I’m broke, I guess. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at nag-file ako ng leave sa trabaho. I’m tired, yes, but I usually don’t get to this point of my life where I would have to sabotage my bank account just for a little break.
“Marg, you need this,” pangungumbinsi sa akin ni Mary, my roommate. “Come on, just book a reservation.”
“Seriously, Mary?” I sighed and looked intensely at her nerdy face. “Para sa tatlong araw na bakasyon, uubusin ko ang laman ng bank account ko?”
“Seriously, Marg?” pagbabalik-tanong niya sa akin. “Ipagdadamot mo ang tatlong araw sa kaluluwa mong dalawang taon nang walang humpay sa pagtatrabaho?”
And that’s it. It’s all what I have to hear in order for me to make up my mind. Hinarap ko muli ang laptop at ginawa ang matagal ko nang dapat na ginawa.
“Well, I guess, it’s really happening,” I told Mary afterwards, unable to hide my excitement. “I’m going to Siargao, Mary!!!”
We both jumped in glee.
II
“Where are you now, bro?” tanong ni Scott kay Chris mula sa kabilang linya. “Have you reached your little paradise?
Chris chuckled. The amusing, sarcastic, little remarks of his younger brother never gets old. He stared at the neat and sparkling blue ocean before he answered.
“God, it’s beautiful in here, Scott,” he told him. “It’s more than just a paradise, I think.”
Scott didn’t answer for a bit and Chris could sense that he’s smiling from the other side.
“I’m glad that you’re enjoying yourself, big bro,” he said afterwards. “Take all the time you need, okay?”
Chris smiled back as if his brother could see him. He bid his brother goodbye before he turn off his phone. Yes, a good vacation is all he need, he thought to himself whilst staring back to the glorious ocean of Siargao. He’s going to take all the time he needed like what Scott said.
III
I’m all nauseated. Bakit ba kasi ako nag-RORO sa halip na mag-eroplano at bakit itinatanong ko pa ito sa sarili ko gayong alam ko naman ang sagot? My god, Marg, you don’t have enough money for your luxuries, I thought to myself. Hindi bale na, maganda naman yung hotel na tutuluyan ko.
“Magandang buhay, ma’am!” malawak ang ngiting bungad sa akin ng lalaking receptionist, mas higit na nakasisilaw ang ngipin nito dahil sunog sa araw ang balat nito. Sinabitan niya ako ng flower necklace. Pakiramdam ko tuloy nasa Hawaii ako. “Enjoy your stay with us.”
Ngumiti lang ako. I got scared to greet him back. Baka kasi masuka ako sa sobrang hilo, edi mas lalong diyahe. Dumiretso ako sa front desk kung saan winelcome ako ng isa namang tsinitang receptionist. She verified my reservation before giving me the keys to my room.
“Thanks,” sabi ko habang iniisip kung saan kayang banda ang elevator. Mabuti na lang may dumating na porter. Kinuha niya ang maleta ko at sinamahan ako patungo sa elevator. “It’s okay, I can manage from here.”
Ngumiti siya at iniwan na ako. I pressed number 5 from the number pad. Sana umabot ako sa room ko bago ako tuluyang humandusay rito. Pumikit ako at sumandal sa steel walls. Naramdaman kong bumukas uli ang pintuan ng elevator pero hindi na ako nag-abalang magbukas ng paningin. Pakiramdam ko talaga masusuka na ko.
“Yes, mom.” wika ng isang lalaki. He sounds foreign. Parang narinig ko na yung boses niya somewhere. “Don’t worry about me, okay? Tell Carly and Shanna, I missed them already. And tell Scott I hate him for selling me out. Love you.”
The man chuckled. Shocks, feeling ko guwapo ‘to. Kaso hindi ko talaga maidilat yung mata ko – hilong-hilo pa rin ako. Bumukas uli yung pinto ng elevator. Pinakiramdaman ko yung mga hakbang ng bagong dating, I think tatlo sila. I heard them gasp when they entered in.
“OMG!” they squealed. “It’s Chris Evans!”
Napadilat ako. Tama ba ang rinig ko? I immediately opened my eyes, and for what it’s worth, my eyes witnessed the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid my eyes on. It’s Chris Evans, indeed, but I’m too late to even react. I’m in my damn floor already!
IV
“I’m telling you, Mary, I’m literally staying in the same hotel where Chris Evan stays!” I squealed, sa sobrang lakas pakiramdam ko narinig pati ng kapitbahay nila. “My god, what a dreamboat he is!”
Nahiga ako sa kama. Bumuntong-hininga. Tumulala sa sa kisame na parang sabog.
“You, damn traitor!” iyak ni Mary. “Hintayin mo ko at susundan kita riyan!”
