Killing Me Slowly

Chapter 10

Goodness, I so love the trees as we drove to San Diego's beach resort. Todo picture at video ako sa magagandang puno at paminsan-minsa'y nililipat sa kabilang bintana kung saan ang dagat. The sea looks so blue and sparkly.

I suggested that they should go here since it's saturday, but I wasn't expecting to come along! Tangina, naging thirdwheel pa ako nang wala sa oras.

"Sir, I have a veeery great idea! Nakakainggit pero push! Dalhin mo siya sa beach. Iyong sa San Diego! Ganda dun eh, matutuwa 'yan. Baka pagkababa niyo sasagutin ka na agad." Tumawa ako iyong may kasabay na palakpak. Nawala iyon nang makitang nakangiwi siya.

"What? Ang gandang idea kaya no'n, Sir! Para maunwind naman iyang estudyante-- este nililigawan mo!" I added.

He sneered and sipped on his black coffee. "Fine. But you have to come."

Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Bakit niya ako isasama?

"Ano?! Gagawin pa akong chaperone, pota. Wag na pala, diyan nalang kayo sa kotse mo." Umirap ako. Walangya, ang pangit kaya tingnan no'n! Ano? Nakasunod lang ako sakanila? Tangina, no thanks.

"Language, Willow!" Singhal niya. Napairap lang ako. "It's final. Magiging komportable siya kapag naroon ka. You don't have to come with us the whole time, you can explore the resort by yourself." He continued with his stern voice.

Natahimik ako bigla doon. It sounded so wrong to me.. parang ang sakit marinig. I shrugged the thought off and smiled. Wala na akong magagawa tsaka wala naman sigurong masama kung sasama ako, I get to unwind too. Plus, i can write everything they'll do.

I packed clothes good for one day, uuwi rin naman agad kami mamaya, and brought my handy laptop so I could write during the trip. I can't miss a single detail. Dapat true to life talaga kaya as much as possible I have to witness every move they do. Kahit expression nga ay dapat ko rin itake note. I will do anything just to finish this novel.

Sir Santi picked me up first before going to Hestia's house. Laglag ang panga ko nang makita kung gaano kalaki ang bahay nila, shuta, akala ko sa mga libro ko lang nababasa ang mga ganito but damn, it's a freakin dream house. I mean, what do I expect? Chinese sila eh, magagaling sa business.

Hestia's chinky eyes widened as she yipped in excitement when she saw me, nakakatuwa talaga ang reaksyon niya. Kumaway ako sakanya. Siya ang nasa tabi ni Sir habang nasa likuran naman ako, thirdwheel na thirdweel tangina.

"I didn't know you're coming!" She gasped while laughing.

"Yeah, I invited her to make you feel comfortable." Tugon ni Sir.

"How thoughtful!"

They were smiling at each other with so much affection and here I am.. can't even explain why it irks me whenever I see them together. Nababaliw na ata ako. I decided to open my laptop and started writing another draft for the next chapter.

Nakikinig lamang ako sa landian nila. Napapaismid minsan kasi ang kokorni. I was mentally cringing the whole time. It feels weird to see your professor and classmate together. Tangina talaga. Kung hindi ko lang namimiss ang dagat ng San Diego ay natutulog lang sana ako ngayon sa bahay.

Sir Santi bought us food from the drive thru. He handed me my share and I started eating while observing them. Sir was helping her open the food pack, shuta, ano 'yan bata? Baldado? Pumait bigla panlasa ko kaya uminom ako ng coke.

"Hinay-hinay lang sa pag kain, Tia." Sir Santi softly said while smiling at her. Nickname basis nga sila!

Napaubo ako doon na ikinalingon nilang dalawa. God! Muntik pa akong masamid. Ngumisi lang ako na parang walang nangyari but after that, I could feel Sir Santi looking at me through the front mirror. Hindi ko nalang pinansin at itinuon ang atensyon sa pagpipicture.

When we arrived at the beach, I was in awe when I saw the white sand and the sparkling blue water. Parang gusto ko na agad tumakbo at lumangoy doon. I badly need this! Buti at pinasama niya ako! It wasn't a bad idea after all!

Or maybe it was.

Sobrang daming tao at karamihan ay mga foreigner. Alam ko na kung bakit ang daming nakakaalam sa San Diego, the beach gives you maldives vibes talaga tapos low budget lang. Kahit estudyante ay afford ang entrance fee. Binigyan kami ni Sir ng key card dahil dalawang room ang nireserve niya, isa sakanya at sa'min ni Hestia. The two of us were so excited to explore the beach pero hindi naman ako ang makakasama niya, the saddest part is I have to explore alone. It's not like i'm not used to it.

