"Half. Let's do it half kung ayaw mong buo." He insisted. Napaikot ang mata ko bago umiling.
"No, everything's settled, Cane."
I just can't believe we're at the middle of the road, Cy being the driver, and hindi kami mag-kasundo ni Cane. Kanina ko pa ine-explain sa kanya na nabayaran na ng parents ko ang 80% ng gastos while sa ipon ko galing ang natitira. Tita Carol fixed everything we needed kagabi, hanggang Sunday lang kami ng umaga—as per Tita's advise since bitin daw if hanggang Satrurday lang, all we have to do now is to just peacefully board the plane.
He suggested na mag roadtrip na lamang kami which is mas mura, sobrang sumakit talaga ang ulo niya ng sabihin ko na sa Amanpulo kami pupunta. He's not prepare, I can't blame him tho. If malaman ko na gagastusan niya ako papunta sa Amanpulo hindi din ako sasama. I would even suggest to just stay in the condo, but I really wanted to go there and spend some private time with him. Literal na private. Walang friends na tatawag at mang-uudlot ng dates, just us in a private island.
"If you really want then bring me in Venice next time kapag kasal na tayo." I spurted out, unable to even process what I just said.
And he shut up.
All of us fell silent, nakita ko na naman yong maliit na ngiti niya na pigil na pigill lumawak. I rolled my eyes bago humarap sa labas. Ramdam ko ang init ng pisngi ko. I'm not even looking at Cy, pero damang dama ko na ang mapanukso niyang ngiti.
"Baka pagkatapos ng trip na'to, ninong na ako."
"Shut up."
They both chuckled, geez, mas lalo lang napaikot ang mata ko.
"You heard that dude, she proposed to me." he told Cy with pride.
"Magpapatahi na ako ng barong." Cy answered.
Cane turned to look at me, nasa passenger seat kasi siya. Hindi mawala wala ang lawak ng ngiti niya. "Iipon na ako para sa Venice natin."
That's how the whole ride goes. Hindi ko alam pano sila papatahimikin so hindi ko na lamang sila pinatulan at nag headset na lamang, I can still hear their laughs tho. When I glanced at Cane, he's happily vibing with Cy. And that made me smile.
It really didn't take us that long. Cane finally dropped the topic about hatian, nang makasakay kami ng private plane may ilan kaming kasabay na puro foreigner. When we finally arrived, sinalubong kami ng staff.
The air was totally hot.
But the excitement and joy surging inside me was untamable. I am finally here, one of my dream beach in the world. Si Dad lamang talaga ang nakakaalam non, I remembered when he promised me na dadalhin niya kami dito and since then ginusto ko na talaga marating ang Amanpulo. I always asked him when I was in elementary if tutuloy ba kami dito, college came and I gave it up. They were both so busy.. but I am finally here because of them.
"Tita Carol booked us one casita." I told him nang makasakay kami sa golf cart.
"You love it here," he stated. He fished out his camera and took a video of us. I smiled as I wrapped my arms around his.
Hindi pa kami natagal dito but I already felt so relax.
"You really look so happy."
"I am, love." I answered.
**
When they said Amanpulo's one of the best, they are not exaggerating. I think, kulang ang word na best sa ganda—I don't even know if 'ganda' was the right term but the whole place was so breathtaking.
Pagdating namin sa villa, sobrang sulit lang talaga ng bayad. Hindi talaga make kwestyon bakit ganon kamahal. One bed ang kinuha ni Tita for us, king size. The color pallet was wood and cream, very neutral. It was very elegant and comfortable. Sa balcony, kitang kita ang beach. I bit my lips to prevent myself from gawking sa super puti talaga ng sand. Marami na akong napuntahan na beach but this one? Incomparable, I must say.
Parang kahit init ng hangin, ang classy ng dating.
Sinilip ko lamang ang bathroom, there's a tub na pinag gigitnaan ng dalawang powder area, sa center naman may round table and two wooden chair.
There's also Jacuzzi. May sofa bed and massage tables sa gilid and mas natuwa ako when I saw a hammock. I can already picture myself wrapped around Cane there.
I entered the room again, nakita kong inaayos na ni Cane ang gamit namin. Kinuha ko ang phone ko bago humiga sa kama para mag-pahinga ng konti bago kami lumabas. Gagawa akong itinerary namin since wala pa talaga akong kaplano plano kung ano ang gagawin ngayon.
