Chapter 17

The sun is setting, you can see those colorful clouds near the sun that has the shades of yellow, orange, and red. It's a sunset glare. When the sun is on the horizon.

Natanaw ni Enrique si Thirdy sa hindi kalayuan ng entrance ng beach resort. He is sitting on the sand, he was wearing his cap, shirtless and bare foot. His slippers is filled with white sands too, he digs his heels in the white sand until it was buried.

Napag-usapan kasi nila kanina habang nasa loob ng hotel room si Enrique at kausap ang mga kinakapatid na mga babae ay sya ang lalapit kay Thirdy para kausapin ito. Mas minabuti na sya ang kakausap dahil parehas silang lalake.

Habang ang tatlong babae naman ay nanatili lamang sa loob ng room nila, naghihintay sa result ng kanilang munting plano. Si Charl naman bumalik na sa kanilang kwarto ng kanyang Mama.

He's approaching where Thirdy's sitting, "Hey, what's up? Why are you alone? Need some talk?" But he just looks at him, he didn't respond. Umupo sa tabi nya ang bagong dating na si Enrique. Ganoon din ang ginawa nito, he removed his slippers and bury  his feet under the sand. "I heard," Panimula nito. Panalangin lang ni Enrique na hindi sya ipagtabuyan nito. "You and Baby Charl had an arguments, again?!"

"Yes." He admitted. That was easy huh.

"Hm, sorry but I have to tell you this, that you shouldn't let your frustrations out in Baby Charl. Obviously, she was hurt. Although she was stunned by you, because of your confession. But Bro, you're being rude to her again." Aniya.

"I know. I know, I was wrong." Nakatingin na sya kay Enrique habang nagsasalita.  "I-I just can't let myself  bring myself to her, to talk to her, to apologize to her, to say sorry for what I've said." He sounds apologetic.

"Well, she will gladly accepts your apology. It's nice that you admitted your mistakes. That's the man, Bro."  Enrique trying to be at ease so that Thirdy will keep on talking.

"Tch. But I'll be very happy if she will. But after my confession, I'm hesitant to approach her. My confession was not in my plan yet, it just happened." Now he's talking. Sabi pa sa expression ng mukha ni Enrique.

"Are you chicken now?" Kiddingly teased him. He's staring at him. Then Enrique said. "You just have to be yourself. Act normal, like you are. So, are you ready to talk to her, I can call her? To come here or.."

"No!" Pigil nya sa kamay ni Enrique dahil hawak na nito ang phone nya. "I'll be the one to invite her to come over, or fetch her and bring her here, I should be the one." Determinadong tugon nya. Ayaw nyang isipin ni Charlotte na umaasa lang sya sa iba para lang magkabati sila. He doesn't want that. He has his own way.

"That's.. great. After dinner?" Masaya si Enrique dahil sa pagitan ng mga nangyari nakikita nyang natututo itong si Thirdy paano harapin ang maling nagawa nya.

"Yes, I'll tell her." Huminga ito ng malalim. "I'm a bit tense now. What if she rejected me, I mean my invitation." Pangambang sambit nito.

Kahit alam ni Enrique na naghihintay naman talaga si Charl pero iba ang sinabi nya kay Thirdy.  "Well, she's a bit angry.."

"She's angry at me?" Gusto nang matawa ni Enrique sa kalokohang naisip nya pero pinigilan lang nya sarili nya.  "I can't blame her. She has the rights to be angry with me."

"Don't worry, she will surely forgive you." Nilingon nito si Enrique. He didn't respond.

After a while. "We should better get going. They might look for us." Anyaya nitong bumalik na sila sa hotel.

"Alright. Good luck, Bro. You can do it." Trying to boost Thirdy's confidence.

After dinner.

