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James and I had a  fight.

Well, we almost broke up actually, but that one call from my boss stopped our argument.

Sighed.

And now, andito ako sa Boracay for a meeting.  Yes, my boss called last night, while me and James we're in a middle of a fight, naiiyak panga ako nang sagutin ko yung tawag, she instructed me na ako yung mag meet sa client namin sa  Bora at tumingin ng area dun, no I'm not an engineer nor an architect or anything related to engineering courses, Business Ad ako, but I got involved in a Construction Firm nung time na sobrang gipit ako at wala akong choice na umarte sa aapplyan kong trabaho, and then I got accepted and here, Admin. Assistant of Smartist Builders for almost 5 years now.

Sighed.

Eversince last night, di na kami nagkausap pa ni James, and yes, it hurts to know the fact na makakaya niya akong tiisin 24 hrs.

OM Bar, Station 2, Boracay Island

After ng dinner meeting namin, dinala ako ng client ko dito, i wanted to refuse kaso nahihiya ako kasi client namin, anyways, mabuti na nga rin yun para ma kilala ko pa sya at magkarun ako ng idea kung anong gagawin sa hotel-bar-resto niya.

Now playing: Tones and I - Dance Monkey (REMIX) ——mixed remix of the dj

By watching her now, i can say she loves to party— ah kaya siguro may bar ang hotel niya— she's independent and yep single, also she knows her style ahh i love her fashion btw, anddd ahh she's sophisticated and—- I stopped upon seeing a familiar face in the crowd.

The girl looks familiar—- i think I saw her somewhere—-

And then she turned to my direction and then suddenly my heart skipped a beat.

Eren.

Yes, her name's Eren.

That one beautiful, shy girl i've known for almost 3 years now. No, we're not close, i just knew her since she's working on an agency on which we had contracted several projects.

I looked at her again, she's dancing, bet, she's with her friends, marami sila, more than five i think.

Hmmm

She looks so different tonight. Ahhh... She's wearing a light make up, never ko pa syang nakitang mag make up sa office nila, anyways, she looks so beautiful tonight, no, i mean, a lot beautiful, i'm not saying she's not beautiful without the make up kasi Eren's one of those girls na maganda na kahit walang gawing uprgade sa mukha, but yung make up niya tonight parang mas lalong nag paganda sa kanya at nag pa mature, well, if i was just a man, i would grab her and bring her to my room tonight.

Napailing naman ako sa naisip ko.

I won't deny it, i once had a crush on her.

That day, I was just busy arranging the documents for the bidding when she suddenly approached me, and then i looked at her and then suddenly, i can't feel my heart, feels like my heart stopped beating that moment, how can someone have those beautiful eyes? They were so brown and goddamit! Ang ganda sobra! Those eyes were the most beautiful eyes i've ever seen. Then she said something about our previous project's status, actually, di ko naiintindihan ang mga sinabi niya, busy ako sa pag tingin sa brown eyes niya, sa ilong niya, sa labi niya... ang ganda niya and then she smiled, and for the first time para akong timang na ngumingisi habang naka tingin sa kanya. First time kong naging ganito sa kapwa ko babae, i mean yes, i also admire other women's face pero para atang na hooked ako bigla sa kanya, whenever I came to their office, i always make sure na makita ko sya kahit sandali lang, kahit na dadaan lang ako sa harap niya, kahit na uupo lang ako dun sa lobby habang pasimpleng sumusulyap sa kanya. And then I met James, at nabaling dito ang atensyon ko, totally forgetting about my admiration for Eren.

Sighed. And looked at my phone, di pa rin sya nag tetext. Hai.

At tumingin uli kay Eren, damn! She's so gorgeous tonight, especially when she dance...and her hips was like "hey, I have my own brain".  By the way, she's also wearing a dress, above the knee, i never seen her in that before. Naka jeans lang kasi sya always and sneakers. Nakakapanibago.

Napatigil ako when suddenly a guy sat next to me.

