Chapter 3

"I've prepared seven days of the itinerary for you, guys. I'm right that you'll be staying here until Sunday evening, right?"

Caro nodded, confirming his question. "Yup. Our flight is at 9 PM on Sunday, but I guess we can still do a lot of stuff during the daytime, right?"

Agad na tumango si Heikenz sa tanong ni Caro. "Yeah, yeah. You can do a lot more stuff there. And you've got me so your time here in Bangkok will be spent much better as you thought it would be."

Nagtaas naman ako ng kamay saka nalipat ang atensyon ng dalawa sa akin. "Would we be able to go to some beaches? I've heard that the famous beach here in Thailand is in Phuket? Am I right?"

"Yes, and most visited beaches by the tourists are also all over the country. There is one near Bangkok, but I'm sure you will enjoy Bangkok more. Not that I'm biased—maybe..." He laughed. Natawa rin ako sa tawa niya dahil ang cute niyang tumawag. Caro looked at me and I know what she's already thinking by now.

I know I'm blushing. Hindi ko lang talaga mapigilan.

"But on your day one here in Bangkok, why don't we visit all the famous temples and take a river cruise. That would be fun and I know you'll enjoy it. Just a question, have you guys been here before?" Heikenz asked, creasing his forehead though it's not that much visible since he really got perfect skin. Napakabatak.

"Yes, we did!" sagot ko. "Though it's not a vacation, but work-related."

"Oh, for work? What you guys do for a living?" he asked.

"We worked as sugar babies!" sagot ni Caro na may kasama pang pagtili. Nanlaki pa ang mata ko sa sinabi nito kaya hinablot ko 'yong malapit na tuwalya sa akin at binato ko sa kanya. Nailagan niya naman 'yon.

"Gaga ka, Caro!" usal ko saka ko hinarap si Heikenz na natatawa. "No, we're not sugar babies."

"Not yet, but we're already looking for a sugar daddy. It's on the process," eksenang sagot ni Caro. May kasama pang kindat iyon. Hahabulin ko na sana siya ng kurot sa tagiliran pero mabilis na naman niyang naiwasan. Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa ni Heikenz kaya mabilis din akong napalingon sa kanya.

"She's joking, Heikenz. We're not looking for a sugar daddy," pagpapaliwanag ko pa.

He giggled, nodding his head. "Of course, I know it's just a joke. Don't worry... but maybe, I can be your daddy."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya at tumapon agad ang tingin ko kay Caro kasi alam naman niyang bet na bet ko ang tipo ni Caro. Namuo na lang ang ngiti sa labi nito. I couldn't even feel my chest. It felt so numb dahil sa bilis ng takbo ng puso ko. Gosh, kalma yo' pussy self.

Heikenz laughed it off. "No. I was just joking. I'm not serious about that, so don't take it seriously. I'm not looking for a sugar baby."

I winced, trying not to blush. "That's fine, Heikenz. We are all joking around here."

Pero on my side, ramdam kong tumatagos na ang tingin sa akin ni Caro. I tried to act calmly and never mind how this situation could turn out. Ilang oras pa lang kami rito sa Bangkok, kabog na nang kabog 'tong puso sa sobrang landi.

"So, let me continue what I was talking about earlier," he said. "So, just like what I said, beaches can be found in some parts of Thailand, but you're not here to go only to the beaches, right?" he asked and we both nodded to him. "Cool! So, as I mentioned, we're going to some temples and cruise on a river and then maybe to Khao San Road, if you guys haven't been there you'll love it."

"We actually haven't been around Thailand," Caro said. "I think we only visit a temple before on..." Her eyes squinted as she tried so hard to remember the name of the place.

"Wat Phra Kaew," sagot ko.

"Yes, 'yon nga!" pagpunto pa ni Caro. "Buti natatandaan mo pa 'yon. 'Yon kasi 'yong una kong napuntahan no'n no'ng first flight ko rito sa Thailand. Though we only have a few hours of layover kaya mabilisang tour lang. Sulit naman before, but that's why we're here now gusto namin masulit ang Bangkok."

"I think you guys need more than a week to enjoy Thailand," Heikenz said. "We've got a lot of things to offer!"