Tinawanan ko siya. Nagkwentuhan pa kami sandali. Bago patayin ang telepono, ibinilin pa niya sa akin na nakawan ko raw ng pilik-mata si Chris para sa kanya.
“May kakilala akong gumagawa ng gayuma,” biro niya. “Gagayumahin ko lang si Captain America.”
Iiling-iling na lang na binaba ko ang receiver. Imposibleng makalapit uli ako kay Chris, naisip ko. Nakangusong bumangon ako pagkatapos. Pupunta sana ko ng banyo nang may marinig akong kaluskos sa labas. Dumiretso ako sa may pinto at binuksan iyon. And what a wonder I saw.
“Hi,” Chris said while fitting the keys to the door in front of my room. “There’s a water leakage in my previous room.”
Napatunganga ako. It’s like I’m watching an angel. Ngumiti siya nang alanganin sa akin.
“Please say something,” he said. “But please don’t say, ‘It’s Chris Evans’. I’ve heard that for like twenty-five times before I got here. I’m going to drown myself if I heard that sentence again.”
Napalunok ako. Medyo natauhan. I cleared my throat afterwards.
“Something,” sabi ko sa kaniya.
“What?”
“What?” balik-tanong ko sa kanya. Naguluhan na rin ako. “You told me to say ‘something’, right? There, I said it. Something.”
Katahimikan. Unti-unting tumaas ang sulok ng maninipis niyang labi di kalaunan. Doon ko narealize kung gaano ako kashungol minsan.
V
Really, I didn’t sleep. Not one bit. Paulit-ulit bumabalik sa isipan ko yung sabaw moment ko with Chris. Namumula na lang akong nagkulong sa kuwarto pagkatapos no’n. Hindi ako lumabas sa sobrang kahihiyan kahit gusto kong mag-explore sa beach. Pero hindi na ngayon, no? I’m going out. I’m going to enjoy this vacation that cost each of my damn penny. Wala akong pakialam kahit magkita pa kami uli ni Chris.
“Omg, mom!” sigaw ng bata sa likod ko. “It’s Captain America!”
Napatakbo ako. Shocks, joke lang naman, Lord, hindi ka na mabiro. Huwag n’yo po munang pagtagpuin ang mga landas namin ni Chris. Huwag n’yo pong hayaang magkasalubong kami sa beach o kahit sa hallway. Alam kong medyo imposible dahil magkatapat ang rooms namin pero please, Lord. Hayaan n’yo po munang makalimutan niya ang katangahang ginawa ko.
“Hi, Chris!” sigaw uli ng bata. “Can I take a picture with you?”
Okay, evacuate! Marg, evacuate! Umalis ka riyan at magpanggap ka na starfish, dali!
VI
Chris was taking a picture with a 10-year-old boy when he noticed the familiar back of the girl from last night. The girl who stays in front of her room. He couldn’t help but smile upon noticing that the girl seems to be hiding. Since arriving to that place, this is the only person who made him feel like a normal person. Everyone keeps on greeting him and asking him for some pictures, never realizing that he came there as a normal guy and not some sort of a celebrity. This girl never did that even if he rode in the same elevator with her yesterday. To his surprise, he even made him laugh. He walked towards her when the boy and his mother left. She saw him already, but instead of approaching him, she pretended to be counting the coconuts in the tree. He secretly laugh to himself.
“Hey,” he teased. “I could see that you have found yourself a hobby, huh?”
Her bare back stiffened. He could sense that she was taking a deep breath. She face him afterwards and that’s when he noticed her pretty set of dark, brown eyes.
“Oh, hi,” she said, tense. “I didn’t know you’re here.”
“Really?” he gave her an amuse smile. “You didn’t see me taking a picture with the kid and his mum?”
“No, no,” she denied even though it’s so obvious that he’s laughing to himself again. “You see, I was counting coconuts which I do whenever I feel sleepy.”
“You do?” he challenged. “How’s that work?”
“Well, um,” she bit her lower lip. “You know how counting sheep works when you want to fall asleep, right? Well, this is the opposite of that. You have to count coconuts when you feel sleepy.”
Chris could only bit his lip. He really don’t know how long he could keep himself from laughing. My god, this girl is so funny.
“Well, that’s how it works, really,” she insist before staring to the sand, totally embarrassed. “Not that a lot of people know.”
And that’s it. Chris couldn’t help it anymore. He laughed.
VII
Gusto ko nang lumubog sa sand ng Siargao. Gusto ko nang magpakalunod sa dagat ng Siargao. Puro katangahan na lang lagi ang nasasabi ko sa nilalang na ito sa tuwing nagkikita kami. Ugh, magkunwari na lang kaya akong nahimatay para hindi ko na siya kailangang kausapin?
