RHOME WAS IN AWE when he stared at the woman in front of him. She looked so simple but yet elegant in her own way, reason why he could not answer immediately on what she said.
Home…
“Dahil ikaw ang lugar kung saan ako babalik ng paulit-ulit. Lugar kung saan ako masaya, kung saan ang sakit ay hindi ko maramdaman. Ang lugar kung nasaan ka.” Nakangiting Pagpapatuloy ni Juliette.
Rhome felt so much happiness that he couldn’t stop himself from bursting into tears. “K-Kainis, ang saya k-ko.” Nauutal nyang sabi dahil hindi Nauutal nyang sabi pagkatapos ay pumikit ng mariin bago niyakap ng mahigpit ang dalaga na matawa-tawa sa inaasta nito.
“Bakit ba palagi kang emosyonal?” Natatawang sabi ng dalaga.
Rhome pouted while his tears keep falling, “Hindi ko alam, basta masaya ako. Masayang masaya ako, ano bang ginagawa mo sa akin?”
Nagkibit-balikat si Juliette, “Wala naman, ipinapakita ko lang kung anong tunay kong nararamdaman…alam mo ayoko sa lahat yung nagtatago pagkatapos magsisi sa bandang huli. Ayoko maranasan ko iyon at ayaw kong maranasan mo rin. Dahil lahat tayo may karapatan malaman ang katotohanan.” She said seriously.
Rhome slowly let go of the hug then stared lovingly at her, “Bakit ba palagi kapag may sinasabi ka, ang bigat ng kahulugan?”
Juliette frowned, “Ha?”
Napailing nalang ang binata pagkatapos ay hinawakan ang kamay ni Juliette, “Anong gusto mong gawin ngayon?” He smiled.
Juliette looked at the nearby sea, since she came here she had not tried to paddle at sea because she was ashamed of those who’ll see her. It is really inviting, especially in the afternoon and later the sunset will show that she loves so much. There are not too many tourists or visitors at sea, just a few.
Rhome glanced where Juliette’s eyes were, her two eyebrow raised as he glanced again at Juliette. Gusto nya bang maligo sa dagat?
He smiled then suddenly grabbed Juliette towards the sea and when they were near already, He immediately take off his t-shirt causing Juliette gasped loudly and covered her eyes with both hands.
Rhome laughed. “Sus, para namang hindi mo na ito nakita.” Pagkatapos ay ibinalandra nya ang magkabilang biceps sa harap ng dalaga na sobrang pula na ng mukha.
“Wala ka namang muscle eh!” Natatawang sabi bigla ni Juliette.
Rhome frowned and pout, “Grabe, pinapahiya mo talaga ako.” Kunwaring Nagtatampong sabi nito.
Ang mga dumaraang tao sa paligid nila ay napapatingin sa kanila, dahilan upang mas lalong mahiya si Juliette.
“Totoo naman eh.” Juliette chuckled, Rhome's body is quite thin, there are a few abs that can be seen if you approach him but when you are far away you will not notice. You will notice more of his height and of course his handsomeness.
Nagtatampong nag-iwas ng tingin ang binata, bago humugot ng malalim na hininga. “Maghubad ka na.”
“H-Huh?”
“A-Ang ibig k-kong sabihin, magpalit ka ng damit. Maliligo tayo sa d-dagat.” He stammered as his cheeks flushed again.
Juliette smiled awkwardly, “S-Sige, p-punta lang ako sa c-cabin.” Pagkatapos ay dahan-dahang umalis ito, naiwan si Rhome na nahiya bigla sa sinabi nya kanina. A-Ano kaya naiisip non?
Naiinis na napakamot sya sa ulo pagkatapos ay humalukipkip bago tanawin ang dagat na nasa harap nya, malamig ang simoy ng hangin na masarap sa pakiramdam. Napabaling sya sa kabilang gawi ng may tumawag sa pangalan nya.
“Rhome!” Isa sa mga crew ng resort, si Greg. Nang makalapit ay umambang yayakap ito ng umatras palayo ang nandidiring si Rhome na hindi maipinta ang mukha.
“Oh bakit?” Natatawang sabi nito.
Rhome glared at him, “Baliw ka ba, huwag mo akong mayakap-yakap.”
Greg just laughed, “Binibiro lang kita no, bakit ka nga ba walang pang-itaas?” Sabay tingin sa katawan ng binata.
“Maliligo ako.”
“Oh? Hindi ba’t sabi mo sa akin noon, hinding-hindi kana maliligo sa dagat dahil sa nangyar––.”
