"We're going to get supplies."

I saw Maria's eyes sparkle. Isang linggo na rin kami dito sa isla at kaunti na lang ang natitirang essentials na nasa pantry. Inihanda namin ni Kuya Andro ang speedboat para makapunta sa kabilang isla para bumili ng supplies. Yelle's been scarce but she appeared at the mouth of the cave when we were about to leave.

We left the speedboat anchored on a hidden cove sa kabilang isla. Nag-trek kami sa gubat hanggang makarating sa isang mallit na fishing village kung saan nagbayad kami sa isang fishing boat para dalhin kami sa mainland.

The port was cleaner than most, maybe because it's not really a big island and commerce is limited to a few of the bigger provinces surrounding it. The island is not that developed but the Centro does have a proper wet and dry market where the farmers bring their crops, a grocery store, a couple of banks, a pharmacy, and an 18th century church. Most of the mainland rely on fishing and tourism because several islands surrounding the mainland have pristine white sand beaches, mangrove forests and superb places for surfing. Tourism boomed when they built an airport that allowed small commercial flights twice a week.

Nagrenta kami ng motorsiklo sa labas ng port. Nasa dalawang kilometro pa ang layo ng Centro sa pantalan.

"Hold on tight okay? Hindi uso ang helmet dito," I cautioned her.

"Okay, wait." She gathered my hair and tied it back with a hair tie. "That's better."

"Last one pays for dinner," sigaw ni Kuya Andro.

"No way in hell..." Nauna nang magpatakbo ng motor si kuya Andro angkas si Yellow. I adjusted Maria's hands and revved the engine. I heard her gasp and felt her hands tighten around my middle.

Maluwag ang kalsada at walang polusyon, maliban sa mangilan-ngilan na upos ng sigarilyo sa daan. Malamig ang hangin at masarap sa mata ang luntiang tanawin na napapalibutan ng mga bundok. Maaliwalas ang langit na may malalaking malabulak na ulap.

Sinubukan kong abutan sila kuya pero pagkuwa'y binagalan ko ang takbo. Naramdaman ko ring lumuwag ang kapit ni Maria sa akin. Nalingunan ko siyang ngumingiti tuwing may nadaraanan kaming kabahayan.

"Miss mo na agad ang sibilisasyon?"

"Ha?" Sigaw niya sa tunog ng motor.

"Sabi ko miss mo na ang sibilisasyon!"

"Oo," walang-gatol niyang pag-amin. "Pero masaya rin naman ang buhay sa isla."

"Really?" I raised a brow.

Naramdaman kong hinilig niya ang baba sa balikat ko. "Oo, tahimik sa isla. Walang problema."

"But you like the hustle of the city."

"I like the familiarity of the city, and how convenient life there is, but I can do without the pollution and traffic."

"You're starting to sound like a convert."

She chuckled close to my ear. "Admit it, your plan was to make me an island girl."

"Touché." I felt her kiss the shell of my ear. The sweet gesture spread warmth over my chest. Tangina, ba't ganoon yung pakiramdam? Nakakabaliw. I sound like a real pussy.

This love business is fucked up.

Nagsimula nang umambon kaya mas binilisan ko ang patakbo ng motor.

"Ang weird ng weather dito. Kanina umaaraw tapos umaambon, tapos aaraw." Maria observed. Biglang kumulog at napakapit siya nang mahigpit. Bumuhos ang malakas na ulan na animo bagyo kaya napilitan kaming tumigil muna at sumilong sa tabi ng daan. Inalalayan ko si Maria para maiwasan ang putik sa damuhan.

"The island has it's own weather system. Laging may tsunami warning dito pero sanay na yung mga nakatira. It's just their everyday life." Naupo kami sa isang nakatumbang kahoy habang pinapanood ang ulan. May ilang motor din ang tumigil kung saan kami naroon para magpatila.

"Hmmm... Sobrang iba sa city life. Dito, kontrolado ng kalikasan ang buhay ng mga tao. How terrifying... surrendering fate to the elements," she murmured.

"It's beautiful—I think." Napakunot noo siya habang nakatingin sa akin. Her hair and shirt is dripping and raindrops are clinging to her eyelashes.

"That's morbid."

"There's something beautiful about nature—the destruction, the death, and the rebirth. It's the natural cycle of things. We humans are the unnatural because we tend to disrupt the cycle of life." I put my arm around her shoulder when I saw her shiver.

Paglipas ng ilang minuto ay tumila na ang ulan na animo'y walang nangyari. Mainit na ulit ang halik ng araw.

"Let's go." I took her hand and we continued our travel. I found Yelle and Andro at a restaurant downtown. Naka-order na sila ng sisig, inihaw na tuna, longganisa, at pako salad. May isang bucket rin ng San Mig sa lamesa na mukhang mauubos na.

