"What are you doing here?" I asked while my teeth are clenched, smiling.
Nathan looked at me and cleared his throat habang ako naka ngiti parin harapan nila mommy.
"I was bored. Bawal mag vaccay?" Ngumisi sha at bumalik sa kinakain na shrimp.
Why would he follow me here? Or... Maybe gusto lang talaga niya mag vacation? Or nabored lang talaga sha sa bahay? Well, how? Sanay naman sha sa unit mag isa ah...
"Di ko ineexpect na mas maaga kapa saamin Nathan." My dad said habang kumakain.
"Haha, I told you tito, naka pag book na ako agad and nakareserve ng seats." Giit ni Nathan at uminom ng juice.
He glanced at me and winked. I'm obviously confused.
"Wait, so alam mo dad na pupunta si Nathan dito??" I said with my brows up.
"Sweetie, pinag usapan na nila to kagabi..." My mom said while holding my hand.
Oh, wow! So hindi ko alam? Kumuha ako ng crabs and tried opening it using a knife and a fork. I'm not dumb, I know hindi gagana pero I want to be clean since katabi ko si Nathan.
"Shit" I cursed the crabs kasi ang hirap!!
" Language, Ms Victoria." My dad said while drinking water.
I gave my dad an apologetic smile and nodded.
"Here, have mine" Nathan switched our plates and smiled.
Is he... Being kind here kasi andito sila mom? Or he is just... Kind.
"Thanks" I smiled with my teeth opened and tinaas lang niya ang isang kilay niya at ngumisi.
While eating, may tumawag bigla kay dad.
"Huh? Yes. Just leave it sa table ko." My dad stopped eating and naging focus sa call.
He glanced at me and binaba ang call "Aight, I'll be there. Pati sa kabilang department?! ".
My dad stood up and wiped his mouth. My mom's reaction is worried.
"Sweetie, please enjoy your meal, I'll pay for the bill and we have to go. May nawawalang documents sa departments namin ng mom mo. Sorry" my dad said. Sumunod bigla si mommy ng pagkatayo ni Dad. They kissed my cheeks and nag rush.
I sighed heavily and stopped eating. Ngayon nalang nila ako makakasama and ganon pa nangyari. Let's just say, I'm used to it.
I glanced at Nathan and nakatingin lang siya saakin. I smiled a little bit and kumain na. While eating, nilagay ni Nathan ang kabilang earphones niya sa tainga ko at nag play ng kanta habang kumakain kami.
It was so corny pero nakaka gaan loob yung ginawa niya. After eating, we went around to the mall for shopping.
Daig pa niya ko shopping! Sha ang may mas maraming nabili! He bought perfumes, shirts, and others na parang akala mo naman walang ganoon sa maynila!
"Wow. Nasabik ka yata dito sa mall?" I said habang nasa counter kami at naka crossed arms.
" Iba parin, it's from Davao you know" he said and kinuha ang paperbags.
While walking, namili ako ng strawberry shake, and mango kay Nathan. We were walking towards the parking lot since nag rent daw sha ng car. I saw my old classmate noong highschool!
"V-victoria?" He said.
Oh crap. It's Charles! Yung huling naka fling ko! Nakakahiya pag aasarin niya ako.
This is Charles, ang laki ng pinag bago niya. He's now tall, fit, and still, cute parin dimples niya.
"Hey, Charles... Musta?" I awkwardly asked. Habang si Nathan nakatingin lang and umiinom ng shake niya.
"Okay naman, wow. Don't tell me hanggang ngayon marami ka parin ka-mu? " He said while his hands are on his waist. And looked at Nathan.
Holycrap. This asshole!
"Hey! Stop that haha, he's... He's my boyfriend now." I faked my smile and grabbed Nathans hands na ang lamig.
I looked at Nathan and ngumisi sha and after niya higopin ang shake, he removed his hand and placed it on my shoulders.
"Sino sha, bubby?" Nathan asked.
