Waves Of Emotion

Chapter 12 Tragedy

Bella

Mahal, I have a surprise for you. Excited na saad ni Marco when we are having a dinner date after niya ako sinundo sa trabaho. Palagi namin ginagawa ito kapag sabay kami maka-uwi at di masyadong busy sa work. He’s so busy these days kasi nag-aaral siya ng short term course na business management as he is now managing their business. Accountancy natapos niya because he wants to be an accountant but his dad gives him one of their businesses to manage.

Ano naman yan? I ask while preparing my self to eat.

Do you still remember the one we talk about before, you know when I was still in Cebu doing my OJT?

Yeah I did what about it?

I have booked a ticket going there and book a hotel as well; we will stay there a week at least, lilibutin natin ang Visayas.

Really, when? Excited kong saad sa kanya.

Next month na, so can you free up your schedule that time, ask a leave perhaps, just say a week? This would be my gift in our 2nd year anniversary. He smiled while telling me his plans.

Well, I can get a sick leave para magamit ko yun or vacation leave, magpaalam ako.

I’m excited to show you around, the place is great. I saw how eager he is in our next escapade.

Madaling lumipas ang panahon, di ko akalain na mag 2 years na pala kami ni Marco in a relationship, di namin namalayan pareho. In our long years of knowing each other and being in relationship with him, all I say is he’s the best, may kaunting tampuhan, awayan, selosan pero di masyado mabigat, it’s just part of our relationship, we grow together, understand each other more and made us stronger as a couple.

That day came; I was able to get a vacation leave from the company. Marco settled our expenses in this trip, siya magbabayad lahat kasi mas malaki income niya kaysa akin. I just save my money, for our future.

Di nakasama ang barkada kasi conflict sa mga schedule nila, soon nalang daw kami magtravel together, pagplanuhan namin ng maaga.

We travel to Cebu via plane and explore the area, ang ganda ng place, totoo nga na maraming turista dito. We meet his old friends and colleague in the company his working before. His friends brought us in different site in Cebu and explore the night life in there, parang Manila lang din, bit crowded.

His friends accompany us in our Kawasan Falls canyoneering adventure, mountain trekking with the nature, swimming in the fresh water on the way to Kawasan Falls area, it was breath taking experience. We undergo training for snorkeling and diving. I like to explore underwater. Saka ko nalaman na mahilig pala ako sa tubig.

Nakakamangha ang ganda sa ilalim, i truly enjoyed it. We took a lot of pictures there, especially me playing with dolphins and sea turtles. We do whale shank watching, Moalboal island hopping, the experience is worth remembering, what I can say? I’m satisfied.

Then we head somewhere away from Cebu to experience province life, laid back lifestyle. I don’t know where as it’s only Marco knows the place, he wants to surprise me. We traveled by Jet an small vessel that carry us from one place to another place, the travel time is night time.

The weather is good when we start traveling; we had a signal from the coastguard. I don’t know but I feel weird upon climbing up the Jet. I can’t put into words, I’m restless, my gut telling me not to go but I brush it off, I trusted Marco.

Mahal, I don’t know but I feel nervous all of the sudden. Saad ko kay Marco when we are in our seat.

Nah, you are not just used to travelling via ship. Just relax I’m here. Try to sleep para mawala ang takot mo. Then he hugs me while we are sitting in our seat. I feel his comfort then feel relax after.

After an hour, I think we’re already in the ocean, bigla akong nagising sa aking pag katulog. I feel the wind blows so hard, the vessel is moving crazy at ang lakas ng salpok ng alon sa Jet. Ang lahat ng pasahero biglang nagising at naghiyawan na. Ang lakas ng hangin na sumusuray ng aming sinasakyan. Kitang kita ko ang taas ng salpok ng tubig na mas taas pa sa sinasakyan namin, the jet is just so small.

Sobrang kaba at takot ko na. Nag signal ang crew na magsuot kami ng life vest kaya sinunod namin lahat.

Mahal natatakot ako. Wika ko kay Marco, he just hugs me so tight to comfort me.

I’m just here; don’t look outside para di ka matakot. Just close your eyes. Nagdasal na ako sa panginoon na sana malampasan namin ito at makaabot sa next destination na safe.

One big blow happens, naghiyawan ang lahat, may narinig kaming sounds na parang a big crack, yun pala nabali ang other half ng barko, kitang kita namin ang unti unting paglubog ng nasirang parte, kasama ang ibang tao sa side na yun then all the lights went off.

