Two Hearts, One Rhythm

Chapter 10

When we arrived at the hotel to rest after a very long day, naalala ko lang ang box na binigay noong cashier kanina.

Bella and Crim's already sleeping while I sat on my bed as I unwrap the ribbon on the box. Dahang dahan kong binuksan ang box and I saw that it's a simple gold chain necklace with a gold 'K' pendant.

I frowned as I tried to wonder about bakit K? Kildred Kanastasia? What the fuck is that?

There's no note or message or whatever in the box kaya tinabi ko na muna ang necklace sa bedside table at natulog na lang.

Our day started at 9 AM again the next day. Our stop or agenda for today is to visit the beaches around. Since nakarating na kami sa isang beach, tatlong beach daw ang mapupuntahan namin. Possibly four if marami pang time.

As I sip on my coconut drink while sittin on the beach lounger, I am still wondering about the necklace. Naalala ko lang iyon dahil may souvenir shop stop na naman kanina after our second beach stop. It's a small white box again, but it's only an 'A' pendant inside. There's no note or whatever that will indicate kung para saan. What if pangkulam pala iyon? My gosh!

Linagay ko na lang iyon sa bag ko at itatabi sa unang box na naiwan sa hotel room.

I am watching Crim and Bella as they play around the shore like little kids. Gumagawa kasi ng sandcastles tapos naghahagisan ng sand afterwards! Hindi na ako sumali since I was preoccupied by the pendant.

"Hoy! Lalim ng iniisip natin ah! Mas malalim ba 'yan sa dagat?!" Crim shouted as they went nearer. Nasa beach lounger ko rin kasi ang mga gamit nila. Security guard on-duty daw ako.

I frowned at her. "Shut up, pangit."

"Sus! Insecurity nga naman!" She laughed. Binato ko sa kanya ang towel niya. Kinuha niya iyon nang tumatawa. Bella's still swimming around the sea.

"Seryoso na. Bakit nga? Baka hindi ka na masaya sa trip na 'to ah!" Crim said as she also sat on my seat.

"May iniisip lang ako."

"Kung bakit maganda ako?"

"Hijo de puta, akala ko ba serious?!"

"Seryosong tanong 'yon, gago!"

"Naisingit mo pa ah!"

She laughed and waved her hand nonchalantly in front of her. "Sige na, hindi na. Matagal ko naman nang alam 'yan, 'di na kailangan ng sagot."

I rolled my eyes at her before sighing. "Wala lang. Preoccupied lang ako sa mga nakukuha ko for free sa bawat souvenir shop stop natin. It's so unlikely kasi. What if it's some sort of witchcraft and voodoo stuff? That's scary kaya!" I ranted.

"Ah! Iyong mga box na nakukuha mo ba 'yan?"

"Yes! The first one is a box with a gold chain necklace and 'K' pendant. Then the next one was only an 'A' pendant! Anyone would get curious about that!"

"Baka naman admirer mo? Bakit mo naman kasi tinatanggap kung iniisip mo nang ganyan? 'Di mo na lang sana tinanggap!"

"It's for free plus the small box looks cute kaya tinatanggap ko! Don't blame me, blame the sender!"

"Hay, leche. Bahala ka diyan. Mas mag focus ka sa trip natin. The purpose of this is to unwind and leave the post-graduate stress for a while. Sa Manila mo na isipin ulit 'yan!"

I listened to what Crim said and just enjoyed my time with my girls. Tomorrow's our last day here in Coron. Mountain hike and hot spring naman ang agenda for tomorrow.

I succeeded in not thinking about the small boxes I'm receiving, but my curiosity was brought back when I received another one after our trip to the hot spring! Small box na naman with an 'I' pendant. My eyes widened and lips parted because of realization. The beating of my heart rumbled rapidly again when I saw that it spelled 'KAI'!