DOCTOR
I had no choice. Nagpa-cute na sa akin ang mga kaibigan niya kaya pumayag na rin ako. Okay lang, wala naman sigurong gagawing hindi kanais-nais si Joaquin habang nasa boat kami. Hindi naman siguro niya ako itutulak o lulunurin. Dahil kapag ginawa niya 'yun, mumultuhin ko siya habambuhay. I don't swim...because I don't know how hehe
Joaquin assisted me para makasakay ako ng maayos. Then he followed. Nasa unahan ko siya, siyempre. He gave me my paddle tapos we started moving already. Sa bandang dulo ng island, mayrong mga fish na pwede naming huliin and gawing lunch since it's currently 9:30 am pa lang naman.
"Doc, okay ka lang diyan?" he asks while he continues paddling. Medyo nahuhuli kami sa pagsagwan kasi ang bagal bagal nitong nasa harapan ko.
"Oo, okay lang." sagot ko. "Pwede mo bilisan?"
"Demanding naman po, Ma'am. Nagda-dahan dahan lang ako kasi kasama kita. Baka mamaya sisihin ako kapag may nangyaring masama sa'yo e." sabi niya, medyo binilisan naman niya ang sagwan. Ganun rin ako.
"Ay talagang ikaw ang sisisihin dahil magkasama tayo," I said and let out a giggle. I directed him to the right kasi sa gawing iyon lang ang pupuwedeng humuli ng fish.
"Uhm...doc, pasensiya ka na sa mga kaibigan ko ah. Mga loko loko kasi talaga 'yon! Mahilig mang-alaska.."
"Okay lang. As long as hindi naman nila ako ginagawan ng masama, I am fine with it. In fact, aliw nga ako sa mga kaibigan mo e. Parang mga binata pa rin."
He laughed. "Naku, Doc. Wala pa 'yang pinakikita nila sa'yo kumpara sa akin. Ikaw nalang talaga mapipikon sa mga kalokohan nila."
We reached our destination. Yung ibang kaibigan niya, nagsisimula na manghuli ng isda. Medyo hiwa-hiwalay ang boats namin para madali makahuli. Joaquin stood up and took the fishing pole. He then throws it out on the water.
Tumayo na rin ako para samahan siya. Hawak ko ang small bucket habang hinihintay kong may mahuli siya. I was just watching him the whole time. He's one heck of a good looking guy.
"Bakit parang wala namang isda?"
I went back to my senses when I heard him. His brows are furrowed. Saglit pa lang nakatapon ang fishing pole namin sa tubig, nagrereklamo na agad siya. Wala pa nga atang limang minuto.
"Ang ikli naman ng pasensiya mo. Maghintay ka." tipid na sagot ko bago muling ibaling ang atensyon sa tubig.
"Sila Anton may huli na, a. Tayo wala pa!" saad niya. E paano, nagsisisigaw ang asawa ni Anton sa tuwa nang makahuli sila ng isda.
"Inggit ka? Sige, langoy ka na."
Napatingin siya sa akin. His forehead wrinkled. "Ang sungit sungit mo talaga."
I chuckled, "Learn to wait. It is not always easy to get the things you want. You have to work hard for that."
I was surprised and backed away a little when he brought his face closer to mine."Is that so? Then, sure. I'll wait for you and I'll work hard to get you." I was stunned for a few seconds by what he has said.
"Bakit isda ba 'ko?"
"Hindi. Future girlfriend ko lang."
"Baduy." I rolled my eyes and pushed him slowly because splashes spewed out of us. That is a sign that we caught a fish. Joaquin smiled as he pulled back the fishing pole. He grabbed the bucket and put the fish inside it, then winked at me.
"That's huge." I told him referring to the fish.
"Ganyan rin kalaki pagka-crush ko sa'yo."
"I cannot believe you're saying those words to me. You know what, Captain Joaquin? You're cheesy...and yes, corny. Don't make paandar of that. Hindi effective." I said
"Ouch! Ang honest!"
I laughed at him. Kenkoy siya ha. Pero sa nakikita ko sa kaniya, parang happy go lucky siya sa buhay. Palibhasa kasi walang asawa, binata, walang binubuhay,may maayos na trabaho. Kaya siguro ganyan siya.
Hindi na ako sumagot sa kaniya at pinagpatuloy ang panghuhuli namin ng fish for lunch.
———
CAPTAIN
10:30 na rin kami nang makabalik sa resort. Na-enjoy ko yung panghuhuli ng isda, ang sarap pala sa feeling kapag nakakahuli. Feeling mo nanalo ka sa lotto. Ngayon, nasa cottage kaming lahat habang niluluto ang tanghalian naming fresh from the water.
Katabi ko si Dennise. Hindi nga siya nagsasalita gaano kahit tinatanong siya nila Deb ng kung ano ano. Instant friend nila ang may-ari ng resort. Galing.
"Ah, talaga? You're NGSB?! Sa ganda mong 'yan walang nagbalak na manligaw sa'yo?" si Pia.
"Eh baka hindi niya priority," Jill butts in.
"Or, she's too busy with work?" It's Deb.
While me and the guys were just listening to them as they chitchats with each other. Nakakatuwa siya, ang tipid tipid sumagot. Parang kailangang may bayad kapag gusto mong mahaba ng sasabihin niya.
"Somehow, priority ko naman ang lovelife. Because I am not getting any younger, I'm already 35 and yet wala pa ring boyfriend o pamilya. But at the same time, I don't pressure myself to have one. Darating at darating yung para sa'yo kaya I don't rush." she explained.
I'm amazed. Pareho kami ng perspective when it comes to entering relationship. My past ex-girlfriends, wala naman akong issue sa kanila. In fact, niligawan ko talaga halos lahat ng mga 'yun before. I waited them hanggang sa maging ready sila.
"Eh what if dumating na pala siya tapos hindi mo lang pinapansin?" tanong ni Pia sabay tingin sa akin. Ah, I know that look. Go Pia! Ilakad mo 'ko!
"What do you mean?" she asks. Frank and I looked at each other and wiggled our eyebrows together.
"Malay mo, nariyan lang pala sa tabi tabi—" -Aries
"O kaya katabi..." I whispered. Dennise turned her head to me wearing her confused face. She heard me?
"What are you saying, Joaquin?"
I cleared the lump on my throat first, "I'm not saying anything." I denied.
"You murmured something, e."
"Ah...ang sabi ko, confirm mo na ako sa facebook. Last day naman na namin dito e!"
———
