Chapter 25

I tried to be comfortable as I should be dahil feeling ko, safe na safe naman ako kay Valerio. But on the other hand, hindi ko alam kung anong magiging reaksyon ng pamilya ko kapag nalaman nilang wala na ako sa Watsons Bay at idinala naman ako ni Valerio sa kung saan.

I still have no idea. Pamilyar naman ang mga nadadaanan naming lugar pero ang punto ng destinasyon namin ay wala pa akong ideya.

Habang nakakapit ako nang mahigpit kay Valerio, nararamdaman kong nagvi-vibrate ang phone ko mula sa handbag.

"I think they're calling me already," aniko kay Valerio.

"Call them when we get there," he said. "Don't answer it. It's not safe. Just hang on to me for a while, alright?"

As usual, ginawa ko naman ang sinabi niya at kumapit nga ang gaga. Halos thirty minutes ako sa gano'ng posisyon nang marating na namin ang destinasyon na tinutukoy niya.

"We're in Sydney..." I muttered as I look around the area.

"Yeah, kind of impulsive, but we're here," he said. "You should give your brothers a call for now. Take your time."

"I'll be right back."

Saglit akong dumistansya sa kanya. Hindi ko pa alam kung sino sa tatlo kong kuya ang tatawagan ko. In the end, si Kuya Craig ang tinawagan ko dahil malakas ang feeling ko na sesermonan ako nitong nina Kuya Emmett at Kuya Henry. Saglit lang din naman nang sagutin niya ang tawag ko.

"Aesthesia Serene," seryosong pagbanggit nito ng pangalan ko.

"Kuya..." Napangiwi ako. But even though his tone is very serious, it is calm. "I'm gonna explain."

"Better be," he said. "We're looking for you guys for an hour now and thought you headed back in the lighthouse and we found no one there. So..."

Huminga ako nang malalim saka ko ito dahan-dahang pinakawalan. "Okay, first of all, it wasn't my plan to sneak out of you guys. Valerio took me out and we're in Sydney."

"Sydney?!" And he sounded so surprised and shocked upon hearing that. "What are you guys doing in Sydney? I know it's near, but what are you doing there?"

"I don't know what comes into Valerio's mind, but we're in the city so I just wanna let you guys know about that. When Kuya Emmett called earlier, we're on our way here so I couldn't accept the call. Tell them that, please?"

"And where you will be coming back?"

"I don't know yet, but I think we'll be back before sundown."

"Alright, just be safe, alright? I don't know much about Valerio, but I think he's a good man so don't do anything stupid."

"Of course, why would I do that?! I'll behave."

"Good to hear that," he proudly said. "Call us if you needed anything or whatever. Enjoy whatever you will be doing there in Sydney."

"Thank you so much, kuya! I'll message you guys soon."

Nang ibaba ko ang call at bumalik kay Valerio. He creases his forehead. I think by the looks of it, he's kind of worried what their response would be.

"So, what did they say?" he asked.

I smiled and I think with that small assurance, it lessens the tension on his face. "They're good with it. There's nothing to worry about there, but they were surprised and shocked that we leave them unnoticed."

"Oh, my bad, but I was trying to take you out alone."

"I understand. But you don't have to worry about it. Kuya Craig said we should just enjoy it and maybe we should get back to Waverley before sundown."

Tumango naman ito sa akin. "That won't be a problem. Take it as done."

"Thank you," I said, smiling, and I know my face is blushing.

"Now let's go there." Itinuro ni Valerio sa akin ang entrance ng Taronga Park Zoo. "It might not be the zoo you were trying to go to, but this is the largest Australian Zoo so what can we ask for, right?"

"Right! I didn't expect you'll bring me here though. We're just talking about it earlier."

"Yeah, I know, it was very impulsive."

"But I like it." I giggled. "What a great way to start the new year though."

"Same," he said. "For the first time in a long time..."

