CHAPTER ONE
"Pambihira Aly, are you sure we were heading on the right track?" Amy Ahomiro asked Alyssa Valdez who was silently stretching her long legs out in the motorboat. Kahit saan kasi sya umikot ng tingin puro dagat ang makikita nya. "You know what, I really cant understand you. Why would you want to spend time alone on a God-forsaken island? You can travel abroad, like Europe, America or anywhere, not in here."
Aly didn't bother answering her friend. She just enjoyed the sight served on her right now. All of her friends knew how she loved the ocean, the serene brutality of it, loved the electric power she felt with each breath of wet, briny air of it, pero hindi nila lubos akalain na magagawa nyang bumili ng sariling isla dito sa may dulong bahagi ng Zambales. Naalala nya pa mga itsura neto nung ibalita nyang malapit na nyang mafully paid ang binibiling isla mula na rin sa sweldo nya sa paglalaro ng volleyball at sa talent fee na natatanggap nya sa pag-eendorso ng ilang produkto.
"It still doesn't make sense to me," Amy continued to grumble as she playfully shoved her fingers in the seawater. Amy was her longtime friend since college, they were both volleyball players and currently her teammates in the Philippine Volleyball League. Nagpasama sya dito ngayon para ihatid sya sa isla dala na rin ng pangungulit ni Ella, isa rin nilang kaibigan at kalaro.
Aly opened one eye at Amy then turned and look out over the ocean. Hindi nya rin maintindihan ang kaibigan nya palibhasa laking siyudad, galing New Zealand. Aly grew up in Batangas, a combination of plain and mountain, malayo sa ingay ng Kamaynilaan, and there's the ocean. Kung ang ibang bata nakahiligan ang paglalaro ng mga dolls, chinese garter, video games, si Aly grade school pa lang after class diretso agad sa beach kasama ng mga kuya nya. Eight years old pa lang sya, expert na sya sa swimming and diving. At the age of eighteen, she was already allowed to go on trip with her Uncle to the different islands in Luzon. Isa kasi etong Oceanologist.
"Hey," Amy was calling. "Looks like were out of nowhere. Look, I haven't seen any sign of land, are you really sure tama etong tinuturo mo ki Manong? Buti na lang di na sumama si Ella, if she's here, baka nagpapanic na yun."
Aly smiled at the mention of their friend. Nakita nya ring napangiti si Manong, ang may-ari at kapitan ng nirentahan nilang bangka sa paulit-ulit na tanong ng kanyang kaibigan. "Relax, Amy okay?" she said and closed her eyes again. She couldn't hide her exitement of this three days adventure of her own. She smiled at the thought. She brought with her the latest fishing gear she had, camping equipment, some cooking utensils, canned goods, some fresh veggies and her emergency kit. She planned to live like a queen for the next few days.
"And one more thing, Aly, please take care of your body now okay?" Amy shifted from being panic to being concerned now. "Pang-ilang injury mo na yan eh. All right, yeah, its your life, its not even my body, pero concern lang talaga kami ni Ella sayo." She was addressing to her injured left shoulder. Kahit nung college pa sya iniinda na nya eto, napamalas lang at nagkaroon sya ng collision sa last championship game nila sa katatapos lang na season.
"That's the island over there," Aly said interrupting Amy.
"Oh yeah? You always do this, lagi mo na lang iniiba yung usapan. And how can you tell one island from the other?" Amy looked annoyed and amused at the same time. " Those three islands looks similar to me."
Manong cut the motor as soon as we got close to the island. Holding her injured shoulder, Aly stepped out of the boat and into the shallow water. Amy helped her unload her things.
"Last chance Aly," Amy said handing out the last bag. "You know, you can still change your mind. And if you will, promise I'd make plans para magkausap kayo ni Daquis. I know she's the main reason why you're here, right?"
