Chapter 10
652 Words
I stared at the fine sand while walking on the shore, I took some glances of the foreign people and islanders talking or negotiating about something.
I stopped walking then my mouth gaped opened when I saw the familiar two-story house in front of me that I found pretty when I was in the veranda of the hotel where I'm currently staying.
I walked towards the house then stopped a few meters away when I saw a couple of boats in front of it.
Oh, I remember my conclusion last time when I'm in my room, maybe he does rental business. Well, that's a nice business since this is an island. That man is at advantage. Well, I should try rental business too, we have condos already, I should think of another one when I get back to the city after my vacation.
My head turned its way when I sensed someone else's presence, there are four people in total, walking towards my way.
All of them are closed in height, 5'8 or 9 maybe, tanned skin, the two has a medium frame and the other two has a larger frame.
Umatras ako ng kaunti upang bigyan sila ng daan, lahat sila'y may dalang banyera ng mga isda. I guess, they just finished fishing. Their pants are wet too. My conclusion is right then.
"Balita ko'y nakauwi na si Engineer?" dinig kong saad ng isa sakanila.
Inilalapag nila ang mga banyera sa buhangin at agad na nagsilapitan ang ilang matatandang babe sakanila, looks like they're going to sell those fishes.
"Oo, pumalaot iyon kahapon. Pero umalis din kanina bumalik ng Maynila may kliyente raw." said by the fisherman who's wearing a green shirt.
"Oh edi naiwan ang bata kay Celis, Nardo?"
I glanced at the different kinds of fishes they're sorting. Different varieties, some are small. Others are still moving, trying to gasp for a water and most of them are dead, I guess.
"Oo, alam mo naman iyong asawa ko mahilig sa bata." the man said then laughed.
"Sa bagay malaki na rin kasi ang alaga niyo." the other guy agreed.
I glanced at the two fishermen, Oh I remember that one man, he was the one who picked me up at the port yesterday.
I tilt my head then looked at the beautiful house again, I sighed then brushed my hair backwards.
Naglakad ako palapit sa pamilyar na bangkero upang magtanong. Damn, my curiosity won't let me sleep for tonight if I'm not going to do this.
"Excuse me." I said, trying to get their attention. And I successfully did, the two of them looked at me.
"Do you— alam niyo po ba... kung sino ang may-ari nitong bahay?" I asked.
They looked at each other and the other man nodded followed by everyone.
"Opo, Sir. Si Engineer Amorim ang may-ari, yung hotel rin pong iyon na nasa taas ang isa sa mga malaking proyektong hinawakan niya." the man beside Mang Nardo answered.
Now I am starting to admire that person even more.
I nodded my head, "Do you know his firm?"
I tightly closed my eyes after saying that I scolded myself and reminded not to use the English language when talking to the islanders again. I should be the one to adjust.
Sabay silang napakamot sa kanilang buhok. "Nako, Sir. Pasensya na po at nakalimutan namin. Bakit po ba?"
"Ah, balak ko sana siyang kuhaning Engineer." I said unsure with my choice of words.
The two of them nodded, "Kapag po nakarating, itatanong ko, Sir. Sasabihin ko po sainyo." Mang Nardo said then smiled. Giving me an assurance.
Right. I asked Mang Nardo yesterday to be my personal tour guide. We'll meet each other again of course, besides the island's not that big. He'll be able to find me and vice versa, since everyone knows him here.
"Oh, thank you." saad ko at muling naglakad-lakad sa isla.
- Writer
