She Was a Good Dream

Chapter 2

I am being amazed by the charm of this girl. Kung kanina ay umiiyak siya dahil lang sa isang kdrama, ngayon naman ay himbing na himbing siya sa pagtulog--must be tired from all the crying she did. I laughed when I remembered again.  She was just watching earlier, how can she sleep that fast and that sound gayung kanina pa papaling-paling ang sasakyan dahil nasa zigzag road na kami patungong Baguio. Nakasandal ang ulo niya sa headrest ng upuan. Kasabay ng paggalaw-galaw ng sasakyan ay pagpaling din ng kanyang ulo sa kung saan liliko ang mini bus na sinasakyan namin. Halos tumama na ang kanyang ulo sa salamin ng katabi niyang bintana ngunit naging maagap ako at naiharang ang kamay ko upang hindi tuluyang sumalpok ang ulo niya dito. Napabuntong hininga ako dahil hindi siya nasaktan. Nang tingnan ko siya ay parang hindi man lang niya namalayan ang nangyayari. She's still sleeping like a baby na walang kalam-alam sa nagaganap sa kanyang paligid. Ngayong mas malapit ang mukha ko sa kanya ay napatitig ako sa maamo niyang mukha. She has long eyelashes. Parang may sariling buhay dahil kusa itong nakapilantik. I know she's not wearing any mascara. I've seen Allison do her make up several times that's why I am familiar with the stuff she's using kaya alam ko kung may suot itong mascara o wala. But hers is..just natural..naturally beautiful. She also has a perfect sculpted face. I wonder how it would feel to cup that small face of hers. And those lips, it looks so sweet. I wonder how it would feel to ki--- D*mn! I should erase that thought. I suddenly became aware of the little space between us now. Few inches away. Ngunit kung gaano kaliit ang espasyo sa pagitan namin ay siya namang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Mariin kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko para pigilan ang kung ano mang naglalaro sa isip ko. Bumaling ako ng isang huling sulyap bago tuluyang bumalik sa pwesto ko. The bus took another turn to the left and her head shifted to my side. I knew that if the bus turns to the right side again, her head would definitely hit the window. I'm just being a gentleman. No more, no less. I said to myself. I held her head and rest it above my right shoulder.

I tried to sleep as well. But sh*t! Her presence and the distance between us wake up my senses. I wish Allison was here..

"Wake up guys!" Palakpak ng tour guide namin. "As indicated in our itinerary, we'll be spending the night here in Baguio. Base on your requested pax, you will have your own room here in El Cieleto Inn" she added.

Hapon na ‘nun and the sun is about to set. I cleared my throat to wake her up. Mukhang wala itong balak gumising kung hindi ko pa gagawan ng paraan. Baka makita pa kami ng mga kaibigan ko sa ganitong posisyon. Mukhang nagising ko naman siya sa pagtikhim ko. At nang akmang magmumulat na siya ng mata ay siya namang pagpikit ko to pretend that I was also asleep. Mahirap na, baka isipin niya pa that I took advantage na napahilig siya sa balikat ko. Naramdaman ko ang biglang pagbangon niya. Marahil nabigla siya sa pwesto niya nang magising. Nagmulat na din ako ng mata. Ngunit pagbukas ko ng mga talukap ko ay nakatitig siya sa akin.

"B-bakit?" I was stuterring. Tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Tsk tsk! Ang lalim ng tulog mo, don't worry.." she said that puzzled me. " I did not take advantage of you," she added while patting my shoulder. Bahagya akong napanganga sa sinabi niya. Sa aming dalawa ay ako pa ang inaakala niyang mahimbing ang tulog at hindi alam ang ginagawa?!

"Nasa Baguio na daw tayo. Ang haba siguro ng tulog mo kaya hindi mo namalayan" aniya habang maayos na binubuhol ang earphones niya at ipinasok iyon sa kanyang bagpack. Nanatili lang akong nakatunganga sa kanya. Kakaiba ang babaeng ito.

"Justin, tara na!" Napabalikwas ako sa pagtawag ni Leo sa akin. Agad akong tumayo at kinuha ang malaki kong bag sa itaas na slot ng bus. Tinulungan ko din siyang ibaba ang isa pa niyang malaking bag.

Kami ang huling bumama sa bus kaya nakaabang na sa akin ang mga kaibigan ko. Sinalubong ako ng mapanuring tingin at ngiti lalo na ng mga kaibigan kong babae. Well girls will always be girls. They think I'm hitting on this girl? I don't even know her name for pete's sake.

"Hi!" Agad na bati sa kanya nila Mika. I know they're up to something. I've known these girls for ages at alam akong hinuhuli nila ako at iniintriga.

"Travelling alone?" Muling tanong niya sa babae. "I'm Mika, by the way" nakangiti niyang pagpapakilala at inilahad ang kamay sa kanya.

"Alex," sagot naman nito with a bright smile on her face. So, Alex huh?

" Yes, I'm with myself. I guess I have no real friends after all. haha!" Napatawa kaming lahat sa joke niya.