I patted his shoulder. "Well, you're lucky you've got to meet me! Maybe I'm your lucky charm."

He smirked. "I don't know that."

"Don't underestimate me, Ratcher—oh my bad."

He laughed. "I'll take it, Carseldine."

Pinatong niya ang braso niya sa balikat ko. Nasasanay na siyang gawin 'yon and I don't mind. If he's comfortable with me and I feel the same thing, I don't think I should be bothered by our relationship right now. I respect him the most especially when we're on the beach.

When we got into the entrance and was about to get my wallet to pay on my behalf, but he stopped me and he said he'll take care of it. I know he will take care of it, I'm just looking out for myself dahil baka magmukhang asado naman ako. As soon as he got the tickets, we proceed to the entrance, holding the zoo map and choosing where to go first.

"Have you been here before?" I asked when we're so much in confusion where to go first.

He honestly shook his head. "No... I've never been here before. I'm a beach guy."

"As if I didn't know that." Ngisi ko pa. "I think we should just go to the left. I can see some Kangaroos over here."

"Then that's it."

Wala nang pagdadalawang isip, doon na nga kami pumunta ni Valerio. We didn't expect na marami-raming tao rin pala ang nasa zoo ngayon. There were families and their young kids hanging out together. My family should also be here, but this was kind of impulsive plan so we never really got to sort that out, but maybe some other time.

"You've been here before?" he asked.

Tumango naman ako nang makalapit kami sa area kung nasaan ang field na pinangangalagakan ng Kangaroo's, Emu, at Wallaby's. If we go around this area, we could see some koalas and Echidna there, but behind us are some Wetland birds such as the Pelicans which their beaks kind of terrify me.

"Yeah, when I was little. I could still remember some of the stuff that happened that day, but I was so young so I barely remember all of it. But one thing that reminds me of this place is I have a picture I think I was five that time and on my background was a giraffe. I'm not sure if the same giraffe is still here. That was a long time ago, but we'll see if we could get to see them."

"We'll get to see all of them," he said. Tumingin din siya sa kanyang relo. "We've got a lot of time. We'll make most of it."

After a few pictures, we continued strolling down the trails. We get to see some Koalas and platypus! I'm sure this would be a tiring trip since this zoo is large and I might be so exhausted at the end of the day, but I don't really feel anything right now. I feel so good. Siguro isa na rin doon na ang gaan kasama ni Valerio. He doesn't treat me like a stranger. And correction, he doesn't treat me like a girlfriend.

Friend lang kami. Friend lang.

Looking at the map and though we're just starting to see the rest of it. Following the trail, we proceed to go around the Floral Clock and we arrive at the Blue Mountains Bushwalk which we found some cute animals as well. Some birds like parrots and Rock Wallaby.

On that note, we ended our first trail and went to the second trail which we would be seeing farm animals, we'll have to go through the giraffe that when we get passed through, hindi ko talaga pinamlampas na magkaroon ng picture with it and later on compare the picture I had when I was a child.

"You're cute when you saw the giraffe," he said, a smile growing on his face.

"I know! Even though it doesn't feel like the same giraffe before, I still feel so young when I saw it. It really brings me back to my childhood."

"Good thing the giraffe is a little bit far away or he'll eat you."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil sa sinabi niya. Baliw talaga 'to at kung ano-ano pang lumalabas sa bibig kaya pinangunahan ko siya sa paglalakad pero hinabol niya rin naman agad ako.

Going to the next trail, mostly ang animals na nakita namin sa area na ito ay rabbit guinea pigs, goats, alpacas, sheep, chickens, pig, emu, kangaroos, quokkas, wombat burrow, at echidna. Meron ding Farm playground sa gitna ng area na ito which we found most of the children are there playing.

Valerio and I had to spend our lunch at the near restaurant on what they called the kid's trail. There was music playing, kind of festivity going around and it never bored me. We've got a perfect view and I'm hanging out with the best person right now.