"I know that! Isa ka na ro'n!" Nanigas ang buo kong katawan nang ma-realize ko 'yong sinabi ko sa kanya. Knowing he could understand the language, mas lalo akong nanlumo at wala akong ideya kung pa'no ko babawiin iyon sa kanya. "I mean, just forget about that. We know what you meant."

Ngisi ang namutawi sa labi ni Heikenz and I tried so hard not to feel so bad about it. I just hope that this won't turn so awkward between us pero sa tingin ko naman ay sinasakyan lang din niya ang bawta biro namin. He seems funny and kind at swak na swak siya para sa aming dalawa ni Caro. I think Miles really referred us to a cool tour guide and I couldn't ask for more.

Heikenz then discuss everything to us. Kung ano ang mga mangyayari, sasakyan, at ilang oras tatakbo ang itatagal namin sa bawat destinasyon na pupuntahan namin. We all decided to spend an hour or so sa isang destination so we can enjoy the place hanggang sa magsawa kami.

I really have no time to plan out our trip kasi that's why Heikenz is really a big help for us. Hindi na kami mahihirapan kung anong unang lugar ang pupuntahan namin gayong may isang tao na alam na kung anong mga dapat gawin namin.

"Let's go?" anyaya ni Heikenz. Tiningnan naman niya ang relos niya sa pulsuhan nito. "It's still early, though it's better to get there when there are not many of people hanging around."

"Game! Pero wait, ihi lang ako," Caro excused and made a trip straight to the bathroom.

Nauna naman kaming lumabas ni Heikenz at hinintay namin ito sa hallway. Nabunggo ko pa si Heikenz at dumampi pa ang kamay ko sa ibabang parte niya. Nanigas ang kamay ko pero pansin kong hindi naman niya napansin o binalewala niya lang 'yon.

As soon as Caro walked out of the room and joined us, we headed to the elevator and wait to be delivered down on the ground floor. Siyempre nasa harapan namin si Heikenz when he knows all the things to do.

Hindi ko rin maiwasang tingnan siya from head to toe. Kahit nakatalikod siya, he seems so fine. Ang tikas ng tayo nito at sa tingin ko, nag-e-extra 'to sa mga commercial o kung ano man. He could be a celebrity dahil sa posture and aura nito.

If I didn't know he works as a tour guide, I would think he's an influencer or aligned in that kind of industry.

He's cute! Pwede na para sa akin.

Siniko ako ni Caro when she noticed that I've been staring at him for so long. Ang lapad ng ngisi niya sa labi niya. With that kind of look, I already knew what's with kaya hindi ko na binalak pang makipag-argue since she'll just push me to my limits. Pero kung itutulak niya ako kay Heikenz, why not? Marami naman akong kakapitan.

"Guys," pagtawag ng pansin sa amin ni Heikenz. He turned around to see us. "We'll be going to The Grand Palace first, it's in the Na Phra Lan road and it's only around ten to fifteen-minute drive away from here. The fastest way to get there is by taxi, are we good with that?"

Sabay naman kaming tumango ni Caro. We're putting this on him since he knew the place better than us. When we're all decided to go to our first place to visit, naghintay kami ng taxi na sasakyan namin. I thought of riding some tuktuk—it's like our local tricycle na may three wheels lang din, but they have more distinct features in it na makikilalang Thailand talaga ang public transpo na iyon. It's unique—it's one of their known culture they represent to the whole world.

Saglit lamang ay may huminto ng taxi sa amin. Heikenz told us to get inside while he go around to jump on the front seat next to the driver. He told the driver where we would be going and just because it will only take us a few minutes to go there, hindi mag-iinit ang mga pwet namin sa sasakyan... but I guess pwedeng mag-init ang pwet ko sa ibang upuan.

"You've been eyeing him kanina pa, ha," paninita sa akin ni Caro.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "And so? Gaya ka, girl."

She shook her head as if my suggestion isn't something she would do. "Hindi ko siya type," pag-amin nito. Pabulong niya lang sinabi iyon sa akin since Heikenz might hear it. "Kung buff siya, malaman ang muscle at malago ang beard, for sure, I would dive him in a second without hesitation. But I'll give him to you." Tinapik pa nito ang balik to tell na pinapaubaya na niya sa akin ang boylet na ito. "Just don't get attached to him, alright? We're only here for a week. I'm just saying... alam mo naman kung anong nangyari last time."