"How many rounds sa scenic route?" Andro asked at nabuga ni Yellow ang beer na tinutungga niya.

"Die Scheiße."

"Watch it lady!" Pinunasan ni Andro ang t-shirt niyang natalsikan ni Yelle.

"Fuck you."

"Let's just eat." I offered Maria a seat. Katabi ko si Yelle sa kaliwa at siya sa kanan. "What do you want?"

"Kahit ano." She looked flushed at sinusulyapan ang dalawang kasama namin. "Longganisa and the salad, please?"

"Order ka lang Ria. Libre ni Ali 'yan,"udyok ni Kuya. I don't really mind. I piled the longganisa on her plate at nilagyan ko rin ng maraming kanin.

"Hala ang dami! Tama na,"saway niya.

"Just eat more darling. Ang gaan mo kaya." Dismayado siyang nakatingin sa akin at sa pinggan niya. "You need a lot of energy, okay? Mag-su-surf tayo at dive mamaya bago umuwi."

"E ang dami. Baka masuka ako nito."

"I got you."Sumenyas ako sa serbidora at lumapit naman agad, "Ate dalawang iced tea."

"May dagdag pa po sir?" Nakangiting tanong ng waitress.

"Yun lang."

Pagkaalis ng waitress ay napansin ko ang isang lalaking pamilyar na nakaupo sa kabilang lamesa. He gave a slight incline of his head. Tumingin ako kay Yelle at sinenyasan niya ako.

"Go ahead, may kakausapin lang ako,"paalam ko kay Maria. Tumayo kami ni Yelle at lumabas ng restaurant. We walked a few blocks from the restaurant bago pumasok sa isang general merchandise store. Tinanguan kami ng may-ari doon at inginuso ang pangalawang palapag.

"Yo!" Nakangiting bati sa amin ni Biboy, isa sa mga undercover agents na naka-assign sa Singapore. He's in his late thirties, sunog sa araw ang balat, at may hikaw sa magkabilang kilay. Kinamayan namin siya ni Yellow.

"So how's it going?" tanong ko. He gestured to his laptop at naupo kami sa paligid nito.

"We need you to retrieve something from the mainland."

"I'm on vacation."

Napatawa si Biboy. "Nung sinabi nga nila na on-leave ka raw ay walang naniniwala."

"So what's the catch?"

"Big names. Ghost projects. The works." He popped his cheeks. "All up the Jaguar's alley."

"How big?" Si Yellow na sinikop ang buhok para gawing messy bun. She leaned into the screen to read the details.

"Let's just say it can fund the economy for the next two decades."

"Tch. I heard that before." How they found out I'm here is a feat on its own. Baka kailangan ko nang i-update ang defenses ko. I wish I could obliterate the tracking system in my body but that would be troublesome to explain.

"I'm just the messenger." Nakataas ang kamay na paliwanag ni Biboy. "Maraming matang mainit sa inyo ngayon. It might be beneficial to follow orders than break them. For now."

Naglahad ako ng kamay. In-eject ni Biboy ang usb mula sa computer ang inilagay sa palad ko.

"I'll think about it."

***

"So, you okay?" basag ni kuya Andro sa katahimikan matapos umalis si Yelle at Ali. Nakamasid siya sa akin habang umiinom ng beer.

"I'm fine," tipid kong sagot. Hindi ko naman talaga alam kung anong sasabihin ko sa kapatid ni Ali. Hindi ko pa naman siya talaga nakakausap kahit na nasa isla kami. He looks really friendly though.

"Sure?"

"I'm sure." Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at sumubo ng pagkain

"Good. At least he seems to be doing alright." Ibinaba niya ang basyo ng beer sa bucket. "Kapag may ginawang kalokohan si baby boy, sabihan mo lang ako. Sasapakin ko para sa'yo."

Hindi ko napigilang matawa kasi seryosong-seryoso ang pagkasabi niya. "Your brother is a violent man, but he would never hurt me."

"Actually, I'm afraid you will hurt him."

"Ha?" Gulat ako sa sagot niya.

"He's never been in love and you might choose to go back to your family anytime. Hindi ka pipigilan n'on, pero masasaktan siya."

"I won't hurt him. He's dangerous, I know. But the funny thing? I don't care." He could be all these things and I wouldn't care. I now know I have to trust him. We may not agree on his methods, but he will always have my best interests at heart.

"Just take care of his heart. I know it sounds weird, me asking this from you. Ali has always projected strength. Hindi yun aamin kahit nasasaktan. He'd rather die than admit defeat."

I looked at Andro with fresh eyes. How I wish ganyan din ka-protective ang kapatid ko sa akin. Kahit matatanda na sila, hindi sila nag-aatubili na damayan ang isa't isa. Unlike my sister who couldn't wait to leave the nest.

