ISLA AMORE || Vicerylle

Chapter 17 : The Other Side of Him

     Nakaupo si Vice kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigang beki (gay friends) outside a restaurant in one of the resorts in Bohol.  There were tables and chairs with big colorful umbrellas lined up  for patrons who prefer dining outside the restaurant.

     Vice was somewhat busy looking at his phone when his beki friend grabbed his attention by tapping hard on his arms. He looked up and saw a young man approaching their table and was pointing at the chair beside him. "Is that seat taken?" The young guy smiled at him and gave him a wink. Vice looked at him intently and before he could respond...

Jegs      :  Aahh...yes...sure..I'm Jegs, by the way, and this is...(cut short by Vice's voice)

Vice       :  No.  Sorry, we're waiting for somebody. 

Vice then resumed what he was doing before he was abruptly interrupted. 

Donna   :  (bewildered)  Ha?  Who? Sino? May hinihintay pa ba tayo? (he gave the young man the sweetest smile he could pull off and shook Vice's arms)

Vice once again raised his head and addressed the young man.

Vice       :  Sorry. May hinihintay pa kasi kaming isa pang friend. (Vice, then, slightly turned his head to the side) Well, I think that one over there (pointing at another table) is available. Better yet, why don't you ask the waiters around here kung may open table.

     The guy took the hint and felt embarrass and sheepishly walked away from their table. Vice's friends all turned and gave Vice "the look"

Beshie   : Meme Vice, what happened?  That guy was definitely hitting on you. Kanina pa. I  noticed him from afar. 

Jegs      :  Oo nga. Cute kaya niya. Yummy.

Vice       :  Heee! Magsitigil nga kayo diyan.  Kung ano ano na naman yang  pumapasok sa mga kokote ninyo.  Hoy! We're here para mag scout ng venue para sa photo shoot next month.

Beshie  : Meme Vice naman. All work and no play magiging dull bekis na tayo niyan.

Jegs      :  Agree ako diyan. And besides, di naman tayo yung naunang  lumandi ah.  Flirty kaya niya.  And I likey, likey like  it. Hehehe.

Vice       :  Ano ba? Wala akong time sa mga bagay na yan. (Vice stood up and began to gather his stuff) Makaalis na nga. Balik na ako sa kwarto okay? May gagawin lang akong revisions sa designs ko.

Beshie :  Hoy, alis agad. Tampo agad. Ganern. Di pa nga tayo nakakain.

Vice       :  It's okay. Mag order lang kayo diyan and hoy...Jegs bayaran mo muna. Yung receipts ha paki tago. Kailangan natin yan para ma track natin expenses natin, okay?  Don't worry about me. Magpa room service na lang ako ng food. Enjoy. Ciao.

     The three was left dumbfounded and stared at Vice's retreating figure as he went back inside the hotel where they were staying at.

Beshie : Tama ba hinala ko?  May nagbago na kay Vice. 

Jegs      :   Oo nga.

Beshie : Parang iba na siya. May nagbago na sa kanya, di ba? 

Donna : Oo na gets ko na. Ano to paulit ulit?

Beshie : Wala lang. Kailangan ba tayong mag-worry o ma-concern? Anim na buwan na ang nakalipas since bumalik siya from that island vacation. And since then, parang iba na siya.

Jegs      :  Alam niyo mga beks, may hinala ako na may nangyari doon sa isla kaya lang ayaw mag kwento ni Meme Vice eh. 

Donna  :  Nagkita kaya sila doon ni ...alam mo na kung sino?

Jegs      :  Sino?

Donna  : Ulol...eh di sino pa yung lalaking di pwede natin banggitin ang pangalan ever kasi nagdadala lang ng sobrang malas sa buhay natin. Pak. Ganern.

Jegs      : Sa totoo lang di ko naman talaga ma remember na yung pangalan niya. Sino nga yun ulit?

Beshie  : Ano yan...amnesia lang ang peg, Teh? Kakalurks  ka. Eh di nga pwede banggitin name niya. Ano vah...

Donna  :  (pabulong) hoy wag nga kayo mag away diyan. At eto pa ha...na notice niyo ba?  May pagbabago na talaga sa anyo at ayos itong si Meme Vice.  Ayaw na niya sa make-up at shorts.  At nagiging seryoso na din siya.  Nawala na yung mga pabirong mga banat niya. 

Jegs      :  Oo nga! Tumpak ka diyan.  Di ko nga masabi sabi sa inyo pero yun din ang napansin ko eh.  Ayaw na din niya sa mga boys.  May mali, di ba?

Beshie  :  Haaaiiiisstt...nakaka-awa talaga.  Biruin ninyo,  talagang minahal niya yung boyfie na yun  kaya nawasak universe ni Meme Vice at naging ganito na siya ka weird.  Halos di mo na siya makilala bilang isang normal na beki kagaya natin. 

      Naputol ang kanilang kwentuhan ng dumating ang waiter with their orders. "Ser...este...Ma'am andito na po ang inyong inorder na food" ang sabi ng waiter at nilapag na sa table ang mga pagkain na nasa tray na dala dala niya.

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      Vice hurriedly walked back to his room to escape the questioning look his beki friends was giving him. Di pa siya handa harapin at sagutin kung sakali man na tatanungin siya tungkol sa kanyang pagbabago sa pagkatao niya.  He, himself, is in a state of confusion. Parang bumalik siya sa panahon noong bata pa siya kung saan  kini-question niya din ang kanyang kasarian at pagkatao. 

      It has been six months since he left Isla Amore but it seems like it just happened yesterday. He went inside his hotel room and closed the door behind him. He leaned back against the door and closed his eyes. It brought him back to that moment with Karylle. It's always her that has occupied his mind from the moment he closes his eyes to sleep and every time he wakes up. Thoughts of her has  even filled his dreams.  Vice felt na parang nababaliw na siya sa kakaisip sa kanya. Mas okay na nga ngayon, at least, busy siya sa ginagawa niyang work.  

      He wanted so badly to see her one more time and talk to her. He swears he could hear her soft voice and her laughter, too. He remembers her soft features, her beautiful face, her hazel eyes, her lips....yes, specially her lips.  She was such a temptress.  He remembered the kiss they shared that night they were in his room.  Her lips was so soft and inviting.  Uuuuggghhh...Vice,  stop it. You're just  torturing yourself.  "Why? Bakeet ba kita nakilala?  You have changed me so much.  I'm like a totally different person now because of you.  But where are you now,  Kay?  What do I do?  Where do I start ?  I've been keeping this all to myself kasi wala akong mapagsabihan. Nahihiya ako. I don't even know myself anymore.  All I know is that I need to see you one more time to clear up the state I'm in now and this confusion. You gotta help me...please.  I need answers and ikaw lang ang may sagot.  For now, I will continue to pretend that I'm still okay although, I know deep inside I'm not. I feel like there is another side of me that I seem to have just met for the first time in my life. And it is this other side of me that I have to deal with right now."