What If's

CHAPTER 23

Thank you to Ms. @seleskies for the pretty book cover. For book cover requests, please visit her shop Aurora Graphic Shop <3 

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"Just calm down Alexandra," natatawang saad ng demonyong si Joshua.

"Ihh...Alisin mo na kasi, ano ba!" Natatakot ako. Paano kung kagatin ako nito? Ayoko pa naman sa injection, for sure kailangan kong magpaturok ng anti-rabies.

We are currently here at the Monkey Forest here in Ubud. It's a 5-minute drive from the hotel, the hotel service drove us here. Its one of their freebies to the guests, I think.

Lahat tayo may kinakatakutan. Merong natatakot sa kapwa nila tao, sa mga bagay na 'di nila nakikita, o sa mga hayop at insekto. Normal lang siguro ang matakot lalo na't alam mong ikakapahamak mo ito. Hindi naman ako takot sa mga hayop, lalo na sa mga unggoy. I've been to the  Manila zoo, Davao's crocodile park and Calauit Island National Park and trust me, there are monkeys on those places. A lot of them. But being here in this Monkey Forest scares me big time. 

Why? Maybe its because all those animal parks I've been to had their monkeys on cages while here? They are everywhere. Like literally, everywhere. 

"Hey Alex, look," sabi niya habang nakaturo sa mga unggoy na pakalat-kalat. "They are called Balinese long-tailed monkeys also known as Grey Macaques." Proud na pagkakasabi niya habang patuloy na kumukuha ng litrato kung saan-saan.

I'm not stupid but I'm also not as smart as he is. Kung tungkol sa animal kingdom, basics lang ang alam ko. Kaya nga nag business course ako at hindi piniling maging zoologist kasi okay na ako sa general knowledge na meron ako tungkol sa mga hayop.

"They're still monkeys to me, Mr. Smart-ass. " Again, as I said, general knowledge. 

Hindi na niya pinansin ang ang pagiging sarcastic ko kaya pinabayaan ko na lang din. "Oh, it's coming this way again." Bigla akong nataranta ng dahil sa kanyang sinabi at kasing bilis ni flash akong nagtago sa likod niya habang parang tukong kumakapit sa mga balikat niya.

I heard him chuckle. "'Wag mo kasing tignan," pangaral pa niya.

"Bakit pa tayo nagpunta dito kung hindi ko rin sila titignan 'di ba?" 

"Uhm... Alex, your choking me..."

"I don't care! Ihhh..." pagtili ko pa "...the monkeys are staring at me." I buried my face on the crook of his neck. I'm legit scared.

But he smells nice. Did I just...? No way! Erase! Erase! Erase! Stop those unholy thoughts Alexandra!

"Baka kasi iniisip nila na unggoy ka rin, I mean look at you." His laughter pulled me from the trance of his manly smell. Thank heavens! Aawayin ko na sana siya, how dare him call me a monkey! But then I realized, I'm clutching unto him exactly how these primates do towards the tourists.

Without thinking twice I jumped off him making me lose my balance. I was prepared to fall on the on the ground when... "I meant for you to go down safely, don't jump Alex." He said as his grip on my waist tightened. "Pasalamat ka kaya kitang saluhin. It would be a shame to hurt yourself in the process." I can smell his minty breath now. Shit! So close.

"Ahmm...y-you can let go now."

"Hmm..." Even when humming, the guy's sexy. And why the heck is he not moving away from me? Like, this is very awkward! Can anybody-- anyone please get him away from me before something bad happens. 

"Please, let me go," I said almost in a whisper. His eyes flickered with something I couldn't name. "What I meant was, you can let go of my waist now."