"I'll try."

***

Naghiwalay kami para mabilis na makapamili. Nagpunta sa wet market sila Yelle at Kuya Andro samantalang sa dry goods naman kami ni Maria. Nagpunta kami stall na nagbebenta ng mga damit para makapili siya.

"Babayaran kita pagbalik natin sa Manila," she said in a shy voice.

"Just take what you like," I assured her. Kumuha siya ng ilang baby tees at sun dresses, shorts na maong, leggings, at isang kulay blue na sarong. Napunta ako sa section na may swim wear. There's a white bikini that caught my eye.

"Oh," I heard her soft exhalation at my back.

"That would look good on you."

Umiling siya bilang pagtanggi pero walang nagawa nang dalhin ko na sa cashier para bayaran lahat ng damit.

"E, bakit mo ba 'yun binili?" maktol niya. "It's too revealing!"

"You'll look like a goddess."

"Eww..."

"Saka para hindi t-shirt yung pinangliligo mo sa dagat. Nauubusan na ng damit si Yelle." I winked at her.

"Fine." She conceded with a pout.

We went to the grocery next to buy basic supplies; toiletries, food, and fuel. Nang matapos kami ni Maria ay nagdesisyon kaming maghintay kila Andro sa tindahan malapit sa pantalan.

"I thought we are going to be doing a bunch of other stuff?"

"Yes, hintayin lang natin sila kuya. We'll drop all of these in his friend's place."

Natigilan kami pareho nang tumigil ang isang van sa harap namin at bumaba ang mga armadong lalaki. Agad kong hinila si Maria sa likod ko para protektahan. I was calculating in my mind possible escape routes when a familiar, but not-so-welcome-face came down from the van.

Maria's grandmother looked like she aged ten years in the past month since we last talked to each other.

"Mr. Zabala." She nodded in acknowledgement. The men fanned out around us.

"Mrs. Lee."

"Maria."

Napahigpit ang kapit ni Maria sa aking braso. Don't worry darling, I'm not letting you go.

"We need to talk Mr. Zabala," she said in a cold voice. She still looked regal despite the obvious stress in her face.

"I don't want to talk to you." I gestured to her guards. "Especially when I'm threatened."

Halata ang gulat at pagkadismaya sa kaniyang mukha. Sinenyasan niya ang mga guwardiya para bigyan kami ng privacy. They took a few steps back pabalik sa sasakyan pero hindi sila sumakay. They looked ready to spring into action.

"You will give her back or you will regret it for the rest of your life Mr. Zabala."

"I'll decide my own regrets Mrs. Lee, and this is not one of them." I pulled Maria to my side and intertwined our fingers together.

"You will not break apart my family," madiin niyang sagot. A look of pain momentarily crossed her eyes, but it was gone swiftly.

"I didn't break your family. You did that all by yourself."

Bumalik ang tapang sa kaniyang mukha. "They have my sons."

"Then I suggest you cooperate with the authorities."

She scoffed. "What authorities? No power in this country can say no to them."

"Then I cannot help you."

"I will not beg."

"You don't really care about Maria. You want her because she's convenient. She's legitimate, she doesn't have parents to defy you, and she didn't grow up with you lot so you got no affinity—except for being blood relatives."

Nawalan siya ng kulay at napahawak sa dibdib niya.

"Ahma!" Maria rushed to her grandmother's side to steady her. I watched as she helped the old hag get her bearings.

"Maria." Mrs. Lee touched her hand that was steadying her, "we are going home. You are coming with me, hija."

Maria bit her lip and shook her head. "I'm sorry Ahma."

"Let's go home, okay? Your family needs you." Pagkumbinsi niya. Maria smiled faintly.

"I can't. I'm sorry." Hinawakan siya ng matanda sa magkabilang braso.

"Maria Lee! Gusto mo ba kong mamatay?" Singhal niya.

Marahan ngunit mabigat na inalis ni Maria ang hawak ng matanda. "I'm sorry Ahma, but I'm already home." She took a step back and reached for my hand.

"Ali is my home."

"You ingrate! Matapos kitang kupkupin. This is how you repay me," she spat with venom.

Narinig ko ang tunog ng mga motor at wala pang ilang segundo ay napapalibutan na kami ng maraming riders.

"I suggest you leave Mrs. Lee."

She looked around before going to her van. Pinagbuksan siya ng isa sa kaniyang mga tauhan. I felt Maria sag over my shoulder.

"Are you okay?" I wiped a lone tear on her eye. She closed her eyes and nodded. "I'm sorry."

Umiling siya. "No, it's okay. I choose you."

"Do you really mean that?"

Tumango siya.

"Then there's only one way your grandmother can't separate us."

Kunot-noo siyang napatingin sa akin.

"Marry me, darling."