I arrived early at the beach to prepare for today's activity. 

Since I got back to work, it was pretty normal for me. I think I've already been past the three-week vacation I had with Cory before. I haven't heard anything from her since then and that's okay as she was discovering herself. We should understand where she was coming from. 

We'll give her time to do so, and if she didn't come around, it'll be okay. We just wish the better for her. 

"Ilang tao 'yong grupo sa first activity natin?" tanong ko kay Ankol.

Chineck naman ni Ankol iyong board kung saan nakalista ang mga guest.

"Pito sila," aniya. "Mukhang mga pinoy naman 'to. Base sa mga pangalan nila, mukhang mga lokal naman."

"E 'di, hindi na tayo mahihirapan niyan." Tawa ko pa. "Pero baka binarat tayo niyan, ha? Alam mo naman."

"'Yon lang! Online ata sila nag-book, e. Fixed na ang price ro'n."

Napakibit balikat na lang din naman ako. "E 'di, go. Wala naman tayong magagawa. Sure ka na pito lang sila, ha?"

Pinamukha sa akin ni Ankol ang listahan sa harap ng mukha ko. "Gusto mo pa ata ingudngod ko sa 'yo, e. 'Di bale, madali lang turuan 'yang mga 'yan."

"Sure ka ba riyan?" Ngisi ko pa. "Sa mga nakasalamuha ko, sila ang mahirap turuan dahil mga walang experiences. Good luck na lang sa atin."

"Iniwan ka lang ng jowa mo sumungit ka na," komento ni Ankol. "Tama ako, 'di ba?"

Napangisi ako saka umiling dahil sa tanong niya. "Hindi 'no. Hindi ko naman jowa 'yon saka 'wag ka assuming."

"Sus! Nami-miss ko lang, e."

"Tumigil ka na, Ankol. Anong oras na ba?"

"Yie! Iniiba ang usapan! Puntahan mo na kasi sa Maynila."

"Akala mo naman napakalapit ng Maynila, e, 'no? Magtrabaho na lang tayo. Anong oras na ba at baka dumating na iyong mga 'yon."

"9:46 na," aniya. "Labas lang ako. Check ko rin kung anong ginagawa ni boss."

Inayos ko naman ang mga equipment na gagamitin ng mga guest ngayong araw. For the past few days, isa lang din ito sa mga nagiging libangan ko. Bahay, trabaho, at kung maimbitahan man kina tito ay dadayo ako sa kanila. But that's the same routine I've been doing since I arrived and got back to work.

Forgetting Cory is a little tricky as I felt like she planted something in me that I couldn't get over.

Mga ilang saglit lang ay narinig ko na ang motor ng bangka and then the noise that follows. I stood by the door and sneak what was happening. Gaya ng nakalista sa sheet, pito ang guest na dumating. Apat na lalaki at tatlong babae ang bumaba ng bangka. They were all young—I think basing on the way they look, mga nasa early twenties to mid-twenties ang mga ito.

Seems like they got to Palawan just to have fun. Normally, people would come here to have fun and get away from city life. Iyong kasi kapag nagsawa na sa Boracay ay lilipat naman sila sa Palawan which some of them would choose dahil maraming isla ang pwedeng mapuntahan. I can attest to that since I've been there for the past three weeks.

I might not have seen it all, but I got to witness the wonders.

When everyone got off the boat, Ankol greeted the guests and they were all excited to be on the island. Nang maging komportable naman ang mga ito sa kanya ay lumapit na rin ako sa kanila. Some of them put their eyes on me as I walked in their direction. As I met them and Ankol introduced me to them, I started introducing myself as a diver on the island.

May dalawang foreigner silang kasama, isang babae at lalaki and I think they are backpackers at mahihirapan pa nga ako mag-explain.

Nang idinala namin sa area kung saan ididiscuss namin sa kanila ang iba't ibang detalye patungkol sa free diving ay mariing nakinig naman ang mga guest.