I'm so cringe right now. But kinikilig rin at the same time. I feel like I'm so red right now!
"Aha, ah... He's Charles... My old—" Charles didn't let me finish what I was about to say.
" Oh, mangliligaw... Before... Grabe ka Tori, hindi mo na reason ang 'scared' huh?" Charles said with a sarcastic laugh.
Okay, I'll admit. I never had... A boyfriend. Puro flings lang. I was scared. I am until now scared of commitment. Siguro nga, tatanda akong dalaga.
"Ooh, baby... We have to go na... Sige bye Charles? Okay bye" Nathan's on rush and hold my hand so tight habang nasa parking lot. So, tight.
" Alam mo, pag gagawa ka ng movie... Ako yung unang unang fan mo. Grabe! " Nathan said and pumasok sa car.
Pag pasok ko sa car he looked at me and he locked the door.
"What? Okay... Sorry for using you—" di ko na natapos ang sinasabi ko ng sumingit sha bigla
"Wala kang ex!?" He asked and his brows went up.
Does it matter?
" Wala. I'm... I'm still highschool back then! Wala pa ko alam sa ganoon..." I said and tried my best to look away.
He chuckled and said " Or, takot ka? Sa commi—" di ko sha pinatapos ng bumuntong hininga ako ng malalim.
"Shut it! Oo na, I'm scared okay? Ayoko maexperience yung maloko, iwan bigla, ighost, or what so ever! Ayoko! Kaya ako yung nang gghost na una okay? " I said while my arms are spread.
He sighed and nodded. "Oh, what if there's a guy you like and he feels the same way? You're a grown up now. What will you do? " He asked.
I drank water and he started the car for the AC habang nakastop kami sa loob ng parking lot. I sighed and looked at him.
"I feel bad for him... If magugustohan niya ako pabalik. I might die soon, or later." I chuckled. Alam ko walang sense sinabi ko, pero it's true. Pag papasok ako sa isang relationship, it'll give me stress, and aches.
Umiling lang sha at nag drive straight to the apartment and wala sila mommy and daddy.
"Hey, nag text si tito... They left a money inside their room... Kunin daw natin and go wherever we want here. Pupunta daw silang Cavite." Nathan said and looked at me.
I sighed and went upstairs. Right. I'm used to this... Pero ang sakit. I missed them so bad. But, they're always busy. There's one time, when I was at the age of 10 here in Davao, we were watching at the cinema ng may tumawag kay daddy sa office. Hindi pa sha yung head that time, and same with my mom. Pero bigla nalang nila ako pina iwan sa isang playground na puro kids and they asked for the girl there to guide me.
That moment, I thought di na sila babalik. Akala ko pina abandon na nila ako. Pero they came back. Worried, and sorry.
The next day, I woke up around 8am and sat on the couch.
"Hey Toria? Saan mo gusto pumunta?" Nathan asked and he sat beside me sa sofa.
Somewhere masaya. And free
"Beach. I want to go to the beach." I said habang dahandahan tumingin sakanya.
"Okay, let's search the nearest beach here..." He said and nag browse sa phone.
I went upstairs to find something to wear sa beach. Wala ako gaano nadala from manila. Until I saw this little cute picture of us three. Naluha and didn't notice na nasa harapan ko na si Nathan.
Habang nakaupo ako sa dulo ng bed, umupo rin si Nathan and humarap saakin.
"Hey, I'm here naman. Ayaw mo ba ko kasama mag travel around?" He asked and pinunasan luha ko.
"You know what. Let's go wherever we want here." I stood up and pulled his hands para tumayo sha. Para shang batang naka upo na ayaw tumayo!
While driving papunta sa beach, I'm just wearing a square pants and a white tube papunta. While Nathan is wearing a white polo with light blue shorts and a shades.
Habang nag bobook ng room si Nathan, tumitingin ako sa paligid ng dagat. Ang tahimik, hampas ng alon lang naririnig... Mga bata na nag lalaro. Huling punta ko sa dagat na sila mommy kasama ko, ako lang ang bumabad sa dagat. Syempre, busy sila. Kasama mga kaofficemate.