I grunted, rolling my eyes just to remember what Omar did to me. "I know. Don't bring it up again. Move on na tayo ro'n, girl, okay?"

Napahagikgik na lamang si Caro while my attention got caught back at Heikenz who's talking to the driver on their language. I don't know why am I staring at him like I'm examining his whole life and the fact that I easily got attracted to him could be so bad for me. But Caro's right, I shouldn't be attached to him since this would be only a quick trip for us.

Mahirap maging kalaban ang separation anxiety, it will take some time to assess the moving on process, but I guess I can make it by not thinking about anything at mag-focus na lang ako sa travel namin. That's what matters naman. And Heikenz was never in my plan in the first place.

We didn't realize that after a few minutes ay narating na namin ang destinasyon namin. If Heikenz didn't say na narating namin ang unang pupuntahan namin ay aakalain naming naghihintay lamang kami ng go-sign mula sa stop light.

We paid for the taxi and it costs 35 Baht which I believe is converted peso ay roughly 50 pesos lang ito. It's cheaper than I thought it would be. We wouldn't let Heikenz paid for it since his job is to tour us around.

When he mentioned his rate earlier for the whole week of touring us around, napaisip pa akong hindi makatarungan iyong ibabayad namin sa kanya since he'll be exerting effort and time for us. But since it's his job and he's the one who give us the rate, hindi na kami umangal ni Caro since we're on a tight budget din. E, sana kung sponsor kami ng mga Carrington, we would be partying all night—even all day!

His rate is 16k Baht which is roughly 12,500 in Peso since his rate every day is only around fifty USD and we think that it's not enough, but if he thinks that's enough for him then we have no right to judge him. Pero may ilan kasing tourist guide na aabot ng 500 to 1000 dollars ang rate. I guess, we're still on a budget trip.

"Oh, shit," Heikenz hissed when his eyes stuck on me. Namula at nahiya pa ako sa pagtitig niya sa akin at inakala kong may malisya iyon. Tiningnan niya pa kasi from head to toe—and he did the same thing to Caro kaya nagtaka ako. Napahilamos naman niya ang palad sa mukha niya.

"Anong problem?" tanong ni Caro, kumunot na lamang ang noo niya.

"I forgot to tell you, guys. You guys can't enter the temples with skirts and shorts—and no short sleeves," he said, pointing at Caro. He shook his head, heaving out a deep sigh. "This is my mistake. I forgot to tell you about this before we got here."

Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa ni Caro at napailing na lang din ito.

"Gwapo nga... medyo ano lang..."

"Medyo ano, girl?" tanong ko pa.

"Basta! Kaasar," aniya.

"Hayaan mo na..."

She just shook her head saka ako lumapit kay Heikenz. "Do you have any other plans for us today?"

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to be so dumb about this," he said, felt so disappointed to himself.

I reached his shoulder and rubbed it easily. "That's fine... no worries. Maybe if you already have some place we could go to today, that would be good, right?"

He pressed his lips together. Sarap halikan. Tumango rin naman ito sa akin. "Yes, we can do that. We can visit the temples tomorrow or some other day."

"Yup. That would be fine."

He put a smile on his face, trying not to feel so bad about it. "Is she mad at me?" he asked, pertaining to Caro.

Umiling ako at tinapik ko ang balikat niya. "No. Don't worry about her. Ganyan lang talaga 'yan. She'll come around. Ako ring bahala sa 'yo, basta ikaw nag bahala sa amin i-tour kami rito sa Bangkok, ha?"

He giggled, nodding. "Of course! I might have to call someone I know so we can get to our next destination. Would you give me a second to call my friend?"

Agad akong tumango. "Yes, go."

When he excused himself to check on his friend, I look at Caro who was starting to take selfies for herself. Hindi naman talaga maarte 'yang si Caro, moody lang din talaga minsan. But I hope this trip to Bangkok won't turn into something bad.

We're here for a week and it started on a very not-so-good note. But maybe Heikenz could also save the day.

***

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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