Just One Date

Chapter 13 - sand castle date (part 1)

"I still can't believe I did it! Bethany will freak out kapag nalaman niyang nag-donate ako ng dugo!" I couldn't help babbling as Ethan drove south outside Manila for our next destination.

"I knew you could do it. Ang sarap ng feeling ano?" Ethan replied without taking his eyes off the road.

I nodded happily.

"Is that close to what you feel with teaching?" I asked afterwards.

"Oo, because I really enjoy teaching," he responded while holding on to the steering wheel.

"Does it pay much?" I inquired, knowing what a big challenge it must be to become a teacher to mentally-challenged children.

He made a quick side glance before giving me knowing smile.

"Honestly, not really. It won't give you a six-digit salary. But it sure feel so damn good to know that you contributed to a special child's development. Alam mo ba nung OJT pa ako, may naturuan akong humawak ng lapis, pakiramdam ko naipa-memorize ko na sa kanya ang Periodic Table of Elements!"

The tone of his voice revealed how excited he must have been. But I still don't get it.

"But it's still a job. What's the sense of working hard if you're not well compensated? You have to live a life too, and that includes a lot of expenses, practically speaking." I remarked.

"The pay isn't bad. All I'm saying is, if you want to be rich financially, it's probably not the best option."

"Then why do you do it? Don't you want to be rich?"

He chuckled and turned left.

"Depends on your idea of being rich. My profession makes me feel rich because that's where I find sense of fulfillment."

"Fulfillment, huh?" I asked in doubt.

"My Lois, having a six-digit paycheck doesn't guarantee a fulfilling career. A perfect job doesn't need not be the best paying. My advice when you graduate is to find a job that you will gladly do even if you won't get paid for it. It won't make you rich financially but the fulfillment you will get from it will make all your efforts worthwhile."

"Ang labo naman nun, kaya ka nga nag-aral ng matagal. How is that okay? Kahit you won't get back anything in return?"

"Oo naman. Take it from someone who courted you for the longest time and didn't get your 'yes' in return," he kidded.

"Sira, ibang usapan naman iyon," I slapped his arm.

He laughed before finally stopping the car.

"Ang ibig ko lang sabihin, work on something in life that makes you happy. I didn't get your yes, but I'm happy, because loving you in itself is what makes me happy."

Sumilip ako sa bintana, ignoring the way my heart was hammering against my chest upon hearing his last statement.

Stargazers' Play Park and Recreation, the signage says.

"Anong gagawin natin rito?" I asked as I looked around the forest-like recreation area.

"Marami. Things you've never tried before," he replied with a wink.

The entrance lobby looked abandoned but when we got inside, I found out that there are already a lot of visitors, men and women of all ages, even kids.

The place offers a wide variety of outdoor activities from trekking to mountain climbing, horseback riding to biking, paintball games, zip line rides and many more.

"When was the last time we played?" he asked meaningfully as we prepare to cross the hanging bridge leading to the activity area.

I stopped and thought for a while.

"Almost ten years ago?" I guessed.

"Right. It's been a decade since you last enjoyed playing with me. For the last time, would you give it another try? Let's play?"

He held out his hand as he said that and looked at me expectantly.

Memories of our childhood together flash-backed as I stared at his outheld hand. Wala pang kulay sa kanya ang pagkakaibigan namin noon. Back then I could hug him and hold his hand without hesitation.

He cleared his throat and I realized I just spaced out.

And with a smile, I took his hand. I can't wait to go back to the way we used to be before.

We first rented a bike, determined to explore the whole place. I can hardly remember when was the last time I rode a bike. It wobbled as expected and I panicked but Ethan held me still until I regained my balance.

It felt all too familiar.

Bakit nga ba hindi? He was the one who taught me how to ride a bike.

"Thank you, Ethan," I said out of nowhere as we pedaled side by side.

"Wala pa nga tayong nata-try na activity, nagpapasalamat ka na?"

"No, thank you for your patience noong tinuturuan mo akong mag-bike," paglilinaw ko.

Busy palagi si Papa noon at ipinauubaya niya kay Kuya ang pagtuturo sa akin mag-bisikleta pero laging umiinit ang ulo ni Kuya sa tuwing hindi ako maka-balanse. On the other hand, awang awa naman si Ethan sa mga sugat sa binti at tuhod ko kaya siya ang nagtiyagang magturo sa akin. It took me four months bago natuto.

