Feeling lost and questioning her life, Aiah sets off on a solo trip in search of answers. She never expects that this journey will lead her to a deep, meaningful connection that changes her forever.
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COLET’S POV
When a series of unfortunate events suck the life out of you, it feels like you're caught in an unrelenting storm, with the weight of the world pressing down on your shoulders. The world that has been so colorful suddenly turned gray.
I guess that’s what happens when you lose someone so dear to you, you’ll eventually lose a part of yourself that coexisted with that person. It’s like you were forced to evolve into a new person in one single snap, and you’re left with no choice but to accept everything, whether you like it or not.
I created a tiny world of my own where I feel most comfortable being myself and be alone with myself. I have no one to lean on so books became my escape too. The ink on paper gave me more comfort and connection than the people around me. It navigated me to places I hadn’t been, it made me experience life through a different lens. It gave me a colorful escape from my colorless life.
Though I live in Bohol, I felt most at home in Siargao. The Siargao curse is real—once you go there, you wouldn't want to leave. It's like the island casts a magical spell on you the moment you set foot on it.
Everything seems so peaceful and quiet. It feels like the island is giving you enough space to exist and just be, like it’s granting you permission to lay down all your worries and just let go of the need to control. It’s like coming home to yourself after years of being lost somewhere in the world.
Everything seems so foreign to you, yet you magically feel at home.
Siargao gave me the realization na ang simple lang naman talaga ng buhay. Wala kang dapat patunayan. Wala kang dapat habulin. Wala kang kakompetensiya. Just live for yourself and yourself only.
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I decided to stay here for good and build a life from scratch. I purchased a piece of land and built a hostel where guests can immerse themselves in the local way of living. I hope they’ll experience the island like I did, because I wouldn’t exchange the freedom that I have now for anything else.
Kaya ganun na lang siguro ako ka protective sa sarili ko and with my peace of mind. I don’t just let anybody in sa buhay ko kasi because of my past experiences and the conscious effort to get to where I am now. Ganun siguro talaga pag nasaktan ka na ng sobra, it becomes a defense mechanism, and you start pushing people away.
But this girl? She’s so annoying. She looks like a lost puppy. Sobrang innocent niya. Kagabi pa siya buntot nang buntot sa akin. Iniwan ko siya pagkatapos ng dinner, nakauwi ako ng hostel pero hindi din nakaya ng konsensya ko. Napaisip ako, baka may mangyari pa sa kanya. I’m not concerned or anything, pero she stays in my hostel so I’m partly accountable if something happens to her, and ayoko ng sakit sa ulo. Yun lang yun.
Ewan ko ba kay Gwen bakit pa ininvite itong isang ‘to. Pabalik na kami ng hostel nang umulan ng napakalakas. I immediately parked the scooter sa nearest waiting shed. I wiped off the rainwater from my arms and started securing our bags para hindi mabasa yung mga gamit namin.
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We were silently standing beside each other. Lumakas pa lalo ang ulan, and I was surprised when she suddenly grabbed my hand and tumakbo siya sa gitna ng daan.
She looked so happy, like it was her first time playing in the rain. She really does seem sheltered, like she’s never truly enjoyed the outdoors. She was jumping and dancing in the rain. I have to admit, she’s annoyingly cute, and her eyes smile just as much as her lips do.
I suddenly switched into alert mode when I heard a vehicle approaching. Nilapitan ko siya and I grabbed her hand and pulled her in. As fast as everything happened, hindi ko na namamalayan na yakap yakap ko na pala siya.
I felt my blood rush down my cheeks, and she stepped back. I cleared my throat and said, “Wala bas a vocabulary mo ang mag-ingat?” tumalikod kaagad ako out of embarrassment and sumakay na ng scooter. “Sakay ka na, babalik na tayo ng hostel. Basa na din naman na tayo.”
I was driving peacefully when I heard her scream, “Woooaaah! Ang saya!” I looked at the side mirror, she’s raising her hands, and her eyes are closed. She’s so happy, and I bit my lower lip, trying to stop myself from smiling hard.
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When we reached the hostel, one of my staff informed me, “Ma’am, tumawag po si Ma’am Gwen. Pinapasabi na cancel muna daw po yung surfing niyo kasi masyadong malakas yung alon gawa ng ulan. Pero pupunta daw po siya dito mamaya.” Aiah was still behind me.
I tapped his shoulder, “Sige, salamat.” She suddenly appeared beside me and innocently asked, “Matagal ka na ba nagsistay dito? Kilalang-kilala ka na ng mga staff ha.” She innocently asked. Hindi ako sure kung matatawa ba ako. So, all this time, she thought I was a guest here too?
I turned towards her and looked her in the eye, “I own this hostel.” Lumaki yung mga mata niya parang gulat na gulat siya sa nabalitaan niya. Natatawa ako pero I try to keep my cool.
"Ahh, ehh, ganun ba? Sige, ligo na muna ako. Thank you ulit." She ran off to her room, clearly embarrassed. I couldn't help but shake my head and laugh, but I quickly brushed it off my face once I realized it.
