Eyes On Me, Baby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Austin Archangel introduced me to the captain of the yacht—his name was Gio. He's a 30 year old German who came to the Philippines 5 years ago. I asked him what made him move, but all I got was a shrugged. Ipinaliwanag niya sa akin iyong mga mangyayari at itinuro kung nasaan iyong mga lifevest pagkatapos kong magtanong. I just liked to be prepared—hindi mo alam kung kailan mangyayari ang sakuna.

We went to the starboard. Mayroon doong mga lounge chairs at lamesa. Austin Archangel looked at me and asked me if I was okay. I nodded. I tried flying in a plane, but I've never tried a yacht. This would be such an experience.

"If you feel seasick, tell me."

"Okay," I said. I tried to walk, pero medyo maalon kaya muntik na akong matumba. I looked at Austin Archangel who was watching my every movement. "Can you hold me?" I asked dahil ayokong matumba. I had this irrational thought inside my head na matutumba ako at matatapon palabas ng yate. And then my body would be caught in the propellers and then the fishes in the sea would eat my chopped up body.

"Okay," sagot niya sa akin. Hinawakan niya iyong braso ko at inalalayan ako hanggang sa maka-upo ako roon sa lounge chair. I drew a deep breath. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied. "It's my first time on a yacht."

Tumango siya. "It's like a plane... but on the sea?" sabi niya. "But Gio's licensed and the yacht's always checked for maintenance."

Humawak ako nang mabuti sa may lounge chair. Naka-tingin pa rin si Austin Archangel sa akin. "Do you want me to get the life vest, so you'd feel safer?" he asked.

"Pwede ba?" tanong ko.

He shrugged. "I can't see the harm," sabi niya sa akin. "And the guards are trained to swim," dugtong niya bago umalis para kuhanin iyong life vest.

Tahimik lang akong naka-kapit sa may lounge chair. I looked at the sea at puro dark blue na tubig lang ang nakikita ko. I thought I made a wrong move dahil parang masusuka ako. Dahil dark blue na iyong tubig, ibig sabihin nun ay masyado ng malalim iyong tubig.

Oh, dear god.

What have I done?

Nang maka-balik si Austin Archangel ay agad siyang napa-upo sa may lounge chair sa harapan ko. His eyes were slightly wide open and his lips were slightly parted.

"Hey... what's wrong?" he asked.

"Everything," I replied.

"Do you want me to ask Gio to go back?" tanong niya.

Napa-tingin ako sa langit. Nagsisimula ng magkulay orange iyon. I had never seen a sunset that I didn't like... And I was already here, in the middle of the sea, about to watch the sun set.

Huminga ako nang malalim.

"No," I replied. "Just distract me, please."

Napa-kurap si Austin Archangel. "Okay," he said mindlessly. "Uh... what are your plans with the script?" he asked.

"I plan to finish it."

He chuckled. "Aside from that?" tanong niya. "Do you plan to pass it anywhere?"

"I don't know."

"Why?"

"I don't feel confident enough."

He pressed his lips together. "If it's because of what I said earlier, it's just a suggestion. It's still your work—you're the writer of the story. You control everything."