Chapter 1

My body was so exhausted when we finally reached the hotel we'll be staying in for a week. I was the one who booked us here in Millennium Hotel Bangkok and so far, Caro has no complaints and hopefully for the rest of the day—week. Ewan ko na lang diyan kung mag-inarte pa. I've been exerting so much effort dito. Ako pa nga nag-abono sa pagbayad ng tickets namin no'n so we would be able to get the seat sale—which I did, thankfully.

Then she didn't pay me. Inuto pa ako na siya na lang ang bahala sa akin dito sa Thailand which I doubt so I still have my own money here with me. Mabuti na iyong may sarili akong pera dahil minsan hindi talaga napagkatitiwalaan ito si Caro. Well, sa kalandian, oo. Siya ang nagiging takbuhan namin ni Mareng Cely.

"Natawagan mo na ba 'yong sinasabi ni Miles kanina?" she asked.

Umiling ako. "Hindi pa. Hindi ko naman alam kung pa'no tatawagan, e. Iba naman ang number nila rito."

"Duh? Siyempre some other ways, Andrew! Use the other messaging apps. Whatsapp o kung ano pa man. I think iyon ang madalas nilang gamitin dito. Try giving him a message na."

"Ay, akala ko try giving him a blowjob na agad. But let's see kung sasagutin nga ako."

I composed a message to this certain person. The one thing that we forgot to ask ay iyong pangalan ng taong ito. Manghuhula kami ni Caro. 'Yon ang peg namin ngayon. After sending him a notice, naghintay kaming dalawa ng reply niya and while waiting, we started unpacking some of our things. Hindi na rin naman namin inilabas lahat since sobrang laking trabaho ang gagawin if that happens.

"'Di ba, lalaki 'yong nasabi ni Miles kanina?" paninigurado kong tanong.

Napataas ng kilay si Caro sa akin. "O, bakit? May balak ka talagang i-blowjob 'yon 'no?" Napangisi naman ito. "Naku, 'wag ka nang umasa. Saka, marami ka na namang na-harvat no'ng nag-Vegas tayo, a? Laspag na laspag ka na, Andrew."

Hinabol ko ng palo si Caro pero mabilis siyang nakalayo at nakailag ka sa akin. "Gaga ka! Hindi ako laspag 'no! May nabibili kayang pampasikip kaya swak!"

"Puta, Andrew!" Bumigay sa halakhak si Caro nang bitawan ko 'yon. "Gago ka talaga. Wala naman atang gano'n 'yon! Imbento ka. May kepay ka, girl? Assumera lang?"

"Bakit sure ka ba sa butas na tinutukoy ko?" Ngisi ko pa.

Natahimik ito sa pagtawa niya at naningkit ang mata niya. "Seryoso ka ba? Weh? Nagpa-opera ka na ba? Patingin nga! Anong hitsura niyan? Pareho ba tayo?"

Aakmang tatayo si Caro at huhubarin ang suot niyang underwear sa loob ng dress niya para ipakita niya sa akin iyong kepay niya. Agad akong tumayo at hinawakan siya para pigilan siya sa binabalak niyang gawin.

Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata.

"Girl, subukan mong ipakita sa akin 'yang kepay mo, lalagyan ko 'yan ng lock. Hindi ko bet makakita niyan 'no. Wala akong interes diyan and kailan naman ako nagpa-opera, girl? Uto-uto lang."

Hinawi nito ang kamay ko sa braso niya saka umikot ang mata niya. "Ano ka ba! Naninigurado lang naman. Baka kasi totoo at isinecret mo lang sa amin 'yon."

"Secret talaga." Ngisi ko pa.

But what I didn't expect she'll do next, agad nitong kinapa ang ibaba ko at dinakot na para bang kumuha lang ng santol sa palengke. Nanlaki pa ang mata nito nang ma-realize niyang may santol nga siyang nakapa at agad na binawi ang kamay.

"Ang dugyot, Caro, a!" pagsita ko sa kanya.

"Kadiri!" angal nito. Pinunas pa niya ang palad niya sa suot kong damit na para bang diring-diri talaga. "Akala ko keps na! Sausage pa pala, girl!"

"Gaga ka kasi!" Hampas ko pa sa balikat niya. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin at balak pang gumanti nang biglang may nag-call sa kung kaninong phone sa aming dalawa. I immediately checked mine and there's no incoming call kaya agad na tiningnan ni Caro ang phone niya and it's coming from her. When she checked her phone agad siyang lumundag sa kama. "Si Mareng Cely!" anunsyo nito saka sinagot ang tawag.

