"Wake up, sweethearts! It's time to get your ass up for our first beach activity!" anunsyo ni Dominique na siyang ikinairita ng kapatid nito. 

May naisip namang gawin si Dom kay Daia at saka ito lumapit sa kama nito at hinablot ang dalawang paa at saka niya ito hinila pababa. Tuluyan din namang napabangon sa pagkahihiga si Daia at hinabol ng hampas ng unan ang kapatid.

"Bwisit ka talaga, kuya!" sigaw pa nito. Punong-puno ng pagka-aburido ang mukha. "Kita na ngang natutulog pa ang tao? Ang lakas ng trip mo sa buhay mo kuya."

Banas naman itong tumungo sa banyo habang hindi naman napigilan ni Dom ang pagtawa. 

"Oh my gosh, nakalimutan ko rin!" aligaga namang saad ni Cara. "Hindi nag-alarm ang phone ko. I knew I should've done it way ahead. Bakit ngayon niyo lang din kami ginising? Babe?"

Natigil naman si Dominique sa pagtawa at nabigla sa reklamo ng girlfriend nito. "We were calling your phones many times earlier. Hindi niyo naman sinasagot kaya akala namin ni Kenny mga tulog pa kayo and here we are. Hindi nga kami nagkamali."

"Ready na ba kayo? Maaga pa naman ata," sabi pa ni Cara.

"Cars, chill ka lang," sabi pa ni Alleah na hindi pa bumabangon sa pagkakahiga. "Maaga pa naman. We've a lot of time to do everything. Hindi naman tayong four days and three nights dito, and you're pretty wasted last night."

"Oh gosh! Don't tell me about it, Ley," anito at saka umiling. "Hindi na muna ako maliligo. Mababasa rin naman tayo. Kumilos ka na rin diyan, Ley. 'Wag mong hayaang ipagawa ko rin kay Dom 'yong ginawa niya kay Daia."

Napangisi naman si Alleah. "Okay, ma'am. Ito na po. Babangon na po."

Pagkalabas ni Daia ng banyo ay sumunod naman si Cara. 

"Ang sakit pa rin ng ulo ko," reklamo ni Daia habang nakahawak sa sintido nito. 

"Where did you put your medicines, babe?" alalang tanong ni Kenny sa akin. "You should take an Aspirin. It should help lessen the pain."

"I think nandiyan lang 'yon." Tinuro nito ang maleta. Hindi pa niya naayos ang loob nito at mabuti na lang din ay alam ni Kenny kung saan ito hahanapin. Nang makita ang medicine kit ay kumuha lang ito ng aspirin at inabot sa girlfriend nito kasabay ng tubig. Ininom naman ito ng girlfriend niya. 

"What if 'wag ka na muna ulit sumama?" suggestion ni Kenny.

Umangat ang tingin ni Daia at sinamaan ng tingin ang boyfriend. "Hindi na nga tayo nakasama sa kanila kagabi, hindi na naman ako sasama? Sakit lang ng ulo 'to. Mawawala rin naman 'to."

Saglit lang ng lumabas si Cara ay sumunod na pumasok si Alleah. Inanunsyo naman ni Cara kung anong gagawin nila ngayong araw. They would only follow the itinerary she did para masulit nila nang maayos ang bakasyon at hindi masayang dahil may kanya-kanyang gustong gawin ang bawat isa. That was the reason kung bakit hindi matuloy-tuloy ang mga plano nila noon dahil ang gusto ng isa ay pumunta ng Siargao habang ang isa naman ay gusto pumunta ng Bali dahil mas maganda raw do'n. 

All of them have different opinions that at the end of the day, no plans have pushed through.

"Wait! Ano ulit plano? Hindi ko narinig?" tanong ni Alleah nang lumabas ng banyo.

"Sunod ka na lang sa amin," sabi pa ni Cara. "And oh, I think I've invited someone to join us today. . . 'Yong kaibigan mo, Dom?"

"I don't think he will come," sagot pa ni Dom.

