Chapter 10

When I invited Rasha over, nang makita siya ni Kuya Henry at niyayang sumama sa kanya sa Bondi beach para tulungan siyang magtinda, Rasha almost leave with my kuya alone. I just had to lock her in my room until kuya left and Rasha felt so sad dahil gusto niya ngang tulungan si kuya and as if I would let her do that.

We have other interesting things to do.

Pagbukas ko ng pinto, malapad ang ngiting ibinungad ko kay Rasha. All I just get from her is her eyes rolling like crazy.

"I could've been with Henry right now."

Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay. "He can do everything there by himself."

"But by the fact that he mentioned that women going to his food truck isn't really trying to buy what he sells, but trying to get to know him." She crossed her arms, looked so pissed.

"Don't act like a bitch to me, Rasha. I'm letting you flirt with my ugly kuya, but I'm not gonna let you date him. For Pete's sake, that's disgusting."

She let out a sharp breath. "Okay, fine, whatever. So, what are we doing today? Are we doing live?"

Umiling ako. "No, not right now. I don't think so. They will just flood the comments saying what the process of interviewing Valerio is. I'm trying to get it off my head for now. I should focus myself on other things."

Tawa naman ang nakuha kong reaksyon mula kay Rasha.

"Why are you laughing so weird?" I questioned, scrunching my face.

She giggled. "Well, if I didn't know what you're doing behind those live streams, I'm not sure what to say, but now that you're one step closer to Valerio... I feel like you're taking it seriously? Am I right, Thesia?"

I thought I should put a straight face to what she was saying, but I couldn't hold my laugh and she looked at me weirdly.

"And now you're the one who's laughing so weird," she commented. "Well, if you like him, you tell me! I won't judge you."

I squinted my eyes when she mentioned that. "No. Why would you even say that, huh? First of all, I'm not interested in Valerio. He's gorgeous and very fit, but I don't like him! I don't have any infatuation with that guy. Gosh, Rasha, I'm just doing my followers a favor... and something I could use to my career."

Napakibit balikat na lamang si Rasha. "Okay, if that's what you want me to know. I'll be fine with that..." May namuo na namang ngiti sa labi niya pero hindi ko na inalam kung anong tinatago niya.

Niyaya ko na lang siya pababa. When we're about to leave, nakasalubong namin si Kuya Craig at ang jowa nitong si Ate Jenna. When they asked me kung saan kami pupunta ni Rasha, I just told them sa kung saan-saan lang and then Ate Jenna requested if they could join us.

Rasha immediately said yes. Siya na mismo ang pumayag at dahil wala naman akong choice kung hindi isinama sila. Ang pang-uuto ko lang kay Kuya Craig ay manlilibre siya and he has no escape from it. Pumayag din siya. Wala pa naman akong ideya kung saan kami pupunta, but wherever we might go, it would be somewhere interesting.

Though Kuya Craig has some suggestions, why don't we go to the Bondi Golf & Diggers Club? Napakibit balikat naman ako. Well, member ang family namin do'n so it won't be a problem if we go there, pero gusto ko nga bang pumunta ro'n at maglaro ng golf? I don't think it's what I wanted to do, but because I also want to hang out with kuya's fiancée, it would be a good time na rin.

We get on kuya's car and drive all the way to the spot. Hindi naman matagal ang biyahe namin dahil malapit lang naman ang area na 'yon. Pinangunahan naman ni kuya ang pagpasok namin sa loob ng club. But I stayed when I noticed someone else not far from where we are.

Natigilan ako dahil alam ko na tama 'yong nakikita ko. A surfboard's tied on his motorbike and he was wearing a body full rash guard and wasn't even fully zipped from his back. I laughed it off. Ang sunod niyang ginawa ay inayos nito ang kanyang buhok. His dirty golden hair is quite his identity. He mostly tied up his long hair every day. He just casually flaunts it sometimes. He wore a helmet and then jumped on his motorbike then drove away.

