Chapter 32

I never expected that it would come out this way, but I also didn't imagine that I'm going to pass the training. Hindi ko sigurado kung naawa lang ba sila sa akin o nagawa ko talaga 'yong best ko to finish the training to the extent I can handle it.

Mas lalong hindi ako makapaniwala na maka-survive sa nangyaring aksidente. But to be honest, that was terrifying. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at ginawa ko iyon. We have protocols and all. Tama rin naman sina Brendan at Valerio sa mga sinabi nila sa akin, but the instinct of saving a life kicked in and I can't help myself and I know they do understood what I've felt there.

Dalawang araw lamang ako nag-stay sa hospital. Isang araw nga lang pu-pwede na akong makalabas, but my parents chose for me to stay if there are any further medications I need to take. Kaya nang makauwi sa bahay ay hindi nila ako pinalabas. Bantay-sarado ako ng mga kapatid ko at panay ang tanong sa akin.

Si Rasha naman ang pumupunta sa bahay para chumika. Ganadong-ganado rin siyang pumunta since she could talk to Kuya Henry. Pabor na pabor sa kanya 'yon. Sasabihin niyang excited siyang makita ako, but on the other hand, she was just looking forward to see my brother which she wouldn't give it up. Bet na bet niya talaga.

"Pupunta ka sa beach mamaya, 'di ba?" tanong ni Rasha.

Tumango ako. "Yeah... I need to settle what's going on now."

"Do what's best for you." Tinapik ni Rasha ang balikat ko. "You know that I'll be here with you. And while you're with Valerio later, I'll be helping Henry on his food truck."

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "I know you will."

"Thesia! That's the only thing I can do before we all go back to college. I think it's nice to be around with people who I look up to."

"I know that's not what you intended to do." Ngisi ko pa.

She laughed. "Of course, I'll try to get closer to him so whatever might happen along the way, I'll take the risk. You take the risk of swimming towards those raging waves on the beach and I'm taking the risk of love."

I chuckled. "Whatever, Rasha."

"I promise you, I'll be a Carseldine."

My eyes widened when she said that so much confidence of telling me those words. "As much as I want you to be my sister, I cannot think you'll be a Carseldine. Not in this lifetime."

Rasha giggled. "You may never know what's going to happen. Maybe tomorrow you'll find a ring on my finger." She wiggled her finger in front of my face.

I shoved her hands away from me. "Shut up. I am telling you now, you've got no chance."

Naghanda na lang din naman ako para umalis at pumunta ng beach. Sasabay na kami kay Kuya Henry papunta ro'n. Mas sabik pa si Rasha sa akin na umalis. Simple lamang ang damit na kinuha ko sa closet. Plain casual dress and a sandal. Hindi naman ako naglagay ng kung ano sa mukha ko. For the past month, I've been out under the sun on bare face. Kitang-kita rin sa balat ko kung gaano kalaki ang binago ng kulay nito, though I could get my skin back to normal quickly.

I just don't want to suffer from sunburns. I've had enough of it.

When we both left my room and headed downstairs and met Kuya Henry. Sabay-sabay na rin naman kaming lumabas ng bahay. Nilakad na lang din naman namin papunta ro'n sa beach. Hindi naman gano'n kalayo kaya minabuti na lamang namin ang maglakad. Good thing we're really on a good location.

Nang marating namin ang food truck ni kuya, I was about to pull Rasha away from him dahil kailangan ko siyang makasama sa pakikipag-usap kay Valerio, but kuya insists for her to stay. Rasha even blink her eyes for a few times just to leave her with my brother. I grunted, rolling my eyes, giving it all up.

As I left them both, nilakasan ko na lamang ang loob kong harapin ang mga tao sa tower. Huminga na lamang ako nang malalim habang naglalakad patungo roon. I kept my hand down on the hem of my dress since the weather is too windy. It is still hot, but people coming along to the beach is to have a fresh and nice outing.

Back when I was still in the hospital, Valerio and Brendan left me with a decision to do. Kung itutuloy ko ba ang pagiging lifeguard or ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral ko which is important for me and for my parents. Putting myself into the training isn't really part of the plan. It used to be, but along the way, things changes.

Passing the training is an accomplishment for me. May sinabi sa akin si Kuya Emmett na may mga hindi pa rin pala talaga nakapasa sa final assessment. Nahiya naman ako dahil ako itong napahawak sa huling araw ng training, ako pa itong nakapasa.

But I don't have to belittle myself when it's the right thing to do. I know Valerio would immediately shut me up if I said that in front of his face.

As I get closer to the tower, I feel sick to my stomach. Thinking about what I will say to Valerio today puts me all over the place. But I have already made up my mind.

As soon as I got into the tower and look for Valerio, he wasn't inside the tower so they had to radio him and get him back to the tower. Mick, Brent, and others asked about my condition and if there's anything they can do. They were also teasing me about passing the training and putting my life on the line there.

They were so proud of me and I couldn't be happier.

Seeing many familiar faces around makes me so happy. At least, iyong mga nakasasama ko sa training ay nakapasa at mukhang nag-eenjoy naman sila sa kanilang pinili. They were so happy they get to see me okay now. Masaya rin ako para sa kanila. They all decided to stay and choose to be a lifeguard while I was torn, but I know what to do for myself.

I'll just think about the best outcome.

Maya-maya lamang ay natanaw ko na si Valerio. He's on his usual uniform—white long-sleeve with the logo of their team in front of it and wearing red board shorts and comfortable footwear. Iyon lang ang madalas niyang suot, sinabi pa niya nga sa akin no'n na halos iyon na ang laman ng closet niya dahil simula nang maging lifeguard siya, he hardly buys any stuff for himself.

