Eighteen

Chapter 21

"Have you eaten breakfast? We can't swim on an empty stomach, can we?" Aliana tilted her head, swiping a doe-eyed gaze across us three.

I had not, but I was not hungry either. Tumango si Hide na hinagod pa ang tiyan habang si Catherine naman ay umiling. Aliana had not eaten, too, so she suggested that we could go along and they would follow suit. Leaving the group felt wrong, so we decided to have a meal with them at a restaurant on the beach.

They sold mostly seafood, and I could barely eat any of those or I would risk my life to 50/50. Sea creatures and my gut had never come into a truce since time immemorial. Tanggap ko naman, kaya manok na lang ang kinain ko dahil ayon lang ang tanging nasa menu na tanggap ng tiyan ko.

Aliana was well-acquainted with the place. She knew some people who worked around just as they knew her. She had been a family friend since the Fabellos still lived in Mindanao. Hindi naman palakwento si Aliana kung hindi mo tatanungin. But when it came to her job, she would randomly share facts about it; she was very passionate about what she did for a living. I could not even see myself in her position at any time in the future.

How did it feel like – to follow one's dream?

"There're kayaks here, kasi may part dito where there's this really mesmerizing lagoon! I swear, that place is one of my favorites!" Aliana exclaimed.

"Talaga? Hala, punta tayo ngayon!" si Hide.

"Save the best for later, 'di ba? Don't be atat, Hide. For now, let's enjoy na muna what's in front of us!" Inunat ni Catherine ang dalawang braso sa gawi ng malapad na buhangin patungo sa asul na asul na karagatan na hinahalikan ang pampang nito.

I was also curious about this lagoon they had mentioned, but as they had also said, better save the best for later. And there were lots of beach activities going around, so there would not be dull moments while I walked on the sands of this place for the whole week.

Kuya and the other three were enjoying themselves in the waters of the ocean that casted off crystals under the sun. They were laughing – I meant Dominic. He must be cracking some corny jokes again judging by Anais' facial reaction.

Naglaro sila ng tubig, tinatamaan ang isa't isa. My brother managed to do one splash at them before diving into the ocean, swimming away from the chaos that was Dominic Arthur Fabello.

Mabibilang pa lang ang mga taong narito ngayon, pero kanina, noong kumain kami, halos puno naman iyong kainan. I thought some people around the place were enjoying themselves somewhere else inside the resort. Baka nasa lago sila o baka nangingisda.

As far as I observed, some faces were not Filipino. Marami ang may dugong banyaga rito kaya marami rin ang gwapo at magaganda. Pairs of eyes, from females and males – well, maybe something else were screaming in their hearts – were darted at the group of men playing like kids quite far from the bay. May kalayuan sina Kuya, pero tanaw pa rin na tanaw ng iba kaya siguro malusog ang mga mata nila.

Sa dami rin ng banyagang narito, marami ring pwedeng dapuan ang mata ng mga tao na ang hanap ay magagandang tanawin. Coming to this resort would be a great choice for people; not only would they be graced with the natural surroundings, but also with walking gorgeous faces as if they were straight out models from Victoria's and GQ.

You would see men in commanders or board shorts, in any way topless, for free. While ladies sported the usual two-piece, flaunting their to-die-for curves and humps.

"Bakit pa tayo susunod sa kanila, Ali? Pwede naman na magbukod tayo!" sabi ni Hide na kanina pa nagmamaktol dahil ayaw lumapit sa grupo nina Kuya. We just acted like none of us knew the reason behind this.