"Sana hindi na nga," dagdag pa ni Alleah. "Akala ko ba it was time for the five of us na gawin ang trip na 'to, but why were we inviting some people to join us?"

"For more chances and fun?" sagot ni Cara.

"Sino ba 'yon, kuya?" tanong ni Daia.

"Si Willimar," sagot ni Dom.

Daia's face scrunched when he mentioned his name. Nagtaka naman sila kung bakit gano'n ang pinakita niyang reaksyon. "I've met that guy once and I don't feel his vibe. Bakit? Nandito rin ba siya sa Baler?"

"Yup, we saw him last night sa party club," ani Dom. "And the funny thing is, he went punching a foreigner. Ang lakas talaga ng loob no'n, e. Buti na lang hindi tayo pinalabas din dahil sa kanya."

"See? Basag ulo 'yon, e," Daia claimed. "I wished he wouldn't join us today, please?"

"Wala namang gagawin masama 'yon sa 'yo," her brother objected. "Hayaan mo na. Na-invite na ni Cara, e. Kung sumama siya sa atin o hindi, e 'di okay."

"Whatever, if aalis na tayo, umalis na tayo," saad ni Daia.

Everyone picked up what they needed to bring. Sabay-sabay rin namang lumabas ang lima sa kwarto ng girls. They were about to head out when someone called their attention. Sabay-sabay namang napalingon kay Morriah ang lima. She jogged towards them to catch them. Nagtataka naman ang lima kung bakit sila tinawag nito.

"Pag ito may ginawa kayong mali, a?" halos pabulong na utas ni Daia.

"E, sino kaya 'yong bumagsak sa upuan kagabi sa bar area?" sabi pa ni Dom at pinigilang tumawa.

Daia sent death glares to her brother as well as to Kenny. Si Kenny lang naman ang kasama niya kagabi at hindi malalaman ng kapatid nito kung anong nangyari kung hindi sinabi nito sa kaibigan. He thought it was just to inform him abou what they did last night, but somehow it might be reason for them to start a fight.

Ayaw ni Kenny na mangyari 'yon.

"How are you feeling, Daia?" panimula ni Morriah nang makalapit sa kanila.

"I feel a bit better," sagot naman nito. "I took an Aspirin earlier."

"That's good. I hope you will feel a lot better later. Well, it was good to catch all of you because I have something to tell you," Morriah said, everyone thought it would be a bad thing, but seeing her smiley face could be the opposite of what they were thinking. "Tonight, there would be a special night where we gather all our guests in the hotel to join us for a huge gathering dinner. We've done this activity since we reopened after the renovation. I hope you guys will join us. It would be nice to have you there, especially with everyone around."

"That's so nice of you, Morriah," Cara said. "Since we've had this itinerary, we'll put that one later. Anong oras ba magsisimula 'to so we can make sure na we'll get home before that time."

"The dinner will start around six in the evening."

"Oh, that's fine. We can join," Cara said, looking at everybody were all nodding their heads for confirmation.

Morriah clapped her hands in excitement. "Thank you for accepting my invitation! We'll see you guys later and I hope you would enjoy going around Baler. Just a tip, if you really want to explore Baler, you should rent a motorbike. You can rent them for only two hundred to three hundred pesos."

"Do you offer rentals?" Dominique asked.

Morriah shook her head. "Not anymore. We have them before, but we sold all our motorbikes so we can do the renovation."

"That's great, Mor! But since we're all strict with the schedule we have, we might have to go na. We will keep in mind your suggestions. We will look around if we would see."

"Oh, no worries! I don't want to take up too much of your time. Enjoy and have fun. . ."

When they turned around, Cara was feeling a bit anxious dahil late na nga sila nagising ay mukhang hindi pa masusunod ang ginawa niyang itinerary. The four of her friends noticed how she was stressed to it. Hindi na lang muna pinansin ito kaya hinayaan na lang munang mag-lead si Cara sa gagawin nila ngayong araw.

