When We Collide (Book 1 of When Trilogy)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Jerk

Alas siyete na ng gabi nang makarating kami sa hotel namin. Sayad na sayad ang katawan ko dahil sa biyahe. We took the bus from Kalibo to the Jetti Port. Tapos sumakay pa kami ng Jetti bago kami tuluyang nakarating ng Boracay.

It took long hours for us to see the beautiful Boracay again but it was all worth it. The moment I step a foot on the bay and the cold night breeze hit my skin, I'm alive again.

Humiga muna ako saglit sa malambot na kama upang ipahinga ang katawan ko saglit. Papa booked two rooms, isa sa kanila ni mama at isa para sa'min ni Colton. This room has two beds, obviously. Pero dahil wala si Colton, walang mag-ookupa nung isang kama.

I fished the phone from my pocket to text Jess.

Me:

My b***h ass is already here in Boracay.

Ilang segundo lang ay lumitaw na ang ellipses sa conversation namin, tanda na nagta-type na siya ng reply.

Jess:

While mine is stuck here in Angeles City. Damn great!

Me:

Haha! Miss you!

Jess:

Miss you, too! O, ano? Wala ka pa bang nakitang gwapo diyan?

Natigilan ako nang bigla na namang rumehistro sa isipan ko ang hitsura niya. He's been occupying my mind the whole time. Nawawaglit lang siya sa isipan ko kapag nakakatulog ako sa biyahe.

It was just the first time that I saw him and yet he managed to create a war in my bloodstreams.

Ipiniling ko ang ulo ko at muling itinuon ang atensyon sa phone ko.

Nagtipa ako ng message para kay Jess.

Me:

Nada! Anabet 'yung mga kasama kong passengers sa plane.

Sometimes it's okay to lie to your best friend, especially at times like this. I'm trying to get rid of that guy's gorgeous face inside my brain at kapag ikinwento ko siya kay Jess ay lalo lang namin siyang mapag-uusapan hanggang sa mas lalong tumindi ang pagkagusto ko na makita pa siya.

The guy is off limits.

Jess:

Diyan sa bay wala?

Me:

Wala, 'di pa 'ko lumalabas. Nasa hotel room pa ako at nagpapahinga saglit.

Jess:

Ikaw lang? Atat na atat yatang mamingwit ng mga naka two piece si Colton. Hindi man lang nagpahinga. Thirsty af.

Natawa ako sa reply niya. Tingnan mo 'to. Ang sama ng mga iniisip kay Colton parati. If these two don't despise each other, ishi-ship ko ang dalawang 'to, e. Mabuti na rin 'yon dahil magiging sister-in-law ko si Jess pero malabo, baka magising na lang ako isa sa kanila ay pinaglalamayan na.

Me:

Ang sama mo sa kapatid ko! Wala talaga siya dahil inindian kami. Malapit na siyang itakwil ng mga magulang namin.

Nag-usap pa kami ni Jess ng ilang saglit bago ako nagpaalam na lalabas na ako dahil tumatawag na si mama.

Hindi na ako nagbihis at lumabas na ng kwarto para puntahan sina mama na nasa kabila lang. Papa is watching his game show on the television. He glanced at me and gave me a slight smile. Maya-maya lang ay lumabas na si mama mula sa restroom.

"Tara na." She smiled at us. Tumango naman ako. Pinatay na ni papa ang TV at tumayo na siya. Lumabas na kaming tatlo sa kwarto at nagpunta sa bay para humanap ng pwedeng makainan.

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mamangha habang naglalakad kami sa bay at nadadaanan namin ang mga iba't-ibang kainan, bars, hotels, you name it. Mas magandang maglakad-lakad dito sa tuwing gabi dahil mas buhay na buhay ang Boracay at sa tuwing umaga naman ay island hopping ang masarap gawin.