Papasok na sana sa kwarto si Charl upang magpahinga. Matapos nyang kumain at nagpaalam sa lahat  umakyat na agad ito kung nasaan ang kanilang kwarto,  nang makita sya ni Thirdy na umalis na, sumunod naman agad ito. Mabilis syang nahabol ni Thirdy. Silang dalawa lang nasa pasilyo. Samantala ang ibang kasama nila ay nandoon parin sa dining hall.

"Charlotte, wait." Habol nya.

Tumigil naman si Charl, hawak na nito ang door knob. Nilingon naman nya ito, alam nyang si Thirdy iyon, sa boses  pa lang nito. Napapitlag sya, hindi nya naramdaman ang paglapit nito, ilang pulgada lang ang layo nito sa kanya.

"Please, talk to me." Pakiusap nito. Alam nyang galit ito at baka ayaw na syang kausapin pa. "Please?" Ulit pa nya.

"Fine." Hindi nya alam paano harapin si Thirdy, nahihiya sya pero naiinis pa din talaga sya.

"Let's go outside." Anyaya pa nya.

"Outside? Where?" Naguluhan sya, mag-uusap lang naman sila, di ba?  Bakit sa labas pa?

"Please? Trust me?"  Nakikita nyang nag-aalangan sumama ito sa kanya. Gusto nyang sa labas sila mag-usap dahil ayaw nyang may mang-istorbo at may ipapakita sya na siguradong magugustuhan ni Charlotte.

"Saan ba tayo?" Hinila na sya nito, hawak ang kanyang pulsuhan.

"Beach?" Iyon lang tinugon nito.

Wala naman nagawa si Charl kundi sumama na lang din, nagpadala na lang din sya sa paghila nito sa kanya,  may tiwala sya hindi siya o sila mapapahamak lalo na hindi sila nagpaalam.

"By the way, the bracelet is look good on you. Wear it frequently."  Komento nito. Habang nasa loob sila ng elevator. Hindi nya alam anong sasabihin, ramdam nyang namumula ang kanyang pisngi sa kahihiyan. Bumuka bibig nya pero hindi nya maisatinig ang salitang salamat, tinikom na lang nya ulit ang bibig nya. Namataan nya na suot ito ni Charl kanina habang nag-di-dinner sila.

Ding!

Dumaan sila sa kabilang bahagi ng hotel. Na sigurado si Charl na ayaw ni Thirdy may makakita sa kanila kahit isa man sa mga kasama nila.

Dinala sya nito sa may dalampasigan, naupo sila sa buhangin, nakaharap sa dagat na ngayon ay low tide. Nasa malayo ang tubig dagat at walang kaalon-alon.

"This is what I want you to see. Isn't it beautiful? The moon is on full moon." Napansin naman nyang namangha ito sa nakikita.

"It is beautiful." Ang laki kasi ng buwan, sobrang maliwanag. The moon's brightness reflected on the sea. "If I have a paper and a pencil right now, I would have draw this beautiful scenery, right here." Nilingon nya si Thirdy pagkatapos nyang sabihin iyon.  Well, si Thirdy kanina pa nakatitig sa kanya, nagmememorize sa kung anong sasabihin nya kay Charlotte.

"You like draw?" He didn't know that Charlotte is good at sketching, painting.

"No, I love to draw. One of my favourite hobbies. You're the first one to know it." Pag amin nya. Tinatago ni Charl ang pagiging hilig nya sa arts.

"You didn't tell anyone else? Why not?

"Yes. I don't know, some people look down on people who loves art. Well, my family knows it."

"I see. Can I see some of your works?"

"Eh. No." Tutol nya. Nahihiya syang ipakita baka kasi mapangitan ito. Wala naman syang proper training sa pagguhit kasi.  Habang nag-iisip sya ng iba pang ida-dahilan tinatawag na pala ni Thirdy ang pangalan nya.

"Charlotte."

"Eh, hah? You're saying something, Thirdy?"  Napakamot na lang sya sa ulo nya.

