Kabanata 17
One week.
Exactly one week had passed since the talk I had with Travis. Jay told me to forget what had happened and move on, which I am doing right now.
I still talk to Travis like before. Hindi ko naman talaga siya dapat tanggalin sa buhay ko, ang kailangan ko lang ay mag-focus sa kung anong ikakabuti naming pareho. At ayun ay ang mabuhay nang walang anumang pinanghahawakan mula sa nakaraan. He may loved me before but that's useless now.
"Ready to go ka na ba?" tanong ni Jay na nasa gilid ko.
Tumango naman ako, "Excited na nga ako umalis e."
Today is our flight going to Amanpulo. And next week will also be my flight to New York, only a week remaining 'til I go, and I don't want anything to go wrong. And only five days remaining before Travis and Cindy exchange their vows in front of the altar. Cindy was upset knowing that I won't be attending their wedding, kaya naman pinatagal niya ang stay namin sa isla. Kaya imbes na isang gabi lang, ay naging tatlong araw ang pag-stay namin.
Joven was not able to come with us because he still has a lot of things to do. Ayos lang naman sa akin dahil wala naman talaga sa isipan kong isama pa sya, nataranta na lang siguro ako kaya nasabi ko ang pangalan niya.
"Rachel, Jay, tara na!" tawag pansin sa amin ni Cindy.
Agad naman akong tinulungan ni Jay tumayo at kunin ang mga gamit ko. We are going to stay in the island for three days kaya may kabigatan ang dala ko. I was about to grab my suitcase when someone took it.
"Ako na, baka mabigatan ka pa." He smiled. It was Travis, dala-dala nito ang maleta ko na parang ang gaan nito.
"Pero ikaw naman ngayon ang nabibigatan" sabi ko dito.
He shrugged, "Ayos na 'yun kaysa naman ikaw pa ang mahirapan." he then raised his brow and looked at my belly, as if saying that I should be careful because of our baby. Agad ko rin namang nakuha ang mensahe nito at pinaubaya na sa kanya ang mga gamit ko.
We walked outside the waiting area to get to our private plane. Para makapunta ng Amanpulo, kailangan mong sumakay ng private plane na pagmamayari mismo ng Amanpulo. It can accomodate up to fifteen people inside each flight. May naka-latag rin na red carpet papunta sa plane.
"Wow! Cindy picturan mo ako, I need to post this on my instagram story." kinikilig na sabi ni Jay. Cindy just chuckled and immediately took a picture of Jay beside the plane.
The plane was perfect for us, ang problema nga lang, mainit. Kasama namin ngayon sina Travis, at ang ibang mga kasamahan ni Cindy sa trabaho. Inimbitahan din ni Travis ang ilan sa kanyang mga kaibigan na kakilala ni Cindy.
As the plane started taking off, the view of Manila slowly changed to the color of the sea. Unti-unting napalitan ang mga kabahayan ng mga bundok at asul na karagatan. I took this opportunity to capture a picture using my camera.
"Enjoying the view?" Travis asked beside me, I was seated beside the window at siya naman ang katabi ko. Si Jay dapat ang katabi ko ngayon kaso nakipagpalit si Travis.
I nodded, "Ang ganda, tignan mo yung tubig sobrang linaw." I said as I glanced at the window.
"Hindi ka naman ba nahihirapan sa pwesto mo?" he asked.
Umiling ako, "Hindi, ayos lang naman. Mainit nga lang." saad ko.
"Teka lang, I have something to ease the heat." aniya. Kinuha nito ang bag niya mula sa compartment sa itaas at may kinuhang bote. "Drink this, I bought it earlier." aniya at saka ini-abot sa akin ang malamig na tubig.
Agad ko naman itong tinanggap at ininom. Nabawasan naman ang init na naramdaman ko nang uminom ng malamig na tubig. "You should always stay hydrated especially now that you're pregnant." aniya.
The trip lasted for about an hour before we landed safely on the port. Isa-isa kaming bumaba ng eroplano at sinalubong kami ng iilang mga crew. They gave us a lei, or also known as a flower necklace. "Hello ma'am, welcome to Amanpulo. Please enjoy your stay."
