Red's worried about her dad and she misses Vico and the girls. She even misses Vince. But she wants to be with Troy longer. Para kasing panaginip lang ang lahat. And going back home means waking up from it.

That dreaded day came too early. It was Monday. She woke up early. Akala niya'y kailangan na naman niyang gisingin si Troy, but he was already up. Umiinom ito ng kape sa kusina. He has his phone with him and he was frowning.

"Good morning," bati niya. "You're up early."

"Vince called," bungad nito. "Makauuwi na raw tayo."

She sat next to him. Kinuha niya ang kapeng iniinom nito, then she took a sip.

"Already?"

He nodded. "We'll be going back tomorrow."

"Bukas na agad? Is there something urgent that you need to attend to? Bakit hindi na lang next week? I'm sure it won't make any difference if we delay our return."

"Santina's pregnant," he said gravely. "But don't worry. I'm not the father. She just tried to put the blame on me."

Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya.

"Vince hired a private investigator to find out if she's telling the truth or not. He's going to fill us in with the details once we get back. Kaya kailangan na rin nating bumalik para matapos na 'to."

Gusto na rin naman niyang matapos iyon. But going back and solving Santina's issue won't guarantee na papayag pa rin ang mga ama nila na ipakasal silang dalawa. Dahil sa ginawa ni Troy, baka lalo pang lumala. Baka nga hindi na rin siya ipakasal kahit kay Vince. It might destroy their fathers' friendship.

She'd rather stay there. At least tahimik ang buhay nila. Walang manggugulo. But she knows that it won't be permanent. Hindi naman mareresolba ang problema kung iiwasan at iiwasan na lang.

"Troy, bakit ang dami kong kaagaw sa 'yo?" nakasimangot niyang tanong.

"Gwapo e," seryoso nitong sagot.

She took her hand from him and smacked his head.

"Aray ha!"

"E kung kinakalmot ko kaya 'yang mukha mo para mabawasan 'yang kagwapuhan mo?"

"Nagseselos ka na naman?" Pinisil nito ang pisngi niya. "You're cute when you're jealous, but don't overdo it, okay?"

Ngumiti siya. "Don't worry, I won't. But do something about those women."

"Then do something about Frey. Kasi seloso rin ako."

"Wala naman na kaming relasyon ni Frey."

"But you brought him as date."

Hindi na siya nakasagot. The only reason that she did that was to make Troy jealous. And he did get jealous.

"Okay, truce," sabi niya. "Bukas pa naman tayo babalik, di ba? Can we go out?"

"Sa'n naman tayo pupunta? Konting lakad nga lang, tinatamad ka na."

"Swimming. Di ba sabi mo, malapit lang tayo sa dagat?"

Troy nodded. "You have nothing to wear. I didn't get you anything."

"It's okay. Shorts at shirt na lang."

So when it's decided, they ate their breakfast and packed some food. Hindi pa masyadong sumisikat ang araw. Tamang-tama for a quick swim. Ayaw rin naman niyang mangitim. Naghintay sila ng jeep sa kabilang kalsada. Troy doesn't want to waste gas, since malapit lang naman ang pupuntahan nila. Pwedeng lakarin, ayaw lang niyang maglakad.

Halos matatanda ang kasabay nila sa jeep. It was her first time to ride one. Nang may magpaabot sa kanya ng bayad ay tinitigan lamang niya ang kamay ng matanda. It's not until Troy nudged her that she took it and passed it forward.

Wala pa yatang ten minutes nang pumara si Troy. May mga green at orange flags sa itaas ng mahabang pader na nasa gilid ng daan. Pumasok sila sa entrance ng isang resort. May mga nipa hut na nagkalat. Halos dikit-dikit din ang mga puno. Up ahead, nakita niya ang dagat. Halos walang katao-tao.

Troy paid their fee, saka siya nito niyaya sa tabing dagat. They took the cottage nearest to the water and put their things there.