I'm not as spontaneous as Ansel or Cy. Kailangan may susundan talaga akong plan, eto lamang talagang pag-punta sa Amanpulo ang isa sa mga biglaan na nagawa ko.
I don't know gaano ba ako katagal nakahiga sa kama pero nakatulog ako habang ginagawa ang itinerary namin, nang magising ako katabi ko nadin si Hurricane na nakayakap lamang sakin. Dahan dahan akong kumilos, aalis na dapat ako sa kama nang mapansin gaano kaaliwalas ang hitsura niya ngayon. He's sleeping soundly. I smile as I placed a kiss on his cheeks, hindi ako nakuntento, I plant kisses all over his face hanggang sa unti-unti siyang magising. His other hand travelled on my back as he smiled, eyes still closed.
"Wake-up, love." I whispered as I placed a kiss on his lips.
"Kinikilig pa ako."
I chuckle bago siya tinapik at bumaba sa kama. Agad kong kinuha ang pamalit ko at pumasok sa bathroom. Simple white sundress lamang ang suot ko and black swimsuit underneath. Pagkalabas ko bihis nadin si Hurricane. He's wearing a white beach polo and black shorts. He drove the golf cart then dumiretso kami sa Japanese restau na nakita namin kanina nang papunta kami sa villa.
Nang makabalik kami madilim na, may two lounge chair sa may labas pero sa buhanginan padin kami umupo at nagkwentuhan. We were just talking about random things, mas madami siyang sinasabe sa totoo lamang. Mas prefer ko lamang makinig at tumawa sa mga kwento niya.
"Do you want to swim?" he asked later nang matahimik kami.
The sound of small waves hitting the sand sounds very inviting. I smiled, "Game." Agad akong tumayo at hinubad ang dress na suot ko, pag lingon ko sa kanya nakatingin lamang siya sakin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay bago siya nag-iwas ng tingin at lumunok.
"Hindi ka mag-aalis ng damit?" I teased. He smirk back bago inalis ang shirt niya, he did it using his right hand and I looked away because well, he looked so hot doing it.
Nailing lamang ako bago umuna sa dagat pero agad din akong napabalik nang maramdaman gano kalamig, "It's so cold!" I informed.
Tumakbo siya papunta sakin, malawak na nakangisi, "Oh, yeah?" then bigla niya akong binuhat at tinakbo papunta sa beach. I screamed and laughed dahil sa ginawa niya. When my body touched the cold water, I wrapped my arms around his shoulder. Shivering. Nasa waist ko lamang ang mga kamay niya.
"Ang lamig." He said bago lumubog sa tubig at lumangoy. I followed him. Unti unti nadin nasanay ang katawan ko sa lamig ng dagat, pag-ahon ko sa tubig nag-aantay na lamang siya sakin.
Our bodies wrapped again as he leaned in, claiming my mouth. My legs wrapped around his waist as we both drown ourselves in each other's lips. I can hear the paradise singing—the small waves, the whisper of air and our breath panting as the kiss deepened.
The moon finally touched the sea as I felt his hand roaming on my back, pressing me harder on him. Making me feel everything he's feeling. "Mahal kita." He whispered when we stopped.
Agad akong napamulat ng mga mata, he's looking at me lovingly as he repeat those words.. "Mahal kita, Chandy."
My heart was bouncing joyously as his words sink in. Mahal niya ako. Iniyakap ko ulit ang kamay ko sakanya bago ipinahinga ang baba ko sa balikat niya. This is.. everything.
"You are.. a wish come true I never knew I was making." I whispered as I leaned back, cupping his face.
**
Five o'clock in the morning, gising na kaming dalawa ni Cane. He prepared us coffee habang inaantay namin ang sunrise. We just talked and laughed. Nang sumikat na ang araw, we proceed sa itinerary na ginawa ko.
"Lagyan mo akong sunblock." I requested as I hand him my lotion. Nalagyan ko na ang lower part ng katawan ko, likod na lamang talaga dahil hindi ko abot. His hands were kinda rough yet it still sent tingles down my feet to the ends of my nerves when it touched my back.
I heard him clearing his throat, sobrang bilis lang nang paglalagay niya bago binalik sakin ang lotion. "Ako din."
I obliged, sa likod lamang din ang nilagyan ko. Slim lamang ang katawan niya pero may muscle, truth be told, napaka sexy lalo na ng balikat.
