Chapter 7

"You guys should try this," suhestiyon ni Heikenz nang ituro niya sa amin ang scorpions. Nanlaki ang mata namin ni Caro which we're not expecting na iyon ang ipakakain niya sa amin ngayon.

Ramdam ko naman ang pangangalabit ni Caro sa akin pero hindi ko siya nililingon.

"Sis, ano?"

Tinitigan ko 'yong scorpion sa hilira ng iba't ibang street foods dito sa isang tindahan na dinala kami ni Heikenz. Kilala niya raw kasi 'yong tinder kaya masisiguradong malinis at maayos ang pagkaluluto ng mga ito. Ang problema lang, hindi naman kami sanay kumain ng mga exotic foods... lalo na itong scorpion na sa itim ng shell, sobrang kaba ako kung kaya ko bang lunukin ito. Sa mga galamay pa lang nito, naiisip ko nang susundutin ang lalamunan ko.

Ibang sundot kasi ang gusto ko, hindi itong scorpion.

"Do you want it, guys?" he asked one more time, nakakunot na ang noo nito at mistulang nag-aabang ng sagot mula sa amin. Kaunti na lang tatakbuhan naming dalawa 'tong si Heikenz, okay nang maligaw 'wag lang makakain ng scorpion. "You know, you're Bangkok experience wouldn't be complete if you haven't tried this. Just a piece and you're fine then."

"Nakalalason 'yan, 'di ba?" Nakangiwi si Caro.

Umiling naman si cutie. "It is, but you'll be poisoned if the tail isn't removed. So, check the tail first or ask the vendor so you'll know you aren't gonna die at the end of the day."

Heikenz laughed, but we didn't get the joke in it. Natigilan din naman siya saka niya hinarap iyong kaibigan niyang tindero at bumili siya ng isang piraso. He then showed us the scorpion on the stick.

"Watch me eat it, and if I die, don't forget to bring me to the hospital, right?"

Napangiwi na lang kami ni Caro as we wouldn't be able to take it—kahit sabihing we can eat it piece by piece, it is just so strange to eat something that in know it's poisonous.

"Okay, here we go," he instructed and then we watched him eat the scorpion. May papikit-pikit pa ito na tila ba sarap na sarap naman sa kinakain niya. At this moment, mapasasabi na lang talaga ako na sana naging scorpion na lang ako. Para pwede ko rin siyang tuklawin.

Heikenz took his time chewing the scorpion pero iyong atensyon ni Caro ay namimili na ng ibang kakainin. Isa lang naman gusto kong kainin kaya hindi maalis ang tingin ko sa lalaking itong nasa harapan ko. But then, I had to wake up from those assumptions dahil hindi naman 'yan papatol sa akin at the end of the day.

He seems like a person who won't go for gays. He's friendly, but not to the point na may lalandiing gay like me.

"So, game?" he queried, a smile immediately grew on his face.

Napalunok na lamang ako ng laway ko. Para bang may matinding kung anong nakaharang sa lalamunan ko. I just couldn't speak well and I still feel so weird about this pero ayoko namang i-reject ang offer nito since it's like I'm not respecting their culture—ginawa na namin 'yon kanina by not wearing the proper outfit so I guess this is the time for us to have some redemption.

But good thing for me, someone got to save me up.

"Sa 'yo ba 'yong tumatawag?" tanong ni Caro.

I scooped my phone out of my pocket and then I saw Miles calling me. I immediately excused myself from them. Ayaw pa sana ako paalisin ni Caro dahil siya ang mapipilitang kumain ng scorpion na 'yon. In the end, wala siyang nagawa nang lumayo ako para sagutin ang tawag ni Miles.

Kahit sa malayo ako, I can sense na gusto nang umatras ni Caro sa gagawin niya. As she don't have a choice, she has to go through with is.

"Hello, Miles," bungad ko naman nang sagutin ko ang tawag niya.

"Hey, Andrew!" masigasig nitong bungad sa akin. "How are you doing? How was your first day here in Bangkok?"

"Oh, yes, we're enjoying it. I've got to learn and try new things here and that's all because of Heikenz."