"So, this is my boyfriend Albert. That's Thea and her boyfriend, Rick. Then that's Ashley, Leo and of course you've met Justin," Isa-isa niya kaming ipinakilala sa kanya.

"Actually, I didn't get your name earlier. I'm sorry.." baling sa akin ni Alex. I just smiled at her. To be honest, nawalan na ako bigla ng sasabihin. I was stunned by that sweet smile of hers.

"Why don't you just join us? We're having dinner after we put our bags on our room," Aya sa kanya ni Ashley. Lahat naman ng mga kaibigan ko ay naturally friendly. And it wasn't the first time that they invited a stranger to join us. Actually, we've met Thea in a common friend's party years ago and she got closed to the girls instantly. After that, she's part of the group and became the girlfriend of Rick.

"Are you sure?" she hesitantly asked. I didn't know she was this shy. Kanina kasi nung kaming dalawa lang ay parang close na agad kami. As in LITERALLY CLOSE!

"Yeah, come join us," sagot agad ni Leo. Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata.

"Well. if that's alright with everyone then--- thank you!" Napapalakpak si Ashley nang pumayag siya. We went to our hotel rooms. I bet she's alone in her room since she's travelling by herself. The girls will be sharing one room. While me and the other boys will be staying in one big room.

We decided to eat in the restaurant inside the hotel para hindi na lumabas. Walang balak mamasyal ang barkada because we're all exhausted on the long trip. Another reason is that we've all been to Baguio several times so there's nothing new to see. Napuno ng kwentuhan ang hapunan pero tanging ang mga kaibigan ko lang ang nagkukwento. Alex was just listening and laughing at Leo's classic old jokes. We all went to our own rooms including Alex.  The boys are all asleep now pero ako ay hindi naman dalawin ng antok. I tried to videocall Allison but the signal here in Baguio is very unstable. It's not even that late night and I wanted to have a drink but the boys are all sleeping now. Ayaw ding bumangon ni Leo nung ginising ko para ayain. I guess I'll just go for a walk kahit saglit lang para magpaantok.  Lumabas ako ng room and when I'm about the walk downstairs, I heard a "psst" behind me. I looked back and saw this weird girl again with her flashing smile.

"Can't sleep too?" She asked.

"Oo eh..." sagot ko naman sa kanya.

"I'm going for a short walk. Maiwan na kita" aniya at naglakad palampas sa akin.

Is she playing with me? Napaikot ako pabaling sa kanya and saw how she gracefully strut her way out.

"Wait." I called to stop her.

"Mind if I join?" I asked hesitantly.

She looked back and said " okay". Then I saw that mischievous smile on her face. Okay I'm sure she's playing with me.

"Sh*t! It' so cold!" Napahiyaw siya ng bahagya sa sumalubong na lamig sa amin. She's wearing thick clothes and jacket but seven degrees temperature is not a joke.

"Huwag na tayong tumuloy?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Hindi ganitong lamig ang magpapagbagsak sa akin," she answered. I'm not sure if it was a metaphor or just a plain comment. Maybe just a literal phrase as that serious face turned into a grin then started walking ahead.

"So, tell me, what are you doing alone in this trip?" Napalingon siya sa tanong ko and smiled a bit.

"I told you, I don't have friends," she grinned.

"That's not true. Kanina nung natutulog ka sa bus nagring ang phone mo. Nagulat ako kaya napalingon ako sa phone mo. It says" BFF Grace calling," so it means you have at least one friend. Unless it's a habit of yours to insert the word BFF on any random person on your phonebook," I tried to remain my posture to sound convincing.  Well it wasn't intentional and I didn't mean to see it. I thought she'll get mad at me but to my surprise, she just looked at me and slightly shook her head.

"Remember, I told you I'm here to escape the city life?" She stared straight on the road and our gaze not meeting.

"Which means?" She stopped and turned back to face me.

"Which means, no personal questions about my life down there" she answered while pointing her finger down the road.

Nagtaka ang mukha ko. Oh, she means her life down the city! I almost forgot that we're now 5,200 meters above sea level.

"Ayun! Dali!" She grabbed my arm and led me inside a korean grill restaurant. Madami ng tao sa loob. Agad siyang naupo sa bakante pwesto.

"Two unli pork" aniya sa waiter na Koreano. " and give us two bottles of soju please" dagdag pa niya.

Nang mailatag sa mesa namin ang ilang serving ng karne, lettuce at mga side dishes ay agad niyang isinalang ang mga iyon sa grill pan. She looks like a child na sobrang excited kumain. Then she opened the bottle of soju. Nagsalin sa kanyang shot glass at pati na sa akin. 

"Cheers!"she lifts up her shot glass and drank.

"Ahhh..." nangiwi pa siya sa epekto ng ininom na alak.

"Shot na!" Baling niya sa akin kaya ininom ko na din ang laman na soju ng shot glass ko.

