Charmed by the Unseen

Chapter 9: Ally Went Viral

My room was spacious. Kasing laki siya ng kwarto ko dun sa mansiyon and is filled with earthy tones. Pagkatapos kong ayusin ang mga gamit ko, agad akong bumaba para mamasyal sa may dagat. Marami na ang tao ngayon lalo na at summer season.

Hinanap ko si Tita sa may sala pero wala na siya dun. May isang babaeng mga kasinglaki at kasing edad lang ng mommy ko ang nakatayo doon at naglilinis. May suot siyang apron. Nagtanong ako kung nasaan si Tita kaya humarap siya sakin ng nakangiti.

"Umalis na ija, may pupuntahan daw" her voice was soft.

"You must be Aling Susan?" I guessed.

"Ako nga ija. Nabanggit na sakin ni madam ang tungkol sa pagsama sayo" she smiled again. She seems nice to me.

I nodded at her and gave her a smile before I left the house. Dumiretso ako dun sa may pool. It was a pool attached to the sea kaya maalat ang tubig. Napadaan din ako hotel. Marami ng tao doon. Sa dalampasigan din ay marami ng naliligo at nagsa-sunbathing. I smiled. The summer air is heating up.

Napagod ako kakalibot kaya naghanap ako ng mauupuan. Most of the cottages are already occupied maliban lang dun sa pinakadulo. Medyo tago siya ng kunti pero kita parin naman ang dagat. Kaya siguro walang nag rent dito kasi nasa dulo na siya ng resort. I got in and relaxed my feet dahil sa pagod. I was enjoying the scenery ng biglang may kumalabit sa'kin. Inis akong humarap sa kung sino mang gago yun pero nawala ang inis ko ng makita ko siya.

Juan Carlos was smiling so wide it almost made my day. Ha? What the hell did I just said? Argh! Bat ba sumusulpot nalang siya bigla?

"What are you doing here?" Kunot-noo kong tanong.

"Wala lang. Bawal ba? Parang kailan lang ikaw 'tong sunod ng sunod sakin ah" he laughed softly at walang pasabing pumasok sa loob ng cottage.

Umupo siya sa tapat ko while still smiling. Ako lang ba? O talagang mas nagiging gwapo siya kapag ngumingiti. Tangina naman Ally oh? Ano bang nangyayari sayo? I slapped myself to bring my conciousness back. Nakita niya ang ginawa ko kaya tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Okay kalang?"

I nodded and looked away. Hindi naman ako kinakabahan pero my heart beats crazily. I tried to slap myself again pero nakatingin na siya sa malayo kaya hindi niya nakita.

"What exactly are you doing here again?" I asked without looking at him.

"Wala napadaan lang"

Then there was awkward silence.

"Akala ko ba aalis kana?" He asked which caused me to shift on my seat uncomfortably.

"Change of plans" I replied. "Gusto ko pang mag stay dito kasi sayang naman yung chance." Alam narin naman niya yung ibig kong sabihin kasi nasabi ko na yun sa kanya. Tumango lang siya.

"Can you show me around?" The question came out so fast I didn't even thought of it. Napalingon siya sakin na mukhang nabigla. Then I realized what I just said. But f**k! It's too late to take it back!

"Gusto mo samahan kita?" He asked in a serious tone. Tumango na lang ako. Taking back what I just said would make me look stupid. Then a smile formed in his lips. Yung tipong nang aasar. "Bakit ako ang gusto mong makasama?" Lumawak pa ang ngiti niya.

Tangina naman oh? Anong klaseng tanong ba yan? I don't know! It just came out of my mouth! Bakit ba kasi hindi niya nalang sagutin ng ooh o hindi. Ba't kailangan sagutin niya ako ng tanong din! Kaasar!

"Ewan ko! Kasi taga dito ka at alam mo ang mga magandang puntahan?" I rolled my eyes. Nabubwisit na ata ako eh. Hindi ako yung tipong mainitin yung ulo pero nakakainis naman kasi yung tanong niya.