"Charlotte, I'm sorry. About the other day. I was rude to you. I.." He was stuttering.  She's starting to grasp for air. Kinakabahan. Hindi nya kayang makipagtitigan ng matagal kay Thirdy, siya ang unang bumawi ng titig. Hindi din nya alam anong sasabihin. "I was mean to you, I didn't wait for your explanation or response, I just left you there , astonished.  And about my confession.." Hindi pa rin makapagsalita si Charl she's stunned again.  "My confession was not in my plan. I'm sorry,   I hope you give me another chance of friendship. I'm sorry. Really am."

Ngunit tahimik parin ito, nakatitig lang sa buwan.

"Charlotte, tell me, what are you thinking?"

"Apology accepted, Thirdy. " Finally, naisatinig din nya ang gustong sabihin dito. "You know what, it's not really a big deal, I mean, it is a big deal but, it's not a matter of life and death to be mad or stay that way,  I can't be mad with you.  We're like family."

"Thank you. I will cherish this. How about my confession?"

"What can you say about it?"

"Eh, I don't know."

"Just tell me, if its okay with you or not. No bad feelings from me."

Tinakpan ng dalawang kamay ni Charl ang kanyang mukha, nahihiya syang  konprontahin si Thirdy.

"Charlotte, come on. It's alright." He tilted his head facing Charlotte. But Charlotte still hide her face with her hands.

"Thirdy, this is so awkward." She was talking while her hands still on her face, Thirdy tried to remove her hands but she turn around. "No!"  Pagtanggi nito.

"I just want to know, what were you thinking."

"Just.  Just don't look at me."

"Okay, I'll turn  behind, then talk." Naunawaan naman agad ni Thirdy kaya walang paligoy-ligoy pa tumalikod na sya. "So?"

Tinanggal na ni Charl ang mga kamay nito sa mukha nya.  Napangiti sya na sinunod nga nito ang sinabi nya.  Tumikhim. "Ehem. Thirdy."

"Charlotte, I am listening. Now speak up."

"First, Brian is a friend. We are family friends here, right?!"

"Aha." Tugon nito.

"Second, we're still young to involve ourselves with romance. And my Mama told me not too, study first.  Third, Can we be friends? I mean we'll never know what future holds us.  Maybe I'll like you too or maybe this is just infatuation, part of growing up. So that's it."

"I get it. Now I get it, Charlotte.  But still my feelings won't be change or fades away that easily.  I mean it. " Tumayo sya at hinarap si Charl, nakaupo parin ito sa buhangin, then she looks up when Thirdy appears in front of her. Huminga ng malalim si Thirdy, minasdan sya nito ng ilang segundo. Binawi naman ni Charl paningin nya kay Thirdy.  Itinayo sya bigla nito, ngayon parehas na silang nakatayo. Mas matangkad lang kaunti si Thirdy. Niyakap sya nito. Nanigas naman ang katawan ni Charl sa pagkabigla.  Kumalas naman pagkatapos si Thirdy.  "I'm telling you, my feelings won't change."  Dinampi naman nito ang labi  nya sa ulo ni Charl. Pagkatapos dinampian din ng labi nya ang noo ni Charl.  Mas lalong hindi nakagalaw si Charl panay tambol ng puso nya at hirap syang huminga. "I know we're still young, you're right. But I'm telling you I'm pretty real here. I'll accept your friendship. Alright. Thank you, Charlotte."

Speechlees.  Stiffened. Ang pagtango lang ang nagawa nya. It's clear to her na hindi nga nagbibiro si Thirdy.

"But, promise me one thing, please look at me." Slowly she lift her head and meet the expressive eyes of Thirdy staring at intently.  Then he cupped her jaws. "I need you to take care of yourself. Promise me that."  She just nodded. "That's all I ask of  you. You don't have to wait for me.  Just take care of yourself, Charlotte."  Pinagdikit nito ang mga noo nilang dalawa.

To be continued..

📝 Jannmr