DRIVE ME CRAZY (Cerlance Zodiac)

081 - Happiest

KAYAKING AND PADDLE BOARDING WERE THE ACTIVITIES THEY DID THAT DAY. Hindi maalala ni Shellany ang huling beses na nag-enjoy ito sa ginagawa, she was having the best day of her life. Tila ba nawala sa kaniyang isipan ang lahat ng masasakit na karanasang ini-dulot ni Knight sa kaniya, tila nawala ang lahat ng alalahanin sa kaniyang dibdib, ang lahat ng mga hinanakit at sama ng loob. She was too happy to even remember the mission that brought her there.

Para sa kaniya, naroon siya kasama si Cerlance para magliwaliw. At hindi dahil may misyon siyang kailangang tapusin.

She felt like she was reborn, and that all the bitter memories her ex-fiance had left for her were all gone, thanks to Cerlance.

All thanks to that gorgeous guy. Dahil tila sadya itong ipinadala ng langit para tulungan siyang makalimot at makausad.

Makausad.

Pero...

Naka-usad na nga bang talaga siya? Hindi por que nakakalimutan niya ang mga suliranin niya dahil sa pansamantalang kaligayahang ito'y nakausad na siya. Saka lang niya pwedeng sabihing naka-usad na siya kapag sa paghaharap nila ni Knight ay wala na siyang maramdamang hapdi at galit. That was the only time she could tell she had moved on. Otherwise... she was just temporarily trying to run away from her heartbreak. With Cerlance running with her. Hindi siya umuusad. Pansamantala lang siyang tumatakas.

"Did I tell you that you look amazing in your bikini?"

Nahinto siya sa malalim na pag-iisip nang marinig ang sinabi ni Cerlance. Blangko siyang nakatitig sa pool habang nagpupunas ng basang buhok nang magsalita ito. Napalingon siya at nakita si Cerlance na papalapit bitbit ang dalawang tall glass na may lamang dilaw na liquor. She had just finished swimming from the infinity pool and Cerlance left to get some drinks from the pool bar.

"W-What?" Oh, she did hear what he said, pero masyado siyang na-overwhelm na hindi niya alam kung papaano tutugunan ang sinabi nito.

"I said..." He trailed off and gave her the other glass. She took it and his free hand automatically curled around her waist. He grinned and pulled her over. "...you look amazing in your green bikini. This color suits you, I hope to see you more in every shade of green."

Napalunok siya, at habang pinag-iisipan kung papaano tutugunan ang sinabi nito'y niyuko niya ang sarili at sinuri ng tingin ang nabili niyang two-piece green bikini mula sa resort botique kanina. It was nothing extraordinary, at kung tutuusin ay manipis lang ang tela at low quality pa. But it fit her perfectly, as if the size was made for her, lalo na sa bust area. Sakop na sakop ang cup-C niyang dibdib, at nagmukhang lalong malaki.

It was already five in the afternoon, at ang maligo sa infinity pool overlooking the ocean ang huli nilang naisipang gawin ni Cerlance sa araw na iyon. Then, they planned to look for someplace to eat for dinner to wrap up the day.

"W-Well..." ang tanging nasabi niya makaraan ang ilang sandali.

He chuckled before rubbing his warm palm against her back. "Kapag hindi ka pinupuri ay namimingwit ka ng puri. Kapag pinuri ka naman ay wala kang maisagot."

"I-I don't know what to say... I mean... ano ba'ng dapat sabihin? Should I compliment you back? Like, 'back to you', ganoon?"

Manghang kinunutan ng noo si Cerlance sa huling sinabi niya, nasa mga labi pa rin ang ngiti. "What do you normal say when your ex complimented you?"

"N-Nothing..."

"Nothing?"

"Eh kasi naman, biningwit ko lang ang compliment niya, kaya sapilitan din ang thank you ko."

"Did he never compliment you genuinely?"

"Wala akong maalala..."

Natahimik si Cerlance, ang ngiti ay nawala at ang anyo ay naging seryoso.

Totoo ang sinabi niya. Wala siyang maalalang pinuri siya ni Knight nang bukal sa loob. Laging hinihingi niya ang papuri mula rito. At kung noon ay normal lang sa kaniya ang ganoon, ngayon ay napagtanto niyang nagmukha pala talaga siyang kawawa sa durasyon ng relasyon nilang dalawa.

"I don't understand why you shed a tear for that a**hole, Shellany," ani Cerlance makaraan ang ilang sandali. "It appears he never really cared about you." Doon ay banayad siya nitong binitiwan. Dinala nito sa bibig ang baso at sinimsim ang laman. His eyes shifted to the ocean. "In my view, women should never beg for a compliment. And seeing how wonderful you are, I don't think it's proper for you to beg for his compliment."

"I-I know he cared, but—"

"Let's not talk about that person again, Shellany. He's not worth our precious time." Tumalikod ito at dinala ang hawak na baso sa mesang nasa pagitan ng dalawang lounges na okupado nila. Matapos iyon ay muli nitong hinarap ang pool. "Let's finish swimming and head out."

Napanguso siya sa pag-iwas nitong pakinggang ang paliwanag niya. Para siyang loka; bakit nga ba siya magpapaliwanag? Para ipagtanggol si Knight o para depensahan ang sarili?

"What's our agenda tonight?" ang wari na lang niya.

"I'll check the internet. Alam kong marami pang magagandang lugar dito sa Tagum na hindi pa nating nasusubukang puntahan." He stretched up. "By the way. Bukas na kayo magkikita ng lalaking iyon, 'di ba?"

Lalaking iyon? She couldn't help but smile.

"Right, Shellany?"

"Right."

"Well then, ang ibig sabihin ay ito na ang huling gabi natin dito sa Tagum City. Let's make it worthwhile." Humarap ito sa kaniya. "Let's walk to the New City Hall tonight; it's one of the popular places here in Tagum. We can have dinner prior to that."

"Okay, that sounds like a plan."

Cerlance smiled and extended his hand to her. "Come here.

Ibinaba muna niya ang basong hawak sa ibabaw ng mesa katabi ng baso ni Cerlance, lumapit dito, saka inabot ang kamay nito. Napasinghap pa siya nang bigla siya nitong hinila, at bago pa niya naisip ang sunod nitong gagawin ay itinulak na siya nito sa tubig.

And as she plunged into the water, she saw him chuckled on the surface, before he dived in and swam to her. Nahuli siya nito sa ilalim ng tubig; nahuli nito ang isa niyang kamay at hinila, habang ang isa naman ay pumulupot sa bewang niya. He drew her closer to him, pulling her against his body, and claiming her lips in a full, passionate, under-the-water kiss.

Ahh, shit. This trip turned out the best trip she ever had.

She had never been this happy.

And she couldn't help thinking that maybe... just maybe... the Lord had written her fate to be this way. Ang masaktan muna siya at maghinagpis sa isang lalaki... upang makakilala ng panibagong magbibigay ng kakaibang saya sa kaniya.

Cerlance pushed Knight off the picture. And she was okay with it.

May isa na lang siyang alalahanin ngayon.

Gaano ka-tagal siyang magiging ganito ka-saya kapiling ito?

TO BE CONTINUED...