Continuing the trail, we proceeded to the Seal Walk trail were we able to encounter cute water animals such as the seals, penguins, and pelicans. We're given a chance to pet and feed them and it was such a fulfilling moment for me. Valerio was happy as well and I'm good with that.

We proceeded next to the Rainforest trail which Valerio found more interesting. Mas gusto ko pang mag-stay ro'n sa Seal Walk since bet na bet kong magpakain ng penguins do'n. On our walk, we've got to encounter a lot of animals. Most of the close encounters are the Bongo, Binturong, Pygmy Hippo, Otters, Leaf Monkey, Palm Aviary, Raptor Aviary, Tortoise, and the Elephants.

At that moment si Valerio lang ang nakarami ng pictures since siya ang malakas ang loob. Lalo na sa dulo ng trail ay isang Sun Bear ang nakita namin. Heading to the second to the last trail, ang tinatawag nilang QBE Free-flight Bird Show where we got to see trained birds flying around with their mentors.

When the show started and we got to watch on the perfect timing, one of the staff there calls out for a volunteer and Valerio immediately raises both of our hands. After that, wala na akong kawala kung hindi ang sumama sa kanya patungo sa stage.

The staff told us that the bird will land on our arm. Binigyan naman nila kami ng protective gear which will keep us protected and safe. Ako ang nauna at nang tingnan ko si Valerio ay nakangisi ito sa akin kaya nang biglang tawagin ng mentor ng ibon ay naglanding ito sa braso ko. Halos magpanic ako, but I kept my composure. Nakatanggap pa ako ng palakpak mula sa mga tao, but I almost peed there.

When I transferred the protected gear to Valerio, gusto ko nang bumaba ng stage, but I was told to stay there kaya naman nanatili ako ro'n. Confident naman si Valerio sa nangyari. As if nakita naman niya kung paano ginawa sa akin kaya naging prepared na siya.

The whole experience in the bird show was absolutely terrifying for me, but it was a good show. At least, I've got to ease out the fright somehow there.

"Good thing you didn't chicken out," he said, chuckling.

"I hate you."

He laughed. "Oh, hate me all you want. You still did a great job there."

I looked at him, raising a brow. "Of course, I'm a Carseldine. I'm not a chicken!"

After our trip to the zoo, naglakad-lakad kami for some moment around the harbour. We thought we should spend there until sundown though I told Valerio we should be home before sundown kaya hindi rin kami magtatagal. We're just living the moment at parang naiisip ko pa na para kaming mag-couple dahil halos buong araw kaming magkasama.

When we decided to go back home, nang makarating kami sa bahay ay wala pa sila roon. Hindi pa sila nakababalik. Sila itong nagsasabi sa akin na huwag uuwi ng gabi, pero sila itong wala pa ngayong oras. Akala ko rin naman ay iiwanan na ako ni Valerio, but he chose to stay until they would come back home.

"Are you really gonna stay here with me?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, I'll stay until they got home."

"Thanks... I appreciate that."

Valerio stayed for a about thirty minutes with me on the porch until my family arrived. Nagulat pa sila na magkasama kaming dalawa ni Valerio. He also apologizes to them for leaving them without saying a word at naintindihan naman nila 'yon. They were so appreciative and understanding. Nakapaninibago, but now that everything's good, wala na dapat akong ikabahala pa.

Nang umalis si Valerio at makapasok ako sa loob ng bahay, sinusundan naman ako ng tingin ni Kuya Henry.

"What are you looking at, kuya? Don't give me that kind of look!"

He laughed. "Something great happened, 'no?" Hindi ako sumagot, but I'm not good at hiding my facial expression so that could be it. Masyadong halata. "But that's good for you, right?"

And with only a response of nodding, that should be enough. I couldn't summarize all the things that happened to me today, but I'm grateful to start this year so good. I wouldn't change it for anything.

I'm happy... and I'm content with it.

***

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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