BANANA BEACH. Doon dinala ni Cerlance si Shellany matapos manggaling sa property ng mga Perez. They booked for two-night accommodation and went to the beach to check it out. Bagaman hindi na masakit ang paa at nagagawa nang makapaglakad nang diretso ay hindi pinahintulutan ni Cerlance na maglakad nang matagal si Shellany sa buhanginan. May nakita silang lounges sa tabing dagat at doon sila naupo.

    "Can I ask you something?" tanong ni Shellany habang ang tingin ay nasa dagat kung saan may iilang mga lumalangoy sa ilalim ng init ng araw; ang iba'y nakasakay sa banana boat, habang ang iba'y nagpa-paddle boarding. Nilililiman sila ng puno ng niyog kaya hindi nila alintana ang init, si Cerlance ay nakaupo naman sa katabing lounge at nakaharap sa kaniya.

    "If it's something personal, don't bother."

    She smiled wryly and turned to him. "Why are you so scared to be asked personal questions? Marami ka bang skeleton in the closet?"

    "I just don't feel it's right to discuss personal matters with someone—"

    "Not even with someone who you want to date exclusively?"

    Hindi ito kaagad na nakasagot, nanatili lang nakatitig sa kaniya.

    "What? Nakalimutan mo nang ikaw ang may gustong i-date natin ang isa't isa exclusively?"

    "No, hindi ko nakalimutan iyon." Umiwas ito ng tingin at ibinaling sa dagat. "What do you want to ask?"

    Lihim siyang napangiti. "Kay dali mong bumigay."

    He smirked, but more to himself. "Obviously."

    Siya rin ay inituon ang tingin sa dagat. "What do you like about me, Cerlance?"

    Doon nito ibinalik ang tingin sa kaniya. "Really? Iyan ang gusto mong itanong?"

    "Of course. Gusto kong malaman kung ano ang mga nagustuhan mo sa akin. I already know the reason why you wanted for us to exclusively date, but I want to know what you like about me as a woman."

    "Fishing more compliments again, I see..."

    "Oh, stop that. I just really want to hear it from you, para... alam mo na. To boost my confidence."

    "Boost your confidence?"

    Tumango siya. "Knight Perez was my first boyfriend, at magandang lalaki rin siya. He's gorgoeous, he's tall, he's a charmer. Sa tuwing ipinapakilala niya ako noon sa mga kakilala't kaibigan niya, people couldn't believe na ako ang syota kasi naman... I know I am not that pretty. I am not tall. My skin is flawed. I don't have big booty. I'm just a simpleton. Nakakawala ng confidence ang mga taong nagugulat sa tuwing ipinapakilala ako ni Knight. Na para bang isang milagro ang nangyari na pinatulan ako ng loko. Kaya siguro lagi akong namimingkwit ng papuri noon mula sa kaniya, kasi naman I always feel like I don't deserve him. And then, now. Ikaw. You are such a gorgeous man. Kahit saan tayo napupunta, sa tuwing napapatingin ang mga babae sa'yo ay tila ka Diyos mula sa Olympo na dapat lang isamba. Women go gaga over you. Tapos, ano'ng milagro na naman na may isang lalaki na namang—"

    "You're not giving yourself enough credit, Shellany."

    Napalingon siya rito.

    Cerlance stared straight into her eyes. "I don't know what your ex-boyfriend saw in you, but I'm sure he also thought you're someone special."

    "Also?"

    "Yes. Because I do. I think you're special."

    "How so?"

    "You are special because you are different."

    "But what exactly do you like from me... that makes you think I'm special?"

    "Sometimes, you like someone just because. No reasons whatsoever, just because. But if I was gonna point out what I like about you, that would be..." Cerlance trailed off and turned his eyes to the waters. "That would be the wonders you did that made me change my views. I hated everything about you at first. Maingay ka, pasaway ka, nakakapikon ang mga hinaing mo. I was so exhausted looking after you that I thought the amount I charged you wasn't enough to pay off the services I provided. But then, after just a few days, you made me forget what I hate about you." Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa kaniya, and then, he gave her his signature sexy smile. "You made me like those things I hated at first, and that's what makes you special."

    Parang may kung anong kumabog sa dibdib niya habang nakikipagtitigan siya rito. "Naiingayan ka pa rin ba sa akin? Napipikon?"

    "Yes. But those don't bother me anymore. I kind of got used to them. To you."

    She puckered adorably and said, "Lahat ng nabanggit mo ay lahat ng bagay na kinaiinisan din sa akin noon ni Knight. Kaya siguro siya nagdalawang-isip na pakasalan ako."

    "Well..." Cerlance stood up and pushed his hands into his pockets. "I'm not marrying you, so you don't have to worry that I might end up like your ex-boyfriend. We won't go that far."

    Tangina naman.

    Ang ganda na ng usapan, tapos biglang magsasalita ng ganoon. Kaurat.

    Huminga siya nang malalim at nagpakawala ng pilit na ngiti upang hindi nito mahalatang nasira ang mood niya sa huling sinabi nito. "What a relief."