Tumango lang siya pero hindi parin nawawala ang nakaka asar niyang ngiti. Parang kailan lang ang sarap niyang titigan habang nakangiti pero ngayon umiinit na ng ulo ko sa kanya.

"Sige, puntahan mo ako bukas sa mismong lugar kung saan mo ako unang nakita. Sasamahan kita kung saan mo gusto"

Lumiwanag ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. Bigla nalang nawala ang inis ko na napalitan ng tuwa. I smiled.

"Sa'n tayo pupunta?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Kahit saan mo gusto" simpleng sagot niya.

Matagal pa kaming nag usap. Minsan natatawa ako sa kanya, minsan din gusto ko na lang siyang gilitan sa leeg. This guy either makes my head ache or brightens up my day. Which is which.

"Excuse me"

Hindi ko namalayan ang pagdating ng isang matangkad na babaeng my blond na buhok. She was wearing a red two piece bikini at tinanggal niya ang shades niya. Hindi ko napansin ang pagpasok niya sa loob ng cottage. May kasama din siyang dalawa pang babae na halatang mga guest dito sa resort.

"Yeah?" Napataray yata ang tono ng boses ko.

"If you don't mind me asking, sinong kausap mo?"

Her tone isn't insulting, her question is.

Ano bang meron sa mga tao ngayon at nakakagago ang mga tanong nila sakin. I rolled my eyes.

"What do you mean? I'm obviously talking to him!" Inis kong itinuro si Juan Carlos na nasa harapan ko. Seryoso ang mukha niyang nakatingin lang sakin.

Parang nagulat ang babae na tumingin sa direksiyong tinuro ko. Kumunot ang noo niya na mas ikina inis ko.

"O-okay" sabi niya bago humarap sakin. Halatang may gusto pa siyang sabihin pero pinigilan niya ang sarili niya. "Nevermind. Have a nice day then" then she smiled. Lumabas na agad siya ng cottage at umalis na sila ng mga kasama niya. I sighed in relief and turned my attention back to Juan Carlos na mukhang malalim ang iniisip.

"Ally..." he called without looking at me. He was staring blankly on the ground.

"Yeah?" Kalmadong sagot ko.

Hindi siya nagsalita. Bumuntong hininga siya bago timitig sakin. Then he smiled. But there was something about it. It's like a story that I should know but couldn't read.

"Wala"

***

Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong isipin pagkatapos ng tagpo naming iyon ni Juan Carlos. So I decided to sleep early. Morning came fast and I was happy I didn't had another nightmare. I woke up around 7:00. Maganda ang panahon. Perfect for traveling. Naalala ko na ngayon pala kami aalis ni Juan Carlos kaya agad akong naligo. After that, I packed my essentials and things I might need for this day. I brought rashguard instead of bikini kasi nakakahiya naman sa kanya kung yun suotin ko. I would die of embarrassment.

Hindi ko naman alam kong saan kami pupunta pero bahala na. I just want to enjoy it. I mean, this is it! This is what I have been waiting for my whole life. I sneaked outside the house. Tulog pa ata si Tita kasi madaling araw na siya umuwi. I didn't bother to tell her kasi baka pilitin niya akong isama si Aling Susan.

Mabilis akong nakarating sa lugar na sinabi niya sa'kin. Wala pa siya dun kaya naghintay pa ako ng ilang minuto.

"Akala ko hindi kana darating" He just popped behind me kaya napalukso ako sa gulat. Pinagtawanan niya pa ako kaya binato ko sa kanya ang hawak kong bottled water na nasalo niya naman agad. He looked fresh in his grey sweater and black shorts.

"Are you really fond of doing that? Surprising people to death? Kung may sakit lang siguro ako sa puso pumanaw na'ko dahil sayo"

"Edi ipagsisindi nalang kita ng kandila"

"ANO?" susugurin ko na sana siya pero tumakbo na siya palayo habang malakas na tumatawa. Inis ko nalang siyang sinundan.