"Hi, you alone?"

"H-huh?" At tumingin kay Eren, wala na sya sa dancefloor. Agh! . "Ahmm... kind of? W-Why?"

"I'm Calvin, and you?"

"Reese."

"Nice to meet you, Reese."

And we started to talk, well the guy is nice, pero ewan ko di talaga ako interesado sa mga pinag sasabi nito eh, actually mas interesado ako kay Eren ngayun, nasaan na ba sya?

And hour passed I decided to go home to my hotel room, I kept on looking for Eren but she's nowhere to be found, parang lalong na bore ako kaya mas mabuti nang umuwi.

"Ahm, Calvin, i think i have to go  na, it's getting late already." Sabi ko sabay tayo.

"I'll walk you."

"No, i'm good."

"Really, i think i should. You looked drunk."

Napataas kilay naman ako nun. Really huh, gusto mo lang ata maka score eh. "No i'm not... i'm ok."

"Well, yes you are." Sabay tingin sa kin mula ulo hanggang paa, nag muka na syang manyak. "Come Sabay hawak sa braso ko. "I'll walk you to your room."

Agad naman akong napa atras nun. "I'm sorry, but I don't really like your idea." Then started to walked away, but he still followed me.

And then suddenly I saw Eren with a girl, i guess they're fighting or what, and then suddenly the girl slapped her and walked out.

That must be hurt.

She slowly turned to my direction, not expecting to see me there...at nagkatitigan lang kami.

"Come on! I'm just being a gentleman here." Calvin said.

"When I say no, no." Sabi ko, still looking at her.

Then she turned away and slowly walked out of the bar.

I'm supposed to follow her but Calvin kept on insisting na ihatid ako.

"You know what, Calvin, if gusto kita, hindi talaga akong mag dadalawang isip na mag pahatid sayo, kaso hindi eh! SO please!" Bahagyang may pagsigaw na sabi ko sabay lakad palabas ng bar.

Pag labas ko, hindi ko na sya nakita, ah maybe nakaalis na nga talaga sya.

Anyways, sino ba yung babaeng nanampal sa kanya?

Nahh.. i'm just curious.

Why did that girl slapped her?

And then I started to walk, babalik na ako sa hotel, masyado nang gabi. It feels like I'm just wasting my time and energy here, di naman kasi ako nag e enjoy. Then kinuha ko ang phone ko, still no message from James. Sighed.

Then a song caught my attention, it's a reggae song, nakaka gv kasi kaya napalingon ako dun sa reggae bar, di naman ganun karami ang mga tao run, usually mga middle aged na mga lalaki at mga foreigner ang narun.

And then I saw  her, a guy's trying to talk to her by offering her a drink, but then she stood up and turned her back on that guy, she refused I guess. And for the  second time nagkatinginan kami.

It lasted 5 seconds.

Then she smiled and waved at me.

But then my phone suddenly rang kaya bahagya akong tumalikod para sagutin yung tawag.

Me: yes, Miss Cruz?

Miss Cruz: Reese, hinanap kita kanina wala ka na sa table...

Ay shit! Sabay facepalm, nakalimutan kong mag paalam sa client ko, to think na sya nag dala sakin dun kanina.

Me: oh my—- sorry, Miss, di na rin kasi kita nakita, so nag decide na akong bumalik sa hotel room, actually i'm about to leave a message sana but then you called

Miss Cruz: ok, ok, anyways, see you tomorrow at 12:30 pm for a lunch meeting ha, let's talk about the project para ma meet ko na rin ang engineer niyo.

Me: yes, mam, sure.

Miss Cruz: ok, good night

Me: same, mam, and also enjoy!

End.

Then i looked at Eren kaso wala na sya so I continued to walk. Nung napadaan naman ako sa uptown nakita ko naman syang nakaupo dun sa isang table malapit sa entrance, nag order ata ng isang bucket na redhorse, then napatingin sya sa gawi ko.