"Is anyone of you have experience doing free diving?" I asked and raised my hand so they would do the same thing. Iyong dalawang foreigner ang nagtaas ng kamay. "Okay, aside from them? No one... alright. You don't have to worry about it if you don't have any experience with it, we're here to make one for you so just keep in mind whatever we say so it wouldn't be hard for you once you're down in the water. Understand?"

"Yes, po," they all answered in chorus.

Before we let them wear the wet suits, pinaliwanag muna ni Ankol isa-isa ang mga equipment para kapag nasa ilalim na sila ay alam nila ang gagawin at hindi sila magpapanic. Which still some of them panicked when put down under. May mga hindi pa nga umaamin na highblood o asthma sila kaya nagkaroroon ng problema dahil delikado iyon para sa kanila. They wouldn't be able to hold the pressure once they were down under.

Nang matapos magpaliwanag si Ankol at ipinasuot na namin sa kanila ang wet suits, napansin ko naman ang isang babae na may hawak na go pro camera. Nagsasalita siya sa harap ng camera like what Cory and I did during her project.

"Blogger ka?" tanong ko pagkalapit sa kanya. Mabilis itong napalingon sa akin. Nagulat ko pa ata. "Sorry, napansin ko lang kasi 'yang camera mo."

"Vlogger po," pagtatama niya sa akin.

"Sikat po 'yan," komento no'ng kasamahan niyang babae. "May one hundred thousand followers 'yan sa Youtube. Yayamanin po 'yan dahil siya po nagyaya sa amin dito sa Palawan."

"Wow! Talaga? Swerte niyo naman dito sa kaibigan niyo."

"Anong ng channel mo sa Youtube?"

"Nakakahiya po, 'wag na lang," ngiwi nitong tugon sa akin.

"No, that's okay. I would love to see your content."

"Era Summers po," sagot nito.

"Wow! Ang unique ng name mo, ha?"

She giggled. "Screen name lang naman po 'yan, but thank you po. Do you want to say hi po sa video?"

"Sure! I don't mind!"

"Hey, guys! I'm with one of our divers today, his name is Douglas!"

"Hello, everyone! Douglas' here." I said as she pointed the camera lenses at me. "Was that enough?"

Natawa siya sa tanong ko kaya tumango na lamang ito at nag-okay finger sign siya. "Very good, kuya."

"Okay, everyone! Let's huddle up for final checking before we board the boat. Leave your belongings sa locker natin. Don't worry, everything is safe here. Nandiyan ang boss namin para magbantay so guarantee na walang mawawala. If you've got your underwater cameras with you, pwede niyong dalhin 'yan, just make sure lang na walang pananagutan ang aming team kung may mawala o masira habang nasa ilalim kayo ng dagat, naiintindihan?"

Siniko ko si Ankol dahil may foreigner nga silang kasama kaya inulit niya ulit sa umpisa. Natawa ang ilan dahil nakita sa mukha niya na nakalimutan niya rin iyong gawin.

When he finished telling them the rules and regulations, we all headed to the boat. Everyone gets on board and put themselves to wear a life vest. Ankol and I drive the boat to where the free diving spot is located. As soon as we reached the location, for a final brief, I reminded the guests to keep in mind all the things we have discussed. Tumango naman sila sa akin which I believe was enough for me.

Four of them went first for about thirty minutes and after that, the second batch dived down under.

"How was the experience?" I asked Era.

"It was so good!" she said, breathing fast. "It was my first time and I was so nervous... I'm glad I was able to capture all of it. Parang gusto ko ulit ulitin pero mahal."

Natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Yeah, I know." Napakamot ako sa ulo ko. "But it is a worthwhile experience, right?"

She nodded. "True... free ka ba mamaya?"

"Hm?"

"Well, if you're free lang naman, you can join me and my friends tonight. Kahit dinner lang. Sama mo na rin po si Ankol. Parang ang saya niyo kasama and we would love to hang out with you, guys. 'Di ba?" Lumingon siya sa mga kaibigan niya at nagtanguan silang lahat.

