I couldn’t quite explain how I am feeling right now. I just got back from a date with Judas Alonso Escalona and I couldn’t describe how it went. It’s unforgettable, yes, but I don’t think that it’s something that I should also remember. I mean, how epic was it? He came ten minutes after the said time, his shirt was baliktad and he seemed to be out of sorts. How can I describe that? Oh right, disaster. Halata naman sa kanya na wala sa loob niya ang ginagawa niya. Maybe napilitan lang siyang lumabas kasama ko dahil nakita niyang utang na loob ang pagkuha ko sa kanya sa office ng resort. Kung tutuusin ay parang aksidente lang naman iyon. I was around the area. Nakipag-usap kasi ako sa manager ng resort tapos ay noong pauwi na ako sa suite ko ay napadaan ako and I saw a woman in rage because of whatever Judas did.
I felt the urge of helping him. Bakit naman hindi? Two years ago, I met him in a wedding that I crashed and I really had a fun time talking to him. Ibinigay ko pa nga iyong number ko kasi akala ko, nag-enjoy rin siyang kausapin ako but her never called me. Ibig sabihin, hindi siya interesado. Okay lang naman sa akin iyon. I have been in the dating field for a long while now, hindi naman masama kung mare-reject ako. May mga bagay lang talagang hindi meant to be and maybe that was him for me.
Three months ago, I decided to come to the Philippines for a vacation. Ayaw pumayag ng Mommy ko kasi daw delikado nga naman sa Pinas but it didn’t stop me from coming here. Ever since, I was a child, gusto ko nang bumalik ng Pilipinas, I had always dreamed of coming to their beautiful beachs. I had this funny belief that I used to be a mermaid back in my past life, that my parents named me Arielle because I am indeed the princess of the sea.
But that was just one weirdness in my being. Alam ko naman na hindi ako sirena, paminsan – minsan ay naniniwala pa rin ako roon but I am more mature than that. I know the difference between fantasy and reality and reality is what happened to me earlier. Iyong reality na hindi lahat ng tao ay magugustuhan ako.
Just like what happened with Judas. I sued to like him. He seemed to be a really good person. We had a moment back then, ang saya niyang kausap and I felt like I really wanted to open up to him kaya lang parang hindi naman niya ako talaga gusto. I had a feeling na wala lang siyang choice kaya nagpunta siya roon kanina.
I shook my head. Kailangan kalimutan ko na iyong nangyaring iyon kanina. I can just classify it as one of my unforgettable datesn a ikukuwento ko sa magiging anak ko in the future. Siyempre, papayuhan ko sila na h’wag akong tularan at kumuha sila ng isang lalaking dedicated talaga sa kanila and that’s not Judas and I guessed that it will never be him.
I packed my bags and after I am done, tinawagan ko na si Mommy. I wanted to tell her about Judas pero hindi na lang siguro kasi nga, I should forget about him and what happened. I have to move on from it.
Nakakatawa lang kasi. Ang dating tuloy niya sa akin, sobrang jerk niya.
“Yes, Mom, lilipat na ako ng Amanpulo. Of course, I will visit lahat ng beaches ditto sa Philippines. Nakausap ko na rin si Ninang Gener para doon sa pagpunta ko ng Balesin. Yes, after that Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar.” I giggled. Mom acted as if she was reviewing my itinerary. Akala yata niya may maibaba roon. Sa twenty-seven years ng buhay ko, kahit minsan hindi pumalya si Mommy sa pagiging overprotective sa akin. Mas Malala pa siya kay Dad.
“Mag-iingat ka, Arielle! Baka mamaya nasusundan ka nang kung sino! Ingatan mo ang passport mo!”
“Mom, kung magsalita ka parang hindi ka sa Pinas lumaki. By the way, I miss you, say hi to Daddy for me.” Tinapos ko na ang tawag at bumalik na ako sa pag-aayos. I contacted the receptionist to send a bellboy here in my suite. Kailangan ko ng tulong para sa lagguage ko. Hindi naman nagtagal ay dumating na siya.
