Palawan Strangers (CharDawn)

Five

"Isang kwarto na lang po ang available Doc eh, girlfriend mo naman po ang kasama mo"

Richard and Dawn's eyes widen. Sure, what the young man said made her blush so brilliantly.

The awkward air between Dawn and Richard was broke down by the sound of a woman's voice echoing from a room, "Hoy Kiko!!! Maghapunan ka na! Kanina ka pa diyan cellphone ng cellphone! Ipapakain ko sa 'yo yan ngayon!"

Kiko scratches his head, "Ate, nandito po si Doc Richard"

Then they heard a loud bang of the springed door, and a woman came out wearing an apron, "Doc, nandito po pala kayo" she said, greeting him. Then the woman's attention went directly to Dawn, eyeing her.

"Ah, Ate Nancy, si Dawn po pala" he looks at Dawn, "Dawn, si Ate Nancy, cook siya dito. Ina-assist din niya si Lola Mercy sa inn"

"Ay, hello po Ma'am." the woman greeted her with a wide smile, "Ang ganda niyo naman po para po kayong artista sa TV"

Dawn laughs a little, "Naks! Thank you naman po"

"Doc, basang-basa po kayo ah. Naabutan po ba kayo ng ulan sa daan?"

"Oo Ate eh, pauwi na sana kami sa Corong-corong. Dito na lang po kami magpapalipas ng gabi"

"Ang lakas nga po ng ulan, 'di nga rin po makakauwi si Lola" The woman clicks her tongue as she takes a glance at the glass window, "Kiko, kumuha ka nga ng shorts ng Tito mo, ibigay mo kay Doc. Jusko 'tong batang 'to, cellphone ng cellphone." she then picks up a bunch of keys, "Bakante po yung room 5, kakauwi lang po ng guests kanina at bagong linis po 'yon"

They have no choice but to spend the night together. In. One. Freakin'. Room.

The woman then leads them upstairs to Room 5 and hands them the room's key. "Doc, nakapaghapunan na po ba kayo?"

"Hindi pa po Ate eh" Richard tells her. "Ano pong ulam nyo ngayon?"

"May gusto po ba kayong ulam, Doc?" the woman says.

"Something na may mainit na sabaw" Richard tells the woman. "Naulanan kasi si Dawn"

Oh please. Stop it.

"Wala po ba kayong allergy Ma'am?"

"Wala naman po" Dawn answers with a smile.

"Sinigang na hipon po, Doc at chop suey, okay lang po ba?"

"Oo naman, perfect yan, Ate," Richard tells the woman with a wide grin.

"Sige po, Doc. Mga 20 minutes lang po, bumaba na lang po kayo sa dining hall"

The room was smaller, of course, it's a backpacker's inn, but it was clean and neatly prepared. A queen-size bed fit for a lovely couple, an air conditioner, a television, and an ensuite bathroom - enough for an overnight stay.

Dawn finds herself clutching her bag so much as if she's entering a dangerous or restricted zone without permission.

"I'm sorry we have no choice," Richard begins, "I think... okay lang naman siguro we're in one room"

"I don't mind" Dawn simply says but in the back of her mind she's quite nervous but unshaken.

It's a mixed feeling of bizarreness and delight that she can't discern as of the moment. Spending a night with a stranger in one room because the rain is pouring hard outside - it's one for the books.