"Nag meds kaba? And dala mo inhaler mo?" Nathan asked habang nakatingin sa beach.
" Yes of course, and kaka take ko lang ng med" I smiled and looked at him kahit hindi sha nakatingin.
" Mejo malapit na ko makaapak ulit sa California. Bakit this time parang di na ko excited. Do you, wanna come? " He asked and nakatingin saakin.
I laughed and umiling. " Wala doon so Doc Mendez!" I joked
"But, andon naman ako? I can be your doctor too? " He said with his serious face. Ng biglang lumapit yung isang girl na mag aassist saamin sa room.
"You booked one room?" I asked.
"Yes, don't worry, two beds" he looked at me and placed his two fingers sa harap ko
Maganda yung cottage, tree house sha... Aakyat kami sa crooked stairs and maganda ang room. Lalo't tree house ang design and kahit maliit sha, malaki ang balcony niya.
"Is it good?" He asked while Im at the balcony. Kitang kita ang view sa beach, it's so pretty.
"Yes, sobra." I smiled.
"Mr and Mrs Santiago?" The girl said
" H-huh?" I looked at him with my confused reaction.
Anong Mrs Santiago? What the?
Nathan looked at me and chuckled "ang haba kasi pag Mr Santiago and Ms Jimenez. Right?" He said and glanced back to the lady.
" Yes?" Nathan asked.
" Sir, you are booked here for one night and the dinner buffet will be downstairs at 7pm, and breakfast buffet starts at 5am sir" the lady smiled at Nathan... Halatang may gusto kay Nathan!
It's obvious, tignan mo lang galaw and ngiti niya kay Nathan... I can tell she's 20? See that chuckle, those eyes... I can tell huh.
"Stop looking at her like that Toria, nakaka takot ka" Natauhan ako sa sinabi ni Nathan and noticed na nakatitig na pala ako sa girl palabas ng room namin.
"So what now?" I asked him and looked at him.
Slowly, he went near me and binababa ang blazer ko na see through dahandahan.
"Hey." I said with no feelings.
What is he doing. My heart is beating too fast, please help me. Nilapit niya muka niya dahandahan.
"Just..." He said while looking at my shoulders and on his other hand, grabbing my waist near him. And yung likod ng index finger niya slowly dumidikit sa shoulders ko.
Omg, this is where they start right!? Slowly, tinanggal niya ang blazer ko so my outfit is left with white tube nalang.
He's slowly touching my collarbones and looked at me straight.
"Mag palit kana tara beach and mag boat. Nag rent ako ng speed boat" he winked and smirked. He went downstairs para mag palit sa cr and I was left here sa cottage.
" What the fuck was that all about!?" I was left stunned here. Parang pinako yung paa ko. I sat down and nag tingin ng iwwear ng biglang may nag notif saakin.
A message request from Samuel.
I followed him and he followed me back. Buti pa to!
samuelvinc: hey, I heard nag hahanap ka ng malilipatan?
Goodness Nathan!
victoriatories: hey! No, I mean I was pero di nalang...I'm at Davao right now:)
samuelvinc: oh, okay... With?
victoriatories: a friend;) let's talk later?
After ko nasend yung message, Nathan grabbed my phone and checked.
He chuckled and said "a friend. Damn, masisira na labi mo sa ngiti ha." Then he threw my phone sa bed.
What!? I'm not even smiling! And oh God. May a-abs sha. I can't take my eyes off it!! 6 hecking packs. Payat sha pero may abs. I didn't expect this to him. He was wearing a black beach shorts and topless.
"Stop staring at it. You can touch it" he said and chuckled. I rolled my eyes on him and tinutulak sha palabas.
"waaahh!" I spread my arms to feel the wind.
Nasa speed boat kami right now, and si Nathan nag papaandar. Habang ako nag pipicture lang Kung saan saan. I'm only wearing a triple dip one piece color red.
