"Good morning, Babe." I was still half-asleep when I answered Barbie's call at 6 AM the next day.
[Good morning, babe. Haven't heard anything from you for a while. Kamusta?]
"I'm sorry, was a little busy with Dylan's trip." I sat on my bed, still with my eyes closed.
[I'm starting to get jealous of Mr. Disney, ha.] I heard her heavy sigh so I chuckled.
"Babe naman? It's work-related stuff, ikaw pa rin ang best best friend ko." I made a kiss sound to make it sweeter, and she laughed at that.
[Kidding! Anyways, I hope you're still taking your medicines?] Now, she sounds serious in an instant.
"Of course, my best nurse. I never skipped." I proudly said.
[Good thing, then. Kelan pala ang uwi ninyo?] I think I heard a toaster, maybe, she's preparing some breakfast.
"Sunday morning, I guess?" Hindi ko pa kasi natatanong kay Dylan kaya hindi ko pa sigurado kung anong oras kami uuwi.
[I hope you're free on the 17th? I'm visiting.] I told her to inform me beforehand if ever she'll visit me in Silang since I have tours sometimes.
"I am, hindi pa naman ako nabibigyan ng panibago, eh. I will call you if there's any changes." I smiled, how I miss this girl.
[Okay babe, tell me asap, okay? Para makapag-day off ako.]
"Yes babe, I will." I made a kiss sound again.
[Okay, I have to go. See you soon, babe! Take care, okay? And don't forget your medicines, ha. Doc Hermosa will surely kill me kapag binalik pa kita ulit sa kanya.] I can imagine her rolling her eyes at me.
"Please tell her that I'm not going to be her patient again, not anymore. Hahahaha! Ingat ka din, babe. See you soon, bye bye!" With that, I hung up the call.
I took a shower after five minutes of sitting. The moment the warm water touched my skin, I felt like I just woke up again. Hindi na ako inaantok kaya nakaligo na ako nang maayos.
Today is Dylan's beach day. Kagabi, hindi niya alam, bumaba ako at nagpasyang maghanda ng para sa mga gagawin niya ngayong araw. Nagtanong ako doon sa attendant sa front desk kung sino ang hahanapin ko para makapag-book ng water activities pang ngayong araw. She told me every details, even the way to get there. I remembered her words and followed her instructions.
Kahit mag-isa, naglakad ako papunta sa beach at nakita doon ang isang kubo na may dalawang palapag. Pumasok ako doon at sinalubong ng isang matandang lalaki sa front desk. He introduced himself as Tatay Greg, siya ang namamahala sa mga water sports activities ng beach resort nila Dylan. I reserved for some fun water recreational activities. Then I went back to the hotel after thanking Tatay Greg.
I just wore a flowery crochet bralette and paired it with a high waisted maong shorts. I covered it with a black see-through long sleeved tee that hid my shorts. Hindi gaanong kita ang balat ko kahit naka see through ako dahil itim naman ito. I also wear a black men's sandals perfect for beaches.
I went out with my backpack where I put my extra clothes, towel, phone, camera lenses and some kits. It was already 7 AM when I arrived at the dining area. As usual, Dylan was already on our table.
He was wearing a printed polo shirt, with three buttons on the top opened revealing his chest, and a pair of white casual shorts. Pareho pa kami ng sandals na suot pero 'yung kanya ay syempre, mas malaki kaysa sa akin.
"Good morning, Dylan." I greeted after he helped me take a seat.
"Good morning, Katherine." He sat in front of me before smiling.
Damn, his smile just complimented the beautiful sunshine.
The same waiter from the passed few days approached us again to get our orders. Dylan got himself a rice meal since puro pasta daw pala ang kinain niya kahapon. Ako naman ay nag-order ng toasted bread slices with strawberry jam, pareho ulit kami ng inorder na kape.
"It's a good thing you ordered rice meal for yourself, panigurado nakakapagod ang mga water activities na gagawin mo." I told him when the waiter left.
"Gagawin ko? Correction, miss, water activities na gagawin natin." He emphasized the word 'natin'. I didn't argue anymore, totoo naman, eh.
"So for today's trip, you will do scuba diving, snorkeling, wakeboarding, jet skiing, banana boat riding and yachting. I have already booked for you last night." I read through my list.
"Ako lang?" I nodded at his question which made him frown. I was just teasing him, though.
"Edi babalik na lang ako sa kwarto ko kaysa naman ako lang mag-isa mag-eenjoy 'dun." He crossed his arms in front of his chest then looked away. Napaka-cute!
"Bakit ka naman babalik sa kwarto mo?" I stifled a smile, naka-pout na kasi siya ngayon ngunit hindi pa rin tumitingin.
"Hindi rin naman ako mag-eenjoy 'dun, eh." He sulked.
"I'm coming with you." I simply said. His eyes immediately looked at me, shining.
"Really? You're coming with me?" He sounded like a child. He smiled wider when I nodded at him. Para siyang batang nakatanggap ng gusto niyang regalo sa Pasko.
Napaka-cute!
"You need to have guidance from me, I need to keep you safe for the whole trip." Napangiti siya lalo sa sinabi ko.
Ang lakas pa ng loob kong magsabi na kailangan ko siyang bantayan para masiguro ang kaligtasan niya, pero 'nung nasa beach na kami, nagkabaliktad yata ang nangyari.
"Shit, I'm nervous." Sabi ko sa kanya, magsisimula kasi ang activities namin sa scuba diving. Lumingon siya sa akin nang matapos na kaming magbihis at sinusuotan na ng gears.
"Is this your first time?" He asked with worried eyes.