“Nakabalik na ako!” Juliette happily said when she get near at Rhome, she didn’t noticed the newcomer who was surprised when he saw her.
Juliette was wearing her usual beach attire, bikini with a covered up because she was too shy to show to much skin not until she in the sea.
Rhome whose frowning glanced behind him, he was awe again seeing Juliette in that attire but he glanced at Greg who’s still in awe too staring at his precious Juliette making him pissed again.
He approached Greg who did not realize he was near, because of amazement he couldn’t deny. Rhome hardly flicked Greg’s forehead who suddenly looked at him…pissed.
“Sino may sabi sayong tingnan mo sya ng ganyan?” Naiinis na sabi ni Rhome.
“H-Ha?...s-sino ba sya?”
Rhome smirked, “Girlfriend ko.” He said proudly making Juliette jaw dropped. Greg eyes widened as he watched his friend proudly smirking at him like he won something.
“Kailan ka pa nagka-girlfriend?” Hindi nya mapigilan na magtanong. Umaktong nag-iisip si Rhome pagkatapos ay tumawa.
“Matagal na, tsaka sige na. Maliligo pa kami. Ingat.” He tapped gently Greg’s shoulder then hold the hands of Juliette and drag her into the water while Juliette swiftly remove her covered up before they got into the water.
And when the water reached their waist, he just then let go of Juliette’s hand.
“Maruno ka bang lumangoy?” Tanong ni Rhome.
Ngumuso ang dalaga, “Hindi masyado.”
Rhome smirked menacingly, “Huwag kang mag-alala sasagipin kita sa oras kapag kailangan mo ng tulong ko.”
Juliette couldn’t help but to laughed. “Napaka OA mo talaga, hindi ko naman hahayaan ang sarili kong mapahamak.” Then she looked at him but suddenly confused when she saw how he stared at her chest.
“H-Hey –.”
“Hindi mo dapat ibinabalandra sa marami ang sa akin lang.” Malamig na sambit ni Rhome habang umiigting ang panga sa magkabila.
That’s when only she realized what he meant, napatingin sya sa kanyang hinaharap. Wala namang mali sa suot nya, eto naman dapat ang isinusuot kapag maliligo ka sa dagat.
Hindi nya maintindihan kung bakit ganon na lang katindi ang emosyon na makikita sa mga mata ng binata tsaka hindi ganon kalaki ang sa kanya.
Sumimangot si Juliette pagkatapos ay humalukipkip, “May problema ka ba sa suot ko? Kung ganoon huwag na lang tayo maligo.”
The irritation on Rhome’s face slowly disappeared when he saw Juliette glared at him. “H-Hindi naman sa ganoon, ayoko lang na may titingin sayo ng alam m-mo na…maganda ka, magandang maganda. Imposibleng walang lalaking lilingon sayo lalo na’t iyan ang suot m-mo.”
Juliette sighed heavily, “Tama itong suot ko, tsaka ano bang iniisip mo dyan? Yung mga iniisip ng mga lalaking lilingon sa akin?”
He nod.
“Wala naman akong pakielam sa kanila eh, kung yun ang gusto nilang gawin edi gawin nila. Wala tayong magagawa sa mga ganoong pag-iisip, hindi naman kabastos-bastos itong suot ko. Alam mo kung sino ang bastos kung mag-isip? Sila.” Pagpapatuloy ng dalaga pagkatapos ay bumaling sa dalampasigan, marami ngang mga lalaki ang nakatingin sa kanya ang iba ay pasimple dahil kasama ang kasintahan o ano pa man.
Juliette shake her head then glanced again at Rhome whose face was saddened but he startled when Juliette splashed a water on his cheek.
She approached him then smiled at him, “Isipin mo na lang na tayong dalawa lang rito, walang ibang tao…tayo lang.” With that she splashed a water again at him, chuckling.
Rhome slowly smiled then splashed a water too at her, until they’re both wet. They’re both laughing while still playing using the water. Both smiled, as if they were the only ones really in that area. Rhome laughed as he chased after Juliette as she walked too far because of his strength to throw water at her.
They chase each other, their laughter never gone and tease each other . Until both their arms get tired from constantly playing in the water.
They had this satisfied expression as they looked to each other. At the same time as the sun set, Rhome spoke softly and lovingly.
“Mahal...Kita.”
BINABASA MO ANG
Two Strangers
Fiksi RemajaWith her remaining time, Juliette a 17 year old teenager decided to leave the city where she lives to do the things she has never tried and also to experience freedom, unexpectedly she is stranded in a place that she does not expect to complete her...