He smiled in response and asked me to stop on the cliff reserved for the Ziplines.

I'm not really afraid of heights but I was a little nervous to do it because I've never tried it before. Kahit naman siguro sinong tao ang ibitin mo sa gitna ng bangin, kakabahan.

"Ma-a-idenfify pa ba tayo kapag nahulog tayo diyan? Should I call Kuya first just to inform him?" I asked anxiously while looking down.

He laughed and turned to the park employee.

"Can we go by twos?"

"Pwede naman po. Mukha ngang kinakabahan ang girlfriend ninyo," the young attendant replied.

Ethan turned to me with an amused smile, obviously waiting for me to correct the young employee's assumption about me being his girlfriend.

But I didn't bother. Maybe because I was already a nervous wreck, I don't want to add more emotion.

The attendant helped us position ourselves Superman style and secured our harnesses. Ethan reached out to hold my hand and at the count of three, they gave us a hard push.

I screamed at the top of my lungs and held on to Ethan's hand as if my life depended on it.

Then something happened.

I'm no longer afraid. Because Ethan was holding my hand the way he held it when I donated blood. It's as if holding his hand was enough to assure me that nothing will go wrong. I felt so sure that he wouldn't let anything or anyone harm me. And I trust him.

We reached the other end of the cliff and rode back with more confidence, still holding hands and laughing. The moment we were unstrapped from the harness, I threw myself at him in a hug, surprising him and myself.

I bit my lip as I pulled away, totally humiliated but he smiled and pulled me back in a tighter embrace.

"Congratulations! That's another first, my Lois," he whispered on top of my head before letting me go.

I smiled up at him, wondering why I suddenly felt disappointed that the hug was too brief. I wouldn't mind holding on a little longer to that embrace.

Whoa, where did that come from?!?

The heights is doing crazy things to my brain, it's good we're back on the ground.

When he stopped next to the walled area for paintball games, I got more excited.

"Oh my! I've always wanted to try this!" I exclaimed as I pulled the brakes of my bike.

"Partners?" he offered a hand as I got off.

"Of course. Like we always used to," I agreed and grabbed his hand, amazed by the way it seemed to fit perfectly in his.

Madalas kaming magkakampi noon dahil mas malaki sa amin si Kuya Brett at baby pa si Kirk. Although madalas natatalo pa rin kami, I remember we always had so much fun. Ethan never once blamed me for losing kahit alam namin pareho na kalampahan ko ang dahilan kaya palagi kaming kulelat.

They made us wear camouflage military outfits complete with helmet and we played war games of paintballs against the other group of teens. It felt like the game we used to play when we were kids kapag isinasali nila ako ni Kuya Brett sa b***l-barilan. And just like before, he would always cover me and lead me to safer places while he does most of the paintball g*n fighting.

Pero syempre matigas ang ulo ko and I believe in gender equality kaya singit pa rin ako ng singit kahit pilit niya akong pinagtatago.

"Tago, my Lois! Tago!"

He was instructing me to duck behind a bush while he guns them down with paintballs.

"Kaya ko 'to!" I said stubbornly and insisted on firing pero nang sumilip ako ay muntik na akong tamaan ng paintball sa mukha kung hindi ako nahila ni Ethan.

"You're one stubborn soldier, aren't you?" he scolded after he pushed me gently against the bush and trapped me in between his arms.

"Oo nga, muntik na ako. Sorry," I admitted while panting, fully aware of the fact that his face is just a few inches away from mine.

He knocked my helmet twice with his hand and smiled to let me know it's okay. After that, he took a few strands of my hair from my loose pony tail and tucked it behind ear.

"Pero sa lahat ng matigas ang ulo, ikaw ang pinakamaganda," he stated in a husky whisper.

I'm well aware that I look like a mess. My face was smudged with paint and I could feel sticky sweat running down my forehead. How he still finds me beautiful is outrageous.

"Ethan-" I started, drowning slowly in his eyes.

"I'm going to have a hard time forgetting you," he whispered as he slowly leaned closer.

Then don't. Don't forget me. Just forget the deal, my mind screamed.

Oh no, where did that come from?

Hindi na ako nakasabit sa ere pero hindi pa rin ako makapag-isip ng tama.

I shook my head to dismiss that sudden thought but Ethan misunderstood and immediately pulled away.

