Chapter 34

After we arrived at the hotel, we had our dinner first, before going back to our designated rooms.

Rigel and I decided to stay for a while at the balcony, to relax ourselves.

We gaze at the stars and the beautiful moon at the sky, it was so perfect.

"Hug me Cass." Rigel told me.

"Ang clingy mo naman!" I looked at him.

"Hug me so tight, like you did before." He intertwined our hands.

Niyakap ko naman siya ng napakahigpit gaya ng sabi niya.

He sing for me, while we are staring at the sky.

After an hour, we get inside to have some sleep.

"Good night Asungot."

"I'm not asungot!" He chuckles, "Good night Cass." He kissed me on my forehead.

We waked up at six o'clock in the morning, finally it's our last day here in Palawan and we decided to go at Calauit Safari Park because, we're already satisfied by beautiful beaches that we see yesterday.

"Rigel! May itatagal ka pa ba?" Sigaw ko sakaniya dahil kanina pa siya nasa CR.

"Wait, I'll just wear my clothes."

" 10 years maligo, jusko! Kakapitan ka din naman ng dumi mamaya."

After 5 minutes lumabas na siya ng CR.

He's wearing a Ralph Lauren Polo, Volcom Chino short, white sneakers and black shades.

"So anong akala mo? Artista ka?" I sarcastically asked.

"What do you think?" He raised a brow. 

"Tara na nga, bumaba na tayo."

Sumakay kami sa elevator  para bumaba papunta sa lobby, dahil ando'n na ang mga kaibigan kong nag aantay.

"Kumpleto na tayo?" I asked them.

"Wala pa si Dax." Migs said.

"Alex, are you with him last night?" Rigel asked.

"No, I'm not." Alex replied.

"Andito na 'ko guys, Sorry VIP." Dax said, then he gave us an apologetic smile.

"Ba't ngayon ka lang?" Casper asked.

"Malamang nagpapogi pa."

"Tumalab ba?" Migs sarcastically asked.

"Alam mo pre, ampanget ng trip mo kasing panget mo."

"Guys let's Go!" Alex said.

Sumakay na kami sa van nila Alex at nagtungo sa Coron town.

Then we rode on a private boat going to Calauit.

Napakatagal ng biyahe namin, inabot kami ng limang oras bago makarating sa Calauit, galing sa El Nido.

Tanghali na ng makarating kami.

Calauit Safari Park covers almost 3800 hectares. Formerly known as Calauit Game Preserve and Wild life Sanctuary.

There are three zebra's escaping the scorching sun, they went to  garage and they stayed beside a rusty, old Pinoy jeepney.

The land rover we were riding stirred dust across a vast plain where giraffes roamed gracefully. They have four giraffes, I counted them. They were avoiding the sun too, just like the zebra's.

"This is Jiera." Manong Cristoff introduced, while rubbing the neck of the biggest giraffe.

Manong Cristoff is the care taker and the tour guide of Caluit Safari Park.

He also introduced the other giraffe's as Raffy, Terrence, and Maureen.

"How did you name them Manong?" Faira asked.

"We usually name them after their sponsors." Manong Cristoff answered.

Feeding the giraffe is allowed here. That's why we tried to feed them.

Tuwang-tuwa si Faira habang pinapakain ang mga giraffe's.

"Mommy, I want a pet like them." Faira talk to her Mom.

"Anak hindi sila pets, kaya hindi ka pwedeng mag alaga ng giraffe." Mica answered.

Nalungkot si Faira sa sinabi ni Mica.

"Hayaan mo anak mag aalaga tayo ng ganiyan sa bakuran natin." Malokong sabi ni Migs.

"Really daddy?" Faira asked with a hopeful voice.

Hinampas siya ni Mica sa braso.

"Daddy was just joking anak, you want a dog right? We're going to buy, when we get home."

"Okay po, Mommy."

"Tarantado ka pre! Nalungkot tuloy anak mo, dahil sa kagaguhan mo." Dax said.

"Sasaya din 'yan pag may nakitang unggoy." Migs answered, "Anak there's a monkey here."

"Where daddy?" Inikot ni Faira ang paningin niya, "I can't see the monkey dad."

"Eto anak oh?" Turo ni Migs kay Dax.

Faira chuckles,"Tito Dax looks like a monkey."

"Anong sabi mo Faira?" Nanakot na tanong ni Dax.

"You look like a monkey tito."

"Inulit pa nga, pag untugin ko kayo ng tatay mo eh."