    Cerlance smirked and said, "There are many things to do here. Do you wanna check out their ATV ride and river cruise?"

    Napasinghap siya, nag-ningning ang mga mata at tuluyang inalis sa isip ang mga binitiwang salita ni Cerlance nang marinig ang tungkol sa ATV ride at river cruise. She liked adventure rides and fun activities, and what he said sounded right to her ears.

    "Mayroon silang ganoon dito?"

    "Yes. That's why I chose this place para may magawa tayo habang naghihintay sa araw na magkaharap kayo ng ex mo. Let's try them, shall we?" Inalis nito ang isang kamay sa pagkakasuksok sa isang bulsa saka iminuwestra ang braso upang alalayan siya. Mabilis siyang tumayo at inikawit ang kamay rito.

    She looked up to him and smiled. Ginantihan siya nito ng pinong ngiti saka nila inumpisang humakbang pabalik sa main building ng resort. Habang naglalakad ay muli niya itong tiningala. "Kapag ba hiniling ko sa'yong papasan ako sa likod mo, papasanin mo ba ako?"

    "Hindi."

    "Arte naman. Bakit hindi?"

    "Dahil sabi mo nga, hindi na masakit ang paa mo. Magaling na ang sugat mo at walang dahilan para pasanin kita. "

    "Eh paano kapag hiniling ko sa'yong pasanin mo ako pabalik doon sa ino-okupa nating kwarto?"

    "Depende."

    Napangisi siya. "Saan?"

    "Sa dahilan kung bakit tayo babalik doon,"

    Huminto siya sa paglalakad, tumingkayad at bumulong sa tainga nito. Ilang sandali pa'y sabay silang ngumisi.

    "Okay, " Cerlance said. "Get on my back."

    She chuckled and complied.

*

*

*

    ATV RIDE AND RIVER CRUISE. Ginawang pareho nina Cerlance at Shellany ang mga iyon habang nasa resort sila buong maghapon. It was so fun that Shellany had lost count the times she laughed and giggled while holding onto Cerlance's arm. Blessing in disguide na rin ang injury niya sa paa na kahit magaling na'y napapakinabangan pa rin dahil nagagawa niyang makalapit nang husto rito upang mahawakan lang ito, upang kumapit lang dito.

    Huli nilang sinubukan ay ang horseback riding, and there, Shellany was reminded of what she and Cerlance did the other day at the lake. Tinuruan siya ni Cerlance kung papaanong sumakay nang tama sa kabayo at kung papaano iyong patakbuhin, pero dahil kulang sa oras ay hindi nagawa ni Shellany na patakbuhin ang kabayo nang mag-isa.

    They went to the infamous Market Market at around 6pm to get something to eat. The lively nightlife was only one of many reasons why Tagum City was one of the most popular towns in the south. The nightspots were simple yet full of pep. The area was surrounded by food stalls and merchandise booths where the food stores were all organized and well-structured. Sa kalsada ay may maliliit na mga food stalls na may kani-kanilang specialty; from pork and chicken barbecues, lugaw, snacks like Takoyaki and burger, Filipino-style pasta dishes na naka-serve sa styro box, at kung anu-ano pa na halos ikalito ni Shellany.

       Sa dami ng mga simpleng pagkain ay hindi alam ng dalaga kung ano ang bibilhin. She wasn't really picky and she would eat anything, at mukhang ganoon din si Cerlance.

      "I'm glad na hindi ka mapili kahit sa pagkain," ani Shellany habang naglalakad sila sa gitna ng mga food stalls. Pabaling-baling ang tingin at naghahanap ng makakakain.

      "No, pinalaki kaming matutong kumain nang walang reklamo sa kahit ano mang ihain sa mesa. Our father was strict but in the right balance, and our mother is a down-to-Earth person. We were taught to keep our feet on the ground, kahit saan pa o ano ang marating namin. Kaya wala sa akin ang mag-inarte sa klase ng pagkaing kakainin."

      "So, you will eat anything?"

      "I have proven that to you many times."

       Natigilan si Shellany, ang init ay kumalat sa mukha. Gets niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito. "G-Gago ka talaga..."

       Cerlance chuckled and tightened his grip on her waist. "So, tell me. What do you want to eat?"

      Ibinalik ng dalaga ang tingin sa mga food stalls. "May nakita akong fresh lumpia doon sa kabila. Let's try that one. Pagkatapos ay kumain tayo ng BBQ, then dirty ice cream and tokayaki."

      "Sounds good. Let's fill our stomachs tonight."

       Tinungo nila ang food stall na nagbebenta ng fresh lumpia. At hindi pa man nila nauumpisahang kainin iyon ay may nakita na naman si Shellany na stall na nagbebenta ng kakanin, at doon naman nito hinila ang kasama.

       Damn, but she was happy.

       And this...

        This felt like a relationship. And it felt so real.

       And damn, she liked it. More than she ever did when she was still with Knight.

TO BE CONTINUED...