"Glad to hear that! So, how was he? How does he do now?"

"Oh, he's actually good and funny! So, half-pinoy rin pala siya kaya naman kuhang-kuha rin namin ang vibes niya. We like him dahil ang dami naming natututunan sa kanya. He's like a walking history book! Thank you for recommending him to us. I think we'll be enjoying our stay here!"

"Well, that's the goal, right? I'm glad that I was able to help you guys and I hope you are enjoying now."

"Yes, ano ka ba! We're totally enjoying it! Nandito kami ngayon sa Khao San Road an he's making us try some street foods! Good thing you called me dahil he was about to make us eat a scorpion! Hindi ko keri 'yon."

"I must say that you should also take a bite of it, you'll like it!"

"Sinasabi mo lang ba 'yan kasi you're promoting Thai culture, ha?" Tawa ko pa.

He chuckled. "Probably!" Tawa pa nito. "But don't you worry about anything that Heikenz would make you try, alam kong hindi naman niya kayo ipahahamak. I've known him since the first time I came here so I don't think you should be scared of him. He's really a good guy... baka in the end, iba na ang ipakain sa 'yo."

"Hoy, Miles! 'Wag kang ganyan... basta umasa ako ng bente!"

We ended up laughing over the phone. Hindi rin naman matagal ang naging pag-uusap namin ni Miles. He's just checking in on us if we're doing good and when he found out na super enjoy kami, I think he really made a good decision for that.

Bumalik naman ako sa kanilang dalawa at ang pakla ng mukha ni Caro nang makalapit. Pinapakain naman siya ngayon ni Heikenz ng Takatan o prinitong grasshopper. Dahil wala naman akong kawala para tanggihan iyon, I took bites slowly at hindi ko na lang pinapansin ang weird texture nito sa bibig ko sa mga pinagsasabi ni Heikenz na nutritious ang pagkain na ito—na halos katimbang nito ang protein na nakukuha sa chicken breast.

"And who wants some Hon Mhai?" he questioned.

Muli kaming nagkatinginan ni Caro. "Ano 'yon?" tanong ng babaita.

Itinuro naman ni Heikenz ang fried silk worm sa tray at muli kaming napalunok ng laway. Sabay na naman kaming napailing dahil hindi na namin kakayanin pang kumain ng gano'n.

"Heikenz, yes, thank you for the offerings and we're not trying to be so offensive sa culture niyo by eating these famous street foods, but we do believe na mag-aalburoto ang sikmura namin at the end of the day since hindi sanay ang mga sikmura namin dito. Pero thank you, you're really nice!"

He chuckled. "No, that's okay! So... did you like it?"

We both nodded as we don't wanna offend him and make him feel bad about it. When he felt assured that we're all doing good, we move forward to what we would do next here in this place.

Maggagabi na rin naman and I feel so exhausted now, gusto ko na lang din humiga sa kama ko sa hotel, but I won't be wasting my time here in this place kaya naman hangga't kakayanin ko, I would fight against my katamaran.

Heikenz told us that he brought us here in this place since it's quieter than the other street place and there are more fun things to do here. There were a lot of bars, shops, and international restaurants can be found whenever we look around. Hindi nga talaga kami nagkamali na pinagpatuloy namin ang tour namin with Heikenz.

Caro was already giving it up earlier, but then we're enjoying it.

As much as felt so tired like our body would meet the ground in no time, the fun kept our energy kicking alive and seeing how Heikenz never showed us that he's bored or that he doesn't like what was happening because from the moment we saw earlier this morning and at this moment, ang laki pa rin ng ngiti sa labi niya. I think that makes him attractive even more and I kinda like that to a person. Showing so much effort and that radiates to us—or maybe that's just his job dahil in reality, he got paid for it.

Ten in the evening when we all decided to go back to the hotel. Hindi na sumama sa amin si Heikenz dahil naka-taxi na kami pabalik ng hotel. He would just meet us here tomorrow morning para ituloy namin ang tour sa ibang area namin. We're still hoping we would be able to visit the temples some other day. Hindi na talaga kami magiging pasaway.

