waves

CHAPTER I FEELING the sand beneath my feet, I let out a deep sigh as the rushing waves gently washed over them. Ah, island life. Buntong-hininga, masasabi ko lang, masarap ang buhay sa isla. Pero I still miss my life in the city. “Ivy!” I put on a smile before turning toward my friend, Haru. I was accompanying him on this island while he conducted research for his thesis. “Haru, uwi na tayo?” salubong ko sa kanya pag kaupo niya sa tabi ko, he’s staring at the vast sea looking handsome, don’t get me wrong, Haru’s just a friend, but I can’t deny the fact that he looks good. “Ivy, sorry, pero parang mag e-extend tayo ng isa pang araw dito. Di ko kasi na kuha ang specimen na kailangan ko para sa study ko.” kamot ulo nyang sabi habang naka ngisi. Na patingin naman ako sa kanya. “Haru, need ko na bumalik sa city, walang stable signal here and I’m sure marami akong backlogs na kailangan taposin, okay lang ba if I call Stacy to accompany you here?” I said, two weeks na kami dito ni Haru, ang sabi nya pa naman, three days max lang kami dito, umuwi na yung iba naming kasama kami na lang ni Haru nag paiwan. “Ivyy, alam mo naman kung anong nararamdaman ko do'n sa babaeng 'yon! Galit, poot, pagkamuhi—name it. Uuwi na lang din ako. I'll just come back here next week. I also miss my life in the city.” nakasimangot niyang sagot, tawang tawa naman ako sa sinagot n’ya. “I know, kaya nga siya yung susundo satin bukas.” nakangisi kong sabi at tumayo sa pagkakaupo sa buhangin at agad na dumeretcho sa kwarto ko para mag empake, agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko and contacted Stacy right away. I couldn't wait to get out of this place—to leave and never come back, to remove him completely from my system. “Hello, Ivy?” Stacy’s voice cut through the phone. I put it on the speaker and continue packing my things. “Stacyyy, can you fetch us tomorrow? Me and Haru? At the same barangay you left us?” I said I was still packing my things. “Grr, pwede bang iwan mo na lang yang si Haru dyan? Di pa naman yan tapos sa study nya, hayaan mo na lang mabulok yang lalaking yan dyan.” Irritation is visible in her voice. I chuckled “Stacy ba’t ba ang init ng dugo mo dyan kay Haru? Para kayong mag asawa.” pag bibiro ko. “Ivy, gusto mo ba masundo or hindi?” inis na tanong ni Stacy. Tumawa naman ako “Ito naman di mabiro, of course, can you come here around 10 am tomorrow?” I look at the time on my phone. “Yes, I’ll be there by 10, make sure na yung panget naka prepare na mas mabagal pa naman yun kumilos sayo. Bye Ivy, see you.” She said and dropped the call. I shook my head and finished packing. Lumabas ako ng kwarto, the cold winds envelopes me, I immediately hug myself and shrug, napatitig ako sa dagat, my room is literally a meter away from the shore. The thoughts of him washes over me. “Ivy?” a voice interrupted me, it’s Haru. “Stacy will fetch us tomorrow at the Barangay by 10am, we’ll leave the island by 8:30 tomorrow so we’ll arrive there at 9:30 a.m” I informed him. “Okay, I’ll talk to manong after this. Diner na, kain tayo.” Haru said, I shook my head. “Busog pako, matutulog na lang ako.” sagot ko at ngumiti. Haru looked at me, and he sighed. “Miss mo no?” he blurted out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I replied and looked away. “Don’t lie to me, Ivy. I know kaya ka pumayag to stay here just to feel his presence, you got tired of it and now you want to go back to the city. I know you well enough.” I look at him. “I, I'm going to sleep now, wake me up tomorrow.” I said at mabilis na pumasok sa kwarto and locked the door. Narinig ko naman ang mga yabag ng paa ni Haru paalis. I hate to admit he’s right. Hinawakan ko ang mukha ko and it’s wet, umiiyak na pala ako. It’s been years, how dare you still on my system. I wiped off my tears and changed to sleepwear. I prayed to God that he’ll make sure he’s safe. I still pray for him.