(Purely Rhian's POV)
612 DAYS AGO
It finally stopped raining. It's my second day here in The Great Sta. Cruz Island and it hasn't been "great" so far. I went here to get away but it feels like sinusundan ata ako ng kamalasan.
I woke up as early as 7am para makapag-relax sa seaside. I found this nice spot not too far from the resort. I lay down, put my earphones on, and closed my eyes.
It was quiet for a while.
Then, I heard a noise sa gilid ko. It sounds like someone's throwing up.
"Ang aga naman." I gasped.
I put the volume of my music to the max, then covered my face with my hat para di ko siya marinig.
After a few minutes, I felt something hot in my thighs.
Bumangon ako agad and noticed na it was her foot that touched me.
"Hey! Ang laki laki ng space oh! Do you mind?" I shouted.
The girl was unconscious.
"Hey! Miss! Are you okay?" I poked her and felt that her skin's burning hot.
"God! You need to go to the hospital." I rushed to the nearest bangkero and asked for help.
I knew from an article I read na walang hospital sa island, but sabi ni Manong may clinic daw nearby.
Nung nakabalik na kami sa babae, Manong recognized her.
"Eh si G pala 'to eh. Nako inabot nang umaga sa inuman. Siguro kagabi pa 'to di nauwi. Halika, iuwi na lang natin sa kanila at baka nag-aalala na Mama nito." Sabi ni Manong.
"Saan po ba siya nakatira? Masyado po mataas lagnat niya. Baka mas mabuti na macheck muna siya sa clinic na sinasabi niyo." I said.
"Kailangan pa natin magbangka. Hmmm... siguro tama ka nga. Ewan ko ba kasi dito. Hindi ko nga alam na nag-iinom pala 'to eh." Nag-agree naman si Manong.
Tumuloy na kami sa clinic. May doctor naman kahit maaga pa. Pinainom lang siya ng gamot thru IV at kinabitan ng dextrose dahil baka raw dehydrated kakasuka. Kapag bumaba na raw ang lagnat at magising na siya, pwede na makauwi. I had to stay there for the next several hours kasi hindi siya pwede bantayan ni Manong. Haaaaay. Like what I said, malas.
After 2 injections ng paracetamol and almost 10 hours of being asleep, she finally woke up. Mababa na din temperature niya.
She looked at me for almost a minute ata. Her face, confused.
"Hi. I'm Rhian. I found you in the shore passed out. Apparently, from kalasingan." I said.
"Hi. Pasensya ka na. Nakakahiya. Argh. Hindi ko maalala anong nangyari. Pero salamat. Salamat talaga." Halatang nanghihina pa siya pero pinilit niyang umupo at inabot niya yung kamay niya for a handshake.
"It's okay. Tatawagin ko lang yung staff dito para matignan ka ulit. And then aalis na rin ako. Papauwiin ka na rin naman nila." Tinanggap ko na rin yung handshake.
That was awkward.
I told the staff na she's awake na pero maya maya pa daw makakabalik si Doc kaya di pa siya makakauwi. Pero tumuloy na ako ng pag-alis. Besides, nagugutom na rin talaga ako. Hindi na ako nagpaalam kay G.
THE FOLLOWING NIGHT
It's my last day on the island. I got a decent "tour" kaninang umaga and a peaceful siesta by the beach. Mukhang pagbibigyan na ata ako na matapos 'tong bakasyon na 'to on a happy note.
For dinner, I decided to go to this place called "Moonlight." It has good reviews on TripAdvisor and they have live acoustic performances so plus points.
Papalapit na ako sa resto and I heard the song that the band is currently playing.
'Cause I die a little each time
When she cries...
Weird song choice lalo na it sounds like a woman is singing.
I entered Moonlight and immediately looked for the band. When my eyes found them, I froze.
I saw the vocalist right there staring at me while she sang these lines:
Then there'll be tears of joy
That fill her lovin' eyes
I wanted to look away but I just got lost in her eyes.
It is G — and she looks different. She looks rugged, but the attractive kind of rugged.
When the song ended, I saw her whisper something to her bandmate then she left the stage.
Nagulat ako kasi she's walking towards me.
"Hey. I'm G. Remember?" She said smiling.
"How can I forget? Hahaha." There is definitely a tension and I am freaking out.
"Again, gusto ko lang mag-sorry for what happened yesterday. Gusto ko bumawi sa'yo. Hanggang kailan ka ba rito?" She asked.
"I'm flying back to Manila tomorrow after lunch." I said.
"Hmmm... katatapos lang ng set ko. Gutom ka na ba?" G asked.
"Hindi pa naman masyado." I answered.
"Okay." Nilapit niya yung bibig niya sa tenga ko. I am panicking inside, but I tried so hard not to move. "Hindi masarap ang pagkain dito. Sama ka sa akin. I know a good seafood place." She whispered.
G grabbed my hand and we walked towards the exit. I don't know bakit hindi ako tumatanggi dito sa tao na halos 'di ko naman kilala.
A few minutes away from Moonlight, we reached the seafood resto na she was talking about. It's called "Z food". Sabi ni G, the owner was a fan of the masked man and the resto specializes in seafood. Hence, the name.
