Nights Like This

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

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Papa arranged everything for my trip. All I had to do was to pack my things, hop on the plane, travel by boat and that's it. I had a warm accommodation when I reached the island. May sumalubong sa akin na lalaki at babae. I don't want to exaggerate but they seem to be giving me a special treatment. Nagpapasalamat na lang ako lagi sa kada subok nila na panatilihing komportable ako.

I'm already on my second day here. Kahapon ay pagkatapos ng maikling pahinga, agad ko ring sinubukan ang ilang mga activities tulad ng island tours at paddle boarding. It was so fun save for the fact that I don't have good pictures. Kung kasama ang mga kaibigan, si Julian ang photographer ko. Pero ngayon na mag-isa, nagsisikap ako na kuhanan ng picture ang sarili. Some people offer but I'm not as comfortable as I would be if it's my friend taking the pictures.

Pagkatapos ng spa treatment ay kumain ako ng dinner. Gusto ko sanang panoorin ang paglubog ng araw pero hindi ko na naabutan. I just made a mental note to wake up really early so I can see the sunrise.

I was peacefully eating my food alone when a tall foreign guy approached me. Nakatayo siya sa tabi ng lamesa ko at nakangiti sa akin.

"Hi. You're alone?" Based on his accent, I can tell that he's Australian.

"Obviously," sagot ko.

"Wanna join us?" aniya at nilingon ang banda ng table nila. There are two more guys and two girls. Hindi naman lahat foreigner sa grupo nila.

Hindi ako agad sumagot dahil inoobserbahan pa ang grupo nila.

"You know, so every guy has a girl tonight?" he said suggestively.

My brow raised. That's his motive?

"No, thanks."

I'm sure I can fit in their group because I know how to be with people but if that's what's in his mind, I'll pass.

Muli kong tiningnan ang grupo pero naagaw ang pansin ko ng lalaking papunta sa direksiyon ng mesang inookupa ko.

Rex Niccolo, who looks breathtakingly fresh in his attire appropriate for the beach, is making his way to me with an annoyed look on his face. Umawang ang labi ko sa gulat.

The heck is he doing here?

Well, I know he also wanted to have a vacation. Nabanggit niya noong dinner namin noong nakaraan. But I didn't expect he'd be here! Sa parehong lugar at araw ng bakasyon ko rin!

"She's with me," Rex Niccolo said coldly to the guy. Saglit din na nakipag titigan sa lalaki bago naupo sa harap ko.

I was still in awe at his presence that I didn't even comment when the guy said I was tripping. May kasama naman daw pala ako pero sinabi ko na wala.

"What the hell?" sabi ko kay Rex Niccolo nang umalis na ang lalaki at bumalik sa grupo niya.

"Hey," bati niya sa akin na parang wala lang. "Was he bothering you?"

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?"

"Vacation," simple niyang sagot at bumaling sa waiter para magsabi ng order niya.

Unbelievable. Sinundan yata ako nito, e. Did Papa ask him to follow me? Or Kuya Nikko and Kuya Mikael did? Hindi naman imposible kung iisipin ko. Malaki ang tiwala nila kay Rex Niccolo at hindi gaanong gusto ni Papa na mag-isa ako sa loob ng ilang araw.

"Sinundan mo ako?"

"May gusto ka pang iba?"

Hindi niya pinapansin ang tanong ko kaya hindi ko rin pinansin ang tanong niya tungkol sa pagkain na ipapadagdag.