"Do you know what's Tiago's favorite food? Does he like seafoods?" Biglang tanong niya habang nag-aayos kami.

Lunch time na nga pala. I am currently giving my hair beach curls while she's in front of the mirror, fixing her summer dress. Umawang ang labi ko, she doesn't need any makeup or what, she's naturally beautiful. Iyong kagandahan na hindi nakakasawang tingnan. Iyong kailangan niya lang maligo at hindi na mag-aabalang maglagay ng palamuti kasi natural na iyong kanya.

Sucks to wake up early just to fix yourself while some doesn't have to. They're effortlessly beautiful na kasi.

Dumapo ang tingin ko sa'king sarili. I wonder if someone would fall in love with me. Sa panahon ngayon ay bumabase na sa itsura, aminin man natin, looks are what we see first before we get to see their personality. Kung titingin ka sa isang tao, hindi mo naman agad maappreciate ang ugali nila unless if they already show it to you kaya doon sa mukha mafofocus ang atensyon mo. Doon mo agad malalaman na magugustuhan mo ba siya o hindi, like what Sir Santi did.

When he saw her, he couldn't keep his eyes away from her. He already liked her even without knowing her personality. Hindi ko naman nilalahat pero karamihan talaga. Kahit ako rin naman, hindi ko itatanggi iyon.

"Willow?"

Kumurap ako at napatingin sakanya. "A-ah, hindi ko kasi alam eh.. tanungin mo nalang o gusto mo ako na magtanong?" I smiled shyly.

Humarap at lumapit siya sa'kin, binawi niya ang curler ko at siya na mismo ang nagcurl sa buhok ko. I pursed my lips.

Natahimik kami pareho. She was so focused on curling my hair. Ang bait bait niya, shet. Kung hindi lang ako straight, nilandi ko na rin siguro 'to.

"I'll ask him nalang." She let go of the last strands of my hair. "There you go! Tara na?" Aniya at binaba ang curler.

Tumango lang ako at inayos ang buhok. Bigla tuloy akong nawalan ng gana nang makalabas kami dahil ang ganda niya. She's a head turner, a neck breaker. Aakalin mong artista siya eh.

We saw Sir Santi standing beside this small coconut tree. Nang mapansin niya kami ay agad na dumapo ang tingin niya kay Hestia at bahagyang umawang ang bibig. He looks at her as if she's the only girl he saw.

What about me?

Natawa ako sariling kaisipan. That sounded so pathetic, hell. Ako rin mismo ang sumagot sa tanong ko. Tangina, sino ba ako para tingnan niya nang gano'n? Literally someone who helps him. Nothing more, nothing less. Nakakabaliw! Ba't ba ako nag-iisip ng ganito?

Tumingin si Sir sa'kin pero agad iyon bumalik kay Hestia, "Let's eat lunch?"

"Ay, hindi muna ako makakasama ah! May bibisitahin lang ako dito. Enjoy kayo! Text me if you need something. Bye!" Agad akong naglakad palayo sakanila.

I know that's what he's been waiting for. Agad akong nagtago sa likod ng nagtitinda ng ice cream. Nang tingnan ko ang direksyon nila ay wala na sila roon. They were walking towards the seafood restaurant beside the hotel. Sumunod naman ako, buti nalang at may lamesa sa labas. Doon ako umupo, sakto at nakatalikod si Hestia sa pwesto ko.

As soon as I sat down I started to feel really gloomy.

When the waiter went beside me and handed me the menu, literal na napanganga ako. Ang mamahal ng mga pagkain, shuta! Tubig, singkwenta pesos?! Ano 'yan holy water?! Inis kong inilapag ang menu at pinanood silang dalawa sa loob. I can see Sir laughing, umaalog din ang balikat ni Hestia. Oh edi kayo na masaya, ampota.

Ngumiwi ako nang papalapit na ang waiter. Sayang naman ipon ko dito. Tinuro ko ang Pancit Guisado dahil iyon lang ang pinakamura na natikman ko.

Ang tingin ko ay pabalik-balik mula sakanila at sa harapan ko. Argh! Ano bang pinaguusapan nila? Like, are they backstabbing someone or what? Sumimangot ako at nilabas ang phone para itext si Sir pero agad kong ibinalik at umiling. Ayokong istorbohin sila.

I smiled at the waiter as he placed a plate full of Pancit Guisado in front of me. Agad akong natakam dahil amoy palang parang masarap na and I wasn't wrong! It's really good! Sulit naman pala ang presyo.