According to manong Cristoff, today there are 23 giraffes, 38 zebras, and around 1000 Calamian deer on this island. The antelopes have all died. The Calamian deer is endemic to Palawan and is an endangered species but their population has improved in the park. The male Calamian deer is horned; we only spotted one male of the dozens we have seen this morning.

Most of the animals here are free to run around and explore the island, there are those that are in captivity. Among these are four Philippine crocodiles, three porcupines, two pythons, a civet cat, a wild boar, a sea gull, and a number of tortoises. But the giraffes and zebras remain the crowd favorites among all animals here in this sanctuary.

We enjoyed staying here for a while then. We eat lunched under the shade of Gazebo.

"Ano Faira uwi na ba tayo?" I asked her.

"I want to stay here ninang."

"Sige anak dito ka na tumira, uuwi na kami." Panloloko ni Migs.

Sinamaan ng tingin ni Faira ang tatay niya.

Nag stay kami dito hanggang 2 pm dahil ayaw pang umuwi ni Faira, dahil enjoy na enjoy siyang tingnan ang mga animals.

"Cass do you have work tomorrow?" Rigel asked me.

"Wala pa naman, sa isang araw pa."

"That's good, you can rest."

"Kailan kasal niyo Kc?" Mica asked.

"Ba't ba excited ka?"

"Wala kasing kalaro si Faira."

"Ba't 'di mo sundan malaki na si Faira?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Ba't 'di ka gumawa?" She fired back.

"Letse ka, kung gusto mo papapuntahin ko si Xyrius sa bahay niyo araw-araw. Kung gusto mo doon ko na din patitirahin."

"Kailan mo ba kasi balak pakasalan si Kc, Rigel?" Mica asked Rigel.

"Right time, at the right moment." He smiled at me.

"Atat ka kasi masyado Mica!"

"Ikaw din Rigel, baka makipag-break nanaman 'yan si Kc." Pangaasar ni Mica.

"I trust her, she's not going to that again. Right Cass?" He asked me.

"I'm not going to do that anymore." I answered.

"Faira anak let's go na, we have a flight later."

Umalis na kami sa Calauit upang bumalik sa hotel. Buong biyahe namin halos lahat kami tulog dahil ang haba ng biyahe.

Pagkarating namin sa hotel nag pahinga lang kami saglit tsaka namin inayos ang mga gamit namin.

Pagkatapos nagchat ako sa groupchat namin.

Kc: Guys ready na kayo?

Mica: Oo shunga nasa baba na kami kayo nalang ni Rigel inaantay nag mameow-meowan pa ata kayo dyan.

Kc: Siraulo pababa na kami, saglit lang.

"Rigel tara na, tayo nalang inaantay."

"Let's go?"

Bumaba na kami ni Rigel dala-dala ang mga gamit namin.

"Andiyan na pala ang mga love birds." Dax said when Casper and  Nixie also arrived.

"Mica, sabi mo kami nalang inaantay?" I rolled my eyes.

Mica laughed, "I'm just kidding."

"Tara na." Aya ni Casper.

Sumakay na kami sa van nila Alex, hinatid kami ng driver nila. Sumama si Alex sa paghatid sa 'min hanggang airport.

"Bye Alex, thank you." Sabi naming lahat sakaniya.

"Bye Cous, we need to go. See you soon." Rigel said.

"Bye, you're all welcome." Alex said.

"Bye love." Dax chuckles.

"Bye." Alex simply said.

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng airport at nag antay ng boarding.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto pumasok na kami sa loob ng plane.

When we arrived at Manila we are all exhausted.

"Bye guys." Paalam ni Rigel.

Humiwalay na kami ni Rigel sakanila dahil sinundo kami ni kuya.

Pagkarating sa bahay hindi ko na pinauwi si Rigel, dahil pagod pa siya. Pinatulog ko nalang siya sa guest room namin.

Kinabukasan nagising ako dahil sa sinag ng araw na pilit tinatakpan ni Rigel gamit ang kaniyang kamay.

Unti-unti kong minulat ang aking mga mata. Nakita ko siyang nakatingin lang sa 'kin.

"Good morning Cass." He kissed me on my forehead.

"Good morning."

"I brought you breakfast in bed."

"Wow ang sweet."

He giggled when I said that.

"Kumain ka na ba?" Tanong ko sakaniya.

"Yes, I already eat."

Umupo na 'ko para kumain. Habang si Rigel naman pinagmamasdan lang ako.

"Ano ba? Todo tingin ka dyan."

Find a man who will stares at you like you're the best and the most beautiful woman living on Earth.

"I'm deeply falling in love with you every single day Cass."

"Alam ko." I proudly said.

Tumayo na si Rigel para maupo sa couch pero ilang minuto palang ang nakalipas ay tumayo nanaman siya.