Parang tumalon ang puso ko nang mapadaan kami sa Epic. Collect yourself, Beatrix. Hindi pa ito ang tamang oras upang magwalwal. I should keep in mind that we're going to have our dinner first.

I gave Epic a one last glance.

Mamaya ka sa'kin.

Habang naglalakad kami sa bay at naghahanap ng makakainan ay iba't-ibang lahi ang mga nakakasalubong namin.

There are some white men that we walked passed by. They're tall sizzling hot... but I didn't even flinch... and I'm surprise that I didn't.

Luminga-linga ako sa paligid hoping that I can find a guy that I will find attractive enough to make me gasp. Yes, I did find plenty of attractive guys out there but they all failed to make me gasp.

And then the realization hit me...

I'm just making excuses to find a guy who got the same features as him (the gorgeous guy on the plane) because I know that deep, deep down, I will never see him again so might as well find a duplicate for him. Isa pa, take na siya so a duplicate is really necessary—wait, necessary? It's not necessary for me to find a duplicate for him!

May Brody akong crush sa Angeles! Bakit nga ba nakalimutan ko ang crush kong si Brody sa isang iglap lang?

"Dito na?" Papa asked.

"Yes," Binalingan ako nang tingin ni mama. "How about you? Dito mo na gustong kumain?"

"Kahit saan pa. I'm so hungry, hindi na ako magiinarte pa..."

Both my parents laughed and shook their heads before we enter the seafood restaurant. They gave us the menu and I just ordered adobo rice and stuffed squid while my parents picked lobsters and shrimps.

I was tempted to order shrimps, too but my instincts are stopping me. I don't need an allergy to accompany me for this vacation, thank you very much.

"Dear, what is wrong? Kanina ka pa tahimik..." Pansin ni papa kay mama. Yeah, I noticed, too pero hindi na kailangang tanungin pa iyan. Alam ko na ang dahilan kung bakit ganyan si mama.

"It's... It's your son. Tinawagan niya ako kanina at sinabi niya na hindi talaga siya makakahabol." Disappointment is lingering on her voice.

I do understand where my mama is coming from but why does it makes me feel like I'm not enough? Hindi pa ba sapat na nandito ako kahit wala si Colton?

I shook my thoughts away.

"Sinabi ko na sa'yo, ma... h'wag mo na munang isipin si Colton. Enjoy! Matanda na 'yon."

"Iyon na nga! Kung kailan tumanda ay saka naging ganito! Your papa and I are growing old, too! Paano kapag nawala kami? Wala nang magagawa ang iyak niya! You know what? When your brother calls you, tell him na humanap na siya ng ibang pamilya!"

Halata pa rin ang iritasyon sa boses ni mama dahil sa hindi pagsipot nito... Sino ba namang hindi maiinis? Nang marinig ko ang pag-uusap nila ay siguradong-sigurado na si Colton na sasama siya sa amin pero ang ending kami lang tatlo nila mama ang nandito.

Kaya kahit papaano talaga ay naiintindihan ko ang inis ni mama pero sana bukas ay maayos na.

Natawa kami pareho ni papa.

"Ma, chill out... Isa pa, hinding-hindi mo kayang itakwil si Colton dahil kaunting lambing lang no'n sa'yo ay nalilimutan mo na ang dahilan kung bakit ka naiinis sa kanya." Sabi ko na naging dahilan upang mapahalakhak si papa dahil alam niya na tama ang pinupunto ko.

"Well, not this time! Masyado nang mabigat ang ginawa niya ngayon!" Nagtatampong sabi ni mama. Nakatinginan kami ni papa at nagkibit balikat dahil alam namin pareho na hanggang salita lang ngayon si mama pero sa huli, kapag nakausap na siya ni Colton ay makakalimutan na niya ang sama ng loob niya ngayon sa kanyang panganay.

Ilang sandali pa ay dumating na ang order namin at nakakain na rin kami sa wakas. Pinag-usapan namin kung ano ang gagawin namin bukas habang kumakain kami. We stayed there for like two hours at pagkatapos no'n ay bumalik na kami sa hotel.