We stopped sa isang place na ang tahimik, ang puro rocks and trees lang nandito and sand. We sat down for a while sa sand to feel the peace.
"Oh balik na tayo." He said na pang asar.
"The heck!?" My eyes went wide opened and looked at him.
"Haha, just kidding! Ang tahimik dito no. Wala daw gaano pumupunta dito eh... Baka cursed?" He said while looking around.
I was scared. Baka eto yung sa mga movies? Na may killer. Or monster!?
"Don't be scared. Walang ganoon dito" he chuckled. And looked back to the beach.
After spending time walking around... We decided to go back.
We went back sa resort and saw the waves. It's already 3pm and medjo wala ng sun. We took pictures and went to the souvenir shop and nag tingin ng mga keychains.
Everything was worth for Instagram! Sha lang yung hindi nag pipicture. Pero nag tyatyaga shang kunan ako ng pics. Lumangoy kami sa dagat and tinuturuan niya ako mag float.
Around 5pm, we went back to our cottage to change. Nag shower na rin ako and pag akyat ko naka robe lang ako and naka towel hair ko.
I was shocked when I saw him laying on the couch with his sleeveless hoodie and a gray shorts and nag lalaro sa phone niya.
I bit my lower lip and asked him to go outside for a while.
He looked at me with his brows up and chuckled. Then he went outside with his phone.
I went downstairs and nakasuot lang ng off shoulders na connected shorts na pastel pink. Pag baba ko, nakita ko nakatalikod si Nathan and kinalabit sha. He looked at me and smiled and nag lakad na kami patungo sa dinner buffet.
Habang kumakain, nakatingin lang sha saakin.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked and kumain.
"I never expected this to happen,though" he said and he continued to eat.
I nodded and gave him a smile. Well, oo nga unexpected na magiging close kami ng ganito... Masaya sha kasama, and he's always comforting me, lalo pag about kila mommy.
Around 8pm, we were walking around. Lakad kami ng lakad sa beach, until binatohan niya ako ng sand.
Binatohan ko rin sha hanggang sa nag habulan kami sa dagat. And he asked me to stop kasi mapapagod daw ako. "Fine I give up, let's just rest for a while ha?" He said and umupo sa sand sa tabi ng dagat.
I looked at him habang naka upo sha.
"Didn't you asked a while ago kung... Pano pag yung taong gusto ko, gustohin ako pabalik?" I asked. I want to clear my answer and sabihin ang totoo... It has been bothering me for hours now.
He didn't even looked at me but he nodded. I sat beside him and sighed.
"Well, this time... Mag ttake risk na ako. Maybe I should, take the risk or lose the chance. Right?" I chuckled and cleared my throat. Hindi parin niya ako tinitignan at halatang seryoso parin mukha niya.
Then, he looked at me.
"Kanina kapa nakaw ng nakaw ng tingin ha!" I said habang nag bato ng bato sa dagat. And ngumisi, finally tumingin na sha.
"If, if I will steal your heart, papayag kaba na ikeep ko?" He asked and looking at me.
I chuckled and inside, oo. Pwede. You already did though. I stopped for a while and realized na malapit kami masyado sa isa't isa. I tried to move backwards pero bigla niya hinawakan waist ko.
"Will you?" He asked again and looked at me straight sa mga mata ko.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. Nanakawin mo? E mahina nanga puso ko." I joked instead and chuckled. I looked at him pero seryoso parin muka niya.
He chuckled and tumingin pabalik sa dagat at mahangin na gabi. Nag fflash saamin ang mga ilaw at tunog sa likod. Kitang kita ko ang Adams apple niya at ang jawline niya. Yung pilik mata niyang mahaba... He swallowed and looked back at me. Habang nakahawak parin sha sa waist ko.
Ngumisi sha at tumingin saakin. "Guess what" he licked his lower lip and pulled me closer to him "I'm about to."
In that moment. Alam ko nang marupok ako.