I couldn't stop laughing when she told me that. I don't know. Corny naman pero sa pagkakasabi niya, tawang-tawa ako.
She ordered a seafood platter.
"Wait. Wala akong dalang gamot. Baka mag-attack allergies ko." I said.
"Relax ka lang. Here." She got an antihistamine out of her pocket.
"Wow. Ready ka ah. Girl scout?" I teased her.
"I need it din kasi. Ewan ko. This morning, I just felt the need to bring some. Parang the universe is telling me na kakailanganin ko kasi pupunta ako dito. Haha." She said.
"Hindi ka ba lagi dito?" I asked.
"Hindi. Only on special occasions." She smirked.
I blushed. And I know na halata sa face ko so I tried to open up a conversation to ease the tension na I'm feeling
"Why are you so drunk the last time, anyway?" I asked.
"Nag-out ako sa Mama ko, but she freaked out. Medyo marami akong hindi magagandang salita na narinig kasi sobrang galit siya. Hahaha." She was laughing but I can see in her eyes na malungkot siya.
"I'm so sorry to hear that. If it makes you feel any better, I was disowned, too. Well at first lang naman. They eventually accepted me after a while. Just give your mom time." I tried to comfort her.
"Sabi ko na hindi ka straight eh! Hahaha. Buti na lang!" Her eyes suddenly looked excited.
"What do you mean, "buti na lang"?" I asked.
Halatang nataranta siya at di niya alam ang isasagot. She was saved by the universe, tho. Kasi dumating yung waiter with our order just when she's about to say something.
There were a few seconds of silence after umalis nung waiter.
"Kain na tayo?" She finally speaks.
"Oo. Gutom na rin ako and they all look so delicious. Is this the famous alavar sauce?" Tinuro ko yung isang bowl na may brown-colored sauce.
"Yes! Yan nga yun. Go tikman mo. The best yan!" G cracked one of the crabs, pulled out its meat, dipped it in the alavar sauce, then put it on my plate.
I smiled at her and said: "Wow. Thanks!"
We finished eating at around 9:30 PM. Ang dami naming napag-kwentuhan ni G and I discovered na we have a lot in common. There's really so much more than that G that I first saw at the beach.
She was broken then. She is still now. But it seems like all her broken pieces are bound to form a chaotic yet beautiful masterpiece.
"Ano iniisip mo?" She asked while we were walking.
"Huh?" Medyo matagal na rin ata akong tahimik at nag-iisip kasi malayo na yung nalakad namin.
"Natahimik ka eh." She said.
"Nothing. I just never thought I'd be comfortable hanging out with a stranger." Nagulat din ako sa sinabi ko.
"What if dito lang ako sa gilid? Tatanawin lang kita." Lumakad siya palayo sa akin.
"Ganito oh. Nandito ako. Nandyan ka. Pero pantay pa rin tayo. Like parallel lines, ganun." She asked.
"Hindi na 'yun "hanging out" 'di ba? Hahaha stranger na lang ako. Hahaha kaso ang creepy pala." She said while laughing.
"Ano ka ba?! Hahaha 'di ka naman na stranger ngayon. I mean, kanina lang yun. I feel like I've known you for a while now. Hindi mo na kailangan lumayo. Halika na dito sa tabi ko." I said.
"Sigurado ka? You trust me? Agad-agad?" She asked na parang nang-aasar.
"I do." I smiled.
"Okay. If you trust me, let's go. May ipapakita ako sa'yo." Hinatak niya na naman ako.
This time, tumatakbo na kami. Ang bilis niya. Ang daming energy. Parang bata na excited makarating sa Jollibee.
"Sandali. Hinihingal na 'ko." I told her while I was gasping for air.
"Konti na lang. Malapit na." She said while she was slowing down her pace.
A few minutes after, I saw this treehouse with warm Christmas lights not too far away from where we are.
"There. See that? Tambayan ko 'yan. A friend own that pero he's in Manila now so ako muna nagbabantay." Tinuro niya yung treehouse.
"Ang ganda." I said.
The treehouse was not too big, but it has a lot of stuff inside. A small sofa bed, a carpet, a mini kitchen and it was big enough for a standing surfboard. May gitara din sa loob.
"Do you surf?" I asked G.
"Yes. Pero amateur pa." She answered while picking up the guitar.
"Upo ka. Dito na lang tayo sa carpet para mas maluwag." She said.
I sat across her and she started playing. I didn't recognize the song at first, but after a few lines nalaman ko rin na she's singing "If I knew" by Bruno Mars.
Now, baby, now, baby, now, baby
Oh, baby, please, let's leave the past behind us
So that we can go where love will find us
Yeah, will find us
She sings with so much passion -- like her life depends on it.
"Can I ask you something?" She asked after the song ended.
"Ano yun?" I answered.
I didn't know how but all of a sudden magkatabi na kami.
She leaned towards me and said: "Can I hug you?"
Before I even said a word, she hugged me so tight and she started to cry.