"Not really, but I'm still nervous every time. What if I get drowned? Paano kung mapalayo ako ng langoy sa inyo? Paano kung-" I was cut off from speaking when Dylan smiled at me.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you." He gave me a reassuring smile that made my heart go wild. But this time, hindi na dahil sa kaba kundi dahil na sa hindi ko malamang emosyon na dulot ng mga salita ni Dylan.
Sumakay na kami sa bangka na magdadala sa amin sa parte ng dagat na may kalaliman. Kapag napapansin ni Dylan na kinakabahan ako, nginingitian niya ako. And when shit happens, napapawi ng bawat ngiti niya ang takot ko.
I used to have a fear of deep underwater when I was seven. There was one time, nagpunta kami sa beach ni Daddy dahil sinama niya ako sa isang trabaho niya. When I saw the waters and discovered how deep it was, I was taken aback. Doon namin nalaman ang takot ko sa tubig. He comforted me, I can still remember everything clearly.
"Daddy, I'm scared, ayoko na po pala." I was pulling him back to the hotel.
"Heilie, you must face your fears. Para sa susunod na magpunta tayo sa beach, hindi ka na matatakot ulit." He gently caressed my hair.
"But daddy.. baka.. baka may monsters sa ilalim." I tightened my grip on the hem of his shirt.
"There's no monsters, Heilie. I'm here, I'm your superdad, right? I will protect you." He kissed the top of my head before smiling sweetly at me.
"You will come with me, right, daddy?" I pouted.
"Of course, of course I will. I will never leave you, Heilie, never." He gave me a reassuring smile before he carried me on his back as we approached the sea.
It was one of the happiest days of my life, and all of them were spent with my Father. With his help, I was able to overcome my fear of the deep sea. And everytime I tell him my weaknesses, he will always help me face them.
But when he left, everything flooded back..
"Katherine.." My brows furrowed when everything faded except him. I can see him clearly, but the voice is not his.
He never called me Katherine, I am always his Heilie.
"Katherine.."
"Hey, Katherine." Dylan waved his hand in front of my face. I was zoning out so I didn't know how many times he had been calling me. I saw worry in his eyes, it was very visible from his reaction.
"You're zoning out." It was almost a whisper, he sounded so gentle.
"I-I'm sorry, m-may na.. may naalala lang ako." I stared at the handkerchief he was giving me.
"Kanina ka pa umiiyak, what's wrong?" Doon ko lang naramdaman na may luha pala ako dahil gumagapang na ito sa aking leeg. I accepted his hanky. Agad kong pinunasan ang luha ko dahil basang-basa na ang mukha ko, nakakahiya sa kanya.
"I-I'm okay. It's n-nothing." Humihikbi pa ako.
"Gusto mo ba, bumalik na lang tayo sa hotel?" I immediately shook my head when he asked me that.
"Hey, no, Dylan. I'm really really okay. I-I just remembered.. Daddy." I wiped the tear that escaped.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He said in a low tone before looking away and letting out a heavy sigh.
"Ma'am, Sir, ready na po ba kayo?" Isang staff ni Tatay Greg na expert sa scuba diving ang nagtanong sa amin. Dylan looked at me, eyes questioning. When I nodded at him, he then answered the man.
"Ready na po." Dylan said.
Naghanda na kami kasama ang scuba divers na mag-gaguide sa amin. Nauna silang bumaba sa amin at inabangan kami sa tubig. Nang kami na ni Dylan ang bababa, bigla siyang nagsalita.
"How can I help you, Katherine?" He probably saw me shaking. When I turned to him, he looked very sincere and worried.
Siguro naman ayos lang humingi ng pabor?
"C-Can you.. uhm.. Can you.." Nakakahiyang sabihin, I think I'm blushing so I looked away.
"Ano 'yun?" He was trying to catch my eyes with his.
Fine, bahala na!
"Can you stay close to me?" I said fast.
Nasubaybayan ko kung paano nabuo ang isang kalmadong ngiti sa labi niya. Tumango din siya habang nakangiti bago naunang bumaba. Inalalayan niya 'ko pababa sa dagat at sumama na kami sa mga divers na tutulong sa amin.
Dylan really did my favor, he stayed close to me. We swam together and went deeper to see the coral reefs closer. Sobrang linaw ng tubig at napakalago ng mga corals. I was adoring the reefs right before my eyes when someone tapped me on my shoulder. I turned to my back and saw Dylan, gesturing me to wait.
Watch and learn?
He told me using hand gestures, so I did. Lumayo siya ng konti sa akin at pumikit bago ginawa ang binabalak niya.
Hindi ko alam paano ko ilalabas nang todo ang tawa ko nang lumangoy siyang parang aso. Napaka-cute niya! Nakatawa naman ako pero hindi ko nailabas nang todo dahil nasa tubig kami. Akala ko doon lang nagtatapos 'yon pero lumangoy ulit siya, this time, jellyfish swim naman. Napaka-cute niya talaga!
Dylan, ang gwapo mo lumangoy!
He didn't stop there, though, lumangoy din siya katulad ng pagong. Ang kulit niya tingnan dahil nagaya niya talaga ang paglangoy 'nung mga hayop. Tawa kami nang tawa pero syempre hindi sobra dahil baka may mainom o masinghot kaming tubig.
Nagtagal pa kami doon sa ilalim nang mahigit 30 minuto bago kami umahon. Nang nasa bangka na kami, agad kong hinampas nang mahina si Dylan kaya napatingin siya sa akin.
"Ikaw! Ang kulit kulit mo kanina." I giggled.
"At least I made you laugh, Katherine." He said something while combing his hair with his hand.
"H-Huh?" I couldn't hear it properly because of the loud motor from the boat.
"I just want to distract you a bit, miss." He leaned closer but was not looking at me.
"Distract me from what?" I pouted. He looked at me and gave a small smile.
"From your fears." He simply said.
Kung ganon, ikaw ang pinakagwapong distraction..