Agad siyang lumusong sa dagat. It's been a long time since she's been near one. Bata pa siya noong huli niyang punta. Her mom used to love the beach. When she died, hindi na siya muling pumunta sa tabing-dagat. Ngayon na lang ulit.

She didn't realize how much she missed the sea until that moment.

She went back and pulled Troy to the water. Sabay silang napaupo. Basang-basa na ang mga damit nila.

"Can you swim?" she asked.

"Oo naman."

"Good. Kasi hindi ako marunong."

Troy laughed as she paddled awkwardly. She didn't get a chance to learn swimming. Siguro dahil na rin sa nawalan siya ng amor sa dagat nang mamatay ang mommy niya. She even flunked her PE during college because it was swimming.

"Hindi ganyan," sabi nito sa kanya.

He showed her the proper way to do it. Dapat sabay na iginagalaw ang mga binti at braso. But she just sunk during her first, second and third try.

"Ayoko na!"

"Again. Madali lang 'to."

Hinampas niya ang tubig, splashing the salty water on his face.

"Ayoko na nga!"

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Pa'no ka matututo kung ang bilis mong umayaw?"

She scowled. "Just forget it!"

"Okay, okay." He raised his hands in defeat. "I'll swim further. Gusto mong sumama?"

She shook her head. "No, I'll stay here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Sige na."

"Okay. Babalik din ako agad."

Doon lang sya sa mababaw pumirmi habang naglalangoy si Troy sa malalim. She has this paranioa na malulunod siya kapag nagpunta siya sa parte ng dagat na hindi na niya mararamdaman ang buhangin sa mga paa niya. And she can't stay afloat. Kaiilanganin niyang tumalon-talon at the very least.

Troy seemed to be enjoying the water. Sobrang layo na nito. Bigla tuloy siyang kinabahan. Paano na lang kung malulunod ito? Mukha pa namang walang lifeguard sa resort. She can't save him. Hindi rin siya marunong lumangoy.

She began panicking.

"Troy!"

She tried to be near him as much as possible. Hanggang dibdib na niya ang tubig. Hirap na rin siyang sumigaw.

"Troy!"

Fortunately, Troy looked back to maybe check up on her. Lumangoy ito palapit sa kanya. She pulled his arm.

"Stay in shallow water," sabi niya rito.

"Why?"

"Basta! Dito ka lang sa mababaw."

He chuckled. "I won't drown."

"You could!"

Hinawakan siya nito sa tigkabilang pisngi. "You worry too much."

"Kapag nalunod ka, sayang yung pagtatanan natin. And I might get married to Vince. Gusto mo yun?"

He smacked her forehead. "Mumultuhin kita kapag nagkataon."

She pouted. "Just swim within my reach. Please."

He grabbed her by the waist, saka ito naglakad papuntang pampang.

"Fine. Let's just stay here."

Naglakad na lamang sila sa aplaya. She began collecting seashells. Inilagay niya ang mga iyon sa bulsa ng shorts ni Troy. Nang uminit na ay bumalik na sila sa cottage. They ate some snacks tapos ay sa malilim na parte naman ng resort sila naglakad.

Maya-maya ay may ilang taong dumating. Dalawang grupo. Ang isa ay isang pamilya na may mga dalang kaldero at salbabida. Ang isa naman ay grupo ng mga lalaki. They look like college boys. Troy didn't like it when they looked at her.

"Ngayon alam mo na ang feeling."

He grunted. "Let's wash up and go home."

"Agad-agad?"

"Yes. Agad-agad."

She raised an eyebrow, but didn't argue. Sumunod na lamang siya rito papunta sa CR. They took turns using the public bathroom. Pagkabihis na pagkabihis ay sumakay na agad sila ng jeep pauwi. It's not even noon yet. Akala pa naman niya ay maghapon na sila roon.