We were walking for like hours on a never ending trail. Ang alam ko lang nasa gubat na kami. Paulit-ulit ko siyang tinatanong kung malapit na ba pero paulit-ulit lang din ang sagot niya- malapit na. Pawis na pawis na ako at ramdam kong basang-basa na ang likod ko. Gusto ko nalang magpagulong sa bangin dahil sa sobrang pagod.

"Kanina pa tayo naglalakad ah! May kataposan pa ba to?" Angal ko.

"Lahat ng bagay may kataposan" lumingon siya sakin at ngumiti. Iba naman yata yung ibig niyang sabihin eh.

"Naririnig mo ba yun?" Nakangiting tanong niya.

I listened. At first, I hear nothing but the whistle of the wind and birds chirping. But then, I heard something else. The sound of water!

"Holy cow! Is that a waterfall?" Excited akong tumakbo at nilagpasan siya. Hindi ko na ininda ang sakit ng mga paa ko at ang pagod ng katawan ko. I just continued running towards the sound that gets louder as I got closer. Then the sight of a huge crystal clear water gushing down those huge boulders met my eyes. Wow!

Tuwang tuwa akong napatakbo sa pampang ng talon. I don't know what to say. I can no longer put my happiness into words! Naramdaman ko ang paglapit ni Juan Carlos sa may likuran ko.

"Wow!" I yelled.

"Shhhhh! Wag kang maingay!" Saway niya sakin. "Sa mga ganitong lugar hindi ka dapat nag sisisigaw"

Oh, superstitions. Meron pa palang ganun. I don't wanna be disrespectful kaya ngumiti na lang ako at tumango. This is really awesome. I can't wait to take a dip on the cold water.

We placed our things on a huge rock. I changed into my rashguard habang umalis si Juan Carlos para maghanap ng panggatong. He's probably going to build a fire. I applied sunblock and put on my shades and I took some pictures for souvenirs. He came back with firewood so I asked him if we could get a picture together but he resisted. Hindi na rin ako nag pumilit.

I walked towards the water. Malamig ang tubig and felt so refreshing. Pero natatakot ako. Besides the fact that it's my first time in a waterfall, hindi ko alam kong kaya ng swimming skills ko yung ganito ka lalim.

"Ano na? Kailangan pa ba kitang itulak para maligo kana?" Sabi niya ng makalapit siya sakin.

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. He smiled crazily.

"Wag kang matakot, tubig lang yan"

"Mauna kana" tulak ko sa kanya.

"Takot ako sa tubig" he smiled sheepishly.

"What?" Gulat kong tanong na ikinatawa niya. Nainis nanaman ako. Pero hindi niya lang pinansin ang reaksiyon ko at sa gulat ko hinubad niya ang sweater niya. Agad kong iniwas ang tingin ko sa kanya.

Suddenly, it felt so hot! Damn no! Don't fall into temptations! Pero trinaydor parin ako ng mga mata ko. I unconciously glared at his perfect physique. I don't really want to say it, but f**k, he's hot. He put his sweater down and dived into the water. Kaya naiwan akong nakatanga.

He emerged from the water, still smiling. He really loves to smile huh?

"Uyy! Akala ko ba pumunta ka rito para mag enjoy?"

I went back to my senses. Excited talaga ako kanina pero kinakabahan na'ko ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa tubig o dahil sa lalaking nasa tubig. Ewan ko ba.

"Ally..." he called out. "Sige na. Wag kang matakot, nandito naman ako eh. Hindi kita pababayaan"

That was it. I didn't need to be told twice. I jumped on the water. The cold water felt good on my skin. I emerged into the surface and realized that I was too close to his face. My heart was beating so fast I think it'll leap out of my chest. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. And for the first time in my life I felt so safe. Like he's no longer a stranger.

"Oh, marunong kanaman palang lumangoy eh" he smiled while still holding my hand.