I jumped on the bed next to her and then Cely comes out of the screen when the video played. Para kaming sabik na mga anak ni Cely at kaway nang kaway nang makita siya thru video call.

"Guys! I miss you!" panimula nito. Pansin namin ni Caro na halos walang kaayos-ayos ang babaitang ito. Masyadong magulo ang buhok at namumuo na ang eye bags sa ilalim na mata. "I'm so sad na hindi ako nakasama sa inyo ngayo! We've been waiting for this moment tapos ako pa 'tong nasa malayo at hindi nakasama sa inyo!"

Cely looked up, fanning herself as if leaving her alone made her feel left out.

"Gaga ka kasi! Nagpatusok-tusok ka riyan sa bilyonaryo mong asawa, e!" pagpunto ni Caro. "Oh, anyway? Nasaan 'yong asawa mong magaling?"

"Umalis," sagot ni Cely.

"Nambababae, 'no?" panghuhula ko pa.

Agad namang umiling si Cely. Kumunot pa ang mukha niya sa sinabi niya. "No. I don't think Devin can do that to us. Nakikita niyo ba 'to, o? Magagawa pa ba niyang iwanan at mababae? For Pete's sake." She shared the video with her six-month-old infant and she's breastfeeding her.

"Uy! Ang cute-cute ni Delancey! Pero 'di ko bet 'yong sinisipsip niya ngayon," komento ko pa.

Agad namang binalik ni Cely ang tutok ng camera sa mukha niya at sinamaan ako ng tingin. "Gaga ka, Andrew. Sa 'yo ko 'to pasipsip, e. Anyway, wala si Devin dito kasi siya mismo ang namili ng gamit ni Del. We thought we still have some stocks of diapers here, kanina lang namin napansin."

"Pero seven na ng gabi riyan, a?" takang tanong ni Caro.

"Ah, right. Late na nga namin nalaman, 'di ba? I think pauwi na rin 'yon."

"Sure ka na hindi 'yon pumunta sa isang stripping club?" Ngisi ko pa.

"Pwes, sa kanya ko papaalaga 'to si Delancey buong taon. But he'll be coming home soon. 'Wag na kayong mag-aalala ro'n. Magte-text naman sa akin 'yon. I'm just trying to give you guys a call kasi alam kong ngayon ang flight niyo riyan and good thing ay sinagot niyo agad ang tawag ko. Maybe by eight, I'll be in my room na to take a rest. Super haggard ang parenting, girl!"

"True!" komento ni Caro. "Kaya tingnan mo kami ni Andrew, single life equals travel galore!"

Napasinghal naman si Cely. "I know, right! Kainis! Anyway, anong oras na ba riyan? Anong gagawin niyo today? One week kayo riyan, right?"

"Yup. One week kami rito," sagot ko. "We know naman your situation kaya hindi ka namin pipilitin, but you could've taken some time off, alam mo 'yon? But of course, we don't wanna take away your chance to spend all your time with your family. Kami na lang ang gagala for you basta kapag dumalaw kami riyan, may libre ulit ako?"

"Gaga, hindi naman ako ang may sagot do'n. Kay Devin kayo magpaalam," aniya. "But I'll try mentioning it to him."

"Saka, girl. Bakit mukha ka ng losyang diyan? Wala man lang ayos-ayos?"

She laughed and tried to stop it as soon as she realized na magigising niya si Delancey, "Stress talaga, mga bakla. Pero keri ko naman. I've been preparing for this to come through though not last year, but everything is a process at kinakaya ko naman..." Nagpabitaw nang malalim na hininga si Cely and with that, we felt her stress and her struggle for being a new parent.

We understand her. It's a new chapter of her life, good thing... she has someone who really looks after her and loves her for her whole life. Iyon ang mahalaga.

"Okay, hindi niyo na ako sinagot. Anong gagawin niyo today?"

"Well, Andrew messaged someone who can tour us here in Bangkok. Ni-refer lang siya no'ng nakasabay namin sa plane and we just took it. Malay namin na mas magiging productive ang travel namin here. Hindi pa sumasagot 'no, Drew?"

Umiling ako. "Nope. Baka tulog pa? Masyadong pang maaga ngayon."