“Okay, miss, I know you’re pretty embarrassed about what happened last night. But really, you don’t have to. If anything, I’m glad that you made me laugh.” sabi niya sa akin pagkatapos niyang tumawa nang tumawa na para bang wala nang bukas. “What’s your name?”
Nako, kung di lang talaga mukhang anghel ‘to, baka sinapak ko na ‘to eh. Hindi ko malaman kung nang-iinsulto. Pagkatapos akong tawanan, biglang tatanungin ang pangalan ko?
“Margie,” sagot ko. “You can call me Marg.”
“Well, nice to know you Marg,” aniya na kinuha ang isang kamay ko at kinamayan. “I am…”
Hindi na niya natuloy ang sinasabi niya. May tumawag sa di kalayuan. Isang babaeng halos maputol ang braso sa kakakaway.
“Chris Evans!” sigaw nito. “Diyos ko, si Chris Evans!”
Chris waved back. He seemed to be a little embarrassed. Nakita kong humugot siya nang isang malalim na hininga.
“Goodness, I couldn’t get a break in this place,” wala sa sariling nabulalas niya pagkatapos. “I wish people would stop screaming my name for one minute.”
Napakagat-labi ako. Pinagmasdan ko si Chris. He looks like someone who could really use a rest. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng awa. Kaya siguro dito niya napiling magbakasyon ay dahil akala niya hindi siya makikilala ng mga tao rito. Wala siyang kaide-ideya na halos buong populasyon yata ng Pilipinas ay kilala ang Avengers.
“You know what,” pukaw ko sa kanya. “I think I could do something about your problem.”
VIII
“Okay,” alanganing sabi ni Chris habang pinagmasdan ang wigs at make-up kit ko. “Why on earth do you have these stuff?”
“First of all, I’m a girl,” sabi ko sa kaniya. “I like to dress myself differently sometimes.”
“Why?”
“You know,” nag-isip ako ng pang-Miss Universe na idadahilan but I still ended up with the most superficial reason. “To look pretty and stuff.”
“But you’re already pretty,” ang hindi ko inaasahang isasagot niya. “I don’t see why you still need these.”
Okay. Literal na napanganga ako. Galing mismo kay Captain America, maganda na raw ako, friends. I could’ve record this moment and upload it in socialmedia for the world to see. Siguro sasabunutan ng mga kababaihan ang mga sarili nila sa inggit. Pero gagawin nila ‘yon pagkatapos nila kong ipakulam.
“Thanks, Chris,” sabi ko sa kanya. Nagdalagang Filipina pa ko. Yeah. “My mom would be proud.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, ‘cause that means she’s pretty too,” biro ko. “Come on, let’s do this.”
Nakatawang humarap na siya sa salamin.
IX
I drew an incredibly suspicious beard and mustache around Chris’s handsome, clean-shaven face. Pinatungan ko rin ng wig ang kanyang buhok at nilagyan ng linya ang magkabilang dulo ang kanyang mga mata para magmukhang higit na maliit iyon. Nagmukha siyang surrogate ng Kung-fu masters sa mga Chinese movie. Unbelievably so, walang taong gumambala sa kanya, nagpapicture, o kahit tumawag man lang ng pangalan niya nang sumunod na dalawang araw. Nakapagpaaraw, surfing, at jet ski siya nang malaya.
“Well?” bungad ko sa kanya pagkatapos niyang bumaba sa jet ski. Papalubog na ang araw nang mga sandaling iyon. I was sitting under a huge Palm tree near the shore. “Don’t you think I’m Amazing with a capital A?”
“Eh, I wouldn’t say amazing,” he teased. Kinuha niya ang tuwalya sa akin. Ibinalabal niya iyon sa magkabilang balikat. Naupo siya sa tabi ko pagkatapos. “But I do believe you should be working in Hollywood with professional make-up artists.”
Kinindatan niya ako pagkatapos. Halos dumulas ang likod kong nakasadal sa puno ng palm tree. Ba’t kaya ang guwapo ng taong ‘to, naisip ko.
“Really, Marg,” muling saad niya nang walang matanggap na tugon mula sa akin. “I’d like to thank you for all that you’ve done to me. I came here in hope that I’ll be able to escape the limelight, crazy media people, and fans for a little while. They’re driving me mad, seriously. I feel like I’m starting to lose myself already and I don’t like that to happen. I decided, I’d like to take a little trip. I’d like to enjoy my own company and meditate. All of that, I was able to accomplish through your help.”
“Hey,” ngumiti ako sa kanya. “I’m just glad I could help.”
He smiled back. We immediately fell into silence as we watched the sunset. Even though watching it is one of my few favorite things in the world, I still find myself losing my interest and slipping to him. Pinagmasdan ko siya, all of his beautiful, heavenly face. I’m sure millions of girls would trade their places to mine right now. Gaano ako kasuwerte to be with this man for three damn perfect days? This trip is worth every damn penny, my friend.
