Stonehearts 3: Aquamarine

Twenty Four

"'I need some time to think' ka pang nalalaman pero halos malusaw na 'yang cellphone mo sa kakatitig mo." Tikis sa akin ni Gio dalawang oras ng nakarating kasi sa Pagudpud.

Tumuloy kami sa isang hotel at resort malapit sa gusto nilang bilhin na parte ng magandang beach. May balak na kasi silang magtayo ng beach resort, para hindi raw puro hotels ang property nila.

"Hindi pa kasi nagtetext sa akin si Brinx maliban sa goodbye text niya." Malungkot na sagot ko habang pinagmamasdan ang litrato niya sa cellphone ko.

Tumabi sa akin si Gio, hindi ko na siya pinansin pero bigla niya akong binatukan. Mahina lang naman pero masakit pa rin! Dinampot ko 'yung flip-flops ko at pinagpapapalo siya nu'n. "Stupido! Sciocco! Stolto!" I cussed as I continue hitting him.

He shielded his body with his strong biceps while laughing like a loony. I got tired eventually and sat properly on my beach chair. He was still laughing like there's no tomorrow which peeved me even more. Konti na lang lulunurin ko na itong pinsan ko.

He latered finished, still chuckling a little before wiping the sides of his eyes. "But amore, really. I can't understand you anymore." He said rather serious.

I looked at him and his eyes were fixed on the waves infront of us. "No, I can't understand women in general. If there's a guy willing to do everything for you then why do you still try to push him away? Isn't that cruel and stupid at the same time?"

Now it's my turn to laugh at him. "Teka lang ha, are you still talking about me or someone else?" I quizzically asked.

His eyes shoot up before looking away, giving me an uncomfortable frown. "Syempre ikaw. Sino pa ba?"

"Ewan ko." I teased.

Mas lalong sumama ang mukha niya bago siya tumayo, "I'm taking a swim." Paalam niya.

Kita mo, lakas mang-asar pero mabilis mapikon. Nag-tanggal siya ng t-shirt at agad na sumulong sa tubig. I hugged my legs as I enjoy the serenity brought by the sea.

One time in my orphan life, I've asked Sister Meridith why I was named Aqui Marina. It was a very unique name. Mapapatanong ka talaga sa kung anong tumatakbo sa isip ng taong nagpangalan sa akin.

Sister said that upon coordinating with the other orphanages that I've been they learned that it was given by my birth mother. Sabi raw nu'ng dating tagapagbantay nu'ng unang ampunan na pinanggalingan ko may kasama raw akong sulat nang iniwan ako sa harap ng gate nila.

I was a tiny, malnourished baby wrapped in a soiled white cloth inside a box of noodles. I was less than a month old then. Hindi ko na nakita 'yung sulat, basta raw ang nakasulat, "Her name is Aqui Marina, she brings calmness like the sea. Please take care of her, take care of my baby."

Besides the fact that I was named after my birthstone, maybe my birth mom knew that I will grow up stoic and tranquill with everything. Siguro alam na niya dati na hindi ako magiging nerbyosa na babae.

Hindi ako nagtanim ng galit sa toto kong magulang. Actually, I even wish on meeting them in person just so I can say thank you. Hindi man nila piniling palakihin ako, magpapasalamat lang ako dahil pinili nila akong buhayin gayong madali lang naman para sa kanila ang kitilin ang buhay ko noon.

Buong araw na walang text o tawag sa akin si Brinx. Magaling talaga ang taong 'yung magpamiss. Napabuntong hininga ako ulit ng inabot sa akin ni Gio ang platter ng grilled squid.

Nilingon niya ako pero hindi naman niya ako pinuna. Naalala ko tuloy na ugali ni Brinx na ipaglagay ako ng makakain. Dati kasi nagagalit siya dahil kapiranggot lang ang pagkain ko. Dalawang buwan pa lang kami nu'ng nagsimula niya akong ipaglagay ng makakain, para naman daw madagdag ang sustansya ng katawan ko. Nu'ng una mahirap dahil sa biglang dami ng kakainin ko, pero nasanay na rin ako ng naglaon.

