The Unnoticed

Confrontation

TO AVOID any conflict and issue, I mingle around with my friends. Hiding the arousing fear in my chest.  I just didn't jump on the falls. And from afar I watched Frank and his friends do the same. He was hesitant when his friends asked him to do the backflip. But something pushed him to do so when Sander whispered secretly. He did it with three flips in the air before touching down the water.

Incredible!

Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumami ang tao roon. Grupo at pamilya ang dumating. Nagbabad pa kami ng ilang saglit bago tumulak pabalik sa Dampa. Naglibot kami sa kabilang dako noon para bumili ng souvenir.

Ayaw ng boys ng hot spring, kaya si Susan ang nakasama ko. Si Gatus naman ay kinailangang sumagot sa tawag.

"I like Filipinos. The people here were nice, happy, and polite."

Prente akong nakasandal sa gilid. Nagninilay-nilay sa inakto ko kanina nang marinig ang sinabi ni Susan. Dumiretso ako sa pagkakasandal para makita ko siya. Ang tinutukoy ba niya ay noong muntik siyang madulas kanina at tinulungan siya ni Frank?

"What makes you say that?"

"You and G, you both took everything in a positive way. Do you remember our thesis before? God, I was really dying but your words give me hope. I literally repeat it in my head until it became my strength. Thank you, Juls. I won't make it without you."

Napangiti ako. Kung alam lang niya ang pinagdadaanan ko noon. "I still remember that," I beamed.

"If you had a dream. Do a little effort as a beginning. Don't be afraid if you fail. At least you learn that doing little is not enough and you just exert a little effort. But if you succeed, work hard for it and add more to upgrade that little effort. Repeat that process, don't let the problems and negativity drag you down. They were our enemy. Always think were you began and why you were doing this. You want to reach your dream. Your goal. You can do it. Think positive," koro naming wika na kung minsan ay napapahinto ako, ngunit siya ay tanda niya ng buo.

Tumawa ako. "You're a great sales manager now."

She smiled beautifully. The typical Australian lady with attractive eyes and fair skin. Sometimes I would find her looking at me sensually but she's not.

"You had the future in the modeling industry, Juls. Look at you! You are gorgeous. Just like how Red would always describe you. You are a great blogger... and I heard from Jasmin that your business is growing."

Modeling industry? I am gorgeous?

By afternoon we walked down the mountain. Nagsisimula na akong kabahan dahil sa malayo ay natatanaw ko na ang papalubog na araw.

Lumapit ako kay Gatus at bumulong, "Ligtas naman kahit gabihin na tayo?"

"Girl, oo naman. Tingnan mo, hindi lang tayo ang pababa ngayon. Kasabay natin ang ilang turista. Tsaka itong si Manong, dito na tumanda. Ligtas dito. Maniwala ka."