Beneath The Clandestine Paradise (Chaotic Series #3)

Kabanata 4

Beneath The Clandestine Paradise

Kabanata 4

My gray eyes look like the color of grey labradorite in the bright sunlight of Coron, Palawan. I blinked my eyes repeatedly while I take a moment to bask in the beauty with its gleam. Bukas ang bintana ng hotel room at nagsasalamin ako sa armoires closet. Ang masaganang banaag ng araw sa labas ay tila bumibisita rito sa loob.

"So, how does it feel to belong to the group of humans with rare, unusual eyes?" Parang instructor na pumameywang si Maura sa likod.

"I feel so rare," mayabang kong sabi. "Napagkamalan pa ako nung turista kanina na may contact lens ako."

Kanina habang naglalakad-lakad kami ni Maura sa dalampasigan, a tourist girl asked me what contact lenses I use for my eyes. She was shocked when I told her they were my natural eyes. She even assumed I was joking. Para namang nakikipagbiruan ako sa mga taong 'di ko kilala.

"Kaya 'yung amnesia mo, rare din!" Mapang-asar siyang tumawa.

I laughed fakely and rolled my eyes at her.

Nagbihis kami ni Maura ng two-piece swimsuits. I changed my floral dress into a longline red bikini top. My butts and cleavage were perfectly molded into round shapes and hugged my curves in all the right places. I let my curly hair loose. Kahit kulot ang ibabang parte ng aking buhok, hindi 'yon nagiging buhaghag. At kahit hindi ako magsuklay, maganda pa rin.

Abot-langit ang ngiti ni Maura habang kinukuhanan ko siya ng picture sakay ng jet ski.

"Tilt your head a bit and hold the tip of your boater!" sabi ko sa kaniya na agad niyang sinunod. "One... two... three!"

Habang hinihintay si Ringvo at Ruiz na mag-arkila ng bangka, nanguha muna kami ni Maura ng mga litrato. Kanina niya pa ako kinukuhanan at ngayon siya naman ang demanding.

"Tama na! I'm tired!" Pagsuko ko dahil kanina pa talaga kami.

"Ang ganda talaga ng beach dito! Omg!"

I looked at the photos on the camera. Hindi ako magaling kumuha pero pasado na. The overall beauty of the place made up for any flaws in the shots.

"They're here! Yay! Makakasakay na tayo ng bangka! It's snorkeling time!" Lumundag si Maura sa tubigan mula sa jet ski.

Tumingin ako sa tinitingnan niya at nakitang papalapit na ang bangka sakay si Ringvo at Ruiz. May dalawa silang kasama na tingin ko'y driver at diver.

Maura and I waited for the boat to come closer. It was a large boat, and I could see all the necessary snorkeling equipment on board. Exciting!

Ruiz leaped over out of the boat and came to me. Si Maura naman ay nauna sa bangka. I saw Ringvo extending his hand to help Maura aboard.

"So sexy..." ani Ruiz at humalik sa aking pisngi. "Let's go. Jet ski tayo."

"Huh? Aren't we going with them?" Lito kong tanong at kumunot ang noo.

"Sasama. We'll just use the jet ski and follow them. Hop on with me."

I unfastened the camera strap from around my neck. "I'll just hand this camera to Maura," I headed towards the nearby boat and saw Ringvo and Maura flirting with each other. "Maur, hold the cam!"

Nang makuha ni Maura sa akin ang camera, lumapit na ako kay Ruiz na ngayon ay pinaandar na ang puting jet ski. He steadied me with a firm grip on my waist and hand. Hinalikan niya pa ako sa labi. I effortlessly hopped onto the jet ski. Then I snaked my hands around his body.