Dead Sea's Abalone (Brad's POV)

4

Nasa veranda kami ng nirentahan naming space. The usual games, kulitan then nagkaayaan silang uminom. As expected kay Shell, pass na naman sya.

Just like the first two years namin sa org. Kasabay ko siyang sumali nun, back on our second year at kami-kami nila Coral at Dolph yung laging naiiwan pag-inuman session na. Not that were not allowed -we're college students, and of legal age- but I guess.. we always just got this whole savor-the-nature thing rolling for us. Specially after all those busy days. Parang yun na yung pay check namin for all the sweats we poured into raising funds for the org, the activities and all.

Nung nag-decide mag seaside walk yung mag-BF-GF -Cors and Dolph- dun na kami nag-usap.

"Dahil ba 'to kay Jelo?" biro ko kay Shell, buong araw kasing seryoso. Batok tuloy yung sinagot. "Di seryoso nga.." nag-aalangan ako nun, but I made the question sound not-so-serious. "Pa'no kung ligawan ka ni Je?"

She made a weird face.

"Oh ganto na lang, pano kung may manligaw sa'yo-"

"-Lallalallalalalla. Ayoko. End of discussion."

I made a weirder face.

"Babae ka ba talaga?"

"Whoa. You're asking me that? Ano 'to gusto mo halikan pa kita para ma-prove na babae ako?"

"Oo."

Inambahan nya ko ng suntok sa braso, so I quickly followed it with a laugh. Although she punched me anyway.

Tapos napansin ko nun, balik na naman sya sa serious mode. Nakatingin lang sya sa malayo. Sa dagat.

Kadalasan, pag tinititigan ko sya, naiilang yun tas susupalpalin ng kamay nya yung mukha ko para malihis yung tingin ko.

Pero nandun lang sya.

She didn't budge. As if she didn't mind having me there. Beside her. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero hinahayaan nya lang akong tignan sya nun. Her eyes were so fixed at the sea before us. Like she's lost somewhere under those dark blue waves.

Pero nandun lang ako.

I didn't move. I didn't wanna bother the connection between the two. Between the sea and Shell. I didn't wanna ruin that moment as I saw her serious face turned calm.

We stayed like that for awhile.
Sya nakatingin sa dagat.
Ako nakatitig sa kanya.

Tapos bigla syang lumingon. Nagulat ako nun, so kung anu-anong sinabi ko like, "Masyado ka naman kung makatitig sa dagat. Na-in love ka na yata eh. Pakasalan mo na."

She feigned laughs. "Funny ha-ha. Pero kung pwede lang, ginawa ko na. Kaso wala namang paring magkakasal sa'min. Tsaka marami akong kaagaw, so hanggang tingin na lang ako."

"Wow. So kaya ba single si Ms. Shell, dahil kay Mr. Sea?"

Natawa sya. "Sira. Pero alam mo, minsan mas okay pa 'tong si Mr. Sea kesa sa inyong mga lalaki eh. Kasi nandyan lang sya.. Tahimik. Nakikinig. Kahit anong sabihin mo, kahit anong sikreto.." She shrugged. "He won't judge."