There's a growing smirk on his face when he finally stood next to me.

"Good morning to you," pagbati ko.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I wish it was."

"Oh, why? What happened?"

"Another group of perverts came back and we weren't able to catch them." Napabuntonghininga naman ito. "Well, I feel like I know them already so as soon as they come into the beach, they'll be facing me."

"And they should be afraid of you."

He smirked. "Yeah, they should be. Oh! And I should tell you that Emmett's been doing a great effort on his first few days. He's very determined. I must say that he's a good addition to the team. Maybe you will as well."

I smiled, not knowing how to give a response to that statement. Obviously, he would want me to pursue the job on the beach, but I know he knows that I also have something else to prioritize.

He may be stopped going to college to pursue his life at the beach and that's the opposite thing for me.

"About that... I am here to tell what I think about it."

"Sure, I'm ready to listen and whatever you might say, I'll take it. No hard feelings."

My brows furrowed. "Are you really sure?" He nodded at me and that kind of assurance somehow made me feel so easy about this. Pero naiisip na rin kaya niya kung anong tumatakbo sa isip ko ngayon?

He might've already concluded it, but I know there's still a hope he's clinging to that one percent of chances.

I took a deep breath before speaking out. "My decision is based on what I believe can help in me the future and I hope I'm doing the right thing for myself. I'm not going to join the lifeguard. I'm gonna go back in college in less than two weeks now so I guess it's best for me to pursue my degree."

"That's alright," he said. "Just like you said, you're deciding it for your future and I cannot argue with that."

"And it wasn't also because of what happened on the final assessment and the fact that I just wanted to interview you and joined the training. Those aren't my reason."

He smirked. "You're fine. I know you'll be good and your brother joined the team so I guess we won't miss one less Carseldine on the beach."

"Well, he really wanted to join the Survivor TV show so he's taking this his real-life challenges when in time he gets cast which I'm not sure if he will be, but we'll see."

"What are you gonna do now?" he asked. "Are you going to stay here? Or you'll be helping Henry on his food truck? But I think you should still be resting."

I laughed. "No, I'm good. I've been resting for the past few days so I need to do something now."

"Alright. Are you free later?"

"Huh?"

"After my shift, can we meet?"

Napakunot naman ako ng noo. "That'll be fine for me, but what are we gonna do?"

"I'll tell you later. Maybe we can meet at your brother's food truck if that's cool with you."

I nodded. "Yeah, I don't mind."

"Then we're settled. I'll be seeing you later, alright?"

"Well, it's still eleven in the morning and five is still a few hours away so keep yourself busy while I'm going to mind my own business for now."

He nodded. "Affirmative, Carseldine. You've got my phone number, right?"

"Yeah, finally." I laughed. "We'll see you then."

But what I didn't expect before we separated, he hugged me. He said he was just happy to see me on my feet again. That was a kind gesture from him though. Mga ilang segundo rin ang yakap niya na 'yon. I really don't know what to feel, but he's genuine with his actions so I know this is just what he wanted to show to me.

Nang humiwalay siya sa pagkayayakap sa akin ay nagpaalam na itong bumalik sa kanyang duti. Muli pa nitong ipinaalala sa akin na magkikita kaming dalawa mamaya. At kung hindi man daw ako sumulpot, susugod siya sa bahay.

I headed back alone to the food truck with a smile on face. Pero pagdating ko ro'n ay napakunot na lamang ang noo ko nang makita kong si Kuya Henry lamang ang nasa loob ng food truck. Tinanong ko si kuya kung nasaan si Rasha and then he pointed the direction where I easily found her.

I saw her sitting on the bench, looking nowhere to the beach. Tinabihan ko naman siya at una ko kaagad napansin na masama ang timpla ng mukha niya.

"And... what's the problem?"

She let out a heavy sigh, pulling her arms out from crossing them. "I should've believed in you when you said that he's dating someone else. Well, earlier, someone came into the food truck. It looks like they know each other and Henry asked the girl out after his shift."

Napangiwi naman ako kaya nang lingunin niya ako ay tumaas ang kilay niya.

"And you're gonna have to say something to me, aren't you?"

"Well... it's kind of a similar story. Valerio asked me out after his shift so probably—" she didn't even finish my sentence when she stood up.

"And I'll find my way back to India. I guess, my single cousins there would totally understand my situation."

I chuckled. Rasha stormed down towards the beach and when I asked her what she will be doing, she just said to me she'll find some sugar daddy. I laughed so hard. Hindi ko na siya nasundan dahil sinabi niya rin naman kay bumalik ako sa food truck ni kuya at tinulungan itong magtinda.

"So, have you talked to Valerio?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah and he's fine with my decision. He does mind it, of course, but he supported my decision. And oh, I'll be going out with him later so I won't be going home with you." And he was about to say something kaya pinangunahan ko na siya dahil sinabi na sa akin ni Rasha iyon.

"Do you know what happened to her?"

I chuckled but tried not to blow Rasha's chances. "Don't mind her. She just wanted to unwind."

"Oh... alright. I thought she was mad."

"Could be," I mumbled.

"What did you say?"

I shook my head abruptly. "I didn't say anything!"

He grunted and then a customer came so he had to attend it.

Life may not be too easy, but I'm trying my best. Hindi man natutuloy ang mga pina-plano kong gawin at laging nauuwi sa ibang bagay, siguro iyong mga inaasam ko ay hindi talaga nakatadhana sa akin. Baka darating din ako sa point na 'yon na hindi ko na kailangan pang maghabol at ako na mismo ang hahabulin.

But that's still far from reality to happen, but life's changing too fast, I may not realize... I have it all now. Like a second chance in life... something I cannot be more grateful for.

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