El Nido #1: His Only Muse

Chapter 24

"Saan daw gaganapin iyong pageant? Gusto kong manood." Sabi ko habang pinapanood si Aries na mag luto.

"Baka sa town. Sa may park. Maraming nag-aayos doon kahapon nung nadaanan ko." Sagot niya.

"Doon ba palagi ginagawa 'yung mga town events?" I asked.

He nodded and reached for the onion leaves at the countertop. Tinignan ko iyon at napansing hindi niya maiwan ang pag hahalo sa ulam na niluluto niya kaya ako na ang nag-abot noon at ibinigay sa kaniya.

He looked at me before holding the small bowl. "Thanks,"

Bumalik ako sa upoan ko at ipinatong ang baba ko sa aking palad. "You don't have work today, right?"

Tumango siya.

"Great, let's go together? I wanna see the parade too.." I trailed.

Inalis niya ang de kahoy na sandok sa niluluto at hininaan ang apoy noon bago nag baling sa akin. I attentively welcomed his eyes when he walked to me.

"Papa is coming home today." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at kaagad na napangiti. "I'll fetch him, so.." he looked at me carefuly as if he's weighing my emotions.

I nodded quickly to assure him that it's okay. "Talaga? Hala, buti naman.. can I come? Let's fetch him together!" excited kong sabi.

He looked at me with the same expression. I was smiling while thinking about tito Sergio who's coming home. I really miss him.

"It's the airport, Yana." Sabi niya na nakapag pawala ng ngiti ko.

I slowly turned my eyes away and pouted. How foolish of me to forget that.

"How about I drop you off to the park and let's call Vergel together para may kasama ka?" he asked, trying to lift me up.

Nakanguso pa rin akong nagbalik ng tingin sa kaniya at marahang tumango. I saw him smirk and I stilled when he patted my head. It was so quick that I could not even replay it in my mind. It was like he just touched my hair because it's stubbornly standing. Tulala akong sinundan siya ng tingin nang bumalik siya sa niluluto.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at napalunok. My god, Aries. What was that just now?

"Wow," I whispered to myself while looking outside the car window. Nandito pa kami sa main road pero dagsa na ang mga tao dito sa town proper ng El Nido. A lot of them are walking on beach wears and they're so fine. Some of them are obviously foreigners because of their features. Siguro ay naka check in sila sa mga resorts at hotels na malapit dito. Truly, El Nido is amazing.

"Try calling him again." Aries said while trying to get through the mass in front of the car. Traffic na kasi dahil sa mga tindahan na lumalagpas sa daan ang mga paninda. Ang resulta, kailangang mag lakad ng mga tao sa mismong daan. We're having a hard time getting through.

"Her pronouns are she and her, okay? Practice that." Ani ko habang idina-dial ang number ni Vergel. Palagi kasing busy ang linya niya kaya hindi ko siya ma contact.

"Okay." Sagot niya.

"Hello? Vergel?" I called when she finally answered the call.

"Hello! Sorry hindi ko nasagot ang mga tawag mo kanina, e masyadong marami ang pinoproblema namin dito sa event. Hindi pa nga nag-sisimula e sobrang stressful na! Kaloka!" she really sounds stressed, note that.