SUMMER PEEKS 1 (novelette) :ONCE UPON A TIME IN AN ISLAND

WAVING OFFSHORE

" YOU ARE COLD.." 

Tumaas lahat ng balahibo ko sa batok dahil sa bulong ni Joseph malapit sa tenga ko. Napatango na lang ako ng wala sa sarili. Naramdaman ko naman ang sweater nito na pinatong nito sa likod ko. Nilingon ko ito, naka t-shirt nalang ito.

"You're so sweet," ani ko dito.

"That's what I am, babe." Ngumiti ito sa'kin at niyakap ako mula sa likod.

"Why are doing this?" Mahinang ani ko. Alam kong summer fling lang ito. O di kaya ay hook up relationshit dahil bukas na rin naman ang alis namin patungo sa realidad. Away from these fantasies, surreal and good to be true that ever happened to my life. Tis was akin to a dream, I supposed.

"I feel like to. I love to," anito't tumitig sa mga mata ko. Hinaplos nito ang pisngi ko, "you're beautiful.."

"Iyon ba ang rason para magpatuloy pa ito?" Gusto ko syang bukuhin. I wanted to provoke him so he'll say something that this isn't what he wants for his life. This was just an instant change for a summer get way, something that isn't serious. Dahil baka kapag nagpatuloy syang ganito sa'kin, yung palaging caring, sweet. He's always nice to me. He's doing everything for me. And made me feel everything for him. I might fell. Hell! I'm already falling! Pero ayokong magpatuloy ito, naamin ko na sa sarili kong nahuhulog na ako, at baka maamin ko sa kanya iyon ng wala sa oras. At ayokong mangyari iyon!

"Babe, just let us embrace this feeling.." masuyong anito sa'kin.

Ngumiti ako dito at hinalikan ito sa pisngi. He cupped my face and slowly leaned down on me and kissed me. This time, it's cleared between us. And I'm okay with it. I suppose, I'll just deal with my heart. I smiled to his kiss.

"OKAY NA BA LAHAT?" Si Maying.

"Coast is cleared, Captain!" birong ani Jac.

Tumawa ako ng lumukot ang mukha ni Maying habang nakatingin kay Jac. Umismid ito sa'kin. "Bakit ang saya-saya niyo? Ha? Porket may love life na kayo?!" Asik nito sa'min.

"We're simply happy, Maying." I smiled at her. Feeling the guilt goes away as the shore wash away last night what I had with this island.

Bumaling ito Jac, "eh, ikaw bruha ka? Ano? Sinagot ka na ni Jessie? Ha?! Sobrang cold noon baka pagmagkasama kayo maalibadbaran iyon sa bunganga mo? Ano? Compatible ba kayo?" Nakapameywang na anito habang nakaturo pa sa pinto.

"I'll deal with him," namumulang ani Jac.

Umirap ito, halatang nainggit dahil hindi man lang kumagat si Jac sa mapang-uyam nitong tudyo. Nagtungo ito sa pinto. Tinuro ako nito habang nakahawak ito sa doorknob, "ikaw, babae! Kayong dalawa! Dalhin ninyo ang maleta ko! Tinatamad ako," anito at tuluyang lumabas.

Sabay kaming bumuhanglit ng tawa ni Jac. Napaghahalataang naasar. Inayos namin ang mga maleta, hinila palabas ng kwarto habang nasa gitna ang kay Maying. 

Jac stopped when we're about to went out. Hinawakan nito ang braso ko. Tumingin ako dito ng may pagtataka. "What's the matter, Jac?"

May alinlangan sa mga mata nito, "kayo na ba ni Joseph?"

I grinned, "no. Not gonna happen," I sing-song said.

She gaped, almost hilariously furious. " Seriously? Ano yun? Just a fling? Just a two days and three nights of hook up? Really, Orii? Heard wasn't your style.." she said, dumbfounded.

I laughed out loud at her face. She doesn't believe.. well, I'm almost head over heels just a while ago. "Told you, Jac. He wasn't on my league,"

"Well, tutal naman at 'fling' lang yung inyo, I'll tell you what you should have known," she sighed.

Umarko ang kilay ko. Seems interesting, "fire it up!" 

"Remember noong kinorner tayo ni Maying sa mini-park malapit sa resto? I ran away, right? Well, nag-cr naman talaga ako that time. But what I didn't expect was... I didn't expect to see Joseph with the waitress... I mean, that waitress!" Tinuro nito ang bintana. Nilingon ko iyon. 

Sa labas, magkahawak kamay na naglalakad si Joseph kasama si Yena. Yes, I knew her. And I have known it. 

Bumaling ako kay Jac, I smiled at her. "Let's go," 

Kinunutan ako nito ng noo. She sighed and shook her head unbelievably. "Your making me throw up," 

I chuckled at that. 

"Yoyyy!!! Kelan nyo pa planong bumaba, haa?!" Sigaw ni Maying habang padabog na umaakyat. Marahas itong pumagitna sa'min at inakbayan kami pahila pababa ng cottage namin. 

Nagsisigaw si Jac habang ako ay hindi mapigil sa pagtawa. Lecheng mga kaibigan ito!

Napalingon ako sa kinaroroonan nina Joseph. Kinawayan ko ang mga ito at sumunod na kina Jac papunta sa isang van.

To me, this island, those feelings, it was indeed a dream. Fascinating, surreal and too beautiful to be true. It will always gonna be a part of me. Joseph was a part of me.. that weren't for me..