Started with a "Hey"

Part 1: Cove Beach

"No, no, please", I whispered in a crazed panic to myself when I read the text over and over again as if it re-reading it wouldn't make it true. 

"The shuttle had left and is on the way to Cove Beach. Ask any local for direction, they know where it is. See you then!" 

This is what I get for having a tiny bladder and a girl overall. The long line for the restroom made me wait and despite the tour guide's many warnings on how this is a shortstop, just to buy some necessities like water, I still went thinking they won't leave me. 

5 stars! Said Yelp. 

All of my belongings including my wallet was inside the shuttle and I'm traveling alone which means anyone who was inside the shuttle didn't care that I was being left with basically nothing. 

When it finally registered that they did leave me, I checked my surroundings. All of the shuttles have left for me to hitch a ride, and I'm wearing a skimpy bathing suit with shorts and a crop top over it with some flip-flops. I have never felt more exposed than I am now. 

There was a convenience store at the side and line of tricycle drivers at the far end. I figured I'm just gonna have to pay for the ride when I get to Cove Beach.

Walking the stony path, I felt the eyes of the tricycle drivers I'm passing by and some of them were snickering. They probably know I was unfortunate enough to get left behind or they saw me almost trip from the stones either way. 

When I got to the start of the line I said, "Kuya," I said a little louder than I intended since I was practicing the whole time I was walking for self-esteem reasons. "How much to get to Cove Beach?" 

"Php 150." He pressed on the gas making the vehicle vibrate into life. "You got left huh?"

I smiled meekly, he looked like someone's father and he wasn't giving me a perverted look so I felt comfortable, "Yeah, my wallet's in the shuttle too. Do you mind if I pay when we get there?" 

"No problem." 

I got into the tricycle and wipe the thin sheen of sweat on my forehead. We zoomed past the convenience store and the next thing you know both sides of the road were nothing but trees aside from the occasional fruit vendors. Once in a while, there was a van or a shuttle that'll zoom past us that seemed too close but wasn't.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the fresh air on my skin, my hair flying in all directions. I savored all of it. I felt so deprived of all these things in the city that I wanted to take it all in, all at once. As if I could keep this moment to myself if only I just closed my eyes. 

I stretched my legs as far as it can within the limited space of the tricycle and lean back. 

A few minutes later we started slowing down so I opened my eyes and started looking around for an entrance or a sign that we're here but there is nothing but trees still. 

"Oh crap, no, come on!" The tricycle driver mumbled in frustration. The vehicle had come to a complete stop. Manong pressed the gas harder each time but it would only make the tricycle vibrate before stopping again. He got out of his seat and started assessing the gear and sigh.