Jetlag daw sila kaya magpapahinga na muna sila.

Napangisi ako sa loob-loob ko. What is jetlag?

Walang jetlag-jetlag sa'kin dahil kanina ko pa gustong pumarty. Bukas ay magi-island hopping kami and tonight, I'm thinking that maybe I can go bar hopping!

Bar hopping is going to be exciting kapag kasama ko si Jess, that girl is a wild one. But it looks like I'm on a solo flight tonight. Okay lang naman dahil I can be a strong and independent woman.

Nagpalipas muna ako ng kalahating oras bago ako nagbihis. I changed my jeans into a highwaisted shorts. Wala na akong pinalitan sa pang-itaas ko. It's better this way. It's a little bit contradicting. My cleavage is peeking through my spaghetti strap top and the denim jacket is there to cover my arms and shoulder.

I brushed my teeth after that did a little retouch, sprayed my expensive perfume and now I'm ready to party!

Ang Epic ang una kong naisipan na puntahan. It's just few meters away from the hotel that we checked in kaya doon ako nagpunta.

The song that's currently playing is a throwback song. Alas diyes pa lamang kaya hindi pa masyadong wild ang mga tao. It's still chill but not that chill. Pagpasok ko ay pumwesto ako kaagad doon sa may bar counter.

Tempation Thursdays. 'Yan ang tawag nila during thursday nights. I called the bartender and asked for a drink. I ordered a lychee martini. After a few minutes he served my drink.

I took a sip of it as I slightly bang my head to Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA. Dang, I can't believe this song is now considered as a throwback track. I used to dance with this song when I was in second grade imagining that I'm in the music video, too.

I will literally nod my head and move my hips like freaking hell yeah! Ang alam ko ay may video sa akin si Colton noon. Hindi ko lang alam kung nasaan na ngayon. He used that to blackmail me but it didn't work. I look awesome in the video! Bakit ko ikakahiya?

Isa pa, kapag ipinakita kong nahihiya ako o di kaya'y naapektuhan, he will just push it further. Hindi niya ako titigilan. The more you show people how affected you are, the more they will try to mess you up.

"Whatever you're thinking must be really funny." I was sucked back in reality when I heard a thick Aussie accent coming from my left side. I always love hearing Aussies talk, it amuses me all the time. If only I have an Australian accent, I would never shut the f**k up.

Raise Up Lights. Saying these three words are like saying 'Razor Blades' using an Australian accent. Man, I do that all the time.

Tiningnan ko ang Autraliano na nasa tabi ko. I plainly smiled at him before taking another sip of my martini. He's handsome, alright, but I'm not interested.

At kahit gaano pa ako ka sucker sa accent niyang pinagpala ay hindi pa rin ako interisado. I'm here for a single drink at pagkatapos no'n ay lilipat na ako ng bar.

Duh. Bar hopping was my initial plan.

Saglit siyang humarap sa bartender para um-order ng drink at pagkatapos no'n ay muli na niya akong hinarap.

"So, what brings you here?" He asked before taking a sip of his vodka. He's not gonna drop it easily, does he?

"Just wanna chill..." Tipid kong sagot kasabay ng tipid kong pagngiti.

A sexy chuckle rose from his Australian throat. "Aren't we the same, mate?"

No. We are not. You're here to flirt and I'm here to f*****g chill. Argh! I was in grade 11 when I started going to bars and I can clearly tell if a guy is flirting or not. Kabisadong-kabisado ko na ang mga karakas nilang bulok.

I just shrugged before plastering a plain and simple back-the-f**k-off smile.

He's a good looking aussie man, that explains why some girls in this place keep on stealing glances at him pero sadyang hindi talaga ako interisado sa kanya.

The guy began asking me questions... Naubos ko na ang martini ko pero panay pa rin ang kausap niya sa'kin at wala naman akong magawa kung hindi sagutin.