“Hey,” pukaw ko sa kanya. “I’ve got a really serious question to you.”
“Yes?” he shifted his eyes onto me. “What is it?”
“Well, I just want to ask, how the hell did you meditate?” I blurted out. “I’m always following you around!”
Chris laughed. Yung tawang parang ikauubos ng hininga niya. Nakapatong pa yung dalawang kamay niya sa may tiyan niyang puro abs.
“Come here,” sa halip na sagutin ang tanong ko ay kinuha niya ang dalawang kamay ko. He pressed them as he look directly into my eyes. Nang mga sandaling iyon ay tuluyan nang lumaganap ang dilim. “Tell me something that you really want. Anything. I want to repay all the laughs you’ve given me.”
Natahimik ako. Seryoso kaya ‘to, ang naisaloob ko. Pero nag-isip na rin ako nang pupuwede kong hinging kapalit mula sa kanya, siyempre. Ilang minuto ang lumipas. Namula akong bigla sa naisip ko.
“Well?” he inquired. “Do you have anything in your mind already?”
Hindi ako nakasagot. Napakagat-labi ako. Nakakahiya yung naisip ko pero wala na talaga akong ibang maisip eh.
“Um,” napalunok ako. “You see, here’s the thing, Chris.”
Napahinto ako. Binalot ng kahihiyan ang buong pagkatao ko. Chris stared at me, expectantly.
“Come on,” he insist. “Just say it, okay?”
Tumango ako. Huminga ako nang malalim. I have to do this right now or I’ll lose the chance forever.
“The thing is,” inilapit ko nang bahagya ang mukha ko kay Chris sa takot na may ibang makarinig nang sasabihin ko. “I haven’t experienced my first kiss yet.”
Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig sa akin si Chris. In his eyes are curiosity and amusement. Hindi yata alam kung tatawa o ano sa sinabi ko.
“What?” he blurted out after a few minutes. “Are you serious?”
Lokong ‘to, ah. Mukha kaya akong nagbibiro? Halos maging kamatis na nga ang mukha ko sa sobrang pula, eh.
“Come on, Chris, I’m serious, okay?” saad ko, may bahid na ng konting inis. “I know it’s pretty embarrassing but I really haven’t experienced it. My friends have done it and they always say something magical about it. I wonder what would it feel when I’m the one experiencing it. I’ve waited and waited for it to happen to me but to what extent? I don’t want to wait until I’m eighty, okay? Much more, I don’t want to be the girl who will die with no first kiss.”
“Oh, come on!” bulalas niya. “You will not die without a first kiss!”
“Really?” saad ko. “Will you break the curse then?”
Natigilan si Chris. Napatitig siya sa akin. It’s so intense, I feel like I’m suddenly sweating under my shirt.
“This is your favor?” he asked. “You want me to be your first kiss?”
Hindi ko nagawang sumagot sa labis na kahihiyan. Sa halip ay napayuko ako. I knew this is a bad idea!
“Hey,” masuyong saad niya. He lifted my chin until our eyes met again. He smiled the sweetest smile of him. “You know what I think?”
Umiling ako.
“I think I want to be your first kiss.” saad niya, nakangiti pa rin.
Napigilan ko yata ang hininga ko. Ni hindi yata ako kumurap nang dahan-dahan na niyang ilapit ang kaniyang mukha sa mukha ko. This is it, this is it, ang paulit-ulit kong sinasabi sa isip ko. But I got a little conscious. I backed out when I could almost smell his minty breath.
“Wait,” ihinarang ko yung kanang palad ko sa mukha niya. “Will you do something for me first?”
“What?” he whispered over my palm.
“Will you close your eyes?” alanganin ang ngiti na saad ko. “You know, I don’t want you looking at my pores. They’re kind of big, you know. And also, I have this huge…”
Hindi ko na natuloy ang sinasabi ko. Walang babalang hinawi niya ang palad ko at bigla akong hinalikan sa labi. Both our upper and lower lips touched. They’re both soft. It gave me this electrifying sensation you get when you accidentally touch a cable wire, not in a painful way though. Parang yung bacteria sa yakult, bacteria pero good. Iba, sobrang nakakabilis ng tibok ng puso at pulso. Napapikit na lang ako. And when I open my eyes, I saw him smiling at me. Mukha talaga siyang anghel. Kulang na lang fireworks display sa background niya. It’s perfect, he’s perfect.
“So?” tatawa-tawang saad niya. “Did I give justice to your first kiss?”
Napangiti ako. Sa sobrang saya ko, nayakap ko siya. Hoy, hindi abuso ‘to ha?
“It’s perfect,” sabi ko sa kanya. “Can we do it again?”
Natawa siya. Natawa rin ako. We both laughed while still holding each other.
To Be Continued.
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