MONTE COSTA SERIES 3: INNOCENT TIDES

Kabanata 25

"HINDI tayo magkokotse?" kunot-noong tanong ni Ae nang magtungo sila sa garahe.

Buong umaga itong wala kanina dahil mayroong inasikaso kasama si Linus. Pagbalik ay may dala na itong sandamakmak na damit na binili para sa kanya kaya ngayon ay may nasuot siya para sa lakad nila.

"No, baby." Hinila ni Linel ang takip ng motorsiklo. "We're using this one."

Ae stared at the motorcycle. Nang mapagtanto na iyon ang parehong motorsiklo na ginamit nila noon ni Linel sa unang date nila ay halos mamilog ang kanyang mga mata. The sense of nostalgia rushed through her veins, bringing a wide smile to her lips.

"You still have it!" bulalas niya.

Linel smirked. "Of course. I'm a little sentimental."

Oh, she knows that. Kung hindi ito sentimental ay hindi naman ito magtyatyaga na magsulat sa journal nito ng mga bagay tungkol sa kanya.

She poked him on his side. "I've read your first journal entry. Na-love at first sight ka talaga sa'kin, ha?"

Umismid ito. "Why wouldn't I?" He clutched her hair and lowered his head. "If you were in my shoes, you would understand."

Hinalikan nito ang kanyang mga labi sa marahang paraan bago nito isinuot sa kanya ang helmet. Pinagmasdan naman niya ito habang abala itong ikabit ang strap sa bandang baba niya.

She realized that they were like innocent tides back then. Clueless that the love that hit them that day would stay in their hearts this long. Pareho na lamang silang sumabay sa agos ng pagmamahal na mayroon sila para sa isa't isa kahit walang kasiguraduhan kung darating ang panahon na muli silang magtatagpo.

She smiled. Sana lamang ay kayanin nila ang mga bagyong paparating dahil pakiramdam niya ay hindi na siya makahahanap ng lalakeng kaya siyang mahalin ng gaya ng pagmamahal ni Linel sa kanya.

"Alright, let's go," ani Linel.

Sumakay sila ng motorsiklo bago ito binuhay ni Linel. Kusa naman niya itong niyakap sa baywang kaya nilingon siya nito.

"I don't have to force you anymore, hmm?" he teased.

"Nope. I'm gonna be like a koala to you this time."

Natawa ito nang mahina bago nito tuluyang pinatakbo ang motorsiklo. Hindi siya nagtanong kung saan ba iyong lugar na sinabi nitong pagdadalahan sa kanya kaya nagtaka siya noong dumiretso sila sa basement ng isang building. He parked the motorcycle next to some luxury cars before he turned off the engine.

Napakunot ng noo si Ae. "Dito ang Monte Costa? Is it a hotel or a resto?"

"No, baby. We're gonna have to use a helicopter to get there. Kung magmomotor tayo, baka abutin tayo ng gabi sa daan."

"Oh, okay." Hinayaan niya itong alisin ang helmet. "May pilot ng helicopter kang kinuha?"

Linel entwined their fingers. "I am your pilot."

Napakurap siya. "You know how to fly a helicopter?"

"Yeah. Don't worry, I'm licensed." Kinindatan siya nito saka na siya niyaya na magtungo ng elevator.

Ewan ba ni Ae pero parang hindi siya kinakabahan. Hindi kagaya noong magmomotor sila noong high school. Siguro dahil mahal niya na ito at may tiwala siya rito. Alam niyang hindi siya ipapahamak ni Linel kaya kahit unang beses niyang sasakay ng helicopter ay excitement ang naramdaman niya.

Pagkarating pa lamang nila sa roof top ay hindi na naalis ang kislap sa mga mata niya. She even smiled at Linel as she walked with him.

"Kanino 'tong helicopter?" she asked.

"Sa tropa. This is his baby," sagot nito bago siya inalalayang sumampa sa helicopter. Nang makasakay siya ay hinimas nito ang kanyang tiyan. "And my baby will grow here someday."

Natawa na lamang si Ae sa sinabi nito. Ewan ba niya. Ang babaw yata ng kaligayahan niya ngayon. Samantalang noon ay bwisit na bwisit siya sa mga banat ni Linel. Iba yata talaga ang epekto ng pag-ibig. Nakaka-corny!

She waited for Linel to get in. Inasikaso siya nito at sinigurong nakabit nang maayos ang straps nang ligtas siya. He then started the heli, and as soon as it started to fly, Ae held him by his thigh as the adrenaline rushed through her veins.