I didn't respond. I just stared at him with no reason. At least that's what I thought. I was staring at him for no reason at all.

Medyo matagal pa kaming nag swimming bago ako nakaramdam ng ginaw. Nauna siyang umahon kaya tinulungan niya ako. And then again, as he was helping me, I found myself staring at him again which felt weird. Hindi ko nalang yun inisip baka mahalata pa niya ako.

I sat down on the rock and faced the waterfall habang kumakain ng chips. Yun lang kasi ang pagkaing nadala namin. Puro chichirya. He sat beside me kaya inabot ko sa kanya ang isang pack ng Potato chips. Kinuha niya yun pero hindi niya naman kinain. Nakatingin lang din siya dun sa falls.

"Ang ganda no?" I whispered.

"Ooh" at tumingin siys sa sakin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit na concious ako bigla. I looked away. When I turned back to him, he was no longer looking at me, he was staring at the water.

"Um, is it okay if I call you Carlo?" I asked. "Ang haba kasi ng pangalan mo eh"

"Kung anong gusto mo" he smiled. I turned back to the water and took a deep breath.

"Pangalawang beses mo ng tinupad ang pangarap ko. I don't know how to repay you"

"Wala yun"

Yan din ang sabi niya sakin dati. Wala yun. Sa kanya wala lang. Pero sakin, this is a dream come true. I faced him. He was silent while his eyes were still glued on the water. He licked his lower lip then he run his fingers through his hair which made me felt something weird inside my stomach. This past few days that I've been with him, he really makes me feel weird. Hindi ko ma explain. With him, I feel so safe, so calm. It felt like I have known him for years na para bang kilalang kilala ko na siya. I kept thinking of him lalo na kapag mag isa ako.

Then he turned to me and met my gaze. I was just staring at him like I don't want to blink anymore. I just wanted to stare at his peaceful face. I don't know what's going on with me. My mind feels static and my heart kept racing inside me. I have never felt this kind of feeling before. Ayoko siyang lagyan ng label pero parang dun din ang bagsak nun. But, is it really possible? Is it really possible to fall for this guy? I don't know. I don't even have any idea what falling in love feels like.

***

I got home at about 3:00 pm. Walang kamalay malay si Tita na umalis ako. Good thing Aling Susan is also not around kaya I'm safe. Agad akong nag charge kasi nag lowbat cellphone ko and I need to talk to my mom.

Nagulat ako ng ma-open ko ang phone ko. There were like numerous missed calls from my mom, Brent and Freya. Tinadtad narin nila ako ng texts asking me if I'm fine. Pero isang text ni Brent ang nakakuha ng atensiyon ko.

Brent: Ally we're worried sick! Ano bang nangayayari dyan! Check this out! Nag aalala na si Tita sayo! Bat ba hindi ka sumasagot?!!!!!!!!!

I suddenly felt nervous. I clicked the link he sent me and found out that it was a video. Hell no! It was no ordinary video. It was my video.

I was in the cottage, talking and laughing to myself. I even rolled my eyes! I looked like I'm crazy. I was alone in that cottage yet I act like I'm talking to someone! I slowly felt furious!

The caption even made it worse.

'Found this lady in the resort. Sayang, she's pretty pa naman but she clearly needs medical attention. Plz pray for her'

Ano? Ano ba to? Anong nangyayari?!

The comments even made me want to throw up.

C: omg, kawawa naman

C: sayang, ang ganda pa naman kaso may topak. Hahahahaha

C: she needs to see a doctor

C: baliw ata yan girl. Lol

C: poor girl

I dropped my phone. Wala na akong pakialam kong masira pa yun. I was devastated. Hindi ko alam kung ano pang dapat kong isipin. Napaiyak nalang ako dahil gulong gulo ang isip ko. My phone kept ringing but I no longer have the strength to pick up. I just cried.

The video already had a hundred comments and more than 20k reactions. Nagkalat narin yun sa social media.

Fvck! I just went viral...