Pagkadating nila sa bahay ay naabutan nila si manang na nagluluto ng pananghalian.

"O, tapos na kayong maglangoy?"

"Ang KJ kasi ni Troy, manang."

He tsk-ed. "Manang, ano'ng ulam?"

"Bistek. Siya, kayo'y maupo at ako'y maghahain na."

"Sumabay na po kayo sa 'min," aya niya sa matanda.

The old lady smiled. "Salamat, hija. Nananghalian na ako bago pumunta rito."

Ipinaghain muna sila ng matanda bago ito umalis. They ate in silence. Apparently, Troy's still pissed.

--

The weather on that place was so fickle. Nang bandang hapon ay bigla na lamang dumilim at umulan. Kung ano ang iniinit ng panahon kaninang umaga ay siya namang ikinalamig noong hapon. Red went out to watch the rain, when an idea came to her. She stepped out of the shed.

"Hey! Come back inside. You'll get sick!"

She didn't listen to Troy. Pumunta pa siya sa likod-bahay. Ang kaninang manaka-nakang pagpatak ng ulan ay naging lurok na. She almost couldn't see clearly because the rain was blurring her vision. Nanunuot ang lamig sa katawan niya, but she stayed outside.

It was a stupid idea, but maybe if she got sick, they would have to delay their return.

Naramdaman niyang may humila sa braso niya. She looked behind her. Troy was glaring. Pinayungan siya nito.

"What the hell are you thinking? You could get sick!" he reprimanded.

"That's the point."

Inis siya nitong dinala sa loob ng bahay. Halos ipagtulakan siya nito papasok ng shower. He discarded her clothes and turned the heater on.

"Paliliguan mo 'ko?" natatawa niyang tanong.

"Can't you take a bath yourself?"

"Bakit ba ang sungit mo?!"

He sighed. "Just take a bath so you won't get sick."

He stepped out of the bathroom after saying that. She was forced to take a second bath. It's a good thing that the warm water felt so good, nawala ang inis niya. Concerned lang siguro ito. Pareho lang silang nag-overreact.

Naalala niya yung kanina. His reactions were the same, iba lang ang sitwaasyon. It felt good to have someone care for her. It also felt good to care.

But she still doesn't want to go home. Ipinalangin niyang sana ay matuluyan siya ng sakit. Kahit bedridden for a few days, basta hindi sila uuwi, ay okay lang.

--

Kinabukasan, Red woke up feeling okay. Ni sipon ay hindi siya nagkaroon. Wala tuloy siyang choice kundi umuwi. But she tried to delay it as much as she could. Binagalan niya ang pagkain ng agahan. Tinagalan niya ang paliligo. But Troy was determined to go home.

Kaya kahit magta-tanghali na nang makaalis sila ay ayos lamang dito.

"Don't look so grumpy. Hindi mo ba namimiss ang daddy mo?"

Ngumuso lamang siya. Kinuha ni Troy ang kamay niya.

"Don't worry, we'll come back. At mas matagal tayong mag-i-stay. We just need to sort this issue out before it gets out of hand."

"Bwisit kasi 'yang Santina na 'yan!"

Troy chuckled. "Chill."

"Why do you associate yourselves with people like her? I thought your dad was an excellent judge of character," pagngingitngit niya.

"My mom and Antoinette are related. By law. Third cousin ni mama ang daddy ni Santina. Before he died, his last wish was for his wife and daughter to be taken care of. My mom took that responsibility."

"Magkamag-anak naman pala kayo. Why did Santina expect na pwede kayong ikasal?"

"It was allowed by some families kasi. Ipinakakasal ang mga anak sa kamag-anak to keep the money within the family. But my father doesn't approve of that. Kilala kasi nito si Antoinette. She'll just mooch off our family's money."

"What will happen to them now?"

Troy shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe we'll find out when we get there."

"Sana sa ibang bansa na lang sila tumira. I don't want her near you."