The experience brought different emotions to her heart. Ngunit mas nangibabaw ang pagkamangha niya kay Linel. He made flying a helicopter so easy. Lalo tuloy itong gumwapo sa paningin niya.

"That's Monte Costa," ani Linel habang pababa ang helicopter.

She looked at where he was pointing at. "A resort?" may excitement sa boses niyang tanong.

"That one is a resort. The Raja Amor Suites. While that large unfinished building is the MCB's clubhouse."

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "A clubhouse?"

Tumango ito. "I'm part of the Monte Costa Brotherhood. I got invited a year ago before the clubhouse's construction started."

"Na-invite ka? You were here last year?"

"I went home every year. I just . . . didn't want to bother you."

Lumamlam ang kanyang mga mata. "Sayang. Sana matagal na tayong nagkaayos."

Linel pinched her cheek. "It's fine. We're okay now. We still have a lifetime to spend together anyway."

Nginitian na lamang niya ito saka siya nag-focus sa pagtingin-tingin sa paligid hanggang sa tuluyang nakalapag ang helicopter.

Linel helped her get out of the heli. Magkahawak-kamay silang nagtungo sa nakaparadang golf cart at ginamit iyon patungo sa hindi pa tapos na clubhouse.

"My cabin is upstairs but it's still not done so we can't stay there yet. We'll book a room in Ja's resort instead so we can spend the night here. Masulit man lang bago ako umalis bukas ng hapon."

Nakaramdam kaagad ng kirot sa dibdib si Ae dahil sa sinabi nito. Iniisip pa lamang niya na aalis na ito bukas ay nalulungkot na siya. Nayakap niya tuloy ito. Para siyang bata na ayaw magpaiwan kaya naglalambing.

Linel chuckled softly. He wrapped his arms around her then kissed her on top of her head. "Smile, baby. We're here to enjoy. Come on. Let's go upstairs so you can give me ideas for the cabin's design."

Tumango na lamang siya't sumama na rito patungo sa itaas. The room was still bare when they got in. Nakapalitada na ang pader ngunit talagang hindi pa pwedeng magamit. Nagbigay siya ng ilang ideya kay Linel. Maya-maya ay nagtungo sila sa veranda kung saan tanaw nila ang payapang karagatan. She held onto the railing while Linel hugged her from behind.

Ae sighed while still staring at the vast ocean. "Hindi mo talaga ako pwedeng kontakin habang nasa trabaho ka?"

"No. It's for your own good, but I promise to finish the job as soon as possible so I can come home. My next vacation might be longer. I'll ask for a month if they'd let me so I'll make sure you have your condo in a few days."

"Sino ang mag-aasikaso?"

"I already met up with a realtor earlier. Pinahanap ko ng malapit sa university mo. I asked for something wide so when I'm not with you, you can have your friends come over."

Umikot siya't humarap kay Linel. "Mahal mo pa kaya ako kapag bumalik ka?"

He scoffed. "Of course." Itinulak nito ang ilang hibla ng buhok niya patungo sa likod ng kanyang tainga. "You don't have to question my loyalty nor my feelings for you. I've always been yours."

She sighed. "Sana nga."

Linel cupped her cheek. "Focus on your studies while I am away so you wouldn't think of me a lot. I don't want you to fail your classes because you miss me. If I will affect your studies, that would make me worried while at work."

Pilit niya itong nginitian. "I won't. Hindi rin ako sasama kina Vina na uminom. I'm gonna focus on my studies."

"Good. Avoid boys at all cost."

Umismid siya. "Linel, kung gusto kong mag-entertain, matagal na."

His eyes glistened with joy. Maya-maya ay bumuntonghininga ito. "God, this still feels like a dream."

She smirked and pinched his cheek. "Let's take a photo so I can have something to look at when you're away."

Inilabas niya ang phone niya't pinindot ang camera app. Nag-set siya ng timer para hindi na mahirapang pumindot. She then extended her arm so they could both fit in the frame. Nang matatapos na dapat ang countdown ng timer ay biglang hinalikan ni Linel ang kanyang pisngi. Nakuhanan tuloy ang bahagya niyang pagkagulat dahil sa paghalik nito.

She stared at their photo with a small smile on her lips while Linel rested his chin on her shoulder.

"We look cute together," she said.

"We'd look better if you're in a white dress."

Ae smirked. "Baka naman pakasalan mo ako kaagad pagkatapos kong makuha ang license ko bilang nurse?"

A meaningful smile made its way to Linel's lips.

"Baby, that's the plan . . ."