"Eto ang masarap gawin sa malamig na klima," kwento niya habang pinapanuod ko siya sa pagluluto ng meat sa grill. I found myself being amused just by watching her. Parang ang simple simple ng buhay para sa kanya na sa simpleng pagkain at inumin ay napakasaya na niya.

How can one person be genuinely happy just because of   this stuff?

Sinabayan ko siyang kumain ng meat at lettuce. Pati na ng kimchi. I was never a fan of Korean dishes. I prefer Italian and Filipino dishes. But I just liked it now.

"Do you usually do this?" I asked her. She just stared at me as if not getting what I meant.

"I mean talagang sumasama ka sa hindi mo pa masyadong kakilala and have a drink with them?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Nope. And correction, ikaw ang sumama sa akin remember? Mag-isa dapat akong pupunta dito pero sabi mo, kung pwede kang sumama, e mabait ako kaya pumayag ako," sagot niya sa akin. Okay, she got me there huh?

"Ngayon ako ang magtatanong sa'yo. Do you usually do this? I mean sumasama ka ba sa hindi mo masyadong kakilala and have a drink with them?" Ibinalik niya sa akin ang tanong sa paraan kung paano ko ito sinabi kanina. What a witty girl! Ngumisi lamang ako at lumagok muli ng soju. Napatawa siya at ipinagpatuloy na ang pagluluto.

"So, what do you do in life?" Muling tanong ko. I wanted to make a conversation.

"Hmmm..." She laughed a bit then drank another shot without answering mg question.

"Okay, question like that is not allowed" I murmured when I remembered she don't want to talk about her life in Manila.

"Hmmmm...okay, first time mo bang mag-Ilocos?" I changed the question.

"Nope. Madaming beses na," sagot niya habang nagluluto ng meat sa grill.

"And you usually go alone?" Follow up question ko.

She glanced at me and smiled.

"You know what Justin, hindi lang naman ako ang kauna-unahang nag-out of town ng mag-isa," 

"Well, you're the first one that I met. That's why I'm curious," I defended myself. Baka iniiisip niya that I'm judging her because of that.

"Curius, huh?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yes,curious. So, answer my question" I smirked.

"Uhm...dati I go with my friends. Then I tried going alone. I drove by myself. At isinumpa ko ‘yun. Hinding hindi na ako maglo-long drive ng mag-isa! That's why this year, naisip ko that I will go alone pero sasabay na lang ako sa mga group tour. Kapag gusto kong hanapin ang sarili ko, I try to be spontaneous. ‘Yung go with the flow lang," she was staring at a blank space. Soul searching. So that's her purpose.

"Ikaw? First time mo bang mag-Ilocos?" Siya naman ang nagtanong.

"Actually, second time na. First time is with Allison," I answered.

"Allison huh? Girlfriend?" She asked then ate the meat and lettuce she prepared.

"Fiancé actually" I corrected. Parang may kung anong bumara sa lalamunan ko bago ko nasabi yun.

"Wow! congratulations!" Bati niya at taas ng shot glass para magpropose ng toast.

"Thanks" I just said.

"Bakit hindi mo siya kasama?" Muling tanong niya.

"She's in Singapore. Actually, we're both based in Singapore. I just got back two weeks ago to convince my lola to live there, " I explained.

She just nodded and mouthed "OH".

Matapos kumain at uminom ay naglakad na kami pabalik sa hotel. Hindi ko sigurado kung lasing na siya pero panay na ang bungisngis niya.

"Tsss...magbebreak din kayo oy! Walang forever!" Usal niya nang may makasalubong kaming magkasintahan. Tinakpan ko kaagad ang bibig niya ng palad ko. Baka mapaaway pa kami nito.

Tumawa lamang siya nang matanggal niya ang kamay ko.

"Sorry, may in love nga pala akong kasama. Hahahha!" Tawa niyang muli.

"Bakit ikaw? Wala ka bang boyfriend? Bakit bitter ka?" Maintrigang tanong ko sa kanya.

"Nope! Neeeveerr had one. Hihi..." she smirked. Okay she's drunk, that I'm sure.

"Bakit naman? Imposibleng walang nanliligaw sayo" muling tanong ko dito. She's undeniably pretty. Ganun ba siya kapihikan?

"Ewan. I guess I just haven't found the on," Itinaas niya ang dalawang balikat at tumawa.

"Gee..ang lamiiggg" she chuckled and rubbed her both palms. Lumapit ako sa kanya at kinuha ang dalawang kamay. Hinawakan ko iyon at mahinang ipinagkiskis ang mga kamay namin upang mainitan ang nanlalamig niyang mga palad. Hinipan ko iyon para mas lalo pang magbigay ng init. I realized what I just did and then both of us were staring at each other. I felt a strange warmth in my heart until she pulled back her hands.

"Let's go, kailangan na nating matulog. Maaga pa tayong bibiyahe bukas. Baka maiwanan tayo ng bus" aniya at nauna nang maglakad papasok sa inn. 

 DISCLAIMER:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.