One Last Time (R18)

Kabanata LXII: THE REAL TARGET

The Real Target.
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LIKE WHAT Dad said, after lunch we rested briefly before touring the resort with a staff guide. That was when we realized we weren't the only guests here.

Pagdating sa activity area, agad naming sinubukan ang ilang water activities. Una naming sinubukan ay jet-skiing. Magkasama sina Dad at Tita sa isang jetski, habang tig-iisa naman kami ni Annika. Sunod naming sinubukan ang kayaking, kung saan kami natagalan kaya hindi nagawa ni Annika ang planong mag-snorkel sa araw na iyon. Dahil inabot na kami ng hapon, hindi na siya pinayagan ni Tita, at nag-swimming na lang kami.

Maganda ang dagat, pero hindi na ito bago sa amin. Kasingganda lang ng dagat sa Santi Tierra ang dagat dito. Mas tahimik lang dito, not only because it's an isolated island, but also because this resort is far more luxurious and expensive than the ones in Palisog Beach. This place is almost like Amanpulo, and only those willing to spend hundreds of thousands for just one night can afford to book here, kaya mabibilang lang sa daliri ang mga turistang nandito.

Umahon kami mula sa dagat nang tuluyan nang lumubog ang araw at napalitan ng dilim ang kalangitan. May dalawang staff na sumundo sa amin at naghatid sa amin pabalik sa rest house. Inalok pa nila kaming sumakay sa special sand cart, pero pinili na lang naming maglakad.

Pagdating namin sa rest house, naabutan namin ang mga staff sa veranda na abala sa paghahanda ng hapunan sa mahabang mesa sa tabi ng pool. May itinayo pa silang puting tent na parang canopy na karaniwang makikita sa mga beach.

Ang liwanag ng veranda na kanina'y mula sa sikat ng araw ay napalitan ng mga nakasinding solar lights na nakapaligid dito. There were a lot of them-enough to make the entire veranda glow against the darkness of the night.

Ilang minuto pa, natapos na rin ang mga staff sa paghahanda. Nagpaalam sila bago kami iniwan.

My gaze fell on the low table, and my stomach rumbled at the sight of the grilled seafood, local dishes, and even a cocktail dispenser instead of the usual beer on the table.

Hindi na namin pinaghintay ang pagkain. Kahit basa pa, sabay-sabay na kaming kumain at sinasabayan namin ng inuman ang hapunan. With the sound of glasses clinking around our table, Annika and I talked a lot tonight compared to the night she first arrived and knocked on my room's door, asking to come in.

Without a second thought, I had gladly opened the door and let her in. Unlike before, there was no fight between us-only a casual conversation. She asked about the accident and about my recovery.

"I'm calling Mom to ask about you after she told me about the accident..." Annika said.

Meanwhile, a weak smile crept to my lips as memories of my best friends quietly resurfaced.

"Mom probably didn't tell you about that. Maybe so you wouldn't get upset, since hindi pa tayo okay noon..." patuloy ni Annika. "I actually wanted to call and talk to you personally, pero hindi ko tinuloy. Inisip ko noon na baka hindi mo rin sasagutin."

Nanatili akong tahimik.

"Ate Keira... I'm really sorry about Anja and Irinne. They were your only friends, so I know how painful that must have been for you."

I pressed my lips together as I felt the corners of my eyes sting. Kahit tinanggap ko na ang nangyari, masakit pa rin. Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago ako nagsalita.

"Okay lang," mahina kong sabi. "Tanggap ko na. Medyo naka-move on na rin ako... thanks to my new friends." I gave Annika a reassuring smile.

Ngumiti si Annika. "Glad to hear it," she said before she reached for a paper bag beside her. "Anyway... I came here to give you this."