Mahal, I shouted into him, na umiyak na habang tumitingin sa kanya, sobrang takot ang lumukob sa akin ngayon. Busy ang mga crew kabibigay ng inflatable boat, na nakaready na

Hold on to me, don’t let go of my hand, we will float as we wear life vest. Marco got a boat for us but somebody snatch it from him.

He tried to get another one but it was smaller than the first one. Then we saw the Jet slowly sank into the water, kaya lumukso na kami sa dagat dala ang boat para makaiwas na maaaring masaktan pag lubog ng barko. Until unti unti kong na feel ang lamig ng tubig, the rain is falling down so hard as well, sobrang lakas ng hangin at alon lahat naghiyawan na at nag-iyakan.

Marco tried to put me into the boat, kaming dalawa at first, but we saw a small kid crying while in the water, nawala sa magulang, kaya sinakay na namin siya sa boat. Ang boat na gamit namin ngayon is kasya 1 to 2 person kung maliit pareho ang sasakay but since may bata kaming kasama, basa pa kami and Marco is a big guy. Di kasya ang weight naming lahat so Marco goes into the water para kami ng bata magkasama sa boat.

Mahal; sambit ko sa kanya, habang umiiyak na ako, di ko alam kung sino magre-rescue sa amin, sabi nila nakatawag na ng rescue before tumaob ang vessel sa dagat. Pati ang batang kasama ko umiiyak pa din.

Shash come down, we will pass through this. Pangpakalma niya sa akin.

You’re cold na in there, kanina ka pa nakalubog sa tubig ikaw na naman dito, ako naman dyan.

I’m okay, don't worry about me; pero kitang kita ko ang panginginig nya dahil sa ginaw.

Mahal, don’t ever let go of this boat, okay? You will be fine, if ever magkalayo man tayo, hahanapin natin ang isa’t isa okay? You will wait for me, whatever happens babalik ako sa piling mo, babalikan kita.

Don’t say that, makakalis tayo dito together. Di ko kayang mawala ka. Supla ko kaagad sa kanya, I don’t like his tone na parang namamaalam na.

Promise me Mahal, kakayanin mo. Magpakatatag ka sa hamon ng buhay. I will look for you no matter what, kahit gaano pa katagal, babalik at babalik ako sayo to fulfill our promise, we will be together forever. Saad niya habang hawak ang mga kamay ko at nakatingin maigi sa aking mga mata, kahit madilim kitang kita ko ang pagluha nya at lungkot ng kanyang mga mata.

Umiiyak ako habang nakikinig sa kanyang sinasabi. No di ko kaya, until isang nakapalakas na alon ang dumating na nagpahiwalay sa amin, inanod na sya kasama ng nakapalakas na alon. Kitang kita ko pang kung paano sya lumangoy pabalik sa akin pero ang current ng alon ay sobrang malakas

Mahal; sigaw ko sa kanya ng malakas habang tinitingnan sya palayo sa akin at sya tumingin din sa akin. Wala kong nagawa, nakasakay ako sa boat, inaanud din palayo sa ibang direction, hanggang di ko sya makita sa sobrang dilim.

Sana panaginip lang ito, please gusto ko ng magising, sana bangongot lang ito lahat. Usal ko sa langit. Kitang kita ko ang lakas ng thunderstorm sa langit, kumikislap sa galit pero di ko alintanan ang galit ng langit. Mas nakafocus ang mga mata ko kung saan dinala ng alon si Marco. Hoping na lilitaw sya at babalik sa aking pwesyo, alam ko unti unti na di akong napapalayo sa kaya, sa ibang direction ako dinala. Sobrang ginaw ko na, napakadilim at ang sinag lang ng kidlat ang nagsilbing ilaw sa lugar.

Lord please helps us, please save Marco. Panaghoy ko sa langit.

Ngayon lang ako humiling sayo please bring him back to me. Pagmamakaawa ko sa panginoon. Gusto ko siyang puntahan, sundan pero di ko alam kung nasaan na siya.

Ang iyak ko lang ang maririnig at lagaslas ng alon, tuluyan na kong napahiwalay sa mga kasamahan ko barko. This is the longest night I ever had in my entire life. A night of long misery, gusto ko lang pumikit para di ko maisip ang sakit or sana panaginip nalang ito.

The night of tragedy, the tragic moment that i don't want to remember. Then another big blow of waves na nagpataob sa akin and something hit in my head that made me pass out, everything went dark.