"You know, I heard a lot about Angeles City..."

I rolled my eyes inwardly, baka 'yung sa Walking Street ang nabalitaan niya. Damn!

In every beautiful city there will always be a corner for its flaws.

Walking Street is quite popular for the foreigners because the prostitution there is very rampant and my heart breaks for those women who are sold like hotcakes in there...

Jess and I often go there to party... Nando'n kasi ang bar na madalas naming puntahan. Madaming pwedeng puntahan do'n and everytime I see women there who work as prostitutes napapaisip ako parati...

It must be hard for them to fall in that kind of fate... Imagine, letting random guys do everything with your body and stomp your dignity in exchange for a certain amount of money.

Ako, personally, if I would start engaging through s****l intercourse gusto ko ay iyong sa taong mahal ko...

But women in that place, they have no choice and it's heartbreaking to see them walking around in that place with invisible chains around their ankles, waiting for someone to set them free.

"I hope they're all good..." Sabi ko at hilaw na ngumisi. Sumagot pa siya ngunit hindi ko na pinakinggan.

How do I say 'f**k off' without offending this Aussie?

Pigil iritasyon akong napatingin sa may entrance dahil kating-kati na akong umalis.

Ngunit para lang akong napako dito sa kinauupuan ko nang makita ko kung sino ang paparating... And at the exact arrival of the gorgeous guy from the plane, the DJ started playing Calvin and Rihanna's 'This Is What You Came For'.

He's wearing a plain white shirt that fitted his body perfectly and a blue navy sweat shorts. It's impossible not to notice his biceps because they're screaming through the sleeves of his shirt. I realized that he's really tall, like six feet tall and he has this well built physique that will make every girl swoon.

His lips are slightly parted as he walks inside the room with his demeanor screaming with impassiveness, making it impossible to read him. But he does look... strict and guarded. Like an art that is free to look at but only few were meant to understand.

Napasinghap ako nang magpunta siya sa gawi ko at nang tumama ang kanyang mga mata sa'kin ay para napaso at mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong nag-iwas nang tingin. My cheeks warmed in sudden embarrassment. Nahuli niya akong nakatitig sa kanya! I don't even know this guy but why does it seems like he has this magnet around him, pulling me in? Why is it so hard to resist? s**t! Gusto kong sigawan ang sarili ko! This guy is taken for crying out loud, Beatrix! Get some decency!

The world is so unfair, I must say. If hot damn guys aren't into you, they're taken, and if they're not taken, they're fictional. Petition for justice! Dammit!

"One shot of Jack and Coke, please..." My head automatically jerked sideward when I heard a deep and smoky voice coming from my left side. Doon ko napagtanto na ngayon ay ino-okupa na niya ang bakanteng upuan sa tabi ng Australianong kanina pa ako kinakausap.

I shook the attraction that I'm obviously feeling towards this gorgeous guy. Itinuon ko na lamang ang pansin ko sa Aussie na kanina ay gusto kong paalisin ngunit ngayon ay nagpapasalamat ako dahil nandito siya.

Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kapag walang isang bagay na magsisilbing pagitan sa amin ng lalaking ito.

"What were you're saying?"

"I was saying that this is not the first time that I visited Boracay... The island is just so wonderful, blessed are the people who lives in here."

Natawa ako nang bahagya. "Yeah right. Same thoughts. I've always wanted to live in here. The night life in this island is just incomparable, isn't it, mate?"

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay nasagot ko siya nang matino. Aminin ko man sa hindi, sa katabi ng Australianong ito ay doon ko nais iparating ang mga sagot ko. I want him to hear my voice, I want him to know that I wanted to live in this island.

Kung hindi ito isang kahibangan ay baka isa itong katangahan! I f*****g hate myself right now. Gusto kong iuntog ang ulo ko sa bar counter nang mahimasmasan ako.

