Erudite: The Intelligent

Chapter 6

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to CAAP Surigao Airport. Local time is 3:40 pm (PST) and the temperature is 29.2 °C.

For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about.

Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.

If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you.

On behalf of Gonzas Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!"

After two hours and twenty minutes, I am finally here. I slid the book inside my bag as well as my phone. I once again followed the procedure indicated inside the airport before heading out.

I messaged Floyd about my successful and safe arrival, before reading the message from my secretary regarding the car that I rented and the hotel's address. I also read the instructions written by her, what places, transportation and more.

I raised my left brow when I saw my name on a placard being held by a middle-aged man. I walked towards that person, he glanced at his phone first before looking at me again.

"Magandang araw po, Sir." bati niya, I nodded then pointed at my luggage. He immediately understood my signal and place my luggage in his car.

I watched him place my luggage inside before entering the back seat of the car then leaned on the chair. Good thing the car's clean. I'm at ease. I decided to rent one to avoid wasting my time finding or riding any vehicles. Public vehicles to be exact, don't get me wrong, riding one with different people's too hassle and dangerous.

"Ihahatid ko na po kayo sa Port, Sir." the man informed me before starting the engine of his car, I only nodded. I am sleepy already. As much as I want to sleep I can't, in the notes it'll only take 15 to 30 minutes for us to arrive in the said port.

A nd after 20 minutes of driving, we safely arrived at the port. According to my secretary's email this is Surigao BBC Port. I still need to ride a boat to get in the said island.

My heart started to beat faster when I saw a couple of boats and the blue sea. The blue shade of it is getting darker and darker in my eyes. That's how deep it is... same with my trauma.

Tinulungan ko ang lalaki sa pagtanggal ng aking mga bagahe mula sa kanyang sasakyan na aking nirentahan. I tightly gripped on the string of my bag. This is it. No time to back out.

"Nardo!" the driver called another man, who looks older than him.

An old man who's probably in his 60's, wearing a thin blue long sleeve and paired it with a knee length pants walked towards our way.

"Oh, ano pasahero ba?" he asked while walking barefoot.

"Oo, ihatid mo si Sir sa isla niyo." the driver said, the man nodded then looked at me.

"Hello po, Sir." bati niya at tinulungan ang lalaki sa paglalagay ng aking mga bagahe sa kanyang bangka. 

He pulled the wooden stair from his boat then guided me.

"Ako po pala si Nardo, Sir. Ako po ang maghahatid sainyo sa isla namin." pakilala niya tapos ay itinulak ang bangka palayo sa laot. He hopped on then started the engine of the boat. He handed me a familiar orange vest that I wore immediately, I suddenly remember the mistake I made years ago. And I vowed not to do it again.

I tightly gripped on the side of the boat and on my vest. The past's suddenly rushing inside my head. Come on calm down, this will only take 30 minutes, I looked around. The sea is calm, the sun is hot. Everything will be okay.

Minutes after, I already calmed down. The ride was hella smooth, the sea is so calm. I can even hear the waves. That night, the sea was cruel. Too cruel for us to survive.

"Mang Nardo, may I ask— may mga aksidenteng nangyari na po ba sa dagat na 'to?" I immediately stopped myself from using english, I think he can understand me, but I don't want to give him a hard time. I should be the one to adjust since I am the tourist here.

"Ah oo, pero iilan lang. Hindi naman ganoon kalala p'wera nalang sa mga aksidente noon, dahil binawal nang maglayag tuwing may bagyo. Halos lahat ng bangkero rito sinasabi na sa mga turista 'yon. Noon kasi may malalang aksidente dahil sa pagpupumilit na maglayag noong may bagyo." he explained while fixing something.

That night... his words are accurate with the accident happened to us that night.

My mouth gaped opened, is he referring to us?