Fleeting Moments With You

001

I stretched my arms and yawned. I was never a morning person, but the tours would always start at seven in the morning. I haven't even had a proper sleep yet since my shift ended at one am, my flight was at three and I still needed to take the van from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. As much as my body wasn't prepared to start a tour, I find it a waste if I'd just spend my day sleeping in the inn. I only had two days. I might as well make the best out of it.

The soft breeze of the wind, the calm blue of the sea, and the gradient of the sky – everything was so calming in this place. My lips tugged into a small smile as I inhaled the rare breath of fresh air. This is something new for someone who had been living for so long in Manila. I took my phone out and snapped a panoramic view, planning to send it to my mother as soon as I get an internet connection. But as I shot the picture, my attention shifted to a figure.

She was wearing a black tank top and blue shorts. Her skin glowed with the sun's rays and her hair swayed with the wind. It would have been easy to strike a conversation since I could already find a similarity between the two of us with just one glance. The silly I would have approached her by now but then, I just found myself staring.

She seemed to be in serenity with nature.

At that moment, beautiful was an understatement to describe her.

"Sir, the boat's ready. Let's go."

The trance that I was in was put into a halt as one of the guides tapped my shoulder. I nodded at him and smiled. He smiled back and asked, "Sir, your things... do you want me to bring it for you so that it wouldn't get wet?"

My eyes then travelled to the boat and I realized that we still need to walk a very few meters in water before getting in.

"No, it is okay," I replied, "I can handle this."

"Okay, Sir," he clapped before pointing to the boat, as if signaling me to proceed. For a while, my eyes travelled with the guide and I saw him approach the girl. My eyebrows rose up as I wonder if she'd be in the same boat with me.

I was right.

She gave her belongings to the guide before standing up and dusting away the sand. She then started carefully walking towards the water, and I just found myself following. I then saw other people racing their way towards the boat, and that is when it struck me that they were racing for the best place of the tour, in front. It would be easier to take pictures and go back and forth with that spot. I could have raced with them and I swear, I got good chances of winning, but a part of me worried about this girl.

So instead of rushing my way forward, I just carefully trailed behind her. Waves crashed on our bodies. My mind was thinking of the possibilities that she would stumble so I made sure that I was near her while maintaining a decent distance. Not long after, we were already by the boat. The guide helped her climb while I struggled to keep my things from being wet. Soon, my bag was taken away from me and another guide stretched his hand. I gladly took the help.

"Thanks," I muttered as I have successfully boarded.

"No problem, Sir!" the guide enthusiastically replied.

I scanned the small boat. It wasn't crowded but still, I was left with no choice but to sit across the girl that had been piquing my interest. I faked an awkward cough as I walked towards my place. I tried to feign innocence and act as if I was not curious, but every now and then, my eyes would automatically gaze back at her. It seems that she could feel my stares for she just kept her eyes on the waves of the sea.

"Good morning Ma'am/Sir! Welcome to El Nido, Palawan! Today, we are going for Tour A! I am Kuya Rodel and together with Kuya Francis, Kuya Jose and Kuya Ben, I'd be your guide for today. If you have any questions or if you need any help, just ask any of us. Thank you!"