Magiliw akong kumain nang may nakita akong mga lalakeng sumisipat sa'kin. They were a group consisting of three men and they've been eyeing me tapos biglang magkakatinginan sila at nagtatawanan.

I gulped the massive ball in my throat. Yumuko ako at mahinhin na kumain. Are they.. making fun of me? Kung si Hestia ba ang narito pagtatawanan din kaya siya? Hindi ko na magawang sumubo pa kaya tumingala ako at tinawag ang waitress sa kabilang table.

"P-pakibalot nalang po.." Nahihiyang sambit ko. Tumango lang ito at kinuha ang plato ko.

The guys were still doing it. Mas lalong sumama ang loob ko. Nang tumingin ako sa direksyon nila Sir ay nagtama ang paningin namin. His forehead creased when he saw me as if he wasn't expecting to see me, I averted my gaze at my legs and played with my fingers. Nawawala na talaga iyong gana ko. Gusto ko nalang umuwi.

May nakita akong pares ng itim na converse sa harap ko.

"Hey, I'm sorry if we made you uncomfortable. Are you alone?" Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakitang isa iyon sa mga lalake kanina.

His jet black hair was disheveled because of the wind. Matangos din ang ilong niya at mapungay ang mga mata. Gwapo. That's how you can easily describe him.

"Y-yes, bakit po?"

He shyly scratch his nape and extended his arm towards me. Tinanggap ko naman iyon and damn, his hand was softer than mine. Mayaman ito panigurado. Nahihiya naman iyong magaspang at pawisin kong kamay.

"I'm Gabo, you are?" Nakangiting aniya. Ngumiti rin ako at sinambit ang pangalan.

Gabo was with me all throughout the day, I wasn't expecting this but he's really kind and funny. He kept me entertained while I was secretly eyeing Sir Santi and Hestia. They were having fun too, buti pa sila.

"Here. So you're a writer? Naks naman. Pasama naman ako sa story mo!" He handed me the buko juice he bought.

"Sige ba! Gagawin kitang second leading man na mamamatay agad sa unang chapter." Tumawa ako. He pouted his lips. He looks so cute! Sarap iuwi! Charot!

"Wag nalang pala. You're so mean." Kunwari'y nagtatampo niyang ani. Natawa lang ako at naglakad kami papunta malapit sa dagat.

I completely lost sight of Sir and Hestia. Hindi ko na sila nakita kaya hindi ko nalang din sila hinanap. Susulitin ko nalang 'to dahil libre. Alas singko na at papalubog na ang araw, paniguradong uuwi na kami maya-maya. Gabo was telling me stories about his adventures together with his cousins, iyong dalawang lalake kanina.

"Bakit niyo pala ako pinagtatawanan kanina? Gano'n ba ako kapangit? Tangina." I directly said. Nagulat siya doon. I bit my lip when I realized at just cussed at him.

"What? No, you're not! Kaya kami nagtatawanan dahil inaasar nila ako sayo. You're really pretty, Willow. We didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, sorry talaga." Ngumiwi siya. "You're pretty. Nakakatuwa kang panoorin habang kumakain but you seemed sad and lonely so I approached you." He chuckled.

Natigilan ako doon. Biglang uminit ang pisngi ko sa sinabi niya. Oh my god, he's the first guy to ever give me compliments. Siya ang kauna-unahang lalaking nagandahan sa'kin. Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ba ako sakanya. What if he's a bad guy and he's luring me with his words? O di kaya ay isa siyang playboy at ako ang next target niya?

Putsa, ganda ka girl?

Peke akong natawa, "Hindi 'no, bakit naman ako malulungkot? Nag-eenjoy nga ako dito." Nilibot ko ang paningin sa dagat. The sky was turning red orange as sun starts to set. Ang ganda ng view.

Humarap siya sa'kin, bigla akong nailang dahil ang pangit kaya ng side profile ko! Kaya humarap nalang din ako sakanya.

"I can see loneliness in your eyes while looking inside the restaurant, Willow. Ano bang tinitingnan mo kanina?" He asked that made my brows furrowed in confusion. Anong pinagsasabi niya?

"Wala. Inaappreciate ko lang yung restaurant, 'no. Ano ka ba, ayos lang naman ako."

Nagulat ako nang dumapo ang kamay niya sa gilid ng mukha ko at hinawi ang buhok na bumababa doon. Inilagay niya iyon sa likod ng tenga ko, I couldn't help but blush with his gestures.

"You don't have to tell m--"

Hindi na niya ito natuloy nang may nagsalita sa likuran namin. When I saw who it was, my mouth parted with how intense his eyes were.

"Willow."

KILLING ME SLOWLY