"Hey. It's okay. For what it's worth, tanggap kita. Whatever they say, you're valid. Remember that. Okay?" I assured her.
After a few minutes, she let go of the hug and started laughing.
"Para akong tanga. Hahaha. Pasensya ka na ha. Wala kasi akong ibang makausap regarding dito." She said.
"Hahahaha hindi ka tanga. Baliw ka. Hahaha. Iiyak tapos tatawa. Hahahaha." I teased her.
"Grabe naman 'to. Alis na nga 'ko." Tumayo siya at nagkunwari na bababa ng treehouse.
"Talaga ba? Iiwan mo 'ko dito? Hindi ko pa naman alam paano bumalik sa resort." I said in a sad tone.
"Syempre joke lang yun! Patola ka naman. Hahahaha. Wait ka lang diyan. May surprise ako sa'yo." She went down and dug up a part of the sand behind the treehouse. She went up with two canned beers in her hand.
"Wow. Hahaha. You sure have a lot of hidden gems here on the island." I said, amused.
"Kumakanta ka ba?" She opened both beers and handed me one.
"Kumakanta? Oo. Magailing? Hindi." I said.
"It's okay. I don't judge. Give me a song. Baka alam ko tugtugin." She said.
"Crazier by Taylor Swift. I have the chords here on my phone. Wait." I answered.
I gave her my phone and she just looked at the chords for a few minutes tapos binalik niya na phone ko.
I don't wanna hide anymore
You lift my feet off the ground, spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
This night is really crazy. We are just enjoying ourselves. I've never felt so carefree.
After singing our hearts out, we just sat there in silence.
"Halika na? Maaga ka pa bukas 'di ba?" G asked.
"Can we stay here for the night? Ang presko kasi dito and ang tahimik." I asked.
"Sure. Wait, ilatag ko lang yung banig. Mas maluwag kasi kung sa sahig na lang tayo at itatayo ko 'tong sofa bed." Inalalayan niya ako tumayo at inayos niya na yung higaan.
Nagulat ako kasi nilatag niya rin yung isang carpet sa gilid. At dun siya humiga.
"Oh bakit nakatayo ka pa diyan?" Sabi ni G.
"Bakit d'yan ka sa gilid nakahiga? Ang laki ng banig oh." I asked her.
"Baka hindi pwede eh. Nakita ko yung wallpaper mo. Boyfriend mo?" She asked.
"Yes. Si Jay. This is supposed to be our anniversary trip, but he had to work so ayun." I said.
"Hala. Sorry." She looked really concerned.
"It's okay. It turned out to be an amazing trip naman. Thanks to you." I smiled.
"Kaya halika na dito. Tumabi ka na." I said.
"Ayoko. Baka pagsamantalahan mo ko eh." Ang lakas talaga mang-asar ni G.
"Harmless po ako." I winked at her.
"Nakooo. Sige na nga. Masunurin ako eh." She stood up and lay down beside me.
We didn't say anything after that. We just closed our eyes and fell asleep.
THE NEXT DAY
I woke up at 7am to the sound of my phone alarm.
Paglingon ko sa tabi ko, wala na si G. Tumayo ako at tumanaw sa labas.
Nakita ko siya naglalakad papunta sa treehouse.
As soon as she saw me, she waved.
"Rhian! Good morning! May dala ako pagkain! Hotsilog! Humingi din ako maraming ketchup!" G shouted.
Hindi ko napigilan mapangiti. Naalala niya na favorite kong breakfast yun.
We spent my remaining hours on that island eating, talking, and just laughing.
She even accompanied me to the airport.
"So paano, kailangan mo na mag-check-in. One hour na lang flight mo na." G said.
"Yeah. It's really nice to meet you, G. This was one memorable trip. Thank you." I hugged her.
"Thank you rin. For saving me that morning. And for "seeing" me." G replied.
"Hmm... hindi mo ba kukunin number ko? Don't you want to get in touch? Hahaha." Kinapalan ko na mukha ko.
"Sorry. Pero hindi na lang siguro. Sobrang okay na ko sa mga moments natin sa island and sa treehouse. Ayoko sirain lahat ng yun by having hope na baka pwede tayo. When the time comes na gusto mong bumalik, alam mo naman kung nasaan ako." G explained.
"Nasa gilid?" I asked laughing.
She just winked at me and waved goodbye.
PRESENT DAY
"And that's how we met."
After I said that last line, all the guests at our wedding reception started clinking their glasses.
"Kiss? Again?" I asked jokingly.
We kissed for the nth time and I'm not complaining.
"Also, alam niyo naman na yung story na 'yun. Why do you keep on asking about it?" G asked everyone.
"It's inspiring and sobrang uwu!" Bianca, my maid of honor, answered.
"Sobrang blessed ko lang that Rhian came back, a month after, single, and said na she wants to try it with me." G looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"I love you, Rhian. Here's to a lifetime full of beautiful songs and hotsilogs."
"Mahal kita, G. Sasamahan kita sa gilid or sa kahit saang sulok mo man gusto magpunta."
"Cheers to the newlyweds!" Angelica, G's best woman, shouted.
THE END