Then she smiled sabay taas ng rh, yung nang aaya, so bahagya akong lumapit dito.

"Hey!" Then napatingin sa bucket na nasa table nito. "Lasinggera lang?"

She laughed sabay iling. "Nag babanlaw lang."

"Ahhh..."

Then she looked at me. "This is the third time i've seen you tonight, baka sign tu na dapat mag inuman tayo, Ma'am." Biro nito.

Natawa naman ako nun and also about to say no kasi babalik na nga ako ng hotel room but napansin ko yung cheeks nito namumula.

"Ano yan?" Sabay nguso sa pisngi nito.

She laughed. "Make up."

"Funny ha, di balance make up mo, mas pumula sa right side."

Nag sad face naman ito.

Natawa naman ako nun.

Then bahgya itong tumayo sabay bulong sakin. "Nahihiya akong mag order ng 2 bottles so bucket nalang." Then umupo uli ito.

Natawa naman uli ako nun. "Alam mo, kung di lang talaga ako naawa sayo di talaga ako kakagat sa aya mo." Saka umupo na. "Anyways, Asan na mga ksama mo?"

"Ah.. andun sa OM, ahm actually, dalawa lang kami ng bestfriend ko."

"Hah? Parang marami naman kayo kanina sa OM ha.."

"Ah yun? New acquaintances..."

"Ahh. No wonder naman na makabingwit ka ng maraming guys eh... sa ganda mong yan..." saka uminom na ng rh sabay tingin sa kanya head to toe and back.

"Luh!!! Nahiya naman ako dun sa may kausap na lalaki kanina ha."

Napatingin ako rito, so nakita niya rin pala ako kanina.

Tumawa ito.

And then we started to talk about anything. Infairness, i never thought that she's good with this, I mean, hindi talaga ako na bore. And yung isang bucket namin nadagdagan pa ng isa pa.

Then I looked at her as she tells her story about her trip to Palawan. Then suddenly  i got distracted with her eyes, they were so beautiful, especially kapag lumalaki

mata nito habang nag kukuwento saka pag gumagalaw, parang holen na dark brown, pero kapag naiilawan o nasisinagan ng araw, parang holen na brown na may tubig, basta ang ganda talaga, then when she laugh nawawala mata niya, ang cute lang. ahh.. yeah, this was the reason why i had a crush on her before.

Then she stopped talking and just stared at me saka bahagyang lumapit sakin sabay punas sa labi ko. Parang namanhid naman ang buong katawan ko nun.

"May mayonnaise ka sa lips, marahil sa sauce ng fries." Sabi nito.

"Ah y-yeah.."

And then tumingin ito sakin.  "You ok?"

"H-Huh?" Sabay kurap.

"Don't stare at me too long, you might fall for me." Sabi nito.

Parang namula naman ako nun.

Tumawa naman ito. "Joke lang!" Then tinaas nito ang kanang kamay nito. "Kuya, bill out po!"

Lumapit naman nun ang waiter at binigay ang bill namin.

Agad naman akong kumuha ng wallet ko.

"Teka! Ako na!" Sabi nito.

"Huh? Di na hati na tayo!" Sabi ko.

Then hinawakan nito ang kamay ko, napahinto naman ako nun. "Ma'am Reese,  ako na, ok? Libre mo nalang ako ng coffee next time."

"Sure ka?"

"Yes."

After niyang mag bayad ay tumayo na kami at nag simula nang mag lakad. di naman pala ganun kalayo ang pinag s-stayan nito sa hotel room ko so nag sabay na kami.

Sa kalagitnaan na kami ng lakad nang biglang may tumulak sakin dahilan pra matumba ako, mejo natamaan pa naman ako ng alak.

"Jana!!!"

"Fuck you, Eren!!! Eto ba! Eto ba ang pinalit mo sakin!!!" Sigaw nung babae actually namumukhaan ko ito, ito kasi yung nanampal kay Eren earlier. Then bigla niya akong dinambahan.

