Nicomaine Dei Mendoza is one of the best travel writers for Mabuhay Magazine. She has traveled most of the Philippines, the world for that matter, and that never seemed to relinquish her thirst for more. In fact, it has made her believe that the more you travel the world, the smaller it becomes.
At the age of 21, she has earned her keep in the industry. Awarded with multiple plaques and trophies to honor her work and at this point, she was basically unstoppable.
"Dei, have you sent the photos for your piece kay Ma'am Jenny?"
"Not quite yet. Just editing a few of them at the moment. Tell her to give me another hour or two."
"Patingin nga."
She tilted her MacBook to the right so Paolo could take a better look at the photos she had taken from their trip.
"Woow. You really are quite the photographer Dei. These are beautiful."
"Maliit na bagay Pao."
"Shonga. Basta Ma'am Jenny said to pass it before the end of the day."
"Yeah yeah. I'll get this done. Duon ka na wag ka munang istorbo dyan."
"Bilisan mo na because we're going out tonight."
"What? Tutuloy pa ba tayo? Ang dami ko pang gagawin oh."
"No Nicomaine. You and I are going out tonight. Sa sobrang pagka tigang na nyang oyster mo hindi na bubuka yan pag nagkataon."
"Bastos!"
"Bakit? Na offend ka ba? Tell me Dei, when was the last time you got laid?"
"That's completely irrelevant."
"Irrelevant mo mukha mo. Kaya laging mainit yang ulo mo eh. You should go out more you know."
"Oh please Pao. Our job entitles me to go out a lot. You know that."
"Gaga syempre alam ko. But when I say go out, I mean out out. With people, not with animals and your camera, and your damn notebook. Alam mo sayang talaga yang ganda mo eh, nako kung ako lang."
"I really don't need that right now Pao."
"Oh on the contrary Honey, everyone needs to be poked once in awhile."
"Kadiri ka. Basta you go out, I just want to stay in bed and rest and drink my jasmine tea and soak in the tub while drinking wine and watch Game of Thrones. That's my idea of a good night."
"Whatever girl. Keep at it and soon enough you'll be the old cat lady next door. Bahala ka, oh sya mauna na ako sayo. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yup."
He stepped out of her house and Dei quickly got back to her work. While most people her age would probably jump at Paolo's invitation, it simply was just not her. She was different. She was mature for her age. She was a wander-luster, and that meant she didn't care much for clubs and dining at posh restaurants. She'd rather eat grilled fish by the beach using a banana leaf for a plate and her hands in lieu of spoons and forks.
It's not that she didn't feel lonely sometimes. She too, like most humans yearned for someone to kiss or cuddle with at night. It's just she barely has time for it, nor the patience to deal with such complications. She has tried to be in the dating scene, but because she was never around as much, the guys she dated would either cheat on her or she'd dump them before things got serious simply because they demanded too much of her time. She didn't want that barrier; her life was just too fast paced for such a thing. She'd have dates once in awhile with her suitor Mark, which she pretty much enjoyed. But him being a doctor also limited these interactions—something she didn't mind at all whatsoever.
After a couple of hours, she had already finished editing her photos. She had sent the email to her boss and she breathed in relief and excitement for what that had implied. Although she loved the great outdoors, she also loved soaking in warm water and just enjoying the peace her bath tub had to offer. She shut her computer down, got her towel and her robe, opened a bottle of her favorite red wine, lit her favorite scented candles afire, and turned the hot water on. This was her paradise within the borders of her own home.
She stayed there for about an hour then she primed herself for her bi-weekly marathon of Game of Thrones. She had three episodes she needed to catch up with and she was psyched—a tub of Ben and Gerry's in hand.
She loved the cornucopia of feels this show brought about in her. She sat on her couch, clinging to her favorite pillow as the latest episodes unraveled before her eyes. She laughed, she cried, she felt triumphant and sad at the same time. She devoured her ice cream that now tasted of salt from her tears, and just as she thought things couldn't get any better, the rain started to pour. She exhaled a deep, heartfelt sigh. She loved the sun, loved the zephyr of the ocean, but if there was anything that could top that for her, it would be the sound of the rain and the cool dampness that came with each drop. It soothed her and soon enough, her eyes started taking control and she slowly drifted away to the silence of her slumber.