"I agree..." He said looking at me quite puzzled. Parang nanibago siya dahil biglang sumigla ang boses ko at sa wakas ay sinagot ko siya nang matino.

I just gave him a faint smile before finishing my martini. "Three shots of vodka, please." I told the bartender at kaagad niya namang ibinigay ang gusto ko. Bar hopping who?

Unconsciously, napatingin na naman ako sa gawi no'ng lalaking nasa plane kanina. Halos mapanganga pa ako habang pinapanuod ko kung paano umawang ang mga labi niya sa tuwing iinom siya sa kanyang baso.

Palipat-lipat lang ang tingin niya sa baso niya at sa cabinet sa likod ng bartender kung saan nakahilera ang iba't-ibang bote ng alak.

Ni hindi niya magawang luminga. Hindi ba niya napapansin na halos lahat ng babae dito (isa na ako doon) ay nakatingin na sa kanya? Yes, he just stole the spotlight from this Aussie guy sitting beside me.

Siya na ngayon ang sentro ng atraksyon, siya na ngayon ang bida. His charm just works like a thief, stealing every woman's attention. And I don't think he's aware of that, or maybe he is but he just chooses to ignore it instead.

I sneered silently, masyadong loyal sa girlfriend. My teeth gritted for some reason at that sudden thought. Kinuha ko ang isang shot ng vodka at nilanggok iyon.

After finishing the three shots, I asked the bartender to give me my fourth shot. The Aussie guy looked at me with amusement.

"Woah, woah... Girl, take it easy." Natatawa nitong sabi. Nginisian ko lamang siya at muling sinulyapan ang lalaking kanina ko pa hindi mapigilang titigan.

Napa-awang ang bibig ko habang dinadama ang unti-unting pagkulo ng aking dugo. Nalingat lang ako sandali ay mayroon ng babaeng nakalapit sa kanya! And the nerve of this girl!

It took every ounce in me to restrain myself from jumping to this guy tapos ang babaeng hilaw na ito hindi man lang nagdalawang isip!

Narinig ko silang nag-usap at hindi ko mapigilan ang pagpupuyos sa aking dibdib! As what I can hear from her accent, magkakabayan ang babaeng ito at ang Australianong katabi ko.

Lalong sumiklab ang iritasyon ko dahil sa bawat tanong nung babae ay sinasagot naman nito... You have a girlfriend, haven't you? Just dismiss her blonde Australian head!

"You know, whatever problems you have with your boyfriend you should settle it right away..." Biglang sabi ni Aussie guy na naging dahilan upang balingan ko siya ng nagtatakang tingin.

"Huh?"

"That guy... isn't he your boyfriend? I can read through the stares that you're giving him that you know him and you're dying of jealousy because he's talking to that hottie."

Namilog ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. What? Gano'n ba talaga ako kung makatingin? Am that obvious? Do I really look like I can pass to be his girlfriend?

Damn! No matter how pleasing his words for my ears are they're unfortunately wrong. Mali sa impresyon at mali-maling.

Umiling ako. "I don't even know him." I almost whine. Tangina! Sino ba kasi siya? He's just there, treating me like a thin air and yet he still managed to create a war inside my head!

Tumawa siya. "The way that you look at him says otherwise. You look like a jealous ex-girlfriend who still wants that guy all to yourself."

Nang hindi ako makasagot at awang lamang ang bibig ko ay muli niya akong tinawanan at sinulyapan ang dalawa.

"But you know what, you can have the man all to yourself. I'll go get the hottie." Tinutukoy niya iyong kalahi niya. Natawa naman ako sa kanya.

"Are you f*****g serious?" Natatawa ko pa ring sabi.

"Well, maybe. At least that girl is a little less hassle compared to you."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Well, good luck to you."

"Oh, watch me." He mouthed with a grin.

