QuaranDestined

SIX

Kinakabahan man sa magiging biyahe namin pabalik ng Itbayat, there's nothing we can do but to face it, anyway. Wala namang ibang mode of transportation kundi itong fishing boat.

Christian and I are both silent while the boat is sailing. Maybe he is really like this, he would not be the first one to speak up or open a topic. I'm just lucky enough that he overshared to me last night.

Iniisip ko kung kukulitin ko siya para ituloy 'yong kuwento niya kagabi, pero nang tignan ko siya ay medyo salubong ang kilay niya habang nakatanaw sa malayo. Maybe he's thinking of something, so I just let him be.

Since the sea is calm and the sun's radiant light spreads across the sky, kahit paano ay na-lessen ang kaba ko. The weather is fine. Sana hanggang sa makarating kami sa Itbayat ay ganito pa rin.

I took pictures of the sea and any subject which interests me along our journey. Hindi ko ito nagawa kahapon sa dami ng nangyari.

I don't know why pero pagbaling ng camera ko sa right side, where Christian is sitting beside me, I suddenly felt the urge to take a photo of him. Naka-side view siya at nakatingin sa kawalan. Some strands of his hair which was not captured by his messy bun was being blown by the wind. His pointed nose compliments with his chisel jaw.

He's really handsome. Hindi ko maitatanggi 'yon.

"Patingin nga," bigla siyang nagsalita at lumingon sa akin.

"H-ha?" Nagulat pa ako. Gano'n ba ka-obvious?

Nagmaang-maangan ako. "Ng ano?"

"'Yong picture ko, patingin," sabi niya.

"Anong picture mo? 'Yong view diyan sa side mo ang kinuhaan ko, not you." I denied what I've really done.

"Ah. 'Kala ko ako, eh." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Gusto mo ba?" I asked just to cover up for the stolen shot that I did. "Puwede naman."

"Sige." He turned to face me and flashed a genuine smile, not the usual smirking that he does.

And it made my heart flutter.

No. It can't be. Baka marupok lang ako ngayon because I just came from a break-up.

Ipinakita ko sa kanya 'yong shot.

"Nice. Sa'n ka natuto niyan?" tanong niya.

"Photography? At first, hilig ko lang, CP lang gamit ko. Tapos, napapansin nila na parang, well, may potential nga daw," I answered. "Then my brother supported me by buying me the necessary devices and letting me attend workshops."

"Ayos." Tumangu-tango siya.

"Suwerte lang." sabi ko naman. "May supportive na kuya."

"Ikaw? Ano mga hilig mo? Hobbies?" naisipan kong itanong.

"Ngayon ML lang," sagot niya.

"My kuya's playing that also," I told him. "Anong rank mo na?"

"Mythic," parang nahiya pa siya nang sabihin 'yun.

"Pinakamataas na 'yon, ah." I looked at him. "Tama ba?"

"Oo. Kaya nga boring na," sabi naman niya. "Parang trip ko naman magtanim ngayon."

"Magtanim? Ng ano?" tanong ko.

"Sama ng loob."

Natawa ako. "Ano nga?"

"Marami kasi naiwang halaman si ermats," paliwanag niya. "Iniisip ko kung pa'no ko sila bubuhayin."

"Parang anak lang, ah. Buhayin talaga." I chuckled.