"I'm sorry, my Lois. I'm sorry," he apologized as he straightened up, widening the gap between us.

I nodded in reply, wondering why I don't even feel offended by his attempt.

Was he going to kiss me?

But the bigger question is...was I willing to let him?

A lot of questions were still running in my mind even as he helped me get up and lead me to a safe escape.

We ranked third among twelve contenders.

"Not bad for first timers, huh?" I nudged him.

"We still make a good team, don't we?"

"Yeah," I agreed.

He bought shirts from the souvenir shop and we changed into them to replace out sweaty matching red shirts.

"This is on my dream list, alam mo ba?" he said happily as we walked down the trail.

"Alin, ang mag-trekking?"

He chuckled.

"Nope. Ang magsuot ng couple shirt at ternuhan ka."

Tumingin ako sa blue shirt na suot namin na may nakasulat na 'I love Stargazers' bago tumawa.

"Terno nga tayo-," I started before looking around.

"At ng lahat ng napawisan sa paglalaro ng paintball," I finished.

He joined me in laughing when he realized that almost half of the population in this recreational park is wearing the same shirt as ours.

We also tried horseback riding along the creek and since it's getting a little late already, sabi niya ay last destination na namin ang titigilan noon.

He was the first one to get off the horse bago niya ako inalalayan.

"Where to?" I asked as I dusted off my sneakers.

"Here," he replied and pointed into a dark tunnel.

"It's a cave," I stated the obvious.

"Yup, a cave."

"It's dark," I told him something he already knew.

I'm more afraid of the dark than I am of heights. Hindi kasing tindi ng takot ko sa dugo but I try to avoid dark places as much as I could. Parang hindi ako makahinga sa madidilim na lugar. Kahit nga mag-isa ako sa kwarto ay may lamp shade ako o ginagamit ko ang pin light. And Ethan knows that.

"You conquered fear of blood and heights. This will be a piece of cake," he encouraged.

"How are we going to find out way in there?" I asked. It was pitch-black inside, daig pa ang mga horror house.

With that, he held out a handy flashlight from his side pocket.

"I wasn't chosen Boy Scout of the Year during 6th grade for nothing," he kidded as he held it up and let out a small beam.

"That's not much. It's still dark, Ethan. Tinitingnan ko pa lang iyan parang naso-suffocate na ako" I explained, my hand almost shaking.

He stepped closer and stood in front of me as he searched my eyes.

"I know. That's why I'm going to hold your hand," he reasoned out and reached down to hold and squeeze my hand.

I don't know why that sounded so comforting. It's as if merely holding his hand will give me enough courage to do almost anything.

"The paradise this cave leads to will be all worth it, I promise," he added as he held my hand up to his chest.

I looked up to him and saw his pleading eyes sparkle as he stared back at me. All of a sudden, I couldn't say no.

"Okay," I finally said after a sigh of defeat.

"I wish we could try mountain climbing instead," I complained as we entered the cave.

"I don't think I'd risk it, considering na may history ka ng asthma," he replied, guiding my every step as we go along the eerie underground chamber.

"That's so yesterday, Ethan. It's been how many years? Grade school pa ako nung huling atake ko diba?"

"Even so. We don't have that much time left anyway kaya hindi talaga pwede."

I slipped on my next step but Ethan was fast and caught me just in time. His arm lingered a little longer on my back, making me dizzy not because of the almost fall but because of his nearness. My face felt hot. I'm certain that I'm blushing and for the first time in my life, I was grateful it was dark.

"Let's hurry up a bit, okay?" yaya niya nang umagwat siya sa akin at muling kinuha ang kamay ko.

We walked in silence for the next few minutes. When he noticed that I'm being paranoid, glancing left and right, he started telling jokes and singing songs.

I glanced at his luminous watch and checked the time.

"Bakit ka ba nagmamadali? Almost six pa lang naman, diba sabi mo we have until midnight? It's just a two-hour drive back to Las Piñas diba?"

"Oo nga," he replied while pulling me behind.

We turned from a blind spot and reached the hidden exit. The end of the cave leads to an opening just enough to fit one person at a time going out sideways.

From that narrow exit comes a bright light in the most beautiful shade of orange. I then realized it was because of the setting sun.

"Yun naman pala so bakit ka atat?"

Ethan abruptly let go of my hand. He positioned me in front of him, his hands now resting on my shoulders.

"Because you have to see this," he finally said.