Napabitaw naman ako nang malalim na hininga nang buksan ko ang pinto ng hotel room namin.

"Nakapapagod ang araw na 'to pero worth—" Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko nang bigla akong inunahan ni Caro pumasok sa loob saka siya dumiretsyo sa CR at lumuhod katapat ng inidoro at nagsimulang sumuka.

Hindi ko napigilang matawa since siya ang maraming nakain ng mga street food kaysa sa akin at for sure nabigla ang sikmura niya. Lumapit ako sa kanya at inayos ang buhok niyang humaharang sa mukha niya.

"O, ano? Keri pa ba, sis?"

Matalim naman itong napabitaw ng singhal. "Uuwi na ako. Iwan na kita rito. Kung ano-ano naman pinakain sa akin ni Heikenz, 'di lang ako makaangal, e."

"Same! Though some really taste good pero hindi ko talaga kakayanin kung ang scorpion ang kinain ko."

"Sa tingin mo, girl, may lason ba 'yong kinain kong scorpion?" tanong nito.

"Hmm..." Napaisip din ako sa sinabi niya. "I didn't notice pero... mukhang... oo? Goodbye na, girl. See you in the next life na lang, okay?"

"Gaga ka! Walang ganyanan! Wala pa nga akong jowa saka hindi pa ako nakababalik ng Nigeria! Girl, hindi ko pa tapos ang bucket list ko just to die because of the scorpion!"

"Okay lang 'yon, pagdadasal ka namin ni Cely araw-araw. Dadalhan kita ng favorite flower mo sa puntod mo and then magpabo-bongga kami ng handaan tuwing death anniversary mo. Gusto mo ba 'yon? Gusto mo rin bang may karaoke sa burol mo?"

"Sukahan kita riyan. Tumigil-tigil ka riyan. Baka araw-araw ka naman umiyak kapag nawala ako, 'no?"

"Ay, keri lang girl!" Natatawa kong sagot sa kanya. "Anyway, si Miles 'yong tumawag sa akin kanina and he just assured me na walang dapat ipag-alala so don't mind everything—kung may lason 'yong kinain mo, e 'di good!"

"Gaga, anong good?!" bulyaw nito sa akin. "Labas ka na nga ro'n. Maaga pa tayo bukas."

"Weh? Aabot ka ba hanggang bukas?" pang-aasar ko pa.

"Ay, hindi ka titigil, ha?" pagbabanta nito sa akin.

Bago pa man may gawin si Caro sa akin ay kumaripas na ako ng takbo palabas ng CR saka ako tumungo sa kama ko at lumundag doon. I was just staring at the ceiling and I don't know what kind of smile this day brought in me. I just couldn't help myself, but to look forward on what will happen next day.

A minute later, my phone screen lit up for a second and then I checked it, finding out that the notification came from Heikenz.

Mabilis akong napabangon mula sa pagkahihiga ko at binasa ko kaagad ang message nito sa akin.

Heikenz: Hey, Andi. Thanks for being a good company today. I hope you enjoy our tour today, you did, right? Well, see you tomorrow.

Me: Yes! I—we did! Thank you so much, you make our first day great though.

Heikenz: Well, it's my pleasure. Have a rest now. Good night.

Me: Good night din! See you!

Agad kong binaba ang phone ko nang marinig ko si Caro na lumabas ng CR. She didn't notice it dahil mabilis din akong kumilos para makapagbanlaw ng katawa ko. I feel so sticky right now. Super init din ng klima ngayon sa Thailand kaya naman it's always good to have a fresh bath at the end of the day.

But all throughout my bath and then wearing some pajamas, I couldn't help but to smile. Hindi ko lang pinapahalata kay Caro dahil ipamumukha na naman niya sa akin na wala akong chance ro'n, but it's not forbidden to assume and all. Whatever might going to happen next here on our stay in Bangkok... it'll be worth it.

A week might not be enough, but we just finished our first day... and it feels like we've been around for a whole month. That maybe because of how good of a company he is. Kung literal lang na pwedeng mag-uwi ng jowa, gagawin ko na... but oh, well... I just know we'll be in a good hands while we're here in Bangkok.

***

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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