Tinulungan kami ng guide sa aming mga bag at nilagay iyon sa isang golf cart. Ito rin ang gagamitin namin papunta sa aming casita, restaurant or nearby spa. Kami nina Cindy ay sama-sama sa isang golf cart dahil sa iisang casita lang kami mananatili. And each casita has its own golf cart and a map of Amanpulo.
While on the way to our casita, Jay kept on giggling because of our tour guide. Mukhang may nahanap nanaman na crush.
"Andrei, tell us, ano meaning ng Amanpulo?" tanong ni Jay.
"Ang 'Aman' po ay isang greek word na ang ibig sabihin ay peace or peacful, habang ang 'Pulo' naman ay salitang filipino na ang ibig sabihin ay isla." he said, gaining a giggle from Jay. Halatang hangang-hanga ito sa lalaki.
"So we hope that you find peace in this island. You can relax, and forget all your worries back in the city. After all, this is Amanpulo, a peaceful island."
WE THANKED the guide before we closed the door to our casita.
Inikot ko ang paningin sa kabuoan ng aming casita. Malinis at simple ito. Isang malaking kama at isang pang isahang tao na kama sa may gilid nito. A table on the side just in front the open space, the table is filled with fruits and champagne.
Naglakad ako papuntang bathroom, and oh boy, it was spacious. Two different sink for you and your partner, and a tub in between. There's even a small table and chairs in the bathroom and the main restroom is seperated from the bathroom.
"Wow! Sobrang ganda rito! Buti na lang at nabanggit mo ito Chelly." rinig kong saad ni Cindy nang makalabas ako ng bathroom.
"hay nako! dapat bago tayo makaalis dito ay makuha ko ang number ni Andrei." ani Jay.
napailing si Cindy at binato ito ng unan. "Tumigil ka nga, hindi mo ba nakita yung singsing nya sa daliri? Looks like he's married." anito.
Napailing na lang ako nang magsimulang mag bangayan ang dalawa. Jay kept on insisting his crush over Andrei and Cindy kept on reminding him to stay away from him. Those two always argue about the smallest things.
"Chelly tara, punta tayo sa beach." yaya ni Cindy. nagpalit muna ako ng tsinelas para mas kumportable ako.
Each casita has their own direct access to the beach kaya 'dun kami dumaan. Amanpulo is really a place to go because you have the island all to yourself. I can only see a few people here. While walking to the trail, we spotted a hammock on the left side of the trail. It was tied up to two trees on each side.
Hindi naman ganoon kahaba ang trail na dinaanan namin para makapunta sa beach, wala pa ngang isang minuto ay nasa harap na namin ang puting buhangin at asul na tubig. My hair was swaying as the wind passes through my face as well as my dress. Walang tao ang nasa labas ngayon at kami kami lang nina Cindy ang nag lalakad.
"Wow! Para tayong nasa private island! We have the island all to ourselves!" natutuwang sambit ni Cindy.
I chuckled, "Told you you'll enjoy it here. Kaunti palang ang nakaka-alam sa lugar na ito kaya sa atin talaga yung lugar."
I tucked my hair behind my ears to keep it away from my face. I smiled at the view, this is living. I carefully caressed my belly and whispered, "Let's find peace here my love."
I was busy admiring the view when suddenly, Cindy and Jay hugged me. I let out a soft chuckled, "Ano nanamang naisipan ninyong dalawa?"
"Hindi ka namin makikita sa mahabang panahon." simula ni Jay, "Cindy here is going to get married pero hindi naman kumpleto ang power puff girls." anito.
"Ang arte niyo ha, puwede pa naman tayo mag video call."
Isinandal ni Cindy ang kanyang ulo sa aking balikat, "Pero iba pa rin yung nakakasama ka." aniya "Tapos hindi pa namin makikita si baby." Inilapat niya ang kanyang kamay sa aking tiyan. "When you get back, ako naman ang buntis." she chuckled, "I want to have a big family with Travis, and I want our children to be best of friends like us."
I smiled. "Aasahan ko 'yan Cindy."
