Forlorner: Fill The Space #Wattys2019

Chapter 6

Ikaanim na Kabanata
Sentiments

I woke up early the next day. Madaling araw pa lang ay nasa labas na agad ako at naglalakad sa buhangin. I am still wearing my cotton shorts and a white shirt. I made sure I put my hair into a bun so the soft wind wouldn't play with my hair.

Hindi pa ganoon karami ang tao na nakikita ko. Mostly they are elder women who are sitting along the sand, waiting for the sunrise.

Napangiti ako nang maalala ang pinunta ko rito. I am planning to see the sunrise in this place. I tried waking up Julianna but she just threw me her pillow and continued snoring. Hinayaan ko na lamang siya na sulitin ang tulog daw mamaya ay kailangan na naming umalis. We should be back at work today.

Julianna asked for a half day for the both of us. Our scheduled flight is tonight, going southeast. We will catch up before the sunset today.

May kadiliman pa ngayon at mukhang mamaya pa sisikat ang araw. I walked around and tour myself around the beach area. Hindi na ako gumawi sa malapit na hotel dahil ang binalak ko ay ang kumain sa mga hut. I am planning to taste some delicacies, not a four-star cuisine.

I saw an operating eatery where there are already some customers eating. The place is made of nipa and has a pleasant aura welcoming the customers. Mayroong mga nakasabit na flower lanterns sa itaas ng bawat lamesa. There is a large space near the counter where the view is instagram-worthy. Napangisi ako sa naisip, I'll bring Julianna here later.

I choose to sit on the stools, near the entrance. I could see the whole view of the beach and the dark lights. Isang serbidora nila ang naghatid ng aking makakain. I smiled when I see their simple yet refreshing food plating.

In a large circle plate was fried rice, daing, a sunny-side up egg, string beans and a small bowl of soup.

I badly wanted to take a picture of it, capturing it with the shoreline view, but I didn't bring my phone or the camera with me. Naiirita tuloy ako nang magsimulang kumain. I'll go back to our tent after I finished my breakfast.

I am unconsciously spacing out while eating and looking at the sea. Hindi ko iyon namalayan hanggang sa may humila ng upuan sa tabi ko.

Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa pagkain ko at nagkunwaring hindi natulala. Hindi ako lumingon sa aking katabi kahit na nagtataka ako kung bakit tumabi pa ito sa akin samantalang ang dami pang upuan sa paligid.

I continued eating. He is silently munching his breakfast beside me. I distinguished him as a man since I can smell his sandalwood scent which I find very pleasing. That scent is really my favorite. I think I can smell it all day.

Because of that, my curiosity arouses around him. I gave him a simple side glance to catch a glimpse of him.

Nakarinig ako ng malakas na pagtikhim kaya mabilis kong ibinalik ang atensyon sa pagkain ko. I saw him looking at me at the same time I am trying to take a peek!

I inhaled to calm myself and sit straight. I tried to move naturally, kahit na malakas ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko dahil sa nangyari. A man just caught me stealing a glance! What a shame that is!

"Hindi mo malalaman ang pangalan ko kung titingin ka lang."

My eyes went wide as my breath hitched. Pakiramdam ko ay namula ang buong mukha ko sa kaniyang sinabi.

Matapang ko siyang nilingon at pinagtaasan ng kilay. Nasa akin ang kaniyang buong atensyon.

I stifled my gasps as I saved his picture in my mind. Nagsusumigaw ang katotohanan sa aking isipan. The sandalwood scent... he's Admiral, the Mister Long-Time-No-Call soldier!