"I see... hintayin na lang natin maya-maya," Caro said, shifting her attention back at Cely. "I think you should take a rest na. Just message us na lang kapag bumalik na si Devin dahil kung hindi, baka bigla kaming lumipad diyan without saying a word, understood?"

Cely nodded, chuckling. "Sure, sure! I'll just inform you guys later. I'm just going to take care of my little Delly..."

And then Delancey just started crying and panicked immediately plastered on her face. She just abruptly ends the call nang walang paalam sa amin. Natawa na lang din kami ni Caro sa kanya and we understand how stressful her situation is. Kung nando'n lang din kami, we would be helping her, but aside from our travels, we still have our day jobs and being a flight attendant really comes in a convenient matter. I love my job. Caro and I both love our jobs.

"So, kailan kaya tayo rereplayan niyang magiging tourist guide natin?" tanong ni Caro.

We're just leaning our back at the headboard and we're just tired. Parang gusto muna namin itulog iyong naging biyahe namin. So, Caro and I ended up sleeping together on the same bed until we woke up with a call from an unknown number on Whatsapp.

Hindi pa masyadong mulat ang mata ko at sinagot ko ang tawag.

"Sawadee ka," bungad nito sa akin. Nabuhayan naman ang diwa ko nang marinig ko ang boses nito. (Hello!)

"Sawadee ka," sagot ko rin sa kanya.

"Do you speak Thai?" he asked. Napaiisip naman ako sa hitsura ng kausap ko since ang lamig at ang smooth ng boses nito. Hindi masyadong manly at hindi rin gano'n kalamya. Ang presko lang ng dating ng boses niya.

"Oh, no. I don't. I'm sorry... I only speak English and Tagalog... but I've been trying to learn the language since I'm watching Thai boys' love TV shows. Ang daldal ko na. Anyway, yeah, unfortunate of me."

"No, yeah. That's alright," sagot nito sa akin. Feeling ko nakangiti ito sa kabilang linya and it would be good if I got to see who I am talking about in this little piece of device. "I just have to ask questions... your name is Andrew, right?"

I nodded as if he sees it. "Yes, that's me. And you are?"

"I'm Heikenz," pagpapakilala nito. "It's hard to pronounce my name, but you can call me whatever you would like."

"Sure..."

"Bakla, ang aga-aga. Ang daldal mo na..." usal ni Caro sabay palo sa balikat ko.

Ginantihan ko naman siya. "Gaga, kausap ko 'yong lalaking sinasabi ni Miles kanina."

"Andrew?" muling pagtawag ni Heikenz sa akin. "My good friend, Miles, referred you to me so... you're interested to have a trip around Bangkok or wherever?"

"Yes, we do!" galak kong tugon sa kanya. "So, what time are you going to meet us?"

"Uhm... what time are you available?"

"Now? I think so..." sagot ko sa kanya. Hindi pa talaga sigurado. "What about you?"

"I'm available now. Where do you guys are staying? Should I see you guys there?"

"Yes, please. We're not really familiar around so it would be best if you're already here with us. Is it okay with you?"

"Of course, not a problem."

"Great! This really sounds a good deal."

"It does. We would be talking about it later when we meet. It's Andrew again, right?"

"Yup, Ketchup."

"Ketchup?"

Napangiwi naman ako nang banggitin ko 'yon. "No! Nevermind. I'll be sending you my location now. See you later."

"Okay, thank you! See you later!"

Nang ibinaba ko ang tawag ay agad kong sinend sa kanya 'yong location namin ngayon. Naramdaman ko naman ang paghawak ni Caro sa braso ko. Nagtaka ako sa reaksyong binigay niya sa akin.

"Bakit?" taka kong tanong.

"Bakit nanginginig ka riyan? Kinausap mo lang naman 'yong lalaki pero mukhang tiira ka na riyan. Kalma ka, girl. 'Wag kang umasa baka work is life lang 'yon and we're here not to find some romance kung hindi ang mag-relax at magsaya."

"I think kasama na rin 'yon do'n?" Pangunguwestiyon ko pa. "But anyway, we should be changing now dahil pupunta na siya rito in any moment."

"Okay, fine!" Caro jumped out of the bed and she started haggling some clothes for her.

Huminga ako nang malalim at ginaya ko si Caro na magsimulang mag-ayos ng sarili. I'm not sure how this travel would go far, but I think a week in Bangkok would result in something beautiful and I'm already looking forward to it. Pero sa ngayon, I don't want to meet the end, but experience the journey and all so... I'll let Heikenz tour us around his beloved city.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

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