Napataas na lamang ako ng kilay. He's always at the beach, every single day and it could be his rest day today and he's going to the beach again? Maybe the beach is his life—I don't know him so basically I couldn't judge all the things he do in his life. But... what it's like to watch him surfing?

Napaigtad ako nang tawagin ni Rasha ang pangalan ko. When I looked at her, she's creasing her forehead asking what's holding me up. Hindi ko naman siya sinagot na nakita ko si Valerio because she would only same something else to me about that. Nagpahatak na lang ako sa kanya papasok sa loob ng club.

Pagkapasok namin sa loob ay dumiretsyo kami sa lobby wherein we signed in, it's a protocol for every visitor of the club.

"Have you played golf before, Thesia?" kuya asked.

Umiling ako. "No, you guys never let me try it or even one swing. So... I don't know how to play it. I've only watched you guys how to play it... but maybe, maybe I can still ace it."

Napangisi si kuya. "Wow. Are you threatening me, Thesia?"

"Try me."

"I don't know how to golf, but can I join?" Ate Jenna asked.

"I know how to play." Pagtaas pa ng kamay ni Rasha. "Well, it's not a game of actual golf, but on Wii. I play it with my little brother whom I crashed every time."

"Then that counts," kuya said, nodding his head. "We should all play."

Sumunod naman kami kay kuya at sabik na sabik naman si Rasha. The only thing that goes in my head is to go to the beach. I've never seen Valerio surfs. He's been busy doing all the lifeguard stuff these past few days. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanila na gusto kong pumunta ng beach.

We could've been there if I suggested it first, but when kuya started giving us the golf clubs, we all bet that if no one or one of us wasn't able to get a score, that person would pay for a hundred dollars or maybe would treat us some snacks later.

"Watch me," pagmamayabang ni kuya. On his first shot, he almost get a score, but the ball is only a few feet away from the hole. Tuwang-tuwa naman siya dahil he would be the first one shooting a score from the four of us.

Rasha, kuya's fiancée, and I are trying our best to swing the golf club, but we weren't able to take a shot. Ang palagi naming natatamaan ay ang damo o kaya naman ang hangin. Rasha, said she had played this before, but basically she wasn't able to carry a real golf club which took our balance away whenever we swing. Tawa lang kami nang tawa kapag isa sa amin ang bumabagsak sa lupa dahil sinusubukan naming lakasan ang pagtira namin, pero ang ending, kami ang bumabagsak.

Then kuya helped his fiancée with the form and how to hit the ball and take a shot on it. He stood behind her, holding her hand while gripping the golf club. Rasha felt so in love watching them, but they could see the disgust on my face. And when kuya felt confident that she would do it without his guidance and she finally did it after her numerous try.

Pero kapag kami ni Rasha ang sumusubok, we never score in any hit we did. Ako na hindi matamaan ang golf ball at sinisimulan na nila ako na asarin dahil ako raw ang manglilibre at the end of this. The golf club has its own restaurant and their freaking expensive and I don't have a budget to pay for four... so maybe... maybe lang. Kung tama ba ang iniisip ko.

"Yes!!! It's almost there!!!" Rasha shouted, almost partying about the thing she did. "You gotta score, girl. I've already got a list of menus in my head so you better be prepared for it."

Napasinghal naman ako saka ako pumwesto. I tried copying their stance and how they hold the golf club. Huminga ako nang malalim and I keep my eye on the target so when I slowly raise the club and immediately hit the ball.

"Yes!!!" Napasigaw ako sa sobrang tuwa at hindi ko napigilang magtatalon-talon dahil for the first time ay natamaan ko ang bola. But upon watching where it would go, bumagsak agad ang balikat ko when it falls of the cliff and down to the water. "Okay. This might not be for me at all. I'm going to the restroom..."

Nang magpaalam ako sa kanilang tatlo, they didn't mind. Success naman dahil mag-isa lang akong bumalik sa loob ng club. I'm not heading the restroom. It is there, isang liko lang pero hindi iyon ang pinuntahan ko. I walked out of the club, get a car heading towards the beach.

