The Last Shot

Chapter 8: Still

I wonder how things went this way. Maraming what ifs ang nasa isip ko. Pero lahat ng what ifs na yun, were just mere chances from the past.

I took one step. I felt the water on my toes. I closed my eyes and I inhaled the sea breeze. I took another step, and then another, then another until I felt that the water is already in my chin level.

“I like her. I like your cousin.”

Those words kept on echoing in my mind. Sa dami-daming babaeng pwede niyang magustuhan, si Eliza pa.

I opened my eyes. I spotted a beautiful sunset. Pero hindi ko yata ma-appreciate masyado ang ganda nito. Because I know it’s not permanent. Because I know a few moments from now, mawawala din to.

I sighed and decided to swim back to the shore. I immediately took my towel and wiped my face.

“Trespassing ka na naman.” someone said. I figured out it’s Gab. “Pwede ka namang mag-paalam no.”

I chuckled sabay hagis sa kanya ng towel. “Mas maganda yung di nagpapa-alam. Mas exciting.”

Inalis naman niya yung towel sa mukha niya. “And you have the guts to throw this on my face huh?! Grabe ka Kim.”

I smiled at him. Hindi ko alam pero I feel  like everything’s fine whenever I’m with this guy. Para kasing he sucks all bad vibes that I have. Kahit hindi naman kami ganun ka kilala, ang gaan ng pakiramdam ko sa kanya.

“Kanina ka pa?” I asked without minding his statement.

He threw back the towel to me. “Medyo.”

“I was just watching you. Akala ko magpapakamatay ka eh.” He added.

Kumunot ang noo ko. “What made you think na magpapakamatay ako?”

He shrugged. “Ang bitter mo lang kasi the other day eh. Baka lang kinikimkim mo pa rin.”

“Tss. I’m not that type of person.” I said and wrapped my body with the towel.

“Alam mo, you should learn to respect other people’s property.” He commented. “Paano na kung mapagkamalan ka ng magnanakaw nung guard? At teka nga, saan ka ba dumadaan?”

I pointed at the tall brick wall katabi ng isang coconut tree. “Diyan.”

His eyes widened. “Inakyat mo yan?!”

“Yup.” I mumbled.

“Seriously?” he asked in disbelief. “Tapatin mo nga ako, babae ka ba o tomboy? Seryoso?“

“Babae ako!” I snapped. “At isa pa, mababa lang naman yan! Kahit bata kayang akyatin yan.”

He sat beside me. “So, bakit ka na naman nandito?”

I looked at straight in the sea. “Just killing the time.”

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

Kumunot ang noo ko, sabay tingin sa kanya. “Huh?”

It’s his turn to look at the sea. “The last time I saw you here, may problema ka. So, I just think may problema ka ngayon kaya ka nandito.”

I gaze back at the sea and heaved out a heavy sigh. “Have you ever regretted something you did?”

“Of course. And until now, I regret doing it.” He said. “Bakit? Is that your problem?”

I smiled bitterly. “Yeah.”

He sighed. “If you can still do something about it, I suggest gawin mo na.”