Pumunta siya sa side table at kinuha ang panyo kong nakapatong doon.

"Cass is this yours?"

"Oo, bakit?" My brows furrowed.

"Where did you get this?"

Tinutukoy niya ang panyong navy blue na may embroidery na 'R.V.'

"Ah, 'yan? Matagal na 'yan sa 'kin.  Bata palang ako nasa akin na 'yan. Namasyal kasi kami no'n nila lola sa perya, nawala ako kaya umiyak ako. Tapos may lalaking lumapit sa 'kin inabot niya 'yan tapos sinabi niya..."

"He said, Why are you crying? Don't cry it makes you ugly." Rigel said.

My eyes widened in shocked.

"Ha? Pa'no mo nalaman?"

"That was me Cass." He smiled at me.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"My Initials are here." Turo niya sa panyo, "R.V. stands for Rigel Vasquez."

"Seryoso?" My brows furrowed.

"Maybe we're meant for each other Cass." He said.

"Hala?" I was so shocked, I didn't expect that he's the one that I met before.

There are no accidental meetings between two souls.

"Maybe the destiny isn't against us."

Matapos kong kumain bumaba kami ni Rigel para paliguan si Kieff.

"Kieff 'wag kang malikot." I said.

Hinawakan siya ni Rigel para 'di ako mahirapang mag paligo sakaniya.

Pagkatapos namin siyang paliguan pinunasan namin siya at ginala sa park.

Para na naming anak ni Rigel si Kieff kaya siya ang nagsusupply ng pagkain kada buwan. Dinadala din namin siya sa vet pagkailangan niya ng gupitan.

Masaya ko silang pinanuod ni Rigel habang naglalaro sa damuhan. Tawa nang tawa si Rigel kasi napakakulit ni Kieff.

Nang napagod na silang dalawa umuwi na kami sa bahay at nag pahinga. Nagpadeliver kami ng pagkain dahil tinatamad kaming mag luto. Si kuya lang ang nasa bahay ngayon dahil day-off niya.

"Rigel ligo lang ako, pag dumating 'yung delivery andiyan 'yung pera sa wallet ko."

"Okay."

Umakyat na 'ko sa taas para maligo dahil amoy araw na 'ko.

Matapos kong maligo, bumaba na 'ko. Ginising ko na si kuya para kumain.

Kumain na kami ng dumating ang pagkain na pinadeliver namin.

"Damihan mo nga kain mo Kc! Para kang pusa kumain kakapiranggot!" Kuya told me.

"Hindi pa ba madami 'yan? Halos punuin na ni Rigel ang plato ko." Reklamo ko.

"You should eat a lot Cass."

"Yeah, I should eat a lot." I mocked.

Matapos naming kumain nanuod nalang kami ng netflix sa sala, pinagpatuloy namin 'yung series na hindi pa namin natapos noong nakaraan.

Nang magdilim na, nag paalam na si Rigel para umuwi.

"Tita, I'm going na po."

"Osige, mag iingat ka ah? Kc anak ihatid mo si Rigel sa labas."

"Opo."

Lumabas na kami ni Rigel dahil andiyan na ang driver niya.

"Rigel pupunta pala 'kong Laguna bukas."

"What are you going to do there?"

"Bibisitahin ko 'yung site."

"Do you want me, to go with you?"

"Hindi na, kaya ko na 'yon tsaka may kumpanyang nag aantay sa'yo."

"You sure?"

"Oo, naman." I smiled at him, to assured him.

He hugged me so tight before he let me go.

"Bye, take care." I told him

"Bye I love you."

"I love you too Rigel."

Hindi na 'ko nagpuyat at natulog na 'ko, dahil kailangan ko pang umalis ng maaga bukas.

Kinabukasan 7 AM na 'ko nagising kaya nagmadali akong kumilos.

Pagkaligo ko, agad-agad akong nagbihis. Kumain lang ako ng Gardenia at nagkape matapos ay nagtungo na 'ko sa kotse.

Nagtext muna 'ko kay Rigel bago 'ko mag drive paalis.

To Rigel:

I'm leaving now, I love you so much Rigel.

He replied so fast.

From Rigel:

Take care Cass, I love you so much more. Text me when you get home safely.

To Rigel:

I will, see you later.

I went inside the driver seat and I put on my seatbelt. I started driving smoothly.

Until I reached Tanay just a few minutes from reaching my  destination, but I had a different final destination.

I was passing through Magnetic Hill, when the bus sloping downward tried, but failed to slow down.

I was so shocked when the bus suddenly hit my car and take my life away.

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