When I reached Bondi Beach, I looked back at where they are right now, tanaw kung nasaan ako ang club and they have no idea where I am. Mga ten minutes pa lang naman ang nakalilipas. And then Rasha started calling me. Hindi ko naman sinagot iyong tawag niya. Nakita ko rin naman iyong motorbike ni Valerio sa parking area. May sariling mount ng surfing board ang motor niya. He must've put it by himself since it would be hard for him to carry all the way to the beach.

And here I am, I'm at the beach and the idea of watching him surfing excites me. Napakalawak ng Bondi beach and it would be hard for me to find him. He could be on the water now or maybe wherever.

Naglakad-lakad ako sa tabi. It's weekend, mas maraming tao. Obviously, marami pa ring lifeguards at rangers sa paligid na nagbabantay sa mga turista o maliligo sa beach. Some just lay down on the sand and get tanned. Maraming klase ng tao ang makikita sa paligid and they all do different things and one thing I won't forget from what Valerio had said to me, they do all different things and they could end up in a bad situation and that's why we should be so attentive. We just cannot be sure about everything because some things always come unexpectedly.

Habang naglalakad-lakad ako, may nakasalubong akong lifeguard and upon realizing who it was, nakilala ko naman agad nang matandaan ko ang pangalan nito. I've been on the lifeguard house for a week. How could I just forget their name?

"Mick! You're on duty today?"

He nodded. "Yes, until tomorrow. My weekends is on Monday and Tuesday. I'm on field duty today. What are you doing here today? You don't have training today, right?"

Umiling ako sa tanong niya. "Yeah, I was just... relaxing."

Napakunot naman ang noo nito. And as we look around, he don't think that this is a relaxing place since maingay ang paligid, maraming tao, at mga posibilidad na may mangyaring masama ay nandiyan lang sa tabi. Napangiwi na lamang ako.

"Well, the beach is life, why can't I say?"

"Yeah, yeah." Tawa pa nito. I tried avoiding his stares because it felt like something... o masyadong lang akong assuming. "I should get going now."

"Wait," pagpigil ko sa kanya. "I've also got something to ask to Valerio about the training."

"Oh, he's not on duty today, he's not on the lifeguard house. But whatever you wanted to ask him about the training, maybe I could answer it for you. I know my ways around here."

"Ah... it's okay... but I know Valerio's here. I've found his parking motorbike at the parking lot."

"I see... well, he's out there, surfing, but just like what I've said, he's not on duty, but if you wanted to see him, he's there... I think." Tinuro sa akin ni Mick kung saang area ko makikita si Valerio.

"Thanks, Mick. I'll look him for myself."

Hindi rin naman kami nagtagal mag-usap dahil kailangan niyang bumalik sa trabaho niya. Sinunod ko na lang din naman iyong itinuro niyang area sa akin and when I did go there, tinanaw ko na agad ang dagat at napansin ko ang ilang nagsu-surf doon. And not that long when I finally found him because he's the only one who has long golden hair there and he's doing excellent riding the board through those waves.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit napapangiti ako. I'm not sure if he noticed that I'm here or not kaya mas lalo akong lumapit sa tabi ng tubig and I think when he got up from the water and found himself on top of his board, he notices me.

He got on his chest, paddling his way back to the shore for only using his hands. Nang makarating siya sa tabi ng dagat at binuhat niya ang surf board at itinusok ito sa buhangin sa harapan ko.

He wiggled his hair. Tumalsik naman ang tubig sa mukha ko iyong mula sa buhok niya.

"Aesthesia," panimula nito. Pumaywang pa ito. "You're supposed to be resting, right? What are you doing here?"

I smiled. "You won't believe this... but I'm here to see you... happy to see me?"

I don't know what would happen after this, but I'm sure Rasha, Kuya Craig, and Ate Jenna are already wondering where I am. And the fact that I showed up at the beach to see Valerio, some things could happen... not just romantically. Ew.

***

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

#DrasticWavesInBondi #DWIBChapter10 #WTS8

Interact with me on Twitter >>> @Imjacobxoxo