"Boracay is such a lovely island. I never wanna go back to Australia!" Bigla niyang sabi saakin at sinadya pa talagang lakasan ang boses niya. The Aussie girl immediately turned her head on our side.

"Well, hi, mate! Aren't we the same?" Bigla nitong sabi. Kinindatan ako no'ng Australiano bago hinarap ang kalahi niya. Napaawang ang bibig ko at hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o hindi. Damn fast!

"God, let's not go home... this place is close to paradise."

Pagtutuloy niya sa palabas na kanyang sinimulan nang kumagat sa pain ang kanyang bitag.

"I know right! I want to stay here a little longer... I love the island, I love the people." She said with enthusiasm. My eyes shifted to the gorgeous guy and who's now texting someone, not minding that this Aussie guy managed to steal the Aussie girl.

"Shall we continue this on the dance floor? If you don't mind..." He asked out of nowhere.

"Sure!" Masigla nitong sabi at parang nakalimutan na niya na ang pakay niya kanina at nailipat na ang atensyon sa kanyang kalahi. Maybe he really is a real charmer... it's just that this gorgeous guy is all over me kaya hindi ako naapektuhan.

Tumayo na ang si Aussie guy at hinawakan ang kamay ni Aussie girl. Muli niya akong kinindatan bago sila naglaho at nagpunta ng dancefloor.

Mag-isa akong tumatawa nang mahina rito habang hindi pa rin makapaniwala kung gaano niya kabilis nakuha ang babaeng natipuhan niya.

"Damn smooth..." I murmured to myself with a slight shake of my head.

Unaware, I looked at the gorgeous guy's direction with a still left over smile on my face. Nabura kaagad ang mga iyon at napalitan ng pagkabigla nang mapansin kong kanina pa pala siya nakatingin sa akin.

All my blood went up to my face as my heart starts to jump out of my chest. Kaagad akong nag-iwas nang tingin bago kumuha ng pera sa maliit na purse kong dala at nilapag iyon sa counter bago tuluyang tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko.

I should go! I should f*****g go! This is not right, no, damn!

Para akong isang kriminal na may tinatakasan sa sobrang bilis ng pagtayo ko mula sa kinauupuan ko at dahil sa marami na akong nainom ay bigla akong nakaramdam nang pagkahilo. I tried to walk still even though my legs feel wobbly.

I managed to take three steps but on the fourth step, I found myself tripping over nothing. My butt landed on the cold hard floor and my eyes automatically darted from where the gorgeous guy was sitting, silently hoping that he's on his phone texting his flight stewardess girlfriend.

Wala akong pakialam kahit mapahiya pa ako sa lahat ng mga tao dito basta h'wag lang sa mga mata niya!

Para akong pinatayan nang pag-asa nang makita kong nakatingin siya sa akin. Disappointment and embarrassment slap me like a b***h! Pakiramdam ko rin ay sinisilaban ang dalawa kong pisngi dahil sa init ng mga ito.

I can feel the weight of his stares, they're piercing through my soul. And just when I thought that he would help me like all guys would do, he looked away and casually took another sip of his whiskey.

May isang lalaking lumapit sa akin para tulungan ako but I'm currently not on my best attitude so, I shoved him away without even looking at him.

Bagamat nahihilo ako ay pinilit kong tumayo at mabilis na naglakad palabas sa lugar na iyon, sinikap ko talagang h'wag nang matapilok sa pagkakataon na ito.

Nang tuluyan na akong makalabas ay pagalit kong sinipat ang labas ng Epic.

"What a f*****g jerk!" I yelled while glaring over nothing.

Sobra naman yata ang pagiging loyal niya sa girlfriend niya at hindi ginawang exception ang pagtulong sa isang babaeng natapilok! I was there, tipsy and sitting on the cold hard floor and what did I get from him? A f*****g heavy stare!

Tangina! Gwapo ka nga wala ka namang konsiderasyon! You can shove your gorgeous face to your attitude, motherfucker!