You Always Will Be My Summer Love

Chapter 3: When He Was My Man (Part One)

(Courtney)

Since Day One na nandito ako sa Isla Guerrero, hindi pa rin talaga ako makapagpasya kung paano ko gagawin ang trabaho ko ng malinis at plantsadong-plantsado. What I mean is, yung tipong hindi mahahalata ng prospect ko yung ginagawa ko. Para matapos na agad. I was planning na, kapag natapos ko na agad ang ipinunta ko dito, I can stay here for a while before I go back home in Manila.

Yes it will be hard, but maybe makakatulong din ang charisma ko para magawa ko ‘to agad. And just speaking of, here he is getting near me at hindi ko alam kung bakit lumalapit siya. Eh hindi ko naman sinabing close kami. Okay na rin ‘to. At least hindi na ako ang naghihirap na gumawa ng paraan para lumapit sa kanya. Right.

So ‘yun, nakaupo pala ako dito sa batuhan sa harap ng dagat. Hayyy, super feeling fresh and relaxing. Nice view.

“Hi. Mukhang nage-enjoy ka yata sa view.” Sabi ni Frionne habang papalapit siya sa ‘kin. Sht. Ang gwapo pala talaga niya. That’s why I was one of the girls who have crush on him. Seriously. “Hey. I’m talking to you? You’re bushing. *haha*” Am I? Grabe. Why did I stammered kasi? Shems.

“Ah, o-of course not. Am I? A-Ano pala yung sinasabi mo kanina? I didn’t understand much kasi eh.” I said.

“Sabi ko kanina, I think you’re enjoying the view.” He smiled. Gwapo talaga.

“Oo naman noh. Kahit sino naman eh magugustuhan talaga ang vacation dito. This is one of a kind place, though.” Sabi ko habang naa’amaze sa lugar. ‘Paradise’ ika nga. “Anyway, dito ka ba talaga nakatira? For good, I mean.” Pang-iiba ko ng usapan. ‘Di ko namalayan na magkatabi na pala kami.

“No. Like you, I was just having my vacation. Mas nauna nga lang akong nagpunta dito. Actually, my grandparents own the resort. So, I can visit stay here for as long as I want, you know.” He stated. Then, bigla siyang tumingin sa ‘kin. “Can I ask you a question? But anyway, nasa sa iyo kung sasagutin mo o hindi.”

“Uhm, go on. Ano ba ‘yung tanong mo?” Nahihiwagaan talaga ako sa lalaking ‘to.

“Ah, eh, hindi mo ba ako nakikilala? Uhh, I mean, do you recognize me? You know. Uhh. Basta ‘yun.” Oh my G. Nakahalata ba siya? Or ina-assure lang niya? O baka naman may kutob siya? Ayyy. Ano’ng sasabihin ko? Isip-isip, Courtney. Ah! Alam ko na. I’m sure he’ll believe this.

“Yes.” I paused. “Actually, kahapon lang kita nakilala eh. Bakit, do I need to know you? Uhm, dapat ba eh, kilala kita or what?” I asked back. Lord, sana umepekto.

“O-of course not.” He laughed. “I thought you know me. Okay. I’ll tell you, I am a basketball player dito sa Pilipinas. So it’s impossible if you don’t know me, I guess.” Grabe naman maka-deretsa ‘to. Of course I know him. Sikat nga di’ba.

“Ohh, I see. So isa ka na pala sa mga ipinagmamalaki ng Pilipinas ngayon. I actually don’t know that thing about you.” I smiled at him. “Seriously, I was here since yesterday for a vacation. I just arrived right after from the States, though.” Alibi ko. Eto na siguro ang nararapat na isagot sa kanya. Para hindi magduda.

“Ah. Kaya pala.” Smile. “For as long have you been in US?” Naku, di ‘ba dapat ako ang nagi-interview sa kanya? May lahi palang pagka-usyusero ‘to. Sige na nga, sakyan ko nalang ‘tong pagsisinungaling ko.

“I have been there for 12 years. So meaning, 10 years old palang ako, nandoon na ‘ko. I stayed there for good. Dun ako nag’aral, nagtrabaho and then I changed my mind to live there permanently. Naisipan ko kasi na, what if I should also try working in the Philippines?” I paused. “So, eventually, I’m here now for work experience. Actually, magbabakasyon muna ako ngayon para makapag-relax before I start looking for stable job here. Maybe, in Manila.”