"I think we should follow her suggestion," Kenny said. "Sino ba may lisensya sa ating lahat?"

Nagtaas naman ng kamay si Alleah, Kenny, at Dominique.

"Marunong ka mag-motor, Ley?" tanong ni Kenny sa kaibigan. Tumango naman si Alleah at nakatanggap ng batok mula kay Dominique. 

"Gago. Tinuruan 'yan ni Mando no'n. Pati kotse, 'di ba, Ley?" Tango naman ni Alleah sa tanong ni Dominque.

Naghanap naman sila nang marerentahang motor sa malapit, pero malayo sa sinabing presyo ni Morriah kanina. Hindi naman nila papatusin ang five hundred a day para sa isang Fazzio motorbike. Inangalan iyon ni Cara dahil hindi naman daw pasok sa budget ang pagrerenta ng motor.

Ang ending ay naghintay ang lima ng tricycle na magdadala sa kanila sa una nilang destinasyon. Ang Sabang Beach. 

Hindi naman malayo ang naging biyahe ng lima. It only took them a few minutes before they reached the baywalk of the Sabang beach. Sabik na sabik naman si Cara dahil narating nila ang beach at the discrection of their schedule. 

"In this beach, the popular activity here is surfing." Nilingon naman ni Cara ang dalawang lalaking kaibigan. "Both of you could do it since kayong dalawa naman ang mahilig mag-surf lalo na no'ng na Elyu tayo no'n."

"We can do that," pagsang-ayon pa ni Kenny. Pero hindi inalis ni Cara ang tingin sa kanya. "Oh? Are we doing it now?"

"Don't stress Kenny, girl," sabi pa ni Daia sa kaibigan. "We can relax and enjoy the view na lang muna today. And it's just the second here sa Baler. We've got a lot of things to do. I know you've done so much in doing the itinerary, but since we're now here and see the city itself, mas masarap mag-relax kaysa ma-stress ka ibang bagay."

Napahugot nang malalim na buntonghininga si Cara at saka tumango. "Alright. . . Maybe we can just swim na lang? May dala naman tayong clothes pamalit, e."

"I would swim," sabi ni Dom. "Hindi nga tayo naligo para mag-swimming, 'di ba?"

"Dom's got a point," pagsang-ayon pa ni Alleah. "Let's do this, guys. . . Let's get wild."

Nagkatinginan ang apat sa sinabi ni Alleah. They weren't expecting her to say that, but as it seemed like it was a way for Alleah to get rid of Armand's memories, this would help her move on from their past. 

Pumunta sa beach side ang lima at naghanap ng pwesto. They all take their clothes off and leave their belongings altogether and run towards the water where the raging waves met them. Habang naliligo ang lima ay may iba namang napansin si Kenny at nang nataw niya ang isang foreigner na nagsu-surf ay tinitigan niya pa ito nang maayos hangga't sa makilala niya kung sino iyon.

"Siya 'yon, ah?" ani Kenny.

"Sino 'yon, babe?" tanong pa ni Daia.

"'Yon 'yong foreigner na nakausap namin ni Alleah kahapon, 'di ba, Ley?"

Tinignan naman ni Alleah ang lalaking tinutukoy ni Kenny. Tumango naman ito nang makompirma niya. "Yup, siya nga 'yan. Siya rin 'yong nakasuntukan ni Willimar sa club kagabi. Mukhang turista naman siya talaga."

"Kaya nga."

"Thank God, hindi sumama si Willimar sa 'tin," Daia said, felt relieved.

Nang magpahinga ang mga magkakaibigan ay nakita sila ng foreigner. Nakilala nito sina Kenny at Alleah. Nilapitan naman sila nito habang sina Domnique, Daia, at Cara ay inaabangan kung anong gagawin nito. Dom was preparing himself dahil baka suntukin sila at mauwi pa sa gulo ang lahat.

