Not Now But Forever

Chapter 26

Sabi ni Dale ay susunduin niya na lang ako sa may parking area. Bitbit ang isang backpack ay bumaba na ako.

Nakita ko si Dale na nakasandal sa kanyang trailblazer. I walked near him and smiled.

"San tayo?" I curiously asked me.

"Kung san dapat tayo noon." Mapait siyang ngumiti.

My heart skipped a beat. Bago ako pumayag na sumama kay Dale, I reminded myself about the thin line which I need to draw between us.

Sumakay na ako sa shotgun seat. I tried making myself feel comfortable. Tahimik lamang kami habang nasa byahe.

"Do you want to connect your phone?" He asked me habang naghihintay sa green light.

I nodded and connected my phone para may music. I chose some calming songs.

"How about your shoot? Three days ang leave na sinabi mo." Saad ko sa mahinang boses.

He looked at me for awhile and proceeded driving.

"Direk told us to have our rest for awhile. Five-day rest." He shrugged his shoulders.

Tahimik na lang akong tumango sa sinabi niya. Alas diyes na ng gabi ng makarating kami sa Tagaytay.

"Ako na magbabayad sa suite -" He cut me off and shook his head.

"Let me do this, Charm. After all, this is what's supposed to happened before."

Napalunok ako saka tumango sa kanya. Mukhang nakapagpareserve na si Dale.

"Magpahinga ka na muna tapos we'll see each other tomorrow, okay? Nasa kabilang room lang ako."

I slept early. Gusto kong alisin sa isipan ko ang mga bagay-bagay. For a moment, I want to be at peace. I didn't even bother to look at the peaceful sky.

I just want to be at peace. Iyon lang ang naisip ko kaya naman mahimbing akong nakatulog.

Nagising ako sa katok mula sa labas. My eyes are still sleepy when I saw Dale standing in front of me, smiling while waving foods on his hands.

"Good morning! Breakfast?" He asked. I tried to smile. I know he's trying his best to act normal.

Gaya nga ng sabi niya, gagawin niya ang kung ano dapat ang nangyari noon. But then, I realized, things happen for a reason. It didn't just happened to hurt us. It happenend to teach us something.

I nodded at him and let him prepare our breakfast while I went to the restroom and fixed myself.

"Do you have swimwear?" He asked me as soon as I got out from the restroom. I am wearing a black dolphin shorts and blue shirt.

I shook my head. "Wala. Bakit?"

Natigilan siya sa sagot ko at saglit na napaisip. He grabbed his phone and dialled something.

"Hello? Ah yes. Can I have a pair of one piece swimsuit? Ah? Black na lang hm...size?" Saglit itong napatingin sa akin.

'Medium' I mouthed at at him.

"Medium. Yes, please. As soon as possible please. Thank you." He ended the call and motioned me to eat breakfast.

"Hindi ko alam plano mo ha. Hindi ako marunong lumangoy tsaka wala namang dagat dito-" I was cut off by a sudden knock.

Agad tumayo si Dale para buksan iyon. He faced me while checking the brown paper bag.

"After we eat, wear this one." He handed me the brown paper bag and proceeded eating.

Sinilip ko iyon at nakita ang swimsuit na inorder niya. Ang bilis naman! Ganito ba talaga kapag artista?

"Hindi ako marunong lumangoy -" He cut me off and lazily looked at me.

"I know. Just wait, okay?" Tila nakukulitan niyang tanong sa akin.

I nodded and eat my pancakes and drink my hot chocolate.

Kakatok na lang daw siya kapag tapos na siyang mag-ayos. I went to the restroom and wear the swimsuit. Hindi siya revealing. Buti naman! May kasama rin itong puting pang cover.

I heard Dale knocking. He checked me out for a bit and shook his head.

"Pangit ba?" I curiously asked while trying to check myself out.

"No...it's just that..." He sounded frustrated.

"Mainit?" Gulat itong napatingin sa akin.

I gulped, remembering what happened...

"Let's go." He said diverting the topic. I nodded and followed him.

Huminto kami sa tapat ng isang pool. Kunot-noo akong napatingin kay Dale.

"Did you asked me to file a three-day leave just so I can swim?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kanya.

"This is my og plan, remember?" He said mimicking my 'og'

I rolled my eyes at him. Tinawanan niya lamang ako. "Third year college tayo ng plinano ko to. Wag ka ngang ano!" Pikon niyang saad.

"Wala naman akong sinasabi ah!" Depensa ko.

"Tsk! Tara na nga! My og plan told na turuan kang magswimming." He casually said.

My eyes widened lalo na ng bigla niya akong itulak gitna ng pool. My whole body panicked lalo na ng maramdaman ko ang malamig na tubig sa balat ko.

I tried to find for an air but I can't take it anymore.

"Swim, Charm! Swim!" I heard Dale shouting.

I tried to move my feet. Ngunit sa halip na makaahon ako ay mas lalo lang akong lumulubog.

"Fuck!" Narinig kong sigaw ni Dale saka mabilis na tumalon.

Nagmamadali siya sa pag-angat sa akin. I can feel his hands on my waist. Halos magsitindigan ang mga balahibo ko.

"Putangina!" I shouted right in front of his face the moment I got my head out of the water.

"Ilang feet ba to ha?" Inis kong singhal sa kanya.

Nakita ko kung gaano namutla si Dale habang sinisigawan ko siya.

"6 ft." He guiltily answered me.

"Eh gago ka talaga! 5'2 lang naman ang height ko!" I groaned with frustration.

"Eh akala ko gagana to sayo eh! Ganito ginawa sa akin ni Daddy para matuto akong lumangoy!" Parang bata na sumbong niya sa akin.

"Ako ba ikaw ha?" I punched him on his chest.

Lumayo ako sa hawak niya sa akin. Nakita ko ang gulat sa mukha ni Dale. I tried to move my feet just so I can float.

Unti-unti na naman akong tinuruan ni Ella lumangoy dati kaya alam ko kahit papaano. Nag panic lang talaga ako sa biglaang panunulak niya sa akin.

"Sa susunod, wag mo kong bigla-bigla na lang itutulak. Swerte ko na lang ngayon nasalo mo ako." I said while lifting myself from the pool.