Chased (BS#4)

L-Lagoon

The turquoise color of the salt water of Tangke Lagoon seems vibrant and mystical under the clear sky. It was surrounded by tall rock cliffs ngunit ni hindi man lang naitago niyon ang ganda ng lugar. The water was cold unlike the sunshine that's touching her cream skin. A perfect time to take a dip.

Dala-dala ang kanyang beachwear ay tuwang-tuwa siyang lumusong sa malamig na tubig. The water felt so good and relaxing. Kakaunti lamang silang naroon. At halos ay nasa lilim pa at nag-aayos ng mga gamit at damit-panligo. Sumisid siya sa ilalim upang lunurin at alisin ang pawis at alikabok na inani mula sa paglalakbay. 

Ah... finally.

Nang makaahon ay nagfloating naman siya sa tubig. Naririnig niya ang tawanan at kanya-kanyang tinig ng pagkamangha mula sa mga kasama niyang turista. Some were taking instagram worthy pictures. Ang ilan ay umakyat pa sa matataas at matatarik na rock formations upang makakuha lamang ng magandang anggulo. 

Mula sa pagpapaibabaw sa tubig ay pinagmasdan ng dalaga ang nagsisitaasang rock formations na nakapalibot sa buong lagoon pati na ang nakasisilaw na kalangitan. Kaagad na naglakbay ang kanyang isipan sa unang beses na naranasan niyang umalis ng mag-isa upang madiskubre ang bansa. Her feet and her money took her to El Nido Palawan. Hindi niya alam kung anong nangyari, she must have been enchanted by the place or she was just so crazy about it, magmula noon ay nadalas pa ang paglalagalag niya.

Siguro nga ay nagayuma siya. She must have been bewitched by fairies or what, she instantly fell in love with the clear water, enchanting lagoon and marble cliffs of islands back there. O kaya'y marahil totoo rin ang sinabi ng kanyang ina, that she was born to travel. Doon daw kasi siya nito pinaglihi noon.

Ipinagbubuntis palang siya nito noon ay kung saan-saang lugar na sila nakarating. And it was always because she can't seemed to behave inside her mother's womb. Her mother would always tell her that she was always in her best behavior even when she was a baby whenever they were outside exploring the city and provinces.

Ganoon nga talaga siguro. Maybe she was meant to be there. Maybe some things are meant to be like this. She can't seem to regret a thing about it. She is happy.

Nakailang rounds pa siya nang langoy bago magdesisyon na lumapit sa mas malilim na parte. May ilang grupo ng lalake at babae na nagtatawanan sa may gilid. She didn't mind the noise not until a boy who was just about on his early 20's took a picture of her. 

Kaagad na napasimangot siya. Hindi niya nagustuhan ang ginawa nito. He didn't even ask for a permission. Not everyone likes to be photograph by someone they don't know. Kaagad siyang umahon upang pagsabihan iyon.

"Uy, nakita ka tol!"

"Lagot ka kay ate."

"Naku, hayan na."

Nagsunud-sunod pa ang kantyawan ng mga ito. The boy just smiled sheepishly at them. Ngunit ni isa sa mga iyon ay hindi na pinansin ni Clarine. She just wanted to take down the photo. She didn't like her pictures to be kept by some strangers. Mahirap na at baka maisama pa siya sa Wonders of the World.