Napahinto ako paglagay ng pagkain sa plato ko. Damn, that man is clouding my mind. He shouldn't be allowed there now! Gusto ko ng space 'diba? I needed some space to think. Paano ko naman gagawin 'yun kung hindi magpapaawat ang utak ko sa pag-iisip sa kanya? Napahugot na lang ako ulit ng malalim na hininga.

Napatigil na si Gio sa pagkain at biglang hinablot ang cellphone ko sa tabi ko. "Can't take that damn sighing anymore amore." He gritted, dialing someone's number on my phone.

Pinakinggan niya 'yun mag-ring bago niya pinasa ng may sumagot. "Baby? Everything okay?" It was Brinx. The air in my lungs got sucked out that I wasn't able to speak. "Baby? Rina? Talk to me baby, your scaring me." He asked, horrid.

"I-I miss you..." I managed to say. Faintly. Very faintly. I swear my voice volume is like for ants.

I heard him huffing from the other line, "I miss you too baby. Terrifyingly bad."

I bit my lip, "Bakit hindi mo ako tinetext? Call even?" Mapagtampong tanong ko sa kanya.

"I thought you needed some space?" Bigla niyang tanong. I was left mouth open. How did he know that's what I wanted? Well, not intentionally, of course.

When I didn't find the proper words to utter, he continued. "Aqui Marina, I know pretty well how you think. Akala mo maniniwala akong gusto mo lang magbakasyon kaya ka nagpunta ng Ilocos?"

"B-brinx..."

"It's okay baby. I know things between us are quite overwhelming. Hell, I feel the same way too. But I know you carried the heavier baggage, that's why it would be selfish of me to deprive you of something you needed. Mahaba man ang apat na araw, kakayanin ko para sa iyo." Then he slightly chuckled, "Nagawa ko nga ang apat na taon, apat na araw pa kaya." Biro pa niya.

Napapunas ako ng luha ko bago ako napasinghot. "A-are you crying?" Tanong niya ulit, puro siya na lang ang nagsasalita.

I nodded my head as I clutch my phone tight. Then I realized he wasn't here with me so he can't see me. "Oo, ikaw kasi! Pinapaiyak mo ako!" Sisi ko sa kanya.

"'Wag ka ng umiyak, baka mapabiyahe ako jan ng wala sa oras mahal ko." Edi maganda! My inner thoughts shouted.

Suminghot ako ulit bago sumagot, "'Wag kang mangchichix jan habang wala ako ha. Makakakuha ka talaga sa akin Brinx Antheros!" I threatened.

Natawa siya ng bahagya, but I swear I can hear him sniffing too. "Hindi ka pa ba bilib sa akin baby? Sa haba ng apat na taon, wala silang nabalitaan na kahit na sino na-link sa akin, sa gwapo ko ba naman na ito aba'y mahirap rin para sa akin." Pagmamayabang niya na may halong tawa.

Napairap ako, "Gusto mong basagin ko 'yang gwapong mukha na sinasabi mo?" Galit na tugon ko. As much as I love him, I want to strangle him because of his inflating narcissism.

"Joke lang baby. You're the only one that I loved, will love and always love. Bad times with you are still better compared with good moments with someone else. I love you even before you have that sexy Italian accent. I love you even before you became the well-known Aqui Marina De Yro Godorecci. I love you. I love you." He said sweetly. 'Yung mga salita niya, nanunuot sa buto ko.

Nangilid nanaman ang mga luha ko, "Mahal din kita Brinx. Ti amo tanto."

We exchanged countless I love you's before we were able to drop the line. Nagtalo pa nga kami kung sino ang unang magbababa, hangga't sa bumigay ako at ako ang pumatay ng linya.

Halos makalimutan ko na na kasama ko nga pala ang pinsan ko sa hapag ng katawagan ko si Brinx, "Nakakatawa kayo ano? Ibang level ang ka-sweetan niyo. Una nag-a-I miss you kayong dalawa tapos biglang gusto mo na lang basagin ang mukha niya tapos saka mo siya sasabihan ng mahal mo siya. Women and their logic." He said sarcastically before shaking his head.

I giggled before nudging him on his arm, "Bitter mo." Biro ko, which made him scowl.