"Alright, fine by me! Thanks for the invite. We'll talk when we're back in the cabin, okay?"

She smiled and nodded. "Sure..."

After another round of thirty minutes, umahon na ang natitirang tatlo. Iyon ang dalawang foreigner at isa pang kaibigan nilang babae. Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay bumalik na sa cabin kung saan hinubad na nila ang wet suits at ibinalik ang mga equipment na ginamit nila. Muling lumapit si Era sa akin at pinaalalahan ako. She asked for my number kaya naman binigay ko iyon. She said she'll call me for all of us to meet wherever they would go.

Nang umalis ang grupo ay sinabi ko kay Ankol ang pag-invite nila sa amin. Hindi na nabanggit sa kanya dahil abala ito sa pag-aasikaso ng mga gamit at guest.

Sinuntok pa ako ni Ankol sa braso. Hinimas ko ito dahil napalakas ang suntok niya.

"Chance mo na 'yon, pre," aniya. "Baka siya na 'yong susunod na Cory mo, 'di ba?"

Napangisi at iling ako sa sinabi niya. "Naku. 'Yan ka na naman. It wouldn't be like that. Sikat 'yong vlogger na 'yon and wouldn't settle for someone like me. Na-invite lang naman. Wala naman atang big deal do'n?"

"Ewan ko, pero punta tayo, ha?" aniya. "Sayang 'yong chance na malibre tayo ng foods tonight."

"Sige, sige. Magte-text daw 'yon si Era mamaya. Hindi ko lang alam kung anong oras. Kung maaga tayo matapos ngayong araw, sunduin na lang kita sa inyo."

"Walang problema sa 'kin!"

Mabilis na gumapang ang oras. Bago magtanghalian ay dumating ang sunod naming guest. Inasikaso namin sila kaagad. Matapos ang ilang oras ay ibang guest naman ang inasikaso namin. Sa normal na araw, ganito ang routine ko, pero may mga araw din naman na sumasama ako sa ilang environmental activities dito sa Coron. I loved participating in these activities kaya nga 'yong sinalihan ko no'ng organization ay ginawa pa akong ambassador. That was only for a few months and then they went to another island.

Matapos ang araw sa beach ay umuwi muna ako sa bahay. Gaya ng pag-uusap namin ni Ankol na susunduin ko na lang siya kung mag-text man si Era.

I was lying down on the couch when I received a message from Era. Napabalikwas kaagad ako sa kinauupuan ko saka ko tinawagan si Ankol. Era texted me their location so I quickly left the house and ride on my motorbike.

But as soon as I was about to pick Ankol up, I engaged in an accident.

Biglang may sumulpot na sasakyan na paliko at pinilit kong umiwas at bumangga ako sa pader. I was laying down on the grass while waiting for help. I tried to call Ankol and as soon as he answered, I told him what happened and that he'll be here with me soon.

It wasn't my fault and the private care showed up. Dahan-dahan akong umupo at tiningnan ko ang motorbike ko. Tumabingi ang gulong at nayupi ang harapan nito at puro gasgas. Napabitaw na lamang ako nang malalim na hininga. 

When Ankol arrived, he was sad about what happened. Hindi naman namin pinanghihiyangan iyong pag-invite ni Era sa amin. The private car paid me for what happened and even offered to bring me to the nearest hospital and they will pay for the bill. Pumayag naman ako.

Good thing, nothing bad comes out of the result. I got out of the hospital and informed Era about what happened.

She felt sorry about it and they wanted to check in on me. I told them that I'm fine and they don't need to bother themselves. Ang tumatak lang sa isipan ko ay iyong sinabi ni Ankol sa akin habang palabas kami ng hospital.

Ano bang nasa isip mo? 

And then later on, I received a notification from Instagram and it was a personalized notification for Cory's profile and she posted a new story. I clicked it and it was a sunset. At that moment, I knew something stopped me from meeting Era and her friends and I'm not sure if I was feeling right, but I hope I am.

I am not losing hope. I've still got the hope.

***