos manlaki yung mata nila.
Kumunot yung noo ko kay Chase, he just chuckled at my reaction. Ano ba nakain nito kagabi at sobrang lakas ng loob ng lalaking to?
"Hanggang ngayon ba friends padin kayo?" Tanong ni Liam at sabay kaming tumango "Hayop, gusto ko din ng ganyang friend"
Tumingin ito kay Stephanie kaya sinamaan ito ng tingin ni Stephanie, nag chuckle lang si Liam at umiling iling.
"Ako din gusto ko ng mayaman na kaibigan, kagaya ni Chelsea" Tumango tango yung mga lalaki kahit yung pinsan ko.
Naalala ko nanaman how he flirted with me, I really want that to vanish from my mind pero I guess helpful yun sa future.
"Parang awa mo na, don't hurt Sam" He shrugged kaya sumama yung tingin ni Stephanie.
They kept on discussing how they want friends, kaya napapairap ako from time to time.
Tumayo si Chase, at inalok yung kamay sakin, I looked back at them na busy mag-usap tungkol sa kaibigan.
I grabbed his hand at tahimik kaming lumayo sakanila, once na nakalayo kami, tumawa ito.
"Yung totoo~" He just looked at me, I was about to say something pero inunahan ako nito.
"Yun yung totoo" Dugtong nito kaya inirapan ko ito.
"Ano bang nakain mo?" He shrugged at hinila ako papunta sa gilid.
Umupo ito sa taas ng fence, he patted the fence beside him. I sat down with him.
"Wala" He answered kaya kumunot noo ko.
Nilabas ko ulit yung cellphone ko, this time inagaw niya ito sakin.
If this was before, I would have slapped his soul out of his body for doing that, but right now, I'm actually happy he's interested in the pictures I took earlier.
"Ako na nagsasabi sayo Tart, ito kuhain mong course sa college. Nakikita ko future mo dito" I rolled my eyes habang nakaglue yung mata nito sa cellphone ko.
"I told you~" He cutted me off at tumingin sakin.
"I'll be proud of you, basta gawin mo yung gusto mong gawin. Don't mind the people around you, do what Chelsea wants to do, not what people wants Chelsea to do" I stared at him at ngumiti.
He continued browsing my gallery, habang ako nakatitig sakanya, admiring how he admires my shots.
I no longer regret being my parent's daughter, kasi if I wasn't theirs, none of this would have happened in my life.
I might be happy if I got born into a different family but I wouldn't be with these people.
I also wouldn't be able to meet my Lola whom I love so much.
"I like you Chelsea" He suddenly said at inalis yung tingin niya sa pictures ko. "I just thought you should know how special you are to me."
I smiled at him.
Being my parent's daughter really wasn't so bad, especially if there's this annoying guy who saw all my hidden and rotten side that not even my closest friends know existed, but despite it he still manage to love me.
He's making me realize that maybe I'm not that unlovable and all those years I may have just been surrounded by the wrong people that made me feel unlovable because right now, I feel loved by this annoying tour guide beside me.