"Hey! I know you. You're from yesterday," the foreigner said, wearing an unbuttoned black polo that revealed his abs, paired with black cotton pants as he walked barefoot along the beach. "I didn't know you'd be coming here."

Daia figured out he had an accent. Gugustuhin niya sanang umeksena sa usapan, pero hindi naman siya kilala nito.

"Yes! We arrived yesterday as well and this would be our first full day," sagot naman ni Kenny.

"Yeah, same for me. I haven't been away for years and a lot of things have changed."

"It's our first time here so we're kind of going around," ani Kenny. "Anyway, you surfed great man."

"Yeah, I love surfing back at home."

"Where did you come from?" Alleah asked.

"I'm Dutch, so I'm from the Netherlands."

"I knew that! I could recognize that kind of accent," hindi na napigilan ni Daia ang sumabat. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. Anyway, my name is Daia. . . That's my boyfriend you met yesterday, Kenny."

"I'm Alleah," she introduced. "And this is Cara and Dominique. We were at the club last night and we saw you. . ."

"Oh, really?" Napangisi naman ito. "Did you see me knocked out some stupid guy last night? He was dumb."

"He was actually his friend," sabi ni Alleah at tinuro pa si Dominique. "Though we weren't friends with him at all and only met him last night."

"Yeah, I think you should stay away from that guy," he said. "Anyway, I haven't introduced myself, my name's Rik. Just, R, I, K."

"Nice to meet you again, Rik," Alleah said. "Oh, do you know someone who has motorbike rentals? We went into some place earlier, but they were asking us for a higher price even though we would be renting three bikes."

"I see! I know someone. Where do you guys stay though? They don't offer any rentals?"

"No," Kenny said. "They said they have rentals before, but had to sell them all for the renovation of their hotel."

"Oh, I see, and where is this?"

"Casa Casillas," Kenny answered.

Something clicked in RIk's mind when he heard them.

"Alright. I understand why. Come on, I'll introduce you to some good friends of mine in the city. . ."

Dali-dali namang sumunod ang lima kay Rik. Iniwan muna nito ang dala-dalang surfing board at iniwan niya sa lalagyanan sa motor nito. Hindi naman daw malayo ang pupuntahan nila kaya nilakad lang nila ito. Halos wala pang minuto ay narating nila ang rental shop kung saan may motor, private car, at van pa sila ipinaparenta. When they were asked kung ilan ang motor na kukunin nila ay tatlo naman ang isinagot ni Kenny.

They were offered to rent the bike for two hundred and fifty pesos for the next two weeks. When Rik asked them why would they rent some bikes if they could just use their car. At that moment, natauhan ang lima.

"Sabi ko na, e," iiling na tugon ni Cara. "Naniwala kasi kayo sa sinabi ni Morriah, e." 

Napalingon si Rik kay Cara. He thought he heard something familiar.

"Okay, hindi na tayo magre-rent, ha?" ani Cara. "We're sorry, Rik. 'Di rin namin naisip 'yon."

"No worries. You could only rent if you don't have a car, but that should be fine," Rik said.

"Anyway, because of the trouble we made, we would like you to join us at the Casa Casillas later. They'll be having some dinner later. . . You should come and don't worry about it, we got you."

"Really? That's nice of you, guys. Sure, I'll come. . ." Rik said, smiling. "I gotta go for now. Nice meeting you all."

When Rik left, Cara quickly hit Kenny's arm. "Ano ka ba? Niyaya mo pa siya mamaya. Hindi naman siya guest sa hotel natin. Nakakahiya naman kay Morriah."

Napakamot na lamang ng ulo si Kenny. "Well, he's a nice man. I couldn't resist."

"Whatever, guys," Daia said, rolling her eyes. "Whether he would come or not. Let's just enjoy this day. . . Tingnan mo, inalisan na tayo ni Alleah."

"Something's weird happening with Ley," pagpunto pa ni Dom. Hindi naman pinansin ng tatlo ang komento ni Dominique at sumunod na lamang pabalik sa beach side para magpatuloy sa paglalangoy.

***