"Put some on my face too, love." He asked, napaikot na lamang ako ng mata bago nilagyan ng sunblock ang face niya. He's just smiling the whole time, nakakahawa.
"This is how.." Cane uttered habang inaayos niya ang snorkel ko. We'll go snorkeling and turtle viewing ngayon. "Done." he smiled.
It wasn't my first time doing this, pero iba padin sa pakiramdam kapag kasama mo ang taong mahal mo. I mean, yes, the view was very great and sulit pero walang tatalo sa view kapag si Hurricane ang titignan at kasama ko. Sobrang kumpleto lang sa pakiramdam.
I just wish he's someone to stay.. someone I can spend my whole life with.
"Smile." He said nang makapag-palit na kami. Nasa may lounge chair lamang kami, he's holding his camera habang nakatutok sakin. So I smiled before sipping the juice na pinrepare for us.
"Let's take a photo." I said.
Agad siyang napangiti, wiggling his brows bago tumabi sakin sa lounge chair. I wrapped my arms around his waist before smiling at the camera. "Nagre record ka?" I asked nang mapansin na naka video.
"Yeah." He chuckles.
"Sira. Ang awkward kapag video."
"Mag 'i love you' ka sa camera."
"Bakit? Yan ba boyfriend ko?"
"Syempre pag di tayo magkasama papanoodin ko."
"Sabihin ko nalang in person kesa video."
"Eh, dali na love. Isang 'I love you, handsome' naman jan."
Napatawa ako sa sinabe niya bago siya hinampas. Napaka! "Gusto ko baby yong sinabi mo kagabi." He added looking at me.
"Alin?"
His smiled widened, "Yong sa wish."
"Sira. Tumigil ka."
He laughed, kaya napangiti ulit ako. "Game na, nag-aantay na camera."
Tinignan ko siya sa mata before sighing, hinding hindi talaga niya to papalagpasin better yet pagbigyan na lamang siya. "I love you."
"Mahal din kita."
He leaned in to give me a quick kiss, "Sa camera naman."
"What?"
"Sa camera mo sabihin."
"Ewan ko sayo Hurricane, matulog ka na."
"Dali na, love." Mas inilapit niya yong camera, humiga na lamang ulit ako sa lounge chair at tinanaw ang dagat.
"Cane, parang sira." Then I looked at the camera rolling my eyes, "You're so kulit but I love you." Then back at him, "Happy?"
He laughed before ending the video. Nang mag-hapon naglakad lakad lamang kami before kami nag-kayak. I laughed hard nang magtumbalik ang kayak ni Cane pero agad din akong tumulong syempre. "Nakakabawas ng pagka-lalaki to." Reklamo niya pagkatapos pero hindi din tumagal nakitawa na siya sakin.
"This is nothing compared nang mahimatay ka habang pinapalobo ang helium balloon." I reminded him, laughing at the memory. Nanlaki ang mata niya sakin bago napatawa, pinipigilan niya pero natatawa din siya kapag naaalala yon.
"Huh, hindi ko kinakahiya yon." He said kahit namumula siya sa hiya.
"And why is that?"
He smiled warmly, "It made you laugh that day."
"Sira."
When night came nasa may hammock lamang kami ni Cane, magka-yakap habang marahan na nagse sway ang hammock. We were talking about the star nang mapunta ang usapan sa favorite book ko—The Little Prince. I told him the whole story and he's just listening intently, paminsan minsan magtatanong.
"Do you think Little Prince was there.. still alone?" I asked as I pointed at the star.
"He's not alone, he has his memories."
"Mas malungkot kapag memories na lamang ang meron ka."
"Maybe, but at least once in his life he had his Rose."
I smiled bitterly, "I don't want to be like Rose. I don't want to be just someone's bittersweet memory."
His arms tightened around me, I felt him kissing my hair. "You're not Rose, you're my only Chandrella. Independent, strong yet soft Chandy."
Umayos ako ng pagkakahilig sa balikat niya para tignan siya, "Is that what you liked about me?"
He cleared his throat, "Noong una, oo. I don't know. Ang taray mo sobra kaya nagka crush ako." He chuckles, "But the whole you, everything you are and not, that's what I loved."
"Should I say thank you?" I tried jesting just to cover up the beautiful feeling I am having inside.
We both chuckle as we looked at the stars again. It was so beautiful and calming.
"I told my parents about you."
"Love?"
I smiled before looking at him again, "They wanted to meet you tomorrow, Cane."