The Coño Boy 1 & 2: Love What You Will

Chapter Fifteen: The White Villa with Blue Window Shutters

We arrived at Tali Beach in Nasugbu around 3:30pm.

Let me just explain this to you since pinag-usapan na namin ito ni Joaquin on the drive here. Back in the 1970s-1980s, some developer decided to market this beachfront subdivision located along Tali Beach. Of course, families who were considered "Old Money" got in on the buying -most of them bought those nearest to the shoreline by the way. Some of them bought more than one slice of property knowing that it was a good investment and sell for profit later on. Back in the day, the villas and houses along Tali started out as simple weekend getaway structures. This was way before the likes of Punta Fuego popped up. People from the exclusive gated subdivisions in and around Metro Manila would spend their weekends here if they didn't want to go to Tagaytay.

Then some property owners in Tali Beach started renovating and building themed houses and others followed suit. May mga ayaw magpa-talo so the architecture got more sophisticated and varied. According to Joaquin, it was the "New Money" families that started that. Yeah, I gotta agree with that, yung need to be flashy with your fortune is so nouveau rich; my aunt said so too. Before rin daw, it was unthinkable to rent out your beach house at Tali, but it also became a trend since hindi naman daw lagi umuuwi ang mga families that own property there so may mga caretakers that facilitate this. As per Joaquin, the beach house in Tali was purchased by his Lolo, and was inherited by his Dad when he was a kid.

We turn left at a wrought iron gate arched with two bougainvilleas. There's a curved driveway leading up to the house with a fountain in the middle. Allow me to describe this beach house. It looks so effortless on the outside. It's like those Spanish or Mediterranean block type villas with the tile roof and rounded arches. It's painted white, may red tile roof, and what's striking about it is the storm window shutters are painted cobalt blue. Weekend getaway homes like this get featured in lifestyle magazines.

Joaquin: Kuya Dado, padala naman ng groceries sa kitchen. Sean, this is kuya Dado, our caretaker. Kuya Dado, si Sean.

Me: Hello po, Kuya.

I wave hello at Kuya Dado. Mukha namang pleasant siya and his face looks like he smiles a lot.

Mang Dado: Hello po, Sir. Kayo lang po ba?

Joaquin: Ah no, susunod daw po sina Artie.

Obviously the guys come here a lot.

Mang Dado: Pasensiya na sir, ha. Ako lang ang nandito gawa nang ai Ate Tess mo nasa Mindoro pa at na-stroke ang Nanay niya.

Joaquin: I see. Kumusta naman po?

Mang Dado: Ay sir, buti na lang at pinadalhan ni Mama mo ng pang-ospital. Pasalamat nga kami at  kahit hindi kami nahingi at nagpaalam lang nga na aalis muna si Ate mo eh nagpa-taglay ng pera ang Señora.

Joaquin: So, okay na po siya?

Mang Dado: Sa awa naman ng Diyos, mukhang makaka-uwi na ang matanda sa kung hindi daw bukas eh sa makalawa. Yung gamot nga po ay tinawag na po ng Ate ninyo sa ospital doon at wala na silang inalala. Pasabi po uli thank you sa kanila.

Joaquin: Ah ganon ba? Sige po, sabihin ko.

Sorry, I can't help but laugh at Joaquin when he speaks in Tagalog. It's so him.

---

I love how simple and cozy this beach house is. Yung pagpasok mo, match na match siya sa view from the windows and that big glass door leading to a terrace facing the sea.

Joaquin: Let's put our stuff in the room muna.

I follow Joaquin upstairs to this room at the end of the second floor hallway. It's a decent sized room with two beds. Nilapag ko muna sa isang side yung bag ko. What's nice about this room is that it also has a glass door with a terrace and a view of the ocean. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko to draw open the sheer white curtains and buksan yung glass doors habang may nililigpit si Joaquin sa cabinet. Once I stepped out onto the balcony, that's when I felt the afternoon breeze coming in from the sea.

Joaquin: You wanna go for a swim na ba?

Hindi ko namalayan that Joaquin was already behindi me sa balcony.

Me: Not sure, ang init pa kasi. Maybe later? What time ba darating sina Artie?

Joaquin: They should be here 5 to 5:30? They have go make a stop somewhere lang sa Tagaytay as per Rusky's text.

Me: I have to make ligpit pala our groceries.

---

True enough dumating na rin sina Artie, Rusky, and Caleb a few minutes past 5:00pm. I actually fell asleep while lounging sa terrace facing the beach, nagising ako sa pagdating nila. I remember having Joaquin sitting with me just before I dozed off. Saan kaya pumunta yon? As usual, you could hear Artie's voice na full of energy and ready to party. I get up from the couch and immediately, Artie notices me.

Artie: Sean! What's up, dude?

Me: Hey! Sorry, nakatulog ako, have you just arrived?

I wave at Caleb and Rusky as they bring in other stuff from the outside.

Artie: We bought dinner na ha.

Me: Oh, you did? there's also food pa there. You need help with that?

I ask Artie while he's sorting out the food he brought.

Artie: That's fine, we'll have enough for the weekend. Si Joaquin, dude?

Me: Yeah, I was wondering about that too. Kanina he was still there before I fell asleep.

Rusky: You want these chilled sa fridge, Artie?

Tanong ni Rusky while holding up a box of canned beers.

Artie: Up to you, man. Or we can ice them na lang sa cooler.

Me: That's a lot of drinks.

Artie: This is how Artie and the gang does Tali Beach.

---

I went upstairs to our room to check on my cell. I totally forget about my phone sometimes. Nagpaalam ako kay Auntie via text that I was spending the weekend out of town and I have yet to hear from her while she's in Cebu. Hindi naman kasi mahilig mag-reply si Auntie. Mom's attending this Intellectual Property thing for the office sa Australia, and she usually just e-mails me if she has bilin or what. Except for a few network generated text messages, wala naman.

Joaquin: Dude, you're awake na pala.

I turn around to see Joaquin emerge from the bathroom. Judging from the towel wrapped around his waist, he just finished taking a shower.

*Here we go again. Is he teasing me? Why am I seeing this in slow motion?*

Me: You didn't tell me you were going upstairs -

*What the eff was that, Sean? Why does he have to tell you that? Possessive much?*

Joaquin: You were sleeping kaya.

He tells me as he walks towards me.

Joaquin: Why? You wanted to take a shower with me ba?

*Backtrack. Did he just ask me that?*

Me: Joaquin, don't be such a tease, please.

*I could see it in his eyes na hindi niya expected that I would respond that way. To be totally honest, I'm having a hard time controlling myself.*

Then, kahit ako, I didn't know what was up with me, but I just went ahead and wrapped my arms around his wet torso, rested my head on his chest and hugged him tight.

Me: I know that I won't be able to say no to you.

I could feel him respond to what I just said. I felt him pat my back as I held him tight. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko na something physical might happen between us again.

Joaquin: Okay, I'll humor you, what do you want to do then?

Me: Can I dress you up?

Joaquin: Dress me up?

I could sense that he feels unsure about what I want...