"Jana, STOP IT!" Sigaw naman ni Eren sabay awat sa babaeng tinawag nitong Jana pra malayo ito sakin.

"I hate you so much, Eren! I hate you so much!"

Pinag titinginan na kami ng mga tao run, then when someone's about to get a vid of us agad namang tinulungan ako ni Eren patayo at hinila palayo sa lugar na yun.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Paulit ulit na sabi nito hanggang sa maka abot kami sa isang eskinita, short cut papuntang main road, mejo madilim na run.

"That girl acts like a crazy woman who's not yet over with her ex." Naiirita kong sabi, prang nawala bigla yung hilo ko.

Tumingin ito sa akin.

"Ex mo ba yun?"

Di ito sumagot.

"So ex mo nga?"

Di parin ito sumagot.

"Oh shit!" Upon realizing na ex nga talaga niya siguro ang babae, oh my ghad! I never expected na lesbian si Eren, and to think na i had a crush on her before! "Anyways, you don't have to answer me, gets ko na." So... "Lesbian ka?"

"No, hindi ako lesbian, and yes, ex ko yun, and femme ako, i'm still a girl, dress up and acts like a girl."

"Ohh.."

Then katahimikan.

"Sorry about it. Hiyang hiya talaga ako sa ginawa niya."

"It's ok."

Then suddenly may kinuha ito sa bra nito. "Excuse me." Sabi nito sabay talikod, narinig ko yung pagsindi nito, then humithit at nag palabas ng usok.

And now, she knows how to smoke. What eles should I discover pa?

"Can I?" Sabay agaw nung sigarilyo nito at humithit din. "Ahhh. I missed this."

Napakunot noo naman ito sakin.

"Binawalan ako ni James eh kaya nag stop ako." Sabi ko, strict and conservative kasi bf ko, ayaw niya yung may pagka wild na babae.

"Asawa mo?"

Umiling ako. "Boyfriend."

"Ahhhh..." then tumingin ito sakin. "Feel free. Sayang isa lang dala ko."

Tumawa ako.

Then katahimikan.

"Can I uh... ask you a favor?"

"Yeah. Ano yon?"

"Can you —- keep it a secret? Or just I forget about it."

I laughed. "Why? Ano ka ? Closeted? Well, i'm not against LGBTQ naman... so you can expect me not to mention or bother you anything about tonight, your secret's safe with me." Sabi ko.

She just looked at me.

"What?"

Umilingi ito saka tahimik na humithit ng sigarilyo.

I just looked at her.

I don't know why but i kinda find it cool to see her other side now. I never expected this. I've always known her to be that shy beautiful girl, and now, andami ko nang pwedeng gamitin ma adjectives sa kanya.

Ahh.. and slowly, I found myself admiring her again, no, not because she's pretty, kasi noted na yun eh, but because I've finally known what else aside it. And I found it worthy of my time to discover.

3:45 am

Nakahiga na ako sa kama ko and making myself fall asleep, di kasi ako makatulog, sobrang na excite siguro ako sa gabing tu.

Then suddenly my phone buzz.

One Notification Received

Eren: good night, thanks for tonight.

Napanngiti naman ako nun.

And for the first time, i am not disappointed not seeing James' name on it.

Me: me too.. thanks for sharing your other side to me

Eren: hahahah! Funny!

Me: i'm serious!

Eren: ok! Whatever! Good night, Ma'am Reese!

And napahinto ako, she still calls me Ma'am. I don't know why but I'm not comfortable anymore about her putting Ma'am before my name.

Me: Call me Reese

Eren: can't!

Me: come on!!! Don't be such a

And I stopped typing when suddenly a phone call notification popped up.

Eren Calling...

Agad ko yun sinagot.

"Hey!"

Eren: good night, Reese!

Napangiti naman ako